2016 Labor Pain 12 Hour Endurance Run Race Report

This past Sunday I participated in my first ever ultramarathon, the Labor Pain 12 Hour Endurance Run, which was held just outside of Reading, PA. In this post I’ll talk about both the race itself, in the format of a race report, and also add in my thoughts and feelings on competing in this event.

I have wanted to try an ultramarathon for awhile, somewhat because it sounds like a novelty and somewhat because I truly want to see what I can accomplish. The runner in me was (mostly) ready to try this for years but making the decision to go back to college to learn a new career put the ultra dream on the back burner. This year was first since completing my degree that seriously training for an ultra was realistic.

Although training for this was difficult, I had it in my head that this was going to be the year I test myself. The easier route to entering the ultra world is a 50K, which there is one local that I’d love to try, but for whatever reason this fairly local 12 hour event is what truly intrigued me and was what would really put me to the test and let me know what I’m made of. Also, it was a big enough step to let me know I want to seriously consider my true dream of pursuing a 100 miler.

So back 6 months prior to now, when my longest run was only 6-7 miles, I began my training. I won’t go into a lot of detail about my training, I’ll just mention one aspect. As you might know, the training is the hard part—and the boring part. But it is what’s necessary to be successful on race day and make that a good experience. I found a quote I saved from Lance Armstrong that talks about training, “The more you suffer before the race, the less you will during and after." Let me just say that this is true! End of my commentary on training.

For the race itself, the Labor Pain 12 Hour Endurance Run consists of a 5 mile loop course that you run for as many laps as you can in 12 hours, or until you want to drop out after reaching whatever distance you want to cover. The course is run mostly on trails with just a few sections being run on grass or roads. Throw in going over a guard rail and a rock scramble right before the end of each lap and you really do have a little of everything practically. Your typical uphill and downhill sections were in this race but overall nothing TOO extreme—just enough to make it tough though! The course was very well marked, if you made a wrong turn it was likely your own fault!. Having never run a looped course, I wasn’t sure how it would go. But honestly it is nice for if you’re having a bad day and want to call it quits you can do so without worrying about get back to your vehicle. Unless something went terribly wrong this was not going to be me though!

Some of my race gear: hydration pack, trail sneakers and sunglasses with polarized lenses

The race started a bit late, which I didn’t mind since I didn’t get to the race location as early as I wanted to. That was just one thing that didn’t go as planned. The other was I could not get my Garmin GPS watch to turn on. It is an older model that does need replaced and has been giving me problems but for the most part still starts up—as long as it is on the charger first! Well it decided not to cooperate for my biggest race ever! Kinda frustrating! I say this because I like have the heart rate, pace, lap splits, calories burned info—I’m just a nerd with that stuff. And knowing my overall pace during the race would have been nice because in my head I had rough ideas of what pace I’d need to reach 40, 45, and 50 miles. If I had that data I would post it here but I guess it wasn’t meant to be. So instead I ran wearing just my plain old Casio watch! There’s not even a stopwatch on it! I did fear my Garmin wouldn’t start so I didn’t stress about it, and in a way it was a little liberating running and not having all that data staring me in the face so to speak. I think by not having it I enjoyed the run more. Instead I ran by how I felt (perceived exertion) and listened to my body, which is what one should be doing. Like I said about me being a nerd with that data, sometimes I am a bit of a slave to my watch, looking at it too frequently.

I did arrive early enough though that I had enough time to get ready and be mentally prepared for this day. I got my race bib and handouts and returned to my vehicle and gathered everything I needed for the race. Soon enough runners were called to the starting line. Directions were given and then a countdown began. And just like that I was now in the biggest, longest, and most difficult race of my life to date! I would now find out just what I signed up for and what I’m really made of!

It took some seconds before everyone got moving but once everyone started there was an open stretch of driveway and road in the very beginning of the course for runners to get sorted out before shortly making a turn and going through someone’s yard—yes you read that correctly, the course does go through someone’s yard! Then it was uphill and finally headed into the woods, which was mostly singletrack so things came to halt here on the first lap but things again got sorted out and one was able to run again. The first mile or so was fairly easy before a long gradual uphill section of the course came and was one I learned to dread after about 3 laps of it. Luckily after that hill the course had a downhill section and then evened out for a good stretch with the aid station right at the half way mark of the course. I didn’t even bother to stop at the aid station on the first lap but did stop on each one after. Eventually another long(er) uphill section started with a steeper and more technical section at the top. From there it was a LONG mixed stretch of even and downhill running. This was great for making up time and being easier on the body.

