Bridle Trails 50k Mudfest

Another year, another 50k at Bridle Trails. The course is a 5 mile loop on mostly single track trail that is used as a trail for horses as well as runners, hikers, etc. The trail is mostly flat with a few short climbs, but runnable the entire way. There are lots of twists and turns and a nice variety of inclines, declines and completely flat.

The plan was to run with Jenny and Steve and get in a good training run. The race started at 3:10 p.m. for 50kers, which meant 2 loops in the "light" and 4 loops in the dark. We started off at a decent pace clumped in with a decent sized pack, which kept us moving. It had just started raining when the race began and the trail was fairly dry for Bridle Trails standards. We chatted along the way and came through the first loop in about 49 minutes. I used the restroom, fueled up and we were back out for loop 2 in about 52 minutes.

Loop 2 we decided to slow down a bit, but not too much. We were holding a good pace and the rain was steady. Nothing too exciting on this loop other than me and Steve decided to do it without headlamps and it did get a bit dark especially when we were in a lot of tree cover. We made it through though in about 52 minutes or so and spent about 3-5 minutes in transition.

Loop 3 was the turning point as far as the darkness and the trail changing in form a bit. The rain kept going and the trail kept getting muddier. At night the mud morphs into different forms and becomes a bit more difficult to run on. We kept the pace steady and slowed down to about 55 minutes of running time and continued with 3-5 minutes on the transitions, probably closer to 5 minutes.

Loop 4 the rain kept coming and the course kept getting muddier. The talk was at a minimum and we were all focused on our footing and making it around for another loop. Our running felt real steady and the only thing that was hurting us was our transition times, which can be blamed on me. By loop 4 I think my stomach had finally settled and I felt much better in that regard.

Loop 5 we managed to stay steady and keep the walking to a minimum. There were fewer and fewer runners each loop, but that feeling of being done was starting to fester inside me. My mental attitude was good and I never felt mentally down the entire run. I did manage to take a nice head first slide in the mud on loop 5. I was lucky that I didn't face plant and my years of baseball helped me keep good form and relive some of my childhood memories of baseball practice in the rain and the coach letting us practice our sliding. There was definitely a sense of playfulness out there being able to stomp directly through the puddles, or rivers of mud and not have my mother there yelling at me to stay clean. I can't remember if she ever did that, but you get the picture.

Loop 6 was the slowest of them all and was more of a fast walk for me. Steve was able to run and I plodded along. My legs had tightened up and it may have just been a lack of calories or tired legs. Regardless, I felt good and was happy to almost be done. We came through the finish in around 6 hours and 30 minutes. The rain never slowed down, until we left of course. This was actually one of my most pleasurable experiences at Bridle Trails. I think it was the company and the fairly consistent loops that helped out. Even though it was very wet and muddy, it was "fun." Let's do it again next year.

"Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful." ~Buddha