Medina Turkey Chase 4-Mile Race Report

It's the first annual turkey trot race here in Medina and 'twas tons of fun. Everyone who's anyone was there on the Square.

Pumpkin pies went to the first 50 gobblers and the top 50 hens. I managed to not win one (I was 63rd). There was also a raffle for running shoes for anyone who outran the turkey today. I did beat it, but alas; no shoes either, The race did not include any age group awards, so I was out of luck here as well. I did, however, come away with some good memories of a nice race.

It was a picture-perfect late-November morning in Medina: cool, but warming up with the rising sun. After the first two downhill miles, I had hopes of keeping my overall time under 32 minutes. Alas, this wasn't to be, either. I slowed down a little for mile 3, and then a lot for majorly uphill mile 4. Still, 32:10 or so seems like a good finish time, so I will take it.

Now, it's time for some premeditated gluttony.

I may not be my usual speedy self today

Excuses don't age well. They're best when fresh. Thus, when I say, "I may not be my usual speedy self today" (followed by my myriad of reasons why) at the start of the run, it's much better than trying to express those excuses afterward.

Today, at the start of our long run on the Lester Rail Trail, I say, "I may not be my usual speedy self today," and I get the usual moans and eye rolls. (Not that I can see their eyes rolling in the early morning darkness, but I can feel it happening.) "But lookyahere," I say, "Besides the ridiculous cold and the stupid early hour, and the fact that my muscles are still sore from last week's Loop the Lake run, my feet are absolutely killing me." "Yadda, yadda, yadda," they say. Or at least think. (It doesn't matter which; I can hear it either way.)

About that my feet are killing me thing: it's mostly toelio (an impacted big toenail that's turning black). Of course, it began at Loop the Lake. But instead of improving over the last week, it's gotten worse. That big toe is now extremely sore. I'm trying to treat it by soaking it in hot water and applying antibiotic cream. We'll see where all this takes me.

Running wise, my toe did manage to take me through today's 18 miles. Now it's time to soak it some more.

Failure to Launch

There were two goals today. 1) Get ten miles in at the track, and 2) Do something of substance. Goal one happened, but it wasn't pretty. In fact, it became less pretty as time went on. But at least I can say mission accomplished for that one.

For goal 2, not so much. I had every intention of doing 400-meter repeats, or any other distance, for that matter. It just didn't happen. Me (and my compions, for that matter) never actually began our speedy stuff. Instead, we simply ran around in circles, talking as we went. It was cold, my feet are still killing me, and I'm still sore and tired. How's that for a list of excuses? Not so great? Too bad.

Loop the Lake 50K race report in backward order

On occasion, I like to write a race report in backward order. Why do this, you ask? What’s so special about forward order, I retort. Maybe it will be fun. Or not. 

Mile 30.8 – I can see the finish line, so I suppose I might make it. This, despite the painful feet, feeling unwell most of the past week, and the general fatigue I’m sustaining from running my first ultramarathon in two years. The worst thing is, I’m sure the pizza will now be cold.

Mile 30 – It’s awfully lonely out here. Many of the 25K and relay runners are done, so most of what’s left are the 50Kers like me. It’s funny, but I thought most of them would be finished by now, but maybe they took some breaks. I’ve slowed down a little (from about ten-minute pace to about ten-thirty pace), but that’s not so awful. It appears that everyone else has slowed as well. At least I won’t be dead last. Maybe not even in the final five.

Mile 29.5 – My feet are killing me, especially the right one. I’m not going to try to fix it; I’ll just zoom through and run the final (of 20) 1.55-mile loop of the lake. I think I can make it, despite the fact that my foot feels like it's being stabbed with little knives.

Mile 27 – It’s snowing. Not a lot, but the thing is, the flakes are coming down sideways. The wind, which hadn’t bothered me much until now, is picking up. The temperature has not made it out of the upper 30s today. I’m okay with all of that.

Mile 25 – My feet are killing me, especially the left one. The oncoming blisters will knock me right out of this race if I don’t do something. I grab some bandages. The trouble is, I don’t know whether I can get these compression socks off without scissors. Much less, get them back on. This wardrobe adjustment takes a good chunk of time, but eventually, I get back on course, a new man.

