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pennswoods On May 20th, I ran in my first ever ultramarathon, which was the Dirty German 50 miler in Pennypack Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was not only my first ultramarathon but also my first trail race. I decided to run this almost a year ago as a way to do something big for turning 50 and a 50 miler seemed impressive and outrageous, but also a way to combat the negativity associated with turning 50. It didn't turn out the way I hoped, but as with any big race, there were lessons learned and a month later, I wanted to write these down. Over on Instagram, I have a highlight reel of photos and videos from the day.
The race started at 7.30 and was a three loop course of about 27 kilometers/17 miles. The day was cool and overcast and the trail was in good condition for the first loop. I felt good going out and enjoyed hanging off the back of other groups of trail runners and listening to them talk as they ran. This was nice since it is considered bad form and dangerous to run with headphones in due to the fact that the trails are narrow (single track - which apparently means the width of a single mountain bike) and you have to attend to people coming up behind you and want to pass you. The trail itself was described as not very technical, but even this level of non-technical was a challenge. There were places where you needed to jump over (or in my case, stop and climb over) whole fallen trees. There were plenty of roots and also some rather steep areas where I needed to walk on the uphill or downhill (this would be significant later).
Overall, the experience of running the first loop was positive, even when rain began to fall as I approached the start/finish area. I did often find myself running alone and then later getting passed by the 50k and 25k runners who caught up. This happened much more on the second loop, but the aloneness in the woods is a strange feeling and I am glad I chose this more suburban park-type course to run on. There were few non-runners on the course and no bikers or dogs off leash (one of my biggest stressors when I am out running). Also there were no bears.
I completed the first loop close to my upper goal time and realized I was probably going to run this slower than I hoped, but if I held on would be able to finish within the course time limit. I also decided to change my shoes because the trail shoes I had on were starting to form hot spots that were going to blister. I used the toilet, chatted with friends and started out on lap two. This is where I encountered a completely different course to what I had remembered and where I really regretted changing into my normal running shoes. The rain had turned the trail to mud and it only got worse the further I went on. I had to walk in a lot of places due to the mud, particularly on downhills, where I already lack good stability in dry conditions.
At a certain point, running turned into run-walking and then mainly walking. I started to readjust my expectations to only doing 50km (2 laps) instead of the full 3 laps (80km). This was still my plan when I got to aid station 1 on my first lap. Then shortly after aid station 1, I passed a man limping on the way back and warning us to walk and not run around the sinkhole on the course as he had slid in and probably pulled his groin. As I (walked) past the sinkhole, I could see the marks in the mud where he had slid in. This was also part of the course with steeper hills that i nearly slid backward in the mud trying to walk up while others on the way back were running and sliding down. I couldn't imagine how I would stay upright on the way back.
I was pretty much only walking now and was often entirely alone except when the occasional 50km runner would pass me. I saw several people slip or even fall entirely and then just get right back up to continue running. Trail runners are pretty hardy people! I passed a man sprawled on the side of the course stretching out a cramp. But I was soon entirely alone as I walked gingerly across super muddy stretch that started to slide under me, causing me to fall and nearly slide off the course into a ditch. That scared me because I'm not sure how I could have climbed up against the mud and if anyone could come find me. But I did manage to stop before sliding off.
My handheld water bottle was covered in mud and I was thankful I had worn a bandana that I could use to wipe the mud off it and my hands. However, it was at that point that I decided to finish at the next aid station before I injured myself. It was still several kilometers away and this part of the race, where I grappled with giving up and the fear I felt towards injury and frustration over how I really wasn't prepared for this course as well as self-doubt about my ability to even run an ultra, was the darkest parts.
I did eventually make it to aid station 2 and notified them I was withdrawing and asked if I could be driven to the start line. I was given a blanket and towel to warm up while I waited and watched all the other runners, including the eventual winner (a 23-year-old woman) come through on their third and final lap. Although I didn't make it even half way or a full marathon at least, this did end up being the longest I have run at 6:03 hours.I also decided to leave my regrets on the course during those dark questioning kilometers. I trained for an ultra and although I didn't finish, I did complete the 25km and like the gambler sings about knowing when to walk away - I did that. And I'm still healthy and able to run my next race, which is going to be in Iceland in August (on a ROAD!)
