2020 Mystery Virtual 50k

The Background

I got it in my head that it would be cool to run a 50k after work.  This was Monday, two days after the Sweaty Yeti 50k.  After my last zoom meeting I headed out on my 1.9 mile neighborhood loop.

The Race

I felt good in the early miles.  It was hot but I enjoyed sweating, imagining for some reason I was running in the 1970s in California.

Then heat got to me.  Starting to think this was a bad idea to run after work, I took a walk break in miles 11 and 12.  I recovered and ran until a short walk break at mile 18.

I had been taking 3 mile walk breaks at mile 20 in previous races and did start one of these.  But after maybe half a mile "Touch of Grey" came on my MP3 player and I started running.  I ran all the way to marathon.

This was good because I had been debating whether I should run the Mystery 50k or the marathon - I had registered for the latter that morning along with the Fit'Ness Taco.  It felt wrong somehow to run the latter without the packet...plus I would not be able to sit next to the medal afterwards.  Since I made to marathon strong, 50k would be just a walk break then run it in.

I walked a little under three miles, then I notice I had a shot at getting in under 7 hours.  At 6:34 with 2.1 miles to go, sub 13-miles would do it.  Starting to run, I found I could do 12 to 11-minute miles to "Purple Rain."  I ran it in and made it in 6:58:26.

Reflections

This showed running a race after work is possible.  I was slow in the early miles but running miles 20.5-26.2 was pretty good.  I still had leg speed (relatively given my slow pace in my 40s) at 50k.

To be honest, a big motivation for running this day was the TROT Virtual Races Leaderboard.  I had been 2 miles behind the leader.  But the next day the former leader took it back with the Fit'Ness Taco 50k.  So I'm still 2 miles behind but otherwise I'd have been 33 miles back.

I'm trying not to let pride rule me.  I need to run my own races.  Whatever happens happens and it's just fun to compete.

The weather should be good Saturday so I need to try for one of the long runs I'm signed up for - Brazos Bend 100k or Possum's Revenge 69 mile.  The former has a 16-hour time limit so if I make it in that I'll choose it.

This is the most marathons / ultras I've completed in a year - 10.  And it's been 2 months of running!  So far my legs and ankles feel good.

2020 Sweaty Yeti Virtual 50k

The Background

After the Wildflower Marathon / 50k Double, the top of my left foot was sore.   I took it extra easy, walking less.  It got better each day enough where I felt like racing.

The Race

I felt good the first few miles, in the moment.  Then my GPS started messing up.  It was showing I was running 9-minute miles and the distance for my 1.9 loop around my neighborhood was well over 2 miles.  Pretty soon it was crediting me with 3 extra miles!

I went in the house and got a sheet of paper and started tallying loops so I could be sure of the real distance.  By this point, my head was in a bad place.  I started walking by mile 16 and pretty much walked most of it to 28.  I felt good enough to run in the last 2.5.

Clearly malfunctioning GPS

Reflections

My watch had been good for all these races...hopefully it will be good for next time as I do not want to spend more money on a watch.

I was probably due for a "bad" race...the combination of racing every week and my GPS messing up left me low.  But regardless, I put in a decent effort, running in the last bit to get in under 8 hours.

My foot felt pretty good afterwards so I'm thankful about that.

Well, first race of the "Rising Phoenix" series done!

2020 Wildflower Virtual 50k

The Background

After running the Wildflower Virtual Marathon on Saturday, I decided to go for the Double Day wit the 50k on Sunday.  I had never run back-to-back races before, but my recovery time had been good since I started racing every week.  Before it would take 4 days to recover from a race but after the last couple I was okay after a day.   Mostly walking in between the races I'm sure helped overall.

The Race

I started off and my legs were good.  I decided on the 1.9 mile loop around my neighborhood streets, but did one loop to Forest Oaks Park so there would technically be some trail.

At this point, I'd settled into a rhythm for running 50ks.  I ran to 20 miles.  Walked 3.  Ran to marathon.  Walked two.  Ran it in.  Finished in under 7 hours.

Reflections

It was cool that I could run two races back-to-back.  If I do it in the future I'll need good training though I'm sure.

I'd been following the TROT Virtual Races Distance Leaderboard and this race put me in first place by 20 miles.  I'm a slow runner...most races I have no shot at the top.  It's fun to compete in this.  We'll see how it goes.

2020 Wildflower Virtual Marathon

The Background

I had finished the Crazy Desert Virtual 100k the previous weekend, and I wasn't even that sore.   Another weekend and it was time to race again.

The Race

I had several possible distances for this race, so I kept my options open.  I did 20 miles at the Forest Oaks Park .56 mile lake loop.  Then I headed back to the neighborhood and walked three miles.

My mind wasn't on point, so I decided to stop at marathon.  I ran in a couple miles to finish it up.

Reflections

While an underwhelming day of racing, this was my 50th race finish, marathon distance or longer.   10 years of running and 50 marathons...let's try for 100!

I decided I'm going to do the Wildflower 50k back-to-back so we will see how that goes on Sunday.

2020 Crazy Desert Virtual 100k

The Background


I was rolling along pretty well with the virtual races.  I'd race about once a week (not super hard), then do a lot of walking and a little running in between.

The Race

I was signed up for both the Crazy Desert 100k and the Blazing 7s 100 Mile, so I figured I'd head out and see how far I could make it and hopefully finish one.

Wanting to get in some trail, I brought a cooler to Forest Oaks Park for loops around a little lake.  A side trail, traffic would be less than the main trail and the trail was wider, so I felt it was responsible during COVID-19.

