McNaughton 50

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McNaughton 50 - RunUltra Marathon


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Pekin, Illinois
United States
McNaughton Park Trail Runs
45F / 7C
Sunny
 		Total Time = 11h 32m 12s
Overall Rank = 21/98
Age Group =
Age Group Rank = 0/
Pre-race routine:

Got up, ate a bowl of cereal, half a bagel with cream cheese, half a bagel with peanut butter, and two cups of coffee. Headed over to the race site to pick up my packet and start the day's festivities.
Event warmup:

No warm-up, other than hitting the porta-john.
Run
  • 11h 32m 12s
  • 50 miles
  • 13m 50s  min/mile
Comments:

I'm sure I burned a few matches in the first two loops with the mud. By the third lap, many parts of the trail were drying out, but there were still areas with shoe-sucking goo.

Hydration was just about right, as I had to pee at least once per lap.

For me, this was a long training day and a chance to work on the mental fortitude to keep running even at the end when I hurt. I'll call it a success. I was especially happy to run out the last 3 miles and pass a couple of people (that almost never happens for me on the run).
What would you do differently?:

Run more? Go a little easier in the first half?

Really, nothing I'd do differently given this year's goals
Post race
Warm down:

Hobble around. Congratulate the guys who finished right ahead of and behind me. (One of the guys right behind me had an IMmoo hat on. I asked him if this was easier or harder than the IM, and he said this was harder by a lot. )

What limited your ability to perform faster:

It wasn't that long ago (last fall) that 50 miles was a big MONTH of running for me. I did this race on 100 miles per month over the last two months. The run fitness got me through 20 without too much trouble.

Event comments:

A lot of participants were amazed that I'd picked this as my first Ultra (it's in my back yard, so why not). It is a tough course, made tougher with the rain/mud.

Would I do it again? Ask me in a week.


Profile Album


Last updated: 2008-12-31 12:00 AM
Running
11:32:12 | 50 miles | 13m 50s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/
Overall: 0/98
Performance: Good
Each loop was 10 miles. My plan for a <11 hour finish was Loop 1: 2:00 actual 1:59 (19th) Loop 2: 2:05 actual 2:02 (19th) Loop 3: 2:10 actual 2:17 (18th) Loop 4: 2:15 actual 2:30 (18th) Loop 5: 2:30 actual 2:44 (21st) Overall plan was to walk the uphills and run the rest. Mud on the trails made things difficult. First loop was pretty busy since all of the 50-milers and a number of the 100-milers started then. Had people around me the entire 10 miles. Ducked under a tree branch which took off my hat and sunglasses. I got the hat, but forgot I had the sunglasses on the hat until several miles later (oh well, they weren't expensive). Focused on trying to keep true to a 2:00 split and felt good. Skipped eating on the first loop since I'd just eaten a big breakfast. I drank a 14-oz bottle of Heed on the loop. Started the second loop still feeling great. Kept the long-sleeve shirt and gloves as it hadn't warmed up much. Second loop was a repeat of the first, except that I spent 95% of the time alone. I passed a couple of the 100/150 milers, but really didn't see any other runners close to my pace. Drank a second bottle of Heed, but also had a handfull of food at each of the three aid stations. I could tell at the start of the third loop that the mud had sucked a lot of strength out of my legs. I switched to a t-shirt and ditched the gloves. "Uphill" took on new meaning this loop, but I still managed to run a majority of the loop. I was also considerably slower on the downhills as I could feel my quads starting to fatigue and I didn't want to fall. I knew at the end of this loop, I'd have my son running with me for the 4th loop, but I knew that it was going to be difficult to keep a pace to have me finish <11 with the rapid drop-off. Drank 2 bottles of Heed this loop and continued grazing at the aid stations (usually a piece of fruit or two and a handfull of pretzels, nuts, M&M's, or fig bars. I saw my older two boys playing frisbee golf in the park. Still mostly alone here as the long-distance guys were all moving much slower. For the 50, the fast guys were well ahead of me, and the slow guys well behind me. Picked up my son, Austin at the beginning of the fourth loop. By now, it's after noon and the sun is out and feeling pretty pleasant. Ran a fair amount, but I walked even on the flats some to rest, drink, rest (you get the idea). Switched to water and finished two bottles during the loop and continued grazing, but my stomach started to tighted up near the end. Switched son's between laps 4 and 5, so I ran the fifth with Trevor. "Run" may be a bit of a misnomer, but there were times I tried. We did pretty well getting to the first aid station, then I walked a mile (16 minutes) and we ran or walked the middle section with a lot of hills. Pretty much walked 2 miles around the second aid station knowing that 11 hours was long gone. I didn't eat at the start/finish or first aid station this loop, but grabbed a bit at the second station. As we left the station for the last time, I wanted to make this an honest run, so I committed to "run" the flats and not just walk it in, so we started "running." If we could do the last 5K in 42 minutes, we'd still finish in 11:30. Passed a couple people in the next 2 miles (woot!!). Did a major slip-n-slide in the last big mudpuddle, coating my left side in thick, goey, mud, so we walked about a half mile. I was able to muster up and run the last 200 yards to the finish line. 2 minute later, the guys we passed finished.
Course: 10-mile loop that you repeat 5, 10, or *15* times depending on how hardcore you are. (I'm not that hardcore. ) Start down a muddy trail, then 3/4 of a mile around the edge of a field before heading back up near the start/finish line. About a mile and a quarter of up/down/up/down (with mud) in the woods. Totem-pole aid station (manned by friends in the local tri-club) is at mile 2.5. The next mile is gently rolling along some meadows. The first creek crossing is at mile 3.5 and the creek was angry and swollen from the rains Friday. The water was past knee deep where I crossed (and got colder with each loop). A little bit of flat trail in the woods, and then we climb "golf hill" (they attach a rope for the race, so you can pull yourself up). Back down the bluff and then a series of up/down/up/up/up until we hit a corner of the park next to a very nice home (I thought the RD had lined them up to serve breakfast, but I didn't see anyone). A short downhill from the home and we hit the bridge signifying 5-miles. A couple short, steep, climbs and decents and we pass a parking lot (thankfully, there were a few spectators there cheering all of us on). A gradual climb and then looping along the edge of a field to the Heaven's Gate aid station (with a cemetary just before we get there) at mile 5.75. We go down the bluff and run along the creek and through a soggy field before climbing the hill back up to Heaven's Gate (mile 6.9). Leaving Heaven's Gate, we run along a field, back down through the dry part of the soggy field (thanks to Austin for pointing that out, I didn't realize it). We hit the last creek crossing at mile 8.6 with ankle-deep water (if you stay to the left, on the rocks). At this time, we climb and climb (and climb some more) towards the field where the frisbee golf is set up. (This is where I wipe out on the last lap) We pass a couple of frisbee golf holes and head down along the edge of the lake. Another climb to another field, loop along the edge of the field and cross a footbridge to the last 200 yards of uphill towards the finish line. The long distance runners had set up tents, and their supporters were there lining the field as we ran towards the finish line. 1600 feet of climbing per 10-mile loop.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 4
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Below average
Race evaluation [1-5] 4

