Well What can I say about the Freestate 40 miler that I haven't already said in the previous two years? Nothing really. I think my buddy Darin summed it up best. When he said that both he and I had been training pretty hard for this race and that we both had planned on taking the double here. With him winning the A-Main 100km event and me the B-Main 40 miler.
We both had been getting faster and faster with each training run and had a real good idea of what we thought we could do if given the right conditions.
When race day arrived. It was the most perfect race conditions that anyone could've predicted for this race. Normally it's muddier than Hell. Not this year.
I knew the course was a little short. It always has been. I also knew with these conditions. That there was No Way! The course record for the 40 miler was going to remain intact after I crossed the line. And, since Darin shares the same brain with me. He was just as fired up about the prospect of doing the same in the 100km.
As luck would have it there would be NO breaking of the old course records this day in either race. As Bad Ben Holmes decided to make a route change due to the erosion issues they've been battling on the section of the course affectionately known as the muddy mile. This route change cut off about two miles of the old course. So to correct what would be obviously a very short 40 miler he made up the distance on the backside of the trail system. With the lightly used Cactus Ridge section. In doing this he added back roughly four miles. Which now made the course more true to what is advertised.
The course change was cool and I was totally O.K. with it. Darin and I actually caught wind of the route change a couple of days before the race because both his and my wife were working aide stations. We knew the course had been changed but Ben didn't let the cat outta the bag until just before the start. Once we heard where we were going I turned to Darin and said. "Oh Well! So much for the course record."
The start was given and we set off in search of what was now almost seemingly impossible to attain. I felt like I was in good enough shape to chisel 7 to 8 minutes off the old course record but now with the two extra miles. I would have to run like I've never run before. Instead of trying to kill myself though I just stuck to my game plan of 7:45's to 8's on the first loop. Then drop down a minute slower per mile on the second loop.
That first loop felt really good. I was still stinging a little from my less than desirable finish at the 50 Mile National Championships 7 weeks earlier. So I was super tempted to just go "Hell Bent for Leather", on this first loop. I knew if I did that there would be the possibility I would crash and burn on the second one. So stick to my game plan I did.
I came in on that first loop with a 2:37 split. Averaging about 7:51's per mile feeling relaxed and comfortable. Looked at Ben I assured him that the course was pretty close to 20 miles. At the pace I was running. I would have hit that first loop in the 2:25 range on the old course. Anyway no matter. Gotta keep moving. I wasn't concerned about anybody catching me. That sounds pretty cocky I know. But I wasn't racing anybody that day. What I mean to say is that it didn't matter to me who was in the race. I was running my race today. I knew in my head what I needed to do. I felt like if I could do what I wanted to and got beat! Then it was gonna take a breakout performance by somebody to do it.
Back out on the second loop and dialed in. I knew I could relax through the Cactus Ridge section. Darin and I did all our training on the old course. As you all already know by now. This is like the fourth time I've mentioned my "F-ing" BFF! But for some reason when I told myself I could relax. My brain thought that meant that it could relax too and it started to wander on me. We all know what happens next. Yup! BAM!!! Right to the deck I went. I don't know what the hell has been wrong with me lately but almost every time I run I take a damn fall?
Lying on the dirt I thought to myself O.K. Ass hat quit jerking around and get going. I got up brushed off and did a quick scan for any carnage. Nope I'm good. Now what? I thought how am I going to keep myself entertained for the next 18 miles? So like always I started playing songs in my head. I don't carry an IPOD with me in training or racing. So the song usually ends up being whatever song has been stuck in my head for a few days before the race. Thank God for me it wasn't something stupid like the freakin Macarena! Actually it was a pretty cool little jam called "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster the People. A catchy tune that kept the leg turnover pretty rhythmic.
Nothing much else happened the rest of the race. After 2 hours and 45 minutes of the same song replaying in my head. I managed to stay on my feet. Out of trouble with no real issues. It's pretty funny you know? How just 7 weeks earlier you can have one of the worst races you've ever run. Then Presto Change-O! You show up ready to lay one down? I never have been able to figure that out. Maybe that's the whole problem. That theres nothing too figure out. You have good races and bad ones and it's not up to you to decide when that is. You should be thankful for the good ones but even more thankful for the bad ones. Because it's those bad races that make you appreciate the good days even more.
I crossed the finish line this year in a time of 5:43:01. Establishing a new course record for the now accurate 40 mile distance. Only missing the old course record by 10 and a half minutes for two extra miles of running. Smiling with three fingers raised on my right hand. Indicating that the Three Peat was complete.
When I signed up this year. Ben asked me if I wanted to own this race? I said you bet. The truth though is that when I signed up it was more of an afterthought. I really didn't know what kind of shape I'd be in. I didn't know who would show up and run it?
When I signed up this year. Ben asked me if I wanted to own this race? I said you bet. The truth though is that when I signed up it was more of an afterthought. I really didn't know what kind of shape I'd be in. I didn't know who would show up and run it?
I don't think it is so much a matter of wanting to own this race. More so rather it's becoming sort of a comfort zone for me. Like Mom's mashed potatoes or the feeling you get coming home after you've been away for awhile.
No matter how bad a race I just had. Or how lousy a job I did. Trying to live up to my own impossible standards. I know I can always come home to the Freestate 40 miler and get my shit back on track.
The very first time I ran this race back in 2008. I didn't really care much for the course. I thought there were too many roller coaster up and downs. I didn't like the multiple loop format. It was too muddy! Over the years though it has grown on me. Like the way the dorky little neighbor kid that hangs out with your kid grows on you. At first you think whats wrong with this damn kid? Then over the days, months, years...You start to think that kid ain't so bad. Til one day. You just look at them like there one of your own.
So this brings us to the million dollar question. Will I come back again next year? Is there a possible Four Peat in the works and if there is. Then what? Five? Six? Try and be like Lance and go for Seven? I don't know. It'll all depend on how I feel and what kinda shape I'm in at the time a month before I guess. For me to try to think about anything further out then the next race is crazy. Besides I want to take a shot at the 100km before I start to slow down.
Which on that point. I have to give some serious props to the real man of the hour. Not long after I finished my race. Darin came in from his second loop like somebody hat doused him in kerosene and lit his ass on fire! He then went on to not only win his race but he did so in record time. He was so damn fast! That he broke the old course record by a handful of minutes and he had to run three extra miles!!! Simply Amazing!
As always in all ways. I have to give a huge thanks to the folks at Salomon for being gracious enough to outfit me with the best trail running gear on the planet! And for seeing something in me that I don't always see in myself. I also want to thank My good friend Ben Holmes on another superbly run race. As well as all the great volunteers for their dedication and hard work with everything they do.
Next up for me is my attempt at breaking the speed record out on the Kokopelli Trail in Colorado and Utah on May 27th. Not sure if a 142 mile trek across the desert is a good idea right now. I have a respectful fear for this whole thing. As anyone should. I been training my ass off. Averaging 130 miles a week for the last four weeks and have about two and a half more to go before I start my tapper. The confidence is there for sure but anything can happen when you get out there. I can go into a whole bunch of details about a whole bunch of things. Right now though it's going to have to wait for a different post.
