EN-fu applied to trail race = 1st AG!!
This Saturday I was planning to pre-run a section of next month's American River 50, since there's one three mile section that's particularly difficult...and it's conveniently placed at mile 47 
. Since he lives up near there and is also trail running, I emailed John "Still in our Hearts" Stark and asked if he wanted to go. He couldn't because he was running the Diablo Trails Challenge 1/2 marathon that day. I looked at the course profile, and it had a 4 mile section that nearly mirrored the AR50 section, so I did a quick switcher-oo on my schedule, and signed up on Friday for the next day's race. (first time I ever did that!)
. Since he lives up near there and is also trail running, I emailed John "Still in our Hearts" Stark and asked if he wanted to go. He couldn't because he was running the Diablo Trails Challenge 1/2 marathon that day. I looked at the course profile, and it had a 4 mile section that nearly mirrored the AR50 section, so I did a quick switcher-oo on my schedule, and signed up on Friday for the next day's race. (first time I ever did that!) Sadly, John was up all Friday night getting sick, and messaged me early in the morning that he had to bail. 
As far as weather, it was IMMACULATE - mid fifties, sunny, slight breeze, 0.0% humidity (when you sweat as much as I do, it matters!) The course was much more challenging than I had expected. I thought the first two hills (one at 2 and one at 4) would be molehills, with the challenge being the climb up to mile 9. Nope - they were all TOUGH. But my EN-fu worked like a charm. I started out strong, and had an idea that I was sitting in the top 20 or so, then the hills hit, and I walked 'em. I walked fast, but I was the only one walking. I got passed by a bunch of people. I smiled, took note of their kit, and planned on seeing them later in the day.
Oh, one "feature" that I had never encountered before - stream crossings. They were all pretty shallow - ankle deep, but there were maybe 20 over the course of the day. And a few, maybe 5, unavoidable mud stomps. The mud wasn't too sticky though, so it didn't really impact the racing. And the streams were all flat enough that you could just pound through them at full speed - made me feel like a "real" trail racer 
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.So we're through the first two hills, and on our way up the biggie. Nothing was real technical, but there were big sections of trail that were really just huge stones, kind of like flagstone, and completely exposed to the sun. I could imagine that if it were 10 degrees hotter that long section would have been like a pizza oven. Same thing on this hill - I'm walking, others are mostly running, but more are walking now. Funny, they would run until they were 10 yards ahead of me, then walk. But they'd be trashed by then, and I'd just walk on past them. Too funny.
One place where the race directors will hear some feedback is the insufficient aid stations. There were only 3 I think, and by the 9 mile aid station people were pretty cooked. Not me and my Camelbak + Infinit though! I just breezed through and was never thirsty.
Cresting the big hill at mile nine was a huge relief, because this was what I was waiting for. I just bolted, and started reeling them in. I'm always amazed at how slowly people run downhill. The one scare I had was at about mile 11, when I jumped over a small stream. Well, my calf muscles instantaneously informed me that this was a no-no. I fought the cramps all the way to the finish, but they never really siezed after that first moment.
With about 1.5 to go, I passed the first guy who ran away from me when I first started walking. I couldn't see anyone ahead of me, and he didn't respond, so I just cruised the last mile praying my calfs wouldn't rebel.
I crossed at 2:05, which I was really happy about. My psycho-stretch goal had been 2 hours, but there's no way with those hills that it was going to happen. Later I checked the results board, and was REALLY surprised to see that I was 9th overall! A while later that last guy I passed walked up and asked if I was Mike, and upon hearing that I was, he muttered something that you'd get fined for if you said it on TV - I looked back at the board, and I had passed him to take first place in our age group!! He then started inviting me to all the other races he's planning this season. I think maybe he thinks he has some unfinished business 
This was the best change in plans I've had in a long time!!
Mike
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Comments
Awesome job Mike!
Is that guy you passed doing American River 50?
So do you do water in your camelback and a handheld with infinit?
Mike!!! That's GREAT!!!! Congratulations. What a day!
You go show that guy what you got for "unfinished bidness!"
Great day all around!
Thanks!
No, I mentioned the 50 miler and the guy's eyes kind of glazed over
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For "beverage service", since I was expecting to be out there about 2 hours (and I usually drink at least 30oz per hour) my 68oz Camelbak was all I needed. So I mixed up 2 hours of Infinit and topped it off with water. On longer training runs I put the concentrate in a hand bottle and have plain water in the Camelbak.
But I've recently read a study about how hand bottles use up a lot of energy. I'd like to use a waist bottle carrier, but I've had troubles with a nerve in my hip getting crunched. I have a Fuel Belt Helium that is nice, but having 4 little bottles to deal with on a long run is kind of a pain, and they get warm, and the protein foams more in the smaller bottle. So many options, none of them ideal. For AR 50 I'm pretty sure it'll be hand bottle with Infinit, and water in the Camelbak.
Mike
Kepp of the great work and please keep posting the race reports and more about your training. Your journey is inspiring and I know I enjoy reading about it.
Congrats!
tom
Thanks for the kind words everyone.
And yes Nemo, in addition to the finisher's medal, they gave out Age Group podium medals
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Mike
OK, You know the rule! PICS OR IT DIDN'T HAPPEN!!!! Let's see that medal!
Nemo - I pretty much knew someone (you!) would call me out for a picture-less posting. They took a bunch of pics, but none from my race have been posted, so I've been waiting.
But in the meantime...
Mike
Excellent report and congratulations. Im going to have to try the EN-fu hill walking sometime!
I would definitely walk hills in a trail race! Great job! Now I understand the other thread better. You truly deserve the AG win!