Bethel Hill Moonlight Boogie: (My) Official Race Recap

As soon as we arrived, a pickup truck parked two vehicles in front of ours overheated. Come to find out, this would be a sort of harbinger for me and my run—mid to high-90s temperatures with little to no shade AIN’T NO JOKE!

After a quick pre-race meeting, I checked (then double-checked) to insure I had all the gear I’d initially be wearing/carrying on my person, and anything else I’d need during my frequent pit-stops (I would be passing said table, as well as the main aid station, every 6 and 10 miles) laid out in easy-to-find locations on the table we’d toted with us (me and my crew—Julia and Frank). And then, just like that, we were off (courtesy of a popped paper lunch sack—pretty sure that will be both the first and last time I’ll say that).

Though just over 75 people signed-up for the race, only 56 of us had actually braved the heat, humidity, and hills and toed the line. Within the first mile, most runners had already separated from one another (or into small, tightly-bunched groups), settling themselves into a long, slender line of people running comfortably…with me, inadvertently, being the frontrunner. I chalk this up to some key points:

1.) Inexperience. I felt my 8:00-pace was comfortable, even while feeling like I was running on the face of a frying pan, but there was still the potential for 49 miles still ahead to help me adjust that mindset.
2.) A goodly portion of the first three miles is downhill, helping to speed you along (for better or worse). Even the portions of this section that were uphill weren’t terribly tough, so for someone who had only scouted this portion of the course (for whatever reason—likely naiveté), during the drive in no less, I mistakenly assumed the remainder of the course would be similar. BIG ROOKIE MISTAKE.

At mile 3.5 I coasted past a small aid station (I was carrying along a handheld bottle containing Gatorade, at this point), and shortly thereafter the course started to bare its teeth—more frequent, and steeper, hills. I’d like to think that, in between miles 4 and 5, I had some sort of inclination in my pea-sized brain that this course was something altogether different/more difficult than anything I’d ever run before. But though I walked small uphill portions during this time, I still ran through mile 6 (swapping out one Gatorade bottle for a water in the process) in approximately 45 minutes—7:30-pace. I.e. entirely too fast, which I shouted to Julia as I ran past. Downhills + no mile markers = bad internal chronometer. It was not too long after this that I was passed by two men in quick succession, including the eventual winner--a guy with a one-inch thick, chest-length goatee (which was kept under wraps; I was not swallowed up by it as he eased by me, though shortly thereafter I’d wish I had been). This section was a 2-mile out and back section (thus 4 miles total), and, I would quickly find, the hardest part of the course by far—especially the “back” section, which seemed to me to be one big, never-ending hill. By the time I got back to my gear at mile 10 (in 1:22:31—8:15-pace, which was still sub-7-hour pace), I was sitting in fourth place overall and was pretty surly—not because of my placement, but because my body was already starting to show major signs of tiring. I grabbed another Gatorade (and continued to carry my unfinished water), and was once again off—a sweaty, quickly-losing-his-form mess.

By the time I got to the small aid station on the back side of the course again (approximately mile 13.5), I’d fallen to fifth and was starting to overheat. I poured water down the back of my neck and splashed a bit more on my face, grabbed a frosted oatmeal cookie, and was slowly off again. (Before I go any further, let it be said that I wish I’d done this from the get-go—the water was startlingly cold, and a welcome relief). Coasting back in to the big aid station/my gear table at mile 16, I refilled my water bottle with the super-cold stuff the uber-friendly staff provided, then was off again (purposely dropping a still-full Gatorade bottle shortly thereafter—I was getting tired of carrying two bottles at the same time, and figured I’d only need one bottle for the 4-mile section ahead of me). I jockeyed back and forth with another guy to remain in fifth place on this section (he was running at a slower clip than me, but I was walking more than him). Arriving back at the big aid station (meaning I’d completed 20 miles, in 3:05:24—9:16-pace, continuing my drastic slowdown), I was feeling every mile I’d already run—many of my muscles were showing signs of tightness/cramping, and I had very little energy. I decided to grab half a hot dog and see how I felt after another 6 miles, so I refilled my water bottle (after having picked up my previously-discarded Gatorade), and took a seat at my gear table for a quick shoe/sock change—the ones on my feet were drenched. After the shoe change, I grabbed my headlamp, then was off once again. Only this time, I was walking away, not running—eating my half-hotdog had become a real chore. Once I finally got it down (minus a bit of the bun), I started jogging again, realizing that if I was going to start running again, now was the time—on the previously-mentioned downhills. At the small aid station (approximately 23.5 miles in), the workers there casually asked me “how ya’ doing?,” (I think just as a way of saying “hello”—they weren’t actually looking for the answer I gave them, I’m sure) to which I replied “lousy.” I then apologized to the taken-aback threesome of workers, refilled my water bottle (after drenching myself with the previous contents once again), and was once again off…but at this point, I was walking far more that I was running—when I arrived back at my gear table at mile 26 (having just walked 5 of the last 6 miles with severe muscle tightness, etc.), I’d already made-up my mind that I was calling it quits (apparently 19 others dropped out as well, as only 36 people are listed on the race's website as having finished); I felt I would be ignoring the easily-recognizable signals my body was broadcasting if I continued on, and would really be setting myself up for injury (and an absolutely miserable cruise). My final tally: 26 miles in 4:24:29 (10:10 per-mile pace).

