What happens during a 50 mile run, both mentally and physically and why do it?

“Ultrarunners live in that place where you feel as if there's nothing left, no more energy, no more reason, no more sanity, no more will to go farther. Then you push forward anyway, step after step, even though every cell in our body tells you to stop. And you discover that you can go on.” ~Marshall Ulrich from the book Running on Empty

I’ve tried to Google what running 50 miles does to you both mentally and physically, but only found writings of serious medical studies, never found what I was looking for. I wanted a simple explanation on what happens to someone when they run that distance. I thought, well I should know, I’ve ran the distance 3 times. So I looked deep within me and started writing. This is what I came up with.

Running ultramarathons is a test of character, endurance and strength. It asks you, do you have what it takes? If you’ve properly trained for at least 4 months, you should be able to deal with any problems that arise, both mental and physical on race day. 

“When it gets right down to it, the levels of commitment and devotion required to excel as an ultra-endurance athlete are all-consuming.”

So what happens during a 50 mile race?

Let’s start with the physical problems. You’ll likely experience any one of the following problems: painful blisters; blood gushing from your leg or knee from tripping because you are just too tired to pick up  your feet anymore, you are now shuffling; bruising; bloating and swelling everywhere, your feet, ankles, legs, stomach, face, hands; possible hamstring pulls; feet or leg cramps that either stop you in your tracks or control  your speed; knee pain; ankle pain; dehydration; Leg, hips, foot pain, your arm hurts from holding it up, shoulders hurt; stomach issues like gas or diarrhea; nausea; vomiting; chafing just about anywhere (even on your butt and you'll find blood on your underwear); overheating; freezing afterwards if you don’t seek warmth immediately after; dizziness; hallucinations (why is my dog on the course?, is that a bear?); vision problems; and the most serious  heart pain and feelings of numbness on one side of your body. The pain that you feel at mile 20 is doubled at 30, tripled at 40 and so on. 

Other physical problems: You may not be able to eat, you’re either too nauseated or just don’t feel like it. You're hungry, but it's hard to eat. That certain food you normally trained with now makes you want to vomit; normal terrains are now are hard, an easy hill is now your worst nightmare; moodiness; even a simple IPOD string is the most annoying thing ever; your immune system drops after the race and the chances of getting ill are super high; after you are finished the race, everything tightens up and you’ll walk funny for days.

“The human body is capable of amazing physical deeds. If we could just free ourselves from our perceived limitations and tap into our internal fire, the possibilities are endless.”

Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?

So how about your mental state?

Your mental state goes. The mental demons will scream at you to quit; feelings of inadequacies may come up; you know longer can do basic math after all, uh what is 25-17? Nope, don’t know; the mileage tests you, you’ve likely ran a 50K going into it, but you have to come up with 19 more miles. How? Unless you are just running on instinct, you can play mental games, I’ll run to the next aid station, I won’t count the mileage, count the loops instead (if it’s a looped course) I’ll run though this song, walk a min or two after it’s over.  

Even with all these negative problems, running ultramarathons is extremely rewarding and it is a gift to be able to do so. There is such a joy and satisfaction in knowing that even with all the physical and mental problems that go on in running such a distance, you crossed that finish line, you did it! What an absolute fantastic achievement, a true test in human strength and endurance. 

“Struggling and suffering are the essence of a life worth living. If you're not pushing yourself beyond the comfort zone, if you're not demanding more from yourself - expanding and learning as you go - you're choosing a numb existence. You're denying yourself an extraordinary trip.”

This is one reward for a running a 50....

But the greatest, is because you never know who is watching you? Who looks up to  you?

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own. And you know what you know.

You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

Kid, you’ll move mountains!
So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!

Children often dream of being something when they get older. One of my children wants to be a singer, another wants to be a teacher one day, a veterinarian the next. The point is, children dream big!

View overlooking the Columbia River and 205 bridge

Unfortunately, when I was a teenager, I never had a clue what I wanted to be. But, I had a talent in the works, endurance, and adventure. I was 17 and I would often ride my bike from my home in Milwaukie, Oregon to the Oregon/Washington border. It was such a thrill riding the 30 mile distance. Once I got to the Columbia River, I would sit for about 10 minutes and I ride back, full speed. I can still remember the wind through my hair, the stretch in my legs. When I was done, I felt absolutely great and couldn't wait to ride again.




Although, my sport has changed to running,the need for that new adventure, that new distance, the desire to push myself to see how far I can go, is still there.

