Race Report: Blackfoot 50K – the 2018 edition

It’s been way too long since I wrote a “race report” so bare with me as I fumble my way through describing my race experience. I apologize in advance if you’re looking for a play-by-play of the entire 50 kilometres (or was it really just 49 kilometres)?

I’m just not one of those race reviewers. Sure I have about some pretty insightful stuff to say but I usually forget about it within five minutes later on the trail. The big stuff, however, I don’t forget. Keep scrolling as it is about to get real. 

No doubt you already know I finished. Zero complaints about the race organization or the route. From the over chipper race director to the enthusiastic and encouraging volunteers, the race was solid. Weather was good and the crowds were awesome. 

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The welts on my back 

The bladder inside my hydration pack was facing the wrong way so … the part where the hose attached to the bladder was digging into my back. I started to feel it around the 2K mark but I thought I could deal with it. But the more I ran and the more I fixated on it, the more it hurt. It wasn’t until I reached the 10K mark that I had enough and took off my pack and sorted it out. 

After the race, Carleigh helped fix me up. Lesson: Do not suffer, if you can remedy the situation sooner than later. 

How many times I heard “I am only doing this run for training”

Or as Harold informed me today … what people say when they do not get the result they were looking for. I can’t tell you how many runners told me this on the course. I don’t know if I should feel insulted (because I was working pretty hard and the admission implied they were taking it easy) or grateful they shared their coveted training plan with me. 

I’m on the starting list for several races that are very close together this year, which means every race is a training run. I don’t think my legs will understand the word taper until about late-September. Lesson: Don’t take everything so personal. It’s not always about you.  

Jay Kinsella’s …. um …. legs 

OK so if you have met me … you know how socially awkward I am. When runners pass, a normal person would say something like, “good running” or “keep it up.” Sure I can do all that but I also like to add something like “nice legs.” Ugh…. soon as I said it I wanted to crawl into a hole. Thankfully Jay took it in stride and when he passed me the other four times, he didn’t seem fazed. High 5s all around. Lesson: Don’t be such a moron. 

Getting a bucket of water poured over my head

“While you are down there … do you want ….” Without missing a beat, I said “absolutely.” It was getting hot and I needed a boost to my spirits. Around the 18K mark, I started to have some issues with my right leg – again. The downhills were not my friend. I walked a bit and tried to shake it off. I had another full loop to do and I knew I had to do something or I would be chasing the cutoffs if I had to walk for another 32K. 

Thankfully I got my shit together and came up with a plan. I would stretch out my hip flexors at each aid station. So when I came to the final aid station, I immediately went into pigeon pose. A few of the volunteers rushed over to see if I was OK. They thought I had collapsed. Nope. Just doing some yoga. Lesson: Be flexible (get it?) 

Not giving up

Last week I read Deena Kastor’s memoir –  Let Your Mind Run. I keep thinking about her story and how she had self-doubts as an elite athlete. Some of her inspiring words kept my mind off my own self doubt and feelings that I was not good enough. When I was running alone on the second loop (as I always find myself in races), I thought about Mark Lee and how we trained for Blackfoot together. I got a little emotional and it was probably a good thing I was alone. 

I didn’t give myself the option to run with music or a podcast. I knew I would be screwing around with it on the course when I should be concentrating on finishing. This was a great test for me. I didn’t have the distraction and I really had to push in that second loop to stay motivated. 

All in all I am quite happy with this race aka training run. 

Next up: Canadian River Valley Revenge