Race photos

http://www.backprint.com/go.asp?48348194

Rocky Raccoon race report

A view of the trail from the levy

Finally, here's the race report.  Huntsville State Park is beautiful and Rocky Raccoon was well organized and supported.  Although I didn't do 100 miles, I did the most miles I've ever done, 57.  Later this season, I will complete 100 miles.  I know I'm capable.

Here are my observations about endurance running:  I love it, I need to eat more and better (I eat dairy free and gluten free making eating ANYTHING at the well stocked aid stations impossible), I need to train a little bit harder when I train, my training was adequate, I need to run more and faster in training, my recovery was excellent, I have to find some shoes that accommodate my feet that swell to ridiculous proportions after 30 or so miles, Drymax socks are the best, early season races are not my forte and Addison's did not affect my performance at all.  My med plan worked well but I needed slightly more hydrocortisone than I thought I might.  Having a cold days before the race stunk.  I'm finally getting over the cough 2 weeks later.  My husband was excellent support and I'm glad he was along.  

The rest of the race report is in pictures with brief captions.

Me, Lora and Willie at registration

Lora and Paul race morning at the hotel

Me, Lora and Willie, at the start and very nervous!

Lora and I at the start

The start line

The race begins at 6 am, warm weather, single track and lots of other runners.  Awesome!

Me at 40 miles.  I felt great until 35 miles.  

The Dam Road aid station.  Food, drink, music and very helpful volunteers.

The dammed lake at Huntsville State Park

This is where the alligators hide!

Lora finishes her first 50!  Well done Lora!

Sam Houston statue, it was huge.

RIP, my wonderful drop bag.  Easy for volunteers to spot, easy for me to spot.  Even the flight attendant recognized me on the way back from Houston because of my bag.  Now I need to find an equally excellent bag, this one blew out at the corners.  See the duct tape?

Swelled up eyes the day after the race.  Ugly.

Now I just have to attempt to avoid the inevitible post race migraine...

Didn't finish but I will next time...

Rocky Raccoon 100 turned out to be Rocky Raccoon 57. 57 miles was as far as I could go.

I did learn a lot and will be writing lots of notes to myself on the plane ride home. #1 on my list was specificity training. Training to run specifically for the race I'm doing. Lulled into a false sense of security by the number of miles I did on the treadmill, I thought that would be enough to pull me through a 100 miler. Not so. I didn't run fast enough or up and down enough hills during my training runs. Live and learn! I felt absolutely GREAT for the first 35 miles and I was so happy to be running on beautiful single track with so many other people who were happy to be doing the same. It was hot and sunny for most of the day, just the way I like it. When the sun set, it was cool and nice. The aid stations were fantastic as were the volunteers! As far as meds went, 30 mg of HC before the start and 5 mg/hour of running was not quite enough. I took an extra 15 mg of HC on top of all of that and slept great that night.

Today, Monday, I feel fine. Sore but I can walk stairs. I'm looking forward to doing Antelope Island 50 miler in Salt Lake City at the end of March. You can be sure I'm going to step up my running between now and then!

I'll post pictures when I get home.