Training Log Archive: 'Bent

Run for the Toad 50K.

Almost exactly 2 years after I watched from the sidelines, fresh out of meniscus surgery while Bash and others raced the Toad, it was my turn.

I hadn't gotten any training runs longer than about 3 hours, and all the longer runs were at a pretty easy pace, but I had some good race results at shorter distances so far this year. Longest running race since surgery was 20K.

Unfortunately I had a case of the other kind of runs the AM of the race, and carefully scoped out all the washrooms on course. Also decided to start with a hydration pack instead of waist belt as I was running on empty.

Bash had a plan for me to run a 4:30, with strict HR and pace limits on the first lap. She'd warned me that lap 3 of 4 is the killer.

Lap 1- went out right on plan, taking it quite easy and walking some steep hills. Near the end of the lap the HRM went on the fritz, giving me HR of 200+ on a moderate downhill while I could still chat. 1:05

Lap 2- feeling really good, so let the legs go free a bit. Ignored the wonky HRM, just kept it below 25K race effort. Dropped the folks I had been pacing with for lap 1- averaged 5 min/km, got decent food in too. 1:02

Lap 3- Changed to my second pack. Still feeling pretty good, but the legs started to get a bit heavy in the last few km. Still time in the bank for a good finish! 1:07

Lap 4- Hmm, stomach feels a bit odd. Need to burp? No, WTF, dry heaves. Time for my Tums. Crap, they're in the waist pack! Oh oh, gut feeling a bit dicey South of the equator too. Time to walk more hills. Visited a couple of washrooms, but no dice. More dry heaves. Aid station- tried to get some food down, but could only face some flat coke and 2 potato chips. Tempted to quit. Walked more hills. Legs starting to go, probably from no fuel. Few more stops, and only doing the old man ultra shuffle. Surprisingly still lapping a lot of 50K folks, but got passed by another 50K runner on lap 4. If I picked up the pace, back came the heaves. Forced the legs into a bit faster trot for the final km or so. Trashed. 1:24

Finished like a zombie, according to Bash, and staggered off to the massage tent, mainly to have a comfy bed to lie on. It took me an hour to be able to get some soup down, and a drink, but after a couple of bites I had to pass on the excellent Toad meal.

When we looked up the results, we were shocked to see that I was actually 13th overall, and 3rd in my age group. Not an easy group, the winner was sub-4hr and 3rd overall. It looks like I wasn't the only one to fade, but few runners had a faster second lap so most faded throughout.

Bash had a great race, and despite one of her fastest 25Ks didn't even seem winded. Tiny and Ms Tiny both ran like clockwork, with very even splits. Ms Tiny is back up to speed and looking good.

Maybe I went out too hard on the second lap and should have kept the pace down until lap 3. Maybe it was my gut that wasn't great to start.
Either way, glad to be on the podium after a suffer-fest. Second in my age group and 10th overall would have been reasonable if I wasn't sick, but not a chance at first in my age group- Steve is a machine.

Some notes to remember-
I feel like four 1:10s would have been a walk in the park, yet my crash-and-burn really kicked my butt. Wish my HRM had been working better- I clearly can't judge what pace on lap 2 will leave anything for lap 4, at least not with bad gut issues. Also need to do longer training runs at speed if I plan to aim for the podium.

C • Congrats! 25

Couple more loads hauled and split. Not many left now.

Quick run to work, and easier home with BZdog.

Run to work, and warmup/cool down on the way back.
BZ dog was on best behavior. The Mastiff-sized pinch collar may be part of it.

3 on, 1 off intervals.

Couple more loads of logs

Ran the Mizzy Lake loop with Bash- slow and cautious on the slippery roots, but a bit of tempo on the final rail trail. Bash was quick there, even with her gimpy ankle.

Lots of pics on Bash's log.