The Best Chocolate in Town is really the best chocolate in Indy. I saw my three women friends at the finish line. It's an @$$-kicking good time! A couple of weeks ago I ran the Dances With Dirt, Gnaw Bone 50k. Then Leslie and I settled down with Leslie's new friend from the half to wait for the woman's husband to finish the 50k. The Siena Heights Student Nurses Association is hosting the 2nd annual 5k. I think this is a Black Diamond ski slope in the winter. As I was reaching for the box of kleenex on my desk, I was so glad I kept the hat. Percent of the course on un-paved trails: 100%. Dances with Dirt 50k - Gnaw Bone.
I felt like I had a good chance of finishing this one without a problem. May 20, 2023 - Saturday. I knew I had passed several 50K runners along the way, but I honestly did not think I was up that far. They need to take more time and put up actual signs or boards every time the course takes a new trail or goes off path. 2M, 50K, 50 Mile or 5-person team relay. The next section of the course, the last half mile, was classic Dances with Dirt. Vicious 600' ridges, breathtaking natural beauty and wicked trails abound.
This race fit with the goal of doing a marathon every month in the summer as a build up to a PR attempt on road at Wineglass in October. The last 5 miles or so, the 50K course blended in with the half and 10k courses. I was not as successful this time in staying out of the mud. He was a little upset with himself for getting lost. I kept a good pace though, and was happy with how I handled it. For those of you unfamiliar with Brown County, Indiana, the terrain will bring you shock and awe. 11-50 previous marathons. By this time the rain had nearly stopped and it was just light enough not to need a headlamp for the 50K start. I boxed it up and mailed it with a note that read: Ivan, Congratulations. Her husband, Chris Compston, also competed in the Gnaw Bone Trail Marathon and finished 23rd overall in a time of 6 hours and 53 minutes. One guy I leapfrogged with a few times throughout the race, an old dude who was so freaking strong at the end he amazed me, and 2 guys that I don't know if they were 50k runners or marathoners. The next thing I know we are heading off trail for one of those "stupid sections" that the race director is famous for.
I planned on testing my blood sugars a few times throughout the race and just making sure I didn't go low. The mountain bike trails were in very good condition and very runnable. Shortly after the ridge climb there was a little confusion as to what trail to take after crossing the dam on Strahl Lake. Like most nights before a race, I did not sleep well at the hotel. I ran the first one, DWD Green Swamp, in Florida earlier this year – you can read my recap of that race here. Up the steps until I get to a fucking hill. I picked up my packet and got intimidated by the serious looking runners who were obviously doing the longer distances the next day.
By the time we got back, most of the 50k people had finished. 2 miles/Marathon, 50K, 50 miles, Other. What would happen if I fell? Over the woods and through the river…or something like that. No one can stay with me on the uphills.
About 1 mile away from the next aid, I caught up with a couple, checked that they were also marathoners, and asked if they were also told that we get no food. "Born in July 2013, the ITRA (International Trail Running Association) aims to give a voice to parties involved in trail running in order to promote its strong values, its diversity, the safety of races and the health of runners, as well as to further the development of trail running and ensure a constructive dialogue between the national and international bodies with an interest in the sport. I felt bad and almost gave him my hat. There are multiple more moments of running and then finding some horrible joke of satan of a trail with some horrendous climb.