Race Report : Jed Smith Ultra Classic 30K Run

Stats for the day
Total Run Time: 3:34:04
Total Distance: 18.82 miles (according to Garmin GPS)
Pace: 11:22 min/mile (Man. I never expected it to be that good)
Total Calories burned: 2105 (according to Garmin HR monitor)


I got there about an hour and 45 minutes early, checked in and proceeded to wait in the car and go through my now ritual "self-doubt session." Every person I saw looked like they knew what they were doing. I asked myself more than once, "why are you doing this?"

The race was held in Gibson Ranch Park in Sacramento. It was a beautiful park with a lake (complete with geese and ducks) and the start was held by the stables. There were horses, goats (with babies!), a ram (sheep), and a llama. The course was a looped 3.31 mile course and was as close to perfectly flat as you can get without being on a treadmill. The 30K started with a 2.25 out and back to account for the odd distance. Then you ran 5 of the 3.31 loops.

Things I loved about this run:

1. I finished!

2. I was third in my age group and they gave me a hat!! (I think there may have only been 3 in my age group. I will have to check on that. Still awesome!)

3. The people running the race were super nice, supportive and organized. Kudos to Sacramento's Buffalo Chips Running Club!

4. The Ultra runners (there was a 50 miler and a 50K [31 miles] happening at the same time) were so supportive and nice to the back of the packers like myself! Cheering you on, smiling, saying 'your looking good' (this is usually code for 'you look like shit, and like you could use some encouragement').

5. There were two aid stations on the loop, so you were completely covered for food or drink. I had enough on me for the race, but still nice to know it is there.

6. Real bathrooms! No port-o-potties! There were two easily accessible bathrooms on the loop. Rock on!

Things that sucked

1. IT WAS COLD!!! Bitter cold. I wish I had worn a thicker shirt. My blue fleece is too warm to run in, but the thin long sleeve I wore was too cold. At one point I took off my gloves, big mistake. One I wasn't smart enough to correct for about 7 miles. Once I put the gloves back on I felt better all over. Lesson learned.

2. On top of the cold it was windy and raining. Not hard rain just drizzle, but still. Ick.

3. Two words: Looped course. It is a little cruel to have you run past the finish line 5 times before you get to cross it.

4. The recent rains made the trail portion muddy. Really muddy. After a few loops of runners the mud got sticky and threatened to pull of my shoes.