Midnight 50K Race Report

The Midnight 50K run began at 8 pm at Lake Sylvia, about 40 minutes from Little Rock. The entire run is on forest roads. There were 2 full equipped aid stations, one at 7.5 miles and one at the turn around at 15.5 miles. It had been so hot lately but news came that it would be a cool run so that made me very happy!
I went to the race with the intent to run the 25K even though I wanted to run the 50K. I just did not feel I was trained to do a 50K. A month earlier I got sick with some type of respiratory infection and when I got better the heat came! Never ever did I live in such a hot state! almost every day this summer, temperatures were in the 90's, which in Belgium would be like a heat wave. When I started training again, I would have to quit after running 3 miles! Soaked in sweat and unable to breath properly drove me to limit my running. I did start biking but with an average of 80 miles per week on the bike and 20 miles in weekly running time, I knew I was not prepared to do a 50K!
Mostly, I was afraid I would get hurt from not being prepared. I was not afraid of staying out for hours and taking it easy, walking more than running. I was conflicted. I wanted to complete the 50K as that was a goal I set last year but I knew it was not going to be pretty and I did not want to end up crippled for a month after the run. I decided to sign up for the 50K and than drop to the 25K. I just thought to myself, you never know...
So I huddled at the back of the pack when they started the race and ran extremely slow! I really felt that I was going way to slow but I told myself to take my time and just enjoy the moment. Really, this was the first time in a long time that I was feeling great while running. The temperatures were fantastic! I packed everything to run a 50K, just in case so I have enough sport beans to last me over 7 hours, just in case. The first miles are uphill and I took it easy. The mood was great and there must have been almost 100 people there! Way more than last year. Last year I ran my first trail race by completing the 25K and there were not that many people than but it was a lot hotter at that time. As I ran, I started to set goals and told myself that if I would make it to the 7.5 miler aid station below 2 hours, I would continue. If it would take me 2 hours or longer, I would do the 25K.
I got to the 7.5 mile aid station in an hour and 25 minutes! I was so surprised! I was feeling awesome and had a big smile on my face. I looked around and asked: "So what do you think? Should I do the 25 or 50?" One guy looked at me and said: "You look so fresh, keep going!" So that is what I did. He also said that he was going to drop to the 25K so I could keep his friend "Charles" company! I ran ahead and met Charles on the road. He is from Memphis and a software development I believe. We ran together for about 6 miles I think. He was a lot stronger on the hills and I seem to be quick on the downhills so we kept up with each other until about 2 miles from the turn around.
I love it when I see people running back from the turn around and actually predicted the first 4 being "Nick, Jamie, Darby and Paul". In the end, Darby had some GI trouble and Paul passed him. Seeing them run back made me so happy. They are amazing runners and I get to run with them! (ok, well far behind them, but still :)
I saw Charles again at the turn around and after almost 3 hours, we were on our way home! I could not believe that I felt so happy. I really think that with the stress of the summer coursework I needed this run! I needed to be outside moving so that is what I did, I just kept going! I lost Charles after a few miles, ran quickly past the 7.5 mile aid station again and was about 5 hours into the run when I felt pain for the first time. My left quad was not cooperating the way I wanted so I thought I slowed down but I actually ran negative splits! At the last 2 miles, I met Karrie, Jamie's wife and we ran to the finish together. That was nice given that at the OT 50K, Doug and Jamie ended up finishing together!
I believe that we finished with a time of 5 hours and 42 minutes. I went into the lake for a bit, which did wonders to my legs. Than I drove to Little Rock and well, between 3 am and 8 am did really not sleep well. I was so scared that I would feel as I did the day after completing OT. When I finally got up, I was a little sore in my left quad but I was feeling great and very happy! In the afternoon, I even went on a 12 mile ride and felt great! I will take it easy this week but I am just so amazed that I feel this good.
What's next? I would really like to start training for a 50 miler. Perhaps I will pace someone at Traveler again which could be like a 50 miler.