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Frozen Ass 50 - RunUltra Marathon


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Calgary, Alberta
Canada
Gords
-2C / 28F
Sunny
Total Time = 5h 51m 15s
Overall Rank = /
Age Group =
Age Group Rank = 0/
Pre-race routine:

Got up at 7. Had a PB sandwich, cup of tea, a couple other slices of bread. Felt good. Lubed up all the important places. Got to the race site at 8:40, picked up my package, got ready to go.
Event warmup:

None, Stumble across the frozen river to get to the start line.
Run
  • 5h 51m 15s
  • 49.75 kms
  • 07m 04s  min/km
Comments:

Best ever. Fourth time out there this year and I really wanted 6 hours.

To 8k
Started a little fast, but you always do, but I was smart this year and did a couple walk breaks to slow me down. Had one gel. Took a leak, super well hydrated. Met up with Rob after my leak, he started a bit back and had caught up. He expressed some concern with our pace so far which was about 6:50, I said, "dude, I ain't going any faster." Had a quick cup or so of Ultima at the aid station and grabbed some pretzels.

To 18k
There is a traffic light here and you are about 300 meters away or so, anyway, saw the other way was green so put 'er in high gear and got there so I didn't have to wait at the light. So good. Meandered on. Still a little fast so a couple more walk breaks. By about 12k though I was at a solid 6:58-7 pace so just kept going on.

A word about the trail this year, it sucked. Worst in four years. Maybe a total of....3 k on pavement, the rest was on hard packed snow. At times you could run on the grass on the side of the pavement but for the most part there was no grass to be seen either.

Had a gel half way into this leg.

Grabbed another cup or so of Ultima at the aid station. Also grabbed an energy bar which tasted awesome.

To 25k.
Just kept on moving, passed a couple people at this aid station, people tend to hang for a while at the aid stations. The trail got really bad and people moved from the trail to the canal, which seemed to be better packed. Saw the lead men and women (Ellie Greenwood 100k world champion, apparently she lives in Canmore she was second over all in like 3:50 or so yikes http://elliegreenwood.blogspot.com)flying by at around 19 and 20k here.

Spent a while chatting with Barefoot Neil, check his page out if you like http://becauseallthecoolkidsaredoingit.blogspot.com/, he wasn't running barefoot today but there was quite a bit of snow. Turns out he lives around the street from me which is kinda cool. Actually was running near him earlier and was commenting to him how I always bonk at this stupid race and I was going to fast (mostly because of a nice pair of heels that I was following, but that is another matter) anyways reminded me to slow down which was cool and I am sure helped with my overall result.

So, just hustled along for a while. Good pace, right around 7 minutes, real good. Felt real good. About 1-2k out from the turnaround you hit some pavement which felt nice. Had my gel like right before the turn around. Couldn't stomach it any earlier, those things were getting mighty sweet.

Half way at around 2:53, little fast, little concerned here, always fall apart on the way back.

25k-32k
Grabbed another energy bar, god those were good, and a couple swigs of ultima. Took another leak, not as well hydrated but, well, at least I had to go.

Rob caught up to me again. He made it to half way before me but I left him there. Anyways, we ran at about a 6:40 for a bit, enjoying the pavement. Then it was back to the Canal. Still around 7:00 min pace so good. Felt good. Feet hurting a bit, but felt good.

We had a bit of a headwind but it was not so bad. The sun disappeared though, which sucked, so there was a gloomy feeling.

Had a gel halfway, those gels were getting nasty.

Saw Fraser along here, he was only doing the 25 and he was out there plodding along. Good for him. I kind of roped Rob and him into doing it, whatever, it is good for them. Passed 2 people on this leg.

33k-42k
So grabbed another energy bar, good. Cup or so of ultima and one piece bacon this time, just looked too good to pass up, and off. Started to lose Rob around here, he was a little behind me for the last little bit but started to trail off. Started to close the gap on a number of people in front of me. Passed two people on this leg. They were hurting. I remember what that is like, Poor pacing or poor hydration or nutrition, body just falls apart and nothing to do to make it move. I felt a little bad, I didn't have any real words of encouragement because I remember how much that sucks.

Anyways, kept going, still feelling real strong actually. PAce falling into 7:01 range but that is okay. Felt good, no walking. The years I did this and had to walk for 18k at the end, man. Not this year. Well, okay, maybe I was not that strong. Looked at my watch often. I was still ahead of 6 hour pace so I still had time in the bank, so to speak, just kept counting the km down thinking, well, if I run one more km then that is one less I have to walk.

Had a gel halfway, gross. Exploded all over my shirt. These gels are Stinger gels which are made out of honey. The first one is awesome. The 6th one is so sickly sweet that I would have rather sucked on a bottle of vinegar. Anyways, I digress.

Sped up a bit to hit the traffic light.

42k - 50k
Cup or so of Ultima. Not sure if I ate anything else. Don't think so. Off. Felt tired now. Feet sore mostly but my arms were starting to ache. But I just kept at it. Breathing was fine, pulse felt good, legs felt okay, feet mostly the limiting factor here. But yeah, pace fell to 7:05 or so but whatever.

Had a gel halfway through. Did not want that gel I tell you that. Especially after the last one leaked all over my face and shirt. Sticky sticky. Sucked it back.

Passed 2-3 people on this leg as well.

