My first ultramarathon

[Tri Girl]

So this weekend I did my first ultra. I did a 24 hour trail race in Oklahoma City www.24thehardway.com
I did the 2 mile trail loop race.
I made it 40 miles before I had to quit due to the Saturn-sized blister on my forefoot that was too painful to allow me to continue (and too deep to drain and "fix" enough to continue).

It was the first time I'd gone longer than a marathon, and since I'd been recovering from knee issues, I had planned on walking most of it and running when it felt "right."

The morning started off rough with my newly adopted shelter dog having a seizure 2 hours before the race. I took her to the emergency vet and they examined her (first time she's had one with us around and I didn't know what it was). Got home and had to be at the start in 30 minutes. Needless to say; I was late to the start.

Made it to the race site and got started about 30 min. late. Walked a lot until I was able to get my mind focused and get in racing mode. Did run/walk intervals and kept a decent pace for the first 6 hours. Then I got tired and started walking a lot more. When the sun went down about 7 I walked the entire night. That trail is too rooty to run when it's dark (for me anyway, there were lots of people still running- but I'm a klutz and know better).
I walked throughout the night, stopping twice to take two 1.5 hour naps. My favorite time of the race was about an hour before sunrise when all the animals started coming out and moving around (possums, skunks, armadillos, deer, etc). There was a full moon at night, so quite a few times I turned my headlamp off and walked in the cool night air powered by moonlight. It was very cool.

I had to stop at about 6 am. My last 2 mile loop took me an agonizing 1:21 to complete. I was in excruciating pain with every step and knew I could not go on any longer.
I made it 40 miles. My goal was a 100K, but I'm satisfied with 40. Had I not had the blister pain, I would have been able to go further. I felt so strong the whole time. Even today I have no muscle soreness (just a little tenderness around the knees).

I'm already planning my next ultra: a 50 miler in February. I can't wait to try this again!!
Thanks for reading.

Here's me on the trails around mile 26, and then one of me (and my friend I cut out since I didn't have her permission to post this pic). I'm wearing my shirt I made. It's a turtle with a surly grin on his face and it says: I AM running

[indysteel]

Oh my gosh! That's amazing!!! Congratulations on great job!

[solobiker]

Woooooo Hooooo!! Way to go. That is awesome.

[Blueberry]

Wow! That's amazing!! You should be very proud of yourself!!

[emily_in_nc]

Wow! 4 miles is an ultra-marathon for me, so it is simply beyond comprehension to imagine running 10x that far. Good, good for you! :)

[zoom-zoom]

Wow, good job...that's a hard thing to do, especially under the circumstances. I hope your pup is OK. How is your blister, now?

[OakLeaf]

Wow Tri Girl. Great job!!! That's amazing. I'm sorry it was so tough on you. Hope your pup and your foot feel much better soon!

[Tri Girl]

Thanks, everyone. I really had a lot of fun!!!
I was able to take care of the blister today. Much better, but still very hurty. I can't wait to run again.

My pup is OK. My friend was working the aid station and saw that I was upset so she went to my house and got my dog (Kona) and brought her to the race. She put her in her pop-up kennel so I could keep an eye on her throughout the day and night. Kona had another seizure on Sunday morning when we got home from the race. My regular vet called me Sunday afternoon and said that the seizures are likely a result of the heartworms (oh yes, she had hearworms when she was surrendered to animal welfare). In 4 weeks if she still has the seizures we'll have to investigate options for her. Thanks for asking. I've only known her a week, but I just love her so much. Since losing our black lab last month, my heart's been missing something and I'm so glad I found it.

[kacie tri-ing]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited for you! Way to go!!! Heal up and get back out there!

[indysteel]

Thanks, everyone. I really had a lot of fun!!!
I was able to take care of the blister today. Much better, but still very hurty. I can't wait to run again.

My pup is OK. My friend was working the aid station and saw that I was upset so she went to my house and got my dog (Kona) and brought her to the race. She put her in her pop-up kennel so I could keep an eye on her throughout the day and night. Kona had another seizure on Sunday morning when we got home from the race. My regular vet called me Sunday afternoon and said that the seizures are likely a result of the heartworms (oh yes, she had hearworms when she was surrendered to animal welfare). In 4 weeks if she still has the seizures we'll have to investigate options for her. Thanks for asking. I've only known her a week, but I just love her so much. Since losing our black lab last month, my heart's been missing something and I'm so glad I found it.


I'll keep your pup in my prayers.

[GLC1968]

Wow, awesome job on the race! I can't even imagine going that far!!

I've witnessed two dog seizures in my life and they scared the crap out of me (the first time, I didn't realize what was going on!). That's got to be hard. I hope she's past it soon!

[gnat23]

Woah! Nice work tho!!

-- gnat!

[OakLeaf]

I've witnessed two dog seizures in my life and they scared the crap out of me (the first time, I didn't realize what was going on!).

I've witnessed two human seizures in my life, and ditto. I don't know if it would be easier or harder with a dog. :confused:

[GLC1968]

I've witnessed two human seizures in my life, and ditto. I don't know if it would be easier or harder with a dog. :confused:

Funny, but until you posted I'd forgotten that I have also witnessed two human seizures as well! For some reason, they were less scary - probably because I barely knew the two people so I wasn't emotionally invested in it. The dog, on the other hand, was my 11 year companion...

[emily_in_nc]

Our first Boston Terrier had her first seizure at age 4 and continued intermittently for the rest of her life. Idiopathic (meaning they don't know what caused it) epilepsy. None in her bloodline, according to the breeder. It is scary to witness. She was well-controlled on phenobarb for over 10 years (no more than 1-2 brief seizures a year) until she finally started clustering and we had to put her down 3 months before her 15th birthday. She had other medical issues by that point at well that may or may not have been exacerbated by the years of being on phenobarb.

I don't know if seizures from heartworms are a much different ballgame, but many, many dogs have epilepsy and live long and healthy lives, but they do need to be on daily medication, and it needs to be adjusted for the lowest dosage that will keep seizures to a bare minimum because of the effects the meds can have on the liver. They also need to have regular blood tests to monitor liver enzymes and blood levels of the meds.

Will be thinking of you and Kona -- hope she'll be ok!

[Tri Girl]

Thanks for all the love for my Kona (you guys are the best!) :D
We've only had her a week, but I love her so much already. We talked to the vet again today (another seizure last night lasted 6 min). After Thanksgiving we'll decide what to do if the seizures continue. The vet is pretty certain they are HW related. Gotta get those buggers out of the heart first. She's just so sweet. I love her so much.

[Catrin]

Wow, you did great! I can't even run 1 mile, but 40 :eek: Thanks for letting us know how it went - and hope your new pup gets to feeling better.

[Aggie_Ama]

Wow! I thought you were talking about a mountain bike 24 hour, I am not sure that is as hard as a foot race. Great job and good luck with your new sweetheart, she is so beautiful.

[colby]

WOW, that's awesome!! Too bad about the blister situation. I hate feeling like you're held back by something like that, rather than your actual ability. :(

Fingers and toes crossed for your doggie friend, too.

[abejita]

My dog has idiopathic seizures too. He had about two very mild ones a year. My vet and I decided that the side effects of the medication were worse than the sided effects of the seizures, so he is not medicated at all.

mary