Tussey 50 MilerSaturday, October 16, 2010
Not sure HOW I managed it... but I did… I somehow convinced Joe that running 50 miles was a good thing and then I proceeded to only run 26.2…
Distance: 50 miles
JOE: 9 hrs 41 mins (for 50 miles)
WENDY: 4 hrs 53 mins (for 26.2 miles)
START: 7:00 am
Leg 1:
Three Bridges, One Leg-Breaker
Mileage/degree of difficulty: 3.2 miles; difficult
Topography: Mostly gently climbing, with some steep ascents.
Cold (48 degrees) at start, windy (gusts 30 mph, sustained15 mph). I was bundled up w/hat, gloves, jacket. Joe’s plan was to run with me, well at least for the first half mile then he pulled away. Um ..what about the "we are running together" plan???
Joe is great hill runner and since the first three miles are basically up hill, I expected him to get a lead. I managed to run this first three miles better than last year, I felt good and was excited, maybe this year I can do A LOT better!
Of course what I failed to mention is that I started the race with a leg injury that I obtained playing at a race a couple weeks ago, rolling atop and over metal trucks in the Warrior Dash, and well I honestly didn’t know if I should even start today’s race. But I did... and I felt good, at least at this particular moment ....and hoped for the best. BTW: I did run the ENTIRE way up.. it was a slow run… but a run none the less..
Mile 1) 10:12 (up)
Mile 2) 11.03 (up)
Mile 3) 11.14 (up)
Break: No
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Leg 2:
Down to the Swamp
Mileage/degree of difficulty: 4.0 miles; easy
Topography: Downhill to level; gravel.
I am definitely a downhill runner, love how it feels, and well, perhaps I should have taken it a little bit slower... the THRILL of zipping by Joe was SO worth it..7 miles down and counting.
Mile 4) 8.59 (down)
Mile 5) 8.00 (down)
Mile 6) 8.07 (down)
Mile 7) 8.20 (down)
Break: No
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Leg 3:
Race to the Beach
Mileage/degree of difficulty: 3.8 miles; easy
Topography: Fairly flat; gravel and then finishes on paved road. 
BOY I am simple....I LOVE this race..11 down!
Mile 8) 8:42 (down)
Mile 9) 8:51 (down)
Mile 10) 9.12 (down)
Mile 11) 10.17 (up)
Break: 3 min (sat, drank half bottle perpetium, potty, refilled heed and water bottle, stretched, saw Joe coming, waited for him, handed him his bag and left, most certainly he will catch me now the hills are coming).
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Leg 4:
Three Up, Three Down
Mileage/degree of difficulty: 6.2 miles; difficult
Topography: Gently rolling, with several long hills.
I said this last year and I have to say it again… HELL... Ok so you can WIPE that smile right off my face. WTF was I thinking!!.. I started some walk breaks.. my leg is starting to hurt.. and Joe PASSES ME..17 down and how many left!?
Mile 12) 11:03 (down)
Mile 13) 11:40 (up)
Mile 14) 10.40 (flat)
Mile 15) 11:58 (up)
Mile 16) 15:18 (up)
Mile 17) 11:18 (Down then up)
Break: YES
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Leg 5:
The Breeze
Mileage/degree of difficulty: 3.4 miles; easy
Topography: All downhill or flat.
PAIN and more PAIN.. I tried really hard to channel my energy to other things and the damn leg stopped working… I had to decide, what to do.....
Mile 18) 11:04 (down)
Mile 19) 11:05 (down)
Mile 20) 12:21 (down)
Break: YES
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Leg 6:
Made in the Shade
Mileage/degree of difficulty:5.3 miles; moderate to difficult
Topography: Gently rolling with some moderate climbs.
WTF YOU DOING!? I am unable to run, basically walking and pulling the leg...so I debate with myself... I pass the aid station, I stop.. I turn around.. and I call it a day. I think it’s the most mature decision I have made in my life, but then why do I feel like such a failure?!
I huddled on a bench, shivering, waiting for the sag wagon. I thought about things, trying to calm the mind, cursing the injury when another girl joins me..she had hobbled into the aid station with a bum knee... and she too called it a day.. when she looked at me, she cried, thanks I think… dude we need psychologists here out on the course…I am now a blubbering mess... I tell her we are NOT failures.. weboth just ran a marathon.. 26.2 miles… on a HILLY course in less than 5 hours!!!! Through tears she agrees but we both know it's still there… those thoughts…
I have made peace with myself and I will be back.
Mile 21) 11:27 (flat)Mile 22) 12:51 (up)
Mile 23) 13:44 (up)
Mile 24) 13:22 (up)
Mile 25) 16:01 (up)
Mile 26) 17:41 (up)
THIS WAS THE END OF MY DAY..
But Joe got to finish, I don’t have his specs.. nor his write up.. but he did mention that he saw a bear… A BEAR!!
it ran across the road in front of him... or so he says... and how he didn’t get eaten.. well thats besides me since he was taken out by little bees a year ago... things that make you go HMMM...
Although he did mention something about doing someone some bodily harm and something about not knowing about some hills and.. so on and so forth... and when I asked him after the race what he thought of how beautiful it was out there... I will not repeat what he said!!..
Don’t think I aint beating his ass next year!
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Leg 7:
Miles from Nowhere
Mileage/degree of difficulty:4.9 miles; moderate.
Topography: Uphill, flat, then gently rolling.
Mile 26) (up)
Mile 27) (up)
Mile 28) (down/up)
Mile 29) (down/up)
Mile 30) (down)
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Leg 8:
A Flash of Civilization
Mileage/degree of difficulty:2.8 miles; easy.
Topography: Mostly flat, then gently rolling.
Mile 31) (up/down)
Mile 32) (down/up)
Mile 33) (up)
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Leg 9:
Head for the Lake
Mileage/degree of difficulty: 2.9 miles; easy.
Topography: Begins uphill, then gently rolling and downhill.
Mile 34) (up)
Mile 35) (down)
Mile 36) (down)
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Leg 10:
Are We There Yet?
Mileage/degree of difficulty:5.3 miles; difficult.
Topography: Flat, gently rolling to more serious ups and downs.
Mile 37) (up)
Mile 38) (up)
Mile 39) (up)
Mile 40) (up)
Mile 41) (up)
Mile 42) (up)
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Leg 11:
Climb to the Vista
Mileage/degree of difficulty:4.0 miles; moderate/difficult.
Topography: Progressive ups and downs.
Mile 43) (up)
Mile 44) (down)
Mile 45) (up)
Mile 46) (down)
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Leg 12:
Trucks Use Lower Gear!
Mileage/degree of difficulty: 4.2 miles; easy.
Topography: Mostly downhill, winding.
Mile 47) (up)
Mile 48) (down)
Mile 49) (down)
Mile 50) (down)
FINISH: 4:41PM!
Results:
http://www.tusseymountainback.com/results.html
SIGNED UP: 117 people signed up for the Ultra
• 88 men
• 29 woman
Did Not Start: 16 people did not start (11 men/5 women)
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STARTED: 101 people started the Ultra
• 76 men
• 25 women
Did Not Finish: 6 people did not finish (3 men/3 women)
FINISHED: 95 people finished the Ultra
• 73 men
• 22 women
Joe’s placing was:
5th Age 40-44
55th Overall out of 101 Ultras
CONGRATULATIONS JOE!!!!
YOUR AN ULTRA MAN!!
