Dirty Bird 30k Race Recap

On Sunday I ran the Dirty Bird 30k at French Creek State Park. I didn't train for it, I just went out to have fun. Registrants could choose between 1 loop (15k), 2 loops (30k) or 3 loops and some change (50k). The price on race day w/ a shirt was $39 for any distance. I chose the "no shirt" price and only paid $33. Quite the steal! This race was put on by Pretzel City Sports.

I laid out all of my food/hydration the night before so I could leave at 7:00 on the dot!

There were five water stops so I didn't need to carry water but I did take a small bottle anyway. Before the race I drank a lot of water and coffee. I ate a protein bar and a banana. During the race I drank water, Gatorade, and had three fig newtons.

It was quite cold at the start, but by the time the race was in full swing, I realized I was a little overdressed. It was one of those days I could've worn tights or shorts, a long sleeve or a long sleeve and a jacket, gloves or no gloves.

Here's a recap of each section of the race. Remember, it was a 9.2 mile loop I did twice.

Miles 1-2: Sucked BALLS. I did not line up at the right spot. I didn't want to be up front because I wanted to run at a leisurely pace, but there were so many bottlenecks in the beginning and a lot of people running at a much slower pace than me. I tried to get past them, which required some speeding up and slowing down. I think I got stuck with people who weren't used to trail running. If they came upon a little rock, they'd stop running and walk over it, and then start running again. What!?

Miles 3-6: Still not enjoyable as I continued to work hard to pass people so I could run my happy pace. I was running up all the hills and basically doing fartleks trying to get past everyone. There was a section that went downhill for awhile and it was ROCKY. It was really dangerous because there were leaves covering the rocks. A woman had slit her knee open really deep but there were people helping her. They didn't need me so I kept going. After seeing her, I decided I shouldn't be so willy nilly on the downhills.

Miles 6-9: These miles were the first part of the race I was actually able to just run comfortably without getting stuck behind people. This section had a loooooong climb. This was the first time I walked at all. My race plan was to walk all the hills, but I already mentioned why I didn't do that. I really enjoyed the last two miles back to the start as they were mostly downhill and it was nice knowing I was almost halfway done! When we got back to the parking lot, it was a little confusing about where to go, but luckily there were people in front of me so I didn't make a wrong turn. My first loop was completed in 1:48:00.

Miles 9-13: The second loop! I walked up a lot of inclines that I should've walked up the first time around. I was getting tired and had a pain in my right butt cheek that I sometimes get when I run for a long time. I turned on a podcast and was excited to just zone out and finally enjoy a peaceful run in the woods! At one point a saw a girl who fell and banged her knee pretty bad. She was a little shaken. I gave her water and we ran off together. I'm glad she was able to keep going!

Miles 12-15: I met a buddy! She and I chatted and paced each other during this tough section of the race. Her name was Stephanie, and she was pretty bubbly and carefree- a good person to have keep you company. We definitely kept each other chugging along, but then she took off after we did the big climb for the second time.

Miles 15-18: I took it up a notch since there were lots of downhills and it was SOON OVER! I stopped for a picture but other than that, I just kept going. 

Mile 17 selfie!

I caught up to Stephanie but I knew I could run a little bit faster so I went by her. I didn't want to push too hard though because I didn't want to be one of those people that have a heart attack at the end of a race! I started to wonder if I could make it in under three and a half hours. When I got to the parking lot I TOOK A WRONG TURN!!! I was annoyed that it either wasn't marked well or I was too delirious it see it. I got back on course and was still in front of Stephanie. My last mile clocked in at an 8:05! Not bad for the end of an 18 mile trail race!

Somehow I finished in 3:24. How did I run the second loop faster than the first? I only walked once during the first loop and I walked several times during the second. Not only that, but I was TIRED on the second loop! Being stuck at the back of the pack for the first 5 miles rally must have slowed me down.

As soon as I finished, I was informed I won 2nd in my AG. I saw Stephanie finish and she got 3rd, so I figured we were in the same AG. Before the awards ceremony, we both thanked each other for the pacing we provided each other during a tough part of the race. This was her longest run ever so I was really proud of her! She said her feet were crampy and asked what she should do. I told her to go home, open a bottle of wine, and lay on the couch! (I also told her to stretch them!)

I was so hungry after the race. I ate: 2 hot dogs, a mocha frappaccino and chocolate croissant, and sweet potato fries (made fresh with my spiralizer!). And that was just my lunch!

I'm so glad I went out and ran the Dirty Bird! I think a 30k is the longest distance I can run for "fun" without any purposeful training.

Have you ever done a 30k?
Ever get stuck behind slower people for miles and miles?
Have you made a wrong turn on a race course?