Sylamore 50K-2013

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