Resolution Run 5k - Beaufort, NC

After hearing about the Beaufort, NC 5k run last year when were down at Emerald Isle, we decided to give it a try this year.  Coming a few weeks after my Seashore 50k, I didn't know how my legs were feeling.  The right knee was a tad tight and most likely suffering from runner's knee because it didn't ache while running but would ache a tad afterwards.  So came the day of the 5k which was on December 29th, 2012.  Woke up around 5:30am for a 8:30am race - looked outside and said "shit", its raining...not just raining, mega downpours and flooding...so we figured what the hell.  Get there around 7am to get our bibs and complimentary bottle.  At that point we are told 5 people have checked in, four of them were us.  Back to the car waiting for the race to start, I snapped a quick shot:

So time comes for the race and its me, two brothers who run track at their high school in Fredrick, some girl who runs track at ECU and a 13 year old girl who is ranked first in her age group in Maryland....and BTW did I mention, it was POURING...and I mean really coming down.  But all 18 of us sucked it up and the woman on the bullhorn said go.  I tried to hang with the lead dudes which I did for about a mile but then faded...I ran 4 miles the last two days each and didn't know how I would feel.  By mile 1.5, my left lace came undone and stopped to tie it...yes, stopped - at this point, I knew there was no PR coming.  Ended up finishing with a 21:26 and really didn't run that hard.  As soon as I finished, I turned around and ran back to the .5 mile mark to pick up zach when he would come through and then ran in with him.  Zach got a 34 something and nic did a 36 something....Came in 6th overall but it really didn't matter.  After the race, we went to the Cru Coffee shop and changed as well as get some espresso's in us!  Before the race, the race director got a picture of us waiting before the start:

Here is another shot of the start - notice the lack of, yes, runners!  Thats me on the end in the front in my Seashore 50k yellow shirt...

Last year, they over 150 runners, this year - 18...oh well, had alot of fun in Beaufort, NC.  Saw this picture on the Crystal Countdown facebook page for Beaufort, NC - its a shot of me coming in at the finish line:

 Went back today and got some pictures of the race course when it wasn't raining.  This was the starting line and the straight away was about .5 miles long before you did an out and back type run.

Had a blast and might do it again next year.  I might run the Frozen 5k this coming Sunday but don't know yet.  Knee feels fine but I will need to take a break soon.  I really don't know what they would of done if 150 people showed regarding bathrooms??  They had a police car lead the way which was nice but no one was getting lost there.  I got a water bottle for signing up, no shirt...oh well.  The race director was pretty cool and had all the right intentions.  The hurricane like winds and massive flooding didn't help with the crowds either...only the hard cores showed...however, the running duricks never miss a chance to be miserable :).

Running in the pouring rain

Our annual Christmas week trip to Emerald Isle, NC included a 5K this year.  We had missed it when we were down there last year.  I love having the experience of running in different locations plus it was a chance to get in one last race for the year.  So we signed up for the Resolution 5K in Beaufort NC.  The morning of the race it was pouring down rain. I'm not exaggerating when I say pouring.  This was torrential, flood the streets, can't see to drive rain.  We headed out to Beaufort anyway to see if the rain would stop or the race would be postponed.  Worse case scenario we could pick up our cool race water bottle and grab some coffee.  We got there and learned that 5 people had checked in for the race so far...4 of them were us.  The rain was still coming down hard by 8:30 at race start.  The kids and I discussed just doing the 1 mile fun run since the rain was so bad.  At 8:30 the race director said go and all 18 of us took off on a nice flat fast course on Front Street right along the Beaufort Inlet.  It would have been a gorgeous view if it would have been clear.  The race course also would have been super fast if you hadn't been dodging floods in the middle of the street.  As it was, it was still pretty cool as they closed down the whole street and had 2 police cruisers and a fire truck out there just for our little run.  ZMan took off ahead of Nickel and I, but I still had him in view when we got to the 0.5 mile turn around.  ZMan decided that he was going to keep going.  The rain had slowed. Nickel took a little convincing and a few Gummi Bear bribes, but then he got into it and wanted to do the entire 5K as well.  ZMan was chugging along in front of us and since the street was flat I could see him the whole way.  Nickel and I were running slowly and talking and telling stories and having fun the whole way.  I think he ran through every puddle in the street, but he was happy. When we got to the 0.5 mile to go mark, we saw JD (best Dad ever) coming back to run in with ZMan.  Once ZMan and JD crossed the finish line, they both stood out in the rain to cheer Nickel and I on to the finish.  We didn't kill it on time, finishing in 37 minutes and some change, but we had a really fun family experience.  I would love to run the course again in nicer weather. Nickel and I post-race

My wet boys after the race

Seashore Trail 50k - Virigina Beach, VA: My first ultra!

