The Fall 50 - RunUltra Marathon

k, here is how it went.......got off the bus and went to the bathroom. after that got all the fuel belt and filled it up and took a little run to make sure it was in a good spot. slowly walked over to the starting area and then "go" goes the guy starter. settle right away into comfyness and weave thru traffic (started in back of the pack, i think they had something like 120 or so solo runners)and soon was in the top 10. saw some guys up ahead but new it wasnt about catching them at all. came thru the first aid station and skipped it due to having a four holster fuel belt loaded with two pouches as well.......right after the aid station tho is the first hill. nice one, but no biggie so just ran up it. shortened my stride and stayed relaxed. about mile 8 started running with a guy and we got chatty some of the miles were to frisky but having someone to run with thru the peninsula state park was good. skipped the first two aid stations and at the third one (mile 16ish) took some gatorade and half a banana. banana didnt sit well at all with me. soon was up to mile 24ish and still feeling pretty darn good and tried another banana at that aid station. it was at this aid station that my running buddy took off, he skipped it and i was looking for that elusive magic combo that would help out with the cramps to come and other various tummy issues to. didnt find it tho. hit mile 25, still feeling pretty darn good, tho some tightness behind my kness. took the next turn and saw the biggest hill ever!! now normally i would just charge right on up but knowing i still had 25 decided i didnt wanna dance with that hill so just walked right on up!! about half way up that hill was the marathon marker! looked at my watch and saw 3:15:30 and realized i just BQ'd again!! (well not officially anyway). so top of the hill and away i go again and at mile 29 realize that hey, i suppose i COULD turn on my IPOD!! so got to listen to the soothing sounds of some good techno and alternative music!!! well that lasted until about mile 37 when it decided to cut out on me.......ugh...oh, did i mention that at like mile 20 it started raining?? yep!! so there i am trolling along the highway getting sprayed by all the cars doing 45-50 MPH inches from me........when i hear footsteps!! now since mile 24 ive been in no man's land all by myself...so i was pleased to hear the footsteps. ends up being the first place female! DAM, I JUST GOT CHICKED!!! she was looking very smooth too, and uber confient as well......get to the next aid station and realize that i have had to pee for the last few miles, hop in the portapotty and nope, nadda, come out, decide on an orange slice and a chocolate chip cookie and starting walking and munching..........all of sudden, oops, woods!! ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.............much better. finish off the orange and cookie and i could just feel everything coming back so to speak, started a nice little jog and just kept that up. mile 41 comes and i look down and say to myself.....k, only 9 to go, you got this.......and then it hit me......IVE JUST RAN 41 FREAKIN MILES!!!! and i still have 9 to go.........oh well, suck it up and go dambit go!!! pretty soon, who do i see on the horizon?? yup first place chick. soon after that i realize that im closing ground on her. then after looking at her i realize that her form has gone to complete crap. so i figure i can catch her, just focus. mile 47 comes and im right behind her. i pass her shortly after and i say to myself.......I JUST UNCHICKED THE CHICKING!!!! look up ahead and see 7th place and decide will try to run him down (he had a someone on a bike serving as a pacer) and was closing the gap and then my left quad cramped some, so i backed off some, tried again a little bit later and cramped again so just settled in and finished it off!! took the final turn into the park where the finish line was and saw the party tent and elation took over as i finished it off.

not to much to be precise. maybe back off on the opening portion but thats easier said than done. maybe not run with the guy but then i wouldve been solo thru the loneliest part of the course. i walked all the major hills after mile 20 so that was fine as well.

to be honest, being my first ultra, i wouldnt change a thing and i will remember this day for a long long time.

Thanks to all the Donkeys and friend for the support leading up to this and also a HUGE thanks to the DCS community!! they were all there with me at one point or another cheering me on or me just drawing inspiration from them (they werent really there, but they were in spirit). they are a great group of athletes that are very very motivating for me and without them and all of the donkeys i dont think this day wouldve went as well as it did!!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!

into tent, grab a rootbeer, 5 slices of pizza and a piece of cake.


nadda


volunteers at the aid stations were unbelievable. they would help fill up the bottles and get whatever you needed. one group even sang to me when i told them my IPOD cut out!

Sean Ryan puts on awesome races and has a keen sense for what works for athletes on the course. if you get the chance to run one of his races (Green Bay marathon, Bellin 10K, Door County Tri or the Fall 50) i would highly recommend it. you will NOT be disappointed!!