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MastrBrewr
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
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Joined: 24 Sep 2003
Posts: 6974
Location: outside
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 Posted: 02/07/05 - 10:04 Post subject: Race Report: Uwharrie Mountain Run 2005.02.05 - Pics Added
This race had 3 distances: 8, 20, and 40 miles. I decided to run the 8 miler with my BIL. We figured it would be fun. BIL routinely does long trail runs about once every week or two while he travels for work. I have discovered I really like trail running, but I don't have much experience yet.
This race is very informal and small. All distances cap at 200 runners. I got up at 5:30am, had a banana, oatmeal and protein shake for breakfast. And 2 cups of coffee. I met Tony at 6:45 and we drove 1:45 to the race site. In the middle of nowhere. We arrived at 8:30, 30 minutes before the start. It's frikkin cold. About 10 degrees colder than what we expected. We picked up our bibs and schwag bags (Luna bar & REI water bottle).
We line up on the very narrow highway to start the race. No chip timing, no official start line. The race director reminds us that this race is not a race, but an adventure. She's right.
Start. The horn goes off and 200 runners start up the road on a slight uphill grade. After 100 yards, we turn right and funnel onto the singletrack trail. The grade increases as most of us are walking because of the crowd. After .5 miles, the terrain gets rockier and the grade steeper. The pack thins out and I'm actually getting to a slow run pace. The first 1.5 miles were up the first mountain with some nasty switchbacks. Tony was able to sprint to the front of the pack at the start, so I never saw him. Hit a nice muddy area on the descent and got splattered. Woo-hoo! A few hundred yards later was the first of many stream crossings.
First aid station was at mile 2. Gatorade, water or flat soda. I took some lemon lime Gatorade (I thought), Wow! this has a little bite to it. Race photographer snaps a shot of me looking at my watch for my time. 24 minutes through the first 2 miles. After another mile I realize I downed a cupfull of Mountain Dew.
A few more miles of uphills and downhills. Mostly uphills I think. My quads are starting to burn a little. I've probably jumped about 30 fallen trees already.
Mile 5: I look at my watch, 46 minutes. Apparently the last 3 miles were mostly downhill, giving me a fast split. I'm starving. Aid station. I got the Gatorade this time and also grabbed 2 small pieces of banana. Stopped for about 20 seconds to down everything. I'm thinking I could finish around 1:15. Then the second mountain came.
Mile 5.5: Walk for about 100 yards. My legs are already toast. I try and block out the pain and start a slow run again. After a few minutes I was able to resume a decent pace. Hey look! The guy that just passed me has my same shoes!
We start to see some race volunteers that are out in the woods giving us encouragement. That was greatly appreciated. My mind was drained. My legs were churning and hurting, but I never stopped. All I wanted to do was get to that finish line and stop. Every downhill slope was welcomed and every climb was met with "Are you f'ing kidding? Another hill?"
Finish! The last few hundred yards were relatively flat. I crossed the finish line and was given a small clay pottery piece awarded to all finishers. Stopped my watch 1:28. Not bad, considering how hard the run was.
I found Tony (he finished in 1:16) and we made a bee-line to the food. The best pb&j sandwiches evah! Had some boiled potatoes (also very good), cookies, pretzels, fig newtons, more Gatorade. I scored some free Endurolytes, which I use during training.
We hung out and stretched and waited for a shuttle bus to take us back to the starting area (the race was point-to-point). We get to my car and change into dry clothes and make our way back home.
I realize I was nowhere near being truly prepared mentally for this race, mainly because I really wanted to just finish and have fun. I accomplished both, even though I could done better. Maybe next year, maybe not.
My legs are still sore. My left hips bothered me the rest of the day Saturday. It's fine now. Yesterday and today my quads are still tight.
This race was really a fun end to my base training over the last 3 months. I'll do all my runs at recovery pace this week and then start training for tri season.
Last edited by MastrBrewr on 02/08/05 - 12:46; edited 1 time in total
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It sounds really tough. You did wonderful though!
