We signed up for this race because it looked like it would be a lot of fun as well as a challenge. It was both. It was certainly a challenging course for flatlanders-I have never seen so many hills!! As soon as you were over one, there was another (often bigger) one to conquer.
When we arrived at the start line it was in the 30s. That would be considered just about perfect for most runners, but it is a little chilly for me. The weather was supposed to "warm" up to the high 50s later in the race. I tried very hard not to wear too many clothes at the beginning and I think that I was just about right for most of the race. I was ready for a short sleeved shirt by the end, but the Sunmart shirt was lightweight and was a real conversation starter.
Bruce opted for the half, since he is still battling tendonitis. It was a difficult decision for him, because he really wanted to run the full. I am glad that he decided to go with the half- I want him to recover fully so we can run together this fall. The half marathoners started an hour later at 8:30. He braved the cold and saw me off at the start before heading back to the car to warm up. :-)
As we took off for the first loop, there is a big hill that you have to traverse. I thought "wow, this IS going to be tough." As usual, there is the joking, getting to know your fellow runner, talking about races, and introductions going on. I was in the middle of a "pack" of runners and we stayed together for many miles of this race. There was "John" from New Mexico, "Pink Gaiters", and two women who run street marathons and a few other people in this group. I was amazed how long we all stayed together and talked. Amusingly, we would run along and then you would hear a "thump" followed immediately by "I'm Ok, I'm Ok." Lots of falls, but no injuries. Thank goodness no falls for me.
The miles ticked by. I usually take walk breaks, but I was having a great time and did not want to drop out of the group. I decided to just keep running until I felt I "needed" a walk break. I was really hoping that this decision would not come back to haunt me.
So, there we are, running along in the beautiful Michigan forest. It was truly a lovely course. It was almost exclusively single track with rolling hills, lots of roots and a few rocks thrown in for good measure. You also ran by several lakes and small streams.
Slowly but surely our group began to dissipate. Before I knew it, New Mexico had gone ahead, the road marathoners were behind us, and it was me and "Pink Gaitors." He told me that he wears the pink gaitors and a pink bandana in honor of his wife who is a cancer survivor. Very sweet. We were together until the end of the first loop, he stopped for a restroom break. I did not see him again until the finish line.
I decided once I got past the 13 mile mark I would start my walk breaks. Mile 13 came and went, so my next decision was to start walk breaks at mile 15. Later I decided to start them at mile 18, then mile 20. By the time I got to the 20 mile mark I only had 6.2 miles to go. I never really felt that I needed my walk breaks, so I did not take them. I guess it was because I was going at a slower rate than normal due to the terrain. At any rate, I was able to keep a consistent pace. I passed many people in the last loop, including “New Mexico.” I did the first ½ in 2:28 and I finished in 4:58. It was an awesome race and I would not have done anything any different.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Monday, April 14, 2008
Hog's Hunt 50K 04/05/08
As I geared up for this race I reminded myself that this was only a race to keep my mileage up- not really a race. Certainly not a PR race. The weather in Texas is sometimes unpredictable, but for this race it was ideal. On Friday a cold front swept through the area dropping some rain, but it made the temperatures very nice on Saturday. I was worried that the trails would be muddy, but they were very good and only muddy in a few spots.
My wonderful husband and I left Friendswood to head to Huntsville at o'dark thirty on Saturday morning. Although my husband would have loved to run one of these races, he was wisely taking it easy after a hard effort and a nagging injury. So he was there to support me. We arrived at the park, picked up my packet, and prepared for the race. I told him several times that I had no intention of running this race for time, my PR for a 50K was 6:06 from the Rockledge Rumble in November 2007. I told him that I expected to run this race in about 6 hours. Ok, I know that technically that is a PR, but I feel that Huntsville terrain is easier than Grapevine- so I was not going to run hard.
