March 2018 Running Challenge

Congrats on the races this weekend everyone!

Finally a report on my 50K from Saturday! Was too tired Saturday night and then we flew to Colorado for spring break on Sunday (and did some dog sledding on Sunday!).

The OPSF5050 is billed as the "Toughest Race in Indiana" and it certainly lived up to its name on Saturday. (Long race report to follow, but the short answer is I finished and it wasn't pretty).

After driving through some crazy strong winds and snow to get to the start line with only about 30 min to get my number and get my drop bag organized and to the right place, I made a couple of strategic mistakes like leaving my extra pair of gloves in the car (more on that later) and didn't have time to either go to the bathroom or get my phone into the nice waterproof bag that I bought for it (more on that later too). Runners (about 50 of us between the 50K and 50 miler) headed out at 7 am in the snow. Temperatures hovered around freezing with 20 mph winds all day with intermittent periods of precipitation of all kinds (rain, snow, sleet, hail?). I had already run the course twice and knew it was going to be muddy, but it exceeded even my pretty pessimistic expectations. I lost the feeling in my feet about 2 min into the race and never really got it back for the entire 8.5 hours that I was out there.

I felt pretty good for the first 17 miles or so (and my spirits were lifted running in the rain and pelting sleet for about 7 miles or so with a fellow runner, Bryan Debshaw--there were so few of us out there that I was frequently running with no sign of another soul out there). During that time my gloves got really wet and I took them off and warmed up my hands inside my rain jacket for awhile (and managed to accidentally pause my GPS during for a while). Then my foot problems started taking over. Do you know how difficult it is to run on technical hills and mud when you can't actually feel your feet? It was demoralizing, and I just kept slogging along, getting to the aid station when I discovered that my drop bag had several pairs of dry socks (but I decided not to change them since they were going to be soaking wet again in 2 min) but no gloves. So I put the socks on my hands and headed off to the next aid station. Volunteers at the 22 mile marker fed me salty dirty rice and vegetable soup which tasted heavenly. Right as I was leaving the aid station the #1 male runner finished the 50K! Headed back out again (mostly just walking at this point because my feet were in such bad shape) and at that point I was just trying to get from aid station to aid station. My hydration fell apart toward the end as I was just focused on having enough energy to put one foot in front of the other.

My finish time was 8:23 and I was immediately greeted by more wonderful volunteers. I had some soup, hobbled to my car to get my dry shoes and was chagrined to find that I couldn't get the gaiters off of my wet shoes so that I could change them. Luckily another wonderful volunteer, Dan Milligan, took off my incredibly wet and muddy gaiters, shoes, socks and compression sleeves, cleaned up my feet and put new dry shoes and socks on for me!

By then the sleet was coming down hard, so as much as I would have loved to stay for a beer or more socializing, I got in the car for the incredibly hard drive back. At that point I discovered that my phone was totally dead (still not sure what is wrong with it). It took over 2 h at about 30 mph and whiteout conditions on mostly unplowed roads to get home. I wanted to keep hydrating but I couldn't take my hand off the wheel long enough to drink anything.

My husband had a meal of ribs, veggies, and rice ready for me after my shower. Plus I finally got the beer. Two days later my feet are still swollen and I still can't feel my toes, but I can say I finished.

Only 23 people finished the 14 mile "fun run", 22 people finished the 50K (3 women) and only 4 finished the 50 miler (1 woman). I finished 2nd almost 2 h behind the leader who looked incredibly strong out there. For the 50K it was at least 4700 ft of elevation gain (and loss) and by far the hardest thing I've ever raced. It was epic and the race definitely lived up to its moniker. Congratulations and thank you to all the volunteers and runners for a great experience. As soon as I can feel my toes again I'll be off looking for a new challenge.

Thanks to Denise Poynter and Esther Slabach (and others probably too!) -because my phone died, the only photos I have are from the volunteer photographers!









