My 50-Mile Ultra Experience Part 3

I've been a little long-winded up until now.  Let's see if I can more succinct in Part 3.

My hopes were high.  The previous night I had decided upon 7 hr 30 minutes as a good finishing time goal.  How naive.  The first couple hours were in the dark.  It was good I wasn't wearing headphones because all attention needed to be focused on the ground before me.  The headlamp helped, as did running with small groups of other runners.  I had several small conversations with other runners in these first couple hours.  Aid Station #2 (at 8.7 miles) was the first fully-stocked station.  These types of stations offered water, several types of sport drinks, PB&J sandwich squares, pretzels, cooked potato slices with salt, and a few types of high-calorie candy.  In ultra-distance events, the foodstuffs that health-conscious people would usually avoid or limit are often necessary and good due to the high caloric demand and the electrolyte/sodium loss that comes with this type of endeavor.  Since I already had my usual hearty breakfast, I only took a couple cups of the "GU Brew" electrolyte replacement sportdrink.  It also had a moderate amount of carbohydrates, but still fairly dilute.  I would make this a pattern.  Every aid station I would have 2 cups of that drink.  There was also Vasoline!  All I had to do was ask.  I liberally applied it to nipples, inner thighs, and the upper back/back of upper arms/armpit junction which can be chafed after repeated swinging of the arms.  Good.  At least chafing would not be a problem now.

No falls, lubed up, and all bodily systems go.  It soon became light after this, and my constant feeling was: "I'm so glad to be running this 50-miler rather than working!" Beautiful views of the coast were soon available to me,  I took my headlight off and held it in my hand for the remainder of the run, and turned my running cap the right-way-round.  It had been backwards up until that point.  I also continued to slowly work my way up, passing people one-by-one and giving the customary "good job" encouragement as I went by.

Did I mention the course had 10,059 ft of elevation gain?  It also had treacherous downhills as well.  At this point I was still feeling good though.  How great to be a runner!

[Stay tuned for Part 4]