Two miles into the race, the person behind me said something to me. "What?" I said, barely able to hear over the sound of my heavy breathing. "How'd you learn to walk so fast?" she said. "I'm out of breath!" I laughed, "Me too.. I'm just trying as hard as I can." I tried to keep the strong pace but once it flatened out she was able to start running and moved by me. I didn't see her the rest of the way.
Finally I heard the sounds of horns not too much further up the trail. I thought for sure it was the aid station. I smiled when I saw it was Jordan and Sean, they said the aid station was just around the corner. Stephan Sabo and other people were at the first aid station, I ate half a banana, grabbed some gels and was on my way.
The first 10 miles (up til aid station two) I regretted wearing road shoes. The first fire road section was very unmaintained and was basically a trail. There were big rocks cemented in the road that I had to leap over, large puddles (ponds, basically) that the surrounding mud slid me into, and the terrain was wet and not compact.
I was confused at the second aid station when I saw Stephan again. "Have I been here before?" I asked him. "It didn’t feel like a loop." He laughed and said, "no, we’re just the same people." I refilled my stack of gels in the pocket of my shorts and headed off. Luckily the fire road sections from here on out were maintained and fast and I un-regretted my decision to wear road shoes.
Finally I heard the sounds of horns not too much further up the trail. I thought for sure it was the aid station. I smiled when I saw it was Jordan and Sean, they said the aid station was just around the corner. Stephan Sabo and other people were at the first aid station, I ate half a banana, grabbed some gels and was on my way.
The first 10 miles (up til aid station two) I regretted wearing road shoes. The first fire road section was very unmaintained and was basically a trail. There were big rocks cemented in the road that I had to leap over, large puddles (ponds, basically) that the surrounding mud slid me into, and the terrain was wet and not compact.
I was confused at the second aid station when I saw Stephan again. "Have I been here before?" I asked him. "It didn’t feel like a loop." He laughed and said, "no, we’re just the same people." I refilled my stack of gels in the pocket of my shorts and headed off. Luckily the fire road sections from here on out were maintained and fast and I un-regretted my decision to wear road shoes.
The longest run that I had done leading up in the recent weeks preceding the race was 18 miles—which I had done twice, as a run commute on my way from my house to my internship. (Thank god for run commutes because once you’re half-way you’re fully committed to doing 18 miles even if you were to turn around) It has been difficult to find the motivation to do long runs without having my VT Ultra teammates to train with. So here I was… mile 18…. my body was saying "whoa whoa, you’re already at work. Time to sit down for 8 hours. What are you still doing trying to run more?!" The next 12 miles were all mental.
I felt myself slowing down, I felt myself walking more—much more. I pushed myself to hiking as fast as I could every time I did walk, and running anything that was flat or downhill to make up time. I turned a corner and saw my parents at the top of a hill. THANK GOD. I needed them. I didn’t know when I needed but I knew I needed everything! They must have gone to a convience store along the way because they had an unopened, cold cherry powerade that I all of the sudden had the biggest craving for. I chugged it and went off into the trails.
The trail section was tough! But it was good to have some shade in the thick canopy of trees. Slowly I made my way to the last aid station, where I saw Leif and his cute little doggy, Chloe. Jordan was also at this aid station and poured a pitcher of cold water on me as I chugged 4 dixie cups of soda. At this point I had four miles left. I gave my hand-held to Leif along with my gels and took off. I knew I had to go fast before I got hungry or thirsty again and slowed down even more. I felt liberated without that handheld. I was especially happy I didn’t have it during the last mile and a half of technical trails. I kept going and going and pushed myself through the finish line at 6:11.
I felt myself slowing down, I felt myself walking more—much more. I pushed myself to hiking as fast as I could every time I did walk, and running anything that was flat or downhill to make up time. I turned a corner and saw my parents at the top of a hill. THANK GOD. I needed them. I didn’t know when I needed but I knew I needed everything! They must have gone to a convience store along the way because they had an unopened, cold cherry powerade that I all of the sudden had the biggest craving for. I chugged it and went off into the trails.
The trail section was tough! But it was good to have some shade in the thick canopy of trees. Slowly I made my way to the last aid station, where I saw Leif and his cute little doggy, Chloe. Jordan was also at this aid station and poured a pitcher of cold water on me as I chugged 4 dixie cups of soda. At this point I had four miles left. I gave my hand-held to Leif along with my gels and took off. I knew I had to go fast before I got hungry or thirsty again and slowed down even more. I felt liberated without that handheld. I was especially happy I didn’t have it during the last mile and a half of technical trails. I kept going and going and pushed myself through the finish line at 6:11.
This for sure was the hardest race I’ve done yet. It had more runnable sections than most of the races I’ve done and was hotter than most of the races I’ve done. It was a challenge and it felt good to finish it! I loved coming back to Blacksburg and getting to see all of the Hokies that I missed so much. It was great to have Jordan, Leif, and my parents help during the race.
It was really great to have my dad there, because it was the first ultra that he has been to. I was worried that I looked awful at mile 22 when he saw me and that he would think that ultras were miserable experiences. I found out after the race that apparently I didn’t look that bad and that he really did enjoy being there and was really proud of me.
Shout out to Mike, Trevor, Royce, Josh, Brett, and Rachel for all having great races and representing VT Ultra! It was great to see you all on the course!!
Although it was the hardest race yet, it got me motivated to start training again. Perhaps I’ll take advantage of being in the flatness of Northern VA this summer and use that to train for the Quito Marathon!
It was really great to have my dad there, because it was the first ultra that he has been to. I was worried that I looked awful at mile 22 when he saw me and that he would think that ultras were miserable experiences. I found out after the race that apparently I didn’t look that bad and that he really did enjoy being there and was really proud of me.
Shout out to Mike, Trevor, Royce, Josh, Brett, and Rachel for all having great races and representing VT Ultra! It was great to see you all on the course!!
Although it was the hardest race yet, it got me motivated to start training again. Perhaps I’ll take advantage of being in the flatness of Northern VA this summer and use that to train for the Quito Marathon!
RESULTS
10th Female
63th Overall
6:11:47
10th Female
63th Overall
6:11:47