LBL 50 Mile - 2022

 Race: Land Between the Lakes 50M

Date: 3.12.2022

Time:  7:56:47

Place:  3rd place male

Pre-Race Conditions:

Night before the race and I’m writing this from bed. I set a reminder in my phone to do this for 5am instead of 5pm. There have been some changes throughout the day. The weather prediction of some snow and a NEAR 0 temp at the start made the RD push the race start back 2 hours from a 6:30 start to 8:30. With the time change that’s really like 9:30 for us. I still think a 6:30 start with the snow, wet and wind would be beautiful. Barkley was a few days ago and as John Kelly said “Barkley weather isn't extreme - it's volatile”. This is a cake walk of weather compared to that. We spend so much time training for these kinds of conditions that it’s a little upsetting when they make changes to avoid racing in them. 

By the start I’m thinking the trail may be a little wet but not too bad. We got a little accumulation of snow on the car when we got done with dinner. I think for all the Michigan group here with us it will be just another run. The southerners are probably panicking a little bit about the beautiful race conditions. Another change is they moved the start from right by our cabin to the town. It’s only about 2 blocks away but still would have been nice to not have to go that far. 

We got a nice little run on the trail today. We drove out to the start of the trail loop and did about 2.5 miles out and back. It’s a beautiful trail and lots of nice flowing single track. I kept it easy but got a little bit of speed in. I’m a little curious as to how fast I’ll be able to run this. I know last years winner was 7:27. After seeing my race plan it’s looking like Bruce has me somewhere right about 8 hours. If I can keep under control early on and go with the flow it should be a good day. Don’t blow up. Don’t be stupid. Don’t wear shorts. That’s kind of the motto for the race. 

This is my first real trail ultra. I’ve done the distance at least 5 times before. But normally it’s broken up with obstacles. Counting it now I’ve probably done 50 miles plus at a race 10 or more times. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. I know my training is there and I have a great race plan. The only thing to do is get some sleep and get at it in the morning. I keep wondering how I’m going to place in this race. I know I’ll be towards the top. I think it’s really going to depend on who comes out. The weather may have scared some of the fair weather runners away. 

So far we have had a great trip. Thursday on the way down we found a great hole in the wall bbq place just into Kentucky off I-75. One reason it’s great is that it's close enough not to have to stop in Ohio. It’s saved in my phone as the go to spot on road trips. What other restaurant has a custom AR-15 on its counter. 

We have a great cabin right on Kentucky lake. We got to see the sunset last night and today it was cool to see all the tugboats and barges go by. We had dinner at Habaneros after we tried to go to Popis and couldn’t get a table for 20 minutes and they had no drinks. Popis looked too nice for us anyway. 

Our pre race dinner was at Pattis 1880s Settlement in Grand Rivers. All 9 of us got together for dinner. It was a great time and great food. I only wish I wasn’t racing in the morning and would have had some of the monster desserts they had on the menu. I might have to go back tomorrow or Sunday just for one. 

Everything is laid out ready for tomorrow. Last thing is to fill my bottles and get dressed. Sleep time now. It’s crazy it’s a little after 10 and we have 10.5 hours until the race. 

Oh and the new KotW crew shirts are out. I got the first test print for Hannah and Bob. They look great. Can’t wait to see the reaction from people at the race when they see them. Andy created a great logo and the trail version is going on all my running things. 

Race Recap:

It was a weird start to the day. Not having to start until 8:30 meant we got to sleep in more than a normal race. For a 6:30 start I would have been up at 4:30 finishing my prep and getting ready. No matter how early I get up there never seems to be enough time and always some scrambling. This time was different. We got up. Had breakfast. Finished our last little to do items and were out the door by 7:45 for the quarter mile drive. 

We got a nice spot close to the community center where we had to drop off our gear bags and hang out for the prerace briefing. We had enough time so we walked to Tina and Bobs cabin to drop off our after race bags. About 8:15 they did the prerace talk. It was hard to hear and we were having too much fun screwing around. They sent us to the start line about 8:22. We walked over right to the street. There was some confusion about which way we were going and which side of the line to line up on. We got that cleared up and I looked for Matty and Tina. I didn’t see them in the crowd so I went back to the front next to Gary. 

