Race Recap: Hungerford Games Trail 50

How do you prepare for a 50 mile race that comes just one month after your last 50 mile race?  This is the situation I found myself in after North Country 50 and before Hungerford Trail 50.  Of course I needed some recovery time, and I still needed some good mileage, but  I also wanted to taper a little before I tackled another 50 miles.  So, I took a few days off, ramped my miles back up, volunteered at both Woodstock and Dances With Dirt Hell, ran some more, and then, just like that, it was the week before my next 50.  I was mentally prepared to continue on with my 100 mile training, but my body said NO.  In fact, even short runs were feeling a lot more like work and a lot less like something I actually wanted to be doing.  So I listened.  I had planned on running Hungerford as a training run for my upcoming 100 mile race, and I decided giving myself a very light week leading up to those 50 miles would be a smart move.  I didn't want to fall into an overtraining rut when I was so close to my biggest race of the year.  I ran just three times in the eight days leading up to Hungerford, and I didn't feel guilty about it.  I was ready.

I headed to Big Rapids on Friday, and as usual, arrived painfully early.  It was Homecoming weekend for the local college, and the town was bustling with activity.  It's easy to get caught up in this little ultrarunning world and forget that most people don't even know this sport exists.  Cashiers, waitresses and hotel workers all asked if I was in town for the big game.  Nope!  When I informed them that I was there to run a 50 mile race, they looked at me in disbelief.  50 miles?  Yessir!  And the start line is just a mile down the road-you should check it out!  They'd just shake their heads and tell me good luck.  That's ok, I get it.  And so I headed to packet pickup to be with my people.

With my race bib and shirt acquired, I headed to the local brewery for some dinner and then it was back to the hotel to prep for the morning.  The race was literally one mile from my hotel, the closest I had ever been to a race start, and it was kind of weird not having to set a 4am race day alarm!  I laid out all of my clothing and gear and read through the sweet letters my kids had given to me for the race.

That night, I actually got some decent sleep, and woke before my alarm went off.  From the message on my bathroom door, to the delicious breakfast, to the encouraging banana, I was off to a good start on that Saturday morning.

I headed to the race start and met up with my friend, Brandy, who was running this race as her first 50. I knew she was a strong runner and once we took off I probably wouldn't see her again.  We all hung out and chatted while we waited for the race to begin at sunrise.  I saw another friend, Tim, while we waited and he told me he had run this course about an hour faster than he had run North Country, so that gave me some much needed encouragement.  My current 50 mile PR was 12:13:14 and I knew I had to run this race in under 12 hours to finish before the sunset and earn one of the coveted Ultra Hiking Sticks.  All finishers received a medal, but there was an added incentive of the stick if you finished before sunset.  I knew it would take everything I had in me to finish in time.  And then, just like that, we were off!

The first mile or so was on a paved road, and it was easy for all of us to spread out and find a comfortable pace.  It was a cold morning and I was glad I had made the decision to wear long sleeves, pants and mittens.  I mentioned to one lady as I passed that I had almost forgotten what it felt like to have a frozen face while running.  Almost.  After that, the road turned to dirt and then narrowed and turned to sand, and soon enough I was through the first aid station.  After that, the route took me deeper into the woods and I began to warm up a little.  Did I mention sand?  Because there was SAND.

Audio Clip: 2 Miles In

The sun was quickly rising higher in the sky and it was a beautiful day to be in the woods.  I always wonder how people can just keep running when there is so much beauty all around.

After the second aid station, it was time for the powerline section of the race.  I heard a little bit about this portion of the course, but I don't think I was really prepared for what they held!

Audio Clip: Powerlines

The powerline section ended up being shorter than I had expected and in no time at all, I had turned a corner and was at the next aid station.  This aid station was Christmas-themed.  The ladies were wearing Christmas sweaters, and in addition to all of the standard ultra food and drink, there were Christmas cookies!  Frosted sugar cookies.  My favorite.  What a treat!  Who needs a boring old pb&j square when you could have a delicious little bit of Heaven?!

I thanked them and headed out onto the next section of the course, which I was happy to discover was a single track trail.  This was a peaceful section, and I enjoyed the quietness.  Aside from a little mud, these were great running trails.  Sadly, I did not see any dragons.

The next few miles went by pretty quickly and soon the single track led out onto a dirt road, which was mostly flat and I was enjoying being able to just run at a comfortable pace.

Audio Clip: Mile 10

The dirt road went on.  And on.  It left the forest and suddenly the wind was coming right at me.  This part of the course was on some country back roads and there was farm land in every direction.  After fighting the wind for a couple more miles, I came to the next aid station, where the infamous orange pic had to happen.

