Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 15:50:28 -0500 From: "James R. Williamson" ICE AGE TRAIL 50 MILE RUN My wife Paula and I drove to Elkhorn, Wisconsin about a 3 hour drive. We arrived at our motel about 6:00 p.m Friday, then we headed to Whitewater to pick up my race packet. There were no lines at the packet pick-up, so we were soon on our way back to look at the Kettle Moraine State Forest. You can't see much of the course by car, but I wanted Paula to get a feel for how hilly and beautiful the run is. We returned to the motel, and got some sleep, because I was going to need all the energy I could get for the race. The wake up call came at 4:00 a.m. and I really wanted to go back to sleep. The excitement wouldn't have let me sleep any way, so I took my Zantac and ate 4 bananas, and we headed to the starting line. I delivered my 3 drop bags, which had essentials I would need during the race, and would be taken to different parts of the course. The race started at 6:00 and we headed to the trail for an all day adventure. As I ran through the forest and rows of of pine trees, and hills and grasslands, and down snaking trails, with rocks and roots and bushes, my mind was over- welmed with challenge. Life is good! Thank God for everything! There is a water and food table about every 4 miles , and it is important that you eat and drink much more than you would in a marathon. It is also very important to take in lots of salty food and or take Succeed Electrolyte Tablets. I took 1 Electrolyte capsule every hour until about 11:00, then I started taking one every half hour for the rest of the race. These capsules have sodium and potassium salt, sodium bicarbonate and other buffers for nausea. If you don't get the electrolytes you need, the water you drink does not hydrate you, it all goes out in sweat and urine. I would not have run the full 50 miles without the salt pills and several Zantac. I also had power bars and baked potatoes in my drop bags and carried GU packets in my pack. The 3 baked potatoes I ate at about 5 miles, 10 miles, and 14 miles, which was the first 3 hours of the run. The rest of the day I had a few pretzels, M & M 's, bananas, and chocolate chip cookies. When it got in the 80's all that my stomach would tolerate was cookies, coke, tums, and Zantac. At each aid station I would drink at least 2 glasses of water, 1 cup coke, and another cup water before taking off again. I soon caught up with a couple of older guys and ran with them for a few miles, listening to there interesting talk about Ultras. I entered the conversation and found out I was running with Marc Reedy the race director of Howl at the Moon 8 hour run at Danville, which is going to be run Aug. 8 if any of you are interested. The second guy I was running with was Carl Touchstone, a race director of a 50K/50 miler down in Miss. Talking with interesting people helped the miles go by much quicker. I continued to catch up with Carl throughout the day, as I stopped to put on dry socks at 18 miles, and spent time getting food and water at the main lunch table at mile 18 and at 26.5 coming back. I was really enjoying the run until about 30 miles, when my quads said we don't want to run anymore. The temperature was getting in the 80's and I was gettting tired, and my quads hurt bad especially on the down hills. I reached the 37.2 mile drop bag, and put vaseline and dry socks on my sore feet. I got hydrated, took my salt pill, tum, and Zantac, and headed to the trail. I was at least somewhat encouraged, because I was still able to move and this would all be new trail, as I had dropped out at this station last year. I could not believe I still had 13 miles to go, and I felt so tired and stiff. I started running, and soon my muscles felt like they might stay with me for a while. I caught up with Carl again, and yelled words of encouragement to him, as I ran by him and several others. I am always amazed at how much better you feel when you see that you are not the only one having a hard time. My comments to Carl, soon brought back his fading macho. He yelled at me, and said, " Yea you're right, I can do it, I'm going to kick your sorry butt!" I distanced my self again, and ran alone through traquil, rows of pine trees where I heard nothing, but the whisper of the wind from high in the trees. It was so peaceful; so awesome; I think it was the whisper of GOD! Running on the trail helps you to find your soul and spirit and to appreciate how wonderfully you have been created. Carl was not far behind, and soon caught up with me at the aid station. We talked together, encouraged one another, insulted each other, and truly enjoyed one anothers support, and company. We finally reached the final water table, which meant 1.6 miles to go. Carl said, go on, run your best time, and I will catch up. I knew he would not catch up, but we had helped each other most of the race, so I took off down the trail as fast as I could go. I hit a few more of the seemingly endless hills, slowed a bit and then one of the race volunteers said, " You only have about 1/4 mile to go!" Praise GOD! I sprinted to the finish. They gave me my long overdue belt buckle and shook my hand. My wife made the true sacrifice of hugging and congratulating a very sweaty and I Imagine, very smelly, but happy runner. Paula said I was so psyched that I acted like I was drunk. I think it was too much caffiene for one day. I found, and met Rich Breaux, who is in our club, and who came in about 1 minute in front of me. Carl came in just 3 minutes after me, and I introduced him to Paula, and we talked for while and then said our goodbies. Carl said he would fly his plane up for the Kettle Moraine 100 miler in 3 weeks if I would run with him, but I declined. This race has beautiful scenery and the experience is without words. It is more than worth the 3-4 weeks to recover. I ain't never, had too much fun! But this was close! I can't wait till my first 100 miler!