**Race information**
* **What?** Hell Hath No Hurry 50k
* **When?** June 29, 2019
* **How far?** 50k(ish) – my watch showed 33.53 at the end. Free miles!
* **Where?** Pittsburgh, PA
* **Finish time:** 8:03:11
**Training**
See as this was my first attempt at any type of ultramarathon, I wasn’t totally sure how to approach training. I’ve done a handful of marathons and I’m familiar with that training cycle, so I decided to do the same thing, just more of it. I used the Pittsburgh Marathon as a training run and two weeks before this race I did a 22 mile training run as my last long run before the race. I also mixed in as much trail running as I could, which usually meant early Saturday or Sunday morning trying to get out a long run on some trails in one of our city parks.
The distance running was helpful, but the long trail runs were really beneficial. They helped me mentally more than anything. Trail running is definitely slower than road running and that lesson sometimes takes a while to sink in. I also was able to practice my nutrition and hydration, which sounds boring but ended up being important and I’m glad I had the chance to work this into my training.
I did all of my long training runs wearing my vest (UD Ultra Vest 4.0) and so I wore it during the race as well. I’m definitely on the lookout for a better race solution, though. It’s not always fun lugging around up to 2 liters of water on your back. Any suggestions?
**Pre-race**
My pre-race preparation consisted of me showing up to the race and getting my bib/socks/shirt at the registration table. This race had a staggered start so that everyone completing the various distances (50 mile, 50k, 30k, and 10k) would finish at roughly the same time (give or take a couple hours) and be able to hang out for burgers and beer and whatnot.
After I got my bib, I spent some time going back and forth to the port-a-potties and wondering what I’d gotten myself into. Everyone else certainly looked more experienced and not as nervous as I felt.
**Race**
The 50k race started promptly at 10am. It had rained for the better part of a month in Pittsburgh so the course was particularly muddy, and it was in the 80s and very humid.
When we took off, I decided to tuck into the middle/back of the pack for the first lap since I had never run on these trails and didn’t know the course at all. Plus, I wasn’t going to be competing – I was hoping just to finish.
The first loop was very enjoyable. The course was definitely tough, but not impossible. The hardest part of the course was the ridiculous amount of mud. Sections that should have been super-runnable were reduced to being a glorified slip’n’slide. Some sections featured mid-calf mud levels. Needless to say, I learned on this course that sometimes slower is faster. There were definitely some super-fun rolling singletrack sections and my first time through I was really enjoying those. All in all, it was a great course and the first loop was terrific. According to [Athlinks](https://www.athlinks.com/event/81241/results/Event/852768/Course/1629959/Bib/4255), I finished the first loop in 13th out of 45 people that started the race.
The second loop was much like the first, only sloppier. I was still having fun and it was during this loop that I realized just how awesome aid station volunteers are. They were terrific. I finished loop 2 in 12th position out of 36 remaining runners for the 50k race.
During the third loop I started to doubt whether I would finish. I wasn’t feeling great and the heat and humidity were really getting to me. I started playing the game of “just finish this mile” or “just get to the aid station” or “you only have to see that muddy hill 2 more times”. It worked. I got through it and finished the loop in 11th position out of 35 remaining runners.
When I finished my third loop, I wasn’t entirely sure I was going out for my fourth. It was so hot and so humid and I felt like garbage. I’m not huge but I’m not a particularly slim runner either – the heat and humidity really get to me. I took some time at the main aid station and figured I could at least get to the next aid station and reassess. So I had some pickle juice, ate some beloved PB&J, followed with some potatoes and salt, washed it all down with some cold water and went on my way. This loop was really hard but I did fall in with a small group of 3 other runners to cover some of the miles which made for a nice mental break. I finished loop 4 in 8th position out of 29 remaining runners.
The fifth and final loop was by far the hardest. By this point in the day I was very tired and a little cranky. But I told myself it would be silly to not finish the damn thing at this point. So I set out for my last loop just hoping to get through it. I walked a lot on this loop – I would say I hiked, but it was probably too slow to call it hiking. I told myself to run when I could and walk when I had to, so that’s what I did. I remember the huge feeling of relief when I crested the final hill and started the last little downhill to the finish. I ended up in 7th position out of 23 remaining 50k runners that finished. I was very pleased with that performance even though there was lots of room for improvement.
**Post-race**
Immediately after finishing I text my wife and got a burger and a couple beers and sat down. My family joined me and we ate for a while and I just sat there, happy that I had finished.
Up next is some recovery this week, then back to it. I’m signed up for a 50-miler at the end of August so I’ll be getting back on the trails shortly, putting in the miles.
