PREFONTAINE

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/301434838

755E070 Lake Waramaug Ultra

Sun, Apr 21, 2013 7:31 AM

21	Patrick Kearney	49	M/50	5		10:54/M	31.000	5:38:09.1
				Lap 1	41:45.2	9:29/M	4.400	41:45.2
				Lap 2	1:12:42.8	9:34/M	12.000	1:54:28.0
				Lap 3	1:13:45.3	9:42/M	19.600	3:08:13.3
				Lap 4	1:39:36.4	13:06/M	27.200	4:47:49.7
				Lap 5	50:19.4	13:14/M	31.000	5:38:09.1

 

The Lake Waramaug Ultra was today.  There were runners running three races – a 50K race (31 miles), a 50 Mile race and a 100 K race (62 miles). 

The 50 mile race is 2.2 miles out and 2.2 miles back for Lap 1 at 4.4 miles.  Then 6 loops around the lake (7.6 miles) for total 50 miles.  Thus 7 laps for the 50 miler. 

In preparation for this race, I ran several runs of longer than 20 miles.  The longest training run was a 30 miler at 9:29/mile Average Pace. 

There were options I had available to me (as did all the runners).  You could be in one race and opt to switch to a different race depending on how your race is going. 

The plan for me today was to go for 9:45s for mile 1-40 which would allow for 11:00/miles if need be for mile 41-50 with my still finishing the race at goal pace of 10:00/mile in 8:20.  And 9:45s are reasonable given my current fitness level. 

There is no way I can run 50 miles today!  I did the first 20 miles at average pace of 9:34/mile…slightly faster than 9:45s…and I was trying to get them slower throughout to 9:45s. 

But mile 21-31.29 sees the average pace being 12:47/miles!!!  This brings the 31.29 miles to average pace of 10:48/mile with 31.29 miles done in 5:38:09. 

My training run had 30 miles done at 9:29/mile – pretty much knocked it out of the park – no crashing.  This race – I hit the Wall at mile 21!!!  My only logical choice was to opt for the 50K…completed the Ultra distance – but really – baby ultra – maybe even fetus ultra. 

It happens like this…my best Marathon time is 8:56/mile average pace.  I got that off very inferior training.  These races and distances – I cannot predict how I will do with any certainty. 

The long and the short of it is it was not my day. 

BUT…I will amend my training next time I go for the 50 mile distance.  I’ll have the longest run be a 38 miler (76% the 50 mile race distance).