Checking off the bucket list.
I've wanted to run this race for a while now that I'm looking into bucket list races.
My bucket list has grown exponentially over the last year and man it feels good to check something off!!!
Of course, just over 2 years ago I'd never dreamed I'd run farther than a half marathon... let alone try a 50k.
As the name implies, the E.T. Full Moon Midnight Marathon begins at midnight and runs along the Extraterrestrial Highway (Nevada State Highway 375), not far from the famous "Area 51" military base.
The race offers several distances; 5k, 10k, half marathon, marathon, and 51k.
The hubby and I decided to start with the 51k, because why not — of course!
The race is on the open road where you can see meteors and free-range cattle roaming about. I actually saw one while on the bus ride back home — one of the cattle, that is!
Unfinished business.
This year my husband and I both had unfinished business with the 51k.
I trained for the 51k last year, but due to a lower leg issue, I asked to defer to the Labor of Love 50k (in March) in Lovell Canyon. It was my first 50k, which you can read about here if you'd like.
My husband attempted the E.T. 51k back in 2014 but stopped at the 26.2 marathon point — still completing his first full marathon. Woohoo!
This year we were both determined that this race would not defeat us again!
With a training revamp and determination, we hoped to conquer the E.T. 51k.
It all starts at midnight.
Saturday evening we picked up our race packets from the Silver Sevens Casino in Las Vegas at about 6:30 pm.
Around 8:30 p.m., we boarded the bus and set out on the 2 plus hour journey from Las Vegas, NV to Alamo, NV. We arrived at the starting line a bit before 11:00 p.m. where we had our pre-race photos taken and did some light stretching, after all that sitting.
The race began promptly at midnight Sunday morning (Saturday night as far as we were concerned) in Alamo near the mysterious "Black Mailbox."
It felt pretty awesome to be dropped off in the middle of a desert highway where we would run about 20 miles from Alamo, NV to Rachel, NV.
You're virtually dropped in the middle of nowhere at night and you run to town.
We'd pass the finish line at Rachel and run another 5.77-mile out-and-back to the 51k turn-around point, then run back to Rachel where the finish line awaited us at the Little A'Le'Inn.
Self-doubt creeps in.
We ran without sleep! Unless you count the light nodding off we did on the bus ride adequate sleep. So yep, no sleep!
Before the event, David told me he wasn't sure he'd make it past the marathon cutoff point again and may have to drop from the 51k.
I tried to reassure him that as long as he was on pace, he'd make it!
David and I started out running together and talking for the first several miles, but after a few aid stations, (I think by mile 7) we got separated.
At one aid station, I decided to wait and look around for him, but it was dark and all I could see was a series of reflective vests closing in behind me.
I wasn't sure if David was in front of me or behind me... so, on I went.
I didn't see him again until after the marathon turnaround point at dawn Sunday morning.
David later told me a couple of nearby runners encouraged him when he mentioned he wasn't sure he'd make the cutoff time.
They said they were also running the 51k and were on pace to finish, so he decided he'd keep going. I'm grateful he was not alone.
As for me, I was really nervous that I wouldn't be able to stay awake all night.
Coffee, please! Apparently, adrenaline has super keep-you-awake powers! It's a good thing too because occasionally there was oncoming traffic.
Running towards Rachel, take 1.
I'm glad we were required to wear reflective vests and headlamps for visibility.
At one point I stepped off the blacktop to give an oncoming vehicle a slightly wider berth and nearly walked into the waist-high reflector pole at the side of the road. Yikes! Saved just in time by my headlamp.
Luckily the inclines didn't feel nearly as steep as the hill (a.k.a. the Hell) in the Lovell Canyon 50k in March, but they seemed to go on for miles. Darn HILLS!
I later read that the course elevation ranged from 4,000 to 5,600 feet. No wonder my finish time took longer than I'd expected. Hills!
David later told me we were running up that incline for the first 13 miles.
There were cattle guard crossings on the course at two points. Since my legs were tired and I was sleep-deprived, I felt a bit freaked out when crossing them in the dark. It seems funny now, in hindsight!
David was smart, he crossed at the far side where a wooden plank was placed down to walk over. I tiptoed across the middle of the metal grates, wondering if I would trip or catch my toe between the bars.
Reaching Rachel.
When I finally reached Rachel, NV at mile 20... I felt invincible! A rush of adrenaline acted as a quick pick-me-up.
I wish I had thought to take a picture of the quaint town lit up ahead of me as I approached. It was a beautiful sight.
I started occasionally talking with other runners and listening to my playlist of what I call my "hero music." At this point, I had no doubts about finishing, yet.
When I passed the 20-mile marker by the Little A'Le'Inn I realized I had about 11 miles left to go. I decided to change my running strategy and do run-walk intervals every 1/2 mile to mile to help me reach the finish line.
