My First Ultra Experience

Vickie Midkiff

Finishing time 6:23:12

February 19, 2002

            After becoming a first time Grandmother, I found myself doing less running and more playing with our granddaughter.  The fall found me visiting more Zoos and less marathons.  However, in December, I decided I was going to pick up my mileage and run a couple spring marathons.  I began to run some longer runs on Saturdays.  I was going to train for a March marathon.  My husband signed up for David Horton’s Ultra Series.  I thought, “what has gotten into him, why is he going to run ultras?”  He began to try and coax me into running Holiday Lake 50k.  I said there’s no way I can run that far.

            One Saturday we went to run on some trails, and as usual, I fell…, I got tired …, and said forget it, there’s no way. 

            I continued running on roads to train for the marathon.  Well, January found me with the flu, two times, which really cut into my training.  The night Eddie filled out my application for Holiday Lake I was lying on the coach unable to even sit up, which was three weeks before Holiday Lake.  He said, “you can do it, you will be better by then”.

He began to fill out my application …. # of Ultras    0  , age    50  .  First time ultra at age 50, a Grandmother, none the less.

            Well, three weeks seemed a long way off, but it got closer and closer, I didn’t want to tell anyone I was going to run Holiday Lake, if I didn’t finish, no one would know.  We left home on Friday morning so I could see some of the trail and creek crossings.  I became scared to death, the closer Saturday got the more scared I got.  Friday night at the pre-race meal, I sat across from Charlie Hesse.  I said, “Charlie, I’m scared to death,” Charlie just laughed and said, “just have fun, you won’t have any trouble”.  Jay DeLancey also sat at our table and tried to encourage me.

            We went back to the Super 8 and went to sleep.  4:00 a.m. came, we got up, dressed, packed our bags and left for the 4-H Center.  If there had been anyway I could have gracefully bowed out, I would have.

            We lined up, and started running.  As we ran up the paved road, I prayed, “Lord,

please give me the strength to complete this run, please don’t let me fall down and get hurt, please don’t let me fall in the creek and get wet and please don’t let me get lost.  The Lord answered my prayers exceedingly, abundantly.  I did not fall on the trail as I did in training, I made it across the creeks without getting wet and I did not get lost.   I gained many blessings that day.  I came away not only finishing my first ultra, but I gained many new friends and I gained seeing the beauty of God’s creation.

            I would highly recommend running Holiday Lake 50k.  It will be an adventure, you will never forget.  I don’t think this will be my last ultra, however, now my husband wants me to sign up for the Ultra Series.  I don’t know, …..another grandbaby due in September.