Tussey Mountainback 50 mile Race Report!

I am happy to report that on Sunday I completed my first 50 mile run!! Why you ask? Well, simply because I wanted to. (I could go into the fact that I am drawn to the laid back nature of ultra after years in the type A tri community, I have always found my strength lies in running & I wanted to see what I could do, etc. but at the end of the day it all boils down to “I wanted to.”) And long story short, I am really happy I did as I ended up having a great race experience and just loving (most of) the day.

 

Woohoo Done! I almost beat my mom to the finish line.

I feel like I EARNED this race. This year, I felt at times I downplayed its importance to me (until the last week or two) since I know people probably get sick of hearing about all my training and there are other aspects to my being. However, I have put in the specific work for about a year now leading up to this race, rarely skipping a workout despite it being really lonely/challenging at times, and I am so grateful that I got to see that work pay off.  Even more than the physical accomplishment, I am most proud that I stayed mentally positive even as I hit challenges and never really hit a “low” point that threatened to ruin my race.

My race report really starts with the last training peak cycle that took place the last week of September/first week of October, which just so happened to coincide with the race dates for both Team Ironman (Chattanooga and Maryland). Given several of the people racing supported me through my Ironman journeys, it was really important to me that I be there to cheer them on. This meant I planned on juggling my peak training with spectating. It poured in Chattanooga, but I still managed to fit in my 26 mile run on the trails out there Saturday prior to spectating on Sunday. That run was a real mental slog/test due to the lousy conditions and I was feeling overwhelmed at the thought of fitting in my 34 miles worth of runs in addition to spectating/volunteering at Maryland the following weekend. Then Wednesday of the next week Maryland got postponed to the week before my 50 mile race. This was great for the fact that it meant my peak training weekend was less overwhelming, but it then meant my last weekend taper was going to be spent on my feet all day cheering.

This all wouldn’t have phased me too much, but the day before Maryland, my back started really bothering me and it just caused me all sorts of issues with my legs. I ran 12 miles after wetsuit stripping, and then spent a majority of the rest of the day stretching/foam rolling before my finish line catching shift from 6-10 (during which I had to take a break to do more stretching).

During the week, my back issues just didn’t let up. My regular massage place was all booked up, so I made a last minute appointment at Massage Envy for Friday before heading up to State College. Then Thursday night, being the (not) smart person I am, I went to a concert at the Barns at Wolf Trap for my new favorite country band (Old Dominion) who are going to be HUGE (mark my words). The concert was so much fun,  but I stood to be less than 10 feet away from the stage which probably didn’t help with my recovery. (My thought was, well, I am getting a massage anyways.)  I can say smart Hilary finally kicked in when I turned down an opportunity to stay for the second concert and very sadly made my way home for an early bedtime.  

WORTH

IT

The massage Friday was SO GOOD as the masseuse was really strong and really worked out a ton of the knots. I hoped it was enough, hit up yoga for some stretching, packed my bags (yes last minute - it's me), watched a hallmark channel movie, and then my parents and I headed up to State College.

Confession: I have never made a race plan before (woops). However, due to some struggles in past races when I rely on the aid stations as my nutrition/don’t really have a plan and since I was forcing my parents to be my support crew (which they finally realized the week of the race the extent of that task while perusing the race website), I had put together an excel file prior to the trip that had each leg, my projected pace, where I wanted them to be, and what I wanted them to hand me. When we got up there, I, for the first time in my life, felt compelled to make them drive the course, and I am really glad I did! I knew based on the elevation profile this course would be hilly/challenging. 

But it is one thing to know it intellectually, and another thing to see it. My overall thought was “even the flats trend uphill.” Hills = Mountain Passes. Based on our drive of the course, I refined both my projected paces for each leg, as well as the transition areas that I wanted my parents to meet up with me (after going to a few wineries for some relaxation). Unfortunately I couldn’t print from the hotel computer so I ended up recreating it by hand for my parents.   While the plan (excluding stops at aid station) still had me finishing 90 minutes before the race cutoff time of 12 hours, I knew my only goal should be to finish.

