After months and months of training and obsessing, the day was upon us. On Saturday, November 7th, my son Adam and I set out to compete in our first ultramarathon. The race of choice: the Mendon Trail Run 50K. My younger two children, Ryan and Tiffany, came along to participate in the 5K trail race. It was a family affair and made Dad a proud man.
We awoke at 4am and it was dark and cold with the temperature somewhere in the mid twenties. It was still dark and cold when we got to Mendon Pond Park. The drive there was largely uneventful though Google Maps did let me down and almost got me lost. If not for a nice girl working in a gas stations convenience store we might have been late But we were among the first competitors to arrive and check in was smooth. My bib number: 311. A most fortuitous number as 311 is one of my favorite bands.  So now we wait and do the usual stuff like use the facilities and chit chat with other runners. Not a bad time. At five minutes til 8 they gathered us together for the pre-race briefing - the course was explained as five 10K loops.
And then at precisely 8:03 we were sent off. Everyone was excited and we took off at a smooth pace. The race started with a short run, not more than half a mile, down the road to get us to the trail. The trail was beautiful, consisting mostly of gently rolling single track. But all the usual suspects were there: rocks, roots, leaves, sand, gravel, mud, and lots of hills. There was 1100 feet of elevation gain per loop, and some of the hills were very steep forcing all except the most elite of us to walk up them. It seemed like the race had just started when we arrived at the aid station at the 6K mark. It was called Carols Café and was superbly stocked with water, Hammer HEED, chips, pretzels, M&Ms, cookies, brownies and some amazingly delicious pumpkin muffins. And the volunteers that were working the station were great, very supportive and helpful. I wish I knew their names so I could thank them by name. The rest of the loop was fairly tame with more gently rolling terrain, until you get to the timing chute. The final 300 or so yards have the runners crest a hill and then run down it sideways to get to the timing chute. On loop 1 and 2 that was no problem, but loops 3, 4 and 5 were not fun. My sore feet didnt like running down the hill sideways.
Lap 3 was where all the fun began. The fatigue was already setting in and the fun was beginning to wear off. We made it to the aid station and my son started complaining about his legs aching. We didnt get very far from there before he was forced to stop for the day. He has a very high tolerance for pain so he really must have been hurting is all I can say. I know hell do better next time. And thats when doubt began to set in for me. Would I be able to finish? Adam had done all the same training that I had done and he was out. How long until I was out? I stuck it out and before too long I was back at the start/finish area where I decided to shed extra clothes and my back pack. I also learned that a friend had showed up to cheer me on. Matt, aka SWScorch, was at the first intersection waiting for me. When he saw me he was yelling like a maniac and really boosted my morale. Its amazing how something like the sight of a buddy can really change your outlook.
I started out loop 4 feeling a big boost in confidence, but I was feeling even more fatigued and my legs were beginning to ache. About a mile into the loop I hooked with a runner named Tim who had just completed the 20K race and was out for a third lap looking for his wife so he could pace her a bit. Tim was a super nice dude and talking to him made me forget about the pain for quite a while. We ran and talked for most of the 4th loop, good times. When I got back to the timing chute Matt was there yelling again and snapping some pictures. Then it occurred to me, I was now on my last lap! Woohoo, I was going to finish after all.
Loop 5 was a lot like loop 4, made bearable and almost enjoyable by the company and conversation of another runner. I met up with Linda at the start of the first hill and we talked and ran for about half of the loop. She was just a few years older than I am but had far more ultramarathon experience. It was from her that I learned that I had picked a fairly difficult race to make my ultra debut in. That was a fine time to learn that bit of info, haha. So I stuck with her until we got to the first hill after the aid station. I just didnt have the gas left in the tank to keep up with her any longer. So I muddled my through the rest of the race by myself, walking where I had to and running when I could.
And finally, there it was! I was through the timing chute with a finishing time of 7:11:39. I did it, I was now an ultramarathoner. Matt was there with my kids taking more pictures, my son Ryan placed my Finishers Medal around my neck. It was at that time that I learned that Ryan had won his age group and come in 7th overall in the 5K. Tiffany had also done well, 15th female and 27th overall. Very cool stuff except Tiffany was fast asleep in my car! I was so envious when I heard that. So we woke her up and went up to the lodge for some soup, fresh from the farm apples and apple cider while I rested up for the short drive to my wifes parents house for dinner and a shower. All in all it was an awesome day. And to my son Adam, youll get em next time, Im sure of it.
