| As some of you may know, I was recently selected to represent the US in the 100k World Challenge. I made the team last year and was very disappointed in not being able to finish (dropped out at 67K). This year has not been a banner year for me. I’m suffering from what has turned out to be a torn hamstring. It hurts pretty much all the time. I’ve found that relatively slow running doesn’t really aggravate it that much. I’ve continued to race this year and stretch, take anti-inflammatories, and get PT. I decided when I was selected that I should test myself in time to ensure that I’m headed in the right direction for the 100k. I don’t want a repeat of last year. |
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| My plan was to run two 50ks in back to back weekends; both at what I hope will be 100k pace. My thinking is that my back-to-back marathons before the Chancellor’s 100k gave me indications of where my training was, and this would do the same. So I signed up for the two races (Sybil and Lake Warmaraug) and decided to give it a shot. |
My plan was to run two 50ks in back to back
weekends |
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Bob Sweeney (a 2:30 marathoner, 6:57 100k runner, and US team member) was the first guy I saw when I went in to register (after my three hour 200 mile drive). He immediately went into a hem/haw about lack of training and motivation and how he was hoping to run 7’s. I had checked past results and Bob was the guy with a ton of experience at Sybil (5 wins?), so I figured running with him at a reasonable pace would be a good idea. I was aiming for anything from 3:20 – 3:30. I looked at the topo of the course and realized this was going to be a tough run. I could have sworn Bob said the second half was easier and as the miles went by I fixated on that fact. As it turned out, he had said the second half was harder and I was very disappointed when the course never seemed to get easy! |
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Bob learned early on that I’m not much of a talker. Contrary to what they print in the Ultra running magazines, not everyone is out there to share stories and chat. I just never have much to say and would rather concentrate on the running (even at less than maximal pace). I spent most of the race about 10-15 seconds behind Bob. By the way, where can you find a 50k race for $12 with 10 aid stations and plenty of post race food? You got it, and 10’ long sandwiches after the race. I was quite pleased with the excellent job the race officials and volunteers did. |
...Where can you find a 50k race for $12 with 10 aid stations and... and 10’ long sandwiches after the race. |
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Anyway, back to the race. I went out aiming for 6:30’s and Bob stayed just a step in front for the first 13m. He stopped just after a water stop, for a pit stop and I took my first (and only) lead in the race. He caught back up in due time and moved on ahead. I had some trouble with my stomach at 15m. Never had this happen before. I took a Succeed! Capsule thinking that there was an aid station ahead. There wasn’t one in sight and I think the Electrolyte cap caused my stomach to go bonkers. I was very nauseous and kept swallowing hoping it would pass. Then, just as it came it was gone. Dodged a bullet.
There was a fair amount of wildlife on the course. We saw two wild turkeys, a fox, and a dingo attacked me. Well, it was just a crazy dog. Bob stirred him up by running by and I came past just in time for him to chase me about 200m down the road (he bit my shoe). Mrs. Sweeney got her car between me and the dog and that ended the attack!
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...and a dingo attacked me. Well, it was just a crazy dog. |
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From 15 to 20 Bob increased his lead a bit, getting as much as 20 seconds in front. I wasn’t much concerned as I was just trying to do my own thing and happy to be feeling good. The fact that it was the fastest split thus far confirmed my feeling. Bob continued to look strong out in front and hit the marathon about 40 seconds in front of me (2:50:07 to 2:50:47). He ran an excellent last 8k of about 28:40 to break the course record by over one minute. I finished up with my fastest 5m of the day to take second. The kind folks inside gave me some coke and a bit of sandwich for the road and I was gone by noon!
Looking forward to Lake W next week, hoping again to run in the 3:20 to 3:30 range.
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A check
of the results shows that Dave also beat all of the 50K Relay
teams |
From the website “Monuments and Memorials to Women Warriors”:
On April 26 1777, the daughter of a New York militia officer, Sybil Ludington was with her family when an exhausted messenger reached the Ludington home with news of a British attack and burning of Danbury, Connecticut where munitions and supplies for the entire region were stored. Sybil leapt to her horse and galloped off to rally the surrounding patriots and call out the volunteer militia to repel the British raid. Racing through the dark night over more than 40 miles of unfamiliar roads, the 16-year-old girl spread the alarm to rouse the countryside against the attack. The statue, presented by the DAR, is in Carmel, New York.