Midnight Madness 50 Miler

July 1st, 2011...11:50pm...the Midnight Madness 50 miler gets under way here in Tulsa, OK.  The temperature was going to be a factor this year.  No chance of rain.  Last couple of days leading up to the race has been in the 100s, and nighttime lows of 80s.  It was going to be brutal this time.

The course is pancake flat, with short steep climb at Turkey mtn. from one direction, and long steady uphill from other direction.  Course is 10.3 mile loop, with 1,3,5 going one direction, and 2,4 opposite direction.  This made it really nice.  You were able to see where and how everyone else is doing during the race.  I like this format.

Up to raceday, I've done my heat training.  I was prepared this time.  At start area, I had my pedialyte, salt stick tabs, gatorade, and extra everything to change into.  For Turkey mtn aid station, I had the same stash.  My gameplan was start out slower than last year, and make up time in last two laps.  And since I've been doing my training runs in vibram 5-fingers, I was ready to do 50 miles in the 5-fingers.  But I did one thing that they say you should never do on race day...don't try anything new.  Welll, I did.

During my training runs, I wore injinji socks with 5-fingers...and have had no problems with blisters or anything.  I bought a new pair and didn't receive them until race day.  When I went to try them on, they were quite snug.  So I thought, if I put on my sock it will be very tight, and before I hit 10 miles I may have some serious issues.  So I decided to go without sock and see what happens.

On my first 10 mile, I timed in at 1:35:09.  Of course, being fresh, I was feeling very good.  Vibram 5-fingers felt good... no issues at 10 miles.  But I was going way to fast.  I wanted to be at 1:45 or 1:50.

On my second (reversed) lap, I timed in at 1:35:53 (3:11 total).  Again.. I was still going too fast.  I was suppose to be at 2 hr lap time.  But my legs were feeling good, and 5-fingers were working well... no issues.  Somewhere around mile 19, I drank from water faucet on the trail...and before I knew it... I swallowed hot water from the faucet.  Within minute, my stomach went south.  I was beginning to feel sick.  Soon as I hit the aid station, I took in some electrolytes and ginger..hoping to settle my stomach.

On my third lap, I decided to take it slower and try to get my stomach back on track.  It was not happening.  This really threw me off.  After I left the aid station, I had forget to re-apply some bodyglide to my feet.  At mile 26, my feet were beginning to feel some pain...some hot spots developing on the right foot.  Mile 30, I timed in 2:08:17 (5:19 total) for lap 3.  It seemed alot slower since I was dealing with stomach and foot issue now.  At mile 30, I took off my 5-fingers, re-apply bodyglide, and changed to my racing flats and socks.  I ate some food and back on course for lap 4.

Lap 4, I was still not feeling all that great, but I was moving again.  Maybe not as fast as I would've like...but no matter.  The sun was beginning to rise as I hit mile 45.  Up to this point, the humidity hasn't really bothered me.  I was hydrating well, taking in electrolytes, and eating good.  Actually, it felt cool to me for the nighttime run.  And my stomach was slower getting back to normal.  I'll know better next time.  Lap 4 (mile 40), I timed in at 2:19:40 (7:38 total).  Considering the issues I was dealing with, it wasn't bad time.

Now the final lap to finish.  I was thinking if I just keep a steady pace, I should be under 10 hrs, if not around 9:15 finish.  I was thrilled to start again...the last lap!  But everything went south.  The sun was beginning to heat things up quickly.  I was walking more and more...and less running.  My legs were experiencing some cramping.  The stomach issue came back again, and hit me hard this time.  I was feeling a huge blister on bottom of my right foot now.  At Turkey mtn aid station, I tried to get electrolyte and some food back in me.  I put ice pack around my neck and some in my hat.  I was off for the final 4 miles.  I was beginning to run again for next 2 miles.  But the last 2 miles... I was doing everything I could to get it done.  Everything was zapped out of me.  I finally made it to finish line in 10:21:46 (2:42:59 for last lap).  I was sooo happy to finish.

nice finisher medal

some skin gone wearing vibram 5-fingers

small blister on right foot

50 miler finish...right and left foot!

  Last note to add... this was an awesome race!  Thanks to RD Brian H. for organizing a great event.  And thanks to all volunteers who helped with the race.  Thanks to Oklahoma Trail Runners Association for manning Turkey mtn. aid station.  Congratulations for all finishers...and even to those that toed the line... it was not an easy run for anyone...no matter what distance they covered.

Andy Payne Marathon

This past sunday was the Andy Payne marathon at Lake Hefner, OKC.  For the past year, I've been running in vibram 5-fingers (Bikilas).  And I was looking at this race more of a training run also.

The course was out and back, and repeat another for full marathon around Lake Hefner.  I got up at 3am, and drove to OKC for 6:30am start.  The gun went off exactly on time.  Full and half marathoners were thrown in together.

For the first segment (to the out turn around), I tried to keep slow pace, but at times, I was going way fast..and I was going to pay for it later on.  I was at 56:30 at turnaround.  Coming back was quite abit harder due to strong south winds.  I slowed down quite abit and threw in some walking.  I got back to start area in 2 hrs 3 mins.

On my second out segment, I decided to take much slower and not push it.  With strong south wind (tailwind), my quads are actually taking a beating.  At every aid station, I just stop and drank lots of water.  Temps were on the rise by mid morning.  On this segment, it took me hour and 22 minutes.  I had slowed alot.  My feet felt fine.  The wind was basically taking a toll on me now.

