first 50 miler done!

Did my first 50 mile ultra yesterday in stormy, windy, foggy and muddy landslides. It was interesting, not quite sure ultras are for me, but with such nasty weather it is hard to know what a warmer, sunny 50 would be like.

We started at 5am in a huge storm and heavy fog. This race has about 10k of gain so the most stressful part for me was the long, slippery, steep, muddy decents in the dark, not really able to see because of the fog and rain blasting you in the face. I just held on and waited anxiously for day break. There were several decents and climbs that were so muddy aand washed out that going down wwas tedious and slow, trying to pick your way without sliding down on your butt, which I and many others did. Going back up these same trails was slightly easier except for the sliding backwards part. The worst was a 1.6 mile climb at 10.85% grade.

For some reason, nerves maybe from the 2 hours in the dark, my stomach refused everything from mile 8-35, I basically had tiny sips of broth at each aid station. Then climbing up onto a ridge before a long muddy decent toward the mile 36 aid the nausea let go and I was suddenly starving. Ate a little at aid since I was afraid to get sick again. I never knew pb+j dunked in chicken broth would taste so good!

The finish couldn't come soon enough. When I entered the chute a friend was there to surprise me and that felt really good. Time was 10:50.

I may do it again next year if the weather is good so I have a better idea of what an ultra under decent conditions would feel like before deciding they aren't for me.

Off work for a couple days to mend my broken body, mostly quads, itb's and the front tops of my feet. I was surprised to realize my arms, stomach and back hurt abit too.

Zanne.