On Saturday, I ran the Treasure Coast Ultra. There were several different races in this event: a six hour run, a twelve hour run, an adventure race, and a 5K. In the days leading up to the race, I got a couple alarming emails saying things like “You will pick up your kayak…” WAIT. My WHAT? Oh, that’s for the adventure racers. I signed up for the twelve hour run, but there was something for everyone.
Because of my recent injury, I was in no condition to run for twelve hours, but the format of the race was in my favor. We ran a 4.3 mile loop over and over again. We were given chips to velcro around our ankles:
… and after every lap we ran over a timing mat so our distance could be recorded. The start of trail ultras is always very chill:
And we were off! Although it was only a 4.3 mile loop, the terrain varied. There was a nice, grassy section:
and then a section where service vehicles had obviously driven on, making the ground rutted and uneven. There were also three of these:
The first time I tried to go around, but it was impossible. The only way through was through, so everyone learned to just wade right in.
As the loops went on, I came to look forward to these huge puddles, because they cooled my feet down. Also, the three puddles (or, mini-ponds) were towards the end of the loop, and each time I came around I was looking forward to regrouping.
Unfortunately, it was a hot day. Sometimes we have temperatures in the 50s and 60s in November, but not today. It got up to 85, and for the most part it was sunny. After two loops I started serious heat mitigation strategies, which included getting ice from a cooler at the start area, and putting it in my bra. That would cool me down for a while, and by the end of every loop I was looking forward to getting more ice.
On the first loop, I was running along happily when some runners behind me called out to me- I had missed a turn and had to re-trace my steps. I felt really silly, since it was marked! But then… a little while later I saw some runners cutting across the park towards me- they had also missed the turn, and ran quite a distance before realizing it.
The second time around, I MISSED THE SAME TURN AGAIN. This time I ran for a while before I noticed that the runner who used to be in front of me wasn’t there anymore. Uh oh. I then looked back and saw him way off in the distance, behind me and to the right, ARRRRG! I retraced my steps, took the turn and continued on.
The third time… I missed it AGAIN, but realized it very quickly, and turned back. What in the world is going on at this turn?
Well- it’s hard to tell, but the turn is actually a very sharp right, and it also looks like the arrows could be telling you to veer gently to the right (which is INCORRECT.) I’m happy to say that after three times, I didn’t miss that turn again.
The first couple loops, I wasn’t feeling great. I just reminded myself that the way I felt at that moment was NOT the same way I would be feeling in an hour, and I was right. I ran a third loop, a fourth loop, and fifth loop, which put me just over 22 miles. But I knew I had one more loop in me.
I wanted to run the last loop knowing that it was my last. I amused myself by saying goodbye to each part of the trail- “Goodbye, wooden bridge. Goodbye beautiful green grassy area. Goodbye TRICKY TURN THAT I MISSED THREE TIMES. Goodbye least favorite part, where the trail is so narrow and the grass is so long that I can’t even see whe- GAAAAH!”
Yep- I fell. I stumbled over a root and went down, landing on my right side. I felt a jolt of pain in my low back and hip, and I had some scrapes- but luckily I was okay. I got up and kept going, but it confirmed my decision to make this the last loop.
Goodbye puddle-ponds! You can see some of the adventure racers here (I believe their race included running, cycling, and kayaking.)
Goodbye sandy area. I won’t miss you!
Right before the end, I saw this guy:
And then, I was done. As I said, my Garmin showed 27 miles, but my official total was 25.8. Looking at the results the next day, I found that my 25.8 miles put me last in the standings. There were seventeen of us altogether who ran the twelve hour option, and a couple people ran one more loop than me. If I could have hung in there for one more, I wouldn’t have been at the bottom. But… six loops is probably more than I deserved to run, given my training, so I’m happy with it.
OH. And the overall winner was a WOMAN who ran 55.91 miles. GIRL POWER.
To keep these recaps from getting WAY too long, I divide them into two parts. Coming up tomorrow, Part 2: What I Ate, and What I Learned.
Question: if you HAD TO run one of these events, which would you pick: one of the runs, the adventure race, or the 5K? (If it makes your decision easier, some people walked the 5K.)
44 Responses
loop running requires a lot of mental strength. If I could avoid, I would. Even during training, i struggle when I have to run several loops. You are sooo strong Jenny!
In retrospect, what was hard was the fact that I could stop any time I wanted. I had to not let myself think about the possibility of not starting another loop, until I had officially decided I was on the last one. Thank you Coco!
