Congratulations to Lisa Gunnoe, female winner of the Montrail-Trail Run Times “My First Ultra” Contest!  Lisa receives a great gear package courtesy of Montrail.  Enjoy Lisa’s recap of the Bartlett Park Ultras 50k, just a couple weeks ago in Tennessee!

The Bartlett Park Ultras 50k, by Lisa Gunnoe

My obsession with running the Bartlett Park Ultras 50K began after running and completing the Full-Moon 25K on the 18th of July, 2009.  The Full-Moon 25k was great and I finished feeling fairly well.  Though it was in August, The Bartlett Park 50k seemed to be a perfect first 50K; minimal elevation to deal with, dirt path, very few rocks, but lots of roots. The challenge of the race primarily has to do with the location and the season, just north of Memphis in Bartlett, Tennessee in August!

Talk about a mind rush while considering the distance during the days leading up to the race.  Alas Saturday morning finally arrived and at 6:30am and Race Director Mike Samuelson started the stampede.  Bartlett Park is a looped course consisting of a small loop once and a large loop four times.

I trucked along on the first small loop and big loop, enjoying the shade and the cool morning air.  By the time the first big loop was finished though, I was ready for the “ice hat” and really started to feel the heat. Loop 2 was more a struggle with my feet.  I was dealing with Plantar Fascitis in both feet. The left foot was healing nicely but the right foot not so much. By mid-second loop my right heel was screaming at me and I could feel blisters forming on my left foot and a few toes.  I was not used to dealing with blisters or with running in soaking wet clothes.

After loop 2 I quickly ran to my car (each loop starts and ends in the parking lot) to apply some first aid first to my feet and then continued on.  Loop 3 was hard, dang it was hard.  Not so much because of the heat, but more because of my feet.  With things not going so well I began shooting for a goal of 9 hours, 30 minutes.  I finished loop three making that time iffy to say the least. After the loop I soaked my feet in ice, bandaged my blisters, applied some petroleum jelly, and put on fresh socks before embarking on the last loop.  I focused on my breath, in and out, and just kept moving.

The first part of loop 4 was almost tear jerking (no crying in trail racing).  The heat was down right oppressive by this time and the feet, oh my feet!!!  I ran the flats and downhills, walking the uphills. By the time I got to the last aid station I was sure I would finish, but unsure of my time and in what condition I would find myself.  I started the last section behind schedule by 8 minutes. Oh now … what to do … run more!  So this is what I did, I ran and gave the trail all I had left.  I crossed the finish line right around 9:36, but I finished!!

I realized throughout the race that trail running can be a lonely sport!  Especially when one isn’t an endurance athlete, or even an athlete.  I remember the “bummer” feeling as I got lapped by the leaders.  But instead of sulking, I decided to cheer for them and celebrate because I was out there to get lapped instead of being in the house, on the couch where I would have been if I continued following the lifestyle choices I had been making up to two years prior.

The remarkable thing is that some of these leaders cheered me on!  Some of the other runners while passing me would actually slow down to visit with me. Trail runners form an incredible community of acceptance and support. For many sections of the race I was the only person on the trail.

The aid stations and race director deserves kudos, praise and gracious thanks. Race director Mike Samuelson puts on an awesome show!  To call the volunteers at the aid stations amazing is such an understatement.  They were phenomenally awesome, caring, and supportive.  They were also great cheerleaders.  When runners would come up to the aid stations, the volunteers just took over and tended to the runners’ needs.  Nothing was forgotten, left out, or overlooked as volunteers filled hats with ice, filled water bottles, and supplied FOOD!!!

While I was struggling with the idea of curling up in a ball beside the trail and crying for awhile, I was also began planning my next race, and planning the training for my next ultra (Sylamore 50 K next Feb.).  Or I may have to come back to Memphis for the Swamp Stomper in January, or, or, or.  How can a runner, with one stride both question their sanity and with the next step be planning their next race, then back to questioning sanity, then back to future race plans… and so on, and so on, and so on.

As I ran in for the finish, right behind me was the amazing finisher of the 50 miler.  She finished 50 miles in the same time I finished 31 miles. She was the first finisher of the 50 miler, male or female and she didn’t even look winded.  She is my hero!!

On with the plan… Mt. Nebo Trail Run on the 22nd of Aug, or the, or the… I think I’m hooked!  Finishing and receiving that finisher’s medal was oh so sweet!!

-Lisa