Hachie 50 Miler 2021 Recap.

Happy new week to you! Hope you all had a fun and productive weekend. I am back from a 50 mile ultra-adventure! And I have lived to tell you the story. It has been a hot minute since I’ve actually done a real, LIVE and in person race! I’m a little recap rusty. But I’ll do my best to share the experience with ya.

The Hachie 50 is a very special race and holds a place in my heart and soul for many reasons. One of them being that it was my very first 50 miler a few years ago! So it feels like a “home turf” of sorts. Everything about this race is just so great to me, which is why I’ve done it so many times. From the swag, to the race director, the volunteers. And even the prayer that we do at the start line. Sometimes intimate races are exactly what you need compared to your super big ones like Chicago or New York.

This race is also held at a really beautiful park where we do a 10 mile course. You can choose to make it a relay, marathon or go for the full ultra gusto. It is a perfect course mentally for me because you really can break it down and your head so the distance is not so overwhelming. So great for first timers or those who want a PR. It is a fast flat course as well.

The days prior to race day we had severe weather and flooding which made the course muddy and lots of treacherous spots to make it tough to navigate. They also moved the start time for us 50 milers from 5 AM to 6:30 AM to give us a chance to see more daylight and navigate the course.

That mud looks fun, yes?

We lined up, said a prayer and were on our way.

I was so very thankful this year to have run buds from my running group as well as many familiar faces on the course. As someone who is very used to doing ultras alone, it was so nice to have the support. We were also allowed to have pacers which was much needed this go ‘round. I had a buddy join me for my 3rd and 4th loop, then another one for my final (victory) lap.

We even had a club tent set up! So fun and a great way to get everyone in the know about the best freaking run club in DFW.

The volunteers were so kind and encouraging providing us everything we needed as far as electrolyte beverage, water, and pickle juice! YES, pickle juice is the magic potion. It definitely came in clutch when my legs were feeling it at mile 35 or so.

My laps seemed to kind of fly by and I never really hit a wall, but for sure adjusted my expectations with the muddy spots. And really just enjoyed the race for what it was. It is all about the community and enjoying the moments with my running family. That to me is what I hold dear and what made this particular experience special. 

Overall this was such a great 50 mile “fun run”. Since the pandemic hit I haven’t run an ultra since October of last year so it feels really good to be back. And I can still say without a shadow of a doubt that I can rock a 50 miler and earn that damn buckle.

Every ounce of my body hurts today but I finished in my goal time and did not get pulled off the course. HA. 50 miler number 6 is compete.

I get by with a little help from my friends.

Plus I’m just so damn stubborn that my mind won’t let me quit. Can’t stop won’t stop.

Official results are here. 

How was your weekend?! Anyone do an ultra-race in your neck of the woods?