My race is coming up this Sunday!!! Final preparations are underway! Let’s look at an excerpt from this email I got from the race organizers:
Hello Runner,
Sweat, Swat, n’ Swear 50K, 25K, 10M is two weeks away! We hope you have been practicing your “sentence enhancers”! Also, biting flies are real and typically bug spray doesn’t repel them. Some runners believe tying a dryer sheet to their hat or pack helps. Another option is cat nip mist. (Seriously – you can find it in the pet aisle at Walmart). Spray the mist on your hat, clothes, etc to repel them.
Ahem! Well as it happens, I did get a chance to practice my “sentence enhancers” on my extremely hot and difficult long run last week. I also got on Amazon immediately and ordered this:
The latest email we got said this:
The water stations are approximately 5 miles apart and approximately 10 miles between staffed aid stations, so plan your nutrition accordingly. All participants are expected to carry a handheld, waist pack, or hydration pack/vest. It will be HOT (prediction: “real feel” 98 degrees) and access to hydration is vital for success (and your health).
Well… a “real feel” of 98 is better than 106, which was the “real feel” at the end of my run last week. I’m prepared for the weather.
So what are my goals for the race? Perhaps “goal” is the wrong word. Hopes and wishes would probably be more accurate. Last year I ran the Dunes 50K and finished in 7:30, so of course I would like to do better than that. There are no sand dunes in this race; but on the other hand it will be hotter. Who knows? I think a PR is possible, but as I’ve learned the hard way, nothing is guaranteed.
At the end of the day, I want to finish this race and have a great experience. Not every moment will be great, obviously, but I want to look back on it and say it was an amazing adventure.
Oh, and one more thing- I want to finish this race with both ankles intact. Obviously.
Do you have any adventures coming up this summer?
How do you feel about biting flies? – Ha, trick question. Although maybe they’ll make me run faster!
35 Responses
You will finish this race, Jenny! And you will get that PR, even if it’s not your A goal. You are well prepared, especially for the heat.
I am wondering why the race organisers would recommend a handheld to run 5 miles in the intense heat? That’s not a lot of water… I think you are definitely better off with your Salomon hydration vest. It’s also a lot more comfortable to run with your hands free.
ALL THE BEST!!!
Yes, I HATE handhelds! I wonder if anyone will actually use one- I’ll be looking at everyone and I’ll report back. Thanks for all your encouragement, Catrina!
Good luck with the race, Jenny! And most of all enjoy it!
I’ve started to ramp up walking distances to walk the 19k Ecotrail Wicklow in September. That’s my adventure this year!
OOh, that does sound like a fun adventure! 19k is a long way to walk- it’s a good goal to work up to.
And thank you for the encouragement- I will definitely aim to enjoy this race.
Are biting flies March flies, which I loathe, or sand flies which are even worse? Or something else? Do not sound good anyway. Good luck with your race. I’m sure it will be a great experience! My feeling is that hot may be better for you than cold.
I didn’t even know there were different kinds of biting flies- let’s just hope these are the “good” kind??? And I think you’re right- I would rather have it hot, and I’ll try to remind myself of that during the race!
Nothing is guaranteed…but I know you will have a good race. And maybe even a PR!
I’ve never heard of catnip mist before! I’m sure that the kitties will love it – if there is any left over!
I had never heard of it either, but I know my cats like catnip. I have no idea why it would repel biting flies (and who thought of that anyway?) but we’ll hope it works!
Ahhh biting flies?! That sounds…. fun. Ha. Maybe there will be a light breeze or something that will keep them away? Glad you bought the cat nip spray and I hope that works! On top of the heat, the last thing I would want would be to be getting bit by something while I’m attempting to run! Not gonna lie, this whole experience sort of sounds like a real version of hell. 😂😂 But that’s why only the most badass of us (i.e. YOU) are doing it!!!! So excited to see how it all goes!! And that hard hot run last week will no doubt have prepared you well for race day.
Great point, Kae- we really don’t know what the weather will be like. There could be clouds, which would help tremendously, or a nice breeze. No need to worry about it too much- it could be just fine.
I feel like so many ultras have really odd things, like you’re running in the dark, or up a steep mountain, or up and down sand dunes… so this one has intense heat and biting flies. Sounds about right!
Sounds like you will truly be swatting! Hope that catnip spray helps. It’s tick season here, which I have never experienced before, and my son – who is working putting in pool liners – came home yesterday with one! So now of course I’m checking Rexie every five minutes, which he likes, as he thinks it’s just standard petting. Anyway, I love all animals but biting bugs are the exception.
Good luck on the race! I’m so excited for you. You’ve got this!
Nicole, I agree- I’m very compassionate and will even usher cockroaches gently out of the house. But I draw the line on anything that will bite me.
I don’t have much experience with ticks, but we get them here too. There just aren’t very many wooded areas so I don’t think they’re as common. And, thank you for the kind words of encouragement as always!
Good luck with your race! You are totally ready, especially for the heat. Hopefully the biting flies aren’t too annoying.