After putting together the plan, foam rolling and heat padding my back, we headed to packet pickup and the prerace dinner where we met up with Abe, Nicolas, and Sally. Let’s just say “low-key” is an understatement! The best part of the dinner was just getting to see what a great guy the race director was and how he really knew the racers and wanted to support the community. I also met a great couple who gave us good advice (it was his fourth or fifth Tussey) and provided encouragement along the course until unfortunately he had to pull himself due to sickness around mile 20.

Phew, all of that, and we are just finally getting to race day morning! I woke up at 4:45 and got ready. My back was still bothering me, and the pre-race nerves were making me feel pretty nauseous. I forget one of the reasons I don’t race often is due to those nerves. Typically they go away once the race starts, but I was just really nervous my back would cause me to have to call it a day early and after all of this training that would NOT BE COOL.

Hiding my nerves

At the very relaxed race start, we met up with Nicolas, Sally, and Abe where I did my whole “I’m super nervous” routine (a repeat from the 50k) and they again worked to calm me down. It started pouring right before the start so I had Sally go grab my rain jacket I had just handed back to my parents (they had to roll early as the support crew), which I ended up handing back to her once the rain stopped before the race began. The rain ended up being a real blessing since it cut down on the dust during the day from all the traffic.

Abe and I looking excited (my grimace is often confused with a smile)

Right before we lined up at the start, the Team Z relay crew “Chasing Z’s” formed by the wonderful Keri, Kate Blood, Jen Harvey, and Debbie showed up to wish us luck despite the fact they were not starting for another two hours. It was WONDERFUL and just the boost I needed. 

Low Key Start! I am smiling nervously at the relay crew.

Since I have a bunch of random thoughts about my race, I’ll just use bullet points now.

·        My parents are absolutely wonderful. I know part of our family DNA is to give each other a hard time (see picture), but I could not have asked for a better support crew, even when they told me if I didn’t start running I would need to find another ride home. (They were joking of course. I think. I started running.)  They put up with all my race anxiety, let me set the schedule for the weekend (including the driving of the 50 mile course), stayed out on the course in the middle of nowhere the entire day, and were at the ready at each stop with all my requests. We have come a long way from when my mom asked “We don’t have to come, do we?” when I told her I signed up for my first Ironman!

My dad's wonderful contribution to my birthday card

·        I ran the course with just my stopwatch/sans GPS, which is how I did most of my training and how I chose to role in the 50k. I knew that the pace would slip on the hills and later in the race, and I didn’t want to let it get me down. Each mile was marked on the course, so I just focused on using the watch to make sure I was eating. I am super happy I did, but I discovered math is really hard! when you are in the middle of a race and are trying to calculate how long it will be to the next aid station, even if you are an accountant.

·        Iwan/Jordan both gave me pre-race advice to keep moving forward, to walk whenever I even thought about it, and to not lollygag at the aid stations. My dad also had a wonderful quote “every step forward is one less you have to take.” I took all this to heart, and really was able to keep my focus on just moving forward and power walking with a purpose when I hit each of the 5 mountain passes.

I kept Iwan's e-mail handy. I would say 5 climbs.

·       I LOVED the first 25 miles. I chatted with people as we got started, had someone volunteer to be the president of my fan club, and just focused on keeping moving and enjoying nature. I knew ahead of time the parts I planned to walk, and the middle section between the two hills was actually much easier than I thought it would be after driving it.  I was ahead of my pace on this section and came into the aid station at mile 20 just full of happiness/joy, which was multiplied tenfold by seeing Chris and Linda had made it to cheer me on. I even had the energy to skip to them. I hit mile 20 around 4 hours in, and knew that with 8 hours to complete the next 30 miles I would finish the race no matter what. That gave me the mental boost that allowed me to really enjoy the rest of the day, even when times got tough. 

So excited to see her!

Skipping for a hug!

·    I SURVIVED the next 25 miles (and still mostly enjoyed them). I have to admit; despite having driven the course the hills on the back half surprised me with their length. I was so focused on the “big” hills that I underestimated how the ones on the back half would slow me down. However, I never stopped moving forward and with the time I banked on the first half, I knew I would be okay (telling Linda/Chris at mile 32ish when they passed me, "I can walk 15 minute miles and still be okay!).  Even when I had another race milestone of getting sick on the side of the road! At that point (mile 36), I just channeled my inner Aileen and didn’t let it slow me know. At least the course was FREAKING beautiful (understatement)!! The beauty made it all worth it.

