Running race 6:47:32 [5] 31.25 mi (13:02 / mi) +6342ft 10:56 / mi
shoes: Inov-8 Trailroc 245 (2nd pair)
Susquehanna KTA Super Hike 50k (hughmac3 did the 25k!)
27th of 300+ (will correct when available)
Whew, a tough course, @ average of 3.87% climb! Up and down the sides of the Susquehanna River valley south of Lancaster, in Amish country, which lots of nice rock and 'runs', with waterfalls and pretty pools. Very well supported, I would imagine over 100 support folks.
Cool day, just about perfect. Torrential downpour from miles 27-30, which really felt nice.
Wore my camelbak, but should have just taken a single bottle, as the support was great and the temps were cool.
First 1/3 had the most climb, second 1/3 had a lot of sweet downhill and then The Hill That Never Ended (it did, at mile 20), and the last 1/3 had some welcome road (apparently a brutal bit in the 95F heat last year), an Amish farmer out tilling a field with two awesome mules, and then some more excellent rocky trail.
The course markers stopped with about 1 mile to go (when my brain wasn't functioning very well), and I added some distance running around trying to find more streamers, while my "I'm almost done" joy slowly turned to rage. Apparently I didn't read the fine print carefully enough "if the streamers are gone, just follow the blue trail" ... but for 30 miles all was well streamered ... I just couldn't believe that the last MILE wouldn't have streamers. So 4 extra minutes (see track at 6:21:26 to 6:27:49) back and forth and checking side trails before I just decided to follow the blue trail, and then I lost my mojo and really dragged.
Also missed a really easy turn at about mile 27 (See 5:46:12 to 5:47:39 of track -- 1 min 28 seconds, 0.13 miles and >5m climb added there), which hurt me for the 'no markers' section shortly thereafter, as my confidence was low.
Once I got some bean soup into me, and chatted with hughmac3 and some others, I felt good again.
Really glad I did this one, and that I convinced hughmac3 to kick some butt on the 25k, as well. I've been doing these solo for a long time, and it's nice to have a team.