Hennepin Canal Trail 50 Mile

Thursday, September 30,2020

Packing for the race was by far the hardest and most stressful part of "training". I had no idea what I would need and I realized I would use less than 10% of everything I packed. But I packed it anyway. Cold gear, rain gear, night gear and everything in between. Duct tape, KT tape, fuel and post race clothes. All individually labeled for my crew (aka my husband Scott). We struggled at my 50k finding what I needed at aid stations so this made it easy and clear for him to know exactly what to hand me at every stop.

Scott and I finally wrap up work and hit the road. The picture I snapped in the car shows just how tired I was as sleep had been difficult for days leading up to the race. I was looking forward to an extra night in a hotel so I could attempt to get some sleep. We drove half way and then stopped for the night in Champaign IL. Dinner was McAlisters - my favorite half sandwich (Turkey Jalapeno Crunch), a butter baked potato and two pickle spears.

Friday, October 1,2021

Scott and I both slept in a bit. We decide to eat breakfast at the hotel before we continue our drive to race headquarters in Colona IL. My breakfast consisted of a banana and oatmeal plus a few pieces of bacon from the hotel buffet. I showered and made myself look human again before we load the truck and head out. The first stop would be a brief visit to the 50 mile finish line in Wyanet IL. It was my first glimpse of the Hennepin Canal Trail. And it was beautiful. Seeing this spot would help me visualize the finish which was key to my race strategy.

Ornery Mule Racing hosts the Hennepin Hundred. There were several people at this location setting up an aid station - they had music blaring and it helped the excitement build for race day.

A few more hours of driving lands us in Iowa, just across the state line from race headquarters. Since we were a bit early for packet pickup we decided to eat a late lunch/early dinner. The restaurant of choice was Machine Shed in Davenport. Some good home cooked food, open faced turkey sandwich with mashed taters and plenty of bread.

Back to Colona, IL the site of the 100 mile and 50k finish line as well as packet pickup and pre-race meeting. I couldn't help to snap some pictures of the finish line as I would not be back to this location this time around.

I quickly grab my bib, buy a few items from the Ornery Mule store, snap a picture and head to the pre-race meeting. Side note, the bibs for this race were absolutely beautiful works of art. Blue herring on both sides, my name and state at the bottom. Too pretty to wear but nonetheless would have to endure 50 miles with me the next day.

At the pre-race meeting we had a guest speaker, Cory Reese author of Stronger Than the Dark. He was funny, engaging and inspiring and I look forward to reading his book. Turns out I would see him a few times during the race as he navigated the 100 mile course.

After the meeting Scott and I hop back in the truck for the final drive of the day. We head to our 2nd hotel in Sterling IL which is the site of the start line for the 100 mile and 50 mile races. We get checked in and unloaded and I spend some time stretching since I had developed a tight and achy hip from traveling. I also get all of the GPS coordinates sent to Scott with instructions on where he should be and when during the race. The first opportunity to see him that made sense for us (not knowing the area or the trail) was aid station 7 at mile 32. Many of the earlier aid stations crew were not allowed.

Saturday, October 2,2021

The alarm is set for 4:50 a.m. but sleep is not easy. I find my friend the imposter syndrome creeping in - perhaps in my dreams or just in my thoughts. Who do I think I am? Running 50 miles - why would I think I could do such a thing. It's easy to spiral out of control with those thoughts but I try to push them out of my head instead. Think of all your training and hard work - you are ready for this.

I decide I'm going to try something different so I eat my banana and half bagel with almond butter and run a hot Epsom bath. I soak and sip coffee before continuing with my normal pre-race routine. Since the weather is hot and humid with potential rain, I slather a little extra lube on all the hot spots (including my toes). Per usual time passes quicker than expected and I find myself telling Scott we have to go now.

