Ha! Maybe I should have let the suspense build up throughout this post, but I’m so frickin’ happy and excited that I can’t help shouting it- I RAN A 50K! I absolutely cannot wait to write the race recap, because it was an epic adventure.
The week had a very rocky start, though. Thanks as always to Kim and Deborah for hosting the weekly rundown. Let’s just see what went wrong this week… and what went so very, very right.
Sunday
Because I worked on Sunday morning (to make up for the fact that I didn’t work this weekend) I waited till later in the day to do my run. And, it was one of the worst runs I’ve ever had in my life.
I was struggling in so many ways, but the worst problem was that my left foot felt horrible. My shoe felt like it was simultaneously too tight and too loose, and I just felt unstable. When I was done, the top of my foot felt like it had a tight band of pressure going across it. I seemed like my foot should have been swollen, but it looked normal.
I thought about how it would feel to run 31 miles with a very sore foot. I also thought about how I would feel if I had to DNS this race, and always look back wondering if I could have done it. I vowed to do whatever I needed to do to get my foot to the starting line.
Monday
Off. Foot still felt uncomfortable just walking around.
Tuesday
3 mile run on the treadmill. Yes, you heard me! I wanted to run but was very anxious about it, and wanted to have the option to stop immediately if I had to. The truth is, after all my ranting and raving about how I love running on trails, I also don’t mind running on a treadmill every once in a while. Running is running!
I tried lacing my shoe in a different way, to take the pressure off the top of my foot. It did seem to help, but I ultimately decided I couldn’t do a trail ultra with the shoe laced like this- I needed more stability. I went back to the ladder lacing which I usually use for that shoe.
Wednesday
Back to the gym for upper body day! I also spent a lot of time stretching my calves and doing foot mobility exercises.
Thursday
Okay, last run before the race! It was a 4 mile run which felt ALMOST normal. Phew…
Friday
Off. Boy, was it hard to get through this work day! I just couldn’t stop thinking about the race, and wanted the day to end. I spent the evening getting everything ready. I had all my stuff laid out on the table and my husband said “What’s all this?” It looked like I was preparing for a cross country trip. Nope, just a trail 50k!
Saturday
THE RACE! Race recap is coming up on Tuesday, but I can tell you now there were highs, there were lows, I made new friends (well, sort of- you’ll hear the story of Calf Guy on Tuesday) and guess what- my foot was JUST FINE. So was my achilles, and well, everything! I’m definitely sore, but no real problems. Oh, and I didn’t come in last- not even close. Here’s a couple pictures:
Like I said, I can’t wait to write the recap. I want to relive the whole thing! And I want to do another one…. preferably in the winter.
Sunday
On tap for today- lots and lots of rest. And waffles, of course.
How was your week? Who else ran a race this weekend? – I know there were a bunch of them!
58 Responses
YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats on the payoff for all of your hard work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can’t wait to hear more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you! All the gory details are coming SOON!
Best post ever. So happy for you. Glad the foot cooperated.
Can’t wait to read the recap.
Thank you Darlene! Recap is coming soon and I have lots of photos!
I am so glad that you finished and that it went well! I am looking forward to the recap! Now go and get some rest (and waffles!) because you deserve it.
Rest and waffles are happening! Thanks for all your advice and support. Recap is coming up Tuesday!
YOU DID IT!! CONGRATS!! I am glad you didn’t leave us hanging and let us know right away that you did it! I was thinking about you yesterday and hoping the race went well. I can’t wait to hear all the details!
Thank you Lisa! I can’t wait to share all the details. It was amazing!
I runfess I skipped ahead to your blog — thanks for not keeping us in suspense! I’m so happy for you!
I don’t know why our bodies DO these things. I have occasional weird pains on the top of the foot, but they usually go away quickly.
Again, congrats — great job! I’m not the least bit surprised.
Thank you Judy! Yes the pain on top of my foot was really bad, and I’ve never had it before. Then a few days later it was gone- go figure.
I am so happy for you!!!! You trained so hard for this race and it paid off. I’m glad your foot cooperated too. Looking forward to the full recap! Congrats!
Thank you Wendy! I really appreciate it. I can’t wait to write the recap and relive the whole thing.
YOU DID IT!!! The first thing I did this morning was grab a coffee to check in. I am so, so happy for you!!! What a huge accomplishment!
Thanks so much Nicole! I’m really touched by all the support from our blogging community. You guys are the best.
AHHHHHHHH!!!!!! You did it!!!! So elated for you! 50 freaking K!!!!!!!
I am so relieved that your feet and achilles didn’t act up!!! Can’t wait to hear about Calf Guy (?!) and all the details.
YOU ARE AMAZING! Woo hoo!!!!!
