Nu Race 2013 50k

This isn't going to be the best race report ever but I wanted to get something put on here before it never happens. Jenny and the girls stayed home so there aren't many great pics but I'll give you what I have from the race website.

Sunrise on race day at Nu Race 2013

So I was looking for one more race to do in 2013 before the twins came and I came across a race I had never heard of called the Nu-Race trail run.  The race is a fund-raiser for camp NuHop, a summer camp for kids with learning disabilities and other special needs.  It is held in Mohican State Park, the site of my first ultra in 2011.  It sounded like a good cause and a convenient time for me so I decided to go for it.  Plus, those trails were incredible and I had not been back there since my initiation to ultra-marathons.
It was not a big race, and I was ok with that.  There were plenty of people signed up for the 5k and 25k but only about 25 signed up for 50k, and only 19 of us actually showed up for the race.
Being November in Ohio, it was cold when we started.  The sun was up but it was covered by clouds and temperatures were right around freezing.  The skies cleared later on and it warmed up and turned out to be really nice weather.  The first half-hour the course was pretty crowded because of all the 5k and 25k runners but it thinned out before too long.  Mohican has some of the prettiest trails I've ever run but in November the ground is completely covered with leaves.  It added some difficulty not being able to see the actual ground and I was worried it would be soggy under all the leaves.  It turned out to be not too bad -- a handful of mushy spots but really pretty decent.
The first half of the race I was not worried about racing.  My goal was just to maintain a good solid pace and, most importantly, not get lost.  It was marked pretty well but I'm still always concerned about losing the trail.  Thankfully I was able to stay on track most of the race.  The spacing of the aid stations was a little funny with the first stop about 7 miles into the race.  The others were quite a bit closer together than that and I had my handheld water and gu so it wasn't a big deal.
 The first 25k went by fairly quickly and I felt pretty good.  I just did my best to run my own race and enjoy the trails.  Coming into the start/finish area at the half-way point the clock was about 3:05.  A volunteer told me I was in 8th place.  "Not bad," I thought.  "Hopefully I can hold that spot and maybe even pass a couple people.  I might be able to finish in the top 5." My main goal was to have an even split, to finish around 6:10, and definitely not get passed by anyone.

That's what you look like after running 25k,
only to turn around and do it again.

As I headed back out onto the course I missed a turn initially but caught it pretty quickly and only lost a couple minutes.  By this point the trails were pretty empty.  After the first few miles I was alone nearly the entire time, which was fine because I was trying to run MY race anyway.  Maintaining my pace and not getting passed were my main goals.  As I passed through the aid stations the volunteers would tell me what place I was in, which was a new experience for me; I've never been close enough to the top for it to really matter what place I was.  After a couple stops I was surprised to hear I was 5th place.  Then I passed another guy and settled into 4th.  I had no idea where the next runner was but I couldn't resist fantasizing about a top 3 finish.  Even in a small race that's pretty cool.  So, still running my race but now very focused, I kept on.  I approached the next aid station knowing I was still in 4th place. 
"The 3rd place guy left about 5 minutes ago," they reported.  I felt great and knew I was gaining on him so I felt good about my chances of catching him.  I hustled down the trail, keeping my eyes ahead of me, hoping to catch a glimpse of Mr. 3rd place.  I didn't see anything until I crested a hill just before crossing a road the the next aid station, the last aid station.  I thought I saw someone just starting down the trail out of the aid station.  Not sure if it was him, I didn't want to get my hopes up too high.  I crossed the road and came to the aid station where one of the volunteers told me that 3rd place had just left about a minute ago.  It was him.  And I was going to catch him.  I grabbed some pretzels, said thanks and got about my business of finishing the race.  This part of the trail was gorgeous as it led up to breathtaking Lyon's Falls.  There were a lot of non-racers walking the trails, enjoying the scenery, so I had to skirt around quite a few other people; I still hadn't seen 3rd place as I approached the falls.  But as I came out of the trees and the falls came into view I saw him.  He was on his way up the newly constructed staircase that led up and away from the base of the falls where I was.  I turned to follow him up the stairs and he must have seen me because he paused on the next landing he came to and let me pass.  "3rd place is all yours," he said as I passed.  "You're going way faster than me.  Way to go.  It's all you." 
I was Mr. 3rd place now.  All I could really say was thanks and offer some encouragement to him too.  Ultra-runners are some of the coolest people you'll ever meet.  There were still about 3 miles to go and I knew he wasn't completely out of gas so I still had to push myself as hard as I could the rest of the way. 
There wasn't much of a crowd left as I climbed the last hill and did my best sprint imitation to the finish line, throwing my water bottle in the air in celebration.  My official finishing time was 6:08:20, good for 3rd place. 

Talking with the RD before heading home

After finishing I went to the canopy to sit and eat some chili.  I was just hanging out, chatting with the other runners still around when someone came up to me with a hand-made 3rd place trophy.  "I wanted to make sure you got this before you left," she said, handing it to me.  I had no idea they had any sort of awards.  It's actually a very cool trophy that is now proudly displayed on the custom medal rack/shelf that my dad built for me as a Christmas gift.  I am now an award-winning ultra runner.  Pretty cool. 

My awesome trophy.
I have no idea why they call it "Fuzzy Fandango."

Post-race with the shirt and award

 


















Overall, I was really impressed with this race.  It's always nice to know that you're contributing to a good cause with races like this.  The course was marked well, the trails were stunning, the volunteers were great, and the competition was very, very classy.  Definitely a race I will do again if I can.

This is the shelf my dad built with all my race bling displayed. 
There's Mr. NuRace proudly displayed on top.