We awoke at 4am and it was dark and cold with the temperature somewhere in the mid twenties. It was still dark and cold when we got to Mendon Pond Park. The drive there was largely uneventful though Google Maps did let me down and almost got me lost. If not for a nice girl working in a gas stations convenience store we might have been late But we were among the first competitors to arrive and check in was smooth. My bib number: 311. A most fortuitous number as 311 is one of my favorite bands.  So now we wait and do the usual stuff like use the facilities and chit chat with other runners. Not a bad time. At five minutes til 8 they gathered us together for the pre-race briefing - the course was explained as five 10K loops.
And then at precisely 8:03 we were sent off. Everyone was excited and we took off at a smooth pace. The race started with a short run, not more than half a mile, down the road to get us to the trail. The trail was beautiful, consisting mostly of gently rolling single track. But all the usual suspects were there: rocks, roots, leaves, sand, gravel, mud, and lots of hills. There was 1100 feet of elevation gain per loop, and some of the hills were very steep forcing all except the most elite of us to walk up them. It seemed like the race had just started when we arrived at the aid station at the 6K mark. It was called Carols Café and was superbly stocked with water, Hammer HEED, chips, pretzels, M&Ms, cookies, brownies and some amazingly delicious pumpkin muffins. And the volunteers that were working the station were great, very supportive and helpful. I wish I knew their names so I could thank them by name. The rest of the loop was fairly tame with more gently rolling terrain, until you get to the timing chute. The final 300 or so yards have the runners crest a hill and then run down it sideways to get to the timing chute. On loop 1 and 2 that was no problem, but loops 3, 4 and 5 were not fun. My sore feet didnt like running down the hill sideways.
Lap 3 was where all the fun began. The fatigue was already setting in and the fun was beginning to wear off. We made it to the aid station and my son started complaining about his legs aching. We didnt get very far from there before he was forced to stop for the day. He has a very high tolerance for pain so he really must have been hurting is all I can say. I know hell do better next time. And thats when doubt began to set in for me. Would I be able to finish? Adam had done all the same training that I had done and he was out. How long until I was out? I stuck it out and before too long I was back at the start/finish area where I decided to shed extra clothes and my back pack. I also learned that a friend had showed up to cheer me on. Matt, aka SWScorch, was at the first intersection waiting for me. When he saw me he was yelling like a maniac and really boosted my morale. Its amazing how something like the sight of a buddy can really change your outlook.
I started out loop 4 feeling a big boost in confidence, but I was feeling even more fatigued and my legs were beginning to ache. About a mile into the loop I hooked with a runner named Tim who had just completed the 20K race and was out for a third lap looking for his wife so he could pace her a bit. Tim was a super nice dude and talking to him made me forget about the pain for quite a while. We ran and talked for most of the 4th loop, good times. When I got back to the timing chute Matt was there yelling again and snapping some pictures. Then it occurred to me, I was now on my last lap! Woohoo, I was going to finish after all.
Loop 5 was a lot like loop 4, made bearable and almost enjoyable by the company and conversation of another runner. I met up with Linda at the start of the first hill and we talked and ran for about half of the loop. She was just a few years older than I am but had far more ultramarathon experience. It was from her that I learned that I had picked a fairly difficult race to make my ultra debut in. That was a fine time to learn that bit of info, haha. So I stuck with her until we got to the first hill after the aid station. I just didnt have the gas left in the tank to keep up with her any longer. So I muddled my through the rest of the race by myself, walking where I had to and running when I could.
And finally, there it was! I was through the timing chute with a finishing time of 7:11:39. I did it, I was now an ultramarathoner. Matt was there with my kids taking more pictures, my son Ryan placed my Finishers Medal around my neck. It was at that time that I learned that Ryan had won his age group and come in 7th overall in the 5K. Tiffany had also done well, 15th female and 27th overall. Very cool stuff except Tiffany was fast asleep in my car! I was so envious when I heard that. So we woke her up and went up to the lodge for some soup, fresh from the farm apples and apple cider while I rested up for the short drive to my wifes parents house for dinner and a shower. All in all it was an awesome day. And to my son Adam, youll get em next time, Im sure of it.