Another weekend, another 50K. Would you expect anything less since I started this tear of events back in late November? I've realized that this was my ninth marathon or greater distance run since November 27th. With only four more runs before February 28th I can bump my Marathon Maniac status up from six stars to seven stars.
Seven Puyallup Y-Run Club members met at 5:50 AM to carpool to the Capitol Peak MEGA Fat Ass 25K & 50K event. Steve Stoyles drove "Sully" with passengers Cat, Abi, and Linda. Jenny jumped in with Michelle and I. We may have been able to squeeze all seven into Sully but with all the running gear and change of clothing it seemed best to bring both cars.
We arrived around 7:10 with an 8:00 AM start. The Race Director John Pearch had organized a very nice aid station with canopies and burn barrels for warmth and shelter. The weather was great with clear skies but due to fog the blue yonder and sunshine did not make an appearance until about 3 hours later.
I have not run a race together with Steve Stoyles for what seems like an eternity so we decided to run it together. With our nano brains engaged we went out with Michelle Maislen, Allison Moore, and Van Phan. Steve and I knew we were being stupid when Van backed off at the four mile mark and we all agreed that we were moving too fast. Just before I had smack talked Michelle not realizing that she somehow felt pressure to keep the pace brisk. I later found out that she only planned to run one loop. For the record Allison ran her next loop just as fast as her first and Van crushed Steve and I by around 20 minutes or more.
Steve and I had a good first loop but both felt like we had heavy legs by the time we made the first loop. Steve signed in got some water and headed back out walking and organizing his pack while I headed in for some food at the aid station. That's when I heard a voice calling my name and saw Jenny sitting in a chair with a big splint on her ankle. She had rolled it about two miles out on a rock and hobbled her way back to the start. She had a tennis ball sized bump coming from her ankle and went to see a doctor today. Jenny was warm and comfortable and told me she was making the Search and Rescue/EMT's feel needed so I started my second loop.
It took me just over a mile to catch back up to Steve. We found ourselves power walking many of the hills we had run up on the first loop. Steve had screws in his shoes from his snow running and thought it would help with the muddy sections. The screws started acting as a torture device when we ran on sections of trail that were similar to dry gravel riverbeds. The screw heads would hit rocks and project the energy up to his foot. The pointy ends were not poking him but they were causing pain. The trail was in great shape with only about five blowdowns to deal with. You could limbo under a couple of them, go around a couple and climb over the other.
It was a great course with nice climbs and minimal mud. I managed to keep my left foot dry the entire race with two stream crossings.
We finished in 5:37:10. We met up with Michelle, Abi, and Cat who all ran the 25K and waited with just a short while until Linda completed her 50K. This is a very enjoyable run that I would encourage you to participate in.
I ran into Karen W and Trevor G before the race. Karen's husband George ran the 25K and Karen and Trevor ran the 50K.
Next weekend: Back to Back 50K's! Pigtails 50K at Lake Youngs, and Yours Truly 50K on the Cedar River Trail. OH BOY!
Mystery Butt - Guess Who! Capitol Peak Mega Fat Ass participants not eligible.