I’m easing back into training for my July race, which is 9 1/2 weeks away, eek! I’m a little bit more confident heading into this race because 1) it’s “only” marathon distance and 2) I did this race 2 years ago so I’m familiar with the course. But it does have almost 8,000 feet of elevation gain and is in the mountains so anything can happen on race day. But I’m looking at this one as a just for fun race since it’s my birthday and I’m coming off training for and finishing my longest ultra!
I can’t even fathom 8000 feet of elevation- you would laugh, because sometimes after a long run my garmin will tell me it had like 100 feet of elevation gain. I wouldn’t even be able to train for a race like yours. It sounds awesome though.
How long was the race you just finished?
My last race was 38.5 miles! So my next one will be about 12 miles shorter which makes a big difference.
I can’t even imagine having only 100 feet of elevation gain in a long run, I usually get at least that much in 1 mile or less! I love trails with a lot of climbing so this race is definitely great for me, but training is still a challenge – I have to get up to the mountains as much as I can to get used to the altitude.
Ugh! Biting flies! That sounds terrible! We get biting flies at my parents during some parts of the summer and they are so painful! So I will keep this catnip trick in mind for those times when the black flies are out. As if you don’t have enough to contend with when running an ultra! 😛
I can’t wait to see how the race goes! I had to google where the course is – I was envisioning it on the panhandle for some reason. You are going into the race with a great attitude! I am hoping for a PR for you but it will be a great race even if you don’t PR!
We do not have any adventures planned for the summer that I can really think of. We are going to my parents for a week in August which I always look forward to. Phil always swims across the lake which is quite big and I kayak behind him in a 2-person kayak. This is honestly NOT my favorite thing to do but he loves doing it. There can be some “shots fired” over whether I am staying close enough to him. Ha. And the first year we did not agree about what house he was swimming towards. We agreed on “the white house” but there are actually several “white houses” across the lake. Now we have it down to more of a science. He really enjoys it though so I try to be a good sport about it.
I remember this quest of Phil’s! And I actually get it- that sounds like a fun adventure. Do you know how far it is?
I’m very glad my race isn’t in the panhandle, because that would be an even longer drive. As it is, it’s about four hours away. And I’ll definitely let you know how the catnip works out!
We think it is probably over 2 miles so it is quite the swim! My parents have a notepad on their friends where he records his times each year so it has become quite the tradition!!
Biting flies and catnip mist make this already a wild adventure to me!! “At the end of the day, I want to finish this race and have a great experience” is goals in and of itself (and bonus for the ankles)! I can’t imagine running in a real feel of 98* or 106* so you’ll be getting all the COOL good thoughts from up here. From an adventures perspective, this summer my adventure is hopes of consistency in my workouts (this beginner runner program, some strength) and taking my daughter on some fun hikes and to some new museums (we love AC haha)!
Oh, I love AC as well! Once I’m done running this race, I want to spend the rest of the summer with AC blasting on me. When you have younger kids, there are adventures baked into everyday life. I didn’t run crazy races when my kids were younger- my life was already crazy enough.
You are going to have so many great stories, Jenny! And I, for one, can’t wait to hear them all. Sending the best vibes and hope you really enjoy the experience – well, maybe not the flies, and that the weather cooperates.
Thanks for taking us along for the ride. I will never be running 50K, so living that experience vicariously through you is a pretty swell deal 🙂
I will defiitely have stories, and I’ll be excited to share them. Thank YOU for being willing to listen!!!
Biting flies are a problem around some of the Great Lakes beaches and they drive me absolutely batty!
I can’t wait to read your race recap. I hope you have a good time, but even if it is super hot and there are lots of flies, I just know that your recap will be super entertaining!
Thanks Engie! I will definitely have stories for you. And, maybe we have a new solution to the biting flies?!
Who knew about cat nip. I hope your cat won’t attack you.
I would say the only goal would be not to DNF. Finishing=winning. And I can’t wait to hear about it.
Yes, that’s my main goal. I REALLY don’t want another DNF next to my name!!!
Wow, TIL that catnip mist can help with biting flies. WHO KNEW?! I have heard about the dryer sheet trick; I know that works with mosquitos.
I can’t wait to hear how the race goes and I’m so excited for you! You’ve got this!!
Really? Dryer sheets help with mosquitos? I’ll have to try that. As a matter of fact, I think I’ll bring dryer sheets AND the catnip to the race.
Thanks for the encouragement, Stephany!
So exciting!!! The main goal is to finish, have fun, and no injury! 🙂
summer will involve a trip to the US and 2 weeks vacation with the family within Indonesia.
We deal with a lot of insects here in tropical country, insect repellent of all sorts are must for us.
Ooh! Where in the US are you going? i would say I hope you’re coming to Florida, but I don’t recommend anyone come here in the summer.
Yes, I would imagine you’re well acquainted with insects. I’ll also be brining mosquito repellant to the race- mosquitos just love me.
WOW, good luck, I am hopeful that the heat will be kind. I would be looking for a lemonade stand. I can’t wait to hear you report back. Go Jenny Go!
Ha, well the aid stations will be like lemonade stands along the course. Thanks for the encouragement!!!
It’s getting close! It sounds like you’re so ready for this! Best of luck!
Thank you so much maya! I appreciate it.
Oh boy, temps with “real feel” of 96 and biting flies… you’re way tougher than I am if you even attempt, let alone finish this race. Kudos, friend.