On Saturday December 15, 2007 I entered my first Ultra marathon, the Muir Beach 50K put on by Pacific Coast Trail Runs.

Race Summary:  I managed to finish the 50K in 6:56:35, just inside my goal of between 6 1/2 and 7 hours.  The 50K course gained about 7400 feet of elevation.  I managed to keep moving pretty well throughout the event.  At 33K we crossed the start/finish and went back out for 17K.  I did the first 33K with 4280 ft of elevation gain in 4:14 which seemed pretty close to the pace I’d predicted for myself.  As I left I was still moving okay but my legs were getting sore.  I then decided that when I do another ultra I should probably train for it, something I really didn’t do for this one.  On the latter part of the course my hamstrings were hurting and felt like they were much too short..  When I’d reach the top of a climb I had trouble lengthening my stride and would get dropped at the top of the downhill by people I passed on he way up.  I am still pretty sore on Monday and if I’d been on duty Sunday I would probably have had to call in sick.  I think if I was at all prepared I would not be so sore.

The Course:  Started on the south side of the footbridge at Muir Beach and went uphill on Fox, a fire road.  Turned right and followed Coastal Trail to Tennessee Valley where we took the main road to the aid station near the picnic tables and parking lot.  From the Aid Station the course went up Old Monticello vehicle road, along the ridge on Bobcat, to SCA.   SCA took us back down to Coastal, then up to Couzelman and basically to Point Bonita.  From Point Bonita we went to Rodeo Beach and up Coastal to Wolf Ridge.  From there it was Miwok to Old Springs and back to Tennessee Valley.  From Tennessee Valley we took Fox trail over the hill to the Muir Beach finish line at the 33k mark.  The 50K runners checked in and turned right around to and started the 17 K loop which was up Fox, Coastal to TV, up Old Monticello, right on Mi wok, and down Old Springs back to TV.  We had to hump up Fox over Coyote Ridge one last time before cruising to the finish.  Fox was torture!

How I Did It:  Adrian’s advice to pack light and take advantage of the aid stations was very helpful.  I packed light.   I wore loose running shorts, my short sleeve tech tee from Baja, and my Primal tattoo arm warmers (which most of you saw me wear on Mt. Diablo).  On my feet I wore “Anti-Monkey Butt powder”, merino wool Injinji toe socks with Ultimax ultra thin socks over.  I started in a thin Tyvek jacket.  If I wasn’t parked over a mile from the start I would have not taken the jacket, but it was 45 degrees and too cold to stand around at the start without it.  I actually wore the jacket for the first 6K.  At each aid station I got my bottle refilled, stuffed one or two mouthfuls of food into my mouth, and left with two handfuls of food which I ate on the trail  I decided that I like the cheddar goldfish the best.  I used Accelerade mix in the bottles for calories.  The plan was to start off very patiently and speed up IF I was still feeling strong later in the event.  I moved slow and steady the whole time, never trying to keep up with anyone who passed me.  Overall it was a good experience and I will probably do another 50K before doing a 50 mile run, and I will actually get in shape for it next time.  Thanks to everyone who encouraged me to try this.

Results:  I got hammered by some old ladies.

http://pctrailruns.com/MB_Results_07.htm

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