Tallahassee Ultra Distance Classic 50 Mile Race Report
Where: Wakulla Springs State Park (20ish mins south of Tallahassee)
When: December 14, 2019
What: 50 miles
Finish Time: 9:45:08
Place: 10/12, 2/3F**
Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/2933114456
Pre-Race:
This is a race I would have never, ever had signed up for if it wasn’t for Tom. Tom was looking for a good 50 mile race that played to his strengths. He likes road running, prefers the weather a bit cooler, and he doesn’t mind loops. TUDC 50m fit the bill well. The course utilizes 3 miles of road at Wakulla Springs State Park and is a large event for the Gulf Winds Track Club each year. Most of the people doing the race were signed up for the 50k and the marathon, but about 30 silly gooses were signed up for the 50m.
I had originally signed up for the 50k, but decided to bump it up to the 50m once I realized that it was perfectly timed with a 50m race in my Long Haul training plan. Since the course is basically out and backs to make a 10k “loop” repeated 8 times, it would be ideal training for the potential monotony (and ability to drop) that I’d experience with the 10 out and back repeats of Long Haul. I changed my registration and got nervous considering I’d have to beat my previous 50 mile time by almost 10 minutes just to finish under the cut off. I knew I’d be using almost every minute of the 10 hour time limit.
After a very chill day in a hotel near the race, we woke up the next morning bright and early to scarf some breakfast and head over to Wakulla Springs State Park. People doing the race typically set up their own small aid station/drop bag areas near the race start or in the parking lot leading up the start/finish/timing mat. We didn’t know exactly where to set up, so we put our cooler and chair just past the main aid station (which was a great setup, I liked it better there than where other people had their supplies set).
The 50k and marathon people start at the actual start line and the 50 milers start about a quarter mile or so from the start. Five minutes before the race start, our group was hustling over to make sure we got to our own start line. We barely made and it and the person escorting us was saying, "Do not start yet, we aren't there." It was pretty amusing, but we got there and the race started.
Loops 1-4
One neat thing about this race is that participants are allowed to have pacers in the form of buddies running with them or someone on a bike. I saw several marathon folk running totally hands free since they had a cyclist pacer to hand them water and nutrition. The only downside was one cyclist was so tuned into their runner that they were encroaching on other runners going to the opposite direction.
There isn't really much to post about the first four loops. I was feeling good due to the cool weather, but kept my pace comfortable. There was supposed to be a portapotty on course, but it was nowhere to be found; there were full restrooms at the start/finish so that was good with me. I ran with a few other 50 miler folk for a few miles, but pretty much the whole thing was by myself. I usually refuse to listen to music or podcasts until I'm well over halfway through the race, but by the 3rd loop I knew I definitely needed it earlier than usual. I told myself to get through the 4th loop and I'd be allowed to grab my headphones and get some podcasts going.
Just an observation, not a judgment - For about 20ish miles I ran near a woman that had absolutely zero shame in peeing out in the open. She had a skirt sport with the "pee flap" and so many times during the race she would barely step off of the course and start relieving herself. At one point she was literally one foot off the course and I made sure that when I came back through that way to avoid the tiny puddle she left behind. I've never seen somebody so driven and focused that she would let loose in front of so many strangers. I'm cool with nudity, but I still have a lot more hangups about that sort of thing.
Loops 5-8
Around loop five is when the course started to empty out. Most of the marathon and 50k folks were done and going through the start/finish area was a bummer because all of these people had their medals, were drinking adult beverages, and enjoying that post-race glow. At no point did I consider dropping down or quitting, and I'm really proud of that. I had one moment during the 7th loop where I felt a bit sorry for myself, but it literally lasted all of 30 seconds before I got over it. My head was really in the game for this one. Just keep running!
I also got to see Tom a lot during the race and it was cool that we could basically check in on each other every hour and a halfish because of the way the loop was. Oh, and speaking of the loops, this is a great race to run with just a handheld. There were three aid stations, one of which was water only, and they were well stocked. At one point the on course aid station had black olives and I scarfed a few of those, they also had some nutella sandwiches and they were perfection at 30 miles into the race. I ate aid station food as well as several of my gels and a picky bar; fueling went really well for this race.
As I stated before, I knew I would be using nearly every minute of the 10 hours, and with about a mile and a half to go, I switched from podcast to music (I should have switched to music earlier, tbh) and cruised into the finish 15 minutes under the cut off. Everyone at the finish line cheered for me and then I realized there was a wedding going on about 200' away from the finish line and the couple were doing their vows. Whoopsie!
The Aftermath
I loved this race, but if I could go back in time I'm not sure if I would have done it. This was the first time I had run more than 26.2 miles on road and my longest road runs in preparation for this race were a couple twenty milers and an 18 miler. I ended up with poroneal tendinitis that had me unable to run for a couple of weeks. The smart thing would have been to do more road training and getting used to the pounding OR be smart like some of the other 50 milers and run close to the edge of the road or in the middle of the road. I didn't even think of it and I'm fairly sure the camber of the road is what did me in (along with the camber of the road at my work's parking lot, which is where I had done several speed workouts in the weeks leading up to the race).
Though the race and the organizers were so, so lovely I can see going back there, but maybe for a 50k instead.