Mar 1 P90X class
Mar 2 Water walking
Mar 3 Ran 6.8 mi (Spring Fling 10K + warm up)
Mar 4 Ran 13.9 mi hilly partial preview of 50K course
Mar 5 Water walking
Mar 6 Ran 6 mi + Circuit strength + PT + foam rolling
Mar 7 Took a rest day!
Mar 8 Ran 2.6 mi + PT
Mar 9 Water walking
Mar 10 Ran 6.2 mi (hilly)
Mar 11 Ran 13.3 mi (hilly)
Mar 12 Water walking
Mar 13 Ran 3.5 mi
Mar 14 Ran 8.3 mi on race course (hilly)
Mar 15 Ran 4 mi + PT
Mar 16 Water walking
Mar 17 Ran 10 mi
Mar 18 Water walking + foam rolling
Mar 19 Ran 3.2 mi + water walking + stretching and rolling
Mar 20 Ran 4.2 mi + stretching and rolling
Mar 21 Yoga
Mar 22 PT (ouch)
Mar 23 Stretching + rolling in anticipation of race
Mar 24 OPSF 50/50 50K
Mar 25 Rest and dog sledding!
Mar 26 Walking and massage

Mar goal: 120 mi
Done: 113.0 mi
To go: 7.0 mi

Finished races:
Winter Night Trail Half Marathon Jan 20 2:21 4th in my age group!
Spring Fling 10K Mar 3. 48:12 2nd in my age group!
OPSF 50/50 50K Mar 24.8:23:58 2nd female finisher (only 3 finished!)


Upcoming races:
Bound the Mound Half Marathon (trail) Apr 8 (rescheduled because of flooding)

2018 Spring Plan:
DINO Eagle Creek 15K Apr 7
Glacial Esker 20 mi Apr 28
DINO Muscatuck 15K May 5
DWD Gnawbone Marathon May 19
DINO Brown County 15K Jun 2
8 h @ Brown County Jun 16-17
DINO Griffin Park 15K Jun 23

Big goal for the fall: 50 miler before I turn 50

@Stoshew71 That guy at the gas pump would be me.
@MNLittleFinn Congrats on your 50K!
@hjeppley Wow, just reading your race report felt brutal! Way to see it through!
@cameronheel Congrats on your first marathon...and a sub-four as well; absolutely well run!

---

Another Monday, another hard run, and after setting an unofficial half marathon PR last week, I managed to do it again this week and shaved another 24 seconds off to give me a time of 1:41:18. If I push hard enough, I may just get to be as fast as @MobyCarp's slowest HM result.

02 - 27.37
05 - 15.59
07 - 11.93
08 - 12.05
09 - 30.21
12 - 14.57
13 - 13.02
14 - 15.22
15 - 12.96
16 - 30.17
19 - 15.54
20 - 11.36
21 - 15.15
22 - 11.01
23 - 30.27
26 - 15.57

Total: 281.99 / 250 miles

March 2018 runs:

Goal 1: 180 km
Goal 2: Do more cartwheels.

01 Mar – 5.6 km strides & intervals
03 Mar – 5 km parkrun 28:30
04 Mar – 21.2 km
07 Mar – 6 km
08 Mar – 5.5 km
10 Mar – 5 km parkrun 27:10
11 Mar – 10.3 km + 7 cartwheels
12 Mar – 20 km
15 Mar – 4 km + 7 km intervals
16 Mar – 21.6 km
20 Mar – 8 km
21 Mar – 10.8 km
24 Mar – 8.7 km including 5 km parkrun 27:10
25 Mar – 25.2 km
26 Mar – 2 km
27 Mar – 10.2 km

Total: 176.2 km

garygse wrote: »

Speaking of gas pumps...for the OCD types out there, what would you do in this situation?

Round numbers on cash take precedence! At least for me and yes, I would go for it 'cause gas pumps are made for OCD workouts

I still don't believe I'll make my goal this month, but I didn't think I would get over halfway two weeks ago. Whatever keeps me moving is good.