Standing there in the dark morning chill waiting for the Can Lake 50 to start, it was too overwhelming to think about the full journey, the 50 miles of asphalt ahead of me. I couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that I was about to run 50 miles. How would this turn out? Would I be able to go the distance? It was something I had attempted last year at Tussey but failed to accomplish. It was a roll of the dice.
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| Awesome photo of Can Lake by Natalie Werner |
I knew, though, that I had done everything I could to set myself up for success this year: higher running volumes, heavy-duty strength training, lots of mental preparation. Race selection was key. I found a "beginner friendly" race that offered an early start, with a race director who prided himself on getting first-timers across the finish line. I knew it was the perfect race for me.
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| Photo by Natalie Werner |
My biggest concern was making the cutoffs, so my strategy was to minimize stops at aid stations by wearing a hydration backpack that would enable me to carry enough water and nutrition to last 13 miles. My awesome handler Priscilla, AKA P-Diddy, would be waiting to swap out my water pack and replenish my nutrition at certain points on the course.
And we're off!
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| Repeat after me: Hills are my friend! |
I ran with some of the other early starters for the first few miles and enjoyed the company. Soon enough everyone pulled ahead and I was in familiar territory--running alone, just me and the road. That's how I had expected it would be, so on my long training runs I had learned to embrace the solitude.
The sun was just starting to come up over the lake and I was pumped! I felt so filled with joy and gratitude--- here I was, taking on this huge challenge that I had been training for all year. I thought about how, if all goes as planned, I would be on the opposite side of the lake as the sun was going down some 13 hours later. Finish line redemption! Oh happy thought.
But for the moment, the focus was on getting up the first two big climbs.
Coye and Bopple
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| Photo by Debra Wyspianski |
By the time I started up Coye, the lead runners from the 7am start began blowing past me. Over the next few hours, the entire field of 7am starters would pass me, many offering words of encouragement as they flew by.
Bopple Hill, how I loathed you in the 24 minutes of quality time we had together. I was in awe of the racers passing me, just cruising up this monster like it was nothing! I want to be like them when I grow up.
I had actually budgeted 30 minutes for Bopple, so walking it in 24 gave me a good boost. From there I enjoyed the long downhill and the run through Woodville and down to Monica's Pies.
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| P-Diddy has many talents, including photographer |
The Heat is On!
Turning on Parrish Road is when I first began to notice the heat. I was heading to the side of the lake where shade would be sparse. I had worked out a spreadsheet with multiple pace scenarios and knew that I was in good shape for making the cutoff at 28.7 miles, but I didn't want to take things for granted.
West Drive seemed to go on forever. I was really feeling the heat at this point. Maybe I should've grabbed a Gatorade at that last aid station. I knew I was slowing down.
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| Obligatory Diet Coke Pic |
Making The Cutoff
P-Diddy was waiting for me at the 28.7 cutoff so I could swap out my near-empty water pack and replenish my nutrition. I had made the cutoff with about 15 minutes to spare, cutting it closer than I had hoped but hey, I'll take it! I took a few swigs of Diet Coke, reapplied sunscreen, and motored on.
Heading up the annoying hill out of Middlesex toward Vine Valley is the first time my mental strength showed signs of cracking. It was almost 1:30 in the afternoon and hot, the sun beating down with no shade, and negative thoughts began creeping in. I was slowing down in the heat and my hopes of finishing by the 7pm cutoff were slipping away.
I've always had a good mental game and had prepared for just this kind of moment. I allowed myself 1 minute to go negative. During this 1 minute I could think whatever terrible thoughts I wanted to think. I checked my watch and let it roll:
Why can't I be faster?
Forget fast, just being an average runner would be nice.
So, why can't I be average? WTH??
I have no answers for you, Sally. You suck.
Why can't you just pick up the damn pace?! It would be nice to finish while the sun is still shining.
Ugh, this bites. Maybe I'm just not cut out for this ultra thing.
At the end of one minute I forced myself to snap out of it. Dammit, Sally, you've got this! Quit whining and get your @ss in gear! You'll either make the cutoff or you won't, but you WILL go the distance. You are UNSTOPPABLE!
I said that last part out loud, then quickly looked around to make sure nobody saw me talking to myself like a crazy woman. LOL
Vine Valley and Beyond
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| Look P-Diddy, I'm unstoppable! |
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I cruised into Vine Valley with renewed determination and announced to P-Diddy that I was unstoppable! As I turned onto S. Lake Road I heard people calling my name. It was the volunteers at the Vine Valley aid station!! I recognized some of them from the pre-race dinner. They gave me ice and poured water on my hat and cheered me on my way. I was so happy.
The Vine Valley out-and-back was the last time I had any contact with other runners. I exchanged waves and words of encouragement with the few runners who were on their way back. At that point, around 34 miles, I knew I was dead last.
