Original posting date: 09/28/2014
09/27/14: Race Around the World Endurance Race -- Lebanon, TN
** Caveat: I say this is my first "official" ultra is because I am that guy (or idiot, your choice) who has actually ran marathon distance and up to 50km during training runs. In my opinion, those count for training, but not as official results or PRs.
The reason that I chose this race was because I needed a qualifying race to be accepted into a 50km ultra (The Mountain Mist) that I want to race in January '15. After I was hospitalized for a week with cardiac issues, I was forced to withdraw my registration to one HM and one marathon (which was going to be my qualifier). I was under the gun to earn my qualifier before opening day of registration.. Registration fills quickly and I had to move fast.
This event was suitable, on a flat-ish course, and fit my schedule. The biggest problem I could foresee was keeping boredom at bay. The race course was a one-mile figure eight and you just keep going, and going.. I knew that looking at the same terrain for six straight hours was going to be boring as hell, but the end justifies the means in this case.
My goal for the race was simple: establish an official "good" 50km PR, target a minimum of 37 miles (which was easily achievable), and win the OA. Historically speaking, 34 miles was the winning distance -- I know that I can top that.. If I won the OA, how could they possibly deny my application to the Mountain Mist?
Come race morning, I was READY. But, I was not aware that I would be running multiple "races" on this day. I over-packed as usual; I would rather have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Plus, I stick to only the food/drink supplies I use while training -- I don't need the trots in the middle of a race :). I thought I had left my home in Huntsville with more than enough time to spare for a noon starting time. Traffic congestion proved me WRONG.
Quick side note: NOON STARTING TIMES CAN KISS MY ASS.
As I hit the Tennesse border, it was looking as if I was going to arrive in Lebanon at approximately 11:55 -- five minutes before race start. OH SHIT! Race #1 has officially begun! Honda Civic don't fail me now!
After a series of spotting State Troopers, slowing down like I was "normal", hitting 90mph again, strings of overly creative expletives, and receiving the bird from a couple of older ladies (I still don't know why), I pulled into the designated parking area at 11:20. Whew! I made it!
Until.. I opened the door and got bitch slapped with a heat blanket! WTF? According to Weather Underground, the heat index was currently at 91 degrees with both the humidity & dew point over 70%.. SHIT. Time to revamp my game plan. I decided to base my pace from my heart rate and make sure that it remained in Zone 3 and no more than 170. This would slow me down, but it would help ensure that I did not hit the wall early. I have to race for six hours. So be it.. Adjust, adapt, and overcome.
We all lined up for the starting countdown and we were off shortly afterward. Race #2 has begun! I established a comfortable Zone 3 pace of ~8'30"/mile (slower with the heat) and was feeling AWESOME. My HM split was at about 1:55:00 including a stop to refill my water bottle and grab my Skratch bottle. I was on pace to hit my personal goal of 40 miles in preparation for "Strolling Jim" next year! Yay!
By mile 15, I was feeling great, had a two mile lead on my closest competitor, and #3 was 3.5 miles behind me. Running through the scenarios in my head, I would be in excellent shape even if I had to utilize a run/walk strategy after my marathon split. It was a damn good feeling. UNTIL..
After several weather fluctuations and zero shade, my back decided to flare up and give me the finger. Big time. DAMMIT. I decided to start the run/walk strategy now, let my back loosen up, and it would be time to start hauling the bread again.
I passed the marquee out front with the temperature on it -- 97 degrees. I know the air quality hadn't improved, so I'm sure the heat index was well over 102. No shade, no tree cover, no pacer to spritz me with a water bottle, no pool to jump in to cool me off, no Mariachi band to hand me a beer and help cheer me up. This was going to be a LONG DAY. Even though I was still flared up, I jogged when I could and walked when I had to. There's no way in hell that I'm quitting. It's just not going to happen.
Three hours in, race #3 begins: the race against boredom. This figure-8 loop was starting to drive me bat-shit crazy. No scenery. No trails. Nothing. It was actually mentally hellish. Not because of difficulty, but lack of stimulus. My back was REALLY killing me at this time and I was sticking with the walk/jog strategy. It was all I could do. I was then passed by my #2 competitor and race #4 begins: the race to retain 1st place. This race did not last long at all. He was going REALLY slow, but he was not on intervals yet. After he was about one mile ahead of me, I knew that I did not stand a chance to retain first place unless he quit or was injured. Dammit.
Around the 4.5 hour mark, my back was starting to go on full lockdown. After completing my lap, I had to stop where I dropped my aid bags and coolers, lay flat on my towel for about 20 minutes to stretch my back out so I could keep pushing. It was during this time that competitor #3 was starting to gain ground.. DAMMIT. Let race #4 begin: the race to retain second place. I'm not giving in!
After stretching for 20 minutes, I told my back to phuck off and got back up. I'm going to finish and hold second. That's it. I was able to do a few more walk/jog intervals and retain second place for a little longer..
All that changed about 5:10:00 into the race. I was walking as fast as I could to keep ground between me and #3 -- then my back went on full lockdown. SHIT. I had to find a curb to lay flat on for a LONG time to stretch it out so I could keep going. I was determined to keep going and I'm sure as hell not quitting. Phuck that.
I finally get up and my walk turned into a slow hobble. That's all my back would allow. Then to my left, #3 passes me. DAMMIT. He is doing intervals too, but his walking intervals are normal speed -- mine are far from it. I try to jog it out a little to keep him close, but that does not work at all. There was no way I could catch him.
My last two, one-mile lap times were 26'20" and 35'15" (not including stretches). The times sucked, but I made it and didn't quit after battling a 3.5 hour back flare up.
After the 35' lap, it was over. There was only 5' left on the clock to accumulate more distance. There's no chance I would get more in.
Final stats:
- Official time: 5:54:43
- Moving time: 5:04:24
- Placement: 3rd OA
While these stats are far from impressive, I take a few positive notes from this experience. The weather SUCKED out loud and if my back had not have flared up, I would have easily won the OA. The overall winner beat me by a total of three miles and second place beat me by ONE mile. Each of them needed to run all six hours to do it. I am by no means making excuses -- only analyzing the data that I've collected.
I would have preferred coming home with the win, but knowing this makes me feel a little better about my performance. Yesterday wasn't my day. But, there will be other races and I will continue to push. I am sure this will not be the last time I battle flare-ups during a race and I will deal with them as they come.
Until then, other racers may outrun me, but they will not "beat" me. I will only be "beat" if I quit -- and this is NOT an option I am willing to accept.
Happy running!
-Randall
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