Sunmart 2006

I ran an absolutely asinine race, but had a great time doing it. Don't look for me in the race results, because I won't be there. Here's the long story:

A month ago I went to Bandera and ran more than I usually do, and sure enough I started having IT band problems. I took nearly the entire month off leading up to Sunmart, and stretched my legs everyday. Thursday before Sunmart I decided to run 8-10 miles, and if that felt ok, then I would run 50 miles at Sunmart. After all, I had already paid. If my knee was still hurting, then I would take Sunmart off and hope for a speedy ramp up for Bandera. That Thursday, I ran 4 miles and had to stop because my knee hurt too much. Sunmart was out for me, but I would be going anyways to cheer on my wife, Kara, who was running her first 50K.

We got out to Houston on Friday for packet pickup, and I was so frustrated. Picking up packets was like pouring salt in my wounds. I didn't want to pick anything up since I wasn't running. But Kara talked me into picking up the bag and a few of the goodies. I told her that I would not use them since I wasn't running, but if she wanted 2 of something I would give it to her since I paid for the race anyways. I picked up my number because I thought that maybe I would run a loop or half a loop, and if I had a number on then no one would have a problem with it. I did not pick up a timing chip, because I had no real intentions of running. And I knew if I started the run with a timing chip, it would encourage me to do something stupid like trying to finish the race with an injury.

On the way to Hunstville that evening I decided I would run one loop. Even if I had to walk half of it, I might as well finish a loop (12.5 miles).

The next morning I lined up at the start and started running at 7am. Kara was there, but her 50K didn't start until 7:30. When I was about 6 miles into the run my knee was hurting, so I ran a little faster to get it over with. I was running about a 9 minute pace at that point, which for 12.5 miles is pretty comfortable, but completely stupid if I had any intentions of running 50 miles. Fortunately I had no intentions of running 50 miles that day. As I approached 10 miles, my knee wasn't any worse, so I decided that maybe I should run a second loop. I was hoping to see Kara before I finished the loop, so I could let her know. She would be expecting me at the aid station since I was only running one loop. If she didn't see me, she might get worried. Fortunately I saw her, and told her I would keep running.

By the beginning of the second loop, my legs were burning. No wonder, not only had I not planned on running, but on Thursday, after I decided that I would not run Sunmart, I went to the gym and did a pretty heavy leg workout. On top of this I was running without any Gu's, gels, electrolytes, or anything else. So I was running too fast on weak legs, and a mind made up that I would not run the full 50. A few miles into the second loop I passed Joe P. He said, "I thought you were just going to do one loop?" I responded, "Well, my knee's not getting any worse, so I figured I might as well run until I can't." He laughed and said he knew what that meant... Crap! I was starting to think he was right, I was probably going to try to finish the race.

I caught Kara and her friend Christine soon after that. Kara told me I was a dumbass and that I should have at least worn a timing chip. It didn't really matter, I was just happy to be out there. Getting "credit" for the run didn't really matter to me.

Around the end of the second loop I knew I was committed. I also knew I was about to seriously slow down. I was still under an 8 hour pace and my legs were sludge. But my knee felt OK! Then I started laughing out loud. I was thinking of a conversation that I had with my friend Jim earlier that week. He was having knee problems too and was talking to Joe about it. I wasn't there but here's how it was told to me. It just sounded like two stoners sitting around their dorm rooms:

Joe: How's you knee feelin'?

Jim: Not much better. It still hurts everytime I run.

Joe: You know what you need, man? Maybe you need to just keep runnin'. Maybe it's somethin' you just need to knock loose, and like, once you do that you'll be fine.

Jim: Yeah, sure Joe. maybe...



Not exactly sound medical advice, but I know I'll take advice from a runner sooner than a doctor. Anyways, this advice we had laughed at earlier that week seemed to be dead on for me. So I just kept running. The truth is, it hurt a lot. But as much as it hurt, it never seemed bad enough to stop. I don't know how bad it would have to be, which scares me a little.

The rest of the run is not that interesting. It hurt a lot, a bunch of people passed me, and I stumbled on to finish. Last year I remembered drinking a coke at the very last aid station, and it was so freaking good. When I got to the last aid station I asked for a coke but they were all out. It was sad, was I going so slow that they ran out of refreshments???

I continued on, and I was so happy to see the HCTR crew at the finish line, and Kara with her finishers jacket. I stopped for a second to tell her congratulations, then ran on to the finish line. I had to explain to the people working there that I did not have a timing chip to give them, and they looked at me funny but gave me my jacket anyways.

I've now run several 50 mile runs, but it never gets old. Each one is a challenge, and each has it's own set of rewards. But I think this time I was happier at Kara's accomplishment that my own. We enjoyed a nice Sunmart post-race meal and I had the luxury of driving home that night. We slept very well that night.