Training Log Archive: ernstIn the 1 days ending Sep 16, 2018:
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Sunday Sep 16, 2018 #
9 AM
Trail running race 5:14:30 [4] 28.52 mi (11:02 / mi) +1200m 9:45 / mi
shoes: On Cloud grey-black
Pisgah 50k. First time for me. I was quite nervous about the climb and the warm weather (80F and sunny predicted for mid-day). Travelled with Jess G from Lee which was a lot of fun. Then met up wit the O-folks at the event (Alex J, Ken W, Phil B) .
A lot of runners lined up for the start, but likely more were running the 23k than the 50k. The two courses split at about mile 2. I settled in at the last position of a group of 6, which kept moving ahead, but then I caught up with them mostly on the downhills. I lost a bit at the aid stations because I filled my waterbottle using a Nuun electrolyte tablet each time (about 1 minute). I had also drank the same the day before and the morning of the race. I simply did not want to take a chance with cramping. It seemed to work.
I trucked away at my chosen pace, eventually being alone from about mile 16 on. It is a long way to run 50k on trails. But there was variety in footing, climb, terrain, so it was never boring. Eventually I had to brisk-walk the steepest part of the hills, but was still able to run/jog most of it.
At mile 24 after the last aid station, I caught up with 2 guys from the group of 6. They were fried on the way up to Davis Hill. I passed easily, and then cruised the 1 mile down, down, down, revving it up to a 8 min mile. Then onto the road, continuing. Eventually a little cramping set in as I was cruising on the pavement - and also in the heat. But it did not matter since nobody was in sight behind me. So I slowly jogged to the finish line, finishing in 10th place overall. I was pleased with the run. But I would not have wanted to run much further. This is the shortest distance that could be billed as "Ultra". I am not sure I want to get too far into the Ultra zone.....
Compared to the Bear Brook trail marathon: This was about the same distance but with about 25% more climb. Hotter today - and yet I was 15 minutes faster.
A lot of runners lined up for the start, but likely more were running the 23k than the 50k. The two courses split at about mile 2. I settled in at the last position of a group of 6, which kept moving ahead, but then I caught up with them mostly on the downhills. I lost a bit at the aid stations because I filled my waterbottle using a Nuun electrolyte tablet each time (about 1 minute). I had also drank the same the day before and the morning of the race. I simply did not want to take a chance with cramping. It seemed to work.
I trucked away at my chosen pace, eventually being alone from about mile 16 on. It is a long way to run 50k on trails. But there was variety in footing, climb, terrain, so it was never boring. Eventually I had to brisk-walk the steepest part of the hills, but was still able to run/jog most of it.
At mile 24 after the last aid station, I caught up with 2 guys from the group of 6. They were fried on the way up to Davis Hill. I passed easily, and then cruised the 1 mile down, down, down, revving it up to a 8 min mile. Then onto the road, continuing. Eventually a little cramping set in as I was cruising on the pavement - and also in the heat. But it did not matter since nobody was in sight behind me. So I slowly jogged to the finish line, finishing in 10th place overall. I was pleased with the run. But I would not have wanted to run much further. This is the shortest distance that could be billed as "Ultra". I am not sure I want to get too far into the Ultra zone.....
Compared to the Bear Brook trail marathon: This was about the same distance but with about 25% more climb. Hotter today - and yet I was 15 minutes faster.