Finished real strong, 5:40 min/km last k, so good on me.
What would you do differently?:

nothing. nothing. Best I could do without crippling myself and sacrificing my marathon training.
Post race
Warm down:

6 pieces of pizza, 3 pops, cup of chili, vegan muffin. Good.

Hung around. Won a pair of shoes, sweet. Rob came in about 6:20

What limited your ability to perform faster:

I mean, I feel good today, I didn't leave it all out on the course so to speak. Not sure if I could have gone much faster though. This was a PB by 26 minutes. That is an awesome improvement.

And no walking, except at the beginning to slow my pace down. I cannot believe that. No walking. And as good as walking would have felt, keeping going until the end felt better.

I think I paced this race really well. I was putting time into the people in front of me. Clearly they paced better than me as they finished ahead of me but I was catching up. I think there was a line of people finishing in front of me that were clearly slowing down, will have to wait for final results.

I feel really good about this one.

I think what really helped is unlike in past years I didn't train at race pace. I stuck to my marathon schedule and have put in a number of fast long runs. Gave me good endurance.

Darn near even splits, I can't get over it.

Lastly, nutrition was dead on. I didn't carry anything except for a gel athat I picked up at each aid station. I was super well hydrated to start and slightly dehydrated, but feeling no ill effects, when I stopped.

Event comments:

Awesome race. Best group of people. Best food, best swag, cheap fee, good support.




Last updated: 2011-02-04 12:00 AM
Running
05:51:15 | 49.75 kms | 07m 04s  min/km
Age Group: 0/
Overall: 0/
Performance: Good
Course: Not much here, but I love it. Out and back from Calgary to Chestemere on bike paths. Flat Flat Flat.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 5

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2011-02-22 10:28 AM

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Champion
5312
5000100100100
Calgary
Subject: Frozen 50


2011-02-22 12:23 PM
in reply to: #3366908

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Master
4117
20002000100
Toronto
Bronze member
Subject: RE: Frozen 50
Awesome job Darren!!  Way to keep it consistent and just keep moving forward!!!  You should smoke that marathon!!
2011-02-22 12:30 PM
in reply to: #3366908

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Master
1655
10005001002525
NJ
Subject: RE: Frozen 50

What a beautifully executed race! Congratulations on a fantastic job, Darren!

2011-02-22 1:40 PM
in reply to: #3366908

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Expert
1145
100010025
Ann Arbor, MI
Subject: RE: Frozen 50
DUDE! 26 minute PB?! You totally ripped it. Earned it too with all the kilometers on the sticks this winter. Congrats on nailing your race in pacing, nutrition, and mentally finishing so strong. Look out marathon, BigDH is coming.
2011-02-22 4:06 PM
in reply to: #3366908

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Member
97
252525
Memphis
Subject: RE: Frozen 50
the bacon is my favorite part.
2011-02-22 8:05 PM
in reply to: #3366908

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Expert
944
50010010010010025
Waller County, TX
Subject: RE: Frozen 50
Good job executing your pace and nailing that PB!

Now I have to go convert that metric stuff to see how fast that pace was.


2011-02-22 8:16 PM
in reply to: #3366908

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Extreme Veteran
458
1001001001002525
Montreal
Subject: RE: Frozen 50
Woah, this sounds like the most perfectly executed ultra I have ever seen/read. Way to go!!
2011-02-22 9:31 PM
in reply to: #3367559

User image

Champion
5312
5000100100100
Calgary
Subject: RE: Frozen 50
mylissahorrocks - 2011-02-22 3:06 PM

the bacon is my favorite part.


They actually had bacon and peanut butter wraps. Which I would have had if I had no regard to my digestive process.
2011-02-24 8:45 AM
in reply to: #3366908

Subject: ...
This user's post has been ignored.
2011-02-24 9:15 AM
in reply to: #3366908

Royal(PITA)
14270
50005000200020001001002525
West Chester, Ohio
Subject: RE: Frozen 50
Fantastic!  You executed this ultra right on the money!  Congrats on making your sub 6 goal!!
2011-02-24 11:28 AM
in reply to: #3370166

Champion
5312
5000100100100
Calgary
Subject: RE: Frozen 50
wgraves7582 - 2011-02-24 7:45 AM

Great job Darren.  You beat your goal - no complaints!


How many CWWC points did you score??? LOL


Oh you guys lucked out, just barely -2 and an extra 2 points for wind. Now if it was the day after with -21 and snow there would have been trouble.


2011-02-25 8:28 AM
in reply to: #3366908

Elite
4108
20002000100
Calgary,AB,Canada
Subject: RE: Frozen 50
Congrats man. Well run race. You guys had great weather for it. Relative to other weekends, that was ideal.
So one question for you - Do you like the honey stinger gels?
2011-02-25 9:56 AM
in reply to: #3372025

Champion
5312
5000100100100
Calgary
Subject: RE: Frozen 50
TrevorC - 2011-02-25 7:28 AM

Congrats man. Well run race. You guys had great weather for it. Relative to other weekends, that was ideal.
So one question for you - Do you like the honey stinger gels?


I know, a day on either side and we would have been Popsicles for sure.
2011-02-25 3:06 PM
in reply to: #3372240

Champion
10018
50005000
, Minnesota
Bronze member
Subject: RE: Frozen 50

Nice execution, nice PB!!!

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