McDonald Forest 50km race report

The Mac is not only my favorite race, it was also my first ever.  Literally, the first race of any distance that I have ever done was the Mac in 2006.  7 hours and 20 minutes later, I was hooked.  Scott, Ken and all the volunteers put on an incredible race in the McDonald Forest right outside of Corvallis.  Perhaps it’s due to the fact that I live in Corvallis and have done this one a few times, but this day always seem more part get-together and part celebration than anything else.

Social hour at the Forestry Club Cabin.  Definitely pre-race judging by the smiles.

It’s not until the long slog up the backside of Dimple Hill did Saturday really feel like a race.  They’re not called ‘Ultrawalkathons’.  Having purposefully left my watch at home, only at the Dimple Hill AS did I get a split.  10 minutes up on last years time.  Awesome, time to fly.  I bombed down Dan’s Trail on the double in a desperate attempt to get some post race sore quads, which I rarely seem to get.

A hill around Chip Ross: harbinger of the climb up Horse Trail next. (Photo by Nahorniak)

At the top of Horst trail:  is this an 'ultracrawlathon' or what?   (Photo by Scobel Wiggins)

The climb up Horse once again ate me alive.  Forget running, I felt like I was crawling my way back up to saddle.  Back at the Forestry Club Cabin, I ended knocking 8 minutes off last year’s time, but I can’t say that I’m entirely satisfied with this year’s improvement relative to last.  I’m not quite ready to asymptote yet.  But that’s definitely what this chart seems to imply.          

My finishing time at the Mac for the four years that I've run.

More than anything I’m glad to not have any races in the near future interfering with my training.  Sore calves at the end of long run are fine, but starting every race this year with sore calves, hamstrings and glutes is wrong.  Just wrong.  Given the increase in volume this year it’s no surprise than I’m starting races with achy legs, but every race is in a training week so far this year. Capitol Peak was at the end of my biggest week ever and 3 consecutive 60+ miles weeks (don’t laugh, that’s a lot for me).  I did take a 40 mile week after Capitol Peak, which was nice, but I must sheepishly admit that I’m sort of looking forward to post Western States when I plan to don my cookie pants and put on a few comfort pounds with little other training than couch to fridge repeats.  I’m hoping that a real taper in early June will take care of my posterior chain issues and speaking of which, this little red countdown clock on the Western States website tells me I only have about a month left of training, so I better head out the door for a run.

April at the finish line - 'And then I totally passed this guy going up the hill even though he was wearing spandex ...'