**While there were about 30 people signed up for the 50 mile race, over half of the people dropped down to either the marathon or the 50k during the race.
When: December 14, 2019
What: 50 miles
Finish Time: 9:45:08
Place: 10/12, 2/3F**
Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/2933114456
Pre-Race:
This is a race I would have never, ever had signed up for if it wasn’t for Tom. Tom was looking for a good 50 mile race that played to his strengths. He likes road running, prefers the weather a bit cooler, and he doesn’t mind loops. TUDC 50m fit the bill well. The course utilizes 3 miles of road at Wakulla Springs State Park and is a large event for the Gulf Winds Track Club each year. Most of the people doing the race were signed up for the 50k and the marathon, but about 30 silly gooses were signed up for the 50m.
I had originally signed up for the 50k, but decided to bump it up to the 50m once I realized that it was perfectly timed with a 50m race in my Long Haul training plan. Since the course is basically out and backs to make a 10k “loop” repeated 8 times, it would be ideal training for the potential monotony (and ability to drop) that I’d experience with the 10 out and back repeats of Long Haul. I changed my registration and got nervous considering I’d have to beat my previous 50 mile time by almost 10 minutes just to finish under the cut off. I knew I’d be using almost every minute of the 10 hour time limit.
After a very chill day in a hotel near the race, we woke up the next morning bright and early to scarf some breakfast and head over to Wakulla Springs State Park. People doing the race typically set up their own small aid station/drop bag areas near the race start or in the parking lot leading up the start/finish/timing mat. We didn’t know exactly where to set up, so we put our cooler and chair just past the main aid station (which was a great setup, I liked it better there than where other people had their supplies set).
The 50k and marathon people start at the actual start line and the 50 milers start about a quarter mile or so from the start. Five minutes before the race start, our group was hustling over to make sure we got to our own start line. We barely made and it and the person escorting us was saying, "Do not start yet, we aren't there." It was pretty amusing, but we got there and the race started.
Loops 1-4
One neat thing about this race is that participants are allowed to have pacers in the form of buddies running with them or someone on a bike. I saw several marathon folk running totally hands free since they had a cyclist pacer to hand them water and nutrition. The only downside was one cyclist was so tuned into their runner that they were encroaching on other runners going to the opposite direction.
There isn't really much to post about the first four loops. I was feeling good due to the cool weather, but kept my pace comfortable. There was supposed to be a portapotty on course, but it was nowhere to be found; there were full restrooms at the start/finish so that was good with me. I ran with a few other 50 miler folk for a few miles, but pretty much the whole thing was by myself. I usually refuse to listen to music or podcasts until I'm well over halfway through the race, but by the 3rd loop I knew I definitely needed it earlier than usual. I told myself to get through the 4th loop and I'd be allowed to grab my headphones and get some podcasts going.
Just an observation, not a judgment - For about 20ish miles I ran near a woman that had absolutely zero shame in peeing out in the open. She had a skirt sport with the "pee flap" and so many times during the race she would barely step off of the course and start relieving herself. At one point she was literally one foot off the course and I made sure that when I came back through that way to avoid the tiny puddle she left behind. I've never seen somebody so driven and focused that she would let loose in front of so many strangers. I'm cool with nudity, but I still have a lot more hangups about that sort of thing.
Loops 5-8
Around loop five is when the course started to empty out. Most of the marathon and 50k folks were done and going through the start/finish area was a bummer because all of these people had their medals, were drinking adult beverages, and enjoying that post-race glow. At no point did I consider dropping down or quitting, and I'm really proud of that. I had one moment during the 7th loop where I felt a bit sorry for myself, but it literally lasted all of 30 seconds before I got over it. My head was really in the game for this one. Just keep running!
I also got to see Tom a lot during the race and it was cool that we could basically check in on each other every hour and a halfish because of the way the loop was. Oh, and speaking of the loops, this is a great race to run with just a handheld. There were three aid stations, one of which was water only, and they were well stocked. At one point the on course aid station had black olives and I scarfed a few of those, they also had some nutella sandwiches and they were perfection at 30 miles into the race. I ate aid station food as well as several of my gels and a picky bar; fueling went really well for this race.
As I stated before, I knew I would be using nearly every minute of the 10 hours, and with about a mile and a half to go, I switched from podcast to music (I should have switched to music earlier, tbh) and cruised into the finish 15 minutes under the cut off. Everyone at the finish line cheered for me and then I realized there was a wedding going on about 200' away from the finish line and the couple were doing their vows. Whoopsie!
The Aftermath
I loved this race, but if I could go back in time I'm not sure if I would have done it. This was the first time I had run more than 26.2 miles on road and my longest road runs in preparation for this race were a couple twenty milers and an 18 miler. I ended up with poroneal tendinitis that had me unable to run for a couple of weeks. The smart thing would have been to do more road training and getting used to the pounding OR be smart like some of the other 50 milers and run close to the edge of the road or in the middle of the road. I didn't even think of it and I'm fairly sure the camber of the road is what did me in (along with the camber of the road at my work's parking lot, which is where I had done several speed workouts in the weeks leading up to the race).
Though the race and the organizers were so, so lovely I can see going back there, but maybe for a 50k instead.
**While there were about 30 people signed up for the 50 mile race, over half of the people dropped down to either the marathon or the 50k during the race.