I'm retired from racing. Really.

Ogden Valley 50 miler

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Location:

Greenville,SC,

Member Since:

Feb 24, 2007

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

I also maintain a blogspot running blog. Check it out. 

5k- 16:01, 1/2 marathon- 1:11:37, marathon- 2:34:16, 50k- 3:58, 100 mile- 15:19

Former World Record holder in 100 x 5k relay 

Ultra history:

8-100 mile, 1-100k, 9-50 mile, 2-40 mile, 14-50k-ish

12 wins, 5 CR's, plus four 2nd, five 3rd, 4th, 4th, 5th, 5th, 9th, 16th, 20th, 28th, 38th, and 62nd place, with 1 DNF 

Short-Term Running Goals:

Goals 

Enjoy running, stay fit (and maybe lose a few pounds). Play ultimate frisbee.

4 year coach of Langston Middle School- love it

Long-Term Running Goals:

Unretire at some point

Run a sub-6 hr 50 miler

Win a 100 mile ultramarathon

Personal:

I have five cute kids. And I have some rockin short green racing shorts- I wear them mainly because it embarrasses my wife so much. I like ultimate frisbee, trail running, reading, and cheering for the Denver Broncos!   And I have the absolute best wife in the world.  And I used to run for the now-disbanded national Team Pearl Izumi- Ultra!

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Miles:This week: 11.00 Month: 51.00 Year: 150.00
Fastwitch Lifetime Miles: 82.50
Trail N1 Lifetime Miles: 86.50
Road N1 Lifetime Miles: 31.00
Trail M2 Lime/black Lifetime Miles: 297.00
Road M3 Grey And Yellow Lifetime Miles: 324.00
Road N2 Purple 2 Lifetime Miles: 222.50
Road N2 4 Grey Lifetime Miles: 51.00
Race: Ogden Valley 50 miler (50.75 Miles) 07:11:16, Place overall: 1, Place in age division: 1
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesCrosstraining milesTotal Miles
51.000.000.000.000.0051.00

OV50.  I have been planning on this race for 18 months as part of my slow transition into ultra running.  Prior to today, my longest run was pacing Davy for 30 miles, so this was a big step up.  My plan was to essentially treat it like a tune up for my upcoming 100 milers- use the same equipment, fueling strategy (Gu every 25 minutes plus sports drink), and pacing strategy (run 25, walk 3 min).  I didn't wear my Garmin but instead made a cheat sheet for pacing based on turns, with split times for each leg for a 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, and 8 hour finish.  My goal was around 7 hours, maybe a hair faster, but even pacing and practice was more important.  The course goes over Old Trapper's Loop (following the Ragnar course), around Pineview Reservoir, and back over the mountain.  Total climbing is 5600 feet, with almost all over the mountain.  Only 1 fixed aid station at mile 15/35, with some roving cars stocked with goodies (thanks, Kristin and Dave!)

Pre-race weather was predicted to be in the 30's and 40's with precipitation.  Only got 4 hours of sleep due to a 3:10 am wake up, but that's ok.

Race started at 5 am, and there were only 35 runners.  Saw Ultrajim (but didn't get to talk to him and had to leave just before he finished- sorry I missed you, Jim), Russ Bennett from work, plus Shane Martin who has won the past 2 years with CR of 7:25.  It was dark for 3 hours so we all had our headlamps.  Went out near Genevieve Keogh and Shane.  Felt good over the pass, running comfortably up and down hill.  Got a bit of snow on the way.  Hit mile 15 with Shane 4 min ahead of the 7:00 finish pace.  Shane pulled away while I was in the port-o-pottie, then I caught him at 18 and held the lead the rest of the way.  My stomach started acting up and I slowed my drinking and gu's for a while, which worried me.  I kept forcing them down for a while, then stopped completely at mile 25.  Cody showed up in his car at this time and I gave him my headlamp- he was going to pace me in from mile 35.  He told me Shane was 3 minutes back.

About mile 29 my stomach finally had enough and everything came up, including my pre-race apple.  Stomach felt better after that and I had no problem pounding the food and drink- good sign.  However, my legs were definitely fatigued the rest of the way and let me know that they had never gone this far before.  No specific pains, just general fatigue like a bad marathon bonk.  At the 50k mark I was 1 minute ahead of 7:00 pace (about 4:14 for a 50k split) but slowing and walking a bit more.  Finally reached the aid station at mile 35 for a waiting Cody but I was 4 minute behind schedule.  Shane was 9 minutes back. 

The climb up Trappers seemed to last forever and included increasing amounts of walking.  I can't imagine how tough it would have been without Cody!  My legs were very tired with the 2100 ft climb, though a nice 350 foot descent in mile 38 was a nice break (and fast- 6:30-ish?).  Lost quite a bit of time and was 13 minute behind 7:00 pace when we hit the main highway near the top.  It started hailing just as we reached the top, which is better than rain, I guess.  Steady headwind.  The 8 mile, 2000 ft descent was pretty fast (some sub-7 miles) but the pounding got to me and I slowed down the last 3 miles as my legs complained.  Glad when we hit the flat at the bottom and enjoyed the "bonus mile" (mile 51!).  Finished in 7:11:16 (8:30 pace) in 1st place, new course record (I guess I'm still somehow undefeated at all ultras and trail marathons- 4 and counting).  Shane was 25 minutes back.  Ate some good food, enjoyed some IBC Root Beer in a new mug, got a massage, cheered a few finishers, then had to head home to watch the kids.  Legs are tired but not moreso than the typical marathon.  

