Today I ran my first 50k – the Majestic Marathon (half and ultra) in Long Beach. I chose this small race because there literally can’t be an easier 50k… unless there was one of those moving sidewalk things.
I mean, it was all on a beach path with a nice gentle ocean breeze, flat as flat can be, and great people watching. If it was any easier, they’d have to call it something besides running.
The small race started at 7am with a few introductions, a countdown and we were off. We ran 1.5 miles in one direction, back and then 3.5 miles out and back to make a 10 mile loop that I did 3 times for the 50k.
It was great running weather – it had rained early in the morning but dried up and was perfect.
I started out a little over 8 min/miles, just running whatever felt comfortable. I had never run more than 26.2 miles so my plan was to take it easy enough to finish and still like running by the finish.
The first 1o miles were really boring. In fact, they were the hardest because they just crawled by and I felt like I had so many more to do.
But as I came upon the race aid station table at mile 10, the lady told me my “friends with the cooler” were waiting for me. Say what?!
Pam and SarahOUaL had set up a whole table of refreshments! seriously better than any race I’ve ever been to. If you’re racing anytime soon, hire these two.
Pam’s pic
Not kidding around. They brought a 5lb bag of Swedish Fish. Man, I love running. I bet HRG wishes she were here today.
We said a tearful goodbye to the table and took off for mile 12. These girls ran with me for about 16 miles which was awesome. They kept me from getting bored and with spirit fingers like that, how could you be?!
Pam
I didn’t really keep much of an eye on the pace, but I think it was around 8:30s. We kept doing the out and backs talking the whole way and ticking off the miles.
Pam
crazy hands.
I would stop at their aid station when we went by it and grab a few cups of water, handfuls of Swedish Fish and orange slices. Even though we weren’t stopped for long, it felt kinda weird to be at a standstill in a race. But I wasn’t complaining; I was headfirst in the fish bowl.
The girls turned back at mile 25 so I had the last few to finish on my own. Of course, these were the hardest because they were boring again.
And I knew Sarah was back at home base stealing my fish…
But I kept going and soon randomly ran into reader Ingrid who was out running on the beach path. That was at about mile 29 and it really helped keep my mind off the race; nice meeting you, Ingrid!
My knees and hips were sore, but other than that, I felt pretty good and I think it was because I never really pushed the pace too hard.
I ran the final little out and back with Pam and finished the 31.07 miles in 4:22:21 (8:27 average pace) according to my Garmin (no chip timing).
Running to the finish
And then I got down to business:
A HUGE thanks to Pam and Sarah for coming out and supporting me, running with me and feeding me! It would have been so incredibly boring without you guys. THANK YOU!!!
Me, Pam and Sarah
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{ 72 comments… read them below or add one }
you go girl! that is so awesome!
I always say the best thing about a new distance is an automatic PR. For this race it might have to be second; first is the sweet, sweet personalized aid station.
Nice first ultra – and nice to see such great friends!
Congrats you did amazing! So great of your girls to show up. And yes your first ultra still blows away my marathon PR, man I am slow.
mega congrats – what awesome friends you have too!x
if 30 miles = 5 lbs of fish
then…
if i ran 15, i get 2.5 lbs?!?!
makes sense to me
COngrats! PS Your friends rock–that is so sweet!
Congrats! So nice of your friends to come out to run and supply yummy treats!
that.is. awesome. and I.love.you.
what a nice way to honor Sherry…..an ULTRA nice way.
Wow, that is incredible! Congratulations!
I was thinking the loops and the beach path might be boring but at least it was flat and cool weather! Can’t believe you are running another marathon in a week! Probably good that you kept it an easy pace today – 31 miles is nothing to sneeze at
)
This is amazing! And what’s even more amazing is that you do NOT look like you just ran 30 miles in that picture. I’m pretty sure I’d be on the ground crying in pain…;)
What awesome friends! Especially since they brought the goods!
I can see how that would be REALLY boring. At least you can say you did a 50k now.
Congrats on your ultra!! That is an amazing distance to run, and so nice to see the fabulous booth they set up for you, yay!!
It looks beautiful! And running with friends makes the time and miles go by so much faster!
Congrats on the ultra! You never cease to amaze me. Thanks for being an inspirations, SR!
You go girl! And awesome job friends!!
Congratulations! You have great friends!
Wow! Congrats!!! Did you feel any different after the Ultra than you do after marathons? Did you feel those extra four miles or so? Congratulations!
hmm hard to say. it did feel different i guess because i was on my feet for so much longer than im used to but other than that, it just felt like a marathon.
Oh my gosh, that is so sweet that they came out there and ran with you! You have some really awesome friends! Congrats on the 50k.
Congrats on a new distance PR!! Are you still coming to the race in AZ next weekend?? I am running the half and would love to meet ya in person!
Congrats on a new distance PR!! Are you still coming to the race in AZ next weekend?? I am running the half and would love to meet ya in person!
I think i am. i have some family stuff going on but going to try to make it out for the race.
I think the 31 miles is great, but your friends coming out to support you is the most awesome part. Great friends are such a blessing!
Heh, I love that your 50k time is around my marathon time!
Well done to you, I wish I had your ability to just keep going!
WOW-nicely done! Such awesome friends you have. I totally would’ve dived head first into those swedish fish too!
What a great event to do in honor of such a strong lady whose life was cut too short.
Way to go and congrats on the PDR race (?)!
Congrats on a job well done! You have pretty awesome friends
So funny! I did the half marathon today with Rocket Racing as well. I added an extra 4 (training for LA Marathon) and I saw the table with the swedish fish. I wanted to steal some so bad! Congrats on an amazing accomplishment!
congrats freddy on your half and training for LA!