The race started at 7.30 and was a three loop course of about 27 kilometers/17 miles. The day was cool and overcast and the trail was in good condition for the first loop. I felt good going out and enjoyed hanging off the back of other groups of trail runners and listening to them talk as they ran. This was nice since it is considered bad form and dangerous to run with headphones in due to the fact that the trails are narrow (single track - which apparently means the width of a single mountain bike) and you have to attend to people coming up behind you and want to pass you. The trail itself was described as not very technical, but even this level of non-technical was a challenge. There were places where you needed to jump over (or in my case, stop and climb over) whole fallen trees. There were plenty of roots and also some rather steep areas where I needed to walk on the uphill or downhill (this would be significant later).
Overall, the experience of running the first loop was positive, even when rain began to fall as I approached the start/finish area. I did often find myself running alone and then later getting passed by the 50k and 25k runners who caught up. This happened much more on the second loop, but the aloneness in the woods is a strange feeling and I am glad I chose this more suburban park-type course to run on. There were few non-runners on the course and no bikers or dogs off leash (one of my biggest stressors when I am out running). Also there were no bears.
I completed the first loop close to my upper goal time and realized I was probably going to run this slower than I hoped, but if I held on would be able to finish within the course time limit. I also decided to change my shoes because the trail shoes I had on were starting to form hot spots that were going to blister. I used the toilet, chatted with friends and started out on lap two. This is where I encountered a completely different course to what I had remembered and where I really regretted changing into my normal running shoes. The rain had turned the trail to mud and it only got worse the further I went on. I had to walk in a lot of places due to the mud, particularly on downhills, where I already lack good stability in dry conditions.
At a certain point, running turned into run-walking and then mainly walking. I started to readjust my expectations to only doing 50km (2 laps) instead of the full 3 laps (80km). This was still my plan when I got to aid station 1 on my first lap. Then shortly after aid station 1, I passed a man limping on the way back and warning us to walk and not run around the sinkhole on the course as he had slid in and probably pulled his groin. As I (walked) past the sinkhole, I could see the marks in the mud where he had slid in. This was also part of the course with steeper hills that i nearly slid backward in the mud trying to walk up while others on the way back were running and sliding down. I couldn't imagine how I would stay upright on the way back.
I was pretty much only walking now and was often entirely alone except when the occasional 50km runner would pass me. I saw several people slip or even fall entirely and then just get right back up to continue running. Trail runners are pretty hardy people! I passed a man sprawled on the side of the course stretching out a cramp. But I was soon entirely alone as I walked gingerly across super muddy stretch that started to slide under me, causing me to fall and nearly slide off the course into a ditch. That scared me because I'm not sure how I could have climbed up against the mud and if anyone could come find me. But I did manage to stop before sliding off.
My handheld water bottle was covered in mud and I was thankful I had worn a bandana that I could use to wipe the mud off it and my hands. However, it was at that point that I decided to finish at the next aid station before I injured myself. It was still several kilometers away and this part of the race, where I grappled with giving up and the fear I felt towards injury and frustration over how I really wasn't prepared for this course as well as self-doubt about my ability to even run an ultra, was the darkest parts.
I did eventually make it to aid station 2 and notified them I was withdrawing and asked if I could be driven to the start line. I was given a blanket and towel to warm up while I waited and watched all the other runners, including the eventual winner (a 23-year-old woman) come through on their third and final lap. Although I didn't make it even half way or a full marathon at least, this did end up being the longest I have run at 6:03 hours.I also decided to leave my regrets on the course during those dark questioning kilometers. I trained for an ultra and although I didn't finish, I did complete the 25km and like the gambler sings about knowing when to walk away - I did that. And I'm still healthy and able to run my next race, which is going to be in Iceland in August (on a ROAD!)
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Date: 2023-06-24 06:26 pm (UTC)