TL;DR: I got my Ice Age finisher keychain and made up for a lack of talent and training with a desire to cross the finish line.
In 2016 and 2017 I tried and failed the Ice Age 50Ice Age 50, a 50 mile trail run on Wisconsin's Ice Age Trail. This year I signed up for the 50 again. I'm not fast, I have no natural running talent, and I'm kind of a wuss, so all I've got to rely on is training. I came so close last year that I thought maybe this time, with more training, I could do it.
More training didn't happen. I bought a Peloton over winter and fell in love with spin classes, of all things. Being able to get in a great workout without dealing with Wisconsin winter weather was just so appealing. So while I was putting in some decent workouts on the bike, my running dwindled. I had a lot of zero mile weeks, maxed out at a 15 mile run in February, and ran my highest mileage week - 20 miles - just this month. Not exactly ultramarathon training.
Obviously, I had every intention of dropping Ice Age. I had moved into a half marathon training plan with a goal of running a sub-2:00 half by the end of summer. 20 miles a week sounded pretty fine to me.
But then I was given the option of running the 50K at Ice Age instead. While the 50 mile Ice Age route consists of a relatively easy 9 mile loop followed by two very different and very tough out-and-backs on the Ice Age trail, the 50K is made up of a 13 mile out-and-back on the IAT and two laps around the 9 mile loop. I figured I could do the 13 mile out and back, end up back at my car and call it a day.
Race Day
Fresh off my 20 mile week (lol) I was looking forward to my 13 mile DNF at Ice Age. The energy at this race is electric. The race was founded in 1982 and it attracts runners from all over. Before the start, the race director lists off the runners with many, many multiple finishes. Such a cool thing to see.
The 50K runners were off at 8:15 a.m., and I kept a light, conversational pace (because really, what else could I possibly do?). The out-and-back to the Horseriders Camp aid station has a lot of steep climbs and descents, and despite the rain of the previous day there wasn't that much mud to deal with which surprised me. The varied terrain was nice - not a ton of running, not a ton of climbing, not a ton of downhill - just a good blend of each. Getting this section out of the way first thing is so different from the 50 mile route which puts this challenging section at the end of the race. And the great views here really make this run worth it. I figured if I could make this 13 mile stretch in 3:30 - 4:00 hours and still feel okay, which I could hopefully do even on my worst day, I'd consider keeping going for a single 9-mile loop. I got back to the start/finish area well under that goal, and feeling good.
Dammit, I had to keep running.
I set a new goal - if I could reach the halfway point, 15.5 miles, in under 4 hours, I'd see how I felt at 20 miles and then maybe, just maybe, I'd consider running the last loop. I figured if I tossed enough variables in there I'd find a good reason to quit. But no, 15.5 came in easily under 4 miles and by 20 miles I was feeling as good as 20 miles ever felt. WTF.
Here are a few photos out on the 9 mile loop. Lots of easy flats, some rolling hills, and some steep climbs here and there. 100% beautiful all the way through.
I finished the first 9 mile loop upright and smiling, and my amazing friend Andrea basically shoved me back onto the course for a second 9 miler (as all good running friends would do). I told her I'd try, but no promises.
Everyone says the double 9-mile loop at the end is the worst, but I really like it. Scenic. Not technical. Just nice. But I was starting to have some aches and pains around this point, as I should. Even so, I was really getting to the point where I thought I was going to do it. I busted out my secret weapon, took a swig, put on my playlist, and kept moving.
Mental toughness has never been a strong suit for me. Last year I quit a marathon 2 miles from the finish line because everything sucked and I was having a bad day. I actually had a longer walk to get home than I would have had I just finished, but mentally I was just so done. Hell, I quit my 7 mile "long run" last weekend at mile 5 because I was feeling tired. So by mile 29, the idea that I really could be finishing this 50K on willpower was overwhelming. About a mile after I hit the final aid station I could hear the finish line music and I can't lie - I teared up. Mostly because I was so ready to sit on my ass for awhile but also because it was really going to happen.
My time? Definitely my worst 50K at a whopping 7:50. But I had a great time. Like, 100%, 10/10 would do it again great time.
P.S. Everything hurts today.
