Time Laps 24 Hour Relay: Suprise!

Hazah! for our staff team, the #OldNorthRuners, who won the 12 person team category while managing the event! Find all the results HERE on the USNWC race series page.



 

This second annual event was definitely a test of endurance. The race began on Friday at 7:00pm and concluded on Saturday at 7:00pm. This relay race challenged teams to earn as many points as possible within a 24-hour time period. As a relay event, only one person per team could be running at a time to collect mileage points. Points where awarded based on difficulty-weighted mileage over various routes. There where also additional bonus points that could be earned by doing certain adventure race obstacles, like monkey bars or climbing over cargo nets, along the courses. Below is a layout of the event schedule and official rules.

 

 

The US National Whitewater Center recently built new Ridge Pavilions near their Ridge and Canyon high ropes activities. This location was the central hub for all of the event activities. This is where the Start/Finish line for each lap was, where the three meals where served, where we ate s'mores around the fireplace, served/drank beer, hung out, managed the event, used the restroom, and camped near by. We even had the canyon activities open from 9pm to 1am for some of the race participants.

  

Instead of passing a traditional baton between relay team mates we used reflective yellow slap bracelets. Especially during the heat of the day on Saturday, the inside fabric got so soggy that you'd get splashed with community team sweat each time the bracelet was slapped on your wrist. But that's part of the grimy fun of events like this.

We didn't have anyone stationed out on the courses. So, in order to ensure that no one cheated their running distance we had uniquely shaped hole punches stationed at the farthest point of each lap. As each person ran their lap they'd have to stop and punch their race bib number in order to record that they'd done that specific route. When they returned to the finish line they'd check in with us at the data collection table so we could record the route points for their team. Similarly we also had four rounds of bonus point cards through out the 24hour period where people could collect unique stamps for doing various adventure race obstacles along the routes.

Below is a map of the various routes we could choose from, their point value, and a rough layout of the pavilions and camp sites.

 



 

I was the second runner for our team on Friday. I started in the daylight but before I finished my yellow 6.2mile loop it was pitch black outside. I like letting my eyes adjust to the darkness as I run but I used my headlamp a bit more than I usually would in the hope of not spraining my ankle. The run was exciting because I got to run several new stretches of trail that I'd never done before. Goat Hill trail is a beast! but, an awesome one. As I came through the 3.5-4mile mark I did, of course, sprain my left ankle again despite how cautious I was trying to be. It was a pretty flat part of the trail so I'm not really sure what I rolled it on. I felt a tendon stretch pop this time and it hurt a little more than last time I rolled it so, I had a feeling it was worse. But, that's to be expected when you injure an injury. I feel rather bad, as a staff member of the USNWC team, that I yelled a few profanities from the pain and frustration, and then promptly had another runner come running up behind me to ask if I was ok. Hopefully it was dark enough he didn't recognize who I was. He was kind enough to offer to send someone back to get me, but I waived him on with a "Thank you" and told him I'd be ok. As has been my experience in the past with sprained ankles I can finish my run on them without the pain and swelling setting in too much. I do just have to be careful about how I land my foot as it's easier to roll after it's happened once. So I carefully finished the last 2-3miles back to the finish line. I did have the fore thought to bring an ice pack and pair of compression socks as well as my new Books running shoes. I promptly went to the car to change my clothes and grab some food after the run. Then I iced my ankle and kept my foot elevated while I helped at our data entry computer table until I could catch some sleep from 1-4am. We laid the sleeping bags out in the back of the Jeep. I cracked the windows and conked out pretty hard until I sprung awake in a slight panic, a few minutes before my alarm went off, because I had to pee.

Upon waking, and returning to help with the race data entry, my ankle felt much better. I decided I could do at least one more run. I had to keep at least my 12mile promise. I was pretty bleary eyed and worried I'd have to try to take a second nap later in the day. The sun just started to lighten the horizon around 5:30am and I finally started to wake up half way through my second run around 6:30 or 7am when the sun started to shine.

I ran my second and third runs in my Brooks shoes as they're lower to the ground and seem to squish more stably in to the lumps of the trail. I wish I had run in them at night but I didn't want to do too much mileage in new shoes that my body may have not adjusted to yet. I will never wear my Asics for evening runs again. I also walked some of the down hills as that's when my ankle felt the weakest, like it wanted to flop over my toes.

 

 

The one frustrating part about this relay was that it seemed to always be my turn to run next when the food was being brought out for meal times. I can't run having just downed a full meal without feeling a little like I might vomit. Because of this I'm glad we where allowed to bring  our own food so I could eat after my runs but, I feel like I ate a lot less food than I normally would have in a 24hour period because of this.

 

I woke up feeling like I was starving on Sunday morning and couldn't put enough food in my mouth all day. On Sunday all my muscles over my entire body where fatigued. It took a little extra concerted effort to move, pull, or lift things in my daily job. I also noticed that my legs from my calves down where crazy swollen. My toes looked like tittle sausages.

 

Over the whole event I ran a little more than I'd expected. According to my training plan I was supposed to do an hour of cross training on Friday and six miles on Saturday. So, I'd figured I'd do two 6mile yellow laps. Since it is a race to gain the most points, though, I did also figure that I may have to run more mileage. In the end I ran a total of 16.5miles and Wayne did 18.5miles. I also ran most of my mileage on my sprained ankle. I'm just nervous to see how this plays out toward training for the 10k next Thursday.