Since Bruce was not up to 15 miles, he decided to make his own Hog's Hunt 10K and when we took off, he ran a little over three miles on the trail in the opposite direction. He said that you should have seen the looks on the faces of the volunteers as he came into the last aid station about an hour before they expected anyone. He just smiled and told them that he was running the "unofficial" Hog's Hunt 10K- which by the way he won first place! Sure there was no shirt, no swag, and no recognition- but he won!
I kissed Bruce bye and left for the first 15 mile loop. I have run several races in the Huntsville State park and I am always amazed at how many different routes race directors are able to find in one park. I feel like every race is different. I remember thinkning that Paul Stone had somehow managed to find a terrific 15 mile loop that was all downhill. As I came in from the first loop, Bruce was not even looking for me. He was chatting with others as I was running up. I yelled "hey, pay attention!" as I ran by. :-) I grinned at his surprised look. I grabbed something at the aid station and headed over to him for a quick clothing change. He asked me how long that loop took and I was surprised to say 2 hours and 38 minutes. No wonder he was not looking for me- I was way ahead of schedule!
I headed out again secretly worrying that I started too fast. The truth was that I felt great. I discovered that somehow the second identical loop was all uphill! Ok, maybe it just seemed that way. I just decided to keep up this pace as long as I could. The terrain was typical Huntsville, a few hills, very rooty and a bit muddy here and there. This was the first race that I have ever run without a Garmin or Polar to keep my pace. Maybe that is why I was able to do better than I had expected- I was just running because it felt good.
The front runners kept me inspired throughout the race. I ran it in at 5:18- over 40 minutes faster than I had anticpiated. So much for not running for a time goal or a PR. It was a fantastic race.
My wonderful husband and I left Friendswood to head to Huntsville at o'dark thirty on Saturday morning. Although my husband would have loved to run one of these races, he was wisely taking it easy after a hard effort and a nagging injury. So he was there to support me. We arrived at the park, picked up my packet, and prepared for the race. I told him several times that I had no intention of running this race for time, my PR for a 50K was 6:06 from the Rockledge Rumble in November 2007. I told him that I expected to run this race in about 6 hours. Ok, I know that technically that is a PR, but I feel that Huntsville terrain is easier than Grapevine- so I was not going to run hard.
Since Bruce was not up to 15 miles, he decided to make his own Hog's Hunt 10K and when we took off, he ran a little over three miles on the trail in the opposite direction. He said that you should have seen the looks on the faces of the volunteers as he came into the last aid station about an hour before they expected anyone. He just smiled and told them that he was running the "unofficial" Hog's Hunt 10K- which by the way he won first place! Sure there was no shirt, no swag, and no recognition- but he won!
I kissed Bruce bye and left for the first 15 mile loop. I have run several races in the Huntsville State park and I am always amazed at how many different routes race directors are able to find in one park. I feel like every race is different. I remember thinkning that Paul Stone had somehow managed to find a terrific 15 mile loop that was all downhill. As I came in from the first loop, Bruce was not even looking for me. He was chatting with others as I was running up. I yelled "hey, pay attention!" as I ran by. :-) I grinned at his surprised look. I grabbed something at the aid station and headed over to him for a quick clothing change. He asked me how long that loop took and I was surprised to say 2 hours and 38 minutes. No wonder he was not looking for me- I was way ahead of schedule!
I headed out again secretly worrying that I started too fast. The truth was that I felt great. I discovered that somehow the second identical loop was all uphill! Ok, maybe it just seemed that way. I just decided to keep up this pace as long as I could. The terrain was typical Huntsville, a few hills, very rooty and a bit muddy here and there. This was the first race that I have ever run without a Garmin or Polar to keep my pace. Maybe that is why I was able to do better than I had expected- I was just running because it felt good.
The front runners kept me inspired throughout the race. I ran it in at 5:18- over 40 minutes faster than I had anticpiated. So much for not running for a time goal or a PR. It was a fantastic race.
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