Hixon50 50k 2016

Date: Sunday, October 30 2016, 7:39 am start (sunrise if you couldn't guess)
Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin
Distance: 50k, 35% of the runners were women!
Weather: About 48-50 at the start. Really didn't warm up too much, maybe hit 51! Perfect weather with lots of clouds and a bit of drizzle throughout the first loop.
Runners: Marcus Westerman (my wonderful husband running his first 50k!)
Crew: Mom and Dad, Finnley (11) and Juniper (7)
Gear: Wink Hydration pack, VS yoga capris/sport bra, colorblocked Patagonia light long-sleeve, Dirty Girlz gaitors, smartwool socks, Altra Lone Peaks, Suunto Ambit 3 GPS, Zumbro buff.
Fuel: Pretty much had gingerale at every aid station. One station ran out during the 2nd loop so I had some coke. Ate 2 string cheeses spread out, a few beans, a small handful of gummy bears at most aid stations, 2 m&m's and that was about it. Drank 35oz water from my pack.

Training and Preparation: This was my 3rd 50k in a row. Earlier in the season, Marcus and I had talked about signing up for Wild Duluth, but during the week of the Superior 100, I noticed a post about this race and I was intrigued! Being 2 weeks later in the season, it would allow me to get cooler long runs in. I also liked the idea of a new course in a new part of the midwest. Frankly, we were all getting a little bored of heading "up north" for all of our races. And since I've been toying with the idea of signing up for the Zumbro 50 mile (a 3-loop course), I thought I should give a loop course a try to make sure I could handle it!

Training in the winter/spring, leading up to the Superior 50k, went really well and I pushed myself to run all summer long, too. I really have a hard time with heat and humidity and much prefer running in the cooler months! I even upped my mileage 15% more than I had trained in the spring, but still ran only 4 days/week. I managed to get to Afton almost every week for my long rungs. 

Over 20 weeks, I averaged 33 miles/week with an average of 37 miles/week from weeks 11-20. Max mileage was 45 miles in week 15. Longest run at Afton, 3 weeks before race day, was 24 miles when I ran two 12-mile loops.

Race Weekend Preparation: Marcus had signed up for this race, too, his first 50k. On Saturday, we met up with Mom in Eagan and handed off the girls who were spending the night at their house. The boys were home alone! We drove down to La Crosse, stopping at Chipotle in Rochester to pick up some dinner. Made our way to Grand Bluff Running to pick up our packets and decided to check out the race start. The Hixon "mountain" was straight down Main Street and was clearly obvious! As we made our way up the winding hill, the view was spectacular! It took us awhile, but we eventually found the white weather ball and the race start. 

Checked in to the hotel, watched a movie (at 5:30pm!) while eating our dinner. Dinked around with a new show on Amazon Prime (Goliath) and eventually tried to get some sleep, but by now the butterflies had started. Up until trying to sleep, I hadn't really had any nerves. I was confident I would finish. I just didn't know what "ailment" would come this time (previously I've injured my knees early on and had a nasty stomachache that lingered through most of the race). Of course, per my usual, I hardly slept and we were up and out of bed by 5:30am. 

Pre-Race Selfie

Race Day: Having laid out my outfit the previous night, I immediately got dressed and made myself a cheese sandwich, hoping to get the pipes working! I had been really thirsty all night and had also been drinking a lot of water. 

We packed up the car and headed to the race around 6:45. Brought our drop bags to the start/finish (I had a white plastic tub and a cooler with some extra fuel), stood in line at the porta potties, checked in and made our way down to the start.

I really didn't have many expectations for this race. After finishing 2 50k's under less than perfect circumstances, I was confident I would finish in the allotted time. While I was hoping for a time better than my previous times (8:54 and 7:54), I was also happy with finishing anywhere around 8 hours. 
 
Start to Start/Finish (Miles 0 to 3.2 - 3.2m): After a VERY brief intro, we were off! I didn't even get a chance to wish Marcus good luck it all happened so fast! We were told there was going to be some mud because it had rained the previous night. The race also starts off immediately with a single-track downhill which really caused a traffic jam. I had worried I was overdressed with a long-sleeve, but knew I'd be back at the start in about 3 miles. Sure enough, I'd pulled up the sleeves within just a few minutes! The conga line really didn't thin out until 1/2 mile or so to the aid station when the twisty switchbacks came up to the ridge again. Unfortunately, all of the tight squeezes and quick turns started to give my right knee some problems. I was envisioning shades of Wild Duluth, just a year ago, when both of my knees gave out early on in the race and I pretty much hobbled my way to the finish. I really was not excited about repeating that experience so I started being really cautious around the turns and walking them carefully, especially on descents.

