Ran a 50K on Saturday, Bateluer do good.

[Bateluer]

http://www.aravaiparunning.com/results/2013STSResults50k.htm

Not too shabby, 5th in my age and 14th overall with a 5:49 time.

Looking all badass.
http://aravaiparunning.com/photos/2...id Station/AVR_13-02-02-12-21-42_0184.jpg.php

The 27K and 50K courses include a ~500ft climb in a 1/2mi distance. The 50K runners go up and over it 3 times, the 27K'ers only do it once.

Here's a sample.

http://aravaiparunning.com/photos/2...id Station/AVR_13-02-02-10-26-04_0161.jpg.php

This went much better than the 50K I did 2 weeks ago, which was a downgrade from a 50M due to illness, and a finish in 7hrs that irked me. I'll take this 5:49 finish on a fairly difficult course.

I took two 20oz water bottles with me, though didn't start to really drain them between aid stations until 3/4ths of the way through loop 2, when it started getting warm. One of my toenails did fracture on loop 3, though, and sliced my toe up. Didn't realize it was bleeding until I got home, thought it was just normal foot pain that I experience.

Two things that hamper me on these trail ultras are foot pain and chaffing in the inner thighs. I usually use Skin Slick on my inner thighs, though I forgot to prep a drop bag for this race. Wish I'd the opportunity to re-apply coming through the HQ aid station though, since it started to bother me later on. The other thing is foot pain. After several hours of trail running, my feet feel like they've been shredded. I haven't had any blistering running in my current Brooks PureGrits, but I still feel like my feet are getting some serious punishment. I've seen people at Across The Years slather their feet in Aquaphor, but that seems a little cumbersome. They swear its effective at stopping blistering though. There's some lube in stick form on Amazon, I've been debating picking up a few brands for testing.

 

[Megatomic]

Good job Bateluer. Excellent time, sir.

 

[Mursilis]

Congratulations! You ultra-runners are so impressive to me. One of these days I'd like to find the time to properly train for and run an ultra. Sounds like fun.

 

[Mursilis]

I took two 20oz water bottles with me.

Have you tried the backpack hydration systems? What do you think of that vs. the handhelds?

 

[Bateluer]

Have you tried the backpack hydration systems? What do you think of that vs. the handhelds?

I have a Camelpak model wit a 2L bladder. During the summer, it gets a lot of use on training runs. Here, it'll be over 95F by 6am when the park opens their gate. And by the time I finish a mere 13mi trail run, over a hundred. I drain that 2L pack dry, and polish off a chilled liter bottle I keep in a cooler in the car when done. In the winter, a 20oz handheld is plenty for a 13mi run. In the summer, a 20oz handheld isn't going to cut it.

At races, on supported courses, I'd only take the Camelpak under a very select set of circumstances. Most of the races organized by Aravaipa have aid stations every 3 to 8 miles. With a Camelpak, there's a process to taking it off, unpacking it, refilling the bladder, repacking it, and putting it back on comfortably. With my handhelds, I can be refilled in a matter of seconds and on my way. The handhelds also allow me to see exactly how much water is in each, even after 8 hours on the course, I still have enough brain cells firing to know how much water to the next AS. With the Camelpak, its guesswork by weight. Do I stop and refill the bladder at this aid station, or do I press on and hope that there's enough water to last until the next?

I use both, and both have a purpose in my training.

 

[Mursilis]

I have a Camelpak model wit a 2L bladder. During the summer, it gets a lot of use on training runs. Here, it'll be over 95F by 6am when the park opens their gate. And by the time I finish a mere 13mi trail run, over a hundred. I drain that 2L pack dry, and polish off a chilled liter bottle I keep in a cooler in the car when done. In the winter, a 20oz handheld is plenty for a 13mi run. In the summer, a 20oz handheld isn't going to cut it.

At races, on supported courses, I'd only take the Camelpak under a very select set of circumstances. Most of the races organized by Aravaipa have aid stations every 3 to 8 miles. With a Camelpak, there's a process to taking it off, unpacking it, refilling the bladder, repacking it, and putting it back on comfortably. With my handhelds, I can be refilled in a matter of seconds and on my way. The handhelds also allow me to see exactly how much water is in each, even after 8 hours on the course, I still have enough brain cells firing to know how much water to the next AS. With the Camelpak, its guesswork by weight. Do I stop and refill the bladder at this aid station, or do I press on and hope that there's enough water to last until the next?

I use both, and both have a purpose in my training.

Those temps are BRUTAL! Impressive that you're out there racing in that!

Stay hydrated, my friend! 😉

 

[Bateluer]

Those temps are BRUTAL! Impressive that you're out there racing in that!

Stay hydrated, my friend! 😉

Oh, I don't race in that. 😛 Not many RDs willing to put up with the liability and logistics of a summer race. Have to train through it though, if you want to be ready to race in the fall.