So I have been sitting on this for the last seven days.  Digesting the experience, waiting to see if some inspiration hit me since finishing my first “ultra”marathon.  You know, some words of wisdom to pass along to those of you who take time out of your day to actually read this thing.  To be honest, I’ve got nothing.

Nothing profound that is.  Plenty to say.  Let me start with this:  I had a great time and I got second.  No lies, I would have loved to have won.  But the training was not around this fall.  A couple of really good long runs was about all I had time for.  Add in some goofy weather last Saturday and that combined for a really good 23 or so miles.  Before I tried to chase eventual winner Tim Langdon down, I decided it was just not worth killing myself to attempt to run down a really talented runner who was having a solid day.  So, here I sit a week later with legs that feel fine and a 5k waiting for me tomorrow.  But some comments on this first time event.

The was the first year this event was held.  In honor of the 5th year of the Market to Market relay, race directors Jason Bakewell and Ben Cohoon (friends of the site) wanted to add a little somethin’ somethin’ to the relay.  So what better way to spice things up than a 31 mile solo race on an point to point crushed limestone trail that used to be a railroad?  It was actually pretty awesome.  Grandpa Woods’ golf course was the staging area for the start line.  Plenty of porta johns and a cool, country vibe made any pre-run jitters less jittery.  In all reality the start of this race was like many trail runs I have been too.  Very relaxed with people chatting or joking. It is interesting how the focus for a race like this is so much different than a 10k or a mile.  While you need respect what you are about to attempt, you just can’t be that serious about it.

We were taken to the official start a quarter mile down the road where we hung out for a bit longer.  Gun fires and off we go with the sound of a hundred stopwatches and GPS units beeping.  Off we go might be a bit of an exaggeration.  We just started running like you might for any training run. Left foot, right foot.

The first two miles were all on moderately hilly gravel roads. No big deal.  It was NOT comforting at the first mile to see a nice, friendly black and yellow sign announcing mile 1.  Sweet, 30 more to go.  Left foot, right foot.

Turning on to the MoPac trail began the big phase of our race.  This would be our guide the next three hours.  Easy on the legs, it became rough on the mind.  The first 12 miles on the trail were into a headwind and seemed to have a mostly uphill feel to them.  Once you hit Eagle, NE, it was much flatter or even some downhill.  I found myself solo for most of the time, but had my trail buddy Ivan Marsh along for a really nice portion of the first half.  He didn’t have the greatest day and we parted ways just past Eagle. Left foot, right foot.

Feeling decent and knowing the course, allowed to catch and pass longtime race leader Tim Langdon about mile 18.  Cruising through Walton and feeling really good, I felt the effects of the humidity starting to strike.  At “A” street I went from feeling great to walking in about 200m.  Stomach cramps hit, Tim passed (to his credit he wanted to walk a bit with me, but deep down I knew what my situation was), I gave chase for about 5 seconds and found that my day was done.  No big deal. This might have bugged me a few years ago, but the whole age and wisdom thing is true.  I looked back, didn’t see anyone too close and went into walk/jog mode for the next 45 minutes. A series of pedestrian overpasses made the last four miles interesting, but after passing friends Lucas Marshall and Eric Noel.  Having my son, my wife (who completed the relay once again with her friends, GO BRENDA!!) and LRC bros made the evening even better. Left foot, right foot.

Props to Ben and Jason for putting this on.  I can’t think of too much I would change.  I can’t think of too much I personally would do differently outside of my training.  This was my first foray into the world of ultra running, I can see some more for me on the horizon. Thanks guys. Left foot, right foot (running really is that simple)