The RD was there giving us the rough countdown. 

30 seconds. 

20 seconds

10 seconds 

5, 4, 3, .. 2, ……..1, …………………….. Go. 

It felt like 20 seconds between 1 and go. The counting was slowing down and we almost all false started. Being a gun time race I don’t know why it really mattered. We were off for 1.9 miles of road before we got to the trail. It started fast as expected. I ran the first 200m at a mid 7 pace to get some space then settled into my mid 8 pace. About a half mile in Matty snuck up next to me and we started chatting and doing our thing. We hit the trail in a group of about 6 or 7 and the jokes started coming out. Everyone was kind of quiet and not really in the mood to talk. Matty and I were determined to break that and started being us and got some good laughs. One girl in front of me wanted nothing to do with us. I don’t know what race she was running. She didn’t talk, laugh or even acknowledge us for the 4-5 miles we were together. 

The course was a looped lollipop. The 2 miles from town and then loops of the 11 mile trail before running back to town. The half marathon (really 23k) was 1 loop, the marathon was 2 loops, the 60k was 3 loops and the 50 mile was 4 loops with an additional 1000m out and 1000m back along the scenic road before running the 1.9 miles back to town. The course was absolutely beautiful. The little bit of snow that had fallen added some grip. The shaded parts stayed white on our right and the lakes were off to our left. 

There were 4 aid stations around the loop. We entered the trail at what I was calling aid station 4. From there aid station 1 was about 3.4 miles away. From 1-2 was about 2.5 miles. Aid station 2 (at the north welcome center at the most south point of the loop) was where our gear drop was and all the spectators. In my mind that was the only one that really mattered. My plan was to run as unsupported as possible using the aid stations when needed instead of relying on them. From the welcome center to aid station 3 was right about 3 miles. Then from 3 to 4 was 1.8 miles. Keeping track of this helped me a lot. Especially at the end. 

The front half of the loop on the east side was very runnable and no big climbs. Past the welcome center were 3 big climbs that weren’t horrible. They were definitely runnable if I would have wanted to push that much harder. After each climb there were nice flowing downhill and flat sections. Those climbs were mostly between aid station 2 and 3. 

After the first half of loop 1, I got to my bucket about 1:05 into the race. I guessed at about an hour then 2 hour loops after that. We were in a group that was moving a little slower than I may have liked but it helped in the end. My dad met me and said they were allowing outside help there. This was a quick stop to get my aminos and a salt stick. 7 miles in I didn’t really need much. I dumped my bleggmitts and tucked a light pair of gloves in my vest. Matty and I headed out to the back half. We nailed the climbs and moved good. I had the first loop at about 2:02 by my watch. With 16 minutes to run the first 2 miles it meant our first lap was about 1:46. It was very comfortable. 

Starting the second lap the course was starting to get a little sloppy. I pulled ahead of Matt and pushed here. I was worried that the course was going to deteriorate through the rest of the day and wanted to make up time where I could. Matt was anywhere from 200m - 500m behind me most of the first half. I got to the welcome center at the surprise of my dad who didn’t expect us for about another 10-15 minutes. I figured I was there about 2:50. About 10 minutes ahead of my prediction. Right as I was finishing Matt popped out of the woods and I started walking. He had his gel, my dad had us stop for a picture and we were off again. We made it about a mile and I had to stop and take off my ¼ zip. It got warm fast and I was starting to feel it. Shorts may have been the better idea. Especially at the end I was pretty warm in sections. I kept debating going to just my compression shorts. Some sections I was warm. Some sections where there was some wind I was comfortable. I decided to just keep going and not waste the time. The rest of loop 2 we were together and nothing too eventful happened. I took a little stumble about a mile from the end of the loop. Just enough for me to put a hand down. It didn’t slow us down more than a couple seconds. 