I just ran my 3rd 50 and am still in recovery mode. I have added my recovery to my 100 mile training guide, so I can say that I am officially training for my first 100, the Rio Del Lago 100. I am going to still put my name in for Western States for 2012, but don't expect to get in.

As promised, I am going to document my runs, my training. You can follow me on the dailymile. http://www.dailymile.com/people/Jeannie5#ref=tophd

But for this week, I am starting out low with runs of 2, 2, 2, 6, 2 for the week of Nov 6, I am running 2, 2, 4, 8, 4.

I am also introducing three new items into my training:

Hoka Bondi B's or my Hoka Polkas as I have nicknamed them. http://www.mysaltlakerunningco.com/saltlake/product.asp?s_id=0&dept_id=9100&pf_id=PAHNAAONKAEIEKIN

Nuun http://www.roadrunnersports.com/rrs/products/NUN103/?cc=ASST2

and the Ultimate Direction Diablo http://www.ultimatedirection.com/p-557-diablo.aspx?category=packs
Now I must say that I took a chance with the Diablo. I wore it the entire distance at the 50. I had only trained with it for 10 miles. You are not supposed to add anything new at a race and I did that. But, happy story, it was great. I never had any chafing on my back like my last hydration pack would give me.

Life is short, what are your dreams? What do you desire to do? What is stopping you? Go out and get it?

I like the quote; "What Would You Do If You Knew You Couldn't Fail?" Why not apply that to your life?

Take a chance, just go for it 

Autumn Leaves 50 10/29/2011

On Tuesday October 25th, 4 days before the Autumn Leaves Ultra marathon, there was an unfortunate accident involving two planes. "Witnesses told investigators that the twin-engine plane involved in a mid-air collision over Newberg Tuesday appeared to be doing training maneuvers and hit the single-engine plane during a descent. Steven Watson, 58, of Beaverton, was in the other, smaller plane. He died after his Bonanza single-engine aircraft broke apart and crashed to the ground, authorities said."http://www.kgw.com/news/Reports-of-possible-plane-crash-in-Newberg-area-132570558.html
Steve Watson is survived by his wife and two adult daughters, for more information, please read: http://www.kgw.com/home/Pilot-who-died-in-crash-132637618.html

In honor of his memory, I wore this on my backpack.

But because of the crash, we were nervous that the park was going to re-open in time for the race. We were hearing that it may open by Friday. But on Wednesday night, the night before I left for Portland, I heard the news that the park would re-open Thursday at 4PM. I was extremely excited and was actually jumping up and down, grinning from ear to ear.

The night of the race, I got maybe 4 hours of sleep.

This was the outfit that I wore to the race. I also wore a long sleeve shirt under and shorts

When I got to the race, I was greeted by all my friends and a few friends from Facebook that I had not met yet. For the race, I provided all of my own supplies. I had my Ultimate Direction Diablo pre-filled with 2 quarts of diluted Gatorade. Which by the way, I was taking a chance with. I only trained with the Diablo for a 10 mile training run. I knew this was a no no. You know the rule, nothing new at a race? But I thought, well it can't be any worse than my Camelbak, that thing left horrible chafing on my back constantly. In the end, it was perfect, no problems. I also had in my Diablo, salt caps, 2 peanut butter powerbars, 1 cliff bar, two 5 hour energy drinks, my head lamp, band-aids and my IPOD. The only thing that I left in my drop bag was another cliff bar and fresh pair of socks. I have heard another run say that he doesn't think the 5 hour energy drinks don't work, but I disagree, they work for me and they don't cause my stomach any problems.

My weakest part of the race was running the first loop in the dark. The course was a 10K loop and for everyone running the 50 miler, we'd go around 8 times. I joined up with a gal and ran with her for most of the first loop. It was hard though, I kept going off the pavement, even with my headlamp. The hardest part was the 1.20 mile trail section; I really slowed down and lost some time. But finally, we were back at the start for loop 2 and I could even turn off my headlamp and gained more confidence. At the end of the race, someone told me that I should buy a hand-held flash light. Great idea!

