Sylamore 50k-2013
-Thoughts Before the
race-
The
night before the race was probably up there on the scale of Christmas Eve night
as a child, or moments before a long road trip begins. I was too anxious and ready for trail running
bliss that nodding off seemed to be too challenging to accomplish. I finally fell asleep only to wake up at
2:30. Of course I couldn’t make it any
longer. My body could not handle the
battle to go back to sleep so instead I thought about my game plan, my
strategy, my moral code for guiding my body throughout the day.
I
have learned that in order to reach a certain goal in a race, I need to have a
goal, or a set of goals to mentally shoot for.
Every race I have participated in I have had a best case, and worse case
scenario that I could leave happy accomplishing either way. As long as I stick to my game plan though, I
usually always leave feeling satisfied.
Except for the Traveler in 2011, that was pure survival to get to the
finish line (which my worst case goal was simply to finish). I am proud of that accomplishment but still
wish I would have listened more to my body.
I have learned though that races are your experience. You take what you get from a race, and you
either try to mimic it in the future, or try to avoid old mistakes.
Today
was a day that I wanted to blend my knowledge from past races and give a great
attempt at a faster time. I wanted to be
on the verge of a bonk, but I wanted to still stay shy of cramps, negativity,
and a bad time. I had to find the balance
between to hard, to reserved, fun, and frightening. Sometimes you cannot be sure with how your
body will work, and sometimes you just have to find out by trying –or- (doing).
-3,2,1 GO-
A
mile on the road to warm the legs up followed straight down a dirt road to the
creek crossing. The crossing was only
knee height, so it was easy to navigate through. I didn’t take my time, I actually was able to
pass 15 or so people right from the get-go by trudging through the creek. Most people were taking there time making
sure they didn’t fall, but my mind said get through quick and you wont feel the
cold. The trip to Blanchard Springs from
the creek crossing is very pretty to me.
It was the most technical trail of the day because of the roots and
rocks that are hidden everywhere. There
are up and down sections of course, but rolling sections don’t usually classify
as tough to me, they are more of my style I suppose. Many switchbacks lead you right under cliff
lines and (little) waterfalls, which were pleasing to see, but it’s hard to
admire such beauty when I’m in race mode.
After a few miles of rolling switchbacks, we run with the creek that
leads us into Blanchard Springs. Of
course the Volunteers are the best ever!!, After a short stop to take off my
jacket, it was time to climb out of Blanchard.
The climb is long, but to me, its not painfully steep. It is more of a pleasant climb if that makes
any since. I guess I like it so much
because my mind tells me, “What goes up, must come down.” Anytime after a hill that I have a flat
section or downhill, I take full advantage and take off.
The
Trip to Gunners Pool is spectacular.
After the climb out of Blanchard springs, the trail becomes truly
scenic. At one point, you find your self
running on the trail that is no more then 10-15 feet from a 200+ foot cliff
line, in fact at one point you get so close that if you tripped and fell in
that direction, you’re toast. After
descending out of that area, you run through an open plain, alongside the creek
once again, passing a monument of an (Arkansas State Trooper.) The trail is relatively flat for a while
until you hit the next big climb, which leads to a downhill stretch to Gunners
Pool.
The
trip from Gunners Pool to Barkshed is more uphill on the way out which I
thought was a great thing. Once I
reached Barkshed and knew that I had made it half way, something switched
inside of my brain that told me it was time to turn it up now. The trip back to Gunners Pool was my fastest
leg of the day. I flew down the trail
all the way until I reached the aid station feeling great! I had followed a simple eating strategy all
day, of One GU, drink One Bottle, take two S-caps, in between every aid
station. I would also eat what I could
and drink a couple of cups of liquids at each station too, to make sure I was
not tapping into my Glycogen reserves throughout the race. I think the cooler temps are what did it for
me, but I never got to a point where I felt sick. I stayed hydrated, full, and energetic the
whole day. I actually felt better on the
way back to the finish then I did on the way out. Gunners Pool on the way in was perfect,
Grilled Cheese, potatoes, Mountain Dew, and I was off again.
From
Gunners Pool To Blanchard Springs starts with a climb and a little test of your
fitness, but once the treacherous hills are taken out, nice rolling, sometimes
flat sections open up, plus some gigantic long down hills here and there. Especially the hill that descends into Blanchard,
man that was so much fun on the way back.
Once
I was at Blanchard Springs, I knew I was going to meet my time of 5:30, well
maybe I didn’t know, but I figured I was going to finish strong for sure. I think I made a lot of people uneasy on the
last couple of miles leading to the creek crossing again, because the trail
becomes ridiculously muddy, and I was running through them like I was on a dirt
bike with no brakes. Simply couldn’t
help it, I felt great and wanted to finish.
The
creek crossing was not scary at all! I
aimed to run on the water I didn’t stop!
I just trudged through with no hesitation because I was tired and ready
to be done, And honestly, I felt like the Crossing was never going to show
up. I guess I knew that before I could
finish, I had to cross it, so the whole time on the way in from Blanchard, I
just kept looking and looking for it.
Once it finally appeared I had no reservations, just flew through and
continued onward. Of course, there Is a ridiculously
steep hill to climb out of before hitting the concrete to finish. It was hard,
but I didn’t walk, I sprinted (which was probably a shuffled jog) up the hill,
and then when I hit the concrete, I was off.
Blazing In, I was ready to be done, and rest. Its funny because you spend so many months
getting ready for a race, and then half-way through a race, you anticipate
finishing. Either way, once you run
through a finish line, it all makes since.
The commitment, the sacrifice, the time spent on your feet in the hot
and cold. Running is such a strong test
of will, and when you cross a finish line, everything makes since! Euphoria is not good enough to explain what
it feels like.
It is just a sense of, I did it, and most
people think it can’t be done, but I did, I made it happen!
Finish: 5:20
Finish: 5:20