Wow-what better way to make a boring run better than awesome friends and swedish fish. Seriously I would run long distances for those two things any day.
Nice work! And you have officially sold me on doing a 50k just for the Swedish fish! Congrats you’re an ultra marathoner! AND you had bib #2???!!!! That’s pretty amazing!
I need to move to CA to run with you girls! And to have the support/cheerleaders you have there!
Swedish fish make EVERYTHING better.
Way to go, SR! And what GREAT friends you have!!! Love that!
Congrats!!! Looking nice and skinny in that outfit too:)
That’s awesome that you ran that far!! You go girl! Question: Was Pam ever a blogger??
no, she’s on dailymile though.
Coooongrats! I was looking at the pics and thought I recognized the area…indeed, you were really close to my home near Santa Monica, CA.
This is my everyday running route! I feel famous!
Congrats!@
Great run! I can’t believe there wasn’t chip timing for a race like that. How many people ran it total?
it was very small, id guess maybe 25 and that was for 3 race distances. i think only 2 of us did the 50k.
Aside from your recent PR, when you finish a marathon are you exhausted thinking you couldn’t go anymore, or at this point do you think “not so bad, could probably do a few more miles?”. Do you still get sore after marathons?
it just depends on how hard i run the race. after carslbad (my PR) i was totally exhausted and completely done. yesterday? i probably could have ran some more miles.
I love that you can run for the love of running as well as put in kick-ass PR attempts and race ‘seriously.’ I have a hard time doing the former. Well, the only arse I tend to kick is my own, but I can never relax during race situations.
Your 50K reminds me so much of a marathon I did in 2010: just endless out and backs, just over 5 miles total so the whole marathon was five out and backs. In December, in the UK, temps just hovering above freezing with a tonne of fog. Your scenery and weather is much nicer…I still wouldn’t have made the 30 miles though
Well done!
My race is here if you want a laugh at some truly hideous photos of mine: http://www.almostovernow.com/2011/01/race-recap-liverbird-marathon-double.html
Hope you’re recovering well today, although by the sounds of it over 30 miles was a breeze for you.
xxx
congrats on your first ultra! glad to hear it was such a good experience. any chance you’ll be doing a 50miler in the future?
id like to but i dont want to train in the mountains. i dont have any mountain running friends and i dont want to get eaten by a bear either. tough quandary…
Ooooooh, dissed! Love it! I’m _so_ going to let you get eaten by a bear if I ever see you out in the mountains
Congrats! I can only hope to run my next marathon in 4:22
Awesome! Way to go SR!!! I have a friend who is an ultra runner, he runs 100 milers, has the belt buckles, etc. I view him as the Yoda of running, I aspire to be just like him. You are totally on your way girl, way to kick your first 30k!!!!!
What awesomely great friends! Sounds like you had a good time (and made good time!).
Great job on your first 50k! It’s great to have friends like Pam and Sara…..
Congrats! That’s amazing!! Any plans to do another one in the near future?!
Congrats! Way to rock a new distance! Though, I’m still confused the “easy” and “50k” being used in the same sentence.
Congrats on your distance PR! It looks like it was a beautiful race.
Congrats girl!! You are so inspiring!
I’m just getting back into shape, so I currently only run 3 miles at a time… But I’m thinking that I could get a few more miles in if there was a table of swedish fish waiting for me. I need to start dropping hints for my hubby!
Pam and Sarah are awesome friends! Mine drop me off, go back to bed, and then sleep in until I’m expected to finish lol. Congrats on finishing your first ultra distance. Barely over 26.2 or not, that ish is hard and deserves the title.
Way to go!!! What an achievement! Love what Pam & Sarah did for you too. Good friends are those who sweat with you, and provide 5lbs of Swedish Fish. Enjoy your Sunday!
Hot damn girl! You’re amazing. Congratulations!!
wow, congrats!! that is an awesome thing to tackle. and great time too.
Definitely jealous of the swedish fish!! You are incredible woman….seriously!! WAY TO GO and I am so happy pam and sarah set up that little stand of happiness for you!
FANTASTIC job yesterday! Very nice time you clocked
You couldn’t ask for more perfect race day conditions, and who could dispute or dislike the Swedish Fish?! Yumm! Excellent rest stop snack!!
You look strong (mentally and physically) in all these pictures! Awesome job
Those swedish fish look like minnows next to the ones they sell around here. Maybe Louisianans are injecting steroids into more than just football players.
U are so inspiring! I think of you at times when I’m in a slump or just not having a great running day. I love how. Mentally tough you are and that u give God the glory. U are such a beautiful lady inside and out.
I’d like to do a 50k sometime. Its on my bucket list.
Congrats! That is awesome!
I just started running and still suck at it. I’m really trying!
I came across your blog, and love it. I entered an 8K next month in DC, so wish me luck! Your blog will definitely inspire me to kick my butt in gear!
Congrats! I just love your blog, it is so motivational!
Woohoo!!! Congrats on your first ultra!!! Also very impressed by your Swedish fish eating abilities!
Well, that’s astronomically impressive!
I love how comically self-deprecating you are “If it was any easier, they’d have to call it something besides running”, it’s refreshing.
You are bad to the bone mama!!!
CONGRATS on your first 50K!
First…I am in love with Pam. Aside from being a seemingly AWESOME runner…I can’t decide what I like more– your running table spread or the spread she put on for the cookie exchange. I want to be her BFF for life.
Way to be on the Ultra!! 50 miles next? Good luck this weekend!
You are insane…insane in the membrane. Jesus all those miles at that pace? I would just be eating the swedish fish and tanning my paste-y legs while you ran. Great job!
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