Very late post, but back on October 31 I was supposed to run the Big Cedar 50 Mile in Dallas, but due to some pretty bad flooding the day before and of the race, it was cancelled. Needless to say, this was extremely heart breaking news, as it was my first ever 50 mile race and I was looking forward to that day for over 8 months. It still bothers me today that we didn't get a chance to run...part of an ultramarathon is that bad weather or not, you run the race. That's what makes an ultra so difficult, not just the distance, but overcoming weather conditions is what you always hear about when you read race reports from Leadville, Hard Rock, and Western States...that's part of it, yet we had some flooding (it was severe, chest high deep crossings they said) and the race was called off.
Anyways....
That morning at 2:30 when Misti and I showed up in the pouring rain to be told by a man in a VW Van that the race was cancelled, so, in shock, we drove back home feeling very unfulfilled that all of the miles put in to prepare for this day was all for nothing. When we got back to the house, I was wide awake and decided I was gonna go for a run anyways, and created my own 'Texas Flood Marathon'. The rain had subsided for the most part down to a drizzle, the temps were in the 60's with around 100% humidity, but I didn't care. I figured that if I had trained for a 50 miler, I could shoot for a marathon (unofficial) PR that morning, and celebrate at least a tiny win with my friends and family so that the effort wasn't a complete waste. So around 5am, I took off, leaving the garage as my one and only aid station, and my wife as the lone crew member. She was amazing by the way, and stayed with me all morning when she could have (and should have) gone back to sleep. I stopped in every 6 or so miles and she would help me refill my bottle, or give me gels, and help me change out socks and shoes. Around mile 17 I had a rough patch and as I sat in the garage changing my shoes (I was soaked from the rain and humidity and my feet felt like they weighed 5 lbs each). It may have been the humidity that was bringing me down, but I think it was just that the disappointment of the day had set in, and I was honestly just sad. I was about to call it quits when Misti told me that some friends, Bobby and Krishna were gonna be there when I finished, and I figured that was enough to make me get up and finish the 9.2 more miles, so off I went, and slowly but surely started to feel a little better. My pace slowed a bit around mile 24 and 25, taking the possibility of breaking 4 hours off the table, but my previous PR was 4:11:58 at the Marine Corps Marathon in 2014, so I knew I could still beat that. I didn't just beat it, I crushed it by over 6 minutes with a 4:05:51.
As I was about to finish, Bobby and Krishna arrived, and my Mom, Misti, and Ella were there to greet me as well, and that was enough to make all the effort worth it. My Dad and Marsha showed up a little later, too. They all supported me through what was a rough day, and helped raise my spirits with some post race beers, and Misti surprised me with the most awesome race gift, a black thermoball North Face jacket! To me, this is what running is about, overcoming some adversity, achieving a personal best, and having your loved ones support you along the way no matter what. Extra bonus that day was that we took Ella trick or treating and she had a blast!
Race Gear for the 'Texas Flood Marathon':
Shoes- Altra Torin 2.0, and Altra The One 2.5
Socks- Dry Max Trail
Compression: CEP Calf
Shorts: The North Face Better than Naked Long Haul 5"
Fuel: GU Roctane Gel, Roctane Drink Mix, Gatorade, Si Caps
Anyways....
That morning at 2:30 when Misti and I showed up in the pouring rain to be told by a man in a VW Van that the race was cancelled, so, in shock, we drove back home feeling very unfulfilled that all of the miles put in to prepare for this day was all for nothing. When we got back to the house, I was wide awake and decided I was gonna go for a run anyways, and created my own 'Texas Flood Marathon'. The rain had subsided for the most part down to a drizzle, the temps were in the 60's with around 100% humidity, but I didn't care. I figured that if I had trained for a 50 miler, I could shoot for a marathon (unofficial) PR that morning, and celebrate at least a tiny win with my friends and family so that the effort wasn't a complete waste. So around 5am, I took off, leaving the garage as my one and only aid station, and my wife as the lone crew member. She was amazing by the way, and stayed with me all morning when she could have (and should have) gone back to sleep. I stopped in every 6 or so miles and she would help me refill my bottle, or give me gels, and help me change out socks and shoes. Around mile 17 I had a rough patch and as I sat in the garage changing my shoes (I was soaked from the rain and humidity and my feet felt like they weighed 5 lbs each). It may have been the humidity that was bringing me down, but I think it was just that the disappointment of the day had set in, and I was honestly just sad. I was about to call it quits when Misti told me that some friends, Bobby and Krishna were gonna be there when I finished, and I figured that was enough to make me get up and finish the 9.2 more miles, so off I went, and slowly but surely started to feel a little better. My pace slowed a bit around mile 24 and 25, taking the possibility of breaking 4 hours off the table, but my previous PR was 4:11:58 at the Marine Corps Marathon in 2014, so I knew I could still beat that. I didn't just beat it, I crushed it by over 6 minutes with a 4:05:51.
As I was about to finish, Bobby and Krishna arrived, and my Mom, Misti, and Ella were there to greet me as well, and that was enough to make all the effort worth it. My Dad and Marsha showed up a little later, too. They all supported me through what was a rough day, and helped raise my spirits with some post race beers, and Misti surprised me with the most awesome race gift, a black thermoball North Face jacket! To me, this is what running is about, overcoming some adversity, achieving a personal best, and having your loved ones support you along the way no matter what. Extra bonus that day was that we took Ella trick or treating and she had a blast!
Race Gear for the 'Texas Flood Marathon':
Shoes- Altra Torin 2.0, and Altra The One 2.5
Socks- Dry Max Trail
Compression: CEP Calf
Shorts: The North Face Better than Naked Long Haul 5"
Fuel: GU Roctane Gel, Roctane Drink Mix, Gatorade, Si Caps
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