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Holiday Lake 2007 Race Report “My Most Disappointing Ultra” By: Mike Bailey Disappointment. It’s a terrible word, and happens to the best of us. Reality: I will never be a top 10 finisher, unless there are only 10 people in a race. A couple of top 20 finishes here and there, but that’s about it. If Montrail, North Face. and Patagonia aren’t tearing down my door to sponsor me….maybe the local bagel shop will. Thinking about it that way makes it a little disappointing. Disappointment before the race even starts. I am a proud alumnus of JMU, class of 2004. I am outnumbered by Hokies, Lynchburg, and Liberty runners all the time. I’ve tried to recruit some fast JMU folks, a couple triathlon club members, and marathoners, but they won’t touch an ultra with a 30ft pole. I’m getting used to eating alone at the pre-race dinners, but oh the day when Dr. Horton should present “the fastest JMU Duke” award. I won’t hold my breath. Disapointment during the race. It was cold, and yes it got a little wet. But, I was running close to a 5 hour race at the turn around. There was even about a 5 mile stretch where I running like an elite…..but wait, elites can run that for the entire race. That’s crazy. At the 22.8 mile aid station I was still on pace to run about a 5:15, which isn’t spectacular, but pretty good for me. ……And then at mile 25 it ALL came to an END. My IT band fell apart. My knee could barely move, and anything faster than 3mph caused severe pain down my right leg. For the next 6.5 miles I limped along like Tiny Tim. In agony I watched dozens of runners pass me like a broke down car in the middle of New York city. Runners I had been well ahead of were now galloping by, many of which kindly asked if I was ok. The problem was that I wasn’t tired, dehydrated, or poorly trained….just injured. My pride was getting the best of me.
In the end I lost about an hour on my time. I was so slow when I limped across the finish line, that the timekeepers must have mistaken me for someone who already finished. My time was never posted, and honestly I’m glad it wasn’t. Instead of getting a big congratulations from Dr. Horton, I just hung my head and limped straight to my cabin to pack my things. I even forgot to get my finishers shirt. Disappointment for the future. My trainer says it might take a month for my IT band to fully heal, especially after damaging it from a 50k++. I am entered to run the Umstead 100 miler next month. My goal was to get a sub 24 hour finishers buckle…That will not happen. I think I’m going to hang up the running shoes for a while, maybe a long while. With all the extra time, I think I will try doing other things. I would like to be more active in my church, maybe plan my trip to Hawaii, and recruit a girlfriend along the way. I might even try to learn the guitar. Best wishes to all you fellow crazy runners. You’re my family away from home. God Bless Mike Bailey
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