Post HAT Run

I Survived, barely!

Well, the 25th running of The HAT Run Trail 50K is now all but a distant memory.  Albeit, more so a physical and somewhat painful, but nonetheless a distant memory!

As previously noted, I did not properly train for The HAT.  My longest run year to date was a measly 12 miles!  What made me think that I could run 50K (31.1 miles) with 9,800 feet of elevation gain?  Only the gods above (pick one) can answer that question!  As an aside, being of VIKING on both my paternal and maternal sides of the family, I believe that only LOKI could masterminded such an exceptionally executed folly as was witnessed by many this past Saturday!

Overall, the race was spectacular!  We had great weather, sunny and in the mid-20's at start time.  I admit it was a bit chilly before the start of the race, but that quickly changed after the first few miles - I was shedding layers by the time we re-entered the starting pavilion at mile 3.9.  Maybe someone can address this question for me, why were there two guys running shirtless?  Really?  Yes, shirtless in mid-20 degree temps!  Brave or stupid - its your call!!

For the most part, the race got off without a hitch.  Notice, I said, 'for the most part...'  With the race due to start at 9 am, I left the house around 6:15 am and I arrived round about 7:30 am.  Yes, I know that is early, but I don't like to rush!  After parking, I bundled up and walked over the the registration building where immediately upon entering I was told to look at the list to find my race bib number.  I turned, found my name on the list, Number 225 was my number.  I took this newly acquired information and walked over to the appropriate line at the registration table and politely 'parroted' "I'm number 225."  I was handed my race bib, large t-shirt and other goodies.  I grabbed a few safety pins and made my exit towards the car.  

As I was walking back to the car, where I planned to sit and stay warm, ponder the race, text, email, check-in on 4-Square and FaceBook, I thought I'd make a potty stop since I was passing the porta-potty's.  Well, lets just say that I 'lost' my bib number!  Now imagine my embarrassment walking back into the registration building and saying, 'ah, remember me?  I WAS bib number 225, but I seemed to have 'lost' my bib number in the porta-potty...' 

Fortunately, and after having to recount the story of the misplaced race bib number 225 a few more times, resulting in laughter from the staff, was re-issued bib number 500.  Mind you I was very luck as they had 493 participants!

For a majority of the race, I ran with an acquaintance, Gene Dykes (click his name to view his race stats).  Gene is an impressive runner.  Gene is not only 64 years young but he is also a holder of race times, at varying distances, road and trail, that would make almost any runner blush!  However, our time together was not to last.  Somewhere around mile 19 or 20, I began to fade; I bonked big time (I even consumed half a can of +Red Bull) at mile 17.3).  However, much to my dismay, this was a bonk that not even +Red Bull could not save me from.  Gene pushed on.

However, through the sheer will of not wanting to DNF, I pushed on.  I finished in 6:05:34 which was good enough for 140th overall and 115th in my AG out of 493 starters and 363 finishers.  I also note as a point of pure coincidence, I also finished 140th overall in last year's HAT Run as well....Hmmmm....

I would like to give a shout-out to a few peeps:

SpeedGoat +Karl Meltzer won the Antelope Island 100 Miler.  This is Karl's 35th 100 mile race win out of the 60 that has entered!

Gene Dykes for finishing The HAT in 5:49:05!

Bull Dozier ran his first sub-5 hour 50K!

Chris Jones who finished 10 marathons in the last 9 days ending March 24th!

The HAT Run

Am I Ready????

Wow, tomorrow is The DAY!  I have been both eagerly  looking forward to and dreading March 23rd!  Tomorrow at 9 am will begin The Hat Run.  The Hat Run is one of the biggest 50K's trail races in the eastern United States and is not for the faint of heart - with a majority consisting of treacherous single track and culminating in nearly 10,000 feet of elevation gain!

