Afton 50k Race Report

Afton 50k, July 6, 2013. I was pretty nervous for this race, mostly because this was my first ultra, and only a five weeks prior I had looked at the elevation chart and realized what I signed up for. Smartly I decided to get out to Afton and start running those hills. Well, mostly hiking. Afton has become one of my favorite places to run. I've since done some camping and night running there as well, and there is nothing like finishing a 25 miler and then jumping in the St. Croix for a dip. I've found some really cool unused trails there too!

Afton 50K - 4,670 Ascent 4,670 Descent 9,340 Ft. Net Change

My other reason for the nerves was that my stomach cramped up for 5 miles in my marathon, so I had been learning how to eat and run. I learned to run with a waist pack, eat medjool dates, almonds, bananas, oranges, potatoes, and drink electrolyte fluids. I also had tested taking various supplements, such as vitamin B12 (helps mood), Alkadrenergy (balances adrenals), Super-V (a balanced multivitamin), and Trace Minerals (alkalizes body) from Morter.com. I think the alkalizing effect of such supplements is amazing, both pre and post running. If you haven't read much about the importance of pH and its' role in the body, understanding it can have a dramatic affect on your stance about eating kale over bacon...not that I don't love a bit of bacon now and then :) Anyway, my stomach did well at Afton - no issues, until the very end and it was full of water, an effect of over-hydrating due to the heat.

Fortunately I had also learned not to go out too fast since my marathon. So when Afton started, I just let people run by me for awhile, singin James Brown's "I Feel Good" in my head over the second mile. By mile 5 I was starting to pass a few people, and this continued for the rest of the race. I ran better having started slow - solid race advice any newbie should take, and I learned the hard way in April. Probably the smartest thing I did was find someone to pace with - I ran about 20 miles with Maria Barton, a MN local who has done over 75 ultras. I was honored, and picked her brain for tips and talked about races and kids and whatever. In a sense she is kinda my trail mom, getting me to my first ultra finish! Thanks Maria :)

Maria and me running about mile 8. And yes, running with Vibram Five Fingers!

We started at 6am, and it was 75F with about 80% humidity. By 10 it was 95F. I would enter an aid station and just dump ice water over myself to cool off. I ran really well with minimal issues - at mile 22 my hip flexors tightened up, something I still am working out. I had done some heat training for 10 days before, running with multiple long sleeve shirts, sittting in my mom's 120F red light sauna for 45 minutes at a time. I didn't have a problem with the heat until the last three miles, when my stomach was sloshing and I couldn't drink. A bit of walking helped it settle, but that walking was the hardest I had ever done, because I didn't want to walk in to the finish. I guess the first thing to go in an ultra (or maybe the last) is your ego. After about a mile my stomach settled and I was able to finish strong and running, which was awesome! I also had the pleasure of being chicked for the first time, right before I began walking. Lovely sensation! I came in with a time of 5:45:20 at an 11:07 pace. I was 58th out of 168 starters, not to shabby for my first 50k!

Coming into the finish line happy and hot!

Is ultra running addicting? Not any more than a good brew or cup of joe. So yes, I immediately went out and dreamed about my next race. Lots to learn and try out before then. As they say, this is an experiment of one, and I am excited to continue my journey of physical and self exploration! Thanks for reading :)