It took me several loops to really remember the entire course, which sounds silly I guess but really when you’re attempting to stay out for the best part of 12 hrs there are so many other things on your mind—nutrition, hydration, fatigue, what’s aching or hurting. Managing all of these while staying in motion and shooting for a huge goal does wear on you from a mental perspective. Throw in all the body is telling you and it is easy to forget part of the course. Anyone that tells you a race this long isn’t at least partly mental is bs’ing you! I love running (and hiking) but I be honest, there were a few times where I was hurting and was ready for this to be over.

I didn’t truly feel like I had my strategy down until about 20 miles into the race. That was mostly because on my fourth (or fifth?) lap my quads were starting to kill me. I knew right there and then I needed to change what I doing or something will go seriously wrong. From there I consciously slowed down and basically power hiked any type of uphill. I knew by now there were other flat or downhill section later in the course where I could run again, but from here on out the uphills needed to managed better than what had the first few laps. This change did work and eventually I got a second wind in me where I felt good again and that I could push onward without the fear that I barely be able to walk after the race or the next day.

And that is a funny thing about ultras—the highs and lows. Eventually I started to tire again about the 7th lap into race (~32 miles) but again that somehow passed and I felt like pushing again. I remember really late in the race thinking “I think this is my 4th wind now”. And immediately after that thinking how funny it was to go right through your “2nd wind” and your “3rd wind” to a 4th! I’m still not convinced there’s a thing as a “4th wind” but I don’t know what else to call it!

During these laps the increased use of my muscles lead to minor cramping but thankfully nothing major. My cramping was felt in my calves mostly with just a little bit in my hamstring muscles. My quads were just sore off and on for most of the race and was what truly bothered me the most. Usually my feet get beat up and sore but somehow they did not on this race, which I am thankful for. That was a good surprise. The bad surprise was how much my ankles ached off and on. I guess since only probably half of steps were on solid surfaces these muscles had to work fairly hard for all the steps I took in 50 miles. The other surprise I had was the fact my chest was actually getting sore for I guess the hydration pack I was wearing might have been too tight and caused what I describe as a brush burn from it—never had this with the few times I wore my hydration pack.

As I completed each lap they felt just a tad bit harder which is compounded by the fact not everyone runs for all 12 hours so you encounter fewer people on each lap and at times you feel alone. I think most of us are familiar with the saying “misery loves company.” While I wasn’t in misery, I was always glad to see someone else still out there. I stuck to my plan in my head about how to last for 12 hours as best I could. My biggest piece of advice for anyone thinking of trying an ultra is: develop a sense of how you want to compete, but don’t be afraid to change it up on race day if the course (or your body or the weather) demands it. My basic strategy was to roughly run the first 2 laps and switch to a 4 minute run, 2 minute hike ratio in order to last 12 hours and not wear myself out. But I did realize in my training this would likely need modifying due to the terrain of the course—and that’s what I did running for longer if it was downhill or hiking for longer if it was uphill or I was cramping from running. Other pieces of advice are: drink before you are thirsty, eat before you are hungry, and above all else—listen to your body! As I spoke of in an earlier paragraph, had I not slowed down around lap 4 or 5 I’m almost certain lap 9 and 10 may have not been an option for me, I simply would have hurt too much to push onward.

It likely sounds funny to read, but I did have a lot of fun competing in this endurance running event. As I came across the start/finish line each time completing a lap I was realizing my ultimate goal of completing 50 miles was in reach. I had thought that milestone would only be achieved if everything went right, which it mostly did, but in all honesty I thought it would be way harder. I completed the 50 miles in 10:44:56. I actually had the option of heading out and attempting an 11 lap, but I told the ladies doing the timing that I was done. I do have some regrets about that. In just that moment I thought I would really have to push it to complete that 11th lap but I think even had I hiked it I still would have finished before the 12 hour cutoff. It was a split second decision—I was tired and low on water, and having met my highest goal I called it quits. Honestly the almost 11 hours I was out there seems all like a blur in retrospect.

The sun was setting on a long day here at the start/finish area for the Labor Pain race.

Overall I ended up finishing in 36th place out of 290 runners. I am so astounded at this, never did I think that I’d finish this high! But that’s what I love about an event like this, everybody is pushing themselves and pushing for others to achieve what they likely thought they couldn’t! Prior to competing, I read that ultra running is a supportive community, and having now competed in a ultra, I definitely see this as true. This event turned out to be such a great experience for me. Yes, it was difficult but between the training and the actual event I learned I am capable of great things. It definitely did not discourage me from continuing to wonder about my dream of someday doing a 100 miler.

Lastly, my final thought regarding this race: damn if I’m not looking forward to trying this again next year!