I ran for 39 miles on the .56 mile loop.  I ran through 20, then took a walk break as I had the previous races.  At 23 I ran to marathon. After that, it was a very small amount of running and a lot of powerhiking.

Around 38 miles I hit a low, tired, dizzy.  Sitting down a couple times on the concrete, I tried to recharge.  I had planned to run the .7 miles back home then do loops around the neighborhood, as the park closes at night.  Thinking I need real food, I headed back around 4:30pm when Teri arrived to pick up the cooler.  At home, she made me a quesadilla.  I ate, headed out again, and still was woozy. I sat in a chair in the backyard, ate some chips, then slept for maybe 5-10 minutes.    Really wanting to quit, I decided to go back out.

At this point I was at around 42 miles and I came back to life.  Able to knock our 15-16 minute miles, I felt good and chipped away at it.

At 100k I decided today it would be Crazy Desert.  Half was that it was wise to put in the training before attempting 100 miles and half was I was tired. But it was a race finish.

Reflections

Apart from the low point, this was manageable.  Good mental training.  The next day I wasn't that sore.

When the results were posted on the TROT virtual races leaderboard, I was in 2nd place overall.   That makes me feel good.

These races mean a lot to me.

2020 Colorado Crossing Virtual 50k

The Background

The spring racing season was going well.  I was racing a ton, nearly every week, due to trying to stay motivated during the coronavirus.  I'd been lowering my 50k time each race.

I want to run a 100 miler and suddenly I realized that waiting to June for the Blazing 7s Virtual 100 Miler would guarantee high 80s temps. The heat might counteract any benefits for more training, plus I might get burned out.

So I adjusted my schedule.  Thinking I needed one more 50k as a training run, I'd run the Colorado Crossing 6 days after Brazos Bend.

Also, they began shutting parks down for Easter weekend due to the coronavirus.  Thinking about being responsible, and that I could just set up an aid station on my lawn for the 100, I decided to run a 1.9 mile loop in my neighborhood.

I had originally wanted to hop in a kayak on Lake Woodlands after the race, in keeping with the Colorado Crossing race with boat crossings, but that would be ridiculous given the circumstances of the world.

The Race

Running on the pavement was of course faster.  I was clicking off 10-minute miles for a while.

Again, I started to get tired at mile 20, which I'm sure was half physical, half mental.  I walked 3 miles.  When walking, I was managing a 17 minute pace - not ideal.  Maybe I was tired.

I ran again at 23 miles for two more loops.  Walking from 27-29, I then ran the last loop.

I love having an aid station table!

Reflections

The neighborhood course seems like it will work for the 100-miler.

I improved my time by 15 minutes, but this was pavement so it's probably about the same as last time.  But still the time was good.

If I could run this 50k, I'd have a 2+ hour cushion, based on an 18 minute pace for the 100 miler.  I'd love to be doing 16 minute miles hiking.  Maybe if I get competitive.  We'll see. Regardless, if I can keep hiking 18 minute miles after 50k, I'd have a cushion if I fall apart in the night.  Each mile under 18 would build the cushion.

I'm also signed up for the Crazy Desert 100k so if it all goes wrong I could at least finish that.

I'm going to see what the weather is like the next two weekends and take a shot at it.

I've also been tracking, via a great website a runner put together, the total miles for TROT virtual races.  After this race I'll be close to the front and I think I can be competitive.  It's fun!

2020 Brazos Bend Virtual 50k

The Background

I had run a marathon, a 50k, and a 50k in 15 days.  While I was needing events to keep me busy during the Coronavirus shutdown, I knew it'd be better to wait two weeks before the next race.  In between I did a 20 mile hike on the streets.

Also, I was dieting...1200 calories, one meal a day.  I dropped about 7 pounds, trying to get closer to racing weight.

Next up was Brazos Bend 50k.  April 4 was the day of the actual race, so why not run the virtual version the same day.  I debated trying a couple different locations, and I scouted out a section of Spring Creek Trail that I decided was too winding. I ended up going back to the George Michell Nature Preserve.  Rain was forcasted so I knew traffic on the trails would be light.

The Race

Immediately when I started running, I felt good. I cruised, enjoying the music, at 11 or 12 minutes a mile.

I made a goal to make it to 20 miles still running.  At the Coyote Crossing 50k two weeks ago, I first walked at 13 miles.  20 miles would be my standard training run and it was about time to have that done at least.  Feeling good up to 19, my legs started to get sore and heavy.  Probably half physical, half mental.  I made it to 20.

Then I hiked for 3 miles at a 17 minute pace.  I'd prefer that it was 15 or 16, so I need to work on that.

Then at 23 miles, "Forever Young" by Rod Stewart came on and inspired me to run.  I made a goal to run to marathon distance and made that.

Adding it up, I knew I could get in under 7 hours if I ran the last three miles or so.  Hiking a couple miles until 6:18 on the clock, I ran in the last three.

Reflections

I felt fitter and took 43 minutes of my time from Coyote Run 50k on the same course.  Mentally, I was in a good space pretty much the whole race.

I'm planning to go for a 100 miler with the virtual Blazing 7s.  If I ran exactly what I did here (and I wouldn't want to go too much faster for a 100) I could then do the last 69 miles at 20 minutes a mile and get in under 30 hours.  If I were hiking at 17 minutes a mile, each mile would build cushion.  I still need to work on powerhiking.

I'm having fun racing.  Really, these are training races for me...while trying hard, I'm not pushing to the limit.

Next up is Colorado Crossing 50k in a couple weeks.