This past Sunday, I ran my first ultramarathon: Coastal Trail Runs’ Horseshow Lake 50K. The event was held in the Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve, Palo Alto, CA and had several other distances to it: 5 mile, a half-marathon, a marathon, and the 50K – drawing a sellout crowd of 68, 113, 38, and 29 respectively.

The weather was excellent. It was about 54 degrees at the start and I would say that it had warmed up to at least 80 when I finished. There wasn’t too much wind to speak of, though there was a nice breeze at certain points on the course.

50K Course (from my Garmin)

The course was a beautiful mix of rolling fields and forest (I love the Bay Area!) and had a nice mix of single track and dirt road (59% & 41%.) On the first portion of the course, you could see the Pacific Ocean off in the distance (that’s it in the distance on the header photo) and the SF Bay on the 5-mile section. As far as elevation, it was a good mix of climbs, associated downhills, and flats. The total gain listed on Coastal’s site was 4,560′ (my Garmin showed 5,676′.) All runners except for those doing the 5 mile, started a the same time and did an out and back 13.1 route – those doing the full marathon and 50K, did that twice. The 50K runners then ran the 5 mile, out and back route. I wasn’t sure if I would like the routing, thinking it would be boring; but I actually ended up liking it. Running it twice enabled you to know what was coming and plan accordingly (which we’ll see that I still need to improve upon.) All in all, a great course and one that was well suited for a first time 50K: doable, yet challenging (just as Wendell from Coastal had told me when I asked about it prior to registering!)

50K Elevation (from Coastal website)

As usual, the race was well-managed and marked – though I did yell at a few fellow runners I saw heading off in a wrong direction at an intersection. With the out and back course, the aid stations were at the start and mid-point on the half/full/50K course. Aid stations were excellent and the volunteers were super helpful when you arrived. To me, it made the day even better. WAY TO GO COASTAL!

All in all, a great race and one that I will be back to do again…yeah, again!

My Race

Continue Reading…

• Current plan: Horseshoe Lake 50K Training Plan
• Today’s session: Rest & recover
• Comments: Right knee is still a bit stiff, but getting better. I may try and ride the bike tomorrow. Horseshoe Lake race report is shaping up and will be done tomorrow…it’s my first ultra, so it’ll be a little longer than most.

Boy, am I glad I had planned to take today off – my body is beat from yesterday’s 50K. I’m generally OK, but my right knee is pretty stiff…ok, good and stiff.

We did go to the movies and saw The Great Gatsby. Pretty good film.

I’m taking a well-deserved break from running for a few days. My body may not be equipped for a marathon and a 50K three weeks apart. (Not saying I won’t do it again, though!) I may ride the bike if i feel up to it later in the week, but we will see.

Giddy-up!

Training Journal – 5/20/13:

• Current plan: Horseshoe Lake 50K Training Plan
• Today’s session: Rest & Recover
• Comments: R&R

I ran my first 50K today – the Horseshoe Lake 50K! It was a great run and I ended up with a 6:43:34 @ a 12:46 avg pace. Lots of ‘story’ about this run, which I’ll share later this week in a race report.

For now, I rest…!

Finish line photo & my race coaster!

Training Journal – 5/19/13:

• Current plan: Horseshoe Lake 50K Training Plan
• Today’s session: Race day!
  
• Comments: Full story later this week!

• Current plan: Horseshoe Lake 50K Training Plan
• Today’s session: Rest + day one of carb loading for the Sunday
• Comments: Worked, rested, review race plans, & chilled