So the time had come that I was going run my first ultramarathon.  After the MCM (marine corp marathon) in October, I thought I would try and keep up my miles and give the Seashore 50k a shot.  So on Friday the 14th, the crew (Heather, zach, and nic) all went down to Virginia Beach, VA for the race.  Packet pickup was from 4pm - 8pm that night at Virginia beach resort hotel.  So I picked my packet up and Heather got a few shots of me to document the occasion:

 
We also got a cool jacket during the pick up of our bib...After pickup, we headed over to some pizza joint where I got a big fat burger and a salad.  Before any big run, I like to get a well done plain burger and a salad...works for me - probably should of had some more carbs but there were not a ton of options where our hotel was.  Back to the room and get some shut eye.  Unfortunately for me, the bed in my room had me sleeping at a 45 degree angle the whole night which did wonders for the back.  Woke up around 5:15 am for an 8:15am start.  Stuffed down a marathon bar, two pure athletic nutrient supplements, a bottle of water and we are off to the First landing state park to pick up my chip for the race.   We all walk over and pick up the chip, then back to the car to stay warm before the race.  Here is a nice shot of me looking quite nervous!

Walked back over at 7:30 to stretch and hit the potty one more time...nerves.  Here is the  banner for the race, lol:



One thing of note was the lack of port o pottys there...only THREE for 300 people...I just didn't get that but oh well...note to all those who run this, don't wait to get to the race to drop a deuce.  Maybe I didn't see any others but I was a tad surprised?  I ended up pissing in the woods around mile 4 anyway so it really didn't matter.  Other than that, the race was managed great and would highly recommend!  Great volunteers and plenty of food at the aid station.  Additionally, the trails were marked very well and had no problems moving from trail to trail - would rate it a 4 out of 5...great time.

After we took off from the start line:

our first stop would be at the 64th Street Aid station at mile 5.1 miles.  Heather got a nice shot of the aid station here:

I ran conservatively at about a upper 9 minute pace.  At this first stop, I grabbed a quick cup of gatorade.  Then onto the Narrows Turn around which is 1.5 miles out from there and back which would put us at the 64th street aid station back at around mile 8+.  From there, we would run down Cape Henry to White Hill lake to King Fisher, then back to Cape Henry which put me at the 12.5 mile mark.  During this whole time, I was keeping a high 9, low to mid 10 minute pace the whole way.  Once we got to the Bald Cyprus - Cape Henry Aid station I grabbed a small PBJ sandwhich, some gatorade, then left some people I was running with and took off in the Bald Cypress - Osmanthus loop ...The trail was had tons of roots sticking out and I knew this would be brutal coming back..   Came out of the loop at about mile 15 and change, hit the aid station again, then 4+ miles back to the 64th street aid station to see heather and the boys.  At miles 12-16, things were not that bad and I was looking forward to getting back to the aid station to see the family.  Some guy gave me a piece of gum which was like heaven - note to self, bring a couple pieces of gum, it makes time fly. Felt pretty decent the whole way up to 19.95 which is when I hit the aid station...This is me coming into the 64th street aid station:

Knowing I would be back there in 3 miles, I just grabbed a quick recoverite from heather, then head out, got back to her from the Narrows turn around at miles 23.2.  A race would not be complete without my cheering section - here is a snap of Nic holding up a sign as I came in:


Zach also made up a nice sign for me too.  Now, I am starting to get a little tired.  A little dazed at the aid station, I grabbed some oranges and Gatorade, and then did a no no...grabbed carbonated coke which did not sit well with my stomach.  Here is me at the 23+ mile marker:

Telling myself that all I needed to go was to the BC/O trail point was a nice way of breaking up the run to the finish.  However, got to mile 25 and walked for  a few times (not that long), then picked it back up when I heard the cowbells for the aid station.  Ok, now only 4 miles to go ....Picked up a few stragglers with me, we all ran together, sort of...it was more of a death march more than anything else.  A few people passed us like they had just been shot out of a cannon...Finally, and I say finally b/c it felt like forever, I got to the 30.38 mile marker and the guy says, only .60 to the finish.  However, that .60 felts like 5 miles but I finally made it with a time of 5 hours, 31 minutes, 56 seconds for my first Ultra marathon event (50k).  Here is a picture of me rounding the turn:
 
 And heading for the finish:

All in all I had a blast and loved my first ultra, painful but anytime you run for 5 1/2 hours, its tough.  Might sign up for the North Face 50k in Sterling, VA in June - don't know yet.  Knees a tad sore today so just chilling on the couch...did 10 minutes on the bike and walked a mile on the treadmill just to get the blood flowing again!  I was really happy with the turn out and how the race was directed and will most likely do it again next year...hopefully in sub 5 though!  At the end of the race, Heather got a nice shot of me with my finisher's shirt: