When I finished my first marathon 2 weeks prior, I thought, well, the training is done, might as well get my 1st ultra done as well since it's on my list of running goals. I decided to wait a few days and see how my legs and body felt. Got up Monday morning, nothing. No soreness, no pain, no nothing. I still waited until Wednesday to decide.
What made me want to do this one? Well, my running friend Kristi (@AverageRunnerK) wanted to do the two day race -50k on Sat. and 42.2 on Sunday. I said, Hey! I'll join you, I will do the 50 on Saturday and just hang around on Sunday. That was all we both needed to register. Doesn't take much! 😂
We drove up on the Friday afternoon and stayed at one of Kristi's friend's Kyra (@kyraonthego).
I was told the trail would be rolling hills and beautiful. I can agree that it was beautiful - varied in trees and terrain. I can't agree on the rolling hills part...unless we don't have the same definition of rolling hills... These hills weren't the Gats, but they sure were not rolling either. Anyways... I digress...
Race starts - the race was 6 loops of 8.3 km. The first two loops were fantastic. I felt great - the hills surprised me a little as I, you know, was expecting rolling hills... (think countryside roads...rolling hills... that's what I envisioned -but in the woods...). I've run up much bigger hills while running in Gatineau Park, but was trained for those. Problem is I've been training on flat roads... no hills... on we go.Loop three came and it was more difficult. There was, the proverbial wall. "The wall". So what is "the wall" exactly? If ever you hit "the wall" you will know it. It's a mental barrier that every long distance runner (or so I'm told) goes through at some point in their run. You start feeling like you will never finish, that you can't do this, that it's ridiculous that you are even there to begin with... all sorts of negative self talk starts to happen. Why this happens, I have no idea. It just does.
By this point, I was debating quitting. I talked myself into doing one more loop and decided I would maybe quit after the next one (knowing very well that I wouldn't quit with only 2 loops left to do). That's sort of how you get out of it...talking yourself out.
I can usually talk myself out of this "funk" within 3 or 5 km. Not this time! My funk lasted a good 8 to 10km. That's a very long time. I kept going, walking more than running during this time. I caught up to someone, started chatting and that helped me to snap out of it. I reached an aid station and when the girl asked me if she could do anything for me, I asked for a hug. She graciously gave me a hug, I had a piece of watermelon, some Gatorade and off I went, feeling somewhat better.
Back to more running and less walking. That's a good thing. I didn't have any pain anywhere, my legs felt fine, my feet felt great as well. If only my mind didn't insist on playing these games with me. I hit a second wall at some point not long after the little high from the hug and encouragement. I think I was getting disappointed with my time and that might have had something to do with it. I'm not exactly sure. Whatever the reason, I had to get over it with only one loop and a bit left to do.
After the 5th loop, I was happy to be almost done. I started my last loop with ice in my hydration pack, ice in my buff, watermelon in my belly and candy in my pockets. I was still doing not bad in time- I thought if I mostly run, I could make it in 6hours 20min. That didn't happen. I wasn't hurting anywhere, but man I was tired! Those hills took a lot out of me. So did the heat. I still kept on going... to be clear, I was like the little train that could... not the Energizer bunny! 😂
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| Relaxing, waiting for Kristi to finish her 2nd day -42.2k |
I managed to finish in 7h 40min. which is 15 minutes before the cutoff, and I was the last one. Phew! Can you imagine finishing and being over the time limit?? That would be devastating I think. I'm disappointed in my time as I know I could've done this in about 6 hours to 6h 15min. I really have to get a better handle on controlling my mind. That would make a big difference I'm sure. I have the determination and the drive, now to control those negative thoughts... Well, I got it done -which is more than most people on earth can say. I'm not fast, I will never be fast - in long distance trail running, speed is not the point -well, you have to be able to do the cutoffs - I'm looking forward to trying this again -perhaps in the fall, or next year. Time will tell. For now, on to the next adventure - a hike around Mont Blanc- 170km in 12 days (I think it's 12). Until next time!What went well:
-beautiful trail, views, terrain
-started slow
-had plenty of fuel with me including maple syrup, electrolytes, granola bar, nuts -plus 3 aid station with fruit and drinks
-was dressed properly
-got it done all by myself -no one to push me -had to do that myself
Lessons learned for next time:
-drink more electrolytes -I drank 3 or 4 bottles of water, but I should've been drinking more electrolytes as well (warm elect. is pretty gross) -was dehydrated at the end
-take more salt tablets -I only took 2- I should've taken at least one every hour.
-train for hills -don't believe when people tell you rolling hills! haha
-work on better controlling mind games
-need to stay at that slow pace for longer -perhaps an entire loop
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