"Winding single track with quick turns, tight squeezes between rocks and trees, technical climbs and fast descents." (from Hixon50 website)

Start/Finish to Quarry (Miles 3.2 to 7.2 - 4m): I decided my long sleeve was just fine, had some gingerale/gummy bears and was off. This section is quite amazing, I must say! Lots and lots of switchbacks winding through the woods like a serpent. Some moderately technical climbs, but not too much elevation change. Just a lot of rolling ups and downs. As you can often see runners ahead and behind you, I kept an eye out for Marcus. I was thrilled to see him not far behind me. I yelled out to ask how his foot was (he's fighting plantar fascitis) and he said it was okay. This was the last time I'd see Marcus again until the end of the race. 

Quarry to Miller Bluff (Miles 7.2 to 9.9 - 2.7m): Knee was quite achy after all the switchbacks so I ended up taking some Advil around 10am. I was being very cautious on my descents and was clearly favoring my left leg in hopes I could get the pain to disappear in my right. This section ran us through an old sandstone quarry. I was watching my feet so much I almost didn't look up to enjoy the view. It was just beautiful even though it was in such an open area! No single track here! Instead, there were some wide open trails consisting of a combination of grass, gravel and dirt. This section had us running on asphalt for a 1/2 mile or so through a residential neighborhood, too!

Miller Bluff Aid Station

Miller Bluff to Lower Hixon (Miles 9.9 to 12.9 - 3m): This aid station was on the literal edge of a cliff! Unbelievably scenic. Just after leaving, we wound down to one of my most favorite views on the entire course. This brought us back up to the neighborhood with an uphill 1/4 mile climb on asphalt. The next 2.5 miles were pretty much all downhill which pretty much took a lot out of my knee! The path was wider here and very hard-packed. In fact, I ran into a few fatbikers partway through as it was clearly a section enjoyed by mountain bikers!

So excited to see family!
Feeling great!

With my girls,
Juniper and Finnley!

Lower Hixon to Start/Finish (Miles 12.9 to 15.5 - 2.6m): Family!! I knew Mom, Dad and the girls were leaving around 7am from Eden Prairie and were going to try to be at the halfway point, but I did not expect to see them at this aid station! Finnley ran to give me a hug and claimed she had already run 13.1 miles! Haha! She decided I was too sweaty and gross so I swapped out for a hug from Juniper, Mom and Dad. I told them I thought Marcus wasn't too far behind me so they should wait for him and then head up to the start/finish. Up until now, I think my pace was pretty steady. 

This section started out with some more rolling ups/downs near a golf course and eventually hit what I liked to call the "sentries" which were a couple of guys standing guard at a section that could easily be "cut" if one so desired. It also marked the beginning of the last one mile 600' climb. What I like to call Hixon's "Moose Mountain" - same elevation change, but over a much longer distance (so not nearly as steep). I had no problem with this hill and, frankly, was kind of excited to make my way up it as up until now, there really hadn't been too much elevation change and I wanted to use some new muscles! It also didn't put any pressure on my knees which was awesome. 

Eating some string cheese
before heading to the Quarry.

Heading into the start/finish, I had a lot of cheers from people thinking I was finishing! There was also a 25k race going on and at this point, a lot of them were finishing their race. But I still had an entire second loop to complete! Unfortunately, it was not at all obvious coming into the festivities where we were supposed to go. 

A woman I was running close to asked if I knew where to go and I did not. We both headed to the first aid station we saw on the left (which was the first aid station we had come to at the beginning of the race so it was familiar). My family was there so we just assumed this was where we were supposed to be! I got caught up with my family, they said that Marcus was NOT doing well and that he was likely going to drop after one loop. He was at least half an hour behind me at this point. The woman asked some volunteers if she was supposed to go left and they said yes so off she went! Something didn't seem right and I explained that we had only finished one loop, we had just come from the 1-mile climb and, sure enough, they'd sent her off in the wrong direction! They sent a runner after her while I took off in the opposite direction and ran through the "finish" and past the aid station we were supposed to go to!