Between loops 2-5, I was really strong and doing very well. It wasn't until the 5th loop that I walked for the first time, but it was only for a minute. The 6th loop was when I saw my sister and walked from the aid station to where the trail portion started, probably for about 3 minutes and that was my longest walk break. The 7th loop was the worst, but only mental. The 7^th loop wasn’t the last loop, it was the 7^th. I not only was feeling it in my legs, I decided that I hate the whole course, not just a certain section. Yes I was getting grumpy. I still smiled and waved at everyone. I also just said goodbye to my friend after the 6^th loop, who ran the 50K and some of the other runners were finished and enjoying their victory. It was during the 7th lap, that I past a friend of mine who yelled at me...”Jeannie, you are just fucking rocking it!" Cracked me up!!! The last loop was bitter sweep, as I was going around, I never even stopped at the start/finish and just kept going, with intensity.  I don't believe that I walked at all that last loop. I found a whole lot of strength and just went for it. I remember coming in, there was this guy, who I passed and then he passed me and I said to him, "hey, do you want to race!" He said no, but I picked up the speed a little with the Black Eyed Peas song "Shut Up" playing.
I also wanted to note that there was a hill at a turn around and in the trail section and I proudly ran up them throughout the whole entire race, never walked. I'd like to thank all the hills in the Redwood Forest. Out of the whole race, I barely walked.

I finished in 9:47. Out of the 22 women that ran the 50, I was #9 and out of both male and female, I was 41 out of 73. I was a little slower than last year, but I never did any speed training. But where I lacked in speed, I made up for in strength.

I got a lot of compliments during the race. They compliment by cute skirt, how well I looked running out on the course and the sign on my hydration pack. No, I didn't know Steve Watson, but my heart went out to his family.

I have one battle wound. My pinkie toe is really bruised and the nail will fall off soon.

All the volunteers and race director were absolutely wonderful and worked hard at providing a great race for us. Without them, we couldn't have done it. I was very thankful to them. All race volunteers should be thanked! A heard a few of them were up awfully early that morning.

So what’s next? Well I am going to rest a few more days. I have a little leg swelling + my toe problem. I start training for my first 100 on November 14^th, I’m starting all the way at the bottom of my training schedule with runs of 2 miles for the week and 10 and 6 for the weekend.

Photo taken by Tom Riley

Photo taken by Tom Riley

Chase your dreams!

When I was a little girl and it was time to go home from a friend’s house and it was dark, it was extremely scary. My family lived on a cul-de-sac and I really didn't have that far to go, we lived about 3 houses apart, but that didn’t matter, I was so scared.  When I would leave her house, extremely frightened, I would sprint as fast as I could. As I was making my way around the corner and into our dark garage, I felt like something was pushing me along, into my well lit house. I could feel the energy build up inside me, I could feel my heart pounding, the adrenaline pumping and the wind push past me. I had one goal in mind, I would succeed, I was going to make it inside my house, even if I died trying!

  "If you want to become the best runner you can be, start now. Don't spend the rest of your life wondering if you can do it."
 
I am excited about my next 50 and I am even more excited to be moving onto 100's.

They say that in order to achieve your goals, you need to desire the goal and visualize yourself completing the goal. Commit to the goal by writing it down and create a plan to complete it. Then finally writing down the steps to achieve the goal in a calendar and check  your progress.

I am happy to announce that I have done all of that.

"If you can see it, you can achieve it!"

I am my biggest supporter. I totally believe in myself and my abilities. When I think of my next 50, I think "no problem!" I believe 100% that I can achieve any run. I tell myself this over and over. My belief of achievement is deep within me, I have no doubts. I can do anything that I set my mind to, no run is too hard.

I have a plan for success. I am utilizing two training schedules and they are in my calendar. I know what mileage and on what day I will be running all the way up to September. I will first run 65+ miles in March and my first 100 in September. My schedule for the 100K is setting myself up for the 100 mile training and I feel really good about it. In late April, I will begin a schedule that has been proven successful by a group of runners that I trust and have used many times before. It will work for me as it always does.

I really am looking forward to my adventures that are ahead of me.

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go"

If you'd like to track my progress,  you can do so at:

http://www.dailymile.com/people/Jeannie5#ref=tophd

My third 50 is 10/29 and I begin to training for my 65 and 100 mile runs on November 14th. 

Never give up on your dreams! There are no failures, only lessons.

We all have pivotal moments in our life. These moments can have an immediate impact or they are slow to manifest and reveal their importance.

