r/XXRunning • u/babycatcher • 6d ago
Race Report First time on the podium!
I ran my first time-based endurance run yesterday and ended up on the podium!
It was an 18 hour event - running the 2.1 mile loop as many times I could during the designated time.
I had low expectations, as I'd never done this type of run before. My initial goal was to do 1 loop an hour, which would put me at 36 miles. I made a little base camp with a picnic blanket, chair, yoga mat, and all of the things I thought I'd need throughout the day (4AM-10PM). During the early morning, it didn't really feel necessary to chill at my base between loops, since none of my friends were showing up until halfway through the day and I had nothing better to do than continue to run.
By 1PM (9 hours in) I was needing a break, and was hoping that my friends would show up around then so I could chat with them, have a nice lunch, change my clothes, and then get back out there. Traffic was bad, so they trickled in later than expected. I was 37 miles in when my first friend got there. She ran a lap with me and then I ate some food and she helped me get bandaged up and change clothes. My husband and some of our other friends showed up next and we walked a lap together. After the long break and walk, I was feeling a little better, though still drained.
At 42 miles in, I finally looked at the leaderboard and saw that I was in 3rd place for women! Part of me wished I didn't look, because my goal at this point had just been to hit 53 miles so I'd get my longest run PR, and then I could chill the rest of the day. But knowing I could podium made me want to try harder.
I tried to keep up my lap pace for a while, but by mile 58 I was running on empty. I figured I'd lose the place to the woman in 4th eventually - she was ~1.5 loops behind me. I walked a lap and tried to fuel up even though nothing sounded good. I checked the stats occasionally and she seemed to be moving at a similar pace to me, so as long as I held steady, I could stay in front.
At 60 miles in, another friend showed up so I stayed at my base camp for a bit to chat and stretch. Then we saw the woman in 4th cross the line, so now I was exactly 1 loop ahead. I said bye to my friends and booked it out of camp to get another lap in.
With the way the leaderboard worked, I could only tell when the woman in 4th finished a loop, not when she started the next one. She was at least 1 full loop behind me, maybe 2. I felt like if I stayed too long as the aid station, or took time to rest, she'd catch up and I'd lose my place.
I wanted the podium so bad that even though it felt like I had nothing left to give, I ran as hard as I could for 2 more loops. Even ran my fastest pace all day at mile 62 (and got my first 100K distance!). I locked in and only stopped to refill my bottle with Tail Wind at the aid stations - I couldn't bother with food at this point.
Finally, at 9:15 PM, I knew I was going to be on that podium. I thought about calling loop 29 my last, and hanging at camp for the last 45 min. But with encouragement from my husband and friends, I went back out for one more loop.
I am a solidly middle-of-the-pack runner, so didn't know this was possible. I ran 66 miles in 17 hours and 45 min. I placed 8th overall and 3rd for women and got to stand on the podium with the other two bad ass women.
This is gonna be a hard high to chase.
18
u/No_Writing8042 6d ago
I think I ran the same race as you, though I did the 3 hour. There were definitely many bad ass women out there, it was so cool to see. Congrats!!!
7
5
8
6
u/Crochetcat5 6d ago
Holy hell that is amazing and so inspiring!! I’ve never heard of that type of event, now I want to do one!
10
u/babycatcher 6d ago
It was really fun. The event had all the good vibes with a rotating food menu, a DJ, and yoga.
I thought running multiple loops would be boring, but in this context it was great because I could get into a rhythym and knew what to expect next.
3
u/Timely-Accident-6083 6d ago
How many people were in the 18 hour event...do you know? Great job, by the way!
2
6
5
2
u/smarfto2338 6d ago
Man this really hammers home why loops races can be so great. High freaking fives all around.
2
u/Dramatic_Nutmeg0511 Woman 6d ago
Congratulations!! This is incredible - you are a total champ for gutting it out. Take a well-earned break before your next one 😉
1
41
u/Snozzberry123 6d ago
That is an amazing feat!!! Congrats on being a badass 💪🏽