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Bulldog 50K 2001 Report(CA): Anthony C. Humpage

Bulldog 50K, Malibu race report.  September 8th, 2001


The run started with a bit of a road trip - Scottsdale to Malibu.  I wasn't
very "run minded" on this drive until Indio, when Alice Cooper, ZZTop and
Meatloaf (does that date me, or what?) in a row put me in a better frame of
mind.  The journey was punctuated by frequent stops owing to my desire to be
maximally hydrated at race time.

On the way, I had a 'phone conversation with my coach about shoes.  I was
trying to eke one more race out of my current Beasts but IT band soreness
was telling me it was probably time to retire them.  We elected to run in
new shoes, also Beasts, that I had brought along just in case.  (Coach Ron
said use the old inserts, but I just went ahead with the new shoes as
issued).  I was a bit concerned about running in new shoes.

Arrived Malibu Friday afternoon and scouted the race venue at Malibu Creek
State Park.  I took the new Beasts out for a 50-minute practice along the
race route, and was pleased to notice several well-maintained portaloos
along the first few miles of the course.  The weather was also pleasantly
cool.  A significant contrast from the hot weather I had been warned to
expect.

After my blow-up at Tahoe I had decided to start this race conservatively
and increase the pace if I could.

The race started reasonably promptly at 0605.  A fairly loose start.
Weather still nicely cool.  I had a bottle of Sustained Energy right before
we set off but otherwise was running on an empty stomach.  My Camelback was
pretty well loaded with spare socks, Body Glide, additional ULTRA drink mix,
HammerGel and five film canisters with my en route electrolytes, BCAAs,
anti-fatigue capsules, and, ever the optimist, a compass.  The race drink
being Gatorbarf, I had elected to carry my own drink mix.

After about two miles, and having passed by one, I knew I'd *have* to hit
the next portaloo despite having dealt with this business earlier.  My
scouting came in handy and I took the next available.   So once again I let
the pack leave me behind while shut in a little plastic room.  I think that'
s the end of my experiments with phosphate loading!  The only upside to this
is that, now being literally at the back of the pack, there was only one way
to go from there!

The first section of this race is quite agreeable, passing through a
riparian area.  I'd have enjoyed it a lot more had I not seen the notice
near the start line alerting park users to the prevalence of Lyme
disease-carrying ticks.  We also passed by a ruined Jeep and a MASH sign.
The TV series was filmed in the park.  The going was fairly easy with a
gentle climb to the first (water only) aid station.  I didn't stop.

We then commenced a climb through what started out in a residential
neighbourhood.  I had decided to walk the hills as quickly as I could, and
not run, to follow a conservative strategy.  I managed my pace with my HRM,
but was starting to overhaul several of the other participants.  After a
short while we left the homes and were back onto dirt roads climbing to the
second aid station (water only, I think).  I topped off my Camelback with
ULTRA trying not to pour all the powder into the backpack rather than the
reservoir.  For some reason the plastic bottles that seemed a great fit into
the bladder at home, weren't on the trail.  The views were becoming
increasingly scenic, although there was a considerable haze.  Temperatures
remained very moderate, although due to coastal humidity, I was sweating a
lot (or it wasn't evaporating).  Throughout the race, I following a
hydration strategy of five gulps every fifteen minutes, which seemed to be
enough.  I took my electrolytes and other supplements at each aid station
stop. These approximated to 01:15 intervals.

The climb out moderated around Castro Crest with some narrow sections of
trail into and out of Solstice Canyon until we reached the Corral Canyon aid
station (full-service).  I again topped off the Camelback and also took the
time to reapply Body Glide to my feet.  This cost me time as several runners
I had passed earlier got away before me.

There then followed a gentle climb out, which soon leveled off on the
Backbone trail.  I was concerned with some tiredness in my quads and
hamstrings and was hoping I would not have a cramping episode such as I
experienced at Tahoe.  This helped me focus on my hydration strategy.  At
the start of the descent to Tapia Park I was not going fast, and braking too
much which just tired my legs more.  I took a good swig of HammerGel and was
surprised how it perked me up.  I even took to singing.  At which point I
was able to accelerate significantly and loosen up which gave me a
satisfying pace on the downhill.  I was also beginning to realize that a
relatively decent (for me, I hasten to add)  time might be in my grasp.

