BLACK WARRIOR 2011 RACE REPORT

I went into this race being over weight and injured. Not the best conditions but, HEY, whatever. Thought I'd give it a go. There were no expectations other than seeing if I could run on trails and not re-injure myself so....

Woke up race morning feeling good. The weather perfect, if even a little warm but I like it like that. The trail, I thought was in perfect shape. Not too dry and not terrible muddy. I had planned on running a 4:50 50k pace for as long as I could and had my mile/landmarks memorized.

1. At the trail head I wanted to be there in 24 minutes-reality = 22 min.
2. First aid station at 56 minutes. I was there again too early at 53 min.
3. Creek crossing, be there at 1:15. I was there in 1:15ish..feeling very good.
4. Double trail at 1:32 and was there in 1:32..I have been running conservative at
this point and have taken 6 or so ibuprofen and had been fueling correctly.
5. At aid station 2 in 1:56 ..I was there in 1:54ish..refueled.
6. Aid station 3 at 2:40 and was there right at 2:40..again refueled..
7. Back at double trail in 3:10 was there at 3:15..and starting to feel a little
fatigued.
8. Aid station 4(24ish miles) in 3:32..I was there in 3:35..again refueled..probably
needed more earlier but??
9. Creek crossing at 3:47 and this is where my fitness caught up with me..or
lack of..was there at 4hrs..
10. Out of the woods by 4:25..I was out at 5 hrs (mile 28ish)So just slow moed it in.

FINISH TIME 5:31

POSITIVES:

1. I can run on trails and not hurt too bad..
2. Can run 31 miles still.:)
3. Now know I can actually heal up..I'm thinking 2 more months?
4. Made me focus on pacing, running nice and steady.
5. I feel especially good about doing this on one long run of 17 miles and some
tempo sessions.
6. I have the formula to get back to where I want to get back to..just will take a
little more time so I may as well "rest" in that.

Really awesome to see some friends race well. Sara and Whitney to name a couple. Sara ran a 4:36 or so..may be a course record for Females. Whitney also ran a personal best in the 50k. Seems like everyone ran well for it being February!