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Trail Running - North Table Mesa - Golden - North Fork 50 Training

The Game Plan [North Fork 50M]

27 Jun , 2014,
Heidi Kumm
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11 comments

Tomorrow morning I’m getting up early, slathering myself with sunscreen, pulling on a neon BRC singlet and pinning a bib to my shorts. I’ll start my second 50 mile race at 7am and by 9pm I’ll either be appropriately rehydrating with a pint glass or getting yanked off the course because I missed the 14 hour cutoff. I’m really hoping for the first option…

So, what’s my plan?

Survival. I’m going back to the Quad Rock game plan that worked out alright for me. For me this is a training run with aid stations along the trail and safety pins in my shorts. That is all, nothing more. Technically speaking the North Fork course will be easier than the Quad Rock course but it could be [and probably will be] toasty warm and we’ll be running through burn areas with minimal shade. This means my focus will shift from merely covering the distance to paying attention to hydration and nutrition.

 Standley Lake just before sunset

I used Quad Rock to see if I could go 50 miles on a very hilly course. Turns out I kinda like the constant up/down and don’t completely suck at it. Considering that is exactly what the Run, Rabbit, Run 100M has in store for me this realization is the best thing that could have happened at Quad Rock. I hope to get the same kind of nutritional epiphany at North Fork…although I’m not holding my breath.

 North Table Mesa after a storm

One thing I didn’t figure out at Quad Rock was what worked for me food wise. Luckily I did surprisingly well eating whatever looked appealing at each aid station…but I’m not willing to just cross my fingers with nutrition when taking on 100 miles. I’m not exactly going into North Fork with a solid plan but I’ll be paying attention to what I’m eating along the way. I’m also giving Tailwind another chance at a race where my head is in the game [had it at Dirty Thirty but I DNFed before I really tested out Tailwind] and I just might try out diluted EFS [I think it’s too sweet, like frosting]. And of course there will be bacon bits, potato chips and Swedish fish…

Green Mountain / William F Hayden Open Space before a storm

And there you have it. My survival plan for taking on my second 50 miler…after two disheartening DNFs on shorter distances. My foot is doing good and both legs are getting a lot of TLC by way of a lacrosse ball. My body is undertrained but as prepared as it can be and my goals have been set appropriately. Numbers don’t matter and by tomorrow night I’m hoping to leave Buffalo Creek with a confidence boost in some aspect of my running. Fingers are crossed and the game face is on, let’s do this thing!

11 Comments

  1. Logan @ Mountains and Miles June 27, 2014 at 10:25 am Reply

    Good luck! I used Tailwind during my 50 and loved it. Especially when it’s hot out, I just don’t find food appealing at all on longer runs/races, so it really helped me out there.

    • Heidi Nicole June 27, 2014 at 11:22 am Reply

      That’s what I’m worried about…food looking gross. And I don’t like PB to begin with, so to choke it down when I’m hot and ornery, eh. I’ll risk it with tailwind and crossed fingers!

  2. Marissa @Barefoot Colorado June 27, 2014 at 11:09 am Reply

    Good luck! You’re going to rock it because I’m sending super strength your way.

    …and you’re just a kick ass runner. But that’s besides the point.

    • Heidi Nicole June 27, 2014 at 11:23 am Reply

      I’ll suck up all of your super strength…then try my bestest to prove you right!
      Thanks for the confidence! 🙂

  3. Lynn June 27, 2014 at 11:12 am Reply

    Good luck and have so much fun!

    • Heidi Nicole June 27, 2014 at 11:23 am Reply

      Thank you! I’m going to try my darnedest to enjoy it!

  4. Amy June 27, 2014 at 11:25 am Reply

    Good Luck! You will ROCK it!

    • Heidi Nicole July 3, 2014 at 3:30 pm Reply

      I rocked it…or at least I had a lot of rocks in my shoes… 🙂

      [sorry, I had to use that line!]

  5. Brooke @ wreckingroutine June 27, 2014 at 6:42 pm Reply

    Good luck! You got this!

  6. Natalie @ Free Range Human June 28, 2014 at 4:44 pm Reply

    Thinking about you out there right now. Hope it’s going well! Good vibes!

    • Heidi Nicole July 3, 2014 at 3:31 pm Reply

      It went well. Painfully well, but well.
      Especially if “well” means “I survived”!

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