{"id":2190,"date":"2016-10-11T19:45:46","date_gmt":"2016-10-11T23:45:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/raz-family.ca\/RunKristi\/?p=2190"},"modified":"2016-10-11T19:45:46","modified_gmt":"2016-10-11T23:45:46","slug":"run-for-the-toad-50k-trail-race-recap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/raz-family.ca\/RunKristi\/?p=2190","title":{"rendered":"Run for the Toad 50k Trail Race Recap"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Mike<\/a>

Mike and I getting ready to start our races.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"The<\/a>

The race swag included a Nike bag instead of a shirt, but I couldn’t resist buying this cute tech shirt that also has all of the participants listed on the back.<\/p><\/div>\n

It’s hard to describe what goes through your mind when at the 6k mark of a 50k race you seriously question your ability to complete the race. \u00a0That feeling at 35, 40 or 45 is somewhat normal, possibly even expected. \u00a0But 6k??? \u00a0That was what happened to me at Canada’s largest trail race, Run for the Toad. \u00a0Usually at 6k, I am nicely warmed up, I’ve found a rhythm and all looks right in the world (with a full expectation that the race wouldn’t feel like that by the end). \u00a0Instead, on this run, I felt almost panicked. \u00a0The humidity in the forest was stifling and I felt like I was struggling to breathe, despite the cool rainy weather. This is a quote from the race website:<\/p>\n

The course offers very few flat sections, and at the same time very few extended climbs. The course is very rolling and the longest climb shouldn\u2019t take you much longer than 90 seconds. The exciting part of the course is what didn\u2019t seem like a hill on loop one or two becomes a mountain on loop 3 and 4!<\/em><\/p>\n

I had read this many times prior to race day. \u00a0All I could think of during the first lap was what if everything already felt like a mountain on loop one???<\/p>\n

As I finished loop one though there was the relief of realizing that I had seen everything the course would be throwing at me, there were no surprises coming, just another 3 loops. \u00a0Amazingly – and strangely – loops three and four felt significantly better than the first leg of the race. \u00a0And as much as I may have worried what it would be like psychologically to cross the finish line 3 times before my fourth and final crossing at 50k, I discovered that it was actually a great moral boost. \u00a0Each time your reached the finish area there was a line of people cheering you on and I could literally feel a burst of energy.<\/p>\n

I find I can have such different personalities at races. \u00a0Some races I find myself in a gregarious mood, taking every opportunity to talk with other runners and high-five spectators. \u00a0Other times, I find myself more introspective, quieter, with a need to simply let my mind wander. \u00a0This was a quiet race for me. \u00a0I couldn’t tell you what I thought about, other than during that first loop when I allowed myself to panic. \u00a0I have discovered that while I may not be a fast runner I am very capable of running for long periods of time without getting bored. \u00a0I can honestly say that I did not feel like I was out there over 6 hours, it truly did not seem that long. \u00a0Time escapes me a little on really long runs and it is a feeling that I love.<\/p>\n

Early in the race I realized that I had not set up my data fields with everything I needed \u00a0on my new Garmin 235. \u00a0The big piece of information missing was my overall average pace. \u00a0I did have 1km split times being shown but when on a trail your splits are all over the place (or at least mine are) and there really wasn’t any easy way for me to calculate if I was near my hoped for pace. \u00a0Between that and how awful and overwhelmed I felt in the first lap I decided to change my goal to 7 hours. \u00a0I had been hoping somewhere in between 6:30 and 6:40. \u00a0Unlike a road race, it is so hard to predict a time on the trails. \u00a0In this case I knew I had no huge vertical climbs but I really wasn’t sure what toll the never-ending roller coaster trail would take on my legs. \u00a0With my readjusted time goal I settled in and enjoyed the ride.<\/p>\n

