Hachie 50 miles race report: let's-have-a-stroll-in-the-park edition.

Saturday I ran a 50 miles on pavement (official ultra number 13).

Yes, you've read it right: on pavement.

...and this is why I ran it. I was simply curious about running those long distances on pavement/cement/asphalt instead of trails.

I was thinking that it could have been very painful, but honestly speaking, it was not.

Right now I have only a general sore and that's it. Nothing compared to what I usually feel after an ultra on trails anyway... Also mentally, is not so boring as I was expecting...

So, I see more 50 miles (or longer) on road in my future...

Little note here: I ran it with the Altra Torin, and those are really great shoes! Nothing to complain about. Basically what I think about the Superior, can be perfectly applied also for this model. I ran 80.7 km in it, and I don't have blisters, falling nails or rotten toes.

Anyway, long story short, do the hamster on a 10 miles long circuit not on trails is not so bad.

The race was really cool. The circuit was actually nice (and flat), in a cute little park in a small city called Waxahachie (TX). It was really nice especially early in the morning, when the sun was rising and the mist was laying on the trees and the grass: everything was very peaceful, and it felt like being lost on some trail somewhere (bonus, I saw a cute armadillo and a big snake: extra points for me!).

I was running with only one goal: beat my previous PR on the distance of 50 miles and that was it.

Well, I did it. I finished second overall in 7 hours and 23 minutes, meaning, I beat my PR of 2 hours and 14 minutes.

Yes, once again I finished second, and second is the first of the losers.

In conclusion, two short notes.

1) it was a fast race: not too much time for stop and eat. I fueled myself with a couple of gels, some grape and watermelon. It worked really well, and this also means that my training on my nutrition works well.

2) I need to improve my after-race recovering. I must study...

Ok, done.

Listen to "Apex predator - Easy meat" by Napalm Death*.

*I saw them live (for the second time) a month ago, with Melvins opening for them, but I forgot to write something about it: too bad because it was a great show, and Melvins really impressed me.

Ok, listen also to "Goin' blind" by Melvins.



Here a couple of pictures of the race:

Flying happy on the second loop.

Loop #4: fueling with watermelon.

Done.

Cross Timbers 50 miles report: slower and better.

First post of 2016 about the first ultra of 2016.

Yes, I am too overwhelmed about a lot of shit (mainly turning around my fucking job, which is connected to my life and so on...) in this last period and I'm certainly not in the right mood to write crap.

Let me recapitulate this concept with an image: these are all the fucks I give.

See? Not even one.

Anyway, done with my rant.

Let's talk about some running.

So, like in 2015, I've run the first 50 miles of 2016 on the texans sides of the lake Texoma.

Because of a lot of floods late in the 2015, the course has been modified.

Last year I did my PR (you can read the report here) and my plan this year was to try to finish in less than 9 hours and 37 minutes.
Well, as I wrote, the course was different, and this year was much harder (look at the elevation profile: a lot of up and a lot of down. Started in 27, finished by 12). And indeed I finished basically one hour later.
But (there is always a but) I did second over all. Well, actually, I was first since the start, and I led the race until the end. Unfortunately I was completely cooked in the last few miles, and the dude that was second caught on me on the (literally) last mile and there was nothing I could do. I did my best, I gave everything I had and I'm happy. No complaining.
Only one thought: I am so comfortable right now with the 50 miles and I'm feeling not challenged anymore, and I am really ready to go ahead for the big step into the 100 miles.

Hug a tree and kill yourself.




Listen to "Live without regrets" by Amon Amarth.*





*Note: I cannot link the music directly because of some change of policy or what not, so starting from now I will just write down what to listen.



P.S.: I forgot to mention that it was my first 50 miles with the Altra and I confirm that they are amazing! No pain, no nails falling off, no rotting/decomposing skin, no blisters...



EDIT: here a couple of pictures from the race

First come back...

Last 10 meters...

Memorabilia...

My legs after race...

Pluto.

Speechless.

http://www.nasa.gov/feature/new-horizons-returns-first-of-the-best-images-of-pluto

Peace.

No, really, could you stop with all these bullshits and stop bombarding, exploding and killing each other?

Thanks.

Two thoughts.

1) At some point we all were fibroblasts.

2) We are walking biohazard.

Building things.

"We'll continue building things just so someone else can watch them fall."

"Hi I'm a social disease" (Andersen Prunty)

Stick to it.

When I was younger I was thinking: "When I'll be older, I will listen to more sophisticated music, like jazz: I can't believe I'll be still listening to this metal-shit....".

I'm closer to my 40s than to my 20s now, and yesterday I've ordered Grave and Malevolent Creation' new albums.

Semper fidelis.