I'll run my longest training run tomorrow. It's actually a race sponsored by the Saint Louis Ultrarunners Group called the Berryman Trail Run. There are two options for competitors, a one loop marathon and a two loop 50 miler. I ran the marathon last year, my first extensive trail run, and ended up winning the race in a time of 3:21. My win earned me a free entry into one of the races this year, and I chose the 50 miler.
The course winds along the Berryman Trail in the Mark Twain National Forest, about 75 miles southwest of St. Louis. Much of the trail is single-track dirt trail, but there are a few technical sections of rocks and roots. There are a few climbs, though none are enormous, and at least one wet and wild creek crossing. The race directors, David and Victoria White, organize aid stations every 3-5 miles, providing runners with plenty of opportunity to hydrate and eat. Like most SLUG events, the volunteers at these aid stations do an amazing job!
I'll toe the starting line at 6:30 a.m. tomorrow morning for my second-ever 50 mile run. I hope this one goes better than the last one, when I ended up running 56 miles! The forecast calls for temperatures in the 70s and rain (just like last year), so I can expect a sloppy good time in the mud!
I'm pretty sure I won't be posing with a victory plaque this year, but I do look forward to a good 7 1/2 or 8 hours out on the trails, running with some of my fellow SLUGs, and working to figure out my food intake plan for Western States. And just like last year, I have a pretty good feeling I'll finish my day with some wings and a cold one when I get back home!Run well, my friends!
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