Mc-Not-Again 30 mile walk

Background: I had meniscus surgery on July 9; I didn’t have much time to build up for this race as the knee would get “hot” if I walked too much. But I did build up to “back to back” 10 mile walks on trails (Farmdale race in 2:34, McNaughton on my own) and a half marathon (Quad Cities in 2:39)

I did this race last year; though I worked through knee pain it hampered my training. But I did have a 100 miler, marathon and 24 hour race in the spring, to go with a 12 hour trail race and a marathon in the fall.

The Day: perfect; 40 at the start; rose to 60; some light wind; lots of sun. The course: I’ve never seen it better.

Race management: Michael Siltman (the RD) does an excellent job with the race; the trail is well marked and the aid station volunteers were enthusiastic and helpful. Kudos to all the volunteers (including the Zimmerman brothers who marked the course).

My race: 9:52 finish, which is almost an hour slower than last year’s 8:55 on a much, much muddier day. Loops (10 mile): 2:48, 3:06, 3:57; during the last loop I sat down three times.

Details: many of the usual suspects were there; of course most of them are in shape and I wasn’t. I knew that. So in my first loop, I stayed back and tried hard to keep my ego out of it. Splits: 42 at the totem pole, 1:22 at the bridge near 5 miles, 2:15 at the “8+” mile bridge. I managed to catch up to some people who were a bit confused by the course; the course was very well marked at turns but having a ribbon during “easy to follow” stretches can be comforting.

But mostly I let people get away from me. I didn’t feel great at the start but better when I got going.

When I started my second loop I felt just a bit tired and I got passed by 7 30 mile finishers; the leader looked so good. His running form was just so graceful.

But mostly I was by myself and felt tired but ok; I had to talk to myself to keep going.

I was very happy with the 3:06 time though I was feeling fatigue. I was 1:30 on the button at the Bridge; 1:00 at the first creek crossing and 1:10 at the bottom of golf hill.

(this is the bottom of golf hill during another fall day)

I started out loop three and was going to go easily the whole way; my lack of training ensured weak, fatigued muscles. But some guys (runners) who had been ahead of me lingered at the 20 mile aid station and were behind me; I ended up killing myself to try to stay ahead of them (they were now walking).

Bad mistake…that drained my energy though I was 49 minutes at the totem pole. But I stayed ahead of them until golf hill; that climb broke me. I had to stop during three of those brutal climbs prior to the bridge which I reached at 1:49; it took 11+ minutes to do the next .4 miles which got me to the aid station, where I rested for another few minutes. I teased Donna Creditor who will be doing a 100 miler next week; I reminded her that she would be in much more pain than I was in.

At 2:05 I left the aid station and told them that I anticipated 2 more hours; it turns out that I “only” needed 1:52.

I can’t tell you how bad that stretch from mile 4 to mile 5.5 was. I didn’t have huge nausea; I was just bone tired and my muscles were fatigued. I was whipped.

I had taken Succeed tablets, antacids, tea and Heed; it was difficult for me to ingest stuff.

But when I slowed down and walked at “survival” pace I felt better; believe it or not the final 4.5 miles weren’t that bad and the last 3 were pleasant again…but these were slow-slow-slow. I was 3:15 at the “just past 8 mile” bridge.

How badly did I slow? That group of guys who passed me at mile 4 were one mile ahead of me when I got to mile 6.

I counted the hills down; the toughest are those from golf to the last hill after 5.4 aid station and the final foundation hill at mile 9+.

I was happy to see the finish line and enjoyed jawing with Mike and Donna at the finish; evidently one person was still out on the course.

Funny remarks: at the last 5.4 aid station (25.4 miles) I lamented my decision to try to stay ahead of the three guys. Donna reminded me that they were 30 years younger than I.

When I told Barbara (my wife): I wanted to finish that race “real bad” she said “and you did…finish it badly”.

Shoulder and knee: the back of the knee hurt slightly and I had a hard time getting it straight toward the end (not in walking, just in general). But aside from my usual two Naproxen for my shoulder early in the morning, I took no pain killer.

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