St. Croix Scenic 50k

1/23/2021 - 50th Birthday

Friday night was the best sleep of the entire trip. I woke up feeling rested and ready for my 2 mile shakeout run. Scott cooked eggs and bacon while I ran a few miles around the condo. I could hear the roosters crowing as I ran the streets. My nerves were starting to kick in as we headed to the pre-race meeting.

Pre-race Meeting

Initial observation: a lot of super fit ladies, clearly seasoned trail runners which makes me feel even more out of my league.

I was finally able to meet the person behind the Facebook messages that had been occurring for 6 months – Bridget Klein – her and her husband Mike are the race directors.

Mike gave a brief course overview which heightened my anxiety even more. I tried to train to the best of my ability for the course, but I really had NO IDEA how rough the “trail” portion would be. It was dirt roads traveled by jeeps – couldn’t be that bad, right? Here’s how that went.

You will start out at the base of the beast and climb. Then you will hit the muddy section – expect there to be a lot of mud puddles. Next is the bushy portion which is not as bad now due to the hurricane in 2018. Then you will get to “The Crusher” – this is my first hearing of this hill. Mike says to even seasoned runners you should take it easy going down this hill because you can blow out your quads. Just take it easy. When you exit the crusher turn around and look where you came out because there will seem like there’s no way to get back in. Now you can cruise to the turnaround – nice and flat with an aid station. After the turnaround you head back up the crusher – equally as difficult – a massive incline that lasts about a mile. Back through the bush/mud, up the beast again and back to where you started. Now you can cruise to the finish which is only about 14 miles. When you get off the trail on to the roads be sure to run with traffic on the left (I already knew this from a video I had watched).

My reaction was WHAT THE HELL have I done! This is insane.

I spoke to a few people about how to get to the start line – there’s no address – just go to the beast. Perhaps you go to Cane Bay and then turn left on the first road. I’m not feeling confident about the directions.

After taking some pictures at the Buccaneer we decide to drive some of the course (which ran right past our condo), grab some BBQ for lunch (I had a black bean burger) and head back to the condo.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing and cooking dinner in (chicken and sweet potato). At the last minute I decide to email Bridget about directions to the start line and then attempt to go to bed (not much sleep was in store).

1/24/2021 Race morning

Race start was 7 a.m. with at least a 20-30 minute drive to the start line. I set my alarm for 4:45 a.m. but I was up by 4:30 a.m. I started my coffee and checked my email to see if Bridget had responded. She attempted to tell me again how to get to the start but also offered to let us follow her if we were at Food Town at 5 corners by 6 a.m. – I thought that was a better plan and would eliminate the stress I would have trying to navigate to the start. I sent her a text to let her know we would be waiting.

I began the process of getting ready. Funny thing is I was going to wear my hair in power buns but my gray outgrowth was too much so I switched to a single ponytail. I know it’s random, but it just shows what was going on in my mind. I drank a little bit of coffee, had my first poop and start putting on my Squirrel’s Nut Butter and clothes. I woke Scott up at 5:15 to get a shower and told him we had to leave by 6 to meet Bridget. I ate my UCAN bar and got all of my many other drinks together for the ride up. Another poop and I was good to go. It really was one of the easiest race mornings I can recall having.

We get to Food Town and Bridget comes by just a few minutes later for an easy ride up to the start. It’s still dark outside but there are cones/signs on the road from the earlier start of the 50 miler. We get to the start line which is simply an intersection of River Road (paved) and Scenic Road (trail). The sun is just starting to rise and they are setting up the aid station. I walked around, took some pictures and used the porta potty a few times. Before we start a few of the 50 mile and relay runners emerge from the trail. They are still wearing headlamps – flying out of the trail. Billy is on track to crush the course record (he’s the current record holder). A female relay runner is bloody and has a swollen ankle from a fall. They start grabbing stuff out of their drop bags and refilling water bottles and take off again. I’m in awe as they have covered 12+ miles in under 2 hours but little did I know at that time the terrain they had covered already.

It’s time to start the 50k – 8 runners total – 7 female, 1 male. The field included the current course record holder. We wait behind the line Mike had drawn in the dirt and did a countdown based on a timer on an iPad. GO! Everyone takes off down a gravel road – it’s fairly flat at this point – I try to stay relaxed as there’s no way I can keep up with the pack but it’s okay – I knew it would be this way.

There are a couple of young ladies that stay around my same pace – they are wearing matching shirts and knee compression socks – and I’m happy to have someone in sight. I try to keep running as long as I can because I know the Beast is coming up and it will soon be time to walk. One of the ladies stops to tie her shoe and I speak to them – this is their 3rd time running the 50k. I tell them it’s my first and they said you will do fine – we will keep you motivated. I feel relief. We proceed up the hill – sometimes they are ahead and sometimes I am.