In 2005, I was severely depressed, drinking too much, angry, confused, with no apparent hope for my future. After having a beer with my neighbor in my driveway, I went to get the mail. I received an invitation to train for a marathon. I looked at it and instantly got excited. I went to my computer and typed in marathon training and read information about the Portland Marathon clinic. As luck would have it, training got started a few weeks ago. I instantly made a decision that forever changed my life, I was going to run a marathon. That decision came easy, didn't require much thought. This was in 2005.
http://www.portlandmarathon.org/events.php

My first training run was 10 miles, not the 4 that I should have started out at. "Who cares?" I thought. I had run 9 miles once on my treadmill a few months prior, which was a spur of the moment decision, I could do 10. At least that was what I thought. Even back then, I had a lot of enthusiasm for running. So here I was at my first 10 miles. I showed up with pretty Nike shoes, they didn't even have laces and I purchased them on Craigslist. My water bottles were similar to the ones on the right, with a screw on/off top. The training run happened to be a trail run! A muddy, trail run up at Forest Park! Was this the making of a dumb decision or the makings of a trail runner? I'll never forget that day, it was up to that point the hardest thing that I had ever done. The mud was thick and extremely slippery and the hills! I couldn't breathe the entire distance. I sounded like I had asthma. Now I could have went home and said forget it, it's too hard. But did I? Of course not! I loved it!

I never gave up. I showed up to every training run. I ran in the front so I could hear the pace leaders advice and I attended all informational meetings, doing everything my trainers taught me. Every higher distance was so exciting to me. I would constantly come home and say to my family, "ask me how many miles I just ran!"

However, as the miles got longer, something snapped, my body no longer wanted to cooperate and I almost quit. I remember taking a walk of shame home and I told my husband that I wasn't going to run anymore. A week later, I heard a voice that said I had to run that marathon, I had to do it not only for myself, but for my kids. I got back into it and ended up running that first marathon. It became the best and most rewarding, physical event that I had ever done. I still remember how I felt after mile 20 and coming across the finish line. I will never forget it.

Marathon #1, crossing the finish line. Click on it to enlarge, look at my veins popping out of my neck.

I really had no plans to run another marathon, but I remember a conversation that I had with my inspirational brother in law who just simply asked me, "why not run another one, why not keep going?"

Yes, why not?

Since that first marathon, all the races that followed were huge blessings, I have never had a bad race. Moving on to 50K's and 50 milers, the races certainly have become harder and I've had to drop out of a few due to injury (during training, not during a race), but I've never quit for good. I still aim to improve, to move on.

T-shirt that I purchased just before my 2nd marathon

And the people that I have met over the years, my friendships, I am forever grateful. You truly get to know someone when you run with them for hours and the experiences that we share are unforgettable.

Running my first 50

When my family moved from Portland to a small coastal town in Northern California in 2011, I again was faced with depression. I left everything and everyone I knew. I had my children, my husband and I was still running, but they didn't have me. My kids lost their mom, my husband lost his wife. By the grace of God, my family never gave up on me and God pulled me through my depression. The whole time during my challenging life moment, I never gave up on running. Running became my companion. I always told my husband, "You’ll know I'm really bad off if I quit running!" That never happened.

I have no fear. Another thing that happened is that I had to get over my fear of running alone in a forest. It was a new forest with bears, cougars and elk. A forest that I would soon learn that it would be rare to see another human. This was not like the forest that I was used to up in Portland. To this day I am no longer afraid; I've learned to overcome this fear. I've learned that being fearful is a choice. I've learned that all my fears were not real. I hear a lot of noises in the forest, but know they are just the sounds of the forest, they are comforting. I have seen bears and I have elk dart in front of me, I am not afraid.

I have also learned to develop an attitude that I can do all things and if I can see it, then I can achieve it. I ran my 1st 100 October of 2012, Javelina Jundred. I ran for 29 hours and 7 minutes. It was the hardest thing that I have ever done, yet the most rewarding, what an amazing accomplishment. It was an experience that I will never forget. I am now training for my 2nd, Mountain Lakes in September. I moved on to 100 milers with pride, enthusiasm, encouragement, no fear and of course I won't quit!I always thank God for the blessings that he has given me. He comes with me on every run.

I'm setting my goals high and I intend to achieve them. My biggest goals are to run the Grand Slam of Ultra running and the Badwater 135 ultramarathon. http://www.run100s.com/gs.htm


***As of April of 2013, we moved back to the Portland metropolitan area.

"We all have dreams, visions and secret goals we keep hidden out of fear of failure...or the belief that they are out-of-reach or impossible to achieve. Never give up on your dreams! Life is a series of challenges, not difficulties. Hard times are our best resources, and there are no failures; only lessons."

Never give up!

Whole wheat bread. It's too good not to share.

I just made some really good bread, I thought I would be rude if I didn't share.

1 1/4 cup warm water
1 tbsp vegetable oil or canola
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp salt
1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup bread or white flour
1/4 cup gluten
1 1/2 tsp active dry yeast.

Mix yeast with warm water, (not hot) then add remaining ingredients, knead at least 4-6 min, let rise on counter for a hour-covered with towel, then punch down, shape, place in bread baking pan, bake at 380 till lightly brown.