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2009-04-12 9:18 AM

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Champion
7547
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Albuquerque, New Mexico
Bronze member
Subject: McNaughton 50

Two of my running partners were also running this weekend.  One finished her first 50 (yea) and the other finished his first 100 (A-m-a-z-i-n-g). 

Ignore the foot, you can see the mud caked on my leg from the fall right before the end. 



Edited by McFuzz 2009-04-12 9:24 AM




(wrinkly feet[2].JPG)



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wrinkly feet[2].JPG (84KB - 24 downloads)

2009-04-12 11:46 AM
in reply to: #2079135

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Master
1376
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Chicago
Subject: RE: McNaughton 50
Wow. Great job very impressive. 
2009-04-12 2:10 PM
in reply to: #2079135

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Expert
968
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Wellington, North Island
Subject: RE: McNaughton 50
Awesome job! What an amazing accomplishment!

2009-04-12 2:31 PM
in reply to: #2079135

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Elite
4235
2000200010010025
Spring, TX
Subject: RE: McNaughton 50
Great job!  You definitely have the mental toughness part down for IM CdA. 
2009-04-12 9:41 PM
in reply to: #2079135

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Expert
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Earth
Subject: RE: McNaughton 50

Congrats, that is a fantastic accomplishment. 

2009-04-12 10:13 PM
in reply to: #2079135

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Expert
783
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Spokane, Washington
Subject: RE: McNaughton 50
Awesome awesome job!!!  CDA will be a breeze after this!  Way to go, this is quite an accomplishment!!!

2009-04-13 8:12 AM
in reply to: #2079135

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Elite
2423
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Subject: RE: McNaughton 50
Awesome race. So next year are you doing the 100 or 150?
2009-04-13 9:56 AM
in reply to: #2079135

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2009-04-13 9:56 AM
in reply to: #2079135

Pro
4528
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Norwalk, Connecticut
Subject: RE: McNaughton 50
ultra runners are amazing!! great job and congrats!!!!


2009-04-13 10:38 AM
in reply to: #2080347

Champion
7547
5000200050025
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Bronze member
Subject: RE: McNaughton 50

aarondavidson - 2009-04-13 8:12 AM Awesome race. So next year are you doing the 100 or 150?

Um...NO!!  I don't think I'm ready to commit that much time to running. 

2009-04-13 8:30 PM
in reply to: #2079135

Extreme Veteran
406
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Frisco, Texas
Subject: RE: McNaughton 50
great race man...NEVER for me...and i mean NEVER...very impressed.

2009-04-18 6:05 AM
in reply to: #2079135

Master
1397
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Granvile, Ohio
Subject: RE: McNaughton 50
Amazing job Ultramarathon Man!!!  I defintely think you're hardcore. 

You are going to ROCK CdA!!!!

Edited by tnickerson 2009-04-18 6:06 AM
2009-04-20 9:30 AM
in reply to: #2079135

Elite
2673
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Muskego, WI
Subject: RE: McNaughton 50

You are the man.  Seriously impressive.  Especially on feet that ugly.  Quite an accomplishment!

2009-05-27 8:43 AM
in reply to: #2079135

Champion
5312
5000100100100
Calgary
Subject: RE: McNaughton 50
Love it, great work. Really inspiring.
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