These are my loop run splits:
5K 29:17.6 9:25/M 3.107 29:17.6
10K 29:54.0 9:37/M 6.214 59:11.6
15K 30:48.2 9:55/M 9.321 1:29:59.9
20K 31:40.2 10:12/M 12.428 2:01:40.1
25K 33:34.5 10:48/M 15.535 2:35:14.6
30K 35:06.9 11:18/M 18.642 3:10:21.6
35K 36:21.7 11:42/M 21.749 3:46:43.3
40K 38:27.0 12:23/M 24.856 4:25:10.3
45K 38:06.7 12:16/M 27.963 5:03:17.1
50K 34:45.0 11:11/M 31.070 5:38:02.1

I put a lot of thoughts into my blog, and I'll copy some of them here. I wasn't trained for this race. This was about just doing it. About not caring about time. I intentionally wanted to do a race this year where I wasn't "racing." I always race. I am competitive, I like to win. But I wanted a break from that. So while most people would go run a slow 5k/10k/half-mary, I chose a 50k. And I did it after doing a sprint tri. I knew this wasn't going to be fast. I had NO idea how this was going to go. It was a different experience. I think the biggest difficulty was the lack of sleep and the lack of anyone out there for me. Running at night, virtually on your own, for that long was tough on me mentally. It was nice to have a couple of folks I knew out there cheering for someone else, so they also cheered for me, but they weren't there the whole night. I should've brought someone with me. Anyhow, The first few laps I was running slower than my normal pace, but I was just running easy, that's what I wanted to do. It was SUPER humid. The first 3 laps went just fine. I did have to stop and pee on lap 3. I was well hydrated. Lap 4 I thought I needed to pee too, but I didn't. Weird--rest of the night felt like that. So I just didn't go--didn't need to, just felt like it. Lap 4 is also when I decided it was time to start walking the aid stations. There were 3 that I walked. The first was a little over a mile in and wast he Cowtown Marathon aid station. Here they had banana pieces, GUs (my favorite Tri Berry!), and awesome wet paper towels. Then about a 1/3 of a mile from there was an official aid station, up a little hill (that I found was easy to run up when running slow), with water. I had my bottle with Nuun for the first 3 laps, and then it was empty, and then I started filling it with cold water at the two water stations. The next "mind spot" was a corner turn where some ladies were in a truck with music going. No walking here, but it meant I was headed back towards the start area where I'd see people and could walk at the aid station. This was my routine each time. Minus one occurrence, I only walked at these aid stations. Some were longer than others. I kind of wanted to stop at the 25k distance cause I was just TIRED. Not enough sleep was really kicking me at that point. But pride wouldn't let me quit. So I just kept it in my mind "forward movement, forward movement." I wasn't looking at my Garmin, I just appreciated when it beeped cause that meant another mile was done. When it did get tough out there, I did think "I'm not getting shot at and blown up, so it could be worse." I had worn my visor with the name of my Soldier that was KIA in Afghanistan and had a tribute to my 9 classmates lost in war. I also had on my POW-like bracelet that has the names of 6 warriors who gave it all, and that always keeps me going. I have the ability to GO, and so I do. I DID however have a few moments where it "felt" like I was on a night patrol in Iraq. The air hit me right, along with the humidity, the animals making noises, and the darkness. It was a little eerie and I kind of wished I had my rifle with me. But I got over that and frankly just got to a point of want to be done!! I was thrilled when I was into the single digits (9 miles!) left...and then when I did hit 27 miles there was a feeling of "well, you've never run that far before." I think I did pick it up the last 4-5 miles cause I wanted to be done. I definitely picked it up the last 1/2 mile! haha! My eyes had easily adjusted. For nutrition I was drinking water and having one GU at the start of each lap. That was working fine. I got a little hungry a couple of times, but those banana bites at the Cowtown station were yummy. I often had the thought of "just run to Cowtown" in my mind cause they had wet, cold paper towels. Who would know how important a wet paper towel is?!? The humidity lessened after about 4AM and that was nice. Forward motion. That was my mantra. My legs were sore, my feet were sore, but most of all, I was just tired! On my last loop I thanked all the volunteers for their support all night long. Finally, I saw the finish line, and pushed it hard into the finish. And then it was anti-climatic. Almost everyone was gone (even though I was in the top 1/3rd of the field), or was napping. I raised my hands in "yay" finished. And then just aimlessly walked. A guy walked up and handed me a medal and heavy "finishers pin." And that was it. I was disappointed here because every other loop they were announcing the names of the finishers for the 25k and the 50k. Why did they slack off on my finish. Oh well. I then found the post race food. Old, cold soft tacos or something that looked scary, coke, water, and bananas. Yay (not). I took some water, a banana, and walked towards the car...and cried...cause I was done...and it hurt...but I had finished..but it was tough to be alone out there....and I was tired! Haha, but I was finished!

