Sulphur Springs 50km Ultra Trail Race

Ancaster, Ontario

Saturday May 24, 2008

www.ouser.com

Prerace: Routines

 The rule is “don’t try anything new before a race”. So the day before this race there I was, pacing kids at the track for the 800m and 1500m at their race pace.  I love running with kids, but a track workout the day before an ultra! I wondered about the glycogen I had burned and lactic acid that had pooled.  But this is my life, part of my routine. Friday night I headed out for my ritual day before easy run to flush my legs and focus my mind. It worked. All part of the routine.

Chaiotic Start

I woke at 4:15am race day without the alarm. I have never raced Sulphur and wanted to give myself some extra time to get organize. Parking at Sulpur is a pain. I had to park at the top of a 300m hill (long walk up after the race). Not knowing this I had left my stuff in the car when I went to register. I registered, chatted with Anthony (yeah RF!), and hiked back up to the car. Grabbed my stuff and headed back down. I set my box with supplies up and headed for one last port-a-potty visit. As I was coming out I heard the race start countdown- AHHHH! I jumped in the pack of people and grabbed my water bottle as I passed my supplies.

25km and 50km racers started together, and this was a large ultra race. I tried to find my pace and forget about a pack of women,  I recogonized, who had gone out fast. The start of an ultra is so important. I reminded myself to stay calm, this was already my third ultra this year, and tried to visulize myself in the moment.

 10km Spur

I didn’t know much about the race course. 50km racers would complete a 10km spur then two 20km loops, on wide trails mostly in Dundas Conservation Area. Trail running always involves hills so I wasn’t surprised at the rollers on the course, but compared to the other two ultras I have done this year, the course was “gentle”. What was a challenge was the number of racers and different race lengths on the course at the same time. I was thankful that the 25km racers turned around at 2.5km of their 5km spur. I was alone for a long time after this turn around however and I started to wonder when the 50km turn around was. Turns out their wasn’t one. The 10km spur was a loop that ended up to be apart of the 20loop. I should have got the maps available on line. I was back to the start/finish area at 58 minutes.

First 20 Loop

This loop was characterised by a lot of ups and downs. Unfortunetly I don’t mean in the terrain! I felt great, I felt awful. I felt great when I was running up or down hill.  I felt awful when I was running the numerous flat sections. Although there were several hills on the course, the long sections of flats in between killed me mentally. The entire course, except a few short sections, was double track trail and this was challenging on my mind. The forest was beautiful and I enjoyed running somewhere new. But my strength is hills and this flatter, less technical course demanded I run a faster pace than I usually do. My experience, although not a lot, running ultras has taught me that the awful feelings pass with time and you just have to run through them, so I did.

I love cheering other people on. When runners pass I almost always say something positive to them. Personally I think it helps me stay positive and focussed on fun. I met three guys (Dan, Jeff, and Jon) during the first loop who helped me stay positive. This was their first ultra race. Two of them were wearning signs saying they were running for a child with heart problems. We played cat and mouse a lot. They passed me on the flats and I passed them on the hills. They were great companions on the trails and very positive. I also saw RF athlete Ken N. on this first loop. Ken looked amazing running in his first 1oo miler! I was humbled and jealous.  Course that feeling was gone at 7:00pm that night as I watched my daughter’s dance recital and thought about Ken still running. You are an inspiration Ken!

Coming in to the end of the first loop I was happy with myself as I had eaten one gel and two bags of sport jelly beans (mixed flavours tasted great!). This was good news. My stomach was controlling itself. I also knew that I was about a kilometre behind two woman who had been out in that front pack. Thirty kilometres behind me, twenty to go- it wasn’t a race yet.

First loop time 2:07, total time 3:05.

 Second 20 Loop

I restocked my GU gel and jelly bean supplies, switched my ultimate directions hand held bottles to fuel bottles tucked into my tri-shirt, and cursed myself for leaving the body glide in the car. In my rush to prepare I had forgotten to put glide under my arms. The chaving was killing me!

Going out on the last loop I immedately felt stronger. Knowing the course a bit more helped. My body was sending my brain pain and fatigue signals: sciatic nerve, knee, lower back, and hamstring insertion. But I know my brain can ignore these and push on, so I did. I held my pace. I was very consistent the entire race, running most of the course at the same 6:10-6:15 pace.

At about 37kms I met up with Jon and Dan again, Jeff had left to fly off to an impressive 2nd place age category finish! I caught sight of the first of three women I would go on to pass this loop at this point. Thanks to the boys for cheering me on as I took my opportunity to pass her on an uphill. This is what racing is about! Less than five minutes later I was passing a friend, Marianne Perz, who was struggling. I slowed down to encourage her and see if there was anything I had that could help, but I had to push on. This too is what racing is about! I passed the third female racer going up a long gradual climb. I know in the longer ultra races I will have to walk up these hills, but in the “shorter” 50kms races my strategy of running them really works. I only walked three hills this whole race.

My mind focussed on staying steady and relaxed. My time at 45kms was 4:45. For a PB I would have to run a 6:00km pace to the finish. So I pushed. I knew there were no other women I could catch to improve my placing, but this can’t be a runner’s sole goal. In an ultra you have to set many different goals. As the race progresses these goals change and new goals are set. But you can’t only think about finishing or placing. I’m learning to set these little goals constantly. For example, one of my goals this race was to run up “Angel” hill once. Another was to run to the next flagging tape before I walked. When I accomplished these small goals I set others. I was constantly achieving. The last 5kms I suffered a lot of pain. The problem was I knew this pain was mostly coming from my brain and not my body. I was not happy with myself for this. I knew I couldn’t all of a sudden be in agony, but I was. This is not the first time I got to the end of a race and felt intense pain. My head is so good at shutting out my body all race, then when I know I am almost done it opens it’s doors to all the pain signals! This is something I have to work on.

Crossing the line in 5:17 I’ll admit I was disappointed I didn’t get my PB. Fifth female overall.

A quick shower, congradulations to other athletes and I’m off to become mom again racing home to get to my daughter’s dance recital. All just part of the routine.

Final Thoughts: Team Running Free

I love being a part of the Running Free team. To me it is an honor. My team gear is not advertising- it is a statement. A statement that I am a part of a belief in giving back and to inspiring people to believe in their goals. Although we compete individually, we are a team. Thank you to those RF athletes who cheer eachother on. Seeing your RF colours and hearing your words of encouragement motivates me and I know helps others. As RF athletes we have an opportunity to represent an incredible store. Wear your RF colours, keep cheering, and remember to give back. Hope to see a sea of RF colours at all the upcoming races!