Rick’s Really Hot 50K

I’m in no shape to run a 50K, but that was not really what this was about. After a series of injuries starting in the spring of 2008, getting back into shape has been a slow process. I’ve lost touch with those friends who think going out for a 30 mile run with your buds is just as normal as heading out for a beer. And this run was about celebrating those friends as well as remembering one we lost two years ago.

Unlike many of those out for the run, I barely knew Rick Gastelum. I really only remember running with him one time in 2004 as a group of us made our way from Spyglass through various loops to the top of the Hill of Life. Our trip together ended there as he took the more direct route back due to injury. I abandoned the group a few miles later due to foot pain. Almost five years later, I ended this run in the same way as I walked back to the Spyglass entrance with foot pain. I called it quits after 17 very slow miles.

Four in the morning is very early to start anything, but that is when we began. Actually, the day had begun at 2:30 as I struggled to get out of the house and arrive on time. The sign at Camp Mabry said it was still 81 degrees as I passed. We actually had a nice crowd at the start. Others would join in a few minutes late catching me as I fell behind the pack or when I stopped to refuel at the top of the Hill of Life. I felt I was dragging and spent more time walking than running. Later in the day I would pass more friends out on their own runs. Although it was a slow 17 miles, I was pretty happy with the way things went. I actually managed a better pace than I had expected and gone longer than I had in over a year.

I really could have continued and possibly wrapped up the 50K; however, years of experience told me to bail. The foot pain was probably the biggest issues, but I knew other issues would follow. My knee had hurt early but felt fine after warming up and settling into an easy pace. Late in long runs is usually when things go wrong if they do. I expect it is a combination of losing form due to exhaustion as well as the long wear and tear. I didn’t feel there was any training benefit to continuing.

In the end, I either DNF’ed the 50K for DFL’ed the 17 miler. I don’t really feel it as a DNF so I’ll take the DFL.