Matt and I stayed together for that back half of the loop and the first half of loop 3. We stopped at aid station 1 so I could get some water. I had mixed my tailwind pretty heavy and my stomach wasn’t super happy with it. I got a couple cups of water while Matt took a record length pee. We were back off headed towards the welcome center. We got there together I dumped my windbreaker and ¼ zip and gloves in my bucket. I hadn’t used them so far and it was just extra weight and bulk. My dad said Gary was about 20 minutes behind us the first loop. I got what I needed and then started off. Matt was resuppling with the help of my dad. I started moving so I didn’t stiffen up and told Matt I’d see him on the climb. He could uphill so much better than me but I had him on flats and downhill. That was the last I saw of Matt until after the race. I comfortably ran the rest of loop 3 alone. The trail to my surprise was actually drying out in the sun and getting better. It let me move faster and more consistent. 

I started loop 4 alone and made a bunch of passes. I kept peeking at my heart rate and it was under control. I probably could have easily punched here but I wanted to save it for the last 8 miles past the welcome center. I got to aid station 1, asked for some water and coke. I got the water but they said they were out of coke so I moved on. I got to the welcome center on that last loop knowing I had a fitaid there waiting for me. I got my aminos, salt stick and 4 thin mints. There were a few other guys there just ahead of me finishing up and moving their gear bags to the finished area to get taken to the finish line. One guy, Travis, made a comment that every time he slowed down there I was. We talked a bit on the first loop. He was right ahead of me and Matt in our pack with a bunch of air in his camelbak sloshing around. 

At this point my dad told me he thought those guys were 6th and 7th and that I was in 8th place. Travis looked pretty rough so I had no worries knowing I would catch him. I started walking and cracked my fit aid. I drank about 2/3rds of it. Dumped the rest and then tucked the empty can in my vest and started off. I had lost sight of the 3 guys in front of me. That was short lived. I got up the first climb and saw them on the other ridge. This is where my downhill and flat running helped. I caught and passed all 3 in about the first mile after the aid station. I figured this moved me into 5th or so and decided that if they wanted to get by me they were going to have to run past me on an uphill and beat me there. After the second climb of the back half I was just ahead of the next guy. I created the top, caught my right toe, stumbled and slid on my knee. Popped right back up in stride. Kept going and building a buffer. I got to aid station 3, handed them my empty FitAid can, had a cup of water and a half cup of coke and started the 100’ of road back to the trail. Previously we had been walking this to the trail and hit the trail running. The guy behind me wasn’t that far behind. Only 1.8 miles to the road. 

On that last 1.8 miles I only power hiked a few short sections. On those power hikes I always pick a point to start running at and ALWAYS start running again before I get there. I made a few more passes on that last little bit. I wasn’t sure what race they were running and wasn’t stopping to find out. 5th place (maybe) and sub 8 hours was on the line. The last guy I passed about 400m from the end of the loop stepped aside 10 seconds before I got there. Later I figured out that he was 3rd place. 

I popped out onto the road and asked to confirm which way I was going. I got 2 volunteers pointing in different directions. I started to the left based on what I thought and then a different volunteer was yelling that the out and back was marked. To go there turn around and head back. There was a blown down tree on a steeper incline ahead. I power hiked that small section not to beat myself up too bad. My right hamstring was twinging a little and I didn’t want to cramp it. I had maybe 200m on the guy behind me and was going to make him work if he wanted it. I ran to the out and back turn looped around the mark and started the downhill back to town. Smartly I ran some of the tangents and flew. (Laughing at the dumb trail runners). Then slowed a little on the ups. The downhill back to town was like a Dequindre run. Net downhill… I crossed the bridge just hurting but determined to keep going. 2400m to go. 2000m. 1800m. 1600m. At about 1000m we made the turn off the highway towards town and downhill to the finish. It was a straight shot and I peeked at my watch running sub 7. I passed one girl and told her let’s go and went by. I crossed the finish. Gary, Hannah, Bob, Paula and my dad were at the finish line cheering. At the finish line they were handing me awards, my buckle and a towel. I wasn’t really paying much attention. I was happy to be done and get a break. 

