Just days after my 54th birthday, my first ever 50km run. The furthest I’ve ever run at one time. Was it how I’d imagined it would be? Not quite! But, the important thing is that I did finish and I finished injury-free.
The 2022 Phoenix Trail Races were held on October 15 at Fanshawe Conservation Area. The run consisted of one loop around Fanshawe Lake for those who choose the 25km event and two loops for those of us who wanted a little more time on the trail.
Fanshawe is located at the northeast end of London, Ontario, the city where I was born and raised. I’d actually worked at the park for a summer back in the early 1990’s and previously ran the 25km version of the run some time ago when it was dubbed the ‘Vulture Bait Trail Races’.
What Went Right
I finished the 50 kilometres a few minutes shy of seven hours. My second loop was considerably longer than my first loop. But, as mentioned, I did finish. And, most importantly, I finished with no new injuries. Sure, I was sore for a day or two but was back running again after just four days off.
Going in, I was having problems with a cramping left calf muscle and what I assumed was something with the sciatic nerve on the right side of my lower body. Both problems were held at bay by switching back to an older pair of shoes and through stretching.
Once the pain was gone, I definitely saw this run as a major learning experience. I was able to take a good, positive look at the things I could have improved on. I was also able to pick up a few things from other runners that will help in the future.
I did maintain nasal breathing throughout the 50km (breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth). I believe without this, I would not be able to take on nearly the distance.
What Went Wrong
Maybe, that’s a little harsh – ‘What Can Be Improved’ is a probably a better subtitle. Hydration! This was a major screw-up on my part. Because I stayed at my sister’s house the night before, it was a social visit and I wasn’t focused on what I needed to do to be prepared. I should have been hydrating all the day and night before but I simply wasn’t. The result was cramping over the last 20km or so.
Walking. I should have intentionally incorporated walking breaks into the run. The next ultra distance run I do will be using the 25/5 method, running 25 minutes and walking 5. I more or less ran straight through until past the 30km mark and then struggled from the usually wall people hit when running the shorter 42.2km marathon distance.
Nutrition. I’m not very good at eating during a run. It’s something I need to work on for future runs. I’m very focused on my heart rate and I think it freaks me out when my pulse rises after eating.
Accessories. I went with a belt instead of a hydration pack or vest. This gave me issues because I pretty much lost the dexterity in my fingers after the first lap and struggled with getting things in and out of the belt pockets. I ran probably the last 15km with my water bottle in my hand because it was too much to get it back in the belt. I am definitely moving to a vest for my next run of this distance.
About The Race
This is such a good production, especially for the price of entry. I believe the entrance fee was $65 or $70 for the 50km. The race shirt is by far the best I’ve ever seen. There were several aid stations along the course with ample food and drinks (even as us stragglers went about the final lap. There were so many volunteers, easily outnumbering the entrants. And, every one of them had a smile on their face and an encouraging word for all runners.
Race photos. No extra fees here. Within a few days, there were a dozen photos of my run that could be downloaded from the Phoenix Trail Races website. Some looked horrible but that was absolutely no fault of the photographer’s!
Mostly flat with a bit of technical trail… Well, it is quite flat. But, there are several ‘micro hills’ that sure add up over 50 km. In fact, the elevation gain (according to Garmin) ending up being around 450 metres or 1,500 feet. Sure, we weren’t climbing mountains but there was certainly some climbing. The hills seemed to get steeper and more numerous over the second lap! In reality, though, you get the same elevation gain over just 14km on the Bruce Trail at Hockley Valley Provincial Park near my home.
As for technical, It wasn’t that bad. But, there were certainly sections with A LOT of tree roots and rocks. Because I had to use my older, much more worn in running shoes, I felt every one of those roots and rocks during the second lap. My quite new Solomon’s that give my calf issues would have rendered those roots and rocks unnoticeable.
Will I Be Back?
If the date is free for me next year, I will try this one again. After all, my time from 2022 is quite beatable and should provide my 2023 ego with a positive boost.
What’s Next?
After running the last 10km of this 50km trail run in some pretty decent pain and exhaustion, it would time to take a break, right?
Wrong. On November 5 and 6, just three weekends after the Phoenix Trail Races, there’s a pretty unique event in Hamilton, Ontario. The Hamilton Marathon takes place on the Sunday, along the shores of Hamilton Harbour in Confederation Park.
The unique part is the ‘Hammer the Hammer’ option. This involves running both the 5km and the 10km runs on the Saturday before heading out for the 42.2km on Sunday. This truly is a flat course that is paved and has no roots or rocks! I look forward to the monotony of running without obstacles.
Feel free to take a look at the run here: Hamilton Marathon