Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 19:34:33 -0600 From: andymac Subject: Umstead 100 Race Report Short Version: I had a great race, hitting 50 miles in ~9:30 and finishing in 21:37:04, despite a tough last 10 miles, a pretty good job for my first finish at 100 miles. Long version Pre-race: I had been training consistently since recovering from by badly sprained ankle/ possible fractured fibula at Arkansas Traveller last October, Running between 100 and 140 miles each month. I took from 5 weeks pre race to 3 weeks pre-race off completely while on vacation in the Philippines, basically due to laziness. So instead of a 3 weak taper, I did a hard week and a half then an easy few runs and no running after Monday of race week. One other worry was that I had only done 2 >30 mile runs this year (33 and 36) but I had negative splitted both, which gave me some hope I was in good ultra shape. I came into the race confident I could finish and hopeful I could break 24 hrs if I ran well, but worried about what that last 50 miles would be like since that was as far as I had ever gone. I was rested, but somewhat sleep deprived. Thanks to work and parenthood and travel, I had slept only about 6 hrs Wed and Thrs. Nights and couldn't sleep at all on a friends couch the night before (maybe 3 hrs total) The race briefing was fine, I spoke briefly to Will Brown who gave me some useful info on the course and its condition Race: My plan was to walk ALL the uphills, and go out nice and slow. I was hoping to hold onto 12min/mile pace as long as possible. It seemed like everyone ran the hills at the start, but I held strong and went out at about 11 min/mile pace. It felt easy and my only real problem was fighting off stomach problems. I was really pushing in the food and fluid and kept feeling queasy. But my running didn't really suffer. By 20 miles a lot of the other runners had started slowing a bit, so I was moving up in the field, still running well. I passed Stan Jensen around 26 miles and we talked for a while before I pulled away on one of the long uphills. I hit 50 miles at right on 9:30, feeling strong and felt 24 hrs was within reach. I started to reign it in a bit, walking all the flat sections, but still running all the downs. It got dark at ~65 miles and I really enjoyed running in the dark. It wasn't too hard given that it is all on gravel road and that I'd run the same loop 6 1/2 times by then. It was very peaceful. Most people weren't using flashlights, but I turned my headlamp on when I ran to avoid stepping in one of the bigger holes. They started serving pizza about this time and boy was it good. I must have eaten 2 whole pizzas by the time the race was over! Next time I just need to remember to take some Pepcid along with it! I kept running strong until 80 miles, when my legs were pretty tight, and my downhill running was reduced to a shuffle. Most people were walking by then, and I was still passing a lot of people on the downhills, and they all gave me a lot of encouragement (Leo Lightner was notable with his "Here comes one who is still running! Good Job!") I was becoming increasingly tired and considered a brief nap, but knew that could wait. By 90 miles the combination of tired mind, stiff legs, and a big blister on my R foot had reduced me to a pretty slow walk. I was disappointed that I couldn't keep up my pace, but I tried to keep my mind on the race as a whole: not only was I going to finish but I was going to shatter my goal time. The final 10 miles took me nearly 3 hrs but I picked it up to a shuffle in the last 20 meters to finish in 21:37:04. Only 2 runner lapped me (10 mile loop course) and I would guess I moved up 15-20 places over the last 50 miles to finish 13th overall. Not bad at all. I had been helped by a reasonable course and great weather. I'm a cold weather runner with my size (6'2" and 195) and residence (Chicago) so the cool temps really helped. Nonetheless, sub 22 hrs is sub 22 hrs and I'll take it! Post-race: Anong Pustow (sp?) finished just 5 minutes or so after me, having made up probably a half hour on the last lap, so my goal next time will be a better last 10 miles I rested for about 20 minutes after I finished. My drop bag wouldn't be back for another hour and it would be another hour after that before I could leave the park (maybe I could have done it all at 5am, but I was too tired to try to organize that), so I put on some clothes and slept for 4 hrs in my rental car. I have been amazed at how fast I recovered! When I sat down in my rental car I was worried if I'd be able to get out of the car the next morning (actually later that morning!) since I was so sore and stiff. To my surprise I felt much better just a few hrs later. I flew home Sunday night w/o incident (albeit moving slowly through the airport!) and by Monday was moving around pretty well. Now (Wed. evening), I'm walking well and will probably do some stair climber tonight. I took vitamin E before during and after the race; maybe it helped or maybe it was something else. Sorry it is so long That is all for now Andy ================================================================== Andrew MacGinnitie ajm7@midway.uchicago.edu "No Brain, No Pain"