Im posting this on behalf of Sylvia Jorger. Congratulations on your race another huge accomplishment in one season, it most have been easier then the Vancouver 100.
WHITE RIVER 50MILER SATURDAY, JULY 28, 2007
On Friday, July 27, 2007, Mike and I travelled to White River for my 50mile race. We left at 9:30 a.m. from my place and did not get there until 4:00 p.m. We had to wait 1 ½ hours at the border!
On the way there, Mike confessed that he would have liked to run the race had he not been injured. I was very surprised as he always said that he did not like ultras!
The race started at 6:30 a.m. We got up at 4:50 a.m. or so. As usual, I had prepared everything the night before.
Mike would crew me at aid stations #5 and 8. Number 3 was iffy because we did not know if he could get here so I packed a drop bag.
There were 8 aid stations. I had packed 4 bladders with refresh (orange flavour) for my backpack; one to start and one each for aid #3, 5 and 8. I took with me some pretzels, 4 gels and the succeed! caps and some pain killers and one sports bar (flash are my favourite right now). I ate 15 gels, about 15-18 succeed! caps, pretzels on the second half and ate some chips at aid #3 and 5 and some coke and lots of other stuff at aid #7 and 8 as by that time I was STARVING! I also took 4 ibuprofen in the first half as my left hamstring was acting up. After that it was fine. I kept reloading on gels at every aid station. They gave them out for free.
For breakfast I had two pieces of toast and an Optimum chocolate/orange bar since I could not find a banana since the race takes place in the middle of nowhere. Not even the restaurant had any bananas! I was concerned about my intestine issues.
Thursday before the race I REALLY carbo loaded and stuffed myself. Friday I ate very light (2 pieces of toast with honey and coffee for breakfast; a wrap for lunch; an apple and a banana; some nuts and pretzels, trailmix and a turkey BLT for dinner and LOTS of water all day. I did have my usual beer with dinner also!). I did not have my protein drink on Friday and I think that worked well re my intestine issues.
So at 6:30 a.m. the race started along the airstrip which is just a logging road. I started off with Gilles and wanted to stay with him for the race. Soon though I left him behind. He had just run a 100miler the week before! The race continued back into the forrest passing the start to the first aid station at approximately 4 miles. What a beautiful EASY warm up run! I felt endangered to go too fast! I was very happy running (on such a soft surface) after 4 days of doing nothing!
TAPER REALLY WORKS!!!
Approximately two miles after aid #1 we started the 6 mile climb. It was very much like a very long Lynn Loop climb so I felt really strong and passed a lot of runners. Then there was some single track surface leading slowly uphill – very runnable. I tried to preserve my energy though (it’s a 50miler!), so I ran/walked this section. It took about 2 hours to get to aid #3. I tried to monitor my heart rate as I still did not have my breathing under control Before that though we were on top of the climb and now the single track lead us through Alpine meadows, outside the forrest and it was the out-and-back section so soon we saw the first runners come by which was great! I tried to figure out the whole time where this vinegary smell came from and I thought it was probably the moisture.
I got to aid #3 15 minutes ahead of my schedule running at 4.5 miles per hour! I was very excited about this and of course happy to see Lucy and Mike. Off I went back the way I came, which was great because I knew the way and how fast I could go. I knew I could make up some more time comfortably on the way down. So I drank some water at aid #4 and off I went downhill the 5 mile stretch to aid #5. A few miles into it I started to continuously trip until finally I fell, slid down the hill and was only stopped because there was a tree trunk on the slide! I was hurting, my left lower leg was bleeding all over, my knuckles on my left hand were bleeding, my palm on my right hand was bruised and so was my right knee. I ordered myself to get up and suck it up and to focus better. I took smaller steps and managed to get to aid #5 – after my fall I didn’t’ have that much fun anymore but recovered soon. Aid #5 is at 27 miles at the bottom of the first climb. I could feel the miles and for the first time felt tired. I changed my shoes and socks. I had hit my toes hard and thought they were bleeding but they were ok, sore but ok. I think I stayed at aid #5 10-15 minutes but I think I needed that rest. With chips and coke in my belly I continued on. One hour to the next aid. After about 2 miles we started to climb again. Single track all uphill in the sun; it was beautiful and I couldn’t get enough of the Alpine smell and the colourful flowers!
I got to aid #6 five minutes behind schedule. Good enough. I could make that up. By that time though I had already admitted to myself that I was not ready for Western States (Western States is a 100miler (160km) and for ultras what Boston is for Marathons), mentally anyway.
Then I found out the very (!) hard way that I totally miscalculated the section between aid #6 and 7. Up to now I was right on but this section took me I hour and 40 minutes and not one hour as I had figured. It was all very steep uphill with some rolling hills in between. Really beautiful and the view to the other side where we had been in the morning spectacular but I could not really enjoy myself because I got frustrated about not finding the aid station. And I started to feel nauseas and very hungry. About ¾ of a mile or so before aid #7 there was a logging road where they took our time. And Mike was there! Unexpectedly! What a nice surprise! I dug out my pretzels as I could not wait any longer – I was literally starving! When I do my 100miler I will have to figure out my food as I cannot go on gels and pretzels and bars alone! So just as I got to the top I started to cry like a baby saying how hungry I was! J
So I ate what I could. Mike was on the bike and was with me for a while on the long, 7 mile downhill logging road. I started to run and never stopped until it flattened about six miles later. I started to feel my quads though! I was getting tired. So I walked/ran the last straight bit and it seemed most runners did the same.
A while later I got to aid #8, the last aid station. I did not spend much time there and got Mike to give me only half a bladder. I had some coke. By that time I was done eating – gels! – and drinking.
Off I went on the trail and it got very technical for the last 6 miles. I walked/ran and prayed for some company. This would take forever it seemed. A short while later Rod’s smiley face appeared! He had had trouble eating and I passed him on the downhill and thought he would drop out. He decided against it and said we would finish this together!
He kind of kept with my pace going ahead and I gave it all I had! I tried to be polite as he was very fast even walking to keep up with him but it was tough! I have to say that I will probably always remember this at the end of a race. You always have more left in the tank than it seems!
So at 11:23 Rod and I came into the finish!
What an accomplishment! Funny enough I didn’t feel that way. I enjoyed it so very much that it just felt like another beautiful adventure.
I would definitely do this one again! It is very runnable and has lots of beautiful single track trails.
And of course the BBQ at the finish was delicious!
It was wonderful having all our friends down there also and of course my wonderful crew, Mike, who always seems to know exactly what I need!
Now, on my fourth day of recovery I feel fantastic! I went spinning at the gym a bit yesterday for 20minutes and felt so good that I rode to work today. The first two days I was very sore and could barely walk. It’s the lactic acid build up and my massage therapist will take care of that tomorrow.
THE END J