There was a little out and back section which brought me right back to the same aid station where there were also homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.  Yum!  I grabbed one, refilled my water bottle, and headed off in another direction on more country roads.  It was very peaceful out there and I was daydreaming while passing this cute little tiny house on a big piece of property.

When the dirt road ended, the trail immediately turned to deep sand again.  Man, was this stuff hard to run in! There were some climbs and descents, but mostly it was the sand that slowed me down!  On top of the sand, I kept watch for signs of horses-I didn't need to step in THAT!

Audio Clip: Mile 19

When the sand let up a little, it was easier to take in the sights.  Those tall pine trees sure were pretty out there!

And then I came upon a huge tree that had fallen directly across the trail.  Should I go over it or under it?  A couple guys came up behind me just then, so I let them take the lead.  They discovered if you got low-really low-you could get under the tree without having to army crawl.  I followed their lead and made it to the other side.

After that, I was back on the roads running and just kept on going.  There were rolling hills, but it was all very runnable.  I came through another aid station around mile 22 and they had a huge assortment of homemade muffins!  I was loving all of the baked goodies and grabbed a blueberry muffin and headed on down the road.  I was making pretty good time and was happy with how the day was progressing.

Audio Clip: End of First Loop, Mile 25

As soon as I headed out for the second loop, I met up with a guy who was running his first 50.  Someone must've put the fear of GOD into him, and he was determined to finish before the sunset.  He was HAULING down those roads!  I ran with him-hard-for three miles down a dirt road until the powerlines and then I let him go on his merry way.

I thought the powerlines would be absolutely dreadful the second time around, but it actually turned out to be a great place to rest my legs from so much running.  I power hiked most of that section and took some time to think about the course.

Audio Clip: Mile 29

If I'm being honest, I had had that Christmas cookie from loop 1 on my mind for about the last ten miles.  Is that ridiculous?  I had been spending my time hoping there were still cookies left after the powerline section and yet not trying to get my hopes up too much in case they were all gone.  As you can see, I take my frosted sugar cookies VERY seriously.

Audio Clip: After the Powerlines, Mile 30

And then, I just ran.  Down the little single track again...

On the wide open country roads where the goats watched me pass..

In and out of the out-and-back section and that aid station where a volunteer offered me the string cheese from her own lunch because nothing really sounded good to me at that point, and where there were storm clouds looming just north of us...

Back through the gorgeous, tall trees,

What a wonderful day...

WHAM.  AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!  I cannot BELIEVE I just fell!  Would it even BE a trail race if I didn't fall?!

Let me tell you, the fastest way to get refocused in a race is to fall.  YOU HAVE MY FULL ATTENTION.

Audio Clip: Mile 42, After the Fall

It was nothing a cookie and a little shimmy under that fallen tree couldn't fix!

I headed toward Mile 45 and I was feeling pretty good. I caught up to that guy who left me behind at the powerlines, and he was struggling.  I told him we were getting so close and to just keep moving.  He couldn't seem to make himself do anything more than a walk, and I told him forward is forward.  I have been where he was.  I know what that feels like. I know that the thought of traveling just five more miles can seem like an insurmountable task.  But I told him I would see him at the finish line and he assured me he would be there.  So I took off down the road because I had someplace to BE!

Audio Clip: Mile 45

In three more miles, I came through the final aid station.  At this point in a race, no matter the distance, I turn into a bit of a crazy person. I'm like a horse when it gets too close to the barn.  It just wants to BE there.  I didn't eat, I didn't drink.  I had one thing on my mind.

Audio Clip: Final Aid Station

I ran past a gorgeous farm I had passed early that morning...

And I chuckled for a quick second when I saw the sign that read "Mile 49" laying off to the side in the grass, because if that's not how you feel one mile from the finish of an ultra, then you're not human!

Finally, the end was in sight.  I could see the flags that would lead me home.  I had done it!  In the daylight!  In fact, I had finished in 10:15:04.  That was nearly a two hour PR for me!

As soon as I crossed the finish line, I asked about Brandy.  "Did she win?"  Yes, she had come in first female and I was so happy for her!  She is such a strong runner and I am proud to know her.

As for me, this race gave me a huge boost of confidence.  This was what I needed.  I didn't want to go into my 100 mile race, chasing cutoff times.  I want to know that I am ready for this next adventure.  And guess what?  There was a special surprise at the finish line:  Chocolate milk and CHRISTMAS COOKIES!  I can't think of a better way to end this race than that.

I'd like to send out a special thank you to Simple Hydration and Hungerford Games for allowing me to run this race.  I loved the course, and the volunteers and homemade treats made this race extra special.  I can't think of a better place to run this time of year than when the colors are changing in Northern Michigan.  It was a perfect day.