Sunday, November 22, 2009

Dizzy Fifties race report

1st place. 50.25 miles 6:38 (7:55 pace). Previous course record was Dink Taylor's 6:45.
This was the most fun I've ever had in a running race. The course was sick technical for the first 4 miles of each loop (5 loops) and I fell or tripped 7 times total. Extremely rocky with a steep technical descent then a steep climb with switchbacks (3500ft total gain on the course) with anywhere from sharp jagged points to baseball size loose rocks... and they were lying nicely under a layer of leaves. I now know 2 more things- what the rock plates in running shoes are for and that Lunar Trainers with 1000+ miles on them make for crappy trail shoes. I wore my GPS for the first 11 miles and it was so completely distracting I wasn't thinking about anything else. At 11 miles I took it off and from that moment (literally) onward I felt unbelievably good. I held back quite a bit at the start and averaged 7:50 pace for the first 11, then never really pushed the whole race until the last 5. I haven't seen any splits but I think (by looking at the finish line clock which we passed by on every loop) that my last 5 miles was the fastest 5 of my race. The only discomfort I felt all day was my feet from the thin soled shoes on sharp rocks. I tried to envision running 100 miles and even at sub 8 pace I could have slowed a bit and still run 20 more miles if I could have switched shoes. I can see now that 100 is getting closer to being believable to me. Today I feel great and surprisingly, my feet don't hurt at all? A little soreness in my knee from falling on it a few times.
This was crazy fun!

35 comments:

Joe Reger said...

Congrats dude. Love that the joy began when the gps was dropped. Can't wait to see what you do on a hundy.

Matt said...

Congratulations, Tim.
I'm really stoked for you, for Team Tim in general. What struck me more than anything is how the ethos of trail/mountain running seemed like such a good fit, from just reading your blog and talking to you about running. The fit seemed to work beyond your sick physical game. Mentally, right up your alley. And we all know what "they" say about happiness and success.

The marathon just doesn't seem to have that same appeal or ring to it for you.

Although the marathon training sure came in handy yesterday!

Enjoy the win!

Gigs said...

Congrats, dude!

Rick said...

Nice! It's going to be very entertaining following your training/racing through August. The 50k winner had an impressive time, especially for technical trails, 6:30 pace.

Unknown said...

Congrats Tim...that's just incredible. Not surprising though. I told my wife that it wouldn't shock me if you won it. I Like that you ditched the watch and just went for it on your own.

Nutrition? What was that like?

Anonymous said...

Awesome job Tim! Congratulations!

Take care,
Brian - Houston

Lucho said...

Thanks Joe! I had a profound 'switch' once I took off the GPS. It all became very easy once I just let the run happen. Mentally I went from stressing over the pace and wondering if I was OK... to feeling completely free and running for the love of the motion.

Matt- I realized yesterday during the run that the marathons I've done were nothing but tedious and boring. On the trail just flowing through the miles, I was doing what I was meant to do all along. I would lose track of miles and time and my mind was just in a completely different plane. There wasn't a single difficult moment in the race yesterday and I never had a moment of doubt. Beautiful! I can't wait for the next one.

Thank you Gigs!

Lucho said...

Rick- Ya, that dude took off from the gun. The technical section was maybe 4 miles then the rest was flattish with OK footing. I can't wait to open things up for Leadville training.

BJ- Thanks! Nutrition was spot on. I peed twice per lap for the first 3 laps then skipped all aid on the 4th lap to get my hydration down a bit. I drank 400 cal and ate a gel 10:00 before the gun. Lap 1 was 300 calories/ lap 2 was 500 calories/ lap 3 was 300 calories/ lap 4 was 0 calories or fluid/ lap 5 was 200 calories. Dinner the night before was a salad with a glass of red wine.

Brian- Thank you!

Dave said...

Duuuude!!!!
That's great! I've been checking the Dizzy Fifties website for updates but never saw any. I was on the edge of my seat with anticipation. Nice job and that's awesome that it was so much fun! That's what it's all about, right? OK, off to the pool to check on the black line!:)
Congrats!
Dave

Ironboom said...

F$ck yeah! Awesome!

FatDad said...

Awesome job, man. Congrats. Glad things went well, you're too much of a head case when they dont! lol
I have to agree with Matt. The lo-fi primal nature of these kinds of events really seems to sit well.
I'm super stoked for you. Congrats again.

Markus+Uli said...

Nice one mate, congratufuckinglations!

Glad you raced

uli

Anonymous said...

Great job Tim! Did any kind of race happen between you and DeWayne, or did he just do his own thing for 40 miles?

Eric

runninggunner said...

Awesome jog! Looks like a very good fit for you. Can't wait to read about the Leadville training.

Ward said...

Way to go coach..! Any insight on Satterfield? Was he even a factor at any point?

Gangels said...

Stellar first ultra! Can't wait to see what you throw down at Leadville.

Jeff said...

Great Job! I think a new ultra star is born.

RUNssel said...

Tim, Rock´n´Roll Boy! Nice One!

To be honest im not really suprised that you rocked "Dizzy Fifties"! That stuff is what you were searching for.

Enjoy the party with the Lucho-Fam.

Wassdoc said...

I was excited to see your result yesterday, but more excited to see your blog today. It really is all about doing what we enjoy, isn't it? It is so good to see you finding yourself in this race! Having face planted myself going down Barr trail, I imagine that there is also a learning curve when it comes to the technical running. Are there techniques to practice? I'm more concerned about possible injuries than going faster, but clearly you'd accomplish both. Congratulations on "finding yourself"!

J.P. Patrick said...

Great to hear you had so much fun! Nice start to a new hobby! You need to change the name of your blog from "marathon training" to "long jogging!"

GZ said...

The win is great. Congratulations. However I am even happier that you have found your thing.

Brad Poppele said...

Congrats!!! I am very excited for you. I'm not surprised at all that you won! This is your calling. Looking forward to your next adventure!
Just curious why salad the night before and no pasta?
Brad

GetBackJoJo said...

Congrats!! Great to hear you so pleased about the whole thing. awesome!

Lucho said...

Thanks a ton everybody!
Brad- In the past I tried to load up the night before and on race morning it had me hitting the porta johns urgently. Thursday I glutted myself on pasta all day, then Friday I ate only a little bit frequently through out the day. The salad just helped me clear things out. The night before should be always be a small dinner anyway, but the salad is perfect.

I don't know what happened to Mr Satterfield. I stayed with him for maybe a half mile then went with the 50k guys instead. I never saw him again.

Unknown said...

Amazing time/pace. I truly believe you put in so many miles right up to this ultra that you were really, really ready. Great job.

Brett said...

In honor of GZ and his acronyms:
WOW, U R indesctructible. A GR8 1st 50M. A PR, CR, and a WIN. WOW.

WTFCYDTTTS?

Brandon Fuller said...

I expected nothing less and you delivered.

jameson said...

stoked for you tim... but not surprised. you just need to run(jog) and NOT think!

Kevin said...

Good Job! Nice to see your potential come on out.

GZ said...

Brett - I totally got that.

Lucho said...

Brandon- I like that comment. I say that to my athletes a lot.
Brett (or GZ)- I got the "why the fuk can't you do that" part but what the TTS?

Anonymous said...

Way to go. It's invigorating hearing about you ditching the GPS and doing your thing. Congratulations Lucho!

-Kevin

GZ said...

WTFCYDTTTS

WTF

Can you do to top this "stuff"

Lucho said...

Ahhhh, got it. Damn IM speak.

Brett said...

WOW GZ. UNBELIEVABLE. I seriously can't believe you got that one!