RACE REPORT: Frosty 50k

Submitted by: Ron Fleming

Temps were right around or just under 20 degrees when we started at 8am. We were able to sit in the car and keep warm right up until the start. I felt quite overdressed compared to some of the people that had on shorts and just a couple of shirts. I had two pair of pants (one pair of tights and a looser fitting running pant over them), two pair of gloves, three tech shirts (one short sleeve, two long sleeve), a long-sleeve half zip, a windbreaker/jacket, neck gaiter and a fleece cap. I carried a small backpack to carry a few things in (fluids, ipod, gu) and would use it to stow any clothing I needed to remove. Within the first couple of miles I got hot and came out of the half zip and my bottom pair of gloves.

The course is about 7.8 miles out and about 7.8 miles back, run twice. It winds along the shores of Salem Lake, which was mostly frozen on top. As the sun came up and hit the ice, you could hear the ice creaking which was really wild how it resonated. At times it sounded like lots of frogs croaking or a jet going across the sky. I didn't really set any expectations for myself, but decided I would start out at about a 10 minute pace and see how that felt and hopefully gradually take that down a little. At the end of the actual lake trail, the course ran into greenway which ran alongside a small creek and past a golf course, where we made our turn around (7.8) to go back to the starting area.

I completed my first out-and-back in 2:35 and felt pretty good for that first half. In retrospect, I should have run a little more conservatively...I think it would have paid off later. At this aid station, I came out of my top layer of pants and stashed them in my pack and headed back out on the course. About a mile or so in I ran into Eric, one of Franks friends that was running with us and shortly after him, I ran into Frank. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits. I really enjoyed the first half of the run, but could tell I was starting to feel the effects and I put on my headphones for the first time and tried to focus on pushing through this last half.
At the turn around I was feeling pretty worn down and was crashing mentally as well, but knew I only had 7.8 miles left..I was 3/4 done. The course was starting to get monotonous. I continued to move forward, taking some short walk breaks...struggling. At this point, there wasn't much conversation on the course. I got hot, so I took off my jacket and stashed it in my pack, all while moving forward. I realized I had dropped one of my gloves in the process and when i turned around to go find it, another runner who said he was not in the race, said he saw it about 50 yards back and he offered to go get it for me. So I took him up on that and proceeded to move forward. I believe his quote was "If you are running 31 miles, I'm sure you don't want to go backwards." He was right! Many thanks to him!

I got to the last aid station which was 3.5 miles from the finish, feeling rough. About a half mile later I talked myself out of the funk and picked up the pace to go ahead and finish it out. It actually felt better to run harder than to shuffle along. This was the only time during the race where I got cold. My shirts were wet from sweat and this leg of the course was on the south side of the lake and mostly in the shade. My last three miles were three of my fastest of the day and my last mile was the fastest by 40 seconds. I finished in 5:15 and felt great about the whole accomplishment.

The finisher's award was a metal plaque-like thing that stands up so you can set it on a desk or table. It has the race information cut out in it. After finishing, i walked to my car to put on dry clothes and gather myself. I went back to the finish to enjoy some hot chicken broth, which at the time, was the highlight of the day.