Orange Curtain Race Report

Tanya and I arrived in Cerritos early and the morning temperature was perfect for running. The Orange Curtain is run along the San Gabriel River Trail, the course is a 10K loop that will be repeated 5 times or 10 times depending on which race you are running. As I mentioned in previous posts my goal was to go under 5 hours, my strategy for the day was to break the run down into 5 short races. Meaning I wanted to focus on each 10K section one at a time and run each as close to an hour as possible. I hoped this strategy would keep me from thinking about the monotony of running the same road back and forth over and over again. It worked because the miles and the morning passed by very quickly.

10K: 1:00:00 perfect right on pace!
20K: 1:57:12 feeling good body is loosening up, the sun is breaking through the clouds.
30K: 2:58:23 best lap of the day feeling Strong, feeling good about next two laps.
40K: 4:01:42 how quickly things change, feeling fatigued stomach a little upset but sub 5 still in reach.
50K: 5:16:55 Damn! couldn't hold the pace and an unscheduled bathroom break(#2) didn't help. But no excuses. Knocked almost 30 Min's off of previous 50K PR so I am still Pumped!

Tanya ended up calling it a day at the 50K, she was entered in the 100K race. She still had a terrific finishing time of 5:28:41, and was conserving to go 50K more.
Overall we had a great time, it was great seeing and running with so many friends. I rate races on their Aid stations and Jay(RD) his wife, and the volunteers had their stuff together. Look how

clean and neat this aid station is. That says a lot, and I took this picture after I had finished running, it was clean and well supplied like this all day! Maybe this is why I like running ultras the food!; marathons only give you water or a sports drink.

Get out there and run!!

2009 Orange Curtain 50K PR!

I did not break 5 hours which was my ultimate goal, but I did set a 50K PR. I will post a report with more details soon!.

MJ

Love/Hate Relationship with Running

Saturday Tanya and I run the Orange Curtain 50/100K. I hate the week before races! I always get anxious and can't wait to get out there to run. Then when while running the race I often have thoughts of what the heck am I doing out here. You could be somewhere relaxing, and not putting your body through this. But when the race is over, and the freedom of running, the cool breeze through my hair, and thoughts of bliss are gone. That's when I wish I still had a few more miles to go. Crazy eh! No matter how beat up I feel afterwards, I always feel comfort in the accomplishment.
Wish us luck Tanya is running the 100K and I am running the 50K. If everything goes well I'm am hoping to go under 5 hours. That would be a big time PR for me at the 50K distance.
MJ

First Ultra of the Year

Well it is only 12 days to go until our first Ultra of 2009. The race is the Orange Curtain 50K and 100K. Tanya and I have never run this race before, though it is part of the So. Cal Ultra series. The course is a 10K out and back asphalt section on the San Gabriel River Trail; unlike the single track mountain trails we love. I think this race may be a mental challenge for both of us in that respect. It should build some mental fortitude. Tanya is going to run the 100K distance, and I'm going to run the 50K distance (Wimp right).
MJ