Overall a good experience- Striders puts on a great, low-key race.  The pavement and hills add up, but my shoes/socks were perfect with no blisters/hot spots.  Not one.  Drymax socks rock!  Fueling was good once my stomach cooperated.  And it was great to have Cody come pace- thanks again for donating your time, buddy.  Now on to 100 mile races!  Today's finish keeps me on target for my Rocky Raccoon 100 in Feb with a sub-17 goal. 

 

Pace Miles: 51.00
Weight: 0.00
Comments
From Paul on Sat, Oct 24, 2009 at 19:36:02 from 174.23.77.50

Awesome job! Kudos on the win, the course record, and pounding pavement for that long. Better you than me though!

From Oreo on Sat, Oct 24, 2009 at 19:38:11 from 166.205.133.124

Jon - awesome performance! I was with Chad (you met him on the bike earlier) on the old snowbasin road. That's a tough course and you dominated. Great job!

From jtshad on Sat, Oct 24, 2009 at 20:18:09 from 69.20.183.178

Wow, you are the ulta-man! Congrats on the win and an awesome race and experience and course record! Sounds like you really have found your calling.

From Cody on Sat, Oct 24, 2009 at 22:23:39 from 67.161.250.22

Jon -

I had a great time and am glad I got to experience such a great race first-hand. I am impressed with your ability to train and prepare yourself so that all you have to do is execute the plan. Piece of cake right? Ha! Not many people can run 6:10 pace 47 miles into a race.

Thanks for the experience...

From Adam RW on Sat, Oct 24, 2009 at 22:35:45 from 67.186.226.36

Great job! Congrats on keeping the streak going. Looking forward to what happens when you double it up. Very impressive overall.

From JD on Sat, Oct 24, 2009 at 22:36:07 from 166.216.128.152

Congratulations! You're a natural.

From redrooster on Sat, Oct 24, 2009 at 23:05:37 from 71.219.150.58

nice job Jon, a big win and amazingly you manage to get in as many miles as i can put in in a week in a single day. looking forward to seeing you bag that raccoon!!

From Dustin on Sat, Oct 24, 2009 at 23:25:23 from 209.33.192.10

Congrats on the race, great job. I can only imagine running for that long.

From jun on Sun, Oct 25, 2009 at 01:16:09 from 97.126.234.214

Amazing race for your first 50. Your goals seem to be really aggressive, but you also seem to keep backing them up. You've had years of training and preparation. Now it is your time to shine. Congrats on the win and course record. You are going to kill it at Rocky!

From Samantha Dean-Howard on Sun, Oct 25, 2009 at 05:58:17 from 90.201.147.44

Wow first ultra 50 miler you won and got the course record you rock well done on such an excellent race, and nice read too really felt for you with the fuelling problem I have this on my long training runs which are prob your short training runs Way to go :-)

From crockett on Sun, Oct 25, 2009 at 09:53:52 from 71.36.70.9

Way to go. Glad things held together. I can't comprehend pounding the pavement that long, wow. See you learned something from me, lose the lunch, start over, all if well. Ha, ha. What impresses me the most on this is you did this in weather. That is a great strength so still have a great race in rough weather.

From Twinkies on Sun, Oct 25, 2009 at 10:43:30 from 98.202.132.86

Very impressive race. That's a great showing for your first 50. Watch out ultra runners, here comes Jon Allen.

From Ashbaker on Sun, Oct 25, 2009 at 11:49:45 from 76.23.56.75

Way to go man! I can't even wrap my mind around that distance yet..

From Superfly on Sun, Oct 25, 2009 at 11:53:43 from 208.117.127.110

I knew you were going to kill it and win. Good job man. I'm guessing we may see you on the cover of some trail running publication pretty soon.

From MichelleL on Sun, Oct 25, 2009 at 12:00:57 from 71.213.97.46

Wow Jon. A course PR in bad weather, and for a novice such as yourself who lost his brunch, impressive.

From josse on Sun, Oct 25, 2009 at 14:49:25 from 70.192.195.172

Great job!!

From Fritz on Sun, Oct 25, 2009 at 15:03:04 from 65.100.192.74

Nice work Jon. Despite the nutrition issues you still hit your goal. Crazy to think that you weren't absorbing anything through 29. It can only get better.

From Brent on Sun, Oct 25, 2009 at 15:23:53 from 76.8.201.223

Jon, 1,000 commando points for the, amazing pace with the elevation gain and walking breaks. Nice race report

Stay Kool, B of BS Rools out

From LakeAnnDandy on Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 10:37:38 from 24.107.205.165

Nice run stud! It appears your training is going well and paying off .... and now you have a 50 miler listed on your running accomplishments complete with a time to beat in future races (hehehe!).

From c h a d on Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 12:39:13 from 67.42.252.25

Not a bad "bon voyage" to the marathon, Jon! The mix of pavement and trail makes this sound like a tough, tough race. You are going to be a force on the ultra scene. With your leg speed and ultra-distance mindset you will have many more impressive results like this. Congrats.

From Rossy on Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 14:36:31 from 151.151.98.238

You rock Jon! Way to knockout 50 miles in a little over 7 hours!!!

From JimF on Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 15:14:41 from 68.58.93.202

Awesome job winning in a new course record! I am totally impressed at your strength and toughness in races like this.

From Burt on Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 18:39:39 from 68.76.197.194

Jon, if I could give you some advice for a moment from my experience with ultras, I would. But I don't have any and probably never will. So there.

From sam Dean-Howard on Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 18:40:45 from 90.201.147.206

thats funny Burt dude :)

From Nan Kennard on Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 23:27:12 from 174.51.250.151

Woah! Nice win! And you even spewed! Way to tough it out. Very impressive!

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