Race Reports
2015
Catherine Rhinehart Toriello Simply an incredible, world-class race for a great cause!! From the race organizers to the volunteers, SOWF personnel, to the location at Topsl and the excellent aid stations (especially The Back Porch in Destin, Florida - wow!), this race is awesome. LOVED it. Thank you so much!!!
One included a bacon station, who doesn't love bacon? For the 50 miler and above there was an aide station where you order a plate from a local restaurant and receive it on the way back. What?!? I may really get into these ultra things. Overall, this is a must race. I love that it was my first Ultra because it was low key, beautiful,and for a great cause. http://aliddlerun.blogspot.ca/2015/02/destin-50k-race-recap.html?m=1
I was afraid to try something different. I was always running for myself. It felt really good to raise money for fallen brothers and sisters. That day we all ran together. We were runners, military and civilian and part of the special operations family. http://theultrafreak.blogspot.ca/2015/03/the-bigger-picture-destin-beach-50k.html
“It’s a well organized, fun and challenging race, delivered by people who are genuinely interested in not only helping the SOWF, but also seeing each runner succeed.” https://specialops.site-ym.com/news/221898/Fifth-Annual-Destin-Ultra-Weekend-Raises-55000--More-Than-Just-a-Race.htm
I highly recommend it [Destin Ultra] and he [Zane] does make it a weekend to not forget. The awards are great, including the overall winner awards! The fact that almost $55,000 was donated to the SOWF is amazing! I loved how there is a fundraising aspect which I would do next year! https://emeraldcoastrunner.wordpress.com/2015/02/18/destin-24-hour-race-report-2015/
When I crossed the finish line at the recent Destin 50 Ultra Marathon, I felt strong, determined and exhilarated. It was my first ultra marathon of 50 miles and I crushed it. However, the rush of feelings that I was experiencing had very little to do with completing my first 50 mile race. When they put the medal around my neck and I put the thumbs up, it was an affirmation of a greater goal that I made for myself three months before. A goal that meant life and death. http://patrickslevinblog.com/2015/02/24/prostate-cancer-burpees-ultra-50-mile-marathon/
One could not ask for a more beautiful course. Beautiful sand, sun, and water for the entire course. http://www.runninghappilyeverafter.com/2015/03/destin50k.html?m=1
James Mink Best organized race I have ever been apart of.... Great job to all volunteers and Zane...
Mark Sweeney Really an awesome run at a great venue for a noble cause! Thanks to everyone involved, SOWF personnel, race personnel and all the incredible volunteers for making it a truly incedible weekend! Looking forward and planning for next year already!
Mark Sweeney Really an awesome run at a great venue for a noble cause! Thanks to everyone involved, SOWF personnel, race personnel and all the incredible volunteers for making it a truly incedible weekend! Looking forward and planning for next year already!
Wanted to say thank you to all the volunteers and the crew that put on this amazing race. This was the first time I ran an ultra and in this competition and I was very impressed. You all did such a great job from start to finish. All the runners and everyone involved or so positive and motivating which was very inspiring and made for a wonderful experience. Thank you again for all the hard work to everyone and I cannot wait to run again next year with you all! -Stephanie W.
2014
One of the best experiences of my life on so many levels. Excellent job Zane and crew. -Kelly
Great day today RUNNING in the SUN on the BEACH at DESTIN 50 ULTRA! Thanks to Zane Holscher for a fantastic, über organized, super fun event! I was fortunate to finish 5th OA & 1st chick in 7:42, and set a CR. Got to catch up with idols Connie Gardner who set a new CR in 50k & Joe Fejes who rocked out the 24-hour! AWESOME AWARD...AC-130 shell!! Nice road trip with my daughter Mackenzie ! -Traci Falbo
Aid Stations were great, people were great! I'll be back next year and as long as I'm able to do it. -Chip N
A foreign language race report- the photos tell the whole story. http://avatarakali.livejournal.com/806114.html
I would like to thank you for the awesome medal and awards. By no means are we high caliber athletes but love the opportunity and always give 100% while providing our best efforts. From the minute we arrived until departure, the entire experience was wonderful. Together we have run many races and this was the first experience we were able to start off with a public prayer, well done sir. -Debbie + Steve
I have completed 19 marathons, and several hundred other races in the last 35 years since I began running, and the Destin 50 is definitely one of the top 5 races I have ever competed in. The course description and website permitted me to prepare well so there were no surprises. The aid stations were spaced perfectly, so my 2 quart camelback belt held enough water to last between them. The volunteers at the aid stations were phenomenal... extremely helpful with quickly accomplishing the tasks necessary to get me back running with water, supplies, sunscreen, and dry feet. -Steven R.