Mile 23.5 – This is the best pizza I’ve ever had in my life. But it doesn’t go down easily. That’s because I’m trying to consume it whilst running. Which makes it hard to chew and swallow. The reasons I’m enjoying such cuisine at this junction are 1) they’re out of energy gels, and what better substitute? 2) the pizza will likely be quite cold when I finish in an hour and a half when I finish, and I prefer it hot, and 3) I’m hungry. ((I later learn the it’s Jets Detroit-style pizza. No wonder it’s so good.))

Mile 19 – Rim to Rim to Rim? That’s amazing. Ultrarunners do some amazing things, but they never cease to astound me. I’m running a couple of the loops with Danielle, whom I’ve just met. Danielle only got back from her Grand Canyon adventure a few short days ago. And here she is, guiding me along. I never get tired of stories like this.

Mile 15.5 – I’d best zoom right through. I’m ten loops in, and I have the option to quit at this point. I’d get credit for completing 25K, and I’d even still get my medal. And I’ve been telling anyone who would listen that after being sick with a bad cold all week, 25K would be plenty for me this day. And on a loop course like this, it sure is easy to quit. On the other hand, I’m feeling pretty decent at this juncture. Maybe I can finish the whole enchilada after all. I zoom right through.

Mile 2.7 - It’s awfully lonely out here. Most of the 50K runners are ahead – way ahead – and I am only seeing three or four behind me. What’s that noise coming from further behind? Some of the fast kids are lapping me already! I try not to let that bother me; I’ve got to run my own race today. It’ll be a miracle if I make the entire 50K, but at least I made it to the start.

P.S. Munroe Falls Metro Park is nice and peaceful. Race Director Nicole Gareri and her crew did a wonderful job with the race. Although the 50K was small, the 25K and relay were well attended and the whole event was a lot of fun.

My overall time was 5:25, for an average pace of 10:30. It’s a decent time for me, even though it’s still fairly far down the list of finishers. But had you asked a week or two ago, I’d have told you that just finishing a 50K, not to mention with a time of under 5:30, would be an accomplishment. 

Yes, the remaining pizza was cold.

November Sky

There were plenty of objects in the sky to observe this morning, during our Tuesday Track workout. First, there was the usual Orion show; always a crowd-pleaser. Then, there were all the other stars and constellations; they're great this time of year. Today, we had a shooting star, aimed (apparently) at the star, Arcturus; that was a sight. But of course, the main attraction today was the lunar eclipse. It reached totality at about 6:00 AM, just as it was beginning to get light, and as we were completing our run. Lastly, I was treated to a wonderful sunrise. Neat stuff.

Eclipsed moon setting

Nice sunrise a little later

The Longest Mile(s)

The longest miles of any run are nearly always the final ones. And such is the case today.

People (runners, that is) come and join the fun - 

At first it's just Dan, Chadwick, and Ella. Ella happens to be a four-legged runner, not that there's anything wrong with that. They run South from the Medina Square, out and back on the Champion Creek / Roscoe Ewing trail. Now there's a bunch more that join: Michelle, Andy, Harold, Debbie, Kelly, and Beth. (Note that last names are not being used here to protect the innocent. Not that there are any of those.)

People begin dropping like flies - 

After a four-mile sojourn on the new Medina Turkey Chase course, they return to the Square once again. "Sojourn" is probably the wrong word. This portion of the run is actually quite fast, at least for Dan. Beth has to go, but the everyone else does the Champion Creek / Roscoe Ewing trail out-and-back once again. Now, it's time for Harold, Debbie, and Kelly to take off, leaving Andy, Michelle, Chadwick, Ella, and Dan. A couple additional, final miles, and it's time for everyone to leave.

Alone again, naturally - 

Everyone, that is, except Dan. Dan has to do at least three more in order for this to be considered a long run. Why is that important, you ask? Dan wouldn't be able to articulate an answer. Maybe because he needs one to train for next week's 50K. How hard can just three additional miles be?

Quite hard - 

Yes, Dan struggles trying to run alone after everybody else is gone. On extremely rare occasions, he can turn these final (longest) miles into good ones. Today is not such a day. Today, they are long. He gets over to the Claggett Track, where they will at least be on a soft surface.

Get back - 

It's not all quite as bad as it seems here, but getting back up to the Square is still a struggle. Dan manages to get there, somehow.