We get to the first mud puddle and I am like well here we go – I try to navigate around the puddle first and slip – my hand hits the ground, and one shoe is dangling close to the water. The girls behind are like you are okay, you’ve got this, you saved it, you aren’t too messy, keep moving. I didn’t realize how much I would need them. We proceed to navigate our way through the mud and get to our first aid station. A couple was there, ringing a cowbell and it was such a refreshing sight to see them. A lady on a bicycle had passed us in the mud and was cheering and enjoying the muddy course. They refilled our water and we were off – the next section was more brush.

Even more challenging than the mud as the vines and grass were deep and I was switching back and forth from one side to another trying to find the best path. This section didn’t seem too bad otherwise – I tried to run when I could – take advantage of flat or downhill. I got ahead of the other girls when one stopped for a bathroom break. And then came The Crusher.

The Crusher – going downhill – we started meeting the leaders of both the 50 mile and 50k going back up. They were walking as well. The hill was massive. I hear in my head Mike saying take it easy so you don’t blow out your quads. I am walking – and fighting with gravity. I don’t know how to do this so I just try my best to take it easy. My quads start to hurt – and I know what is happening but I don’t know how to stop it. I just try to keep moving so I can get down the hill. A good portion was concrete, and then you would hit a dirt section. There were a few reprieves where it flattened out a bit and then straight down again. It was brutal and I was already dreading the climb back up.

I finally exit the trail and do as Mike suggested – turn around and look at where you enter. There are pink flags of confidence hanging in the trees. I snap a picture as the other ladies exit and we proceed down the road.

I manage to run again as we approach the aid station and turn around. We are running so close to the beach and ocean at this point. My feet are burning from the downhill and my mind is telling me to stop, take off your shoes and get in the water. I press forward.

Again we are greeted by cheers and offers to help refill water or do anything we may need. It’s a busy aid station with plenty of other runners going both directions at this point. Interaction with people was key. I made my way through the aid station, ate another UCAN bar, grabbed a little water and headed back towards the trail.

There was a porta potty so I decided to stop (the one and only bathroom break in my 8 hour journey). The other ladies pass me at this point. I enter the trail at the base of the crusher and start the journey back up. This begins a very dark point – a mile of climbing – a mile of making deals with the devil – a mile of loneliness. I started to feel a little disoriented and finally decided to just stop – take a break – hold on to a tree (because my balance felt off) – let your heart rate go down and then keep moving. There’s only one way out of here and that’s to climb this hill. I decided at this point that I just needed to make it back to where I started and then I could call Scott to come get me. Nobody would be disappointed if I quit. I knew it was going to be hard but I didn’t know just how hard. I wouldn’t be that runner who was out of their mind and barely able to talk/walk/function at the finish. I’d rather drop out than risk it. I kept moving. I needed music but I had no cell service. All I had was some podcasts I had downloaded so I turned them on. Jen Hatmaker – For the Love – I don’t know what they were talking about but it was just someone talking in my ear. I don’t recall seeing any other runners on this section.

And then I was back at the aid station – as I emerged from the brush I saw the friendly couple with a cowbell, the female cyclist covered in mud and the two other ladies that had passed me when I stopped for a bathroom break. THERE WAS HOPE! I wasn’t too far behind them. I was doing okay. They refilled my water and asked me what I needed. I said a good pep talk so I don’t drop out and that’s what they proceeded to do – tell me I could finish. Tell me to have fun. Tell me to get muddy – I was way too clean. And it helped – I kept moving. Going back through the mud didn’t seem so bad. A female relay runner came barreling through, slipping and sliding in the mud and chatting with me. I cheered her on as I stepped to the side and was totally in awe of her ability and determination – the mud wasn’t slowing her down a bit.

Once again I climbed back up the beast and proceed to navigate the familiar section that leads me back to the start. I enter the busy aid station to cheers and offers of help from volunteers. They graciously help me remove my waist pack and mix my powdered UCAN in a handheld. I switched out my gear and loaded my pockets with fuel from my drop bag. I had no idea what was ahead as it was a new section for me but I thought how bad could it be compared to what I’ve just done. Mike says we can cruise to the finish from here. As I leave the aid station someone yells “Go Kim” – which confuses me – who knows my name.

Enter the rocky trail to nowhere!

I’m walking and drinking my UCAN and the trail turns to nothing but a grassy path hiding the treacherous rocks. No wonder they came out of this section with swollen ankles and blood. Who could even run on this mess! I laughed out loud. Another runner passed me and asked how I was doing – my response was I’m still moving so I’m good. Two of my slowest miles were ahead – just a bunch of rock, grass and dry ditches to navigate. When I finally got to sections where I could make up time my quads hurt too bad to attempt running downhill. Again it was another lonely and dark section.

