Charlie Chaplin penned the phrase "words are cheap." That best describes what we feel when asked how our first ultra marathon went this past weekend. How do you answer the question when all you have are a few minutes of someone's day? The short answer is, it cannot be done.
Life is a journey; a series of steps that essentially lead to a certain destination. This isn't only figurative but also literal. In October of 2013, we signed up for our first Ultra, the
MS50. It was really a distant thought and other races were fore-fronted. There were accomplishments, minor injuries, disappointments, but mostly miles and miles of effort in every weather condition possible. We developed a loose plan to make our running more "ultra oriented" in that we started increasing mileage and running back to back long runs. We used the New Orleans marathon for instance to increase mileage where we ran a few more after our respective races were over. Crazy much? The training itself was a beautiful unfolding. Having a partner for both us that continued to challenge and hold each other accountable was truly a blessing. There were definite times that we would move our runs to areas of the city to avoid the "hill" on Old shell. We point that out to really highlight the humanity experienced during training, but that doesn't negate the hours of laughs and pain(some from falls, some from overuse) that comes with working toward a specific goal.
We had no idea how our bodies and minds would react to the rigors of such a daunting distance and time. We both felt like we put in the training, and we were determined not to let anything stop us from our goal. The bricks upon brick that prepared us all came together as we toed the start line of the MS50 on March 1st.
A quick note about the race itself; It was run through the Desoto National Park right outside Laurel, MS. It consisted of 3 12.5 mile loops and 2 6.2 mile loops that were a combination of both single track and double track trails with some gravel, logging roads thrown in there. It was dark, in the woods, down some long…long…long dirt roads; very Texas Chainsaw Massacre-ish. You would like to think you have a good idea about what to expect or how to start a race of this distance as you gear up and prep the start line for your future "pit stops," but the truth is there are so many variables that can go wrong out there when you are moving for that long that no one can predict what can happen. We tried to keep the mind set that this was "just another long run."
One good piece of advice is do not waste time avoiding mud or water. If you are running a course that has streams or standing water, it is inevitable that you will get wet. We spent a lot of time the first few miles avoiding water and mud until we came to some creeks that you simply couldn't avoid. One of the vivid memories that will always be with us is the laughing that came with the simple act of splashing in water or mud when we could not avoid them. Whether we were laughing because we were happy or pissed is still up for debate. When you are out there for that long it is really hard to remember everything, but certain things stick out. When we neared the 2nd aid station on the first loop we saw two familiar faces unexpectedly. We saw our humble trainer Rosshiki and our awesome training partner Donna. Nothing compares to the smiling face of friends and families there to support and encourage. the first loop was just to get a feel for the terrain and it did pose some challenges. We were able to finish in 1:50.46. The first pit stop was short. Our fantastic pit crew, Jennifer and Kellie held signs and helped refill our water bottles along with another appearance by Shiki and Donna.The next loop was roughly nine minutes slower. It started heating up, so we shed unnecessary gear. We took a little longer break on the second pass to get a break from the heat plus our crew had transformed themselves into awesome looking swimsuit tees so many laughs were had.
After the distance of the marathon was completed the concept of "ultra" starting to get real. Halfway through our third loop was the point where we passed mile 30 which to that point was the longest we had run at one time. For both of us it was a big deal and at the time and we knew we had a lot of work ahead. Once the third loop was completed, our friends and families commented that we didn't look like we had run 35+ miles. All that can be said about that is that looks can be quite deceiving! This loop took about 2:17. At this point, we decided to change clothes and socks to give our feet a reprieve, even if for only a few miles.
Then it was on to our final two smaller loops where we had 2 aid stations. Making it to the aid stations became our goals once we left the starting line. You would think that less than a 10k would be familiar, but it was a long first loop. This portion became a little more technical and hilly and some walking was to be done (as hard as that is to admit). Some singing, some laughing, some reflection made this loop a little easier. By this time we had been running for over 6 hours and hunger would hit you in waves at random times. Once you got to an aid station, your thoughts are, what can I get my hands on now? Natalie and Sabrina had arrived by the end of this loop, so it was great to see some added familiar faces.
Starting the last loop was probably the most emotional part and somehow we managed to complete this loop a few minutes faster than the 4th loop. Maybe because we were ready to be done or maybe because our minds and legs had gone numb, one cannot be sure which. The trails really opened up for us on this last loop. The stillness and beauty of the surroundings were really surreal. Your mind goes back and forth between being captivated by nature, the fatigue in your mind, the tiredness in your body, the miles behind, and few that lay ahead. The feeling of only having a mile left after being out there for so long is one of both excitement and disappointment. Excitement because your mind and body are ready to simply stop and sit, but disappointment because you want the feeling for the next 10 minutes to never stop. Every emotion sneaks up on you. The finish definitely sneaks up on you, so be ready. We crossed and were welcomed by those same friends and family that had just a long a day as we had had. Place wasn't a goal, but it was a nice bonus to basically tie for 5th with left foot pigeon toe bringing home 1st place overall female. total elapsed time
8:37. Crazy now?
(Results)
The details really overshadow and fail to capture the splendor of the experience. The laughs, fun, fatigue, and sense of accomplishment is hard to capture in retrospect. Whenever you train so hard for something, sacrifice so much, and are fortunate enough to achieve that goal, there is an amount of satisfaction and pride that words simply cannot do any justice. To take yourself to the edge, dive into the darkness and come out the other side is truly rewarding. The goal wasn't accomplished in one day or on one route in 8.5 hours but was done on the first day we laced up our shoes. It was done by constantly sticking to a plan that we had no idea would work. It was about trusting a training plan and trusting each other and trusting our unbelievable family and friends. It's about trusting our unbelievable and motivating trainer who sacrifices so much for each of us. One cannot achieve a goal without the help of some pretty incredible people and we humbly share this with each of you and are forever grateful.
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those in the back so give yourself a little room.
Our shoes finally dried out, so we knocked the rest of the loose dirt off, and ran a solid 10 miles on the trails last Thursday and ~12 on Saturday. This was the first time being on the dirt since the Ms50. It felt great to get off the pavement and on the trails. Thursday was a beautiful afternoon...cool, not a cloud in the sky.