We make the short 15 minute drive to the start line at Sinnissippi Park. It's still dark outside and traffic is heavy. We quickly find a parking spot and make the final preparations before we walk to the start. I put on my race vest, get all of my water and fuel situated and spray some bug spray on my legs. Having no idea where the start line is located we just follow the crowds. I quickly find the nearest porta potty with a reasonably short line and get a spot. As soon as we walk up to the start area, I snap a photo and make a post on Facebook about it being our 11th wedding anniversary. Someone sings the national anthem and before I know it people start moving up. I look at Scott and say are we starting and then I hear an airhorn. A little anxious and caught off guard the race has started.

I make sure I have my new Coros watch ready to start as I haven't had it long and the buttons are very different. The watch doesn't have a run/walk feature like my Garmin so I downloaded an app to keep up with my intervals. When I start I decide not to turn the app on just yet and go with the flow. Ultra running is so different - there are people of all shapes, sizes and ages and nobody (minus those few going for the win) takes off fast. Some are walking and the rest are at a comfortable slow pace. Some begin their intervals immediately and others like me just follow the crowd. Everyone is chatty at the start, making comments that make everyone around them laugh, and we are all just genuinely happy to be here at this point.

The course starts on a paved path that will eventually lead us to the trail. We cross the Sinnissippi Dam Walkway over the Rock River which is beautiful as the sun starts to rise. I snap a few pictures early on from parks along the way.

Approaching mile 3 I hear cowbells and it seems too early for an aid station. Much to my surprise I find several ladies in kayaks in the canal ringing cowbells and holding up signs - the Yak Yak sisters. I snap a few pictures and tell them how awesome they are and keep moving down the trail.

Challenge #1 of the day. Only a few weeks prior to the race I joined a training group on Facebook for this race. One of the posts was about what type of shoes to wear. There were a lot of recommendations to wear road shoes but from the pictures I had seen there seemed to be plenty of trail sections with a few paved portions in towns and cross sections. So I ultimately decided to stick with my trail shoes. And I immediately regret my decision when I reach mile 5 and we are still running on what I call asphalt trails. I found myself trying to run off the edge of the asphalt to find a softer surface but that was risky in itself due to the sticks, leaves and walnuts. I was mad and kept trying to figure out in my head how I could get Scott to bring me my other shoes. I finally had to tell myself to stop - these are the shoes you picked - this is where you are at the moment and you just have to deal with it. Things are going to be fine so just keep running and stop dwelling on it.

My strategy for the day was to focus on the next aid station. I had 10 aid stations to navigate before the finish line and it was a more manageable number than 50 miles. I finally approach aid station 1 (Mile 5.5) and things are going well. I enjoy the cheers and allow the volunteers to refill my water bottle. I had a notification on my watch to take nutrition every hour and I was sticking to the plan. Every aid station was packed full of yummy treats but I stuck with what I was carrying to avoid any unnecessary stomach issues. I decide to take a quick bathroom break since there wasn't a line and then quickly am on my way. This is when the trail finally turned to dirt which I was happy to see given my shoe situation but it was also a bit tricky in itself. I found myself longing for a flatter/smoother surface.

Aid station 2 (Mile 10.8) - moving good, no issues, refill water and moving on. Literally had rows and rows of Fireball shots on the table, but it was a little too early for that.

I tried to take pictures but once you've seen the canal there were few changes in scenery. I managed to capture a barn in the distance and wanted to document the terrain on this particular section.

The next set of aid stations were rather uneventful. I would take a few more pictures of farms and clouds. I can remember smelling rain and seeing it across the horizon but it never rained on me. At one point I did get my hat out in hopes that it would come a good shower but no luck. The temps/humidity were really starting to rise but there was plenty of shade and cloud cover to keep it manageable at this point.

I make a brief stop at Aid Station 4 (Mile 19) to retrieve my drop bag. It didn't contain much - just another bag of fuel, some Vaseline so I could reapply lube to my hot spots and an extra buff. I had been a little worried about finding my bag because I was out of fuel that I had carried with me - which meant I was staying on top of my nutrition at that point. There really wasn't a lot to do so I moved along. I was heeding advice from some podcasts I had listened to - come into the aid station with a plan and move through it as quickly as possible.