My momentary exuberance from reaching mile 20 was facing and I was back to focusing my mind on staying in the moment. My doubts were now creeping in, but I kept doing regular run-walk intervals until about mile 25, then my running became much more sporadic.
After I reached the turnaround point for the 51k and checked in with the aid station volunteer, I could see down the road for miles! It was dawn and I was excited to see the town of Rachel coming into view, just ahead of me!
Is that a mirage?
It appeared the finish line was within reach. I could tell I was almost there... then I noticed I wasn't getting any closer. The distance played tricks on my mind, like an optical illusion. Was I ever going to reach the finish line? Another runner I passed said he was having the same thoughts. He could see the finish for miles.
When I had about 5 miles to go, wait 3, no 1, the finish line still appeared to be the same distance away from me. Come on!
I'm not sure if this trick of the eye was due to a lack of trees for reference on the highway, but it was like seeing a mirage on the horizon. It wasn't until I had less than a mile to go that I felt like I was actually gaining ground on the finish line.
There it is just beyond that sign!!!
For the last 5 miles, I had to walk a lot! This was my second 50k race and it's still hard running past the marathon mark.
Apparently, I can speed walk as fast as I can slow run — that sure proved to be helpful, hooray! There's no shame in walking on an ultra, I repeat, there's no shame...
Don't forget the sunscreen.
Thankfully, I had enough forethought to put a bottle of sunscreen in my Camelback vest too. You wouldn't think I would need it for an overnight race, but when the sun comes up in Nevada, it's relentless.
I had to wait nearly an hour for the last bus to arrive to take us back to Las Vegas, so having sunscreen on me came in handy.
Though I finished the race with nearly an hour to spare, I still didn't know where David was.
I hoped he was still on pace to make the cutoff. Secretly, I was beginning to worry.
The final cutoff.
I was sitting down at a picnic table talking to a few other runners when I saw David approaching the finish line. He had a police escort close behind him.
The race director told me the police car follows the final runner in.
With about 5 minutes left before the cutoff, I saw David and walked out onto the course to encourage him.
I remember the determination and struggle all over this face.
I yelled over to him that he could do it!
He was going to make it! I attempted to run to the finish line with him, (You can see me in the background over his shoulder) but my legs were toast!
Amazingly though, he was still running!!!
He told me he had to run if he was going to make the cutoff time.
I was so impressed by his determination, especially since I had nothing left in my legs. He was doing awesome!
I teared up!
He did it!
David finished the race right before the cutoff time of 8 hours.
I wish I had taken a video of his finish because it was so moving.
He was applauded by the other runners as he turned toward the finish line — this is why I love our running community, what a great show of support!
He also got to pet a dog!
Why I am so proud.
The E.T. Full Moon Marathon 51k was my second ultramarathon and David's first. (Race farther than the standard marathon distance of 26.2 miles). This race was approximately 31.7 miles, give or take, according to my Garmin.
While I am proud of myself for completing the race, I'm even more proud of my husband!
When I moved to Nevada 2 years ago, David struggled to run 2 miles around the block with me without coughing up a lung. He was about 40 pounds heavier — I hope you don't mind me saying that, baby!
I am so proud of David's commitment to his end goal.
Completing this race gave us both a chance at redemption; like I said before I had to defer to another race and David wanted the chance to complete those last 5' ish miles.
We both gained so much physical and mental strength training for this race.
We spent several months and many early mornings training together for the race — let me tell you, Nevada summers are no joke! Yep, I used to think summer was hot, and then I moved to the desert!
I felt stronger during this training cycle and had virtually no niggles this time.
I know David has also learned so much about himself training and completing this race. I think he has a renewed faith in himself and he's been talking about what to run next.
As for me, I'm a middle-of-the-packer at best in the 50k distance.
Though I surprised myself by taking 1st place in my age group! Hooray!
Of course, seeing David cross that finish line after training all summer and hearing the other runners cheer him on was the proudest moment I've ever had during a race!
Calico Slam awards completed!
This race was a double whammy, not only was it David's first ultramarathon, it was our fourth completed Calico Racing event within 12 months earning us our Calico Slam awards.
The awards were waiting for us at the finish line! So cool!!!
Would I do this race again?
In a heartbeat! We had such a great time and this race was on my bucket list.
What's challenges are next?
Next, we plan to run RunDisney's Goofy Challenge at Disney World in January.
The Goofy Challenge includes running the half marathon one day and the full marathon the next. Then lots of Disney park fun!
We will most likely run the Lovell Canyon 50k again in March.
I'm sure there will be a few races in between, to keep us training.
P.S.
The bittersweet part of this whole weekend was that we had to put our 13-year-old Akita girl down the day after the race.
She was chronically ill with a lung issue but ended up having a tummy flip.
She was gone in just over an hour. Heartbreaking! I'm so glad she was a part of our family.
Well, thanks so much for reading.
Have a great week of training.
What races are on your bucket list?
Are there any races that you suggest doing again and again?
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