My second attempt at a 50 miler.
When I signed up for the Keys 100 50 mile race I was asked at registration “Can you realistically finish in under 10 hours?” And my reaction was “yeah,” but I asked some ultra running friends I deeply respect, one of whom offered to give me training advice. On race day I finished, and took third in my age group, but I was very disappointed with myself for finishing in over 14 hours. More than that I felt like I let down my friend who put a lot of time and energy into advising me.
Fast forward to today. The Lean Horse Ultra “Yeehaw” 50 Miler, obviously a completely different race, but I took 13th overall, 2nd in my age group and most important to me, I finished in under 10 hours (9:53) so I’m celebrating with pizza and beer in Custer, SD before I go back to Denver to fly home. Thank you to my encouraging friends, and especially Karen Eviltwin Vollan. Fun fact: Custer, SD is generally considered the oldest European American settlement in the Black Hills. Named after Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer. Who rather famously met his end fighting indigenous peoples of the area to protect the interests of a local gold mining boom in the Black Hills.
