The Grasslands Run 2003
LBJ National Grasslands
Decatur, Texas
March 22, 2003
50Mile Report by Tony Rousseau
Since this was the first time that I have run over 26.2 miles, the only thing I was expecting was pain and lots of it.
Month Before: After I ran Cowtown, I developed a slight case of shin splints (I am a baby and do not like pain of any kind) so I told myself that I would "take it easy" on my runs during the week. This really meant that I was lazy and just didn't want to do much running. I ran on Saturday with the group and Sunday with Larry, Rose, and Allison and only one day during the week. I only lifted weights one day a week instead of my usual three. I told myself that I was tapering (once again read: LAZY). Of course, I continued to eat my usual --- meaning LIKE A PIG. Plus, people kept saying you don't want to lose too much weight, you'll need the fat storage during the Ultra (I have that one covered for me and the next guy).
Week of: I was getting so nervous that I think I called Larry almost every day just to make sure that I wasn't forgetting anything. I kept asking the same questions over and over again.. So I need a flashlight (I bought a real cool flashlight that cost $22 bucks but it's got 4 times the amount of power as a 4AA flashlight), rain poncho, Band Aids, extra clothes, socks (wish I would have used these), shoes (wish I would have used these), etc. Larry was patient and answered the same questions over and over again. One time I had to leave a voicemail and I'm sure the message sounded like an emergency for Larry to call me (and it was because I needed to know what I needed to bring). Each time that I would speak to Larry I wrote a list of everything I needed so by Friday I had about 4 lists scattered throughout my office and at home. I also thought that since I was "tapering" so much that I better workout hard this week (wasn't I smart?). I ran for 60 minutes and lifted weights Monday, ran for 45 minutes Tuesday, walked for 45 minutes and lifted weights Wednesday. By the time Thursday came around, I was tired of all the "activity" so I did nothing except for eat all day on Thursday and Friday.
Day Before: I left work early and picked up my packet. I asked Suzi about the belt buckle and if I had to finish within 12 hours. She assured me that if I started the last loop within the cutoff and I finished the race I could have the privilege of purchasing the belt buckle. I made her repeat it. At this point, I was wandering how in the world I would run 50 miles much less in under 12 hours. Plus, I was feeling fat with all the eating was I was doing. When I tried on the "Large" shirt that we got, I knew I was fat.
Day of: I woke up at 3:05 AM so I could be to Larry's at 4:30 AM. I realized that I did not do a good job of packing all my stuff (had everything checked off one of my lists, though) so I packed everything that I could in Baggies and stuffed everything in a plastic bag. I fit enough stuff for a week's vacation in that small bag. For all I knew, the 50 miles might take me a week. My wife drove me to Larry's because neither one of were sure what kind of condition I would be in after "attempting" to run 50 miles. At this time, I was using the word "attempt" because I was not sure that I would make it and I was trying
to soften the blow to myself if I received my first DNF.
Larry, Judy and I made it to the start about an hour early and got a great parking spot. It felt cold out so I mostly stayed in the truck with Judy with Larry walking around meeting and talking to everyone. When I finally got out of the truck, we met up with Rose, Allison, and Mark (Allison's "friend" with a cute Booty (don't ask me I wasn't looking, ask her). They mentioned something about snakes and animals and bugs and at this time I was wondering to myself --- "If I don't start the thing, they can't say I didn't finish the thing". But being the tough macho man that I am I went to the start ---- I knew Larry would protect me from the snakes.
The Race: Larry had a simple plan that we would run the first 25 in 5 hours and then we would have 7 hours to run the last 25. It sounded like a good plan, but I was still worried what would happen to me once I ran over 26.2. There were many past marathons where I "hit the wall" and was just happy to finish. I was worried how I would react to "the wall" because I am directionally illiterate and I was scared to be in the woods by myself. I did know that if I was having a bad day I didn't want Larry to have to stay with me and not finish under 12 hours so that was some motivation to have a good day.
