Todd is doing the summer Buckeye 50k in July and he decided that for his training he needed to run 20 miles yesterday. Keep in mind that he hasn’t ran more than 13.1 for a while - and that was at the Youngstown Half Marathon. I decided that running 20 miles was way too much for him to start off with and talked him down to ‘only’ 16. (Not like I’m a credible source or anything…but I will be running with him and there was no way I was up for 20!!) I decided that the easiest way to get in 16 was to do the pine lane portion of the Buckeye Trail twice. What was I thinking!?!
Of course I was running by myself because I walked up the giant hill at the very beginning and Todd ran it. Then - not even 2 miles into the run I slipped on mud and fell. I was a MESS. Mud all over my light blue shorts and my shirt, and of course all over my legs and arms and I think some splashed on my face. It didn’t hurt, but I was such a mess! I decided that the best thing to do was to try to brush off the big clumps and plan on trying to clean up a bit at the river crossing. I hadn’t seen any people and I was hoping that I could at least rinse off my hands and water bottle before I saw anyone, but wouldn’t you know as soon as I got to the river there was a couple with their dog. I said hi to them and just acted like it was completely normal to be covered in mud as I proceeded to clean off my water bottle (There was mud all over it). When I got to Pine Lane I felt pretty good (only 4 miles in) and chugged the last bit of my water and headed back. I think the main thing to do when training for a trail race (marathon or beyond) is to make sure you are getting the time on your legs and feet. You go so much slower when you are running on trails (my average pace according to Garmin was 11:04. I walked up all of the hills, but still). Under most normal circumstances a 12 mile road run for me right now would be pretty effortless, but I can honestly tell you that when I got to Pine Lane the second time (12 mile mark) I was done for! I was so tired and my legs were hurting! I do have to attribute some of the exhaustion to the fact that I didn’t have enough water and I probably should have used gatorade or something with salt because I was sweating pretty heavily. I drank a bottle of water per each 8-mile loop, but I was out of water by the time I got to Pine Lane - so I probably could have used 4 bottles full. I was SO thirsty by the time I was done so I am using that as an indicator that I was dehydrated. Technically you should not get to the point of feeling thirsty.
When I finally did finish I finished strong and Todd was sitting at the picnic table waiting for me. I gasped out “I need water” and he handed me his water bottle and told me I was running fast. Duh! I wanted water ASAP!! There was an older guy (he told me he was 71 later) talking with Todd and he told me how he runs 2 miles every other day and he also bikes 19 miles round trip to Winking Lizard regularly (a beer at the half way point). He looked great! I sure hope I look that good when I’m older - I swear exercise keeps you YOUNG. I was sort of short with him because I needed to go put my legs up and be able to have a painful expression on my face. I told him it was nice talking with him and to keep up with the running and biking. I then hobbled over to the bathrooms and put my legs up. What a nightmare I must have looked like - muddy, sweaty, hobbling - OH - and I didn’t have a shirt on because I took it off on the last loop (hung it on the Buckeye Trail sign) and when I got back it was gone!! HAHAHHAAHHAA!!! I had mud on my stomach, too, sheesh I wish I would have had my camera to take a picture.
Lessons learned:
First trail run should be less than what you think you can do.
Bring more water / gatorade than you think you need.
Don’t leave your shirt on the trail post.
Always have camera to document hilarious situations.
(most important): Exercise keeps you young!
29* year old Akron native. Recently completed my MBA with a concentration in Sustainability. Passionate about innovative renewable energy technology and endurance sports.