WildCat 50k and Paleo Lifestyle week 2

I ran the WildCat 50k yesterday, well I should say I ran the 20k. I knew going into this awesome low key event that I was only going to do 2 of the 5 loops, what can I say I'm just not in Ultra Trail running shape right now and seeing as how I have nothing to prove I decided to just go out have fun and run in the woods with 160+ other people for my weekend long run. The 12.4 miles is the longest I've done since the QC Marathon and other than my fatigued hips from the ascents and a slightly aching right knee it was a great time. Hands down one of my favorite events of the year, low key show up donate what you want to the cause and do as many loops as you feel like.

You will notice from my title that I changed the wording from Paleo Diet to Paleo Lifestyle in part because this really isn't a diet in the conventional thought. I am not doing this to shed a few pounds for bikini season with the intentions of going back to my previous eating style, this is a lifestyle change for me and something I hope will remain permanent.

So often in our culture we misinterpret an eating style for "A Diet" or vice verse. Your "Diet" is what you eat so if you eat cheese burgers and fries, that is your "Diet", going on "A Diet" means you are just changing from what you are doing currently to something else. Well when I started this I went on "A Diet" and now I'm currently on that diet and plan to stay there so in fact it is now my lifestyle so it will be appropriately named as such "The Paleo Lifestyle". Anyway enough of that rant.

Tomorrow is my weekly weigh in and I'm contemplating skipping it this week, not that I'm concerned or worried that I may not have lost weight, or even gained weight, but simply because of what was previously stated about Diet vs. Lifestyle. This isn't about weight loss and I don't want to get to caught up in what the scale tells me. I'm more concerned about what my body is telling me in how I feel and the changes I can physically see. So far after 2 weeks, I feel great, I'm rarely hungry (I eat a lot of food on a given day, but so much of it is fruit and vegetables that it is low in calories) I haven't seen any workouts affected so far and I'm trying new foods. Will probably put off my weigh in for another week, or two, heck maybe I won't weigh in for a month, it really doesn't matter anyway in the long run.

Until next time...Do today what others won't, so tomorrow you can do what others can't.

Wildcat Den 50k race report

I couldn't have picked a better race for my first ultra marathon, this is a low key event on an 3 mile out and back course (5 loops = 30 miles or 50k). Race registration consisted of showing up writing your name in the book and making a donation. The race director, Larry Sandhaas, does an amazing job with this race on a minimal budget and utilizing the church pot luck model for food and refreshments. The unofficial race results can be found here.

The night before I got all my food prepped and ready for the next day, I wasn't entirely sure what I would need or even be hungry for while running for 5 - 6 hours. I had a pretty good idea what my nutritional needs might be based on my marathon experiences so I went off that and added some for the additional mileage/time.

6 PowerBar Gels, 2 packages of Clif Shot Bloks, 2 peanut butter and nutella sandwiches, 2 bananas, G2 and chia fresca, for about 2350 kcals, along with a Monster Rehab, G2 and protein powder for afterwards.

I slept pretty well the night before and got up at 5:30 to get some breakfast and coffee before heading off to meet up with James, Courtney and Scott to drive down to Muscatine.

5:30am and ready to race.

I was really glad to have some friends joining me for this race, James and Courtney only planned on doing 1 or 2 loops and Scott had ambitions of sticking it out for all 5.

3 Amigos and 1 Amiga

About 140 runners showed up to do anywhere from 1-5 loops, we all huddled up for a group photo and some words from the race director and we were off on our adventure.




The first loop went really well, I was full of energy and excitement for the day, I really had to fight the urge to go to fast to soon as I knew it was going to be a long day. After going through the course the first time and experiencing all the climbs and descents I knew there was going to be a fair amount of walking in my near future.

At the turn around was an aid station with goodies, water and Gatorade. The aid station volunteers really deserve a big thank you, they put in a long day and did a great job keeping peoples spirits up.

A much needed cup of cold water at the turn around aid station

Feeling better after the aid station

The biggest thing I learned while running 6+ hours and covering 30+ miles is that the course isn't the only thing that has peaks and valleys. When running for that kind of time and distance you go through a lot of emotional and physical highs and lows. For the first 3 loops I was pretty much on an emotional high, and having Scott running with me for those 3 loops really helped pass the time, when he decided to call it quits after 3 I was starting to spiral down a bit, but I grabbed some much needed refreshments and headed back out for another loop. Another nice thing about this race, you really could think about it as running 3 miles at a time, which doesn't sound so bad and made it a lot easier to head back out for another loop.

Half way through my 4th loop I really hit a low point and really considered calling it a day, it was probably a good thing I was almost to the aid station and not the start/finish line other wise I just might have. I took my time at the aid station, gobbled a couple handfuls of trail mix and pretzels (yeah seriously craved the salty and the sweats) refilled my water bottle and headed back out. By the time I made my way back to the start I was riding high again, doesn't hurt that heading back is on a nice down hill and nothing makes you feel better than an up tick in your speed.

I headed back out for my 5th and final loop which was definitely my toughest but also my most enjoyable. I walked a good portion of the first half, I was starting to feel the effects of the day and I really wanted to finish strong. After the turn around I ran would could and walked when I had to but by that point I knew I was almost done and I was riding an emotional high again, just a couple of miles left and I would be done. As I neared the finish and the down hill section I picked up my pace and was able to run my way to the finish ending my journey in 6 hours and 30 minutes, well over my goal of 5:30 but never the less a new PR and my first ultra distance finish.





At one point during one of the last loops I'm pretty sure I told myself I would never, ever run this kind of distance again, I've also said the same thing after both of my marathons, but now writing this race report a week later I'm certain I'll do it again next year, if not sooner, the Hawkeye 50k is in March I believe...



Until next time...

...do today what others won't, so tomorrow you can do what others can't.