Well, this was technically my first "ultra" marathon and I must say it was quite fun. Despite my lack of focus during training in the couple of months preceding the race, I put out a decent effort, placing 5th overall. Sure, the field was only 24 heads deep, but those in the top 4 were pretty stout competitors (with many more ultras under their belts than myself). I should also mention that I slept in the back of my wife's Nissan SUV the night before—squeezed between her and a cooler.
The race started at 7am and we headed up a 2.4-mile out-and-back section before hitting the standard marathon course. During this hilly road section, I immediately felt my right outer hamstring cramp up (it had been unusually tight for the last week). This worried me because the rest of the course loops through the high mountains around Silverton and the last thing I would want is to bail on the run at mile 20 deep in the mountains and wait for a support truck to pick me up or something silly like that. But I motored on and decided that if my leg got any worse by the time we reached the marathon section, I'd bail out there and just walk back to our camp spot across the road. The cramp subsided and I continued on with the race, much to my delight.
The next 8 miles was essentially a flat mining road (the whole course was actually an old mining loop) in the 10,000' valley of Silverton. At this point I had put a good gap on the competition behind me and there were 5 runners ahead of me, 4 of which were out of sight. The fifth was only about 50 yards ahead, who I passed four miles into this section. That would be the only person I passed for the remainder of the race.
After the flats, I headed up what would be the long 10-mile big climb of the day (toping out at California Pass at 12,900'). My pace was nice and smooth up this rocky dirt road and I had gapped the runner previously in 5th by about a half of a mile. After about ten minutes, I was alone, climbing through this huge alpine gulch. As I popped a GU, I looked back and noticed a runner right on my tail. This racer seemed to appear out of nowhere and quickly passed me; it was Dakota Jones running the marathon (which started an hour after us) and going for the course record. We exchanged pleasantries and he continued up the climb at a staggering pace.
I hit the pass (mile 20) in 3:50. The final approach to the pass was quite steep, so I power hiked it to conserve energy. During the final climb up the pass, two other marathoners passed me, but I hadn't seen a single 50k-er down valley. Once I crested the pass, I grabbed a slice of PB&J and casually descended to let the cramping in my stomach subside and allow some food to go down. I cruised over the last little 400' climb over Hurricane Pass and mentally prepared for the hammering 11-mile descent. At the pass I noticed my left thumb and left side of my lips were completely numb. Since this was the first time I had ever run with a pack, I figured the shoulder strap was playing funky games with my nerves in my shoulder, so I loosened it and feeling started to come back—weird.
The descent was far more arduous than the climb in my book. The super-rocky, steep trail is unforgiving and seemingly never-ending. Though, much to my delight, my feet were still feeling decent—good thing I had chosen to run the race in a pair of road racing flats, Addidas Mana 5s, rather than my go-to MT110s. I counted the miles, one after the other, under the hot sun of mid-day. I hoped for a much faster pace through this section, but all I could muster were short blasts of 7-minute miles surrounded by high-8s.
Throughout the entire descent to the finish I didn't see a single person behind me, so I essentially coasted across the finish in 5:47. I was hoping to get in somewhere under 5:30, but my sand-bagging on the back stretch prevented it.
I'll be back next year to hopefully snag a podium finish.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Weekly Update: 8/20 - 8/26
Mon: 4 mi Twin Lakes - Afternoon easy run. The stomach was not feeling that great after a Chinese food binge at lunch.
Tue: 4.5 mi Twin Lakes - Much more pleasant easy run than the prior day.
Thu: 6 mi Twin Lakes - One more mellow run before heading down to Silverton for the race.
Sat: 31.6 mi (5:47, 4,400') Silverton Alpine 50k - 5th place
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Week Totals:
Miles: 46.5
Vert: 4,400'
Time: 7:45
Tue: 4.5 mi Twin Lakes - Much more pleasant easy run than the prior day.
Thu: 6 mi Twin Lakes - One more mellow run before heading down to Silverton for the race.
Sat: 31.6 mi (5:47, 4,400') Silverton Alpine 50k - 5th place
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Week Totals:
Miles: 46.5
Vert: 4,400'
Time: 7:45
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Weekly Update: 8/13 - 8/19
Tue: 3.1mi (:47:50, 1,357') Mt Sanitas - Evening run up the little guy. Really hot with bad air quality from the fires a few states away. Hit the summit in a not-to-shabby :22. Despite it's relatively small nature (compared to Bear and Green), this mountain is always a brutal climb—thank goodness it doesn't take too long.
