12 hour night trail run

Saturday night I ran my first timed event. This was also my first night run. And the first time in my life I stayed up past 4am with out falling asleep at some point earlier in the night. My biggest feeling after doing this? Whoa. That was tough.

Disclaimer: My memories of this event are fuzzy. The following is an "as best as I can remember it" account.

The race started at 7pm Saturday evening. It was a hot and humid 98 degrees at the start. My tummy was feeling over full from the 44oz of Power Aid I had drunk over the last hour and the yummy Marble Slab waffle cone I ate around 3:20. Who would have thought coconut ice cream with blueberries could take that long to digest?? I planed on running the first 7.o mile lap a little hard to get in some miles before sunset. But I was making sure to still keep it in the easy range. My sour stomach made it easy to stay in the right range.

The course was rockier and hiller then expected, but I finished loop 1 in 1:01, with a guy named Matt. We had run together some at the Bandera 100k back in January, and I figured we might be able to run most of this race together. About half a mile into lap two, I realized I hadn't grabbed my head lamp at the start area. I politely explained my predicament to Matt, who let me lead the way through lap 2 faster then either of us wanted. But I almost made it! I was only stuck running blind for a half mile or so.

During the first 3 laps my tummy (on up to my mouth) was feeling awful b/c of reflux. That ice cream was not tasting so great now. I kept toying with the idea of walking off the trail and leaving that ice cream behind. But I was scared of getting my electrolytes out of whack. So I tried hard to keep what was in my tummy in my body. I was also scared to add anything to the mix. So I only ate 1 pack of Shot Blocks and drank ice water for those first 3 laps (and 1 electrolyte tab.). After lap 3, I drank a Red Bull. A bold move- given the state of my tummy. But it seemed to help. I stuck another package of Shot Blocks in my pocket and headed out for lap 4.

Running lap 4 was super hard. My thoughts were full of the enjoyment of stopping after 6hrs. They had beer and pizza back at the loop head. And my tummy was still not 100%. But I knew if I stopped after 5 laps (6 hrs- which was still over 2 hrs away), I would still be considered a 12hr runner. Blah. Maybe 3 miles in to this lap I decided to let myself slow down. I ditched the "how far can I go" goal and focused on how much I love running and being out doors. It was cooling off some now. There was a light breeze that smelled just divine. And the sky looked amazing. The peacefulness of being alone with my own thoughts on the dark trail was more of an enjoyment then I expected. I turned off my hand-held LED, stuck it in my pocket, and power walked for the next mile. What a change. What a refreshing change. After that mile, I was ready to run some more. But I decided to keep my hand-held off and run by head light alone. I know this slowed me down, but that is what I wanted.

Before starting lap 5, I switched my hand held light for a hand held water bottle. My tummy was finally feeling better, and I was ready to give some highly iced Gatorade a shot. I had eaten a whole pack of Shot Blocks on that last lap, so I grabbed 2 more electrolyte tablets, drunk some water and stuck a package of Hammer Gel in my pocket. Focusing on enjoying the night and not thinking about pace was feeling wonderful. I did a lot of fast walking and a little fast running. As well as some slow running. All told, I was having a great time.

The last 6 hrs of this race were, in most every way, easier than the first six. It was cooler out, my tummy was feeling better, and I was enjoying myself. I was also pleased with the fact that my legs weren't cramping up at all (Thank you to my friend Meredith!). I say my tummy was better, but not good enough to eat real food. I stuck with gels, Gatorade, electrolyte tablets, and water for the rest of the race.
The only things worse off during the last half? My pace and my toes. I took it slow through the start/ finish area every time- maybe slower the last half. And I made a couple port-o-potty stops (I didn't want to be bitten by an unseen creature in the dark). But I don't remember the details. At one point during the first 6 hrs, I had grabbed a handful of ice. I stuck a few in my mouth to eat and was rubbing some on my face and neck to cool of. When I had eaten the ones in my mouth, I looked at the ones in my hand, thought of the gnats and dirt all over my body and likely on the ice, and said what the hay. And ate the ice.

One other thing. I had my first real wipe out. It didn't hurt much. And I had my hand held light strapped to my wrist to keep from losing it. So I was able to get up and go right away. Mostly I was worried about the dirt on my hands finding its way into my eyes (darn contacts). But I was able to wipe them off at the aid station.

My husband said I left out the part were I won. :) So here it is.