Things I learned, both about ultramarathon running and myself:

1.) Assumptions are for chumps—take the time to scope-out the course.
2.) I’m a flatlander, through and through. I’m really going to have to spend some time doing a fair amount of incline training in the future.
3.) I have a long ways to go with my fueling. I had way too little to eat and drink—I dropped about 5.5 pounds over the course of the race, in fact. Though I took my S! Caps and gels religiously, they are in no way a substitute for actual food, and I vastly underestimated how much water I needed to take in on such a hot, humid day.
4.) I should have walked far more and run far slower at the start, saving up valuable energy for when the sun was down and the temperatures far cooler.

Sure, I was disappointed that I didn’t finish the race (especially considering that the reasons primarily centered around my booby trapping myself), but was quite happy that I was able to reign myself in when I knew I needed to—knowing I am mentally strong enough to stop myself will go a long way in allowing me to be comfortable in signing up for further ultramarathons in the future.

Slotted in behind the eventual winner:


(Inadvertent?) Extreme Close-up:


My hard-working/eating/playing crew (though I can be a real bear, I truly do appreciate it!):

Bethel Hill Moonlight Boogie: MUCH MORE STUMBLE/SHUDDER THAN BOOGIE

Well, I toed the line for my first ultramarathon yesterday. I also got my first DNF (Did Not Finish). Lovely people, ice-cold water, and plenty to snack on to keep up your energy levels and weight. Horrid heat, tougher-than-imagined hills, and a poor race strategy (an overly-ambitious pace, developed/used by me). I made it 26 miles total, with much of the final 6 miles done at a walk. I was proud of myself for listening to my body and calling it quits before all my aching/pulled muscles and tendons decided to completely poop out (a technical term in a runner's lexicon) and fray/break/combust. It's all about planning and pacing with these lengthy races, so there's a definite learning curve. But I'll get there...eventually. A more offical race report to be provided after my cruise. Next up: Burning River (100 Mile Endurance Run)?

Taperin' and Feelin' Ready

I’ve only run a touch over 32 miles this month, with only a couple more in store (tonight) before Saturday’s race—an effective, and much needed, tapering period. It’s funny to think that, in between now and Saturday, I’ll actually end up spending more time prepping than I will running (though I’ve got an exhaustive checklist I’ve been working on for the better part of two weeks, so this should help in mitigating too much time spent worrying/preparing, meaning I shan’t be spending too much time doing either). The guest bed has become the staging area for all my race-day gear, snacks, etc.—once I get it packed (or at least less “loose leaf”), I’ll likely turn the bed into a dual staging area: half a bed each for the race and cruise.

Using the #1 attachment (the shortest still-using-an-attachment haircut option), I cut my hair yesterday afternoon, so I’m feeling nice and fast (and aerodynamic). I also went grocery shopping and picked up a bunch of carb-heavy/runner-friendly meal fixins.

Last night’s dinner: whole wheat linguine mixed with bell pepper, tomatoes, squash, mushrooms, onion, and garlic in an olive oil sauce. Accompanied by freshly made, bread machine Oregano Bread.
Tonight’s dinner: broiled chicken, sweet potatoes, and freshly snapped green beans. Likely accompanied by more Oregano Bread.

My feet are blister-free, my legs are feeling more and more rested each day, and I’m thus-far feeling mentally strong. Calli (and I) say BRING IT ON (while at the same time being introspective, apparently), Bethel Hill Moonlight Boogie!

Monthly Mileage, Bethel Hill Goals, and VACATION

Because I’ve never trained for/run an ultramarathon before, and because I shorted myself on some of the early mileage increases that would ready my body for bigger jumps in mileage than it’s used to, I’ve been reducing my overall weekly mileage requirements (either by skipping a shorter work out altogether, or by reducing a longer one slightly in length). Thus, my monthly mileage total for May stood at 199.3 miles, which is still over 40 miles more than my next highest total (but stands 40 miles less than what I had scheduled). And though hitting 200 miles would have been a nice, round number to have under my belt, I’m very pleased with how well my legs, mind, and stamina have been holding up (indeed, I had my best workout in recent weeks yesterday: a self-imposed nearly-4-mile speed work out). I.e. no regrets.

Only ten days out from the race itself (Saturday, June 12 at 6:00 PM EST), I’ve come up with a list of goals for myself—I’ve once again placed them in order of what I consider to be most easily achieved to most difficult:

1.) Walk occasionally—this will help to conserve energy for use later in the race. I’ve been practicing this in my weekly work outs.
2.) Fuel correctly—you’ve never run nearly this far, for nearly this long, so scheduling and getting enough fluids/foodstuffs into my maw is numero uno in importance.
3.) Listen to the aches and pains of my body—if I feel a hot spot forming somewhere, take the time to fix it ASAP. Doing so early on will end up saving me time in the long run.
4.) Finish in/under 7:00:00 (8:24 per-mile pace). This may not be realistic for a sea-level, first-timer on a rolling/hilly course, so I’ll be ok with anything under 7:30:00 (9:00 per-mile pace)…but I’d rather be “happy” than “ok” with my result. So 7:00:00 it is.
5.) The course record stands at 6:45:00 (8:06 per-mile pace). It’d sure be fun to challenge it.

Lastly, I’ll be cruising (literally, as in “on a large boat” and not “keeping a non-taxing, consistent pace”) the western Caribbean as a combination birthday/you-ran-50-miles-all-at-one-time present shortly after the completion of my race (departing out of Ft. Lauderdale on Monday, June 14, to return Saturday, June 19). A chart showing the appropriate dates is below, to ease in your understanding of my schedule.



This is all to say that I will give what will likely be an abbreviated race report on Sunday, June 13, with a lengthier one to follow after I return. But it was fun to rub-in my vacation, too.

Oh, and here’s the wolverine-inspired car I mentioned in my last post—I couldn’t pass up the chance to snap a camera-picture of it. Enjoy.