I am an ultrarunner

As of today (May 23, 2006) I have been running ultramarathons for 2 whole days. That is to say, I ran my first 50K two days ago having completed the Ohlone Wilderness 50K Trail Run. I accomplished my main goal of simply finishing by running (and shuffling and walking) conservatively through most of the course. I would have liked to have finished in under 7 hours, but went just over in about 7:05 (obviously, I am no speed demon). I only had one bad spell during the 4 1/2 - 5 timeframe when I thought that my hydration system was empty with around 4-5 miles until the next aid station. Having never run for longer than 4 1/h hours before, the thought of going without fluids for close to an hour brought my mental state to a serious low point. It also slowed my already slow pace and, somehow, made my feet hurt much worse than they already did. Luckily, my shoe eventually came untied and, when I leaned over, the "slosh, slosh" of fluid moving in my pack lifted my sunken spirit. I don't know that my pace ever really picked up until the last downhill (love that downhill), but I was able to ignore my aching feets more easily and actually enjoyed the rest of the struggle.

Overall, it was a great event and I am overjoyed at having completed my first utra! It was quite hard going at times and I think that is just what I was looking for. I chose Ohlone partly because it is right in my "backyard", but also because simply running 4.8 miles longer than a marathon never seemed like a major challenge. The near 8,000 feet of up-and-down over the course of 31 miles that comprises Ohlone assured that it was no simple marathon+5. If you'd have asked me mid-course when I thought I'd do another ultra, I'd probably have said something like "I think I'll focus on shorter events after this". However, it was only a matter of hours after the event that I was already looking for my next 50K and trying to figure out a training schedule to complete a 50 miler. I guess that's how the sickness begins.

Some interesting questions/observations after the event:

• I need to learn to be a better walker in order to improve my trail running.
• I actually feel better physically than I did after my first marathon.
• Why do my toenails hurt?
• I expected to be exhausted after the race, but I was actually wired and couldn't sleep until midnight.
• Though I would have thought it impossible, my desire to run on roads is even lower than before.
• With DOMS now setting in, and walking starting to be painful, why do I find myself thinking more about running another ultra?
• I've been fantasizing about running a 100 miler since learning of their existence. Having finally completed a 31 mile race, a 50 miler seems much closer than before. However, a 100 miler actually seems much, much further away.