On the first loop (Blue), we met several people (Bob, Sue Yates, and the "Arkansas Travelers" and others). When Larry introduced himself to Bob, he said we are obviously going to be neighbors for awhile. I took a look at Bob's pace and thought to myself "no way, we are going to smoke him, at least in the beginning then he might pass us". I was wrong on both accounts - Bob was within sight until about a fourth of the way into the third loop (then we smoked him). Sue Yates is a true "running machine" but we blew by her for good at the same time. Of course, Sue had run a 24 hour race (92 miles) three or four weeks before. Can you imagine that --- she did say she took a 20 minute break ---- what a SLACKER? That question is just to see if anyone has actually read this far. The "Arkansas Travelers" were a group of three girls who we met (always good to meet chicks on these runs). Did I mention that we got lost and wasted at least 15 minutes and ran at least a mile more than we had to?
The second loop (Yellow) was easy and went by without much fanfare. I was actually enjoying being out in the woods. I realized how peaceful it was. Larry and I plotted our strategy for the remaining part of the race. We knew the third loop would be the toughest so we developed the scientific plan that we would just "survive it" and once we got to the buckle lap we would be pumped up to finish. I was secretly worried about "the wall" so I was conserving my energy and I'm sure that I wasn't good company at this point. We saw Iris at the end of this loop and I saw the award she got for the half and I wanted one. Who needs a belt buckle? But I kept going, because Larry made me.
The third loop (White) was a B!TCH. It was uphill the whole way. We did a lot of walking. It was kind of funny .. In the beginning of the loop I was running behind Larry and he would say "It's an uphill, let's walk ... it's still going up .. Tony, it's still going up ..." Get the picture? (Training Tip) Walking strong on uphill is where we gained some valuable time; we left numerous people behind us because they could not walk as fast. Somewhere along the way, Larry developed really bad stomach cramps so he struggled with that the rest of the day. If he didn't have it before (which he did), Larry earned my respect on the trail by gutting it out. With all the walking up the hills, I forgot to get tired. I could feel my legs and they were getting tired but they felt good and more importantly, and this surprised me, I was in good spirits. This loop is where we saw the cow and Larry saved my life by making it get off the trail.
The belt buckle loop (Red) was finally here. We saw Cathy and she was very supportive and said that Brian and Steve weren't in yet. I was hoping that they were ok, I figured that they just wanted some alone time together in the woods. I still did not tell myself how far I had run yet. The day would not be complete without the belt buckle. I knew we had over 4 hours to do the last 10.8 miles so I was starting to think I could do it. The belt buckle loop and the B!TCH loop run together in the beginning so we were going up some of the same hills with what seemed like no benefit of a down hill (everyone's been there). At this point we were down to running for 2 minutes and walking for a minute. We saw a sign that said we had 6 miles to go (I think we really had about 3) so Larry goes into "Slave Driver" mode and makes me run for the full two minutes even up the hills "Just a little Incline" he would say - "Yeah, more like a mountain" I would mutter to myself. At this point, I was happy to be getting in the distance but there was a part of me that was hoping a snake would come out and scare Larry (and stay far, far away from me). The snake did not come but the finish came pretty quickly. My feet were sore, just a few blisters but that's it.
Belt Buckle ----- Larry or one of the "Arkansas Travelers" purchased the last one so I have to wait about 5 weeks to get mine. Larry offered his, but it didn't feel right, it wasn't mine. I ran 10 hours and 21 minutes for the buckle so I can wait 5 weeks to get mine. This was a great experience partly because it was so well run. The people at the aid stations were so nice. I loved the way they catered to the people running the marathon and the 50 miler (it seems like most of the races today do not). If I do not run the race next year, I think I will be a volunteer.
Moral: I can write a lot about not much... No. All of us can achieve our goals with proper planning, discipline (which I sometimes lack) and help of friends. If you read this far you are either bored or a good friend so thanks on either account. Take care and I hope to still see everyone for some long runs and bike rides.
Tony