Recover From The Holidays 50k Race Report!

Recover From the Holidays 50k 

December 31st, 2015

6:48:15

I had such a great experience at my third 50k race! I know I owe my success to my running friends, cross training, my fueling during the race, and my NEW trail shoes (compared to the Dizzy 50k in November, I was able to knock off almost 25 minutes off my previous 50k time). My best 50k before this race was a 6:53:53 at the Dizzy 50k in 2014, but now I have a new PR (personal best) of 6:48:15. 

Pre Race Experiences

Weeks coming up to the race, wow, was I busy! The last week of school with the students is always fun, but hectic with party planning, wrapping up the schoolyear's lessons/grades, etc. That week, I didn't really manage my time well when it came to my training, it was on the back burner. Granted, you are on taper a couple of weeks before a long distance race like this, but that doesn't mean to not run at all. I only ran ONCE that week. :(

Then, the following week (the week of Christmas), I got a sinus infection that turned into a middle ear infection, and then the doctor said she was pretty sure she saw my eardrum perforated, but she said my eardrum was so red and swollen, it was hard to tell. I still can't hear well in that ear, and it won't stop ringing. I see a specialist this coming week. So, needless to say, the week following my busy work week, I barely ran any miles. I was in so much pain. My ear throbbed, my head constantly hurt, and it was difficult to sleep. I circuit trained that week and continued to work on my 30 days ab challenge plan, but wow, it was really difficult to run, especially outside, due to the cold.  I started to worry how my third race in the Grand Slam series was going to go if the pain continued. 

Luckily, the race was on a Thursday. That following Sunday, my ear pain was very minimal, but I still couldn't hear from it. I counted my blessings. 

The night before the race, Eric and I went to get our race packets. That day when I thought about the race, I didn't feel worried. I didn't feel stressed. Honestly, it didn't even feel like I was running a race of this magnitude the next day. I usually have some sort of pre race anxiety and/or excitement, but not for this race. I found it confusing & odd that I slept so soundly the night before. The only thing I do remember really being thoughtful about was what I was going to wear; it was supposed to be so cold on race day. I kept going back & forth on wearing capri pants or shorts with the compression socks (the later won). What a girl...only being worried about what I'm going to wear! ;-) 

RACE DAY

So, it's race morning, and I am feeling super refreshed after a good night's sleep. All my stuff was out, packed, and ready from the night before, so all I really had to do was change & go. My husband, David, was my chauffeur for the day. His plan was to drop me off at the race and pick me up when I was finished.  I've never been to John Hunt Park, so I was actually excited to run on a course that I wasn't familiar with, even if I have to run that course 10 times to get my 31+ miles! 

Eric, Ashley, and I trying to stay warm before the race! 

This race is race #3 out of the 4 in the Huntsville Grand Slam Challenge. I heard a lot of pros and cons about this race. As a Grand Slammer, I was encouraged to run to finish, not to race, PR, etc because you don't want to hurt yourself before the final and most physically difficult race, the Mountain Mist 50k. I was also told to walk "the hill" every single time, which was a smart move because my knees are still hurting over going up and down that ridiculous hill! I remember going into this race telling myself to pace myself at an easy, doable pace, and just have a good time since I had been sick the week before along with my ear still ringing. 

Grand Slam hopefuls at the Recover From the Holidays 50k

What I loved about this race....

*the race directors and volunteers. These people just stood out with their kindness, encouragement, and help during this race! Every time you had to check in and count your 3 mile race loop, they would cheer you in like you were VIP! How kind and supportive! 

*the food/aid station! They had EVERYTHING! You  also could set up your own aid station area, which I did, and it was helpful! 

*the course. I liked how it didn't stay the same for very long. I kept telling my friends that ran with me that yes, you had hills, but you also had a lot of downhill where you can speed up! Granted, you had to run the same three miles 10 times, but races that are repetitive like this don't bother me. 

*how you constantly saw and ran with other runners during this race. This course was an out and back, so you were able to talk to other runners and help keep your mind off what you were doing. 

*the finisher mugs/glasses. What a unique race award! 

READY, SET, GO! 

There were about 100 runners in this race. I remember Remy and myself starting together at a comfortable pace. I told myself with this race I wouldn't be counting down the miles, but the loops if anything because I didn't want to get my mind thinking about 31 miles...that will stress you out! "Just ten loops" sounds a lot better haha! I'll be honest, because of how cold it was and how it was still not sinking in that I was running a 50k, the first 4 loops (13 miles) went by really fast. I felt really good and was just moving along...I stuck with Ryan for quite sometime because his pace was just perfect...I was probably TOO close to him...haha! Sorry, Ryan, but THANK YOU! I remember after the 4th loop, I was thinking of my sweet friends Katrina & Denise that I knew would be coming by because they said they would. I remember telling them to come by later, because I assumed at that point that the 3 mile loop would feel pretty redundant and to have someone to talk to me and keep my mind off of the miles would be great. When I finished my 4th loop, I saw Katrina standing at the check in area with the BIGGEST smile on her face! She had her phone out, and of course, since we're running selfie divas, we had to take a picture. :-P 

Katrina and I before running our loops! 