A sneaky water crossing had me pausing only momentarily to think of my new
shoes but I just ploughed through.  Some runners had taken their shoes and
socks off and were negotiating the creek barefoot.  But I had dry socks.
The fourth aid station (full-service) was a short distance across the creek.
It was here that I realized that smart as I was to have dry socks, the
insoles in my shoes had soaked up water like a sponge, so the change of
socks may have been moot.  In any event, copious quantities of Body Glide
later I was on my way back up the Backbone Trail to the Stunt Road aid
station.  I was again able to maintain an aggressive walking pace, which
allowed me to pass several others.  This section of the race was tricky for
a number of reasons.  First, the footing was very dodgy, at best, with rocks
and tree roots.  Second, the trail was single track, which meant having to
pause for descending runners.  I thought it would be hard to get a good
downhill pace on the reverse leg due to the difficult footing.  Another pull
of HammerGel kept me in good shape and spirits.

I noticed one runner carrying trekking poles on his run down from Stunt
Road.  I would have been a lot faster on this course's uphills if I had
taken my trekking poles.  But I'm trying to save them for when I'll really
need them.  Food for thought, though.

At the Stunt Road aid station I thought to Hell with my feet, left 'em alone
and just topped off my Camelback.  Any blisters that formed could wait to
the finish.  I was in a good mood with elevated spirits and started to push
hard on the downhill.  The footing was tricky - I nearly wiped out in one
place but was fortunate to be thrust back down the trail like a pinball by
some small trees edging the trail.  I managed to push hard on the downhill
again passing several runners (make-up portaloo time).  I credit my hard
downhill practices on the Lost Dog Trail in McDowells, which have helped me
keep a decent pace downhill on tricky footing.  I have practiced it on
purpose having concluded that if I wasn't going to be fast going up, I'd
better make up for it coming down.  Mind you, I'd hate to face plant on that
downhill trail from Stunt Road.  If all you lost in a fall were some teeth,
you'd be lucky.

I pushed straight through the Tapia Park aid station as I had enough energy
left for a strong finish.  One concerned aid station worker, peering at my
chest asked: "Did you want a Band Aid?"  I wasn't sore but looked down to
see a spreading orange stain from my drinking tube.  I know ULTRA's a vivid
colour, but blood it's not, so I was able to go on my way unscathed,  but
with a bit of laugh, I have to say.

There's a short climb before the final descent to the finish and I had
enough left to give it all I had.  I felt strong at the finish and was able
to make a full-power charge at the end.  Which tells me I had been a tad too
conservative earlier, but it felt good nonetheless.

My time was 07:18 and seconds as I recall (confirmed by my HRM).  Pitiful by
Ultralist standards, but nearly an hour less than my previous best 50K time.
This also completes my third trail 50K, which was my self-imposed goal
before my first 50 miler.  And still not too bad for an old fat guy, IMHO.

Race comments:  Decent course, not quite as tough as the locals think it is,
but challenging all the same.  That said, if it had turned out hot it would
have been a completely different race and us Zona boys would have been in
our element.   Whoever marked this course deserves a medal!  Combination of
chalk and tape, I can't think how it could be improved.  Even tricky roots
were taped.  No chance of going wrong.  This is a low-key event, essentially
for local runners.  Hence very sparse pre and post-race activities.  So don'
t expect a social event. I would have liked to see a finish line
photographer, there wasn't one.  A pity, Brightroom will usually turn
someone out for a race of this size.  Aid stations: I've seen better food,
drink, etc., but I'm sure there's a heck of a lot worse.  I'd like to see
the big tub coolers of water and race drink rather than jugs, but maybe it's
no quicker either way.  The volunteers all get an "A" from me anyway.

Learning opportunities:  Manage bowels and shoes better.  These two factors
probably cost me fifteen to twenty minutes.  If I had not been in new shoes
I would not have fussed over my feet the way I did at aid stations.  But no
blisters.  Not a one. :-)   I still have a bit of a way to go on race
nutrition.  The ULTRA worked great as did my hydration and supplement
strategy.  But the lifts I got when I did go to the HammerGel tell me I can
take in a little more energy.  I could have started to increase my pace
earlier than I did.

Shoes:  I have a report on my extended experiences with the Beast 2001 to
come, but in a nutshell: "What a shoe!"  Brand new, out of the box, and a
comfortable run with no hot spots.  Some credit to Body Glide and
Wrightsocks too, though.

Anthony C. Humpage
A Big, Ugly Runner
Team Woofie, Scottsdale, AZ
"Qui patitur vincit."