YES! I completed the Skunk Ape 50 mile race. It may come as no surprise that it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life. Full recap coming on Tuesday! For now, I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Rundown. Here’s how the week went:
Sunday
Easter Sunday! I slept in, ate waffles, did some cooking for dinner, and then in the afternoon got out for a trail run:
This run felt good! I ran 4 miles in my new trail shoes, and then changed into my road shoes (which I’ve been doing most of my runs in) and ran another half mile. I just wanted to compare the two- the shoes are slightly different (although I can’t even explain how) but neither pair is more or less comfortable than the other. Decision made! I will wear my trail shoes for the race.
Monday
Upper body strength (featuring the pull up bar) and Caroline Girvan deadbug workout.
Tuesday
In the morning I did a Caroline Girvan abs workout. After work my daughter and I went to the gym, where I ran 3 miles on the treadmill.
I’m wearing long sleeves because I’m trying to keep myself hot on every run, even in the AC- it’s supposed to be 92 on race day. (Spoiler alert- it got up to 94).
Wednesday
Mobility work and upper body strength. I went to the chiropractor, and then had a 90 minute nap! Good day.
Thursday
Last (very easy, 2 mile) run before the race. As I was heading out the door my daughter called out helpfully “Don’t break anything!” Er, thanks- I’ll try not to.
Friday
Pack. Work. Drive to Ocala- this is it!
Saturday
50 mile race!!!!! Sooooooo happy I finished.
Sunday
Oof- this is going to be hideous. I’m SO sore, and I have to drive four hours home. Oh well- it was all worth it!
How was your week?
Do you have any races or big events coming up?
42 Responses
YOU DID It!!!! (And the crowd goes wild!!) I can’t wait to hear all the deets!!!
Thank you Noemi! Details will definitely be coming.
JENNY. YOU DID IT! I just had a feeling this was “the one”, but you cannot imagine how excited I was to wake up this morning and see your post in my feed.
I cannot wait for a recap. Gah. I’m so, so happy this morning, Jenny.
Drive safe and enjoy that Coke 🙂
Aw, thanks Elisabeth! I did make it home and had a delicious Coke Zero on the way!
Hooray!!!! 🎉 🙌🥳👏 Way to go Jenny!!!
Thank you Suzanne : )
Congrats Jenny! I cannot wait for the recap!!!
Thank you Wendy! Recap coming soon!
Congrats on finishing it, Jenny!! Looking forward to reading all the details!
Thank you Catrina! I appreciate it.
HECK YEAH YOU DID IT!!!!!
Dream big dream, do work, get reward. Rinse and repeat. Every single day of your life!
Wow Birchie, that’s inspirational! Thanks you!
Hooray. I was tracking you and worried that the course was 54 miles.
Glad it was worth it.
Now you can relax.
I ran a 5k in the pouring rain. And next weekend another 5k in 90 degrees.
59th out of 83! You rock! Under 16 hours!!
Thank you Darlene- I haven’t even checked the results yet. Glad to know there were people who finished behind me!
Yay! So happy for you!
Thank you so much Melodie!
Hooray!! You did it!! I’m so happy for you! But oof – 94 is HOT!! I can’t wait to read all the details. I hope you got a giant Coke Zero after the race!!
I am planning to do a 10 mile race in sept. I haven’t built up any mileage yet though. I was starting to run again, then I got a virus. Then I was doing run/walks and I got ANOTHER virus. Hopefully I have a healthy stretch ahead because this is ridiculous!!
Thank you Lisa! Yep- the heat was a factor for sure.
I can see how it would be really hard to train for a race if you keep getting sick. But- it’s in September. You have plenty of time.
Yay!!!
I am so happy to see this! Thanks for giving us the headline before you head home. Can’t wait for the full report!
LOL on your daughter’ “advice” — gotta love ‘em.
Thank you Coco! And yes- my daughter, always so “supportive” lol.
Yesssss!!! Go Jenny!!! So happy to see this and cannot wait to read your report! Drink alllll the Coke on your drive home. 😜
Hee hee, I did! Well I had a giant Coke Zero and enjoyed every sip.
Congratulations! Sometime last year you wrote on your blog about something you believe that others don’t was that you could run an ultramarathon. You are right!
Thank you Sak! You know, I had forgotten about that. but it’s coming back to me. It all starts with believing!
Congratulations, Jenny, I’m so happy for you! I’m looking forward to reading the full recap on Tuesday!
Thank you Debbie! That recap is coming up.
YOU DID IT! I can’t wait to read the recap!
As someone who’s used to hot weather (but not humidity), 94 degrees is pretty rough. But it has to make you feel great that you finished in the less than ideal conditions!
My next race (50K) isn’t until the end of September, but I will probably start more focused training for it in the next few weeks. And of course, that means another summer of long runs in the AZ heat! I keep telling myself I won’t do another race where I have to train through the summer, but this is the 4th year is a row where I’m doing that haha!
I know Ashley- I had about 12 hours where I thought ultras were just too hard for me, but now I’m already thinking about when I can do another one, ha! I had the same consideration- if I do a fall race that means long runs in the heat of summer, bleh. Well, I guess if you can do it, I can too!
Woo hoo! Huge congratulations to you Jenny! Looking forward to reading all about it
Thank you Deborah! You know me- I’ll be sharing all the details.
YAY!!!! Huge congrats to you! I well remember how painful a long car ride was after a marathon. I can only imagine how much worse it would be after 50 miles. Good luck with that!
Thank you Kim! I made it home, but every time I stopped (which was a lot- I was drinking a lot of water and Coke Zero, lol) I looked absolutely crippled getting out of the car. SOOOO painful!
soooo glad!!!! I can’t wait to hear about it!!!!
Aw, thank you Sarah!
Yay!!! Well done!! I can’t wait to hear more about the race!
Thank you Susanne! You’ll probably hear more details than you ever wanted, ha ha.
I had a feeling! Congrats!! I bet it feels wonderful, even if there are some aches and pains to take care of…
Thank you Maya! Yes- the physical aches and pains are canceled out by how good I feel mentally.
YOU DID IT!!!!
But I want to know moreeeee!!!!
I didn’t realize Ocala was four hours from you! Yikes!
Rest up, so you can write a great recap for us. Congratulations!
Hooray – you did it! What an accomplishment. I drove 50 miles, does that count for a busy weekend? Kidding. I did drive to Milwaukee and back (with a detour to start to visit a college in South Bend with Curly). I look forward to the recap. I hope you didn’t fall, but from the sound of it – you made it through unscathed. My weekend involved lots of adrenaline as I watched several b-ball games.
I’m so excited to hear that you finished!! I hope that 4 hour car ride isn’t the thing that is going to break you, because that would be just be a cruel twist of fate! 94 degrees sounds like running on the sun to me. Maybe you Floridians are used to that? I hope you are home napping. Rest up!