BULLDOG 50K race report

For the past few years this race has owned me. I've always wanted a sub 5 hours here on this course. Have shown up at the start line saying this will be an easy 5 hour race many times. However, the course has always said .."NO"!! Always pissing me off as it beats me on the 2nd loop. I have a 5:09, a 5:25, a 5:19 in years past, so this year I came bringing a little more fitness.



PHOTO #1 (Me at the start line..far right) This year I turned the first lap in a easy 2:15. In the past it has been around 2:25-2:30. The heat is always a factor in the valley as there is virtually no cover so it's really hard to negative split, giving the heat factor and that you have to climb Bull Dog for the 2nd time. With no GI issues and feeling good to go on the second loop I knew I would pass a lot of people, which I did. I would have liked a top 10 finish but was running my race and knew that I could only control how I ran and tried not to worry too much about the other runners.

PHOTO #2 (race site..ran up and on the ridge pictured) I was wearing a new shoe! They wore well except for the pounding decent, which is 3 or so miles long. My big toe was jamming into the hard toe box especially on the second loop making my race a little uncomfortable. Afterward I had a nice hematoma under my nail that I had to drain..not so fun!! But was able to manage coming into the last aid station at mile 28.6 at 4:30hrs. I crossed the finish line in 4:58:06 giving me my first sub 5 hour performance here ever on this course and placing 15th overall!!!!!

So afterward I rewarded myself with some pizza at D'more's Pizza, voted as one of the best pizza places in the country. I indulged in some other good stuff too but really enjoyed the pizza. STUMP JUMP up next but really really sore and beat up from this outing so will have to spend at least a week trying to recover as best and fast as I can!!