Mad Marsh Recap

Achieving two out of three goals at the Mad Marsh 50k ain’t too shabby, especially considering my knocking goal #2 out of the park. Here’s how they shook out:

1.) Eat and hydrate consistently and enough—I refilled my water bottle (either with water or Gatorade) and grabbed a snack (banana, grapes as big as a small dog, peanut butter cups, etc.) each time through the aid station .
2.) Finish in 5 hours—I finished in 3:56:55. Completing the run in 5 hours would have meant I’d run at a pace of 9:33per mile. I ran at 7:31 per mile pace.
3.) Win—I finished in second place overall, by something like 18 seconds (which, in a 31.5-mile race, is the slimmest of margins).

As is likely apparent, my “fun run” turned into a race, pretty much from the get-go. Four of us went out at a decent clip (somewhere near 7:20), and as we settled into a groove, discussed (among other things) who was running what event (there was both a 31.5-mile and 22.5-mile race). Each race was equally represented in our grouping. Shortly thereafter, the two guys running the shorter distance moved ahead, both wishing to run closer to 7:00 per mile. I moved up to run abreast of the remaining runner, whose name I would later learn was/is Ricky, and we slowed slightly (which was a relief to me, as I thought our pace was a bit fast—comfortable, but fast for a race of this length, I felt). It was only later (when I was too far in to “give up”) that he’d tell me he was aiming for (and we were hitting) 7:26 per mile pace. For six (of 7) laps we ran this way—two abreast, at/around 7:26 per mile. Ricky pulled Chris around the course. Chris pushed Ricky around the course. I.e. neither of us wanted to lose to the other. When it became obvious that we weren’t going to drop one another, we both began to scheme. My plan for lap #7: sit on his shoulder and out-kick him down the final straightaway. His scheme was better: instead of stopping at the aid station to refuel between laps 6 and 7, he continued on. By the time I was out of the aid station, he’d gapped me by about .25-mile. I was hurting and my muscles were tightening up, so I decided to let him go and just try and run at the same pace—he’d run a good race and deserved the victory and I’d run too far and fast to let the final lap skew my times considerably. So I kept plodding along. Within about a mile, I noticed Ricky coming back to me. Little by little, I was reeling him in, simply by sticking to my pace—was he slowing because he was tired and cramping, or did he simply think he’d broken me and was out of the woods? With just over 1.5 miles to go, I caught up to within about 10 feet of him. Unfortunately, he picked his pace back up, and I was unwilling to do so, thus he ended up beating me by 19 seconds. If I had it to do over again, I would have tried to go with him when he picked his pace back up—I can’t abide too much laurel-resting, after all.

I truly am happy with the result, on the whole, and it allowed for good headspace going into a fun-filled Saturday of football and Roller Derby watching with friends.

Some quick observations from my drive to and from the race:

1.) I’m not sure how I feel about driving to a race when the only other people awake are strip club patrons. 4:30 AM is too early to be up for the amount of energy each of those circumstances requires.
2.) I can’t believe someone thought naming their Chinese restaurant House of Tang was a good idea. I also can’t believe that there were numerous hits when I googled it (c’mon, Vermont, Kentucky and South Carolina!).

Even after my second place finish, Calli can still look me in the eye when we talk...



…and if that doesn’t make you smile, then these pictures, will (make sure you check out the full set).

Helen Observations and Mad Marsh Expectations

Julia, the pups and I traveled up to Helen, GA (approximately a 5-hour drive) this past weekend for some expected mountain fun and relaxation. We accomplished both. In fact, we had so much fun that I didn’t run a single time (in three days), though the steepness of the aforementioned mountains (during our daily hikes) didn’t really clue my not-used-to-hills legs in to that fact. Observations from the trip:

1.) Giant hunks of aged meat, as well as asparagus, on the grill = a gluttonous good time
2.) Not having to leash your dog, while also not having to worry about her dog running into traffic or falling down a mountainside and breaking her spindly legs = a gratifying good time
3.) Having perfect weather for hiking (sunny and in the low 70s) during the day, followed by perfect weather for hot tubbing (high 30s) in the evening = a grievous good time

Tonight will be the last time I run prior to Saturday’s Mad Marsh 50k (seven 4.5-mile laps, which will actually make it a tad longer than a true 50k), so I’ll likely only put in 4-5 miles at a nice, easy pace. My goals for the Mad Marsh 50k:

1.) Eat and hydrate consistently and enough
2.) Finish in 5 hours
3.) Win

There are currently only about 30 people slated to run Mad Marsh, and with the course described as being “flat as a pancake,” I like my chances to accomplish all three of my objectives listed above (#1 will be assisted by my ability to visit the aid station each lap). But whether I do or not, I’m using this as nothing more than a way to get in a lengthy fun run for training purposes. It’s just that winning, in a respectable time (to me), would help me start my morning off on the right foot…making that evening’s Roller Derby viewing and beer-partaking that much more glee-inspiring.

Calli will be intently waiting to hear the result….



...and if I don't hit upon all my goals, she has already promised to get the following song stuck in my head (the title of which she will direct at me; she has high expectations and quite the temper, it seems):

My First Victory of the Year (Thank You, Happy Legs!)

Another race in the books (the Trick or Trot 10k), and I’ve finally recorded my first victory of the year: first place in 36:29, which I’m pretty happy about for multiple reasons.

1.) It’s my fastest 10k.
2.) I feel I definitely could have gone faster—under 36:00—as I shut it down early knowing I had the win in-hand.
3.) My legs felt great—they were strong and still responding well.

Continuing with the legs discussion, I couldn’t be happier with how well they’ve been holding up. Over the last couple of years, I’ve had both good and bad training periods—sometimes a day or two of strong running followed by heavy-leggedness (at its worst), and sometimes a week or two before the eventual sluggishness. The last two months, I’ve had a single day wherein my legs were lethargic and disallowed me from running the speed and/or distance I’d set out to do. One day in sixty. And no pain throughout. I just hope this keeps up as I increase my mileage and speed, both of which I intend to do (carefully!).

Speaking of increases in mileage, October’s monthly mileage total came in at 161.23 miles, compared to the previous month’s 125.39 (an increase of nearly 29%, which may be a bit ambitious, though much of that increase comes from the 33.25-mile FATS 50k). After only 61.68 miles in August (my Burning River recovery month), I am very comfortable with and confident in my mileage swell. With another 50k (the Mad Marsh) looming this month, I’m thinking nearly 200 miles is likely. I want to start being at 200 consistently, so what better time than now?

Also, Happy (late) Halloween to you all—I hope you had fun…



…while Calli would rather put her own eye out than see you have fun (sometimes you have to save her from herself). For shame, Calli—FOR SHAME!