I've been away from here for a bit and I'm enjoying catching up. This is also perfect timing to read as I just finished my 2nd 50k of my life and also this year at Kodiak in Big Bear Lake, CA. Even before reading this piece, I was thinking a lot about how something as frivolous as these races can really make me feel things and change my perception of myself. Apologies for the rambling training/racing report ahead, but where else am I going to write this stuff??
For this race in particular, my training was interesting to say the least and I was not feeling super confident going in. I got married this summer and moved multiple times. I also spent the bulk of my training block in Southern California with a work schedule that allows for running mainly between 2 and 5 pm, because I work early and cook dinner after. This meant multiple heatwaves of 100+ temps at that time. I was so used to it that I had a daily routine of wetting my hat and shirt then putting them in the freezer 20 min prior to running. I would slog at paces 1-2 min/mile slower than preferred and constantly dump water to cool. I only even contemplated speed workouts when temperatures dropped to avoid overheating after 1 interval. On top of that, Big Bear Lake was threatened by a huge fire and the race was very much in the balance with an active fire and large National Forest Closures. Until the week before the race, I had a strong assumption that it was going to be canceled but they were able to move the race to the other side of the lake.
All that being said, I was not confident in my training and at times wondering if I even wanted to do this race. By race morning, I was pretty psyched to be there but definitely nervous about what I had in me for a 50k at 7,000 feet as a relative newbie on less than ideal training. I took the beginning out pretty cautious and watched a ton of people bust out ahead of me. I definitely had to swallow some pride, because although I'm not out there trying to win the race I definitely thought that if I was at my best I could be with some of those runners. After that, things went pretty smoothly and I was feeling great at the aid station at mile 13. I knew I had a steady downhill before two big, hot exposed climbs to finish so I stayed with my more cautious approach. I quickly filled up some water at the mile 19 aid station and headed to the first of the big climbs. As I started climbing, I started to realize I was dropping some people. Whenever I pass someone on an uphill I always say something like "We'll probably be going the same pace in a minute" or something like that, but in this case I just kind of kept passing people. Then came the aid station before last climb. I filled up a bottle with coke because I needed some liquid carbs to break up the gels. I started up this climb and the pattern continued. One by one, I started to make my way by people who were struggling up to the ridge. By the time I hit the Cougar crest trail that sends you downhill to the finish line (~3 miles -1000 ft), I knew it was time to leave it all out there. I just let loose what I had left, and bombed down a somewhat technical trail past day hikers and straggling runners. When I hit the pedal path to the finish line, I kicked a last little bit to catch one last runner because I was really feeling it. Conveniently this race tracks your placement at a few of the aid stations. In the end I went from 92nd at the 8.3 mile aid station to 45th at the finish.
As you say, I'm currently basking in the glow of the race and trying to unpack how it made me feel. For me, I think I consistently underrate my own abilities as many of us do. I was so focused on all of the things I was unable to do in training, but I missed how much really good preparation I did put in. My fueling was absolutely dialed compared to my first ultra. I was able to get in 80g carbs/hour throughout the race despite being at 7-8k feet above sea level. This made such an incredible difference in endurance and I have definitely noticed it in recovery as well. I also had a much better sense of pacing just from more long runs and one ultra under my belt. I think the second take away was how impactful really challenging and competitive things can be. Once I was out there, I really let go of everything else in my mind and pushed myself. There was no judgement or second guessing, I was totally locked in on doing something to the best of my ability. That is something I really want to bring to other aspects of life. The cherry on top of that is the silly competition. Does 55th or 50th or 45th place matter at all? No, definitely not. BUT let me tell you it is really fun to have the runner in front of you look back and then turn on the jets to try and hang on. A totally meaningless sprint finish but we were both cracking up after I passed him and then gave him a fist bump at the finish line.
Okay, I wrote way too much but your post got the gears turning. Thanks always for the thoughtful and thought provoking meditations on this stupid fun sport.
