Back Story:
Back in Feb 2021, I remember I was sitting on the couch
looking at my race calendar. It was blank and sad! I wasn’t sure what would
happen with COVID and the races. Trail running seemed like the safest option. I
could always do it virtually and away from the crowd. And if you know me, you
know that I couldn’t settle for a 5K or 10K on the trail! It had to be an
ultra marathon. It was either an ultra or learning Salsa dancing! It was a
close call people!
I did some research, okay, I just looked online for a couple hours and signed up for the DHRT 50K in August. It is true that I hate the heat and was terrified of being over heated at the race, but it was the only flat option and seemed reasonable!
So I started training for it. I would park my Car at C&O Lock 7 and go for runs. Why at that specific spot?! Because my cousin lives 5 minutes from it and I would go over there to eat and pass out on their couch. I wasn’t following any particular training plan. I picked up what we had for Challenge Roth and just continued off of that.
I knew it was 50K, which is TEN 5Ks. SOMEHOW I had it in my head that it equaled 36 miles! Thanks to some very good friends, who did the math for me and showed me that I had over trained! Is this really a shock though?!!! Haha…
Aug 6th, Day Before:
I told everyone that I knew that the race was in
Fredericksburg! Where do I drive to when I leave the house to head down?
BALTIMORE!!! No further comments on this one!
I sent a photo of the email that race director sent us to
some friends. Saying “Look! They are setting me up for failure”. Friend: “I
would be more concerned about what they wrote two paragraphs above that – the electrified
fence!!!” And that is the first time that I actually saw the note about the fences!
Driving up to Baltimore was hectic, since there was traffic.
I took the time to make a shopping list 😐
Once I got to my hotel, I was set for a quiet evening 😊
Aug 7th, Race Day!
I woke
up at 4 AM, made coffee and did some art work on my arm. That is the cutoff time
for turn around point and the locations of aid stations and Porta Johns.
I got to the race start at 6 AM, and had 30 minutes to chat
with some cool people! I do really like the Ultra Crowd. I might’ve accidentally
terrified another girl, talking about the electrified fence with a touch of
Final Destination. Sorry!
It was a gorgeous day! At least it was for me. When we
started the temperature was in the 60s with overcast! So lucky.
I had been training with 4 minute run and 1 minute walks,
but at the race start I decided to run a little more. So I did the 1 Mile, 1
minute for the first hour and half. Then I met Jodi, who was struggling. I was
starting to feel it too. So we started chatting and she did the 4/1s with me.
I had only half of my nutrition in my bag and the second
half in my drop bag at mile 15.5. Right around mile 15 is when my body decided
to do the weirdest thing that it has never done. I have done a few marathons, and have never felt this way. This is sort of like a Reel
video from Hayley Morris, I love her videos on Instagram. We will keep it PG
for the purpose of this post …
My Stomach: I am going to act like you are about to puke
every time you think about eating anything.
My Bladder: I am going to make you feel like you are about
to explode, even though I am empty. And I will not stop until you squat somewhere.
Legs: We are going to cramp no matter what you do, because
we need electrolytes!!
Brain: I am going to make you want to run fast and also
think that you are about to pee yourself!
Mother Nature: sky! Open up and dump rain all over them!
Mile 24: Mother Nature: Oh look! That fool is still running!
Here are thunders and a bunch of Deer flies for you! Enjoy!
At that point I put my headphones in and ignored everything around me. The problem was that the race director announced they would start the race with rain, but if there was thunder or lightening, we had to seek shelter. And only continue at our own risk. I had come too far to quit! So I decided to ignore everything unless someone pushed me in to the race van!
The rain didn’t stop! My shoes were filled with water. I
loved every minute of it. The rain made it cool and also was a great distraction
for me. I was tired of counting how many miles I had left and how long it would
take me!
The volunteers treated us like kings and queens. At the turn
around someone was standing holding my drop bag for me and he would hand me
what I needed! How cool is that?!
As I was running the last few miles, the volunteers would
ask if I needed anything and I kept saying, “My Pajamas!”
If you are a triathlete and even better an Ironman, you know
how high energy the finish line is at those races! It is a big party, you hear it from miles
away. The Ultra Finish however ... I had to do a double take and make sure it was the
finish! haha I did get my medal though :)
Writing this while sitting on the couch in my pajama. I realize this is not a race report. It is an entry in my blog that has the memories of all my epic experiences. I am not sure what I will do next for it to be epic enough to make it here. I will think about it and I am sure it won’t disappoint. Definitely, not a one and done. I will pickup another ultra for later this year.
Note to self: Never sit in a salt bath after a long run! 😱😱😱 Well at least the pain came at once and was gone fast.
