The Holiday Lake 50k++ was my first Ultra-Marathon. I figured, "Heck, I’ve run eight marathons, all I’ve got to do is slow down and do another 10k!" Remind me to drop something heavy on my foot the next time I think that.

I normally hang out with a group of triathletes. For those ultra-marathoners who don’t know any trathletes first hand, I’ll briefly describe them to you. Triathletes are people who don’t think a marathon is quite long enough either, but the way they like to make more difficult is by swimming long distances in the ocean (sharks are optional) and then bicyling halfway across Europe before starting their 26.2 mile trot. Oh yes, another huge difference between Triathletes and Ultra runners is the fact that Triathletes try to solve every problem with technology. From Gu and Power Gel to Carbon Fiber Bicylcles, technology is good! Ultra runners on the other hand, or most that I saw this weekend, think that the jelly-bean, augmented by an occasional peanut M&M, is the perfect energy food (carbos and protein here). Ultra runners also have a loyalty to old equipment, "if this pair of shoes got me through the last few 50k/50-mile races, they’ll be even better for this one; why buy new?"

Ultra runners also have some weird sense of vertical terrain too. In Virginia Beach, an exit ramp is considered a hill and the highest point is the old landfill. I did not appreciate Dave Horton describing the course as "basically flat with negligible elevation gain." He Was Lying!

All in all I thoroughly enjoyed the race and people. My work friends find it hard to believe that I didn’t start hurting until mile 29. My triathlete friends can’t believe I ran around a lake and didn’t want to swim across. It was a great race Dave, well run and very well supported. I decided to run without a Camelbak or water bottles and I never even missed them. You’ve got a convert Dave, oh no, I don’t mean I’m coming back for the Mountain Masochist 50-miler, I mean I’m replacing my PowerBars with jelly beans and M&Ms.