12:32 p.m. - Quick stop at Mile 25 to document my journey on social media. "Half way" - and I teared up (cry #1 if you are counting).

Heading to Aid Station 6 (27.3) I would capture my favorite barn picture of the day.

Right past the barn picture and before the tunnel was a random porta potty - so I decide to stop. Luck would have it the race photographer was lying inside the tunnel and would capture me as I exit the porta potty and attempt to get everything adjusted. The man in the picture would become very important to me later in the race. You can see another dark shadow of a teenage boy ringing a cowbell - inside a tunnel - it was loud. But it all made this moment in time unforgettable.

Another uneventful aid station and my main focus now is Aid station 7 (Mile 32.1). This is where Scott is waiting. It will be the first time I get to see him. I have looked forward to this point all day. It will also be where I transition into the unknown - a distance that I have never covered. Up until this point I knew I could do it with two 50k under my belt.

At mile 30 I decide to call Scott. And I decide I want to change shoes. I had regretted my decision on shoes for over 30 miles and this was my chance to change them. I also let him know that I wanted my pink compression sleeve because my right foot was hurting. I know these things will eat up my time but I feel like it's better to address them while I have the chance. The call is short and he knows what I need. He tells me he's standing right before the timing mat but he could move if he needed to when I got there. Key point - I know there's a timing mat and a turn around.

Scott snapped this picture of me coming in to Aid Station 7. I had a plan in my mind - I would run to the turn around and then cross the timing mats before I stopped to change my shoes. As I approach the timing mat well to the right Scott looks at me and tells me I have to run across the mat. I then look at the lady at the timing station and her expression is forever stuck in my head in slow motion - "nooooo, run across the mat"! At that point my weary brain panics and attempts to get my tired legs to dart to the left and get across the mat. All I remember is going down hard - Scott said I clipped the edge of the orange cone.

I don't remember much for several minutes - my left knee hurt bad, my finger was dripping blood but I made it across that mat. I later had to ask Scott if he helped me up and he said yes, he came up behind me with both hands under my armpits and picked me up. I made it to a picnic table where a couple of ladies were sitting. In my head I was thinking "don't die in the chair" - in other words you cannot sit down. But I had to sit down. Scott was scrambling to know what to do. He was looking for Band-Aids and something to wipe off the blood. He was throwing me my shoes and compression sleeve as I had asked (he never went off plan). My thoughts were all over the place. I got very nauseous and said out loud I think I'm going to throw up.

That's it - it's over. My knee hurts and I don't know if I will be able to run when I stand up. My time is shot. My feet are swollen to the point that getting the sleeve and new shoes on was a challenge (and potentially a huge mistake). I had never up to this point fell while running - ever - why now? My mind immediately goes to my running tribe and Trish. She would NEVER give up because of a fall. I had to be like her. I remember reading a race recap of an Instagram friend who fell during her 100 mile and how she was able to continue and reach her goal. I didn't know what would happen but I had to try and make the best of the situation.

I stood up and much to my surprise the pain in my knee had eased up. The nausea had subsided. I refilled my pack with nutrition and went to the aid station table. This was my first (of many) shots of pickle juice and coke. Scott refilled my bottles with fresh, cold water - kissed me - told me how proud of me he was and sent me across that stupid timing mat once again as I exit the aid station. I am fighting back the tears.

As I leave the station I attempt to eat my almond butter and jelly sandwich but much of it went in the canal. My feet were screaming. The compression sleeve was killing the arch of my right foot. Both shoes were too tight and my toes were tingling. I tried to ignore the pain and keep running - it would get better soon. But it didn't. In order to do anything I needed to sit down but I was afraid if I sat on the ground I would never get back up. So I keep running until I find a trailhead where I am able to lean/sit on a post, remove the compression sleeve and loosen my shoes. Things seemed to be better and tolerable so I proceed.

