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To start my race season for 2016 I decided to do an event that has been on my radar for a few years but never lined up with my schedule. Also, it’s a tougher race than I’m usually prepared for this early in the season. Since this year’s schedule seems to be about stepping out of the comfort zone, the Traprock 50k fit the trend perfectly. I hoped that a very technical, 3-loop course with lots of climbing and tough competition would be just enough to fire me up for the start of summer training!
A couple Fridays ago I made the journey down to crash at my mom’s place in Connecticut, right near where the race was to be held. Penwood State Park, the race’s home, used to be my “3 days a week with the dog” park when I lived down there. I’m incredibly familiar with every stretch of trail to the point of knowing how long each hill usually takes, give or take a handful of seconds. After glancing at the course map it was imprinted in my mind and I was able to start developing a little bit of a plan, being sure to pack my Salomon trail shoes, perfect for the mix of terrain.
On race morning we all milled about the entrance to the park, as runners do, nervously chatting about the lack of training we’ve done and cracking jokes about tripping on a rock. The prerace briefing by the race directors was short and sweet, thanking the volunteers and reminding us how difficult it is to get lost on this course. That last piece of information is calming, because I have a history of going astray (stories for another time). I glanced around and noticed that there was no start line; just the cluster of us runners staring at a single-track trail 50 feet in front of us that would bottleneck and send us up a narrow, steep climb. What a difference from road running it is!
“So here we go. We’ll do the countdown like when we were kids,” the race director announced. The field of runners chuckles. I crept up towards the front hoping to not get boxed in on the inevitable hike up the first hill. “3… 2… 1… GO!” Cheers from the runners and small crowd support began as our day got started. Myself and 2 or 3 other guys looked at each other all almost offering up the lead to whoever wanted to take the hill first. Knowing the terrain gave more me confidence to step out in front than I generally would have, and began jogging in front until I felt my heart rate start to really spike and went hands-on-knees over a quarter mile to the top. It felt great to be back at Penwood dodging low-hanging branches and maneuvering through minefields of jagged rocks and roots. By mile 2 it was no longer a race and I was peacefully feeling the chilly morning breeze in my hair on the same trails that made me fall in love with running a few short years ago.
On a couple out-and-back sections of the course I was able to throw some high-5s, get psyched on seeing other people and most importantly scope out the competition. The hills were more than I am used to, but the fun of the race atmosphere was a nice distraction. I’d actually forgotten that it was a race so much that the Honey Stinger gels in my pockets didn’t make an appearance until it felt like I needed another breakfast! Word of advice—that’s too late. On longer races, start fueling early and often. Either way, the natural honey taste went down smooth and only moments later it was back to business.
An hour after my race started, there was a 17k event (one loop) that took off. The first and last 1.75 miles of the course overlapped, so as I was headed back to finish my first (of 3, 10 mile loops) loop I got a chance to see much of the field of the other race. Among the happy runners were quite a few good friends out to test themselves against the course. Having not seen anyone (other than the wonderful aid station volunteers) in over an hour, the fresh and friendly faces were a sight for sore eyes. Hoping I’d catch many of them on my next lap was a great motivation to keep my foot on the gas, so to speak. I bounded down the starting hill to the turnaround feeling a couple odd cramps and twinges in my calfs but otherwise ready for more.
As lap 2 began up that darn hill, my concern shifted to making sure hydration was a priority. I opted for my Salomon hydration pack that allowed me to carry more water than with a handheld bottle and not worry about pocket space in my shorts. I was sure to also stash a couple Nuun tablets to dissolve on the go, which really came in clutch as the day started heating up. I’ve always been a fan of electrolyte capsules as well. Roctane helps to prevent some of the dehydration cramping and replaces the salt lost from sweating. It was only a few miles into the second loop when some 17k runners began coming into sight. Even if it is just for a few moments, running with others on the trails is such an uplifting feeling. This carried me to the next out-and-back, when I got to take a peek at the competition that was still hanging on a little behind the pace I was pushing for.
Coming around mile 17 I finally got to meet up with a few friends, Stacy and Casey, who were running together to enjoy a beautiful day on the tough trails. It was such a relief to see the faces of good friends also having fun, racing, and cheering each other on. As I tried to catch my breath and chat for a moment the girls promptly hollered at me to keep going. I tried to catch my breath on a particularly challenging section and Casey shouts, “There is no walking if you’re going to win!” I hadn’t really thought about it much to that point. All I knew is that I was feeling pretty good still. Somehow the running began again and the miles started to disappear.
This was the first time I’ve run a looped racecourse. The Stone Cat races are the same way. As this was my first attempt at having to go back out when I was already tired, the body and mind aren’t pleased. The mental games you have to play knowing exactly what is still coming combined with how beat up the legs are really doesn’t help anything. Fortunately it was a mile before the second place runner passed by headed to the turnaround. With a 2-mile lead, I realized that trying to stay under control and in one piece would pay off bigger in the end than hammering the pace.
From miles 22 to 26 my mind was really battling with my legs to stay in control. I’d prepared for the distance with a few 24-mile long runs so it was still a familiar feeling, but usually this is where the run ended. Knowing there was still 6 miles left is not an easy pill to swallow when your lead is shrinking by the minute and the intensifying muscle stiffening is preventing you from doing anything about it. This is the time in the race when I start to panic. Running an internal system check, I realized that I had been hydrating consistently but sweating a lot more in the last half hour. By mile 26 I ate the remainder of my Honey Stinger gels and energy chews. If nothing helped I was sure to end up cramped and sitting up against a tree just watching people pass, head in my hands. This is the time I save my last little snacks for. As a morale booster I carried a package of Gushers gummy snacks to give a little sugary boost and also to make me smile with a little nostalgic treat.
Through the last few miles I got to see an old friend on the course as well as a local North Shore trail guy Chris who is one of the Stone Cat race directors. My face must have looked pretty rough because they both offered some words of encouragement as I took off down the trail. The final descent was just as terrible as it had been on the way up each time, but with the finish line just out of sight I took the technical terrain with long strides. Hooting and hollering all the way down the hill, I could hear clapping for the spectators near the finish that heard me coming. It became clear that I was the first one to finish the third loop and my eyes welled up, which was dangerous on the aggressive slope. I popped out of the woods and sprinted with everything I had left towards the timing mat sporting a childish grin.
I crossed the line with a 3-minute personal best for the 50k distance that happened to be fast enough for first place on the day! My first ultra race victory and second ever race win (first was the Fall Frolic 5k, which was a blast of a race also). Especially for being so early in the racing year, this is as good as I could have hoped for. Thanks to my trusty Olukai sandals I was able to walk around the rest of the day, but being even a little unprepared for an event does not bode well for the recovery and the following week was evidence of that.
In any case it was one heck of an experience on one extremely challenging trail course. Needless to say, I’ll be back another year. To those that had already heard the story or my result, thank you for reaching out with words of support. It means a lot to have the great backing of friends like you all.
See you on the trails!
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