#runningbestie

  The Paleozoic 50k turned out to be one of the most adventurous runs of my life. From the moment I signed up for the Spring version of this race it was my intention to use this as a long training run for the Kettle 100k in June. Little did I know how interesting this race would become. 

   First off, anytime you sign up for a race in March and you live in Northern Illinois you have absolutely no clue what to expect weather wise. The day prior to the race it was sunny and we hit a high of 80 degrees. Overnight however the temperatures dropped drastically in the low 40′s and it was raining. A moderate to light rainfall started falling very early in the morning. We also knew via an email from the RD that 1 spot on the course had about 4 inches of water. It was pretty safe to say it was going to be a sloppy mess. I was more concerned with chaffing and blisters so I coating my feet with Trail Toes and covered my body with 2Toms. 

   I carpooled to the race with my running bestie Janel and another bad ass running Trudi. It rained pretty much the entire way. Giving the temperatures, I had thrown some extra clothes in my bag including a light windbreaker. I had originally planned to do the race in a singlet. I even wore it to the race, however I knew I was going to be cold and damp so I actually put on my long sleeve race shirt I got when I picked up my race packet over my singlet. I then put on my windbreaker and Janel happened to have an extra poncho so I decided why not. One thing I threw in my bag at the very last minute was my Sugoi running mittens. I had never used them for a run this long but wow what a difference. 

    As the horn went off signaling the start of the race we started out running across a grassy terrain the was soaked and muddy. I felt the cold rain water in my shoes within the first 50 feet. Fortunately, my Hoka One Challengers drain well. The course itself was 2 out and back loops. Due to course conditions and possible deterioration of the original planned course the RD changed from the Spring course to the Fall course for this race. The following picture was pretty much the norm throughout the course.

This photo really shows the mud we had to deal with all day along with other spots was basically a stream of water that was deep enough to cover your shoes. One of the best decisions I made was to wear gaiters. Not because I thought is would keep rocks out of my shoes because I had a ton of small rocks in my shoes but to actually help keep my shoes on and not get stuck in the mud. 

    I ran with Janel during the entire race but we also ran with Kimmie and Latoya for the 1st loop. Also in my group at least for the first 6 or so miles was Jay. A runner who was on my Ragnar team 2 years and had suffered some knee issues but now he was back and he looked really strong on the course. 

   I decided to leave my water bottles for my vest at home and just used the cups at the unmanned aid station and at the turn around aid station. That worked out fine.

    Pace wise we were a little faster then I would have liked for the 1st 7.75 but I didn't have any major issues. We walked the hills and any sections that at least in my opinion couldn’t be safely run. My #1 goal in this race was to stay on 2 feet and not fall. I don’t have time for injuries. We got to the turnaround aid station and I stuck with Gatorade and PB&J sandwiches. We didn’t spend much time there and we started back towards the starting line. I think it was a cumulation of little slips and slides as I started to get some pain in the hip flexor area about 10 miles in but nothing to serious. My back felt good and so did my legs. 

   The challenge heading back to the start was going through those tricky areas either the opposite way we approached them originally. Obviously, uphill going out was downhill going back. I was constantly scanning ahead of me to find the safest path to take but we managed through it all. As we approached the starting line or 15.50 miles I starting wondering if there would be 50k runners who would decide to DNF and choose not to go back out through that muck again. It turns out a few runners did decide to DNF. That’s really the downside to multiple out and backs because the temptation is there to throw in the towel. That wasn’t an option for Janel or I. 

    I refueled at the starting line and left the aid station a few minutes before Janel I wanted to start out walking and I knew Janel would catch up fast. It hadn’t been raining so I left my poncho at the aid station. As I thought Janel caught up to me quickly and indicated her desire to get the race done. She had a very strong pace the next 2 miles and I was really struggling my legs were in shuffle mode as the pain in my hip flexor got much worse when I opened up my stride. I indicated this to Janel but as she very politely put it. If she was running at a good clip she needed to keep going and that I could catch up to her on the hills. I’ve been doing a lot of hill training and it helped me immensely. Although, I probably could of used some more walking breaks Janel’s determination to “get it done” kept pushing me forward. The pain was really bad about 20 miles in. Janel had some ibuprofen and was nice enough to share it with me. Probably the best decision I had ever made.

   We got to the turnaround aid station 23.25 and I started inhaling Chex mix and Gatorade. Janel had found some sliced pickles that she put in cup. The plan was I would start back to the finish line and Janel would eat her pickles and catch up to me. As I left the aid station lots of things started going through my head. First and foremost was that I wanted to finish this race with Janel. I’ve logged a ton of miles with her and this was the 1st time we got to race together. I knew if she caught up to me the first couple of miles back I’d be finishing alone. So right then and there I decided I was going to stay ahead of her the next 5 miles all the way to the thick mud. Bigger hills came after that and I knew  if I made it to the mud I’d finish with her.  Well, the ibuprofen must have kicked in because I was able to open up my stride and I virtually pain free in my hip flexor. The other thing I did was run that next 5 miles with reckless abandon. Even through the thicker mud I just kept going. I though caution to the wind and just attacked. From time to time the first couple miles going back I peaked over my shoulder and I still saw Janel. Actually, she got right up to me as I was walking up a hill. So, after that hill I decided I’d start running the hills. I caught up to another runner Jodi. I was overheating so I ditched my windbreaker and stuffed it in my pack. I reached the unmanned aid station about 27.1 miles and I passed right by it. I looked back and saw Janel with Jodi. There was a gradual downhill before the mud so I just kept running recklessly all the way to the mud. I had achieved what I set out to do. Janel got to the mud shortly after me. I was pretty damn tired but I still felt good. A couple of miles and hills later I finished with Janel in front of a great crowd of people who stayed to watch the last few people finish! 

  Janel achieved a new 50k PR! I got to finish a race with my running bestie and this race was a huge confidence builder for my upcoming 100k! A popular African Proverb say “If you want run fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together!” Teamwork is everything! I absolutely loved everything about this race!!