Ahhh, those friggin ducks. Will they ever mind themselves? Probably not. Yet, like an idiot, I went back for the 3rd time this past weekend to whip those mother duckers into shape!
For those not privy to my insanity, Mind the Ducks is a 12 hour race which is a one mile loop you run over and over and over again, as many times as you can in 12 hours. I popped my duck cherry in 2014 with 53 miles, did 56 in 2016, and came back in 2018 for more of the same.
A few things about this race stood out for me - 1, my goal. Every year I have tried to hit 62 (100k) and came up short. This year that wasn't the goal - with Ironman Lake Placid 10 weeks out, I knew systematically destroying myself out there for a lofty goal would be dumb - I decided to focus my goal on simply remaining upright for 12 hours, not killing myself, practicing tired nutrition on my feet, with the ability to still train a few days later. Whew. And #2 - here goes freaky - this would be the first year I didn't do ducks with a baby - which means no worries about packing my breast pump or a mid race feed (aren't you so happy you subscribe to this blog??).
With #1 in mind, I trained quite a bit differently for this race. Which, in a nutshell, means, I didn't. I started Ironman training in mid February, and added one extra run in per week back to back with my long run for IM training. Which means my long run was 18 miles going in, and my back to back long runs were 12-12. Perspective - each prior year I did a 31 miler and a back to back 15-15. With that in mind, I decided a PR was not the goal early on - and was sort of clueless about an actual goal, so like any athlete, I wung out some numbers for the hell of it to make mid race math fun, and decided that 31-40-50 were my C, B and A goals. Go.
Also, as any good athlete does, I tested a new piece of equipment on a 12 hour race - my suunto watch proved to be only a source of frustration, so like the fabulous husband he is, Greg surprised me with an early Mother's Day anniversary birthday Christmas gift on Thursday - a brand new Garmin 935. SWEET. I tested it for 2 miles, proclaimed it good, charged it up, and promptly left the house without it race morning. OMG. Way to go, Rae.
I packed up my tote o fun race morning (extra shoes, outfit, and whatever the hell munchies looked good in the cupboard) and got to the park about 6 (after run back home for said Garmin), set up tent with my new best bud Kelly and my existing trail bud Gretchen, grabbed my bib, pre race obligatory selfie, shot the breeze with some running buds, and amid low fanfare, we were off!
Hours 1-2 I kept it pretty steady at a 10 minute mile, hydrating and eating aid station offerings every mile or two. I connected with a new friend Garrett about 3 miles in, and he was a strong running partner I knew I could stay with for a few hours. My rough race plan was decided - run for 26 miles, or until I felt tired, then run walk, then start my power walk 6 hours in. I felt pretty good with this strategy - I knew i couldn't blow myself up, not only for race day, but also that I didn't have the bandwidth for a long recovery post race, as my peak Ironman training was slated to start May 21.
Races like MTD are the best, because you can chat with almost anyone - say hey to the eventual winners (who both broke course records), take a silly selfie with your pal Alli who showed up at 9 and ran a few laps with me (where, apparently I agreed to run across Tennessee in a 500k race next year - can I plead insanity at mile 15??) or slap a high five with two of the spectators who I ran a beer mile with a few weeks ago (yeah, you'll get a race report on that one. You know I strava'd that mess).
I hit my first marathon about 4:30 in, and was pleasantly surprised with a stop in by Greg with fresh shoes, and another hey about mile 30 from John, a fellow runner buddy (who just happens to be married to my sitter and runs 5ks in full fire gear for fun. #Imthenormalone. He ran walked with me for about 5 miles until at mile 35 I declared myself run out and power walk ready. I grabbed some pizza, checked the clock - 7 hours in - and settled off to a nice 15-16 minute mile power walk. I made a few new friends - Krista,who was gunning for 41 miles for her 41th year (and eventually did 52, because she is a rockstar!) and Mary, who is a freaking goddess and does these races as a retiree. All the props (yeah, she also bagged 50 miles as a veteran - I want to be her when I grow up!). 8 hours and 40 miles in, I did a quick assessment - I had hit my B goal, was it time to stop? Feet hurt. Mild hip niggle. Stomach good. Fueling spot on.
Time to keep going! I did a few more laps with Krista, did a few on my own, and in general made friends with pretty much anyone that was willing to chat with me. Both Greg and Uncle Alan stopped by with diet cokes and fries (apparently, I am predictable) which were manna from heaven. Everyone commented on how good I looked out there, which I didn't quite buy, but the quazy quacker team from Syracuse was offering free photo ops, so 11 hours in I took advantage of my 50 mile pic....
In hindsight, I probably do look too happy and relaxed for having run 50 miles. LOL. I debated again stopping, but, ya know, they offered a water bottle for a double marathon, and I'm a sucker for free crap, so there ya go.
Crossed my "finish line" in 11:31 with 52.6 miles under my belt, and aside from my barking dogs, I felt pretty great!
Oh yeah...and then I stopped. Once the adrenaline backed off, I realized how much it hurt to walk. I collected my parting gifts, slowly hobbled to my tent, put on my flip flops (OMG bending over!) and hung out for a bit to watch some epic 11:59 finishes. My mom, the angel that she is, brought me a big honkin Bill Grays cheeseburger...and...drum roll...diet coke and fries, which were damn delicious.
Hobbled to my car, drove home, and amid the toddler fanfare (I did not have the energy for this, but mommin is mommin!), stared at the Mt. Everest that used to be my stairs....took an epic, hot, beautiful shower, put on all the clothes (the post race shock is real) and scarfed down that fabulous burger and fries.