Mile 33 - 26 minutes, 12 seconds

Mile 34 - 16 minutes, 15 seconds

During those very dark miles a song came on my playlist. And here are the words.

Tasha Cobb Leonard - Gracefully Broken

God will break you to position you, break you to promote you, break you to put you in your right place. But when He breaks you He doesn't hurt you. When He breaks you He doesn't destroy you, He does it with grace.

Here I am God, arms wide open

Pouring out my life gracefully broken

I surrender

That was it. That was me. Sobbing on a trail, surrendering all, gracefully broken.

And then a text from my niece Kayla - "Keep up the pace!! When the going gets tough remember who's by your side, He will carry you to the finish line! Love you!"

And then the man from the earlier picture. Up until this point I had not talked to many people. An occasional good job and a brief question about strategy. But this man had been near me all day and for whatever reason decided to strike up a conversation with me. At a time I was at my lowest. And he may never know what a blessing it was for me. He was from Michigan and had run Tunnel Hill several times. An older gentleman who had a gate more like a speed walker as he ran next to me. It got my mind off the fall (which we talked about) and gave me a boost to continue to push. He would eventually drop back as he was running the 100 mile and was conserving energy during the heat of the day.

The next goal - get to Scott again at Aid Station 8. This is the Ten Junk Miles aid station and they have pulled pork sandwiches (for Scott, not me). Nonetheless I looked forward to seeing him again soon.

Arriving at Aid Station 8 (mile 38.7) I decide to walk across the bridge with the mirror ball and strike a pose for Scott. I was super happy to see him again but it had been a long 6ish miles. I was not taking my nutrition like I had been - water was good but my Nuun tablets made me want to barf. I was afraid to eat anything unusual at the aid station so more pickle juice and coke. I give Scott instructions to be sure and be at the next aid station because I planned to remove my vest and I needed my headlamp. I was unsure at this point if I would finish before dark. Again, he gives me all the praise and encouragement and I'm on my way.

Mile 39 - 18 minutes, 45 seconds

4:25 p.m. - Quick stop at Mile 40 for another social media post and cry. I finally think I might finish this thing.

Plus a quick picture of one of the many bridges along the canal.

Another long section between aid stations lands me at Aid Station 9 (mile 43.9). I am so happy to be here. I walk to the spot where Scott had all of my gear and I remove my vest and throw it down on the ground and say "I'm done". A lovely lady sitting in a chair nearby was like "oh no" - she thought I had dropped. My response, oh hell no, I'm just done with that vest. She was relieved and even offered to let me sit down in her chair. But this was the beginning of the end for me. I had played it safe all day and I was ready to be done. I unloaded everything - vest, sunglasses, earbuds, singlet and most of my fuel. I had 3ish miles to the next aid station and then a short out/back to the finish. I was ready to be done. I grabbed my headlamp and put it in the pocket of my shorts just in case and left the aid station.

I had stopped taking too many pictures at this point, which I regret on occasion. There were some beautiful spots along the canal. But I was laser focused on finishing. I had zero expectations at this point. In fact, I felt like I might be the last 50 mile person out there. The 100 milers wore timing devices on their ankle and everyone I saw had one. This is the point where you start meeting the 100 milers heading to their finish. It's always so amazing how encouraging they are when they pass - good work or nice job. I arrive at Aid Station 10 (mile 47.1) and top off my handheld with a little water. I had visited the finish line/aid station 10 the day before so things started to look familiar. I knew that I had to run an out and back but my tired brain couldn't do the math to figure out how far I had to go. I knew there would be a tunnel that I had to walk through because it was so rough. I knew there would be signs that told me to turn around. And so I just ran.

At mile 49 the sky started to look beautiful so I decided to stop for one more selfie.

There had been another female runner exit the tunnel and turn around well before the established 50 mile turn around so the competitive side in me was like you better pass her because she cut it short. My phone was telling me to walk for my intervals but I could see the finish line and there was no way I was stopping.

