Subject: Sunmart 50 Miler Report From: Dennis Halpin Date: Sun, 9 Dec 2001 11:27:22 -0600 Hi all, Yesterday was the Sunmart Texas Trail Endurance Run. Many of you are familiar with this race, having done it. For me, this was my 8th Sunmart and the 5th time I have done their 50 miler. For those of you not familiar with this race, it consists of four 12.5 mile loops at Huntsville State Park, just outside Huntsville, Texas, about 70 miles north of Houston. I was really undecided about doing it again this year. The race has gotten very popular and very big, too big for the trails. This year, over 1,000 took part in the two races. But, I wanted to do a December ultra within driving distance and at only an hour and a half away, this filled the bill. We went to the prerace banquet Friday night and as usual, it was quite an affair. Got all the neat stuff they give out and a good meal. Since it was an hour drive back to the house and I wanted to get to bed early, we left about 6:30 pm and went home. Race day morning, up at 3:30 am and we were on the road by 4:15 am to make the 90 minute drive to the race. The 50 mile race didn't start till 7 am, but parking is a bear there and we needed to get there by 6 am to get a decent parking place. As we approached Conroe, we ran into heavy rains. The rains tapered as we drove north, but never stopped. Getting to the park, the volunteer directing the cars was all messed up, sending us the wrong way into the parking lot, just the first of many snafus regarding the race. The race organization has gone downhill since Norm Klein stopped directing it. Still we got out in the drizzle. I figure, I'm going to get wet and muddy anyway, so I might as well get used to it. It was in the upper 50s and wasn't going to get any warmer. I tried to find water, all I could find was the food line serving breakfast. That is fine for the non-runners, but how about us getting ready to race?? Geez. Waiting for the start, I hung around visiting with runners I hadn't seen in a while. Got the chance to talk to Mark Henderson and Scott Eppleman. BTW, I did see a lot of people I know out there. I apologize if I didn't recognize you, but once I start running an ultra, I tend to zone out to block the pain and fatigue. I did try to acknowledge yall, but there were a lot of areas I had to watch my footing. Sometimes due to mud, other times due to roots and stumps. This was the first ultra I have run that employed chips. At 7 am, we start to the sound of all those chips chirping as we crossed the starting line. The rain had let up by now and mostly it was the dripping from the trees coming down on us. I was running in shorts, short sleeve t-shirt and a tyvek jacket. I was soaked pretty soon, but that was ok. At the last aid station (campground 174) of the first loop, I shed my now soaked tyvek jacket and ran the rest of the way in a t-shirt. The first loop went fine, I competed it in 1:53:25. It will be interesting to see my official split as recorded by the chip as I went through the turnaround. The 50K race had started 45 minutes after the 50 mile race and at first I thought, great, we will be out of phase when I finish my first loop. Wrong. Instead of getting tied up with the middle of the pack 50Kers as in years past, I was now caught up with the back of the pack 50Kers. I am trying to maintain a good pace while caught up with walkers and runners going very slow. Constant down shifting and up shifting of gears. They really need to go back to either a full 2 hour difference or at least a 90 minute difference to minimize the interference between the two races. One other thing I noted during my first loop. The aid stations had plenty to drink, but had not had the chance to get food out yet. I continue on my second loop and now the trail was quite a bit sloppier than the first loop. I get a kick out of the novice ultra runners who try to tiptoe around the puddles and mud. I just blast right through the puddles and mud. All you do is waste time and energy going around and you won't stay clean anyway, so why bother. Besides, you can wash shoes, clothes, and yourself later! I complete the second loop in 2:02:12, a tad slower, but I am still running good. I recall as I was in the last couple of miles of the second loop thinking, I wish this was my fourth loop! Still it felt great to start my third loop, I was now past the halfway point. I had successfully maintained my routine of run one hour, walk a couple of minutes. In the third loop, I did start to include "selected uphills" in my walk routine, but that was only for a short time. Usually, when I noted that my running up a hill was the same speed as walking, I would walk up that hill. I finished the third loop in 2:14:04, yep, I was getting tired and my feet were killing me. But I made the turn and started my fourth and LAST loop!! I tried to maintain my one hour run, few minute walk routine, but at 25 minutes from my last walk I hit a hill that I was now going up SLOWER than if I walked. I had a bad stretch of about 4 or 5 miles where I was walking more than running and I was quickly working out what it would take to get a sub 9 hour run. I figured, even walking at a 15 mpm pace, I could do it. Still, I tried to run when I could. I was also thinking, I am wet, I am cold, I am miserable, I am tired, and my feet hurt, I want to finish this!! Then, with about 4 or 5 miles to go, I got a second wind and was running fine again. Approaching the last 2.5 miles, I realize that not only can I break 9 hours, I can break 8:45! I keep running, passing people on the trail. The last mile, I try to go to full throttle, but I am already going as fast as I can. The last quarter mile, I try to pick it up some more and I run as hard as I can to finish. My time? 8:40:46. Not my best 50 miler, but my second best if I remember correctly. With the messy and slippery conditions, I am happy with my time. I hobble over to the awards table and elect to get an afghan which they are out of (it will be mailed to me) and receive my finisher medal. I hobble over to get some food. I get a burger and some beans and hobble over to an open air food tent to eat. After eating, I go to the showers and the warm water feels wonderful. I also find every spot where I have chaffed. OWW. My nipples had bled and my waist was severly chaffed from my water belt...as well as other spots. But I also get to enjoy one of the simple peasures in life...CLEAN DRY SOCKS!! After visiting some friends who are camping there, we make the drive home, stopping in Conroe for a vanilla milk shake to settle my stomach. Had some noodle soup when I got home, then it was off to bed. It was tough finding a good position to sleep in last night, but that is normal after an ultra. This morning we went out to eat for breakfast. Yumm. Well, ultra number 21 and my 6th run of at least 50 miles is in the books. Now to take a day off, then start getting ready for my next race! And BTW, no falls!! and no twisted ankles!!! Not even close! Dennis "the menace" Halpin - aka Podzilla runtexas@juno.com Houston, Texas