Not flattering, but here they are! A couple of shots of the Runner in a fairly agonized-looking state. Nevertheless, documentary evidence of my having survived the ordeal...!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
North Face 50k: The Photos!
Not flattering, but here they are! A couple of shots of the Runner in a fairly agonized-looking state. Nevertheless, documentary evidence of my having survived the ordeal...!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
North Face 50k: The Splits
Not too sure if they are accurate, or exactly what (if anything) they mean, but they sure illustrate the difference between my first Ultra and a typical marathon profile:
addendum: official results
| Aid Station | Mile | Lap Time | Total Time | Pace |
| Tennessee Valley | 4.0 | 0:40:56:30 | 0:40:56:30 | 10:14 |
| Muir Beach | 8.2 | 0:41:34:60 | 1:22:37:00 | 10:40 |
| Pantoll | 13.5 | 1:08:44:00 | 2:31:22:00 | 11:12 |
| Old Inn | 19.1 | 1:08:05:00 | 3:39:28:00 | 11:29 |
| Shoreline Highway | 24.1 | 0:31:13:50 | 4:10:41:00 | 10:24 |
| Finish | 32.2 | 1:42:03:00 | 5:52:45:00 | 10:57 |
addendum: official results
Race Day
Up very early on Saturday morning (5:30 AM!) for the North Face Endurance 50k race. I was nervous, and still a bit concerned about my lingering sickness. However, too late to worry about it now...!
I packed a bag to drop at the 13-mile aid station in the race -- bottles of coke & milk, some salty chicken bits & (just in case) a change of shirt. Hopefully, the replenishment needed to get me to the end of the race. I drove in the dark to the race start in Marin, guided by attendants with flashlights to the runner parking lot. I joined a group of fairly tense waiting runners, and a school bus delivered us to the starting line, about a mile away. The race village was abuzz with activity, but the whole scene was smaller-scale and more human than my recent experiences in larger marathon events. The 50 mile race was underway, since 5 AM. (Apparently, they had to run with headlamps for the first ~2 hours of the race!) Eventually, at about 7:15 AM we were all lined up & ready to go. Dawn had broken but the day was cool and cloudy. Finally, we were off -- 220 runners in the 50k event!
I started out very slowly, very aware of my tendency in marathons to bolt off too quickly at the start. Fortunately, I was soon in conversation with Tim McGinty, a runner from Cleveland (who described himself as a "Fellow Mick"(!) -- 2nd Generation Irish guy.) Good fun, nevertheless, and as a result, I settled into a very slow, conversational jog for the first half-hour or so. The initial section up the Miwok Trail was a consistent ascent, w ith stunning Pacific views off to the left. (My big surprise about my first Ultra was that you actually get a change to admire the scenery! There isnt the intense time-focused feeling that I've always experienced in marathons.) Quickly enough, I reached the Tennessee Valley aid station at 4 miles, and I passed on through, feeling strong.
The next section was a very cool single-track trail along a ridge next to the ocean, that led all the way down to Muir Beach. I continued to maintain a slow, steady pace, though I could feel an eagerness to pick it up. And I was still maintaining the discipline of walking up part or all of the steeper ascents. It seemed to be a good way of maintaining strength in the quads. I quickly passed through the Muir Beach aid Station (at the 8.2 mile mark) without stopping and passed by the Pelican Inn on to Highway One.
Soon, I was crossing a field and ascending up a long series of switchbacks, finally reaching a section that seemed familiar from my Dipsea Trail hikes (the Coastal Trail.) Quite a grind up a long incline, and eventually I made my way to Pantoll aid station (at 13.5 miles), in need of a break! This was a big stopping point, with a lot of people (runners and onlookers, etc.) milling about. There was a large spread of drinks and snacks (including sodas, chips, sandwiches and chocolate brownies!) My drop bag was there - I opened it and drank half a pint of milk & had a few pieces of the salty chicken. (After the 3rd one, I couldnt digest any more...) After probably 2-3 minutes, I was off again.
After a very brief incline, there was a long descent along some very technical trails into a forested area. I broke into an exhilarating sprint along the trails, passing other runners and walkers & hikers along the way. I was feeling good & it was satisfying to break loose for a mile or two, after a lot of cautious running. Strangely, during this part, for long sections I was running completely on my own, with nobody visible ahead or behind me. Eventually, I came up to the Panoramic Highway, then followed a fairly narrow, fairly flat trail down to the Tourist Club (a trail I was somewhat familiar with.) From there, it was on to the next aid station at the Muir Woods parking lot. (19.1 miles)
After a quick shot of pepsi and a chocolate brownie, I was off again. Feeling a bit worn down now, I was quickly faced with a very tough ascent up a Dipsea Trail section. I walked all the way up, then ran down along a trail through grassy meadows, and finally out on to the highway. Soon enough, I was passing the Pelican Inn again and on to the Muir Beach aid station (at 24.1 miles). Now, I was feeling it -- I could see the long climb back up from the beach.
I ground my way up, part walking and part running, in the company of some 50 mile & 50k runners. Finally, after the long ascent, there was a drop all the way back down to the Tennessee Valley aid station in the distance. I had difficulty running down and I was beginning to feel a bit light-headed. I was finally running out of juice! Finally got to the station (27 miles) and had another shot of pepsi! I asked one of the helpers how far was left to go - 7.4 miles. Surely that cant be right! (It wasnt, as it turns out...!) I walked slowly out of the station & up the long gruelling climb. I was soon joined by a fellow 50k'er, Dennis, and we ran together more-or-less to the end of the race. (A very big help for me!) We walked a lot of the next section, and ran the flatter sections, where we could - a matter of survival at this stage! I could see Tiburon & Sausalito on the left, and the Golden Gate Bridge ahead -- we were getting closer... We reached a final aid station (at ~29.5 miles) - 2.7 miles more, we we told.
There followed a long, fairly easy gradual descent. Very tough still -- there was almost nothing left. Finally, we made out way back off the trails and on to the road. Dennis was fading a bit, behind me -- I ground onwards. Onlookers telling us we had 500 yards to go. And -- around the next corner, the race village and the finishing arch! I jogged down into the meadow, and finished. 5 hours 52 minutes! More than I'd ever run before! Relief and great satisfaction...!
I packed a bag to drop at the 13-mile aid station in the race -- bottles of coke & milk, some salty chicken bits & (just in case) a change of shirt. Hopefully, the replenishment needed to get me to the end of the race. I drove in the dark to the race start in Marin, guided by attendants with flashlights to the runner parking lot. I joined a group of fairly tense waiting runners, and a school bus delivered us to the starting line, about a mile away. The race village was abuzz with activity, but the whole scene was smaller-scale and more human than my recent experiences in larger marathon events. The 50 mile race was underway, since 5 AM. (Apparently, they had to run with headlamps for the first ~2 hours of the race!) Eventually, at about 7:15 AM we were all lined up & ready to go. Dawn had broken but the day was cool and cloudy. Finally, we were off -- 220 runners in the 50k event!
I started out very slowly, very aware of my tendency in marathons to bolt off too quickly at the start. Fortunately, I was soon in conversation with Tim McGinty, a runner from Cleveland (who described himself as a "Fellow Mick"(!) -- 2nd Generation Irish guy.) Good fun, nevertheless, and as a result, I settled into a very slow, conversational jog for the first half-hour or so. The initial section up the Miwok Trail was a consistent ascent, w ith stunning Pacific views off to the left. (My big surprise about my first Ultra was that you actually get a change to admire the scenery! There isnt the intense time-focused feeling that I've always experienced in marathons.) Quickly enough, I reached the Tennessee Valley aid station at 4 miles, and I passed on through, feeling strong.
The next section was a very cool single-track trail along a ridge next to the ocean, that led all the way down to Muir Beach. I continued to maintain a slow, steady pace, though I could feel an eagerness to pick it up. And I was still maintaining the discipline of walking up part or all of the steeper ascents. It seemed to be a good way of maintaining strength in the quads. I quickly passed through the Muir Beach aid Station (at the 8.2 mile mark) without stopping and passed by the Pelican Inn on to Highway One.
Soon, I was crossing a field and ascending up a long series of switchbacks, finally reaching a section that seemed familiar from my Dipsea Trail hikes (the Coastal Trail.) Quite a grind up a long incline, and eventually I made my way to Pantoll aid station (at 13.5 miles), in need of a break! This was a big stopping point, with a lot of people (runners and onlookers, etc.) milling about. There was a large spread of drinks and snacks (including sodas, chips, sandwiches and chocolate brownies!) My drop bag was there - I opened it and drank half a pint of milk & had a few pieces of the salty chicken. (After the 3rd one, I couldnt digest any more...) After probably 2-3 minutes, I was off again.
After a very brief incline, there was a long descent along some very technical trails into a forested area. I broke into an exhilarating sprint along the trails, passing other runners and walkers & hikers along the way. I was feeling good & it was satisfying to break loose for a mile or two, after a lot of cautious running. Strangely, during this part, for long sections I was running completely on my own, with nobody visible ahead or behind me. Eventually, I came up to the Panoramic Highway, then followed a fairly narrow, fairly flat trail down to the Tourist Club (a trail I was somewhat familiar with.) From there, it was on to the next aid station at the Muir Woods parking lot. (19.1 miles)
After a quick shot of pepsi and a chocolate brownie, I was off again. Feeling a bit worn down now, I was quickly faced with a very tough ascent up a Dipsea Trail section. I walked all the way up, then ran down along a trail through grassy meadows, and finally out on to the highway. Soon enough, I was passing the Pelican Inn again and on to the Muir Beach aid station (at 24.1 miles). Now, I was feeling it -- I could see the long climb back up from the beach.
I ground my way up, part walking and part running, in the company of some 50 mile & 50k runners. Finally, after the long ascent, there was a drop all the way back down to the Tennessee Valley aid station in the distance. I had difficulty running down and I was beginning to feel a bit light-headed. I was finally running out of juice! Finally got to the station (27 miles) and had another shot of pepsi! I asked one of the helpers how far was left to go - 7.4 miles. Surely that cant be right! (It wasnt, as it turns out...!) I walked slowly out of the station & up the long gruelling climb. I was soon joined by a fellow 50k'er, Dennis, and we ran together more-or-less to the end of the race. (A very big help for me!) We walked a lot of the next section, and ran the flatter sections, where we could - a matter of survival at this stage! I could see Tiburon & Sausalito on the left, and the Golden Gate Bridge ahead -- we were getting closer... We reached a final aid station (at ~29.5 miles) - 2.7 miles more, we we told.
There followed a long, fairly easy gradual descent. Very tough still -- there was almost nothing left. Finally, we made out way back off the trails and on to the road. Dennis was fading a bit, behind me -- I ground onwards. Onlookers telling us we had 500 yards to go. And -- around the next corner, the race village and the finishing arch! I jogged down into the meadow, and finished. 5 hours 52 minutes! More than I'd ever run before! Relief and great satisfaction...!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
North Face Endurance Build-up/Count-down
I am now getting apprehensive about the 50k (just 4 days away!) Can I do it?!
In a sign that the jitters are setting in, I have started analyzing the descriptions of the course a bit obsessively. (I'm particularly awe-struck by the astonishing ascents and descents over the course - a net climb of 6,900 feet!) However, I managed to get in another taper-period run today (of ~7 miles) and, although I'm definitely still sick, I feel stronger, and I think I may have the stamina to make it through.
Next step: get my "drop bag" of goodies together so I can drop it at one of the aid stations during the race - could be crucial to my survival!
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