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| The surreal Smith Rock State Park |
Pre-Race (5/7-5/8)
Brendan and I opted to get out to Redmond, Oregon, about 5 miles south of Smith Rock State Park on Thursday, May 7th, to give our bodies a chance to acclimate to the altitude (about 3077ft-relatively low, but much higher than 100ish feet my NE Portland residence finds itself at). We rented a large house which we shared with 5 other friends/family for the weekend to make it easy on ourselves pre- and post-race. After a Friday of hiking around Smith Rock, seeing the Swiss Machine Ueli Steck (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ueli_Steck) running trails, picking up our race bibs (and seeing Western States 2014 women's champion Stephanie Howe http://stephaniemariehowe.blogspot.com/), and stuffing our faces with tacos and burritos, the time to rest up for the big day ahead of us had come. While a beer (for carbo-loading?) was consumed, my typical hydration routine of Nuun All Day in the morning, Nuun Active and Nuun Energy for the day's hike, and another Nuun All Day in the evening prior to bed allowed me to focus on my hydration sufficiently.
Race Day (5/9)
My typical race morning nutrition is typically 2 cups of dark-roasted coffee, 1 liter of water with 1 Nuun All Day tablet, and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I've stuck to this for years! I have felt like this was always my go to and that there was no need to change even though I always felt like there was a brick in my stomach that would surely make its way out before the race was over. This morning I chose to have 1 cup of my homemade granola (rolled oats, almond slivers, cashew pieces, coconut flakes, coconut oil, and agave syrup all roasted with a hearty helping of raisins) served with almond milk. I definitely didn't feel that brick this time and believe this to be a good change to my typical routine.
Off we are to Smith Rock State Park...oops...I left my race bib in the other car! Our (Brendan's) Smart Car Race Car—Brendan as our Mario Andretti—quickly turned around on Route 97 to dash back with only 40 minutes to spare until race time so that I could race. (We discussed it in this moment, but if we were any closer time-wise I would have been in full support mode and Brendan would have ran solo)
Fortunately my wonderful parents, whom had arrived the night before to indulge in tacos/burritos, had made it there before us and hailed us down to grab a spot about a quarter mile from the race start. A quick U-y, and a heavy coating of Body Glide on to any chafable surface, we were off to the starting line...after one last trip to the latrine.
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| Post-forgetting race bib and finally parking. We smile differently before races than we do after... |
Once the cluster broke free—with Brendan and I splitting immediately—the course took us down from the parking lot over a small bridge over the Crooked River, and west around the surreal Smith Rock to start. Shaded for the first few miles, the steady line of runners held strong. By the time we could no longer escape the sunshine and were forever exposed (approximately mile 5?) we made our way up to the first aid station still in a steady stream of runners. At this point I was feeling tremendous and felt like I could break free of my typical fear of burning out too soon.
I had packed along 3 sleeves of Clif Shot Bloks, 2 Clif Shots, a Stinger Waffle, a Picky Bar, and 70oz of Nuun in my hydration pack (2 Lemon Lime Nuun Energy, 2 Tri-Berry Nuun, 4 plus for nuun tablets) to start. By the race's finish I had not consumed all of the race food, consuming aid station food along the way, but boy do I wish I had more plus for nuun with me along the race. This was my first race testing out the new product while also reducing my need for other nutrients and I was noticeably stronger the first 15 miles of the race.
By the time I left the first aid station, I was still feeling fantastic but was headed for a major ascent. After some significant gain we hit our first major downhill, cruising to the second aid station at 12.7 miles just under 2 hours (PR pace for me). After a quick fill of the hydration pack, some pretzels, a douse of water over the head (again, we were exposed for the majority of the race in the dry, Central Oregon climate), I was off.
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| From the day before the race, May 8th, from Smith Rock State Park overlooking the Cascades |
Running alongside a wonderful woman from Boise, we discussed life's possibilities and the plight of mankind...or we talked running, and the condition of our bodies in that very moment. After a long, heavily exposed stretch of downhill, and an extreme incline, we found ourselves gradually making our way to the 3rd aid station. Just shy of 12 miles to go! So close! At this point I was feeling the tiredness, but still felt good. I wish I had packed more plus for nuun and nuun active with me, but settled for whatever the aid station held for me. The lovely woman from Boise asked if I was good to go (to continue running together), and I said I needed minute.