Coming back home on the last segment, I just slowed down and did alot of walking.  This was a good time for walking.  The winds are really fierce now.  At about mile 22, my left quad was acting up.  I walk some and run some.  This worked out pretty good.  I finally rolled into finish line at 4 hrs. 54 min. 46 sec.  I had finished my first marathon with vibram 5 fingers.  And my feet didn't really hurt much.  I'm sure that if the wind was as bad, my time would've been better too.  Everyone's time would've been better.  Nonetheless, it was a great training run.

DG productions did a wonderful job with the race.  Thanks to all volunteers at aid stations,  just been out in these winds had to been hard too... maybe even harder.

I hope to run 50K next weekend.  Happy Trails!

Run To The East

Warrior Princess Trail Run

It's been raining all weekend.  But today, it cleared out early afternoon.  And a special event was held near Lake Keystone.  It was the Warrior Princess Trail Run.. 1.03 mile or 10.3 miles.  Normally I don't run races that short... some may not think it's short.  But anyway...this race was in memory of a little girl that lived only 103 days...thus 1.03 or 10.3 miles.

After doing 21 miles yesterday, I was just taking it easy today.  The first 5.something miles were on trails.  Then the next 5.something miles were on pavement with big time hill finish.  I love hill finishes.  After 10.3 miles (10.38 garmin time), I strolled in around 1 hr. 40 min.

Once again, the event was first class.  Thanks to Runners World/Tulsa, TATURs, and all volunteers for putting this event on.  Ken Childress (aka Trail Zombie) did an awesome job marking the course.

Cool tech shirt and bling

Nice!

Training runs, week of 4/3/11 - 4/9/11

4/3 Sunday -        10.5 miles  1:49:36
4/4 Monday -        0 miles
4/5 Tuesday - am  5.5 miles    0:51:36
4/5 Tuesday - pm  8.16 miles  1:14:25
4/6 Wednesday -  0 miles
4/7 Thursday  -     9.5 miles     1:28:12
4/8 Friday      -     9.0 miles     1:33:28
4/9 Saturday  -     7.5 miles     1:19:36

Total -----------  50.16 miles   8:17:06

After couple of weeks of 20 milers (licking my wounds), it was time to step it up a little.  Weekly mileage is finally up to 50 miles.  I felt good most of the week.  Mileage should be on the build now.

Snake Run

This year's Snake Run was great.  The weather was perfect...hardly no sun, little rain now and then, cool breeze all day.



Snake Run start/finish



Two weeks ago, I ran A-OK 50K.  I had strain my calf muscle pretty bad.  Since then, I didn't do any running in hopes that my leg would heal up.  By Thursday, I went for short 5 miles at easy pace.  My leg was still feeling the pain.  By saturday, I was still unsure if I should run for 6 hours...much less cover over 30 miles.

feeling good moment (photo-K2)

I started out very slow, and close to the very back of the pack.  First 4 mile loop went good, second 4 mile loop went smoothly too.  I wasn't pushing hard, but rather keeping steady pace.

Towards end of 3rd 4-mile loop, my leg was beginning to hurt.  Fourth loop (mile 12 to 16), I walked most of it...hoping that if I can only make it to 20 miles...it would be a good day.

Fifth loop (up to mile 20), I was still moving.  Time was somewhere close to 4 hours.  I thought...if I can only do one more loop..I'd call it a day.

At the end of my sixth loop (mile 24.5), I had about 1 hour left.  My leg was still hurting...but I thought...maybe I can put in 2 more miles to make it a marathon..then call it done.

I started on the 1/2 mile loop.  In about an hour, I was able to hobble in another 4 miles.  By this time, my leg was finally getting in tune, and I was able to run most of it.  I was beginning to feel good.  But time ran out on me.  At 5 hrs. 57 min. 45 sec., I would cover 28.6 miles.  Some days, the body is just not up to par.

However, the Snake Run was a great turn out.  Some 250 runners came out for either the 3 hr or 6 hr of trail running.



bling...bling



Thanks to TATURS for a great race.

A-OK 25/50K

March 6, 2011  A-OK 25/50K in Atoka (Stringtown), OK



Aaron and Rob  (TATUR's)

The TATUR's had a great showing at A-OK.  The weather was perfect for trail running.  8:00am start was mid-20s, gloves and long tech shirt was good.  As the day progress, temps were in mid 60s though, but the winds kept it chilly at times.


Kurt contemplating a win!

Kurt and Jason (another TATUR) ran a strong race throughout.  Kurt looked strong from start to finish.  He went on to win the 50K (4:30-something), followed by Jason in second place.  Kurt's wife, Shelly, won the womens 50K.  She too look very strong throughout the whole race.

 

Me and Rob  (TATUR twins)

I was hanging with Rob from the beginning, until we got close to 5 miles.  We got to a rocky section, and Rob twisted his ankle big time.  While he tried to walk it off, I kept on going.  I was finally getting into a groove at about 6-7 miles.  My pace was finally at about 8-9 min./mile.  At about mile 10, I crossed Rob again, and his ankle was not looking good...but he was still moving.

I got back to base camp (halfway) in about 2hr.30min.  For some reason, my right calf muscle started to hurt.  I must've had a mis-step somewhere in the rocky section.  And as I was about to face some more climbs on the second loop, I was really re-thinking if I should go out again.

So I start back out again.  I basically walked about a mile and half until I reached the top where it was more flat sections.  I was able to start running again...but with caution.  I took it easy for the rest of the way.  I was able to get back in one piece without major damage.  My finish time was 5:42.53.  It was a great training run.

Thank you to Mary Ann Miller, the volunteers, Dora (aid station specialist), and some friends who reward me with a special prize for finishing (Navajo frybread and mutton...Yummmm!...one reason I make the trip to Atoka every year).