I am currently in no condition to run and would go for the 5K. So fun to think I could come across an animal like that. There are definitely turtles around here but not on the trail usually. 85F sounds wild. It’s gotten fairly cold around here and my husband even came back in for a jacket when he went on his bike ride today.
Oh, jackets… I think I remember those. SIGH! The turtle was the only animal I saw- animals usually don’t like it when lots of people run through their territory, so they like to hide.
Ah, now that I see the treacherous corner, I would have gone wrong too. It’s really not well marked!
I wonder how many made the same mistake?
But WELL DONE, Jenny!! Who cares if you’re at the bottom of the list? You were probably the only one there who was recovering from an injury!
Ha! Great point Catrina. Maybe there should be a special category for that… “Recently Injured.”
That point in the course WAS marked, but still confusing. I also wonder how many people missed that turn.
Okay, that corner is awful. Those markings are so ambiguous. They should have put the arrows in the middle of what clearly looks to be the main path so no one could have mistaken it and run the wrong way. Argh. I’m frustrated for you and 100% can see why it was so darn confusing.
Sorry about the fall, but I am so, so impressed by that run in light of everything you’ve been dealing with.
I haven’t been running consistently at all, so I’d definitely be opting for the 5K!
I think a lot of people would opt for the 5K- my husband kind of wishes he had run it. I think the people who did that race really enjoyed it!
That corner looks super confusing! I would also probably keep going on my merry way and who knows where I’d end up! Great job, Jenny! I’m glad you weren’t hurt from your fall.
Ha. The thing is, when you missed that turn and kept going, the surface of the trail got REALLY treacherous. That’s what alerted me the second time (and then, the third.) Wait a minute! Why is this so hard to run on??? Oh- I went the wrong way.
That race looks pretty chill as far as the number of people. I like smaller trail races much more than overcrowded road marathons! Oh, that sand looks like a pain. I see the bike tracks in it and it is giving my PTSD. I don’t really love biking or running in sand and sometimes when biking I am walking in sand, as the bike just will not go! It would also be hard knowing that once you went through it once you were not done, and would have to do it another X number of times! I am not a big fan of loop courses; they suck the life out of me having to repeat things I am not loving. Better to have fresh new horror than the same horror over and over!
I liked the number of people in this race. I was usually running alone (which I like) but I never really felt alone out there. I was always encountering other people, either from my race or one of the others. The sand was a pain- luckily there wasn’t a lot of it, but it was right at the end of the the loop so it was always like “UGH! This sand- I just want to be done!”
Wait, when you say you were last, does that mean that you achieved DFL????? If so, BOOYAH!!! I love the race shirt.
If I *had* to do the race, there’s only one choice – the 5k! And yes I would most likely walk it. I’m surprised at how comfortable I’ve gotten with walking longer distances.
I’m looking forward to part 2!
I almost “bragged” that I was DFL, but then I decided it didn’t really fit this race. Usually DFL is celebrated because it’s the person who was out there the longest (and therefore suffered the most) but in this case I was the first to drop. Ah well. I’m sure a “real” DFL is in my future somewhere!
27 miles, that’s really good! Well done! Especially considering your recent injury. It’s more than a full marathon!
How did it work to run that distance with wet feet after wading into those puddles? I’ve heard such horror stories about long runs with wet feet!
With that lovely looking (ok, except the puddles) trail, I’d love to walk the 5k if I had to pick one!
The last loop, I could feel that my feet were getting irritated. If I had kept going I think I would have had blisters. But luckily it didn’t bother me until the end.
ok I would NEVER run this!! NEVER! lol
so I am in awe and so proud of you.
DFL is better than DNS. Congrats. You did it!!
Thank you Darlene. It’s also better than DNF, and I should know!
LOL. I meant DNF.. but DNS due to injury are bad as well.
So many notes. Why was that turn so complicated? I love it when you post photos of Floridian wildlife. Can you write up a fake review as if you had done the adventure race because I want to hear about your faux adventures kayaking? Also, I DESPISE having wet feet and would have been quite upset about having to wade through puddles. You’re a true hero for going so far!
Thank you Engie! Yes, I wish I had learned more about the adventure race, It also looked like they had maps and were trying to locate… something? It was intriguing.
I love the vibe of a trail race! I’ve only done a couple but I have enjoyed them because they are just a chiller vibe and I rarely have a time goal and am just out there to enjoy myself. I would have maybe tried the adventure race, but I need to know more about it! But I love to kayak! I would not have done the 6 or 12 hour races, though. I am just not trained to run for that long! But I would struggle to pay to sign up for a 5k because it’s just such a short distance!