Start/Finish to Start/Finish (Miles 15.5 to 18.7 - 3.2m): Wow, it was an entirely different race from this point on. All of the 25k runners had either passed me or finished their race. The fast 50k runners were way ahead of me. From this point on, I either had the trails to myself or shared them with a handful of people. It was awesome! I actually decided I'd try to listen to a podcast for a bit. 

Start/Finish to Quarry (Miles 18.7 to 22.7 - 4m): Mom said that Marcus was going to keep going! His pain had gone from a 10 to an 8 and he was feeling slightly better. I enjoyed the switchbacks this time better than the first time. Less traffic!

My girls enjoying the scenery,
overlooking the Quarry.

Quarry to Miller Bluff (Miles 22.7 to 25.4 - 2.7m): Running through the Quarry, I noticed a few specks sitting high on the hill. Hey, I recognize you!! The girls and my parents were sitting on the hill, enjoying one of the most scenic views on the entire course. Once finishing the gravel road and hitting the top of the ridge, I was able to check in with them once again. They were waiting for Marcus, fully expecting him to drop soon. I didn't think I'd see them again until the finish, although they wanted to try to see me at the last aid station. I assured them I was totally fine! I was feeling great!

Dad and the girls in the distance.
If you look really closely,
you can see me on the gravel road!

Feeling good on an incline!

Miller Bluff to Lower Hixon (Miles 25.4 to 28.4 - 3m): The second time through the asphalt, I was feeling really good and ran the entire way until I got to the uphill. Knee was a bit achier on the 2.5 mile descent, but I tried to ignore it as much as possible as I knew the last 3 miles were mostly flat or uphill which didn't bother me nearly as much. 

My one and only attempt at a selfie!
Taken just after leaving the Miller Bluff Aid Station,
down by the "graffiti" rock.

Lower Hixon to Finish (Miles 28.4 to 31.07 - 2.6m): Family wasn't able to make it so I quickly had some pop/bears and was off. Slowed down a bit on the rolling hills section. When I hit the "sentries", my watch said 30.3 miles so I was quite confused as I knew I had at least a mile to run before getting back to the sentries and the last mile climb! Mentally, that hit me a bit! But by the time I got to the bottom of the hill, I just booked it up as I was so close to being done! Running into the finish I was so glad to NOT see Marcus as that meant he was still out there! 

I fully enjoyed my warm homemade applesauce in my ceramic mug. Also had some scrambled eggs, but managed to drop my sausage in the dirt! I'm sure I made a puppy or two very happy.

I quickly changed in the car as we were going to drive back to the last aid station hoping to see Marcus. By the time we got there, though, he had already been through! Dad said the last time he saw him, he had sped up a bit and his foot was slightly better. So the girls and I bid good bye to Mom and Dad who were going to head home and booked it back up the winding mountain, hoping to get to the finish before Marcus! We did not miss him and he finished in 8:48:52, albeit very sore!
 

Thank you Mom and Dad! I really enjoy you guys making the effort to support us! Thank you, Finnley, for suffering in the cold and thank you, Juniper, for always giving me a hug and helping me open my string cheese! We will make trail runners out of you yet!

Final Time: 7:39:21 (14:48 pace), 23/39 women, 11/15 age group 40-49, 89/113 overall. Loop One: 3:44:12 (14:26), Loop two: 3:55:09 (14:48). 

Recovery: Shortly before heading home, we texted the boys to give them a heads up (they had some cleaning to do before we got home) and they said they were going to order Orchid for dinner. Yeah! Arrived home shortly before 8pm, showered, got the girls in bed and had a nice meal! Was slightly stiff sleeping Sunday and Monday night, but moving around just fine by day. Right knee is very slightly achy, but I think it will go away quickly. Marcus and I are heading to the cabin for a short getaway on Tuesday and I plan on running a little bit up there. When I get back, I'll make the big decision on what spring race to sign up for! Zumbro 50 or Spring Superior 50k? Or both?!

Forgot to add - I think I found new shoes! I trained mostly in Altra Lone Peak's and had absolutely ZERO problems with my feet during this race. First race run without some sort of blister problems!