The official results show me finishing that last 3 miles at a 6:54 average pace. The want to be done and the discomfort of trail shoes on the pavement fueled that. 

I can’t finish this write up with the most memorable part for me. I crossed the finish line and just wanted to lay down and stop for 5 minutes. I asked to confirm there was food at the community center. They said yes so I started walking there to get warm and sit down. I got into the community center and figured someone from my group would have followed me to check on me. I put my stuff down on a table and instantly broke my trophy. This is why I need an adult at races to help me. I got some soup, cake, cookies and a bottle of water and ate while taking off my vest and what I could. Still no one was coming. My feet were damp and sore so I took my shoes and socks off. After 20 minutes a group was getting up to go to the finish line. I asked them to tell for Phil or Gary to come to meet me. 5 minutes later still no one. I was shivering so bad from being sweaty and sitting there I decided I was going to walk to Bob and Tinas to get my dry clothes. I left my vest, HR strap, shoes, award, … and started walking barefoot out the door to some surprised looks. As I was going through the parking lot another runner was getting dropped off at his car. I asked them for a ride the whole block and a half to the cabin. I had to look like a complete disaster. They told me to jump in and drove me over there. I thanked them and went into change. 

My dad said they thought I was only going for a quick walk and was coming back. After an 8 hour run I’m wondering how far they thought I was walking if I wasn’t back in 25 minutes. Needless to say I wasn’t super happy at that point. Then I got into dry warm clothes and was a whole lot better. Laughing that my trophy was already broken. Thinking about it now I may have left a half eaten m&m cookie on Tina and Bob’s bed. 

The Bad:

Not much went bad in this race. I think I mixed my tailwind a little too heavy. I wanted to keep my calories up and the super concentrated tailwind was upsetting my stomach. An acid reducer at the gear drop the first loop and some water solved that. 

I was probably a little overdressed most of the race. I think it did slow me down as I was overheating on the later loops. Maybe some better clothing choices or shorts would have been the better idea. 

The Good:

After my last debacle of a race this was a good one to come back. My first official 50 and I was able to take 3rd place. I would have liked to shave a little bit more time and have been more towards 7:45 but after the effort and strong finish I’m super happy. No major injuries or issues. My ankle is sore 2 days after. 

Moral of the Story:

Don't be an idiot. Run smart and keep some in the tank for the end and don’t blow up like the others. Then good things happen

Best Moment:

Not a single moment but that last half lap. Moving from 8th to 3rd in 5 miles and then adding to the gap those last 3 miles was an amazing feeling. 

Worst Moment:

The whole leaving me after the race damp and cold tanks. The things I was thinking while sitting there shivering were pretty bad. All while hoping I didn’t have to go out in the cold. 

Second worst was no Laz showing up. Meeting a complete legend in the running world would have been great but a picture of all of us with Laz in our Ode to Laz hats would have been the most amazing running picture in the history of Michigan running. 

Funniest Moment:

Everyone loved the Mike LaFerle how many knees do guys have? Matt had to hear it about a dozen times.  

3! 

A left knee, a right knee and a wein-knee

Map:

Marathon course below. 50M included a 1000m out and back segment after loop 4 and headed into town 

http://elevatemyrace.com/durbin_land_between_lakes_marathon/#

Results: 

https://runsignup.com/Race/Results/44821/IndividualResult/ZJBS?resultSetId=305344#U4325100

Gear:

• Altra Superior 4s 

• Feetures pink low cut max cushion socks

• DSG run pants

• Nike 9” dry fit compression shorts

• RockCF long sleeve shirt

• BleggMitts

• Garmin Fenix 6x

• Garmin Tri HR strap

• Catalpa Buff

• ¼ zip

• Under armor orange windbreaker 

• Goodr sunglasses 

• Solomon Adv Skin 5 vest

• Dirty Girl Gaiters

• Trail toes

• Gurney Goo

Nutrition:

• 4x Solomon soft flasks with 400cal tailwind (3 scoops naked, 1 scoop beer buzz caffeinated)

• Kion EAAs

• Salt stick caffeine 

• Coke

• 4 Thin mints

• Fitaid