I am thankful for my fear

Fear is defined as a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined. There is real fear and imagined fear.

Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.
Japanese Proverb

Real fear is described as a physiological reaction that happens when, for example, a dog attacks you, an intruder enters your home or when you are in a car accident. These instances raise real fear, causing your brain to send your body hormonal and neuro-chemical responses.
When the hormones are released, they begin to trigger changes. These include raising adrenaline and cortisol levels, increasing your heart rate and respiration. You may know this as the “flight or fight” response. 

These triggers are meant to stay active for only a few seconds and usually last no more than a minute. This is enough time for you to react to whatever is causing the fear.
http://javajournalstl.com/OvercomingFear.aspx 



When imagined fear is raised, the same physiological response of adrenaline and cortisol release occurs, but it can remain in the body for a longer period of time because you don’t react quickly. Instead, you prolong the fear. This reaction adds more stress to your body, which can cause exhaustion and lead to other problems.
 http://javajournalstl.com/OvercomingFear.aspx



Most mornings I wake up with a "oh no" feeling. I have an imagined fear of running in the Redwood Forest. This fear has been brought on by family and friends informing me that I have every reason to be fearful. I live in bear and cougar country afterall + I am a woman, I shouldn't be alone in the woods.

I choose not to let fear consume me because it can be destructive. When these imagined fears come up, I acknowledge them. I try to think about something else. I look at the beauty around me and I ask myself why? Why do I feel fearful, do I have anything to be afraid about? 

In truth, I am thankful for my fears. I could not call myself a trail runner if I gave in to my fears. It is my driving force.  Without fear, I would not take the risks that I take. I would not have the desire to run Western States or Badwater. Fear makes me stronger on the inside. I learn to overcome them.

“Courage is resistance to and mastery of fear — not the absence of fear.”  Mark Twain

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.
Frank Herbert

Here is a story of a marathon runner/mountain climber who has overcome fear:

Marathoning and Mountain Climbing

A runner achieves an unprecedented feat of marathoning and mountain climbing

By John Hanc
PUBLISHED 10/12/2007 Seven is evidently Jeanne Stawiecki's lucky number. it was on her seventh attempt to quit smoking that she kicked the habit and took up running, which led to seven consecutive Boston Marathons. So two years ago, when Stawiecki heard that no woman had ever done the 7-7-7 challenge--run a marathon and climb the highest mountain peaks on each of the seven continents--she decided to test her luck.

Such a monumental task wasn't always within Stawiecki's reach. In 1988, the nurse anesthetist was a two-pack-a-day smoker, juggling 40-hour weeks at one hospital with 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. weekend shifts at another. "I had no interests, no hobbies," Stawiecki, now 57, says. "All I did was work and smoke. I turned 38 and I decided that I wanted to change the person I had become."

Step one: quit smoking. Fearful of the weight gain that often comes with nicotine withdrawal, she started running. "I went half a block and felt like I coughed up a lung." But she stuck with it, eventually building the lung power to run her first race, the 1994 New York City Marathon, which she ran in a Boston-qualifying 3:36. "When I crossed the finish line, I had this feeling of accomplishment," says Stawiecki, who will be running New York again November 4. "To have challenged myself and succeeded was intoxicating."

A New Way to Get High

Recognizing the mental and physical strength Stawiecki had developed as a runner, a colleague, anesthesiologist Mark Nawrocki, suggested she try his passion: mountaineering. Stawiecki overcame her fear of heights and quickly graduated from beginner climbs to some of the most daunting in the world. "She compressed in five years what many climbers take decades to do," Nawrocki says.

Stawiecki tackled the 7-7-7 challenge with the same gusto. "The idea that I could be first woman in anything was exciting," she says. She planned an ambitious itinerary--three climbs (she already had four done) and seven marathons in eight months--all while maintaining her full-time job at UMass Memorial Hospital.

She started in August 2006 with Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro. Two months later, she hiked Mount Kosciuszko in Australia, three days after the Melbourne Marathon. By February 2007, she had reeled off six more marathons, placing first in her age group in Chile, Miami, and Antarctica and second in her age group in Melbourne and Dubai. Still, one lofty goal remained: Everest.

"When I reached the summit, I fell to my knees and started crying," says Stawiecki, who completed her mission on May 22. "It was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had."

This month Stawiecki will return to another towering icon, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. When she runs through New York City, the woman who has touched the sky plans to keep both feet on the ground. "I'm going to take in all the sights and sounds," she says, "and think about how far I've come."

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.
Eleanor Roosevelt