Thu: 5mi (1:04, 1,800') Fern Canyon (to Nebel Horn) from North Shanahan via Cragmoor - Earlier in the day I noticed Boulder Open Space opened this trail back up two days prior following the Flagstaff fire a couple months back. I couldn't wait, so I headed up straight after work. I got a late start, so once I reached the saddle (behind Nebel Horn) I turned back so I wouldn't have to descend the super precipitous trail in the dark. So excited it's open again—Bear Peak summits are officially back in order.
Fri: 7mi (1:02) Twin Lakes/Boulder Country Club Loop - Got out for an evening cruise on the roads near my house to quickly test out the new New Balance MT1010s that arrived at my doorstep earlier in the day. They feel really comfy, but wished I could have hit some trails to feel out the traction. Soon enough.
Sat: 9.1mi (4:14, 2,130') Pawnee Pass hike/run with Mehri - We planned to just hike this, but it turned into a combination of hiking and running. Lots of pictures and mellow cruising. Nice to be out for the same amount of time I usually spend on my long runs. Since I'm tapering, it was a welcomed departure from the usual 20-miler.
Sun: 9.2mi (2:07, 3,265') Bear Peak - From Chautauqua, I cruised over to Fern from Mesa, hitting the junction in 40 mins. From there, hit the saddle 20 minutes later and reached the summit in 1:18. I wore the Addidas Mana 5s today, which, much to my surprise, offered decent purchase on the ups. The same can't be said for the super steep descents, but with a little side-stepping, the slippage wasn't terrible.
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Week Totals:
Miles: 33
Vertical: 8,550'
Time: 9:17
A really mellow week as I tapper for the Silverton Alpine 50k next week. I'm feeling pretty confident in my fitness and hope to run a strong race. Considering the current course record is 4:26 (8:30ish/miles), I'd be happy getting close to that, maybe 9:15s.
Thu: 5mi (1:04, 1,800') Fern Canyon (to Nebel Horn) from North Shanahan via Cragmoor - Earlier in the day I noticed Boulder Open Space opened this trail back up two days prior following the Flagstaff fire a couple months back. I couldn't wait, so I headed up straight after work. I got a late start, so once I reached the saddle (behind Nebel Horn) I turned back so I wouldn't have to descend the super precipitous trail in the dark. So excited it's open again—Bear Peak summits are officially back in order.
Fri: 7mi (1:02) Twin Lakes/Boulder Country Club Loop - Got out for an evening cruise on the roads near my house to quickly test out the new New Balance MT1010s that arrived at my doorstep earlier in the day. They feel really comfy, but wished I could have hit some trails to feel out the traction. Soon enough.
Sat: 9.1mi (4:14, 2,130') Pawnee Pass hike/run with Mehri - We planned to just hike this, but it turned into a combination of hiking and running. Lots of pictures and mellow cruising. Nice to be out for the same amount of time I usually spend on my long runs. Since I'm tapering, it was a welcomed departure from the usual 20-miler.
Sun: 9.2mi (2:07, 3,265') Bear Peak - From Chautauqua, I cruised over to Fern from Mesa, hitting the junction in 40 mins. From there, hit the saddle 20 minutes later and reached the summit in 1:18. I wore the Addidas Mana 5s today, which, much to my surprise, offered decent purchase on the ups. The same can't be said for the super steep descents, but with a little side-stepping, the slippage wasn't terrible.
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Week Totals:
Miles: 33
Vertical: 8,550'
Time: 9:17
A really mellow week as I tapper for the Silverton Alpine 50k next week. I'm feeling pretty confident in my fitness and hope to run a strong race. Considering the current course record is 4:26 (8:30ish/miles), I'd be happy getting close to that, maybe 9:15s.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Weekly Update: 8/6 - 8/12
Wed: 6mi (1:24, 2,700') Green Mtn - from Chat, :45 summit. Sluggish morning, but chased this guy (John) up the mountain. I've seen him a few times crushing the descent. We chatted at the summit before heading down. Fun morning.
Thu: 4.4mi (1:12, 2,400') Green Mtn - PR summit, 41:25. Inspired by the previous morning, I pushed hard, which resulted in a pretty quick trip up.
Fri: 4.5mi (:47, 1,300') Chat/Amphi/SR - PM run. Too lazy/tired to hit the summit.
Sat: AM: 8mi (1:15, 1,000') Pawnee Pass - Fun, mellow run at altitude surrounded by Indians. I had not intention of hitting the pass (don't know why, really). The most marmots I've ever seen in one day, plus I saw a good size bull moose near Brainard Lake. Sweet.
2 mi (:25, 600') Amphitheater - coming back from Indian Peaks, I still had some energy, so I hit up Amphitheater for a final quick climb for the day.
Sun: 13 mi (2:23, 1,500') Eldorado Canyon Trail from Doudy - I haven't run Walker Ranch before, so it was nice to see what that was all about. The Eldo Canyon Trail has a nice climb from the outset. I'll be back to do the 13-mile loop soon.