Last year was my first year of running The Hat Run.  The Hat Run was also my very first Ultra.  At last year's start, I was not sure that I would finish.  There was a significant level of doubt.  At the ripe ole age of 47, I was concerned especially since it was only the year before that I ran my very marathon, Twin Cities Marathon.  This doubt was also amplified by the fact that it was not only cold but it was pouring rain, I mean buckets, right up till the start of the race.  It was so so muddy and with the steepness of the hills, it was not uncommon to hear people scream as they reached for trees in feeble attempts to stay upright!  Although a bit drier the on the second trip around the course, the mud was that much worse after 350 pairs of shoes churned the trails into a greasy sticky goo.

I survived The Hat Run in 6:02:48 and finishing 148th overall!

Although, I do not feel that I am in the best shape.  I do feel better prepared mentally.  Since last year's Hat Run, I ran the Triple Crown Trail Marathon, Leadville Trail Marathon, and the Table Rock Ultra 50 Miler.  Running and FINISHING these races taught me a lot, most important with regard to hydrating and fueling.  I have found that drinking 8 oz of water an hr, listening to +Ian Corless, consuming a gel every 25-30 mins and taking a salt capsule every hr is essential to completing these events without bonking and cramping!  Oh crap, that reminds me; I'm out of of salt capsules - to the running store I go!  :-)

As I prepare for tomorrow's Hat Run, what is your advice regarding dress?  The temperature at start time will be in the mid-20's but will climb into the mid-40's by early afternoon.  Since the course consists of two loops, I was considering wearing light tights the first loops and making a quick change into shorts at the half way point.  I hate these in-between temperatures....

Lastly, good luck to all of you ultra runners.   I take my hats off especially to all of the aspiring wannabe ultra runners! In the words of the famous philosopher from the movie, 'The Waterboy', You Can Do It

Until next time...

My Introduction to Running

Musings of a PseudoRunner 

When did it first happen?  How did I become addicted to this sport considered 'crazy' by many.  Of course, those of you who are likewise so afflicted, and you know who you are, and you know of what affliction I am speaking......UltraRunning!

Almost 30 years ago now, I started running, and not because I enjoyed the sport; no, but because I was afraid.  When I was in 4th grade my father was diagnosed with atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Not soon after that my Father suffered a heart attack and was taken to the hospital.  Being the oldest of three inquisitive children, I asked 'what is a heart attack.'  My mother said, well 'it is like a Charley Horse in the heart.'  I didn't really know what that meant, but I sure knew that Charley Horses hurt and that I didn't want one!  Later I learned, through observation, that Dad was not longer able to run, to play, and many times, he was unable to walk across the room without experiencing chest pains.  

It was this continuous observation of my Father's pain and increased understanding of heart health that led me to begin running my freshman year, 1983, of college at University of Kentucky.  That first semester I discovered a group of guys who liked to run.  We would get up at 5 am run 4 or 5 miles, shower and hit the breakfast lines!  It is funny, looking back at how much you can eat at that age, not to mention how much alcohol you can drink, but I digress.  This was a ritual that I continued, more or less, through my years attending graduate school at  Louisiana State University and beyond.

Skipping ahead a few years, I continued this routine of pounding the pavement, not getting up at 5 am mind you, but running 4 - 10 miles a days three to five days a week for about 25 years.  I would run the occasional 5K or half marathon, but nothing more.  For me, running was a way to help prevent the early onset of heart trouble and not something that I necessarily enjoyed.  From the beginning, I never appreciated road running and/or racing.  I found road running to be, well, boring.  As an aside, I could never quite square that I was running to improve and/or maintain my health well at the same time inhaling carcinogenic car exhaust?!?!.

It wasn't until sometime around 2005 that a neighbor, +Aaron McIntyre, introduced me to trail running at the Brandywine Creek State Park.  I have to admit, I was a wee bit scared - that uneven surface, the rocks, the mud, and leaf hidden roots.  I wasn't sure what to make of this new world, but I was addicted.  Once I learned to trust myself, I was allowed to re-experience running in an entirely new way....running could be enjoyed!

Next....the GPS....