FATS 50K

Garmin data of the course. 5000 ft. +/- combined

Trail markings. They really were pretty easy to follow.

The back of me in red and Leann close behind in yellow.

Leann and I. So fresh and happy!

This would be my 3rd ultra in 4 weeks. I didn't think much of that. I've run 3 races in a month previously. Not 3 ultras, but 3 marathons. Surely couldn't make that much of a difference? I would find out just how much on October 3rd.

I was looking forward to this race. Love races put on by Terri Hayes. She is the best! Plus I was getting to see another running friend that I hadn't seen since February when we met up in Myrtle Beach for the marathon that was cancelled due to snow!

Up at 3:30 again for the drive down to North Augusta. Love traveling early in the morning like that. No traffic to speak of. Just so quiet and peaceful. Rolled into Sumter National Park with about an hour to spare and saw Leann right away. Checked in. It's always nice to be recognized by the RD and greeted warmly. Makes you feel a bit special. I think that is one of the great things about Terri. She makes everyone feel so welcome at her races.

Plenty of time to get my gear ready and chat with Leann. She said she'd like to run the first loop together and I agreed even tho I knew darn well she was way faster than me. The course was a series of 4 different loop trails and then you ran the first loop one more time in reverse to finish up. There were 4 aid stations so I was carrying my Nathan pack.

I had no idea what to expect in terms of terrain or hills. I was thinking it couldn't be as difficult as Norris Dam 50K so figured I'd finish around 7.5 hours or so.

Terri gave her trail briefing and I could hear people talking about it was confusing and they were afraid of getting lost. I ran almost the entire race by myself and did not have one problem with the trail markings. All turns were clearly marked with paper plates and arrows. Easy smeasy.

Anyway. We started a little late but no matter. Leann and I were in the midst of a pretty long train of runners for a couple miles. I was going way too fast for me and I eventually pulled off to the side of the trail and let Leann and about 20 people go on by. One of them was Jason Sullivan. Waved hi to him and that was the last I saw of most of those people. Let another fairly large group go by me after another couple miles and then it was me and nature for a long, long, long time.

The first loop (Great Wall) was 7.5 miles and it just seemed to go on forever and ever. There were no huge climbs or descents but it was constantly rolling hills with sections of rocks to look out for. It took me an hour and 36 min. to complete that first loop and I just felt exhausted. The aid station was at the top of a hill and I trudged in there none too happy with my performance so far. Well stocked station with all the usual ultra goodies. I didn't know it at the time but this was going to be aid station 2 and 4 also.

I really didn't want to leave the aid station but head out towards the next loop and just have zero energy. I was seriously considering dropping at the end of the loop if I didn't feel any better by then. I don't remember much about the next loop (Deep Step). We ran on a connector trail to reach it and a couple guys had already finished the loop and were running back towards the aid station. They looked great. I felt like death. Somehow I manage to navigate this loop and am heading back towards the aid station. I meet another lady running out to start the loop and this makes me feel a bit better. I was beginning to think I was dead last.

Back into the aid station and there are several runners just hanging out and eating. One of them was a 10 year old boy. I didn't know it then but he was Psyche Wimberly's son. He had on an ABYSA soccer shirt so I knew he was from the Asheville area. My addled brain didn't put 2 and 2 together tho. So obviously 2 of the runners hanging out were Psyche and Charles. Duh me didn't realize it at the time.

So, it was decision time. I was not feeling any better. Really wanted to lay down and take a nap! DNF or gut it out? Obviously the German stubborn streak in me won out and the fact that a 10 year old boy outran me for 13.5 miles was not the way I wanted to end this race. Huge kudos to Leopold btw. What a great runner! So, I manned up and headed off towards loop 3....Skinny. I think this was the most runnable loop. I don't remember feeling as strung out navigating this one. Plus I was encouraged by the fact that I was starting to repass some of the people who had blown by me in the first couple miles.

Somewhere along here I started hearing gun shots. That was bit frightening. I was happy to be wearing a bright red shirt. Surely they would not mistake me for a deer??? Aid station 3 was somewhere along this loop. They were also hearing the gun shots but knew nothing about it. Kinda scary. Tanked up here. It was starting to get warm and I was getting puffy fingers. I don't like puffy fingers. It means I am doing something wrong with my hydration/electrolyte balances. I didn't think I had taken in too much of either water or S-caps so really didn't know what to ease up on. So, just continued on.

In between aid stations 3 and 4 I passed about 6 or 7 runners. I felt exhausted but was able to keep running slowly through this section. Finally reached aid station 4 to find one person still manning the station. Slim pickings as this aid station had been run through 3 times already by just about every runner except the few behind me. I scavenged what I could find and refilled with water.

Finally, the last loop. It sure seemed like we had already run a full 50K by that time, but still 7.5 miles to go! A backwards jaunt along Great Wall. I seemed to remember way more uphills than downhills when we first traversed this section earlier in the day but it didn't seem that way going back. My feet were not happy by this point in the race. Very sore and I felt like blisters were forming under my toes. But eventually the finish line came into sight and I was happy to be able to pick up my finishing award. I thought for sure Leann would be long gone but she was still hanging around. She had finished about a half hour in front of me and agreed that that course was much more difficult than it looked. It was also about 33 miles long according to other runners with Garmins.

While we were hanging around the finish area Psyche and Charles came running in and I was finally lucid enough to recognize them. I really couldn't believe Psyche was out there running this race as she had run the 77 mile foothills trail the previous weekend. One tough runner! There were also runners out there who had run the Stump Jump 50K the previous day. Those are some serious ultra runners! The more I run these things the more I am impressed with the people who are serious ultra runners. I am but a dabbler in this area but really do enjoy it despite my slowness.

My next 3 races are marathons. Wondering how they will go after a string of 6 ultras and one trail marathon since April.