\"Just<\/a>

Just starting my final 12.5k loop.<\/p><\/div>\n

As I approached the beginning of the fourth lap I realized that even in my hazy mental state, I could look at the timing clock and at least estimate when I would finish. \u00a0I was pleasantly surprised to see that I had more than enough time to beat\u00a0my A goal of 6:30! \u00a0Without pushing too hard I finished my last lap (including a stop behind a tree for a pee break) and crossed the line in 6:17, only 8 minutes longer than what I did on\u00a0what I consider an easier paved course at the Niagara Ultra. \u00a0I didn’t quite manage to make the middle of the pack, but I am pleased with my 72\/122 finish.<\/p>\n

If you decide to try this race, don’t let the lack of significant vertical climb fool you into thinking it will be an easy race. \u00a0The incredibly well-groomed trails with lack of technical footing certainly makes it a faster course for experienced trail runners. \u00a0As someone relatively new to the sport, however, I did find the rolling elevation challenging both mentally and physically, but in a way that I very much enjoyed. \u00a0The race was wonderfully organized, from the opening ceremonies to the incredible full meal served in a massive, decorated tent. \u00a0And there was pie. \u00a0Seriously, all races need to start serving pie. \u00a0The location was beautiful, even on a cloudy, misty day. \u00a0There were plenty of aid stations – definitely not a race where you needed to be self-sufficient. I have discovered that I particularly love M&M’s and ginger snap cookies when out on a trail for hours.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The main tent before the race. This was where you could come in and eat after your race.<\/p><\/div>\n

Another enjoyable part of the weekend was meeting up with fellow bloggers and running friends. \u00a0Kyra, from Kyra On The Go<\/a>, and her husband hosted us in their home for the weekend, keeping these two runners (yes – Mike ran the 25k race and did an amazing job at his longest distance in years!) well fed and entertained with good company. I am looking forward to seeing them again in a few weeks when I head to southern Ontario again for one last fall race.<\/p>\n

At kit pick up and again before and after the race we got to meet up with Carl from The Old Fellow Goes Running<\/a>. \u00a0Carl, like me, started running 50k’s this year, and has managed to squeeze an amazing four 50k races in this season! \u00a0It was such a pleasure to meet him in person and I am hoping we will meet up at future ultras.<\/p>\n

\"Carl,<\/a>

Carl, myself and Mike at the end of a tough but successful race!<\/p><\/div>\n

This was my third 50k (actually my second totaled 52km – I think that is important to mention) and I continue to love the distance, much more that the marathon distance. \u00a0One thing that is appealing to me about ultras is the variety in the race. \u00a0My three ultras were nothing alike, each was a new adventure and a new way to push my limits. \u00a0I would do any of them again except for the fact that I am realizing how many interesting ultras are out there. \u00a0I love the idea of trying new ones each year, getting to experience the variety that trail running can offer. \u00a0I already have my eyes set on the Bromont Ultra next fall. \u00a0I am realistic about ultras. \u00a0There is only so much training I can do, so I am not going to be fast. \u00a0But I can finish and I am happy to accept that as a serious accomplishment!<\/p>\n

\"Finishing<\/a>

Finishing my third 50k distance happy!<\/p><\/div>\n

Follow me on Twitter<\/strong><\/em> @AverageRunnerK<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s hard to describe what goes through your mind when at the 6k mark of a 50k race you seriously question your ability to complete the race. \u00a0That feeling at 35, 40 or 45 is somewhat normal, possibly even expected. \u00a0But 6k??? \u00a0That was what happened to me at Canada’s largest trail race, Run for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2190","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-running"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3amQ2-zk","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/raz-family.ca\/RunKristi\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2190","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/raz-family.ca\/RunKristi\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/raz-family.ca\/RunKristi\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/raz-family.ca\/RunKristi\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/raz-family.ca\/RunKristi\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2190"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/raz-family.ca\/RunKristi\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2190\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2210,"href":"https:\/\/raz-family.ca\/RunKristi\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2190\/revisions\/2210"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/raz-family.ca\/RunKristi\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2190"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/raz-family.ca\/RunKristi\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2190"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/raz-family.ca\/RunKristi\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2190"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}