(pictures courtesy of David Weikel <http://davidweikel.com/>)
the huntington ultra frigid fifty (12/30/2000) is a 50k trail race that covers an 11 mile loop around huntington lake three times. after an almost two year hiatus from focused running, i finally managed to get back into it in the middle of 2000. the huff become the main focus of my immediate training and it was the running goal that i had set myself for this year. i knew that if i could manage to get back in shape for this then i again would be an active runner. 3 months of training with stretches where things clicked and a few where i ended up sidelined with blisters, colds, or weather - overall though i was mighty pleased with how preparation had gone, i managed to do some longer trail runs, i had focused on leg strength, higher mileage weeks were tolerated without my body falling apart and i had regained some of the confidence of earlier years. my main concern focused on the extra weight that i am still carrying with me, a total of 12kg (28 lbs) over my previous race weight. met up with some old and new friends at the pasta party and when race day dawned, i was as ready as i could have been under these circumstances.
quite a bit of snow had been on the ground and the day before the race the clouds had opened and had added another thick layer. the snow was deep, light and powdery from the cold and i knew this would turn into a very long day indeed. my trusted crew, sweetie mooi and little unit sebastian, were encouraging and their willingness to support me on my run, and to brave the elements on the day when nature does its utmost to kill you, was greatly appreciated. Runners for a 11 mile fun run, a 50k relay and (the one I was attempting) a 50k individual event, started together at day break with the impressive sounding shot of a large cannon. Off we went across a winter-wonderland, sinking in up to our knees into the powdery snow, struggling to extract a foot, jump high enough on soft footing to clear the snow and plant the next foot - after two steps i realized that this called for a complete change of plans, i would not last 1 mile doing this.
i stepped aside and watched in amazement as the field dashed by in a mad rush for the distant trees, snow flying, arms waving, colorful mittens and caps whirling past in a shapeless frenzy of motion. my new plan was to start with a brisk walk when the footing was too bad to run and try to run all else. i knew that in the best case scenario i would be reduced to dragging my sorry a** home on the last loop, so why not do most of my walking early and then pick up the pace when the path had been packed by the previous runners. surprisingly, while walking i managed to keep up with the folks around me trying their futile attempts to run. it felt good to stretch out the legs when the trail emerged from the woods and crossed the dam on clear roads, it was reassuring that i was able to go a bit above 6 min/k (10 min/mile) when the conditions allowed. reality had set in with everybody in the field by that stage, and lots of heads were hanging low. an oldish dude tried to lighten up the crowd at the sign that indicated that 5 miles were behind us, "look only a marathon to go :-)" - it had taken us 1:20 to this point and some runners stopped right there and sat down wheezing, and a few others just turned around and walked back to the start - not me though, i was a missile, target programmed, on its way, unstoppable, armed and dangerous :-).
although hundreds of runners had gone on the trail before me the powdery, cold snow just would not pack and it still felt akin to moving through deep sand. despite that i was happy with the progress i was making, i had started to pass long rows of runners, i felt strong, the scenery was beautiful, and i was in control of my physiology. 2:49 for the first 11 mile loop and several folks at the finish area commented on the fact that i had been the only one who had come through smiling :-), i stocked up my pack with more gu, filled up the bottles, a smooch from my crew, and back off into the wilderness, i knew the start of the final third lap would be the deciding point, it would be so tempting to just stop and bag it after 22 miles of this, so my second loop would be a security loop, trying to keep up moving at minimal effort. i knew that i was having a good race when the first relay teams on their third leg began to pass me only well into my second leg - i was going at close to 2/3 of their speed - actually only 5 relay teams had passed me by the time i reentered the start/finish area at 5:39. maybe it was because, as garrison keilor puts it, the cold prevents the blood from flowing to extremities, like your head - but i could not think of a good reason why i would not set out on my third loop. so, more goodies from my sweeties, and off i went. the trail was much better at this point, many more sections had decent footing and without the need to play it safe i pushed the pace whenever possible. at the dam i again was at 10 minute miles. throughout the loop i was quickly closing on runners up ahead. a few miles to go, celebrating that i was finishing a tough race, and feeling good about the way the day had gone. passed the finish line in 8:35 hours, 67th of a couple hundred and i think i am ready for more mischief of that kind :-)
ciao, peace and a happy new year,
I am the one wearing a pink headband, and according to somebody's comment i apparently feel secure in my masculinity :-)
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