12 Hour Run for Childrens Hospitals, Woodsfield, Ohio

12 Hour Run for Childrens Hospitals, Woodsfield, Ohio

10/04/08

This was my first “see how far you can run” style race. There were about 10 of us participating, and as a part of the entrance requirements money was raised by each runner for their local childrens hospital and/or medical center. There were quite a few experienced runners in the group, and I certainly felt like the newbie.

As far as my race plan, I really didn’t have much except not to get started too fast. I wanted to last the entire 12 hours, hopefully completing 60 miles in the timeframe. Considering that I had completed 52 miles in a little over 11 hours at my Mohican DNF, I thought it was a very reasonable goal. My largest concern was that I had become mostly a trail runner for since March, so I was worried that my joints wouldn’t be up to 12 hours of pounding on pavement.

Another new item for this race was that I brought along a support team, which I had not done for any of my previous races. My Mom and sister, who are not runners and don’t fully understand what it is that I do, agreed to help out.

The pre race dinner was fantastic, as was the pancake breakfast the morning of the race. We started at 8 AM with little fanfare, and the first miles passed rather quick. The course was a one mile loop with about a 1/2 mile of out and back, so there was plenty of time where there was 2 way traffic.

My pace for the first 10 miles was 8:47. A little quick, but comfortable. Any slower would not have felt right, and I really don’t have the patience to integrate walking in my strategy if I’m not tired. As I got loose and the adrenaline and excitement faded, my pacing slowed a bit and I gained some control. Miles 11 through 15 were run at a 9:10 pace, and 16 through 20 at a 9:18 pace. My pace slowed from miles 21 through 30 to 10:26 due to a meal break and a walking mile, but I ran mile 31 at in 9:36 setting a PR in the 50K at 4 hours, 54 minutes. At mile 31, I had a sock and shoe change.

From here on out, there was a consistent slowing of my pace, but I was feeling confident that I would reach my goal of 60 miles in the remaining 7 hours. My pacing from miles 32 to 50 are as follows:

32 to 35: 12:04
36 to 40: 10:58
41 to 45: 11:39
46 to 50: 11:30

I hit mile 50 in 8 hours 33 minutes. I knew that barring an injury, my goal was in the bag. I began to think about how much further beyond the goal I could get. My previous distance record had been 63 miles which I reached in my DNF at Mohican. I felt that surpassing that would help me get over the psychological hump of that DNF.

The miles passed on... 51 to 55 at a 10:48 pace, and 56 to 60 at a 13:32 pace. I reached the 100K point in 10 hours, 57 minutes, and wound up finishing the race with 66 miles in 11 hours, 53 minutes, which was good enough for first place.

As far as pain and injury, I escaped anything serious, but after mile 40, I developed shin splints that got really out of hand. My final jog across the finish line for mile 66 was extremely painful. My ankles were also destroyed. But luckily, no blisters at all.

It was a thrilling experience, and I fell in love with the 12 hour format. The charity aspect of the event was also a great touch. I will definitely try to work in at least on of these each year. As a matter of fact, I will try to get back to Woodsfield for this event again.