The Results are in.

I Finished The Race!

Based on the Official Stats, it was a 50k Race with 65 Obstacles.

Basically, they threw in 5 Obstacles "For Fun".

If you know Spartan Races, they tend to throw in a "Lot" of "Fun" to their Races.

Though the "Official" Record does not show it, I'm certain they added Miles to this race as well, based on where the "Mile Markers" were.

They call these "Spartan Miles".

Altogether to be expected.

So, how did I do?

Well...

I wasn't as bad as 2 Years Ago!

So that was an Improvement.

2 Years Ago I nearly Quit, and I might have if it hadn't been for the support of my Spouse and Family who were there.

During that Race, I hurt my Knee pretty early on.

For Three Quarters of the Race, I wanted to Stop.

The Good News is that this did not happen this Race!

Was I in Pain?

Absolutely!

Will I have trouble walking tomorrow?

Almost Definitely!

But I held myself together a lot better this Race than the last time.

I didn't start to "Really" Hurt until the 2nd Half, which was nice.

I never Felt Like Quitting - Despite the Pain.

So that is a great Improvement!

Overall time?

Mediocre.

However, that was not Unexpected.

Pulled in at 10:55:53.

Not my best Performance, but better than Over 11 Hours in my last race 2 years ago.

I was looking pretty Strong to hit in the 9 Hour Range (Which would have been a Record for me) until the Final Quarter.

Not what I was hoping obviously, but an Improvement Nevertheless.

I finished in the 78% Percentile Overall.

Again, not great, but this is also my Weakest Race Overall.

I'm much better at The Sprints (5k, 20 Obstacles).

So, I'll take it.

Now, Surprisingly this was one of my worst Obstacle Performances.

Of the 65 Obstacles, I only completed 52.

That is 80% which isn't necessarily "Bad", but I usually hit into the Upper 90's.

So then the question is Why?

I believe it had to do with a Tradeoff I made.

This is the First Year that I used Race Nutrition, Properly.

I had Untapped All Natural Athletic Fuel.

Something I picked up from my "The Feed" Sponsorship - #FueledByTheFeed

These provide Calories that are Easy on the Stomach, especially during Long Races.

For Context - My WHOOP Band estimated I Burned 5763 Calories over the Race.

Having some Calories is tremendously helpful.

Then, I had my USWE Bag, which was also from The Feed.

Inside my Bag I had my 1.5 Liters of Water that had added Mineral Drops.

The Main Reason - Magnesium.

Then, I was carrying 2 Water Bottles.

Those had Adrenal Cocktails in them.

The Reason - Salt and Potassium.

Magnesium, Salt, and Potassium are all Major Electrolytes that usually get depleted over the course of long Races.

Now, what about all of this is a Tradeoff?

Weight.

Usually, when I run a Race, I take "Nothing" with me.

I discovered that wasn't a Good Idea 3 Years Ago for the Ultra.

Then 2 Years Ago I did it "Very" Poorly.

It went so badly that I tossed all my gear at the halfway mark because it was making things "Significantly" Worse.

So this year, I prepared a bit better.

At least... from a Nutritional Standpoint.

I believe that was evidenced from the fact that I Finished, and my "Low" Point was pushed closer to the end of the Race.

However, I Did Not prepare well from a Physical Standpoint.

Especially in the Beginning, it was more weight than I was used to Carrying.

This required More Energy Early, which Reduced my "Normal" Ability to Hit Obstacles.

As the Race Went Further, I lost More and More Ability to complete Obstacles.

But, considering the Overall Difference, I think this is a Good Starting Point that can be Built Off.

Now, there is One other thing of Note for this Race.

I tend to be a "Lone" Racer.

I'm friendly to everyone I encounter, but I do not really run "with" others.

At least, until today.

Close to the Beginning of the 2nd Half, an Extremely Friendly Racer decided to Race "with" me.

We kept each other accountable for the Next Quarter of the Race.

It was really nice actually, and tremendously helpful.

It kept me going at a good consistent speed, and I'm certain I wouldn't have made it quite as Fast if it were not for him.

I'm really Grateful for the Company.

There was a point where I could not keep pace any longer.

They were willing to slow down for me, but I knew I was holding them Back.

I also knew their Wife and Child were waiting for them to Finish.

I told them to go Finish, and I'm sure they Rocked the End.

Family First.

But even the fact that they were open to waiting on me was truly kind.

So was this a Perfect Race?

Absolutely Not.

Did a Lot Go Wrong?

Yes.

But Have I Made Improvements?

I Believe I Have.

I still have a Lot to Learn for the Longer Formats, but I feel Extremely Optimistic after Today's Race.

It was a Great Comeback for me.

Post 50k Spartan Ultra Race Analysis

The Goods And Bads

What will you write today?