Leaving aid station 3 I took a few minutes to stroll, eat a Clif Shot, and a part of a PBJ before moving my legs a bit quicker. That moment may have been the quickest I moved my legs for 7 miles.
The wall...I have never hit the wall so bad in a race thus far. It tried to run...I tried to run on the slight downhill, and my body was just not moving. I couldn't get going. Funny thing is I knew when I was (power) hiking that I was solid, but the moment I attempted to quicken the pace I just felt like I wouldn't make it. I wanted to finish. I wanted to cross that finish line. And another runner jokingly told me that my walk was faster than his, so not to worry when he stopped to walk because I'd likely catch up. That's not what I was worried about. I hadn't gone to the bathroom in nearly 4 hours and I had consumed 8+ liters of fluids.
At one point, thinking I was still miles from the next aid station (about 5 miles from the finish), stopping to body glide my heels which were plagued with blood blisters, and asking the gentlemen strolling up alongside me how long he thought it was. We both agreed it had to be at least another mile or 2....5 minutes later we were there!
After a couple cups of coke, some pretzels, some water, and some satirical chatter about wishing steak and eggs were at the aid station, I was off for the last (less than) 5 miles of the race. I wish I was committed to taking race photos while running at this point because one of the most breathtaking sights of my young existence was seeing the Cascade range from atop the Gray Butte Trail. After a couple of relatively flat miles we began our descent along Burma Rd back in to the Crooked River (Valley?). This...was...brutal. I met back up with the wonderful woman from Boise, and after running a few together jumped ahead to reach the finish on the Wolf Trail and back up to the start/finish line. What a tease though!
As we crossed back over the bridge from the start we all found ourselves have to climb back up the hill to the finish, which most of us in sight walked up. Just nearing the apex of this last ascent, I saw my mother peering over the cliff for me and yelled out to her while I was walking, struggling to make it up this last hill. My mother proceeded to yell "run", and I then responded—sorry mother :(—with a "Don't tell me to run!"! I had just ran 30 miles...I was spent! I did though. I guess I've done plenty of things that my mother has told me. I ran to the finish, saw my father taking some pictures and starting strutting around like I had sticks attached to my legs with strong rubber bands.
I was done...I finished...a PR for a 50k and so glad to be done!
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| I'm so glad my parents support me in so many things I've set my mind to...even running 31+ miles. Thanks mom and dad for being here at the finish! |
Post-Race
While pacing around to keep my body moving, I ran in to the Swiss Machine himself, Ueli Steck and had a brief 'water-cooler' chat with him and proceeded to connect with him a bit later on about his time in Oregon. Ueli was an incredibly friendly man and I am honored to have had a chance to meet him personally. While I attempted to eat a burrito that was available at the finish, my stomach was just not ready for that heavy of nutrition. Some of the excitement of races is not only finishing yourself, but cheering on all the others that have, and that will be finishing. It is so rewarding to see the looks on folks' faces as they have accomplished such a feat (of running a race...really any race) that this may be one of my favorite parts of a race—aside from running and finish myself.
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| Ueli Steck was a fantastic individual and was more than willing to take a picture with me after we both were recovering from the race. |
Brendan! There he comes! Running through the finish. We both made it, and while this year was very different than past Mac 50k races we had participated in, the Smith Rock Ascent 50k had its own unique advantages and disadvantages. It may not have been the same elevation gain as previous races, the mild-altitude, and dry, warm, exposed sunshine made the race a challenge in its entirety. Would I run the Smith Rock Ascent 50 again? Yes.
Race Gear/Nutrients:
- Nuun Active, Energy, plus for nuun
- Clif Shot Bloks, Clif Shots
- Stinger Waffles
- Nathan Hydration Pack (w/ 70oz bladder)
- Saucony Peregrine 3 shoes
Race Rating (1 low-5 high):
- Communication/Organization: 5
- Course: 4 (if it was not so exposed it'd be a 5)
- Aid Stations: 4 (an additional water-only aid station could be beneficial)
- Course Markings: 4
- Scenery: 5
- Post-Race Food: 3.5 (burrito bar is a bit heavy-this may be a personal preference, but I'm always much more of a fan of a large selection of fruits, breads, carbs, juices, sodas, soups and not a big heavy burrito)
- Overall: 4.5
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| Dakota, Brendan's daughter, proceeded to cover me up with blankets and stuffed toys as I rested my weary legs. |
