What an amazing start to the Mountain Ultra Trail season at Traprock 50K and 17K trail runs! I have always wanted to do this race, yet it usually falls on the busy Easter weekend, but this year Easter was early and so off we went to the Traprock 50K- Un-seasonably warm temps and a more difficult course kept the times at bay, but what a beautiful way to start the season! I had 3 goals for this race-
A) Top 3 (Podium)- CHECK
B) Keep pace w Brian for lap 1- CHECK
C) Break 5 hours- STRIKE
Well, I made 2 out of 3 goals! Always an honor and a pleasure to run with Brian, one of the most dedicated and toughest Ultra runners in the country, never mind our region- Brian is legitamately one of the best Ultra runners of this current era! Good to hang with him for the first lap-
Lap 2 was less exciting and I felt low- Low on sugar and low on motivation- I believe I was passed for second by Koby 2/3 of the way through lap 2, about 18m in- Jim caught me at the end of lap two and I had to dig deep to get back to the podium!
Finally, at about mile 27, I caught back up to Jim at the last aid station. I was working hard, but really doubting my strength at this point- Plus the heat of the day was really catching up to me- I had still run on snow free trails for less than a week and the temps were soaring to nearly 80 degrees. But something changed when Jim, a badass regional Elite runner from NY turned and said to me "Was wondering when you were going to catch me..."- All I could think was, "Me...huh...what, who's he talking to"? Suddenly, I was back in the game. The pity party was over, the death march relented. It was time to race again!
After a few sips of cola and a quick "thank you" to the volunteers, I tore up the steep climb to the last few miles of single-track. I caught Jim after a few minutes, every step beginning to hurt, the effort of the day, going on 5 hours of rolling, technical terrain taking its toll on my tired legs. We chatted for a bit and then I began to pull away into the last stretch of trail before the finish.
A quick look over my shoulder, one last mocha energy gel and I cruised into the finish for the last podium spot. Jim finished about 2 minutes later, content with his effort (after a stellar 100 mile performance THE WEEK BEFORE at Umstead 100 in NC). Yet I knew there was one reason, and one reason only that we were separated by 2 minutes...because of his encouraging words some five miles earlier!
Next days sermon at church was also about how words can build up and tear down. What a confidence boost for the season and a dynamite start to the spring! Its really cool when worlds collide and you really feel like you are on the right track...or right trail for that matter-
Update:
Dixons Revenge 20K- 5th
Wapack 21.5- SICK :/ :(
Pineland Farms 25K- 16th overall, 7:03 pace
TNF MA half marathon: 4th Overall- Missed podium by 4 seconds!
Chocorua mntn race 25k- 11th overall- Rough day at the office
I am utterly spent by maintaining my own running and racing, RDing the Ascutney HC and Shaker 7, panning for Stoaked and the CDC trail runs (find out more at TeamAMPactive.org)!!!
and starting a new job...#OmerandBobs
and buying/fixing/moving into a new home #DestinationNewLondon
and trying to be a good son/friend/husband...
So as I rest a bit and prepare for the 50K National Champs and conjure up a few new advetnrues with my Team AMP active mates, i think I will point this blog in a new direction in the next few posts...
Something like, racing with Diabetes Parts 1 and 2...
Curious how I go about it? Stay tuned (I promise all the planning, nutrition and hydration advice will be universal to all athletes...but especially on point for those living and racing with T1D-
Thanks for checking out my page, my story and thanks for the support from Omer and Bobs, team AMP active & the Winter Wild family, Julbo eyewear and Inov 8 all terrain footwear-
Happy trails!!!
#Explore4Chad #InspireActiveLiving #Rundiabetes
Photo cred @Savanah Rae Photography
**Check out her page!!
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