June 25-26, 2016
Ever done one of those open book exams, you are allowed to
carry a book that you can look into while you answer those exam questions? I
aced the Pedernales falls trail 60k Ultra “exam” last weekend lasting 7.5hours
in Texas. My open book? – an veteran Ultra runner, Doug Long, he had answers to
all Ultra questions.
Yet another short notice business trip >
runningintheusa.com with date, location, ultra distance filters > Capt’n
Karl’s Trail Series Just that, this one was 250mi, 5hr drive away and at 110
bucks, well over budget. I had resigned to not doing it. But Dallas has really
boring paved trails, the prospect of getting away for the weekend and running
my first night trail run nailed it for me – I signed up.
5+ hour runs have become my friends now – I added to the Nandi
hill run, KP
trek with a 5.5 hour run around Whiterock lake in Dallas & 2hr run
around a Bob Woodruff park in Dallas the week before this run.
Come 5pm on Saturday, I had collected my bib, timing chip,
bamboo tee shirt and took a quick nap in the back of my Jeep. I had plenty of
camping equipment which a Dallas runner, Eddie had loaned out to me.
At the start line, I was trying to size up the fellow
runners, about 100-125 of them, knowing immediately that a top 5 finish was out
of question. The run started on dot at 7, the course was like a figure of 8,
30k each loop, to be done twice. Within a mile of the start, we had to wade
through a duck pond, 2ft of water and slush. It wasn’t as bad as I had
expected, within a few mins, the wet feeling ceased to bother me.
I was jogging along trying to find the right pace group to
latch on to. I ran up to a couple of chatty guys, one too fast (amateurish
fast) and another was slowing somewhat. Then a bare chested runner floated past
at a fast clip, I let him go. Some distance later, while I was alone again, Doug
emerged from the bushes, back on trail. There are somethings that can make you
fast, but nothing like GI trouble, I figured.
While he was ahead, I started talking to his back, learnt
that he was training for the Colorado 200 and had already done 24mi with 7000ft
climb of hill training that morning. He signed up for this, so it could be his
100km training day! He did not have a target in mind and I able to keep pace
easily as well. I had found my race partner… For the next 7 hours, he gave his
longest interview yet.
The trail was beautiful, wooded, a mix of hard trail, sand,
caliche, creek crossings and mild uphills. I tried to soak in as much for the 2
hours of daylight left. I learnt about Doug’s training, almost everything I do,
multiplied 4 times. Long runs lasting 6-8 hrs, 3mi interval repeats, 3hour
tempo runs!!
Question: How much is too much mileage?
Answer: No such thing
There was a water or aid station once every 3-4mi, I carried
a 350ml bottle and some salt tablets on me. I did a quick pace check at the
Polly Corol aid station, 11mi in approx. 1.5hours – seemed like the right pace.
The crimson rosy sky soon brought curtains down on the view
of the trail. The crickets and toads were in full symphony. Then it got pitch
dark, I let Doug lead and warn me of the loose gravel and rocks. I shifted my
conversation from his back to his legs. In the circle of the torch light, those
nibble legs set the rhythm.
Question: How does one handle races as long
as 200miles
Answer: The first 100mi, just put that
in, no time targets. The real race starts after the first 100mi. And do your
best in the second half. Pretty much like Navin’s “split the run into 3 halves”
advice.
We spoke
about the mental aspects of running and he gave me an account of the mental
degradation that sets in with sleeplessness & exhaustion at the end of such
long races.
I spoke about running in India (yes, I said nice things about you guys), hashing in UK, he about his stints in Korea & Afghanistan. Towards the end of the first loop, my torch batteries died, I pinched the spare that Doug had carried. We finished the first loop, 30k in 3:20, took a 10min break and started out again, back to the duck pond.
Question: Do you watch your weight, do you diet?
Answer: Of course, you have to.
Sorry BHUKMPers, No cheese Masala
Dosa. Doug is a vegetarian. But in the US, this means mostly a vegetable
diet than a high-card India veg diet. My one-bucket salad dinner seemed to
match his one pound spinach/day. Race day nutrition was mostly regular
aid-station stuff (didn’t seem to eat much at the aid stations that day
though). He was adding a mix of Tailwind + Perpetuem powder suspiciously into
his water bottle. I was getting paisa wasool, eating Oreos, trail mix, watermelons
and Burritos.
The moon was
hiding behind the clouds, so no stars either. And for those brief moments when I
stopped to take a leak, the torch switched off, the darkness was total. The
legs trotting in the circle of light ahead was me was comforting. Occasionally,
we passed a runner, exchanged courtesies and moved on. It was heartening to see
strong girls fighting it out there, some ahead of us too.
Question: How do juggle family, day job
and high mileage
Answer: Early to very early morning
runs, start at 2am
Kids of 9
& 7 and an army career sounds way easier than my
work-from-home-with-my-little-brats life. But really, there are no excuses. We
both hoped to do this with our kids someday. I must have spoken for many miles
about how much I miss my little ones.
Somewhere
between the Wolf mountain and Polly’s Corral, I dropped my little pack of salt
pills. Again, Doug came to my rescue. I had one last one at the water only station.
We were at Polly’s Corral (30mi done) a little over 1am and at the last aid
station by 2 or so.
And as if to validate the “if in doubt, run slower” mantra, we passed the 24 yr old who was leading us by over 5mi in the first loop. He was in serious trouble and limping every step.
In no real hurry to finish this thing, we kept to our steady pace right till the end. We stepped on the finish line together in 7:32.