Ok that turn off is so confusing. Are you supposed to run into the grass? It’s so not clear!!
Yes, you run into the grass! Once you made the turn, it made sense, but it confusing coming up to it. And- I think you would have done well at the adventure race if you like kayaking. I guess that wasn’t really a fair question since I couldn’t describe that race very well.
Good job!! It looks so pretty, too. I love that you are listening to yourself and your body but still pushing your limits.
Thank you Sarah! I call these trains “Florida-beautiful.” We have our own kind of pretty down here.
This timed race sounds like one I’d like to do, because of the variety of conditions along the course! Most of the timed races near me are on completely flat paths that are a mile or less and I can’t imagine repeating loops of that for hours on end. I would definitely opt for the 12 hour option because I’m not fast enough to get an ultra distance in 6 hours and then I could just take my time.
You did really well, especially considering the weather conditions — 85 is sooooo hot for this time of year! We are getting a few days in the low 80s again this week after it cooled down significantly last week and now 80 feels hot again.
80 IS hot! Arg. And, yes. We don’t have hills, but there was still some variation in this course. I had that same thought about the six hour- it’s too short for a tortoise like me.
Congrats for doing this race and running – for me – so many miles.
I would NOT choose anything in the race. I might walk a loop to find the tortoise and would happily sit in the sun to watch it.
Ha! Well- there were people who just came to hang out, enjoy the day, and support their runners. You could do that options!
I gasped when you fell–glad no harm done. So impressed with your 27 miles!
In 85 degrees! In November! WTH!?
It made me smile to think of you saying goodbye to each leg of the course kinda like “Goodnight Moon” :)?
I hope you’re feeling happy and accomplished!!
Ha ha… yes, it was the “goodnight moon” version of a trail run. I have various thoughts now that a day has passed… but overall I’m happy.
You’re amazing and so adventurous. I feel like I am a strict street- and (paved) trail runner… no puddles to wade through LOL and you usually don’t take wrong turns on paved roads.
Way to go on finishing so strong despite the fall!
Thank you San! It’s funny because I don’t feel like I’m an adventurous person in the rest of my life- and I wouldn’t want to do the adveture race! Running on a trail is enough for me.
Well done, Jenny. An absolutely amazing effort and comeback from injury. That turn is not well marked. They needed to put a flag in them middle of the easy right turn to make it clearer. The flattened grass you need to run onto is not that obvious.
Thank you for agreeing with me, Melissa! A flag in the middle of the “soft” right would have helped a lot.
LOL at the emails about your “kayak”. hehe. That would alarm me, too! And that turn should definitely have had a little blockade of some sorts blocking the bigger trail! I totally see what you mean. Looks like you need to continue, but there must be a little path at a sharp right angle there that it’s hard to see in the photos.
I have never done any trail running, and have no desire too (the uneven terrain etc is just a turn-off to me!), but you’re amazing! Congrats again! Given the heat and the repeating loop and all your recent aches and pains, I’d see this was an incredible success!
Thank you, Kae! I definitely count it as a success- and a learning experience, as always.
If I was to sign up for one of these, and I preface that with I don’t think I EVER would, but I guess I’d go with the adventure race, only because I think it would be so cool to run and then hop in a kayak. I laughed at your confusion over ‘pick up your kayak here’.
That was a lot of running and the fact that you participated at all after being injured is impressive. Well done.
Okay, I don’t blame you at all for missing that turn! They should have put those arrows ON the trail as a barrier.
Loop races are TOUGH. And to have puddles in the middle and wet socks/shoes. Nope! You are stronger than me!
I would choose the 5K and complain the whole time. 🙂
Nice job, Jenny! I had to laugh at your continuous missing of that one turn because I’d do the same thing, LOL. Trail running always throws me off my game because the scenery looks like much of the same so it’s tough to distinguish changes in direction…if that makes sense. The creek crossing would be a buzzkill for me given the fact it had to be done repeatedly. But you find a great incentive with the cooling of your feet 🙂
Well done! I’d do what you’d done, I would like to do a 12 or 24 hour race one day just to see how far I can plod – but of course I fear the offroad and would have been scared of the pools, so …
Those damn tree roots will get you every time. Especially when you get tired and don’t lift your feet up as high as earlier. I sure hope you are ok. Congrats on your 5 loops!!!