2019 DARK AND DIRTY 50 K TRAIL RACE REPORT

DARK AND DIRTY 50 K TRAIL RACE REPORT

Prologue: LOVIT 100M Finish in February I was prepared for anything, fairly well trained. In 4 months I gained almost 20 lbs, minimally trained, rehabbed knee injuries multiple times and struggled on most races, including a DNF at mile 40 at Possum Kingdom in June. Conversation with Dark N Dirty RD at PK sparked my interest in running the Eastern Oklahoma Hills. I talked a trail buddy into running it as well.

Highlights:

Start: Got geared up just in time to be DFL starter, pulling Virginia Gwyn down to my level.

Mile 3 Over ran entire loop by just a little, blasted the final downhill cuz I could.

Mile 6 Repeat of first loop, began to realize and bitch about elevated HR to Ginny, blasted downhill again.

Mile 9 Ginny dropped me, due to my slowed pace, I settled in to what I’d hoped would be a sustainable pace, kinda blasted the final down hill. Realized I hadn’t taken in any gels and was short on fluids.

Mile 14 Stepped off trail to allow runner to pass, total lockup left hamstring cramp. Extremely painful, not take your breath away and make you scream painful, but just shy of that. I had to stay frozen to avoid pain escalation. Slowly retrieved 2 mustard paks from pocket, hastenly ripped them open and downed them. Relief shortly after, I slow walked, stretched hamstrings and calves and continued slowly.

Mile 14.8 Total lockup cramp of right calf, same as hamstring, 2 more mustard paks, slow walked and eased my ass down the final downhill averting further cramping.

Mile 15.3 Ate Brisket Sand w/ mustard / Chips / Watermelon in hopes of refueling, sat to reset, drank DP

Mile 17.5 start feeling mild ab cramping, started frequent off trail excursions due to dim headlamp.

Mile 18.4 Watermelon /DP / Gel / Chips/ packed wipes in vest changed headlamp

Mile 20 Significant Trail Dump behind big rocks off trail

Mile 21.5 Sanitized hands with Whiskey. (A/S didn’t have hand sanitizer) more than enough whiskey available. Watermelon / Gel / Chips / DP / short sit down rest Hostess Chocolate Cupcake

Ginny laps me somewhere around mile 1.5-2, I get a little boost from running with her for a quick minute.

Mile 24 onset nausea feeling shuts down pace to slow walk, begin concern of making cutoff, blocked that out and just pushed as much as I thought prudent to avoid puking. Thought about taking stuff to settle stomach, decided against it because I was certain I would puke at some time.

Mile 26 stopped down on trail, dry heaved, then puked 3X 

Brisket appeared to be the culprit. Resumed shuffle pace to start/finish. I felt confident puking cleared stomach issues, I knew I was heat stressed, but I didn’t think I was nearing FUBAR. Ginny laps me again, on her gun loop. I’m stoked that she had ran a strong race, bronchitis and all.

Spent last 2 loops pushing pace and backing off to avert cramps.

Mile 30.1 ahead of cutoff by 80 minutes, last man on trail course, shuffled as hard as I could without stumbling after a few rock kicks early on the final loop. Sun coming up, I ditched the light early on.

A mile from the finish, I was confident I would complete the race. It was great to see Ginny at the finish. There was some conversation among timing and RD as to my position in the Trail 50K. Timing seemed to think I was 2nd or 3rd male Trail finisher. I took a big ass finisher medal and called it good.

If you want to see some bad ass trail runners doing their thing in the rocks, trees and hills, sign up and run the Trail 50K next time. If you can’t wait for next years’ heat, sign up for the Outlaw 100. 

If you need a pacer, hit me up.