As I make the turn to cross the bridge to the finish I am just so relieved. I didn't care about my time really and I had finished before dark, barely. All of the emotions I had kept in all day came out in an ugly cry across the finish. The 50 mile finish line captain was waiting with my medal. She looked at me and said what age group are you in - and I fumble my words and say 50. She looks at me and says "girl, you won your age group"! What in the world - how did that happen. It was so unexpected, after all I thought I was last. She gave me my medal, award and "Ultra virgin no more" shirt. And I still didn't believe I won my age group. I seriously thought they were going to call me and tell me it was a mistake (but the results in fact confirm). Turns out it was a good thing I passed the lady that turned around too soon - she was second in my age group (just saying).

After I gather all of my stuff I decide to change clothes in the truck. It was dark by then but I needed some dry clothes. We decided to walk back to the aid station after I changed to scout out the food situation. I grabbed a grilled cheese and banana and we decide to head out for the night. Scott had already scoped out a local pizza place in Princeton, IL where we would hunker down for the night in a Super 8 motel. By the time I was accepted in the race all of the hotels were booked. When we got to the motel the nice lady was moving like molasses to get us checked in and I needed to lay down. She told us our king size room would be on the second floor and we would TAKE THE STAIRS! Nice. This should be fun. I limp my way to the room and manage to get in the shower while Scott goes to retrieve the pizza.

The strangest thing happened after my shower. I feel like I have cold chills - like shivering. So I put my legs up on the wall to try to get it to stop and notice the muscles in my quads are crawling like snakes. I immediately start freaking out. I ask Scott to go next door and get me a Gatorade for some added electrolytes and I run a warm Epsom salt bath. The combination of the two made my muscles calm down and then I was ready for some pizza.

Per usual, sleep was hard.

Sunday, October 3, 2021

I woke up early starving. Scott and I had already found a local restaurant that served breakfast all day and I was ready to go. The first few steps out of bed were interesting. My feet were very unhappy and barely fit in my slides. My left knee was stiff. But once I got moving things seemed to loosen up. We got dressed and headed for some biscuits and gravy. After breakfast we packed up the truck and started the 6 hour journey home. Car rides are never easy after races but this one wasn't so bad - I just needed to take a few more pit stops to stretch the legs.

Just a few random notes about race day:

1. I started out with a 3 minute run and 1 minute walk interval. At some point prior to Mile 32 I changed that to 2/1 and maintained that for the rest of the race. It was hard to keep it going but my mantra was "it's going to hurt if you run or if you walk so let's try to shuffle". And so I did.

2. I listened to one playlist on Spotify. I either had music in my ears or nothing. And my headphones died by mile 43.

3. My Coros watch and iPhone battery made it the duration of the race.

4. Nutrition: Pre race - 2 scoops UCAN, during race - Honey stinger waffles, gels and performance chews plus UCAN bar. Salt stick pills helped keep the cramps away and Nuun tablets for electrolytes (but they became impossible for me to drink). Living off pickle juice and Coke from mile 32 on.

The only person I responded to in text during the race was my ultra running partner in crime - Stacy. One of my final messages later that night was "I can totally do 100k, with you by my side"!

The adventure continues - what's next?

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

At the completion of writing this recap, sleep is a priority but I am back to running. I have two more races on the schedule for 2021 so I will continue a much scaled back training cycle.

November 6, 2021 - Tunnel Hill 10 miler

December 4, 2021 - St. Jude's Memphis Marathon

I also want to give all the Glory to God for allowing my body to be healthy enough to continue to pursue my love of running.

To my family, thank you. None of this would be possible without your support.

To my running tribe that I never knew I needed. You came into my life at just the right time and made a pandemic more tolerable. Thank you for the hundreds of miles and continuous support.

To the ones that keep my body running smoothly:

• Travis Kahre - Southside Chiropractic

• Cory Midkiff - Renewed Performance (PT and dry needle)

• Kacey Willis - Relaxation Station - massage therapy