On June 9th I participated in the 3rd annual Eagle Up 24-Hour run in Canal Fulton, Ohio. My goal was to finish a distance of 100 kilometers (62.1 miles.) I knew the distance was going to be tough - up to now I had finished one 50-mile run (the week before Thanksgiving) and one 40-mile run (over a year and a half ago.) Still I had trained for the distance and knew I was up to the task.
Training leading up to the event went very well - which is to say I hit lots of problems. The reason I mention this is each problem I hit during training (overheating, dehydration, electrolytes, lack of calories, pacing, etc.) was something I had to figure out before this past weekend. This run went nearly perfectly because of all of those 'mistakes' I made and the adjustments I made to correct them.
My starting clothes. I ended up using 4 different shirts...
The run was designed on a 5-mile loop. The plan was as such: do 12 laps. Each lap, get to mile one. Then mile two... and so on, until I get back to the finish and start again. On lap 13, I had to get to the 100km turn-around point about a mile into the loop then come back to the start/finish to complete my 62.1 miles.
The first couple of laps went better than expected. My pace was a bit ahead of what I thought I would do and I was feeling great. My first "wall" came around mile 18. This isn't uncommon for me and it is almost like I was expecting it. I walked a bit, hydrated, and got some calories in me. That helped me break through the wall and finish lap four.
My drop bag was located just before the start/finish line. My strategy was when I was in mile four of the loop, I would do a mental checklist of what I needed to do when I got there: take salt, restock food/fuel, switch from water to tailwind (a hydration / calorie / electrolyte drink), change shirts, take a nap (kidding, not kidding. but yes, kidding) or whatever else needed to happen.
I ended up finishing the first 50k in about 7 hours and 15 minutes. While I was trying to keep pacing and times out of my head, I did picture finishing this in less than 15 hours. I also remembered that I was only half way done.
How many laps are left???
'Normal' running is as much mental as physical. Ultras are 90% mental and 10% in your mind. The key to finishing for me was to stick to the plan: cross the starting line, get to mile one... get to mile two... Don't think about how many miles you've done. Don't think about how many miles are left. Don't think about what time it is. Just keep moving forward.
That isn't to say I didn't enjoy the laps! I met so many amazing people during this event. The beautiful part of a lapped run is you get to see people different times. I met people from Virginia as well as Michigan. I talked to people doing their first 50k as well as their first 50 miler. I ran into people I met at ThunderBunny 50k as they were volunteering at an aid station. I got passed by runners four or more times, and each time we'd have a quick encouraging word for each other. The trail community is truly amazing.
I love this picture for so many reasons.
Passing the screen for a 10th time and seeing my name pop up with 50 miles... I did have a thought of "why keep going? I mean seriously I've been running since six am." Then I remembered a mantra that got me through my first 50 miler:
Yes I was in pain physically. Yes I was mentally exhausted. Yes I had already done so much... but whether I stopped or not I would still be in pain that night and the next morning... and I knew mentally I would be worse off since I didn't finish what I set out to do. Onward it was. Lap 11 was by far the slowest for me, taking about 85 minutes to finish the 5 mile loop. I walked most of it. I talked to many of you during it. And I finished it. I knew at that point I was going to be a 100 km finisher. Even if I had to walk the last loop + 2 miles, I would finish this thing. Luckily I didn't have to do the last loop alone.
Bree paced me (ran with me) the final 5 mile loop - pushing me to run when I was tired, and walking quickly to make sure I didn't dawdle. With her help, I finished that loop almost 4 minutes faster than the previous loop. Bree saw me through to the end of lap 12 where I went out to the turn around point, before returning to the start/finish line 16 hours and 17 minutes after I had started - hitting my B and C level goals. (My "A" goal was 15 1/2 hours.) I crossed the finish line at about 10:15 pm where I was met by Bree, Sam, and Alexa. The race director congratulated me and asked me if I wanted to keep going. I declined and gladly traded my timing chip for my finisher's medal.
Thank you again for all of your support throughout this adventure. Together we have raised over $700 for Nationwide Children's Hospital. It was an honor to represent you out there and I am humbled by your belief in me.
