2018 Rockin' Rockwoods 53k

2018 Rockin' Rockwoods 53k
1st Overall 4:29:21 (CR)
33.2 miles 

Heading back on Green Rock Trail

2018 was a rough year for the most part. The front end was littered with injuries and the recovery process seemed to linger on forever. Come mid July I was able to start stringing together some decent runs and come late August I was itching for a race. I jumped in a couple small weekday trail races in St. Louis and was feeling good. Yet I wanted something bigger, longer and more challenging before 2018 ended. I'd been injured all year and just wanted to race again. 
Like most ultra runners I got on ultrasignup.com and tried to find something that was somewhat close to home. I came across the Rockin' Rockwoods 53k. I had heard about it before and that it was a challenging course and I knew of the trail system. I decided to sign up and go for it. My training leading up to the race was anything but consistent. It was a mix of light running and cross training. Far from a build up of my normal liking going into a race. None the less it was better than what most of the year had been and all I wanted to do was run. 
Pre Race
Got down to Greensfelder State Park the day before and the plan was to camp out in the back of the Xterra. I was able to get on some sections of the course and preview a couple of the trails. Got in a few easy miles becoming one with the course. Stopped at a Subway and got some dinner then stopped at Walmart to grab some breakfast supplies for the next morning. I debated on sleeping in the parking lot of Walmart but that ended up being too busy and bright. Ended up driving back to Greensfelder and found an open camp slot to park in. Slept pretty well the night before; as well as one can in the back of an SUV the night before a race. Woke up 3 hours before the start to eat and had my usual banana with peanut butter, dry cereal and a couple fruit strips. Laid back down for an hour or so and then back up an hour before the start. Moved around a bit stretching out in the parking lot and then hit up a small warm up and headed to the start line. 
Race

Green Rock Trail

Went into the race relaxed and confident in my abilities. Plan was to just work into the run and go into the last few miles feeling good. The way the course was set up; I wanted to able to feel good and really start moving the last 13 miles after the turn around on Green Rock. Started out with Jon the opening miles on the Fox Creek out and back. At the turn Fox Creek turn around I decided to start picking it up. From there it was solo effort to the finish. Because of the nature of the course I was able to see others on the out and backs which was nice and made time go by a bit quicker. 
Unfortunately my Garmins GPS malfunctioned after mile 4. All my splits registered for the entire race but GPS wasn’t picking up I guess. Would have been nice to see some segments show up. Overall really excited about the day. Everything clicked mentally and physically. ood intake was perfect. GU and salt tablet every hour, 1 squeezable baby food at 2:30, 12oz. of heed drink every aid station/5-7miles or so, 2 organic fruit rollups, 1 electrolyte chews, 5 GUs total. Didn’t spend much time in the aid stations, just enough time to fill my bottle and go. Lots of rocks, roots, horse poop, rollers and a few shorter sustained climbs. Never hit any low spots. Stayed under control the first 10, 10-20 I just focused on staying fast but relaxed still not pressing too much. I wanted to be able to slowly pickup the pace on the way back if I was feeling good. I decided to start going for it when I entered back into Camp Wyman, figures there was close to 7 left here. Really felt smooth through there. Was just looking for the road, knew there’d be only 1.5 miles left from there. Hit the road and went ballz out, 6:38 last mile over rocky uneven terrain. Not gunna lie, I wouldn’t have been surprised if old aches and pains reared it’s head today but they didn’t. Just stayed within myself early on and was really happy I could press towards the end. 1 hour and 4min. ahead of the previous record.

Strava Link: https://www.strava.com/activities/1873925289

Results Link: http://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=64445