On a last minute decision, I decided to hit the Whistler 50miler, a new race that replaced the Haney to Harrison this year. Being that it was in my backyard and I haven't run in Whistler for a while, I needed some miles and I thought that this would be a great way to get them in. I have to admit, my motivation for long runs has been down a bit recently (I think its the weather) and with the Honolulu Marathon a month away, I do need some pavement time.
Fortunately, we had great running conditions yesterday with temperatures somewhere around 0 C degrees which was just fine by me. I just hoped that we wouldn't get huge variations as that would make my clothing choice become a problem once it warmed up! Whistler did have snow in the days prior and the Lost Lake area had a good layer on it but it wasn't slick! Race organizers did a great job of sanding down the course so slipping wasn't too much of a worry.
I wouldn't normally choose an event that was in loops (this was 4 x 20km) as I love point to point racing or 1 big circular loop. However, I knew the Whistler course well and I knew that I would get about 1.5 loops done in the dark so it would seem like a new course once the sun came up! I woke up at 3:45am, had a huge bowl of steel cut oats and blueberries and was on the road by 4:30am arriving to the start just after 5am to get my bib #. On a last minute change, Mary Betts stepped up to crew for me for the day when my original crew Jenni Chancey had to catch a last minute flight. Mary was also up at 3:30am to make the drive from Surrey to be there in time! She she stood around the cold for 6.5 hours for me! Ummmm, how do you ever really thank your crew for what they do? Well, you crew for them next time they ask!! Thankyou Mary.
I didn't approach this race with any huge expectations other then I wanted to go sub 8hrs and I didn't want to finish with an injury. Looking at my training log, it's not exactly how you set yourself up for a 50miler (well, not for an A race anyways.) I trained hard the past 10 days, including 1 run from Squamish to Whistler at a very easy pace and then lots of speed work (all focused towards Honolulu.) Any chance that the sun has been out, I roadie it up on my Cannondale to spin and have done a few compu trainer workouts at the Lab. I took Friday off and did hot yoga. The race was Saturday.
So the race itself. I felt great that morning, always nice when I take the pressure off myself and can just run. My friend and great runner Nicola Gildersleeve was racing, she also on a last minute decision. Nic has great leg turnover on the flats and I love watching her run. There were lots of runners who were running their first 50miler which was awesome! 6am start in front of the Whistler Gondola and we were off. The first lap was great! I love head lamp running with just the outlines of Blackcomb and Whistler visible in the dark. I didn't run with a goal pace, I just sort of ran, a few guys in front of me that I paced off of. The second lap was also great and as I came through the transition area, I was delighted to hear Stephen King on the microphone (the voice of Ultraman and Ironman) and I got a surge of energy as I ran by. I saw Mary twice every lap and being that she has crewed for me before, just trusted her to keep the food interesting and have options. I had warm team in my water bottles to drink at the aid stations, other then that, I didn't carry water and food with me at all. I always took a few sips on my "Jenny Super Smoothy" mix and left with things like avocado wrapped in turkey or rice chips or yogurt almonds in my hand.
So, lap 3, a bit of a disaster! About 4km into this loop, I hit the Lorimer Rd train track crossing and came to a hault! Not for the anticipated 2-3minutes but for 22!!!!! OMG - do you know what happens with a 22minute stand still when your body was warm and moving? Well, you go hypothermic in -1 weather, your body cramps and you can't move. There was volunteers there, taking note and giving time credit. No-one though had anticipated a stop like this. Soon, other runners caught up, must have been 8 of us or so. Nicola caught up too, being stopped for 12minutes. When the train finally decided to move again, my body didn't want to. I started running, more like a hobble, and my left hamstring was done! Nic took off in front of me and my body wouldn't respond and chase her. I had to let her go. I had to warm up again. I had to will myself to move. It took me a good 1hr to feel warm and Nic put 4mins on me. I knew that I only had an 11minute window to play with and we still had like 30km to go - it was anyone's race. Nic kept moving, I kept hobbling and tried not to go to a crawl.
I was delighted when lap 4 started - the last one. I was in so much discomfort in my hamstring, I was deep in my pain box! Lots of friends and strangers were cheering me on, that helped tonnes but I could barely manage a smile. I was focused on every single step that I took despite feeling like a snail. It was what I call "ugly running" - nothing smooth happening at this point. When I left Mary at the aid station for the last minute, I had made up 20seconds on Nicola, so she probably had around a 3:40 lead of me without counting the time credit! I didn't pick up my pace, I just tried to maintain, I'd let the cards fall where they would.
Running into the finish chute at the Whistler Golf Club couldn't have been better. DONE. Done for the day, Mary was there to give me a huge hug and Ray my big "sleeping bag" Salomon jacket. Friendly competition with Nicola was great, in the end I took first place with a 6min win. If it hadn't been for her keeping the pressure on me to move, not sure what would have happened. Once the time credits were factored in,
I had run a 6:31. Happy with that for sure. My race win I instantly dedicated to Mary Betts - not for her awesome crewing - but for her past year of racing and training! She tackled 2 major races for which I coached her for, Badwater 135 and the Furance Creek 508 bike race. She rocked out Badwater, it was amazing. However, mid race at the 508, she had a huge bike crash on Towne's Pass and her race was over. I look at Mary and how she dedicated herself to her training and how she takes on huge goals and just goes after them. Despite a DNF, she maintains positive as she heals up, already looking to 2012 and some awesome goals. I watch her and I'm inspired. She is driven by determination and a positive attitude. Thankyou Mary for making a huge impact on my life and on my racing!
My clothing system proved to work great for me. I started with a fleece toque on and exchanged that at near the end of the 2nd loop when I ditched my headlamp and grabbed my buff. I've been running in the Salomon XT Tights recently and I love them!! Awesome fit and they don't slide down. I normally would not choose to ever race in a full tight but because I'm loving these tights, I went for it. On the top I wore a light weight tech shirt underneath my Salomon XA II 1/2 Zip Midlayer! I never took off my lightweight Ibex gloves. SOLE socks on the feet.
Thanks to the Whistler 50 crew for putting on a great first time event in Whistler. I hope it continues year after year. I know that train issue will be re-addressed :) Lots of volunteers on the race, thankyou to everyone. Congrats to everyone who raced and even more to so those 1st timers at that distance. I'd like to give a special shout out to my friend and tri-athlete Christine Suter for getting it done out there on her first 50 and to Leslie Zednai - AWESOME work ladies!
A few days of active recovery ahead....then it's back to it!!!
So why Hawaii? Why a marathon? The true reason is really so that I'd have a good excuse for a sunny getaway to get me through the winter. Usually, my races take me right into the winter months but I structured differently this year. As much as I love a good ski season, I need the sun too. The plan in Hawaii is to race right away and then have a few more days for some SUP surfing and watching Pipeline Masters at Waimea Bay (also something that I've always wanted to see.)