Training Log Archive: 'Bent

North Face Endurance Challenge Atlanta

C • Finished! 23

North Face Endurance Challenge Atlanta 50 Mile

I had a fast but sufferfest 50K at the Toad 2 weeks ago. After that figured my knee was good enough to do a 50 miler, like SF in December. Unfortunately SF was sold out, so it was Hellgate 100K in December or this one much too soon.

The plan was to start out slow, then take it easy on the second half with Slowrunner as my pacer.

We started at 5AM, and many runners with piddly lights were glad of my Bentblaster. Kept it really dialed back for the first 2 legs, walking the uphills.
I was feeling excellent at the 25km mark, Knee 9/10, stomach 10/10, but hip flexors/ lower core were sore from the get-go, not recovered from the Toad. Got lots of food and hydration down, still taking it easy.

The trail was all basically up and down zig-zagging along a big ridge, entirely in forest. It's described as very technical, but it's not as steep as Hockley, and less rocky than the Bruce by far. Never flat, and only a tiny bit of doubletrack. Forest was very interesting, totally different vegetation from home. We got pelted with huge acorns more than once. When the sun came up it got warm quickly, with a high of 27 or so.

I was looking forward to hooking up with Slowrunner at the 45 km mark. My knee started to bug me on the descents around 40km, but felt better after the much vaunted "very technical" section with many waterfalls and river crossings. The "rivers" were about 5cm deep, and we passed one very scenic waterfall. The trail was totally hikeable. Far less technical than an outing from the Hottage or RTH.

Very glad to meet Slowrunner, refill food and water (Mmm, fruit cups), and off we went. My knee was 7/10 and hip flexors sore, but otherwise running well, stomach 9/10. Around the 60k mark my stomach rapidly went to 5/10- Nauseated, but no dry heaves. Hard to get food down for the last 20K, and the knee was getting pretty bad. Walked the uphills, took the steeper downhills gingerly.
Never ran so slow in my life, until a volunteer ran by saying "You have 8 minutes to the cut-off- but it's only a mile or so". I didn't think so according to my chart, but put the hammer down just in case, dropping all the nearby runners. The guys at the CP confirmed he was full of it, so back to the plodding pace. No worry, we had a couple of hours to spare. Slugged back water and s-caps, but food at aid stations made me feel sick.

I had been on track for an 11 hour finish around the 50k mark, but the plan was 12 hours, and it ended up being 11:55. Seriously glad it wasn't 100K or more. Frankly, I don't know if my knee or stomach could have gone much faster, this soon after Toad.

Once again, pretty nauseated and wrecked at the finish, but I came around after a couple of hours. Great to have Slowrunner to keep me company. Interesting and scenic run, even if I may not have the stomach for ultra running. Feet were perfect though!

I was 5/17 in my 45-55 category, 1st was 10:54, 3rd was 11.30.

57/196 overall. Hal Koerner won overall in 7:45.

At the hotel in Pine Mtn. Picked up Kendra and a Soy Mocha in the next town over, and ready for an early nightl

C • Race smart 1

Just a short, knee-friendly test of Bash's exo calf sleeves and ankle taping.

Foothab, kneehab.

Easy ride with a very well behaved Bazingadog. Tired from romping with Bunk I think.

Kneehab, foothab, workout 2 with some pull downs and push-ups +kb.

Also tried more lunges and Warrior 1- my lower core/ hip flexors are still sore from the Toad when I sink deep into this one. Knee is a bit sore from the o-champs long, so lots of rest before NFEC.

Meh.