My best finish? Nope. Actually my "slowest", but just relatively. I cleaned up 2nd overall female under 40 (the winner did 63 miles, what a beast!) and averaged just over 13:00 mile for 52 miles. I wish I could show you the cool data but...I hit the wrong button on my garmin and deleted the race (WTF). I do know I did 98,000 steps for the day and was a total slacker and didn't get in those extra 2,000....maybe next year. LOL.
Here's the best part though. One day out - Sunday morning....Rob brought me coffee in bed, because this is why you have kids on Mother's Day....and after I ate some ibuprofin and put on calf sleeves....I walked around pretty normally! Did brunch for 15 (no one said I was smart), a nice long walk, and took the day off from training. Monday I rode 20 miles easy. And Tuesday...I ran 6 miles. Here I am, one week out - no blisters, no black toenails, and I just got back from a 10 mile run. I've never felt this good after an ultra, which means for once in my life, I listened to my body - fed it well, hydrated it well, and stopped running before I probably even needed to. Which was the race goal, after all.
9 weeks to Lake Placid, baby. BRING. IT. ON!!
For those not privy to my insanity, Mind the Ducks is a 12 hour race which is a one mile loop you run over and over and over again, as many times as you can in 12 hours. I popped my duck cherry in 2014 with 53 miles, did 56 in 2016, and came back in 2018 for more of the same.
A few things about this race stood out for me - 1, my goal. Every year I have tried to hit 62 (100k) and came up short. This year that wasn't the goal - with Ironman Lake Placid 10 weeks out, I knew systematically destroying myself out there for a lofty goal would be dumb - I decided to focus my goal on simply remaining upright for 12 hours, not killing myself, practicing tired nutrition on my feet, with the ability to still train a few days later. Whew. And #2 - here goes freaky - this would be the first year I didn't do ducks with a baby - which means no worries about packing my breast pump or a mid race feed (aren't you so happy you subscribe to this blog??).
With #1 in mind, I trained quite a bit differently for this race. Which, in a nutshell, means, I didn't. I started Ironman training in mid February, and added one extra run in per week back to back with my long run for IM training. Which means my long run was 18 miles going in, and my back to back long runs were 12-12. Perspective - each prior year I did a 31 miler and a back to back 15-15. With that in mind, I decided a PR was not the goal early on - and was sort of clueless about an actual goal, so like any athlete, I wung out some numbers for the hell of it to make mid race math fun, and decided that 31-40-50 were my C, B and A goals. Go.
Also, as any good athlete does, I tested a new piece of equipment on a 12 hour race - my suunto watch proved to be only a source of frustration, so like the fabulous husband he is, Greg surprised me with an early Mother's Day anniversary birthday Christmas gift on Thursday - a brand new Garmin 935. SWEET. I tested it for 2 miles, proclaimed it good, charged it up, and promptly left the house without it race morning. OMG. Way to go, Rae.
Hours 1-2 I kept it pretty steady at a 10 minute mile, hydrating and eating aid station offerings every mile or two. I connected with a new friend Garrett about 3 miles in, and he was a strong running partner I knew I could stay with for a few hours. My rough race plan was decided - run for 26 miles, or until I felt tired, then run walk, then start my power walk 6 hours in. I felt pretty good with this strategy - I knew i couldn't blow myself up, not only for race day, but also that I didn't have the bandwidth for a long recovery post race, as my peak Ironman training was slated to start May 21.
I hit my first marathon about 4:30 in, and was pleasantly surprised with a stop in by Greg with fresh shoes, and another hey about mile 30 from John, a fellow runner buddy (who just happens to be married to my sitter and runs 5ks in full fire gear for fun. #Imthenormalone. He ran walked with me for about 5 miles until at mile 35 I declared myself run out and power walk ready. I grabbed some pizza, checked the clock - 7 hours in - and settled off to a nice 15-16 minute mile power walk. I made a few new friends - Krista,who was gunning for 41 miles for her 41th year (and eventually did 52, because she is a rockstar!) and Mary, who is a freaking goddess and does these races as a retiree. All the props (yeah, she also bagged 50 miles as a veteran - I want to be her when I grow up!). 8 hours and 40 miles in, I did a quick assessment - I had hit my B goal, was it time to stop? Feet hurt. Mild hip niggle. Stomach good. Fueling spot on.
In hindsight, I probably do look too happy and relaxed for having run 50 miles. LOL. I debated again stopping, but, ya know, they offered a water bottle for a double marathon, and I'm a sucker for free crap, so there ya go.
Crossed my "finish line" in 11:31 with 52.6 miles under my belt, and aside from my barking dogs, I felt pretty great!
Oh yeah...and then I stopped. Once the adrenaline backed off, I realized how much it hurt to walk. I collected my parting gifts, slowly hobbled to my tent, put on my flip flops (OMG bending over!) and hung out for a bit to watch some epic 11:59 finishes. My mom, the angel that she is, brought me a big honkin Bill Grays cheeseburger...and...drum roll...diet coke and fries, which were damn delicious.
My best finish? Nope. Actually my "slowest", but just relatively. I cleaned up 2nd overall female under 40 (the winner did 63 miles, what a beast!) and averaged just over 13:00 mile for 52 miles. I wish I could show you the cool data but...I hit the wrong button on my garmin and deleted the race (WTF). I do know I did 98,000 steps for the day and was a total slacker and didn't get in those extra 2,000....maybe next year. LOL.
9 weeks to Lake Placid, baby. BRING. IT. ON!!