Katrina ran loops 5 and 6 with me (miles 13-18ish with me). I remember looking at my watch and seeing the miles that I accomplished. I had them hidden, or I thought I did, so I am not sure how my Garmin watch settings went back to telling me my miles. It somewhat got to me mentally, and I remember telling myself, "girl, you're halfway finished! You got it!". Katrina was a HUGE help because she kept talking, asking questions, etc. I can tell that she really wanted to be there too, and running with her made it feel like the race started over in my mind and I was on mile 1...it was nice! :) When we ran in for me to start loop 7, I remember seeing Denise with the Panera Pounders sign, cheering and smiling as I went in! She asked me if I needed anything, and then we started our loops. I was an idiot and grabbed a Mellow Yellow or Mountain Dew (I thought at the time it was yellow gatorade). I NEVER drink that stuff, so I paid for that in my next two loops. My stomach did NOT agree with the Mountain Dew AT ALL. 

Denise and I after mile 22! 

Denise, please correct me if I am wrong, but you ran loop 7 and 8 with me, correct? Or was it just one?! Yikes! I cannot remember how many loops because you helped the time FLY by! Just like Katrina did, she would talk to me, ask questions, etc. This sweet friend was even complimenting my running form, which meant a lot to me because when I am running, whether it's a race or training, I start to think about my form, how my feet are landing, what my arms are doing, etc because when you get tired, your form slacks and that's how injuries happen. I don't know if she read my mind or not, but she complimented how strong I looked and how great my form was at least three times. ;-) I started to feel fatigue/soreness in my glutes/legs by this point as I ran in for my 9th loop. Denise prayed for me as I was entering in to check in my 8th loop. That's when I saw Troy and he offered to run the 9th loop with me. Troy is A LOT faster than me and I don't usually get to exactly run WITH him a lot, so I remembered feeling like VIP once again...LOL! :-P

I'm all smiles because the Panera Pounders crew! Thank ya'll for being there! 

Troy had one of my tough loops, loop 9. I was at mile 25 at that point, and like I mentioned with Denise's last loop, my glutes/legs were tired (not in pain, but tired), and honestly, I was just tired. I kept my mental checklist going. I told myself, "Holly, you're fine. Your knees are fine. Your legs are fine. Your stomach is fine. You head doesn't hurt. You're fine. Keep moving." Troy kept bringing up conversation, and bless my tired little half deaf heart (I still can't hear in my left ear!), I couldn't hear him sometimes, so I would say "Huh?" a lot. LOL! Still though, Troy kept my mind off what I was doing. It's like he knew when to talk and he knew when to just keep moving quietly so that I would keep moving. As we were entering in the check in area for my last and final loop, he prayed with me, and then he asked if he could run the last loop with me, and I told him no because for one, I was so appreciative of what he already did, and two, I was worried that my attitude would start to sour, so I thought some alone time/prayer time/reflection time would be appropriate for my last loop, and I didn't want him to see me in that exhausted state. It was such a nice surprise for him to have ran with me anyway. 

So, I grab some raisins, peanut butter pretzels, and gatorade, and started eating/drinking that quickly. As I was snarfing this down, I remember Jim coming over and talking to me and saying something like, "Okay, let's go!." Keep in mind, I am tired and on mile 28 and I had one loop to go. I had already told Troy "no thank you" for company on the last loop. I don't know if it was because I was tired, delirious, or what, but it REALLY seemed like Jim REALLY wanted to run with me! I can't remember what I told him at first, whether I told him yes or no, but I do remember telling him that this last loop was going to be ugly and that I was going to walk A LOT, but he didn't seem to mind. Once again, he seemed super pumped about going for a run...well, walk/run...but whatever! 

Jim & I at mile 30...my face does NOT show how exhausted I truly was! 

I remember Jim asking me questions and talking to me about the holidays, running stuff, and what not, and that kept my mind off a lot of things. I do remember walking A LOT on this lap, and I remember my knee hurting for the first time on this lap, but I told myself that I was almost done and to keep moving. I was thinking of my invisible rope that I would "tie" on to Jim just to keep moving forward. I remember after walking up the hill the final time that it REALLY hit me that I was completing a 50k and that I was almost done, and I got talkative after that! When we got to the park area for the final time, I remember telling Jim that "even if I walk now, it looks like I will have a new 50k PR" and him saying something like "no, let's not do that"...lol! As I ran in, I remember sooooo much cheering and applause from the racers that already finished, spectators, volunteers, etc. Once again, I felt like VIP all day! 

Grand Slam Race #3 complete. Next and final race: Mountain Mist 50k! 

This was a special race experience for me. I want to once again thank everyone that was there to support me along with the other runners on race day. I know this race went as well as it did because of the company that I had, and I appreciate that so much! I pray that I can pay you back like you did for me today. You made me feel strong and capable when I was feeling tired and weak. Once again, thank you!

I ended 2015 with my third 50k. My goal for 2016 is to complete this Grand Slam. 20 more days until Mountain Mist! Go for a run...it might change your life! 

-Holly 

I am fundraising for Ainsley's Angels of Northeast Alabama! Help me reach my goal! :) January's drawing is for a $25 Fleet Feet gift card! Click here. 

Holly's Race Schedule (Schedule Subject to Change Due to Peer Pressure from friends:-P)

January 16th---Elkmont Half Marathon
January 23rd---Mountain Mist 50k (4th and Final Race in Grand Slam Challenge)
February 6th---Tick Ridge Trek 10k
February 13th---Hug a Cub 5k (Ainsley's Angels Race)
March 12---Piggy Tail Princess 7k (Ainsley's Angels Race)
March 19th---Running the Shoals Half Marathon
April 2nd---Oak Barrel Half Marathon
April 10th---Bridgestreet Half Marathon (Official 2:30 race pacer)
April 30th---Chick-fil-a 10k Race in Decatur, AL (Ainsley's Angels Race)
May 7th---Steeple Chase 8k (Ainsley's Angels Race)
May 21st---Viola Valley Half Marathon