Last year at Desert Solstice I watched this guy take down a bunch of short distance age group records and the go home. I thought that looked like a lot more fun than trying to run a fast 100 miles. This year I decided to run short distances. The goal was to take the age group record for 20K, 25K. 30K, and 20 mile and 50K.
Desert Solstice is one of my favorite races. For the most part, the other competitors are so kind and supportive of each other. People often say that it must be so boring, but I actually find it exciting. You know what is going on all the time and when there is a lot of competition, it is fun to watch.
On Friday afternoon I took part in a discussion about running 24 hour races and Desert Solstice. I think my role was to show that it can be a complete disaster and you can laugh about it. Friday night was the athlete dinner. I was fortunate enough to sit next to Courtney Dauwalter and her Kevin. It was so much fun to get to know them. They laughed at all my stories, which instantly made me love them. The athlete dinner is so much fun. It’s like a big family that comes back together. The mood is always happy and relaxed.
Shortly after we got home from the dinner my stomach started hurting a little. I even told Norm that it was okay because I had plenty of time for a stomach ache go away. The next morning Norm was working set up at the track so I finished getting my stuff together and got a ride with my oldest son, who was working at the race also. My stomach was still a little off, but I forced myself to eat my pre race cliff bar. Huge mistake! It felt like a brick sitting in my stomach. I knew I was only going to be there for a short time so my table set up didn’t take too long. I had extra supplies in my bag just in case I got a wild whim to keep running.
At race start everyone is standing feet away from the start line. No one is in a big rush, because they have a long day ahead of them. It made it easy for me to take off fast from the get go. I felt good for the first few miles, but at some point my stomach was really hurting. I told myself to push through. I was able to hold pace for the first record, but after the 20K record I decided to slow down a bit. I also had to deal with my time chip because it was rubbing my ankle really bad.
I found it really helpful to have Norm tell about how much time I had left to run along with miles. Because I was having to go in and out of the inside lane, my Suunto mileage was off. I was also having trouble remembering what the distances were for the records. Probably because they are in kilometers. At one point I asked Norm how far until the next record and he tells me in kilometer. I yelled at him “In miles! I’m an American!” That got a good laugh.
After the 20K mark the next 3 records came fast on each other. That was awesome! It was so nice to know you only had 6 laps until the next record. After the 20 mile I paused to give Norm a hug, but then kept running. I really wanted to go after the 50K record, but my stomach was so much worse. I was also not able to get any calories in other than a little Skratch and Mountain Dew. I run all of my runs as depletion runs. I try to consume as little as possible except water. I know I can go a pretty good distance on little to no calories, but 20 miles is about my limit. It was a tough decision, but I decided to let the 50K record go. Norm and I consulted a little about running a 100 miles and seeing if I could just get a decent time. But with major stomach pain and not being able to get in calories, I decided to call it a day. I had succeeded at what I came to do. It made no sense to keep going and ruin what was a great day at that point.
Here is what I was able to accomplish:
American Track Age Group 40-44 Record
20K was 1:42:21 and I ran 1:25:04
25K was 2:07:57 and I ran 1:48:40
30K was 2:31:14 and I ran 2:12:08
20 miles was 2:51:56 and I ran 2:22:12
All of that said, I alternate between feeling pleased with myself and feeling foolish for caring. On the one hand, I broke American age group records! On the other hand, they were just age group records.
Thanks to Aravaipa for putting on this awesome event and allowing me to be a part of it. Hopefully I’ll be able to come back again next year. I’ll be in a new age group, that means new records to chase. Or maybe I’ll give that 24 hour running thing a try.
Thanks to all the runners for their words of support and encouragment. I really appreciate it! If I ever almost bumped into you, I apologize! I tried hard to stay out of the way.
Congrats to my new friend Courtney. She ran an amazing race and finished with 147.49 to be the over all winner and take down a few records in the process. I am beyond happy for her.
Desert Solstice is one of my favorite races. For the most part, the other competitors are so kind and supportive of each other. People often say that it must be so boring, but I actually find it exciting. You know what is going on all the time and when there is a lot of competition, it is fun to watch.
On Friday afternoon I took part in a discussion about running 24 hour races and Desert Solstice. I think my role was to show that it can be a complete disaster and you can laugh about it. Friday night was the athlete dinner. I was fortunate enough to sit next to Courtney Dauwalter and her Kevin. It was so much fun to get to know them. They laughed at all my stories, which instantly made me love them. The athlete dinner is so much fun. It’s like a big family that comes back together. The mood is always happy and relaxed.
Shortly after we got home from the dinner my stomach started hurting a little. I even told Norm that it was okay because I had plenty of time for a stomach ache go away. The next morning Norm was working set up at the track so I finished getting my stuff together and got a ride with my oldest son, who was working at the race also. My stomach was still a little off, but I forced myself to eat my pre race cliff bar. Huge mistake! It felt like a brick sitting in my stomach. I knew I was only going to be there for a short time so my table set up didn’t take too long. I had extra supplies in my bag just in case I got a wild whim to keep running.
At race start everyone is standing feet away from the start line. No one is in a big rush, because they have a long day ahead of them. It made it easy for me to take off fast from the get go. I felt good for the first few miles, but at some point my stomach was really hurting. I told myself to push through. I was able to hold pace for the first record, but after the 20K record I decided to slow down a bit. I also had to deal with my time chip because it was rubbing my ankle really bad.
I found it really helpful to have Norm tell about how much time I had left to run along with miles. Because I was having to go in and out of the inside lane, my Suunto mileage was off. I was also having trouble remembering what the distances were for the records. Probably because they are in kilometers. At one point I asked Norm how far until the next record and he tells me in kilometer. I yelled at him “In miles! I’m an American!” That got a good laugh.
After the 20K mark the next 3 records came fast on each other. That was awesome! It was so nice to know you only had 6 laps until the next record. After the 20 mile I paused to give Norm a hug, but then kept running. I really wanted to go after the 50K record, but my stomach was so much worse. I was also not able to get any calories in other than a little Skratch and Mountain Dew. I run all of my runs as depletion runs. I try to consume as little as possible except water. I know I can go a pretty good distance on little to no calories, but 20 miles is about my limit. It was a tough decision, but I decided to let the 50K record go. Norm and I consulted a little about running a 100 miles and seeing if I could just get a decent time. But with major stomach pain and not being able to get in calories, I decided to call it a day. I had succeeded at what I came to do. It made no sense to keep going and ruin what was a great day at that point.
Here is what I was able to accomplish:
American Track Age Group 40-44 Record
20K was 1:42:21 and I ran 1:25:04
25K was 2:07:57 and I ran 1:48:40
30K was 2:31:14 and I ran 2:12:08
20 miles was 2:51:56 and I ran 2:22:12
All of that said, I alternate between feeling pleased with myself and feeling foolish for caring. On the one hand, I broke American age group records! On the other hand, they were just age group records.
Thanks to Aravaipa for putting on this awesome event and allowing me to be a part of it. Hopefully I’ll be able to come back again next year. I’ll be in a new age group, that means new records to chase. Or maybe I’ll give that 24 hour running thing a try.
Thanks to all the runners for their words of support and encouragment. I really appreciate it! If I ever almost bumped into you, I apologize! I tried hard to stay out of the way.
Congrats to my new friend Courtney. She ran an amazing race and finished with 147.49 to be the over all winner and take down a few records in the process. I am beyond happy for her.