Aw, thanks Suzanne! I’m writing the recap tonight and will publish it Tuesday- I can’t wait to share it.
Oh my goodness, I’m so happy for you! Congrats on running the race without anything hurting, and whew on the foot recovering in time. That sandy portion of the course looks awful and I’m sure I’d be muttering and curing the whole way – I hate soft sand. Good for you, though, for getting it done. You’re an ultramarathoner!
Thank you Debbie! There was plenty of muttering and cursing! The sandy portion was HARD.
I am so very happy for you Jen! A long time coming for sure. Looking forward to reading the full recap-congratulations girl!
Thank you Deborah! Recap coming very soon!
YAY! YAY! YAY! So glad it all worked out and you had a great race! Cannot wait to hear all about it!
I can’t wait to share the recap- it was such an incredible experience.
YAY!!! I’m so glad to hear you had a great race. You certainly went through so much before hand. Glad your foot didn’t flare up. I can’t wait to hear the details!
Thanks Coco! Details coming SOON!
YAY JENNY! cannot wait for a LONG juicy detailed post – so excited to read about the whole thing! And so happy it went well!!!!
Thank you!!!! The recap will be long with lots of photos!
WOW WOW WOW!!! No suspense needed, I’m so so excited for you!! A 50K is AMAZING and so incredible. I can’t wait to hear the full extent of the run and see the recap. So glad you had a great race and glad you were able to recover on time. I would’ve DIED on that sandy area, or even twisted an ankle. It looks so hard! Congrats!
Actually I did twist an ankle! I was able to run on it, but I really feel it today. Anyway, I’m excited to write the recap and tell you all about it.
I was so happy to see that opening – congrats, Jenny! You put in so much hard (hot) work and it’s so wonderful to know it was a good experience!
Thank you Lindsay! Yes, the HOT work definitely paid off- you will see in the race recap.
Oh Jenny, that is such GREAT news! I had no doubt you’d have a successful race. I’m excited to hear all the nitty gritty details 😉 HUGE congrats to you!!!!
Thank you Kim! Plenty of nitty gritty details will be coming up.
The fact your race went well delights me to NO END. I was worried when you described the foot issue, so THANK YOU for not leaving us in suspense. And I am very intrigued about Calf Guy – not to be confused with Blue Jean Guy from last year – haha.
Can’t wait until Tuesday!!!!!
Congratulations <3 My heart is just so happy for you right now!!
Ha ha- Calf Guy is quite a different guy! But he did play a funny role in my race. Thanks for all your support!!! I’m excited to write the recap.
YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYYA, JENNY! You freakin did it! A 50K!! That’s insane to think about, and I am so proud of you. You worked hard for this and I’m so happy to hear your efforts were rewarded. I can’t wait to read the race recap!
Thank you so much Stephany! Recap is coming SOON.
Oh, that’s thrilling! I’m so glad to hear that it went well and I can’t wait to hear all the details. 50K! That’s SO LONG. Go you!!
Thank you Engie! I can’t wait to write the recap and share the whole thing.
Yay! Well done! That is an epic achievement and so good that it was a positive experience too. I look forward to reading the race recap.
Thank you Melissa! It was an overwhelmingly positive experience.
A big yay for you, Jenny!! Well done and I’m so happy for you! The trail pics look lovely and I’m so glad your foot behaved. I look forward to hearing more about the race!
Thank you Susanne! Yes, the trail was beautiful. Recap coming up!
Yay Jenny!! So happy for you! Congrats!! Looking forward to reading your recap.
Thank you Michelle! I appreciate all the support.
Yay! I’m so excited to hear about your race. HUGE congrats to you, ultra runner lady!! Glad your foot didn’t give you any problems. Enjoy all of your rest!
Thank you Lisa! I want to hear how your race went!
wow!! awesome!!! but what a stress having to deal with the foot so close to the race!
don’t know what happened to my name but it’s me Renée 🙂
Thank you Renee! Yes, I don’t know what happened to your name, but I would have known it was you. 🙂
Whoop! Whoop! I am sooooo happy for you! I can just imagine the tension all week with your foot especially as you had a 50K to run. The nerves, the anxiety, and then it held up just fine! I cannot wait to read that recap – what a wild adventure it must have been but so happy it was a good one for you! Yesssssss!!!!
Thank you!!! It was definitely a wild adventure!
Yay! Great job Jenny!
Thank you, Sarah!
You did it! Amazing! All your hard work paid off. So incredible Jenny!
Thank you Jessie!!!
Jenny, I am catching up on blog reading… but this makes me break out into a huge smile 🙂
Congrats on finishing the 50k… looking forward to catching up on the recap!
You disappeared from my feed! So glad I saw this – CONGRATULATIONS! Can’t wait to read the recap. 🙂
Thank you Anne! Glad you found me again.