Running back toward the aid station, I saw a group of kids in bright orange Can Lake shirts walking toward me. They waited on the side of the road until I reached them and then jumped into a cheerleader pose and started shouting for me to keep going!! How cool is that? I couldn't believe it!!
Next up, a couple of race staffers passing by in a truck gave me a high five. Then I noticed that the volunteers at the Vine Valley aid station, who were probably overdue for their shift to end, had waited for me to come back by.They poured cold water on my head and cheered me on-- that felt great!
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| Cheers, people. I'm going to finish this! |
P-Diddy and I did the final water pack exchange and she drove ahead to check on Team Rabbit as I settled in for the long climbs up Vine Valley Rd. and Bare Hill. I was completely renewed and in the best frame of mind. Yes, it was hot. No, I probably wouldn't make the 7pm cutoff. But I had less than 15 miles to go and I was pumped!
Race staffers/volunteers repeatedly drove by to check on me. Did I need anything? Ice, ginger ale, water, snacks? My spirits were buoyed with each encounter. When I got to the turn at Arnold, the aid station was still there, stocked with everything under the sun! It could've been packed up long ago but these volunteers had stayed on the job, making sure I had what I needed to keep going. I was in tears as I thanked them and continued on.
Daylight was fading and it was clear that I would be finishing in the dark.
More volunteers came to my aid; one gave me her reflective vest, others decorated me like a Christmas tree with glow sticks. I had glow stick bracelets, a glow stick necklace, glow stick hoops hanging from my vest, even a glow stick hula hoop around my waist! I was cracking up as I trudged on down the road, all bedazzled and ready for sunset!
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| All blinged up for the final miles |
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I wish I could say I picked up my pace and breezed on to the finish, but all I could manage was a very slow jog. I kept trying to go faster, but I was stuck in one gear. My legs felt heavy, but my mental state was good. I celebrated passing the 42 mile mark---that's the farthest I had gotten at Tussey. I was in new territory now, this was the farthest I had ever run in my life!
For the last 8 miles or so, P-Diddy would drive ahead about 100 yards, wait for me to run by, then drive up another 100 yards, and wait again. She did this over and over, making sure I was okay.
I turned onto Middle Road for the final stretch. It seemed to go on forever. Cars were speeding at me in the dark. I told myself to stay alert--it would suck to have run all this way and get hit by a car! I finally made it to Kipp and lo and behold, the aid station goodies were still there!
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| Thanks for waiting, Bill and Andy! |
For the last few
miles, the co-race director, Gil, and volunteer Andy ran with me. Actually, I was "running" and they were
walking at a leisurely pace! No problem keeping up with me. LOL
Andy had given me a blinking red light to put on my vest so the cars could see me. It was awesome to have some company out there the dark.
Rock Star Finish!
As we approached the dead end barricades on Lincoln Rd. I could see some headlights up ahead, shining light on the grassy hill I was running down. I heard singing and saw people jumping up and down cheering! We got closer and I realized it was What's Up Doc, Energizer Bunny and Silly Rabbit from Team Rabbit! They had run the 50K and must have been wiped, but came back out to watch me finish.
That's when I really started to get choked up. I thought about my friends and family who had supported me on this long journey. I thought about the race crew and volunteers who went above and beyond to make sure I had everything I needed to go the distance. And I thought about my fellow racers, all of whom had finished long ago but whose words of encouragement stayed with me all these miles.
Gil pointed to some red lights in the distance and said that's where the finish line is. I assumed the red lights were car tail lights or something, but as I got closer it became clear that it was the time clock. THE CLOCK WAS STILL THERE!!! What the what??!! I never expected any of the race crew to wait for me to finish! I was finishing well past the 7pm cutoff and the race director, Tom Perry, the Yellow Jacket Racing crew and others were still there! Not to mention my best buds P-Diddy and Team Rabbit, all screaming and cheering me in.
I couldn't believe it. I felt like a rock star as I broke out in a "sprint" and ran for the finish line!! What an epic day! I was in tears as I hugged everyone in sight. Another 50 miler, Dave Farrands, was there offering to get me a "sammich" so I wouldn't have to walk up the stairs to get one. I somehow wound up with a sammich and an entire grape pie from Monica's!
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| This is my "am I really DONE?!" look |
Then, Race Director Tom Perry walked over with a finisher medal. What the what?! I get a medal? But I didn't make the cutoff!
He said something like, "a medal can also be given for having the most heart. You went the distance." Yes. I. Did.
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| Thanks, Tom! |
It took me 14 hours and 18 minutes, but with the help, support, and encouragement of the race directors, volunteers, fellow racers, friends, and even strangers I did it, I FINISHED the Can Lake 50!!
THANK YOU....
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| THE BEST "handler", P-Diddy! |
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| Team Rabbit rocks! |
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| Co-race director Gil, who escorted me to finish |
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| A hug for Andy, who also ran the final stretch with me |
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