Running Through Life

Yes, that was me last Saturday during the Clinton Lake Ultra 30 mile trail run. FAIL!!! No good. 41 races - 1 DNF.

I have been having a little knee pain (left leg) when I first get up but it goes away and I  only feel it when I sit for a long time. I am getting old. It comes with the territory. Get over it. Go on and do the run.

So I should up and a friend of mine should up to be at both aid stations throughout the day. After a few last minute instructions we are off. 200 ultra runners one from as far away as Utah (sorry JoannaRuns I never talked to him to see where but the plates said Utah - maybe he was here on spring break?). 

Anyway, the rabbits took off and most of the rest of us slower got into a single file line. Now, I know what you are thinking - Central Illinois -what hills?. yea, well they are there. This trail has about 33 hills of 30-50 feet each. It eventually takes a toll. For me that toll came all to soon. It wasn't long - less than a mile - and I was favoring my left leg. 

Knee pain!!! and it was worse on the downhills. I had 29 miles to go. So I keep chugging along at my pedestrian pace. The pace that was going to lead me to an incredible time.  By the time I made it to the Iron Bridge aid station (5.5 miles) I called it quits. No more. No mas. I would walk back on the road to the start. 

I could have taken the trail back to the start. I didn't. I took the roads and conversed with my friend. My friend that had braved the chilly morning and was riding his bike up and down the hills on the road to get from aid station to aid station. But I think quitting was in my best interests. I have other races I want to do - though I really did want to do this one. 

I got a really cool hoodie in my gear bag but I feel like I don't deserve to wear it.

Sunday rolls around and I have pain in my right thigh is very sore. Apparently I favored the left so much I over used or tore my right quad. Tender to the touch. Extreme tenderness. Today, it is starting to fill better - GOOD!!!

Plans - get an appointment schedule with my doctor (he runs marathons himself so understands my complaints). Get back to walking and moving the legs. Friday I have a 5k night time race (I will be walking it with a few friends) and Saturday a half marathon trail run at Allerton Park. 

My problems aside - The aid stations were fantastic. All the good ultra food, great volunteers, course was very well marked and in reasonable condition considering the rain we got 2 days before. I recommend this ultra if you are in Central Illinois in March.