I've been away from here for a bit and I'm enjoying catching up. This is also perfect timing to read as I just finished my 2nd 50k of my life and also this year at Kodiak in Big Bear Lake, CA. Even before reading this piece, I was thinking a lot about how something as frivolous as these races can really make me feel things and change my perception of myself. Apologies for the rambling training/racing report ahead, but where else am I going to write this stuff??
For this race in particular, my training was interesting to say the least and I was not feeling super confident going in. I got married this summer and moved multiple times. I also spent the bulk of my training block in Southern California with a work schedule that allows for running mainly between 2 and 5 pm, because I work early and cook dinner after. This meant multiple heatwaves of 100+ temps at that time. I was so used to it that I had a daily routine of wetting my hat and shirt then putting them in the freezer 20 min prior to running. I would slog at paces 1-2 min/mile slower than preferred and constantly dump water to cool. I only even contemplated speed workouts when temperatures dropped to avoid overheating after 1 interval. On top of that, Big Bear Lake was threatened by a huge fire and the race was very much in the balance with an active fire and large National Forest Closures. Until the week before the race, I had a strong assumption that it was going to be canceled but they were able to move the race to the other side of the lake.
All that being said, I was not confident in my training and at times wondering if I even wanted to do this race. By race morning, I was pretty psyched to be there but definitely nervous about what I had in me for a 50k at 7,000 feet as a relative newbie on less than ideal training. I took the beginning out pretty cautious and watched a ton of people bust out ahead of me. I definitely had to swallow some pride, because although I'm not out there trying to win the race I definitely thought that if I was at my best I could be with some of those runners. After that, things went pretty smoothly and I was feeling great at the aid station at mile 13. I knew I had a steady downhill before two big, hot exposed climbs to finish so I stayed with my more cautious approach. I quickly filled up some water at the mile 19 aid station and headed to the first of the big climbs. As I started climbing, I started to realize I was dropping some people. Whenever I pass someone on an uphill I always say something like "We'll probably be going the same pace in a minute" or something like that, but in this case I just kind of kept passing people. Then came the aid station before last climb. I filled up a bottle with coke because I needed some liquid carbs to break up the gels. I started up this climb and the pattern continued. One by one, I started to make my way by people who were struggling up to the ridge. By the time I hit the Cougar crest trail that sends you downhill to the finish line (~3 miles -1000 ft), I knew it was time to leave it all out there. I just let loose what I had left, and bombed down a somewhat technical trail past day hikers and straggling runners. When I hit the pedal path to the finish line, I kicked a last little bit to catch one last runner because I was really feeling it. Conveniently this race tracks your placement at a few of the aid stations. In the end I went from 92nd at the 8.3 mile aid station to 45th at the finish.
As you say, I'm currently basking in the glow of the race and trying to unpack how it made me feel. For me, I think I consistently underrate my own abilities as many of us do. I was so focused on all of the things I was unable to do in training, but I missed how much really good preparation I did put in. My fueling was absolutely dialed compared to my first ultra. I was able to get in 80g carbs/hour throughout the race despite being at 7-8k feet above sea level. This made such an incredible difference in endurance and I have definitely noticed it in recovery as well. I also had a much better sense of pacing just from more long runs and one ultra under my belt. I think the second take away was how impactful really challenging and competitive things can be. Once I was out there, I really let go of everything else in my mind and pushed myself. There was no judgement or second guessing, I was totally locked in on doing something to the best of my ability. That is something I really want to bring to other aspects of life. The cherry on top of that is the silly competition. Does 55th or 50th or 45th place matter at all? No, definitely not. BUT let me tell you it is really fun to have the runner in front of you look back and then turn on the jets to try and hang on. A totally meaningless sprint finish but we were both cracking up after I passed him and then gave him a fist bump at the finish line.
Okay, I wrote way too much but your post got the gears turning. Thanks always for the thoughtful and thought provoking meditations on this stupid fun sport.
HOLY SHIT THIS IS AWESOME JOHN!!!!!!
What a day. Dude, I am so proud of you. Literal tears reading this.