I finally emerge from the trail at mile 18.5 to an aid station. She offers to let me sit down and I kindly say I better not. I give them one of my handheld bottles as I’m tired of carrying two at this point. I ask for some fresh water and sunscreen and then proceed to carry on with my journey. I’m finally finished with the trail but the remaining road section is equally as hard and dangerous.

After climbing again I hit another downhill. I somehow figure out how to run with little discomfort – I’m sure I look crazy with my legs spread apart in attempt to get my glutes to do the work but I don’t care. It’s working. It’s starting to get hot at this point and there’s very little shade to be found. Even though it’s only 4.5 miles to the next aid station, at my pace that takes a while. I start running low on water only to find a cooler sitting at the entrance to a gated driveway. It’s for the runners so I open it to find water, bananas, bars and an encouraging note. I was so thankful for the ice cold water. I proceed to run downhill and look out over the ocean to see a dark rain cloud and rain showers heading my way. It was a welcomed sight and eventually would be just the right amount of rain to cool me off.

Going downhill towards a corner I see a blue Kia Rio coming my way – it was Scott. He had found me. As he drives next to me we chat. He’s concerned about how I’m doing and what is ahead. The only thing I could tell him is nothing ahead could be as bad as what I had already endured. I was still thinking clear and I was able to walk so I was not stopping. I finally make it to the next aid station at 23.5 to find Theresa who I had met at the pre-race meeting. She’s trying to figure out what I need and we decide to take one salt tablet and a few potato chips. Plus a sip of Coke (man does it taste good). Scott had pulled over and opened the trunk of the car and offers to let me get in so he can drive me on the next section. It’s the busy road where I have to run on the left with traffic. He’s not a fan and tries to follow me with his flashers on. I finally convince him to go on because he’s going to cause a traffic accident. At this point your mind is in such a remote place that you barely realize what is going on around you and what the true danger could be. I keep moving forward. I haven’t seen the ladies in a while but I’ve seen their support crew who have been faithfully cheering me on the entire time. I know they are near.

This section becomes remotely familiar to me as I had watched the video of the last 8 miles over and over. Pasha Market, speed bump roads, Jimi Hendrix painting, 5 corners – the finish is near. I see the ladies ahead, I chat with them briefly at an aid station. I know I’m going to finish and I keep moving. I greet locals on the speed bump roads and chat briefly about what we are doing.

As I make my way through 5 corners and proceed toward Christiansted another black cloud emerges. Yet again another welcomed rain shower to cool me off – this time as I navigate the streets of Christiansted with sidewalks up and down and water puddles everywhere. As I turn the corner for the last 2 miles my phone rings and it’s my Mom. Are you done yet Kim? To which I answer no – 2 miles to go and she lets me go quickly. The ladies had stopped here with their crew. We exchange encouraging words and share our excitement of the finish line ahead. As their crew pass me they are cheering and playing Eye of the Tiger – it was just what I needed. They never caught back up with me and finished only a minute behind me.

Finally, the entrance to The Buccaneer – a sight I had been waiting for all day. I stop to take a brief picture and proceed to make my way to the finish.

I tried to call Scott but there was no service. But much to my surprise as I topped the hill there he was – waiting for me – taking pictures – telling me where to go. The race director Mike was there as well telling me to run down the path and yelling my race number to the ladies at the finish tracking time.

I was done. I did it!

As I walk across the sand to find a chair to sit down I dread taking off my sock. My toe on my right foot had felt weird most of the day. My toenail felt lose and I just knew it would be gone when I took my sock off. I finally mustered up the courage to take it off to find a huge blister and my toenail still attached. Once I sent a few messages, I jumped in the crystal clear water at Mermaid Beach for a refreshing swim.

My thoughts later that evening per my Facebook post: "It was an amazing experience. I'm not a trail runner so doing this race again likely won't happen. Doing another 50k on a flatter and smoother surface is highly probable."

1/25/2021 - The Day After

Per usual the night after a hard race is restless. Every movement of my leg causes a cramp. Sleep doesn't come easy and I finally give up and wake up early to start moving again. We get ready to attend the Awards Breakfast at The Buccaneer. It was a very nice buffet breakfast with most of the runners present. It amazes me how well everyone is moving, like nothing had occurred. I try my best to do the same but everything hurts (even my arms). The winner of the 50 mile (female) had set a course record on her 40th birthday. Billy who was on track to crush the male course record, per his Strava account, had an "Epic crash and decent recovery!" The female 50k course record holder finished in 5:15:01 at age of 49 - not a new record but amazing nonetheless. What a unique and welcoming group of people. I am now an Ultramarathoner.

After breakfast we head to the beach for a day of rest and recovery.

And decide to pay one last visit to The Beast before we head home.

1/31/2021 - One week later

The burning pain in my quads has subsided, walking down stairs is remotely normal again, using the bathroom doesn't make me cringe AND I have a beef with The Crusher.

Challenge accepted - will I return for another attempt? Time and a lot of training on downhills will tell. Stay tuned.

The End!