Date: 26 January 2013
Location: Tulsa, OK
Distance: 50K (31 Miles)....first race at this distance
Time: 4:43:24
Overall: 8/49
Female: 4/26
30-34F Age Group: 1/4
Marathon # 12
Garmin Link: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/266335297
This may be my best race to date!! I started out slow, ran negative splits and my fastest miles were at the end of the race. Everything seemed to come together on this day, the weather, the wind and my legs. I could not have asked for a better way to run my first 50K.
The usual question I get when I tell people I'm running 50K is "Why". This question is usually followed by "Are you crazy". My answers are always the same. "Because it's fun" and "yes, I am". My reasons for running are simple and the reward is something I have trouble putting into words. Finishing a race this distance is not easy, and for me, that's the point. If it were easy, it wouldn't be fun and I wouldn't be crazy for trying. Like all crazy runners, I decided to run my first 50K a few weeks before the race. A few friends convinced me running 50K was a good idea and in my wine induced euphoria, I agreed. I liked this particular race because unlike most Ultras, the course was paved and in nearby Tulsa. I also love racing with my friends, they make the experience worth it!!
Going into this race, I didn't have any strategy and because I decided to run a few weeks before the race, I didn't follow any training plan. I usually train for marathons year round, so I was doing 20 mile long runs every three weeks. I'd just need to run another 11 miles, sounds simple enough, right? Because I had never run a 50K and I didn't have any idea how to pace myself, I started out slower than normal. I was happily running with a group of friends chatting at the start. After about 5 miles, I decided to run a bit faster and it's about this time that I actually developed a strategy. I'd run about a 9 minute pace to mile 10 then drop to just below 9 minutes. That worked well and I finished the first lap feeling great, so I decided that at mile 20 I'd try and drop to about 8:30 pace. That seemed like a good idea until about mile 27 or so. By mile 29, I was ready for this experience to be over. With 2 miles left, I pushed my body to the finish. My legs, specifically my left shin and hamstring, were not happy with me, but I managed to finish strong. YAY!! My first 50K was officially in my past.
I learned a lot from this race and hopefully can apply these strategies to future marathons. First, I started slow and finished with my fasted miles at the end. I never imagined I could do this in a long race, but I was wrong. Second, I fueled!! This is a very new concept to me, my marathon PR was a race I used no GU or food. During this race, I had Gatorade chews every 6 miles and ate a protein bar at miles 12 and 20. I felt a huge difference in my energy level late in the race. Finally, I realized I'm in much better shape than I thought. Training is paying off!!!
Now it's time to take it easy be for the New Orleans Marathon on February 24th. Hopefully the running gods will be on my side again!
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| Pre Race Picture with Friends |
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| The Start - We look so happy. |
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| Pausing around mile 11 |
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| Overall Time |
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| Cool Medal |
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| Happy Runners |
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| Age Group Award |
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| Pre Race Dinner in OKC |
Mile Splits:
| Mile | Avg Pace |
| 1 | 9:14 |
| 2 | 9:24 |
| 3 | 9:38 |
| 4 | 9:32 |
| 5 | 9:35 |
| 6 | 9:16 |
| 7 | 9:16 |
| 8 | 10:16 |
| 9 | 9:15 |
| 10 | 9:01 |
| 11 | 9:28 |
| 12 | 9:13 |
| 13 | 8:54 |
| 14 | 9:10 |
| 15 | 8:57 |
| 16 | 8:53 |
| 17 | 8:48 |
| 18 | 8:53 |
| 19 | 9:02 |
| 20 | 8:46 |
| 21 | 8:56 |
| 22 | 8:37 |
| 23 | 8:43 |
| 24 | 9:45 |
| 25 | 8:29 |
| 26 | 8:21 |
| 27 | 8:31 |
| 28 | 8:22 |
| 29 | 8:25 |
| 30 | 8:48 |
| 31 | 8:48 |
| 32 | 8:39 |
| Summary | 9:02 |