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Week Totals:
Miles: 38
Vertical: 9,500'
Time: 7:28
Green Mountain was certainly the emphasis for the week. The PR on Thursday was exciting and an encouraging milestone as I chip away at a sub 40-minute effort. With the Silverton Alpine a couple weeks away, I feel like my high-altitude running has been getting dialed in nicely with the frequent Indian Peaks trips. Hopefully, it pays off.
Thu: 4.4mi (1:12, 2,400') Green Mtn - PR summit, 41:25. Inspired by the previous morning, I pushed hard, which resulted in a pretty quick trip up.
Fri: 4.5mi (:47, 1,300') Chat/Amphi/SR - PM run. Too lazy/tired to hit the summit.
Sat: AM: 8mi (1:15, 1,000') Pawnee Pass - Fun, mellow run at altitude surrounded by Indians. I had not intention of hitting the pass (don't know why, really). The most marmots I've ever seen in one day, plus I saw a good size bull moose near Brainard Lake. Sweet.
2 mi (:25, 600') Amphitheater - coming back from Indian Peaks, I still had some energy, so I hit up Amphitheater for a final quick climb for the day.
Sun: 13 mi (2:23, 1,500') Eldorado Canyon Trail from Doudy - I haven't run Walker Ranch before, so it was nice to see what that was all about. The Eldo Canyon Trail has a nice climb from the outset. I'll be back to do the 13-mile loop soon.
-------
Week Totals:
Miles: 38
Vertical: 9,500'
Time: 7:28
Green Mountain was certainly the emphasis for the week. The PR on Thursday was exciting and an encouraging milestone as I chip away at a sub 40-minute effort. With the Silverton Alpine a couple weeks away, I feel like my high-altitude running has been getting dialed in nicely with the frequent Indian Peaks trips. Hopefully, it pays off.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Weekly Update: 7/30 - 8/5
Thu: 4 mi (:40, 1,000') Amphi/SR/Chat - Ok, this was a pointless run. Meant to tag Green, but the recent theme has been lack of inspiration, so I turned back on Saddle Rock and cruised around the Chautauqua trail. I even sat on a rock and watched fire crews drive up Flagstaff. Then, before going back to the car, I decided to run up Amphitheater again. What a mess of a morning.
Fri: 9 mi (1:15) Twin Lakes to White Rocks - Another very random outing—I think I've just been eager to mix things up. Took off from my doorstep, crashed the country club scene on my way to White Rocks. Fun little road action.
Sat: 21 mi (4:08, 4,510') Mesa/Goshawk Loop - Much cooler than last week's long run. Felt great pretty much the whole way, but the hamstrings were pretty achy for the last few miles. Kept the pace really mellow, didn't stop much except to suck a few GUs down.
Sun: 6 mi (:56) Twin Lakes - My hamstrings were really sore (not a great sign so close to race time) Did a few laps around the lakes in the evening before heading to my brother's for Sunday dinner. Nice and hot, ~95.
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Week Totals:
Miles: 40
Vert: 5,510'
Time: 6:59
Not only did I get a late start to the running this week, but the focus just wasn't there. The long run on Saturday was more or less a desperate attempt to accomplish something. And Sunday's run was really to just get a few more miles to not feel like I wasted another week. Coming off of some good mileage from the week prior, I really wanted to keep the momentum going and I just barely scraped it together. The worst part is I didn't get up to Indian Peaks for some high-altitude running. Blah.
Fri: 9 mi (1:15) Twin Lakes to White Rocks - Another very random outing—I think I've just been eager to mix things up. Took off from my doorstep, crashed the country club scene on my way to White Rocks. Fun little road action.
Sat: 21 mi (4:08, 4,510') Mesa/Goshawk Loop - Much cooler than last week's long run. Felt great pretty much the whole way, but the hamstrings were pretty achy for the last few miles. Kept the pace really mellow, didn't stop much except to suck a few GUs down.
Sun: 6 mi (:56) Twin Lakes - My hamstrings were really sore (not a great sign so close to race time) Did a few laps around the lakes in the evening before heading to my brother's for Sunday dinner. Nice and hot, ~95.
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Week Totals:
Miles: 40
Vert: 5,510'
Time: 6:59
Not only did I get a late start to the running this week, but the focus just wasn't there. The long run on Saturday was more or less a desperate attempt to accomplish something. And Sunday's run was really to just get a few more miles to not feel like I wasted another week. Coming off of some good mileage from the week prior, I really wanted to keep the momentum going and I just barely scraped it together. The worst part is I didn't get up to Indian Peaks for some high-altitude running. Blah.
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