The Background
After I DNFed Mohican 100 mile, I took six weeks off running. I had hurt my back falling in the race and gave it some time to heal along with my normal break after a season. I started hiking during our trip to Scotland, especially to the Glasgow Cathedral and up the hill to the Necropolis.
My weight had crept up to 182, so when we got back from Scotland I dieted, getting it down to 165 before the race season began. Between work stress and low calories, I did not run as much as I hiked, mainly on a mile-long dirt road by my house. My hiking pace was in the 14- to 15-minute range. Plus, I did some stairs at work on breaks.
Terri and Paloma came with me to 7IL. I had bought a canopy for them, and after seeing me at the start they went to Brenham for lunch and a visit to a bookstore.
The Race
The high was 92, 5 degrees cooler than last year. But it was still very hot. For most of the race, my vision was blurry, more so than last year.
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I ran much more of loop 1 than I did last year. I finished the loop in 1:24, versus 1:29 last year.
On loop 2, I did more hiking, but I really pushed the pace, running some and hiking at 14-minute pace at times. My heartrate was way in the red, but I paid that little mind. I finished the loop in 1:32, versus 1:38 last year. So at this point, I was 11 minutes ahead of last year's time.
I hit a mini low after lap 2, but recovered quickly and continued to move fairly well. At some point on loop 3 I think, a line of cows ran across the trail, and I had to wait for them. It was pretty cool to see!
When I reached the midway aid station at around 15 miles, I hit a major low. I think I was a bit behind on calories. Last year, I had drank 2 full bottles of Gatorade each loop. But I lost a bottle at some point, and they had a different electrolyte drink at the start. Though I did take 2 cups of Gatoritas after finishing loops. But mainly I think I went out too hard. I had said earlier to Terri and Paloma that my goal was to beat my time from last year, which as 8:15. That seemed out the window, so I told myself just to survive and keep moving.
I struggled on. I finished loop 3 in 1:47, compared to 1:43 last year. But I took a lot of time after crossing the line to regroup and use the restroom, which would factor in loop 4's time. Terri and Paloma were back, and it was great to see them!
I rebounded on loop 4. Though the time of the loop was 1:51 (1:44 last year), some of that was at the finish line aid before I started the loop. I was able to hike 16-minute miles. My shoes were old, and the soles of my feet hurt from lack of cushioning and my ankle was skinned from something worn down on the shoe.
I began loop 5 at the exact same time elapsed as last year, unbeknownst to me. I started the loop the wrong way but quickly realized it, which cost me a couple of minutes. I could tell that beating last year's time was possible. So, I hiked as best I could finishing a 16:03 and 16:01 mile. After I made it to midway aid station, I ran down the hill. I threw in a few quarter-mile running spurts over the last 3 miles, which was enough to finish in 8:12, 3 minutes faster than last year.
I finished 38th out 79 finishers (top 48%) and 90 starters (top 42%).
Reflections
I traded dieting for running in the training leading up to the race. Long term for the season, that may be good, but if I had ran more I would have had the strength for more running versus hiking in the race.
15 years on I can still go out too fast! Probably won't ever master that one. But I made up for it by fighting on the last loop. I felt good that I worked to reach the goal of beating last year's time. Doubly good because it was the first race of the season, whereas in 2024 I was better trained.
Next up is a new race, Horse Thief 30 Mile, which has a lot of hills. I'll see if I can do some stairs before the race!
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