Glacial Drumlin State Trail FKT report
This is something that I’ve been wanting to do for a long time, but I could never fit it into my training schedule. This fall, for example, I’d been training for the Door County Fall 50, and with three marathon-length (or longer) runs since early September, I was well-trained and ready to go. So when the race got canceled due to Covid, it was an easy decision to pivot and finally make this thing happen. My first inclination was to stick with the original race date of October 24, but I decided to move it up a week given the excellent weather forecast and the chance for an extra recovery week before my 50K in early November.
With my wife, Aga, being pregnant 30 weeks pregnant, I didn’t want her running around for 7+ hours in the cold weather trying to crew me, so my initial thought was to do this self-supported. But when my good friend, Lynne, graciously offered to man a mobile aid station for me, I couldn’t refuse. I studied the map and found 8 easily-accessible points where she would meet me along the way.
I woke up on the morning of my run a little before my alarm was set to go off at 4:30. Took care of bathroom business, ate a blueberry bagel with cream cheese, and lubed up my toes before leaving the house around 5:30 for the 50-minute drive to the start. I didn’t want Aga having the pressure of crewing me, but I did accept her offer to give me a ride so that I wouldn’t have to go back later in the day to get my car. One last bathroom stop at Kwik Trip in Cottage Grove, and we met Lynne a little after 6:30 at the west trail head. There was a wind advisory starting closer to noon, but the weather to start was perfect—just a light breeze and temps in the upper 30s. Loaded all my supplies into Lynne’s trunk, and after taking a quick photo in front of the trail sign, I hit my watch and started my run at 6:52.
Mile 0 to 6.8
Plan going into this was to start easy—just wasn’t sure HOW easy. I was thinking 8:15 pace would be good, but my friend Whitney (who’s got several FKTs of her own) suggested starting even slower for the first 10-20 miles, maybe closer to 8:30s. I didn’t listen, and I felt great. But I’d end up regretting that decision later. Quick stop to switch out handhelds, grab a couple of GUs, and say hi to Aga and Lynne, and shortly thereafter I was back on my way.
Mile 6.8 to 15.5
Still just cruising along. Had a little scare here when I got to mile 13.2 (where I’d planned for the aid station) and Lynne wasn’t there. Immediately started to worry that either she or Aga had gotten into a car accident or something, but since I had no way to contact them, I just kept running with the hope that she’d maybe show up at the Lake Mills trail head a couple miles further down the trail. You can imagine my relief when I got there and saw her sitting in her car in the parking lot. Apparently the map link that I’d created sent her to the wrong place, so she had to ad lib. Average pace through 15 miles was 8:13/mile.
Mile 15.5 to 21.7
Wind was starting to pick up now, and it was starting to rain a little bit. Pace was still good, but my left glute was sore. Also had my first calf cramp in this section. Stopped for a minute to stretch it out, and it was a non-issue for the rest of the segment. Quickly hit up the glute with my handheld massager before refueling and heading back out. This was the first time I deviated from water/Gatorade/GU, drinking some flat Cherry Coke and eating a couple of cookies.
Mile 21.7 to 27.4
Not a fan of this section, especially the hilly, exposed road connector after passing over Highway 26. Wind was starting to pick up here, and without the benefit of tree cover, it was much more noticeable. Switched to a new set of headphones at the end of this segment and switched music genres from country to hip-hop. Can’t remember if it was this aid station or the last one that I almost forgot to take my handheld with me. One marathon down, another one to go. Average pace through 27 miles was 8:16/mile.
Mile 27.4 to 34.3
Here begins the falling off of the wheels (8:23 pace through 34 miles). The rest of the way I’d be doing less running and more “shuffling” in an attempt to keep my stride short and prevent my calves from cramping. Despite my best efforts, they still kept cramping up, so I’d have to walk periodically and/or stop to stretch. Aga met back up with Lynne at this aid station, and it was nice to see her. Hit the calves with the massager and took a couple of salt tabs in the hope that it might help with the cramping. I remember asking Lynne and Aga how the hell I was gonna run another 19 miles like this.
Mile 34.3 to 40.1
Miles are now clicking off closer to 9-minute pace. Shuffle, cramp, walk, repeat. That said, I was looking forward to getting to Dousman. The last 13 miles are paved, and I’ve run them many times in my training. I hoped the familiarity might help pull me through to the end. Finally took off my long-sleeved shirt here as it was starting to get warm. My stomach was still handling GU every 30 minutes or so, but I tried a couple packets of fruit snacks here to change it up.
Mile 40.1 to 44 (and 44 to 49)
Survival mode, as it becomes increasingly clear to me that I should’ve started out running much slower than I did. You’d think after running 35+ marathons that I’d know better. Miles are closer to 9:30 now. I was hoping the 3-mile downhill section starting in Wales might help kickstart a late-run surge, but my calves weren’t having it. Fortunately, I’m at 7:04:58 through 49 miles. Barring a collapse of absolutely epic proportions, I’ll still come in well under the current FKT of 8:16:38. I see Aga and Lynne at the last aid station, and all I can say is, “Massager, ibuprofen, Biofreeze, fruit snacks, Coke.” I leave for the last 4+ miles with a handheld full of Cherry Coke.
Mile 49 to 53.64 (finish)
This part sucked. Just a death march to the finish. Average pace for this chunk was just over 10 minutes/mile. Still, I know every inch of this section, and it was comforting knowing that the end was near. I came around the last curve and was joined by my support/cheering crew for the last little jog into the finish. Stopped my watch at 7:51:54 (8:48/mile), besting the previous FKT by almost 25 minutes. Snapped a quick picture by the E.B Shurts sign before collapsing on the ground and giving my legs a much-needed rest.
Closing thoughts
This was the longest run that I’ve ever done. I did one previous 50-miler, but it was a technical trail race and thus an entirely different animal. I overestimated how long I could run my regular “easy long run pace.” I also wonder if the course being so completely flat (only 670 feet of gain) had something to do with it, too. The same muscles doing the same thing over and over and over and over again. Regardless, I can’t help but think that if I’d started slower and ran 8:30s for the first 20-30 miles like my friend suggested, I could’ve held that pace through ‘til the end…or maybe even sped up.
As luck would have it, my run coincided with a “Move For Meals” campaign that my employer was doing for World Food Day. I’m proud to say that the 80,000+ steps that I took during my 53 miles will result in 8,000 meals being donated to the less fortunate.
Finally, special thanks to Aga and Lynne. Like most things, I couldn’t have done this without their love and support.
Time to rest up and eat all the food. GO PACK GO.