Sun Mountain 50k & Kids 1k - Race Report

By far the best part of race day was running the Kids 1k race with my daughter prior to the start of the 50k race.  This was my daughters first race ever...and a trail race at that.  She has now been exposed to a few of my races and is starting to get it.

Cheering at the start of the race, at the aid stations and as runners cross the finish line.

Now it was time for her to be cheered on.

Lining up with 25 or so other kids, we started in the back so the bigger kids wouldn't trample us.  When the RD said go, we all went scampering off.  The smile and laughter my daughter expressed as she chased after the other kids was priceless!  Just another reminder how lucky I am to be the father of such a beautiful little girl!

The crowd quickly thinned out as the big kids continued to run on.  The back of the group started to walk, get distracted by flowers and do what every 2 year old kid does.  The 1k started at 9:45am, my race started at 10am.  So to keep things moving, I would pick up my daughter and run for a minute before she wanted to run again, or as she would say "I run, I run".

(one way to warm up the muscles for a 50k)

We finally arrived to the finish line to a very supporting and loud crowd.  My little girl couldn't have been happier throwing up a high five to the RD as she crossed the finish line.  Second to last place and probably the youngest runner out there.  

I had roughly 5 minutes to get my act together and prepare for my own little race.  By now, my excitement for the race had disappeared, especially compared to what I just got to share with my daughter.  The race itself had also become my last priority of the 6 day long family vacation.

Traveling with a 2 year old is exhausting.  Exhausting but one I would not have changed since I was loving every second of family time.  I also consumed way to many locally brewed IPAs during my trip which didn't help being exhausted.

I was pretty beat and tired but honestly more worrisome was my Right Shin Muscle which had been acting up over the past 3 weeks.  It had prevented me from any specific training since the CP25 race.  I never really gave it a break either and was left in this unstructured 2 week period between races that had left my running mojo all out of whack.

(Rockin the yellow 2010 Loveland Turkey Trot T)

I don't recall much over the first 17 miles and 2 hours, 8 minutes as I entered Aid Station #2.  Other then a beautiful course.  The wild flowers just blinding at times.  The sun and warmth almost overbearing when the shade provided no relief.  Thankfully fueling and hydration were spot on.  I didn't feel like I was moving well at all but my energy was remaining consistent from the start.  Attitude was high as I was simply enjoying the beautiful day.  

My 2 handhelds is all I had.  1 to be filled with water.  1 to be filled with my EFS flask and diluted with water.  Along with 2 gels and 6 SCaps to get me thru the race.  At AS #2 I went for a refill.  Bottle one of water filled...check.  Bottle two of EFS (stashed in a drop bag) and water...ERROR!  I had put my EFS into bottle number 2, asked the kid to top of with water.  He filled with water half way, shook the bottle and proceed to dump out the contents.  Then refilled with water.

I sat there in horror!  400 calories gone like that.  I had 1 gel left for 14 miles with heaps of climbing and a lone aid station left.

But what was I to do?  Get mad?  That wasn't going to happen.  The kids a volunteer and this is a race that I'm only competing against myself in, not for first place or prize money.  I had taken all I could get in at the aid station so I just moved on and put myself into race management mode.

There were 2 short but steep climbs left in the race.  I was hoping to use my only gel for the last climb but ended up taking it in at the top of the first 900 foot climb.  Aid Station 3 came and I slammed 4 small cups of sodas and passed on the Watermelon Gu.  One very exposed 1,100 foot plus climb and roughly 6 miles left.

I got to the top and wasn't tired or anything, but just zapped of any real energy.  I needed some calories and had nothing but 15 ounces of water and roughly 4 more miles.  Down the last climb and I was feeling it.  Got half way down the climb and just needed to walk for a bit.  Whole body tingling and feeling lighted headed from the lack of fuel.  I just laughed it off and just hoped it would pass quickly.

1st place gal passed me 2 or so minutes later.  2nd place gal passed me a minute after that. After about 5 minutes of walking and I began to jog again.  Body was slowly coming around and I just went with it.  Another guy from Canada caught up to me and put 30 seconds on me on the lone flat road section around a lake which lasted a mile or so.  No one else behind me so I knew my forward momentum would hold my place

Finally on the single track and I just put my head down and knew it was an uphill mile+ and I'd be done.  Canadian who passed me on the flat was walking so I passed him with easily.  The 2 gals who left me on the downhill finished 30 and 45 seconds ahead of me respectively.  It was nice to finish on a strong running note.

7th Place Overall at 4 Hours 29 Minutes and 32 Seconds.  It would have been nice to hold my 5th place slot but I honestly didn't care.  It was a great day on the trails.

When all said and done, it honestly wasn't a great day of running for me.  I easily felt the worst so far of my 3 races this year.  I can compare the actual act of running in this race to a normal long run along the foothills on the weekends done alone.  Wasn't a grind or tough but just a shuffle till the end.  

However it was a great day to be running and so happy and luck I finally got to enjoy the some trails in the PNW! Getting out to this part of the country for a race has always been on my wish list and Rainshadow Running did not disappoint one little bit.  Would HIGHLY recommend their events    

The added bonus of running in this location and with this racing group was getting photographed by one of the best in the business.  Glenn Tachiyama.  While I really enjoy the scenic view of this pic taken on the descent off Patterson (also gives you an idea of terrain), I will forever love this pic of me pacing my daughter during her 1k!  Can't wait to frame that shot for my office!