Here are some other thoughts from my blog:
- 50k hurts
- 50ks should be run on full training or they hurt more
- Running at night, virtually by yourself is tough
- The loops weren't bad, they helped you know exactly what your key spots were next--all my key spots were places where there were people or aid stations
- Minus one occasion, I only walked at aid stations, some were longer walks than others.
- Yeah, my times got slower, but I just tried to stay at a manageable pace. Going slower earlier I don't think would've helped
- It was SUPER HUMID from about midnight till nearly 4AM. After that it cooled off a bit and wasn't so humid.
- There were some signs, that when I read them for the first 3-4 loops were funny:
*Just pretend Zombies are chasing you (at the beginning the thought was: they don't run that fast, even at this pace I'd beat them. Mid-point till end: That's it, I'd be Zombie lunch)
* It's not the heat, it's the stupidity. AGREE!
* Ultramarathons are for those who cannot handle drugs and alcohol. (I can't do drugs, but I've never been too bad with alcohol, don't drink much of it...but still, so obviously I don't need to do more of these)
- I totally felt lack of sleep. I had been up at 0400 for the sprint tri that morning, and I could only get about an hour nap in during the afternoon...there were some times I wanted to close my eyes and just sleep out there
- Seeing Johnny/Karen/Aaron/Liz out there at different times were huge for the morale.
- It was one of the most mentally taxing things ever.
- The finish was very anti-climatic. I just wanted to be done. All the spectators had pretty much left, and in my opinion the race staff that was there SUCKED BUTT because they had pretty much just curled up into a ball--came out of it to hand out a medal, and that was it. Hardly any food for the 50k finishers, and I wasn't even near the end of the folks out there
- I was 39th/136 racers out there (not all were finishers)
- I was the 11th/36 women racers
- I really had thoughts of stopping at 25k, but my pride wouldn't let me.
- I was not racing out there, I was surviving.
- I did pick it up the last mile cause I wanted to be done SO BAD
- I had a routine of stopping to get water at the two aid stations with water. The Cowtown Marathon aid station was the best---they kept me going with my favorite Gu of the evening (Tri-Berry), a few banana bites, and cold paper towels. Awesome. I would start a new loop and just tell myself "run to Cowtown" cause that's when I knew I could walk.
- I didn't start walking at all until loop 4 when I had to refill my bottle, then I just made a habit of refilling for cold water every aid station
- I had to pee during loop 3 and thought I had to again in loop 4, but I didn't need to, and for the rest of the night it felt like I needed to, but I didn't need to, very odd. But I did stay well hydrated. Never felt like hydration or nutrition was an issue. Just fatigue and undertrained.
- I'm fairly amazed my body can do that.
- I had not goal but to finish, and I did that.


Umm, train for it. Granted, I did a marathon in early June. My body could handle what I did. In fact, I'm recovering quite well, scary well actually. My shoulders and neck are the most sore, bizarre!?! One MUST DO is have 1-2 people as a support crew. If it had been day time, I don't think it would've been as tough, but at night, I needed someone. Someone to either run with or someone to keep me mentally in check on each loop. BUT, I can say, that was some super mental training. I didn't battle any mental demons (no lie) during Ironman. So, IF I ever do something like this again, I will probably actually train for it and have a crew. I did something crazy with the sprint tri and the midnight ultra, and I'm glad I did. I pushed the envelope again, and I came out on top cause I finished. I had some miserable moments out there, but there were also some funny moments, and it has made me stronger.

- I only had a banana post race. I didn't get hungry again until about 10:30 AM on the way home. Stopped at Waffle House and had a waffle with pecans and two eggs and coffee.
- As soon as I got home I was hit with exhaustion (tried to sleep after race and after an ice bath and shower...but was too sore). I fell right asleep and my dogs were AWESOME and just curled up and slept with me. I woke up cause I have a house showing for a possible tenant at 6PM
- I'm tired.
- I wanted to cry post race just cause I wanted to be done so much.
- I will NEVER do anything like that again without some dedicated support in tow...but not sure I'd ever do anything like that again!
- I am thankful for what God has given me and what my body can do.


- Sprint tri in the morning
- Not enough sleep
- Didn't specifically train for it

I knew all of the above were going to be factor--I didn't go into this with any other goal than FINISH! I did, so I won.


The race is set up fine, and run okay...but the aid station spacing could better, a few more potties out there, and one more water station would've been good. Also needed more than just water/HEED at the official aid stations. Bananas, pretzels, something like that would be nice. Also, the thing that royally pissed me off was the nonchalant reception when I finished. Especially when they were giving great effort to everyone else every other time. They need to have crew shifts to show support for all the finishers--25k and 50k.