NCTM Report

This is way overdue and by now my memory will not be as good so it will probably be brief(ish) ;)

Last year I traveled to Northern Michigan for my first trail racing experience. I met up with Mouse and we had an absolute blast dragging our butts through this very scenic, quite hilly, but very runnable course. The shwag was awesome, the company was awesome, and the beer keg at the end was the crowning glory. I had to go back!

So this year I had Solar use the FIRST training program and she, her beaux and I headed up to Michigan for Solar and T's first attempt at a marathon. I was beat from Punxsutawney and worried about being able to run but when we arrived Friday night we did a short walk and my legs felt okay.

Race morning dawned and it was pretty chilly and raining. I didn't mind the cold but was afraid the combination with the rain might be unpleasant. Fortunately the rain stopped shortly after we started running and only made its presence known again in the last few miles of the race. Per my usual freak out in cold races I donned a long sleeve shirt and gloves which were stripped off before we even hit the first aid station.

I did my best to take Solar out easy and T stayed with us for 20 or so minutes before he took off. We ran a lot more of the early hills this year and despite my quads being sore I was able to keep up with Solar as we clipped along through the woods. We picked up a friend who was training to run 10 marathons this year. He stayed with us through the half but similarly to last year we dallied at this aid station and were on our own for awhile after this.

At the same aid station that I had seen a very dizzy 50 miler regain her composure last year we were joined by a guy that had done the 50k at Dances with Dirt the previous weekend. He was struggling to open his gel and I offered to open it for him and when I took it from him his hands were frozen. Cold as ice. Had he not gone back and forth with us during the rest of the race I would have been seriously worried about him.

I felt a ton better this year at this point than I had last year and was glad that my quad pain was not getting any worse. Somewhere shortly after we had left frozen hand guy behind I noted that Solar was struggling a bit. A few 50 milers were passing us and I got excited and picked up the pace to chat to them and then realized that Solar was not picking up the pace. She seemed all right but once we hit the next aid station I could tell she was in pain. Her legs had that all too familiar marathon shuffler look about them.

Well when Solar is in pain she lets you know about it. I'm guessing all those years she spent as a marine who couldn't complain made her decide she would vent any time she damn well pleases now :) My legs had been sore since mile one but I make it a point not to complain too much since in general there is nothing I'd rather be doing than running on the trails (what you thought I ran for the weight loss?), but I know not everyone is as crazy as me. Once Solar started to complain of being sore I switched to Solar survival mode and did my best to encourage her to keep running even though I knew she wasn't happy. Eventually it was so bad she wasn't even complaining.

The runner with cold hands behind us actually yelled at me to slow down at one point, that I was getting too far ahead of her and it was my responsibility to help her finish. I was trying my best not to laugh at him. I was walking so slow at this point. I knew Solar was just at her lowest point and needed to come out of it. Finally I told her we weren't walking anymore because getting started up again was going to hurt worse than if we just kept running in the first place. This worked for awhile and we picked up our pace. I told her if we could just keep a 12 minute mile we could come in under 4:30. I told her all kinds of crazy things just to keep her moving. I was actually worried she was really sick when at one point she told me her stomach was upset but I figured there wasn't much we could do about it in the middle of the woods. I tried to get her to eat at the next to last station but she just took Gatorade. As we neared the final station I told her we had less than 2.5 miles to go and that seemed to spur her on. Solar always has a strong finish and this race would not be an exception.

I was glad to be close to the finish as it had started to drizzle again and I was actually cold. Not as cold as the runner who had yelled at me though. As we ran the last few miles people we would pass or be passed by would shout "Way to go Solar!" and the like as they had heard me encouraging her on for the past ten miles. I guess voices carry in the pines ;) By now I have accepted my fate of being the loud mouth on the course.

We hammered in the last few miles and finally made it to the finish line in 4:24. My legs were pretty sore at that point and I was thinking maybe it isn't so bright to do a fast 50k the week before a trail marathon but after some beer, soup, chili, and putting my legs up I felt like I hadn't run at all. It's amazing what a little pampering will do.

We fueled up and watched the 50 mile winner finish and rejoiced in getting some age group awards. Then we headed back to the hotel and to the pool. After that we celebrated at the local Casino by eating a buffet dinner and visiting with my grandparents who were up with my aunt and uncle that weekend to gamble. I lost $12.50 but was content to have a few hours of fun. I think Solar and T came away at least $10 richer. Those nickel slots really pay off ;)

I'd highly recommend this race to anyone who loves trails and doesn't mind a few hills. The forest in Manistee is just gorgeous and the volunteers and race staff do an awesome job with the event. The three of us will definitely be back next year. Maybe next year I'll even do the 50!