The lead in to the race was great. Running with Strider in Gatineau was the best possible training and guidance I could have hoped for. Learning from Striders experience and getting his encouragement was awesome. I owe him a debt, or potentially some BBQ.
The week before SS I was in Orlando for a conference we were hosting. This was not ideal...standing around in suit/ties all week, little activity and long long days. Then flying back Thursday evening, and driving from Ottawa to Ancaster Friday morning was a bit more sitting still than I'm used to.
Before we kicked off someone in the 100m relay completed the first 20k loop in 1:18...WOW!!! that is a mighty feat of running once you consider the trails and hills. The race started at 7:30am and was a bit crowded as the 25kers and 50kers started together. When the 25kers reached their turn around it became much easier...they were moving fast, and there was alot of them in both directions so it was nice to have the break from the crowd.
I ran for maybe the first 15k with a girl from Owen Sound named Jodi...very friendly, chatty person who was running her 3rd 50k. She was tough, drove down herself the night before, slept in her van, was running and driving back. As Jodi and I were running and sharing bits of our lives I mentioned I have registered for Run Woodstock, and a guy from near Owen Sound had responded to my request for details, (WestGreyRunner). Jodi says I think you mean Ron Irwin, who then said from about 3ft behind me...Ron Irwin that's me
So we ran with Ron for maybe 500m introducing myself and just chatting about Woodstock. I hope to see you down there WGR.The first loly-pop 10k loop Jodi and I finished together in 54min. I was moving faster than expected. We started the full 20k loop together and lasted for maybe another 5-6k together and hit a steep section where Jodi fell off...I had trail shoes, she did not and she had to take her time. That loop went well, nothing amiss, felt great, the support on the trail was further apart than I had expected, but I was fully supporting myself anyway except for grabbing some watermelon as it looked too good to run pass.
I finished the loop and therefore 30k in 2:58. I was still feeling great, and moving well. Around the 35-36k mark I felt that all too familiar IT band twinge appear. I had the strap in my hydration pack so I stopped and put it on hoping to help keep it at bay. I hit the 40k mark around 3:59 so still looking at an 5hr finish time...but the IT band had enough of me at that time, and went full on angry. It stopped me to a walk, I tried stretching it out a bit but nothing was giving.
I started to walk as I figured it doesn't hurt much walking, and there's no way I'm making it to 41k and stopping unless there's bones protruding. So I plodded on...I'd run 200m and walk 800m. I found running up the hills was fine, flats and downs were quite painful so that was my new approach. The folks on the trail running and volunteering were unbelievably friendly and supportive. People would stop and walk with me, I think they could notice my hobble, and one of the volunteers (she told me she was the lead volunteer) walked with me for quite a bit. A very charming girl who's name I sadly forget already.
When I hit the turn for the big hill with 1k remaining I thought to myself my leg won't fall off...and I'm not coming in waling so I started to run the hill. I finished in 5:29:23 which strangely was my original wish (5:30).
Overall I had a wonderful time, I loved the introduction to Ultra's and the crowd itself. If one person said you're looking good, keep pushing it felt 500 people said it. A hard working and very positive group of people. The team at Sulphur should be proud as they put on a fantastic event. The hills were more than I expected, never a break. I discovered all that time in Gatineau paid off as I was running almost every hill (slowly yes but running) and felt strong doing so. I'd equate SS hills as more relentless than Gatineaus, but no tougher.
Now some rest, hopefully a visit to a sport doctor to find out whats wrong with this IT Band/right leg, and get ready for the 50m at Woodstock. Part of me thinks the standing around in Orlando, and the sitting was the driving factor for the IT flare up...but regardless it needs to be addressed.
Ps. My wife and I did go back with our lawn chairs to see people through. I seen CMcPeake but I don't know him so I just clapped and said looking good (I recognized him from his blog), and I seen Sylvie only once...and she was on her way out. I was apparently not paying attention when Sylvie came through the chute, and when I looked up she was running out...so I missed her, but seen you rocked as I expected you would.
