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.
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