Frozen Sasquatch 50K - RunUltra Marathon

This was my first ultra and my first trail run. I was very anxious going into it as I hadnt ran any single track trails except for one around here but its only 2 miles long. The downhills were killer and I was nervous and affraid of falling and the jarring on my bad knee got to me a couple times but I worked thru it. I am amazed my knees did not hurt and still havent 2 days after the race. My quads are pretty tender and my right achillis is also. Little tenderness in the glutes as well. I did manage a massage today-she didnt go super deep but deep enough to work the muscles without killing them. She was amazed as to how well everything felt.
On the first lap I met alot of people some that were doing the full 50k and lots that were doing the 25k.....when i got to the 2nd lap I didnt even recognize some places cause the first time thru i was busy talking with people and such. On the 2nd lap the gals from Akron Ohio that I met around mile 3 were about a half mile ahead of me most of the time...occasionally i would see them and we would exchange some heys and words of encouragement and at one aide station they were heading out as i headed in. This is where there was a big cutout of a sasquatch and they asked if they could get my photo with him so i had them use my camera also...i said i didnt see him the first lap was he here? and yes he was! LOL The entire second lap i was looking forward to the soup station which was only 2 miles or so from the finish. I met a 67 year old man named John around mile 21 or 22 it was right past where these guys were sitting talking by there truck and had 3 cairen terriers...one pup that was lose and almost tripped me a couple times the other 2 on long tie outs barking visciously and the one jump and bit my quad! I said he fucking bit me and they said nothing! I stopped ahead behind a building to tinkle and check to see if the dog broke skin but it was just a little red nothing bad and thats when i met John....he said the pup almost tripped him too and the other just barked tried to jump at him and the guys said nothing then either. John and i spent the next couple hours together and it was wonderful. He was from the area and ran the trails every weekend. He had been doin ultra for over 20 years and was amazing! He coached me and told me what was comin up and what to expect how long we would be on a certain trail before we ventured to another and it really made the time go by smooth. While we were still a mile or so away from the "soup" station he offered me a small payday and a little while later a small baby ruth. Payday is where its at!! No chocolate to bother the tummy and just enough salt and sugar. The babe ruth was amazing too :) I'll get my thoughts together and write a race report on my blog...I know i will ramble and jump around like this but will try to proof read it before making it public :-)

learn to run on trails especially downhill

the pulled pork was ice cold by the time i finished but i ate it anyways


this was my first 50K as well as my first trail run...the folks who put this on were amazing. The packet pick up was very unorganized and hard to find but the race and race day was spectacular!