Come on! (This, like 90% of the photos, is stolen from Sally)

·    I ran the first half in about 5 hours, and finished in 10:45 (sub 13 minute pace with five mountain passes!!). I have thought about whether I went out too hard on the first half and whether I would do anything differently. The answer is no. When I slowed down, nobody passed me which tells me everyone also slowed down. Also, I managed to chick (pass) 4 fit guys from miles 24 onwards after cresting each hill that tells me I was able to recover quickly from the climbs/still had energy in the bank. Those 80 minute hill repeat sessions paid off! More importantly, the boost/breathing room the pace on those early miles gave me prevented me from going to a low place mentally when things got tough.

·      I proved to myself that power walking up the hills was more effective than running. I trailed a guy up the climb from 21-24 as he tried to run it (even after commenting that walking = running when I got up to him) & barely lost a step. I thanked him for being my rabbit at the top of the climb, then immediately passed him on the descent, never to see him again.

·    I confused everyone at the aid stations as I would come in, go about my business super quickly since I had prepared my parents ahead of time, and would bolt yelling “NO FAFFING!!” which for translation means no lollygagging/wasting time (those who know Mary recognize the phrase). I kept my stoppage time to ~15 minutes over 4.5 aid stations, including when I had to change everything up at mile 40 as I could only stomach coke (I hoped!). Apparently people commented to my parents they were impressed.

·    The race also has many relay teams. Despite dealing with the traffic, this was awesome as I would get cheers/words of encouragement as the vehicles/racers came by that would be missing in a solo event (except for a few vehicles that passed in silence). I amused myself by asking the runners “did you lose a bet?” as they were forced to keep running past me up the big climbs while I power walked like a champ.  A particular highlight is when one of the guys on relay crew headed up by a 95 year old stopped me as I left the aid station 40.5 to let me know how great I was doing. Apparently according to this photo they were watching me all day:

This is my absolute favorite photo from the day. I look so happy!

·      There was no music allowed. Therefore, I was stuck with Fall Out Boy’s “Uma Thurman” as my mental earworm throughout the day. Just two lines though. Random!

·    I was severely disappointed by the lack of beards on the male runners. The one guy with a good beard was doing his first ultra. Perhaps because this wasn’t a trail ultra?

·    I need to reiterate how much it meant to me that Linda and Chris came up for the day and stayed to take me out to dinner. When I told her I was doing this race back in February she promised she would come no questions asked. And she kept that promise. I particularly enjoyed when they were waiting a bit down from the finish line and I yelled at them "YOU BETTER GET MOVING BECAUSE I AM COMING" right before starting my final "sprint" to the finish (dropping the two guys I had caught up with that had asked me "how many legs of the relay did you do?" since apparently I looked too good to have done the ultra).

·     I also need to thank Iwan, Nicolas, Sally, and Abe for all their guidance/support this year. I felt out on an island at times not really doing a team race, but knowing I had you all in my corner really helped me out/kept me going.

·     Tussey is an awesome course. Several aid stations, beautiful views, not too technical. I highly recommend!

·     This is the best picture I could imagine to express how I felt when it was over.

·     I have been saving a bottle of bourbon I got at the Jim Beam Factory (seeing it go through the line and putting my fingerprint in the wax) for a special occasion. I am happy to report this was it and my papa bear and I really enjoyed it!

·     I also enjoyed my trip to the creamery Monday at 9:30am for a milkshake! I have been talking about this place for months!

·    We stumbled upon the Pennsylvania Military Museum the day before the race. I couldn't resist purchasing a cheap helmet for my hat obsessed nephew. Wonderful decision! He turns two on Halloween!

What's next for me? is the question I keep getting asked. After 2 years of training for long distance, I feel the NEED FOR SPEED and will be focusing on getting faster over the winter, with the hope of setting some personal records at the half marathon and marathon distance next year. Oh and cooking. LOTS OF COOKING! Finally, I already have brunch plans for both days this weekend (which always makes me think of Kym Jordan's post Wisconsin race plans to brunch for hours). Yay Recovery!!