This was my first ultra but I have run many marathons. I cannot think of one thing I would say was a negative. Great people involved working and I felt welcomed and supported from the minute I arrived to sign in until I left after the race. The medal is one of my favorites of any race. I also loved the shirt. -Dr. Azar
The race is among the best of the best, you and everyone involved deserve to the pride of knowing your race is on par with the best in the world! The organization, communication, and execution requires zero changes. -Stephen & Natura
2013
*Connie Gardner This is one unique ultra! The accommodations couldn't possibly be more perfect. The condo we stayed in at Resortquest was amazing. Right on the beach. The beaches at Destin are probably the most beautiful in the country. It was very surreal, the race was one of the most challenging, grueling events I have run, yet every step of the way was absolutely beautiful.
Thanks Zane, volunteers for putting on such an unforgettable experience. I will be back for this one! * **Joe Fejes Interview *Northwest Florida Daily News Article
*Run Bum Report
Thomas This was the best race I have ever been in. I can't say enough about it. Every part of it. I would like to do this one again and again. Thanks so much.
John Kent Leighton Hands down, best ultra ever! But now I'm spoiled. In future races, I'll expect a cheeseburger to be waiting for me at mile 41. "I think the race was fantastic. Aid stations were wonderful. Love the bacon and pb and j at stinky's fish camp! And the flat coke!!" Jamie T. "
"The BEST aid stations I've ever seen at an ultra. Awesome event & staffing!!! Definitely on the list for next year!!! " Chip N.
"This was my first 50k and it was the best race ever. Aid stations are top notch with all the electrolytes, cliff nutrition, etc. I found that other than a water bottle, I really didn't need to bring anything. Thanks to the many friendly volunteers and shuttle bus drivers for making this so runner friendly. Loved it and can't imagine how it could have been better!! " Stephanie C.
"I have to say the best part was the support. Not just from my family but all the runners. Everyone kept saying goodjob or your doing well even if I was passing them!? When I took a moment to walking, one or two stopped at a time to make sure I was okay. I spent 31miles trying to understand why? Now that I have as long as the same group comes back, so will I. P.S. The race, setup, volunteers, and course turned out to be just awesome. Everyone working on this event really put on an amazing race!" Brad F.
"This was my first ultra / my first year running this race and I loved almost everything about it. Everything was really organized, the aid stations were excellent, and all of the volunteers were extremely helpful. I especially loved staying at a hotel that was right at the start/finish. All of the volunteers I met were SO helpful. Every time I got to an aid station someone immediately offered to get me food and to fill up my water bottle. It's a little thing that makes a huge difference, especially later in the race.Thanks again for all the work you and your volunteers did. I'm so glad I had the chance to participate in such an amazing event that supports such a worthy cause." Brandon W. Brandn .
"Awesome Race!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Never had a race (40 marathons) where the race director shakes everybody's hand at the finish line. Great stuff *chairs at the aid stations *great support people *great Foundation *Beautiful Sunrise. The 'bacon aid station' I think it was Red Bar was the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" David B.
"Thank you for an awesome race! The charity is fantastic. I couldn't have asked for a better experience for a first attempt at 50 miles. I look forward to running the next one. " Myles M.
"this is without a doubt my new favorite race. Why? Because of the common goal that beings us all together. Really gives a sense of camaraderie amongst all the runners, and really makes you appreciate being able to do what we do. The volunteers were the best. I guess that would be my favorite thing, that and of course the gorgeous course. Going to run it again next week! " Christy J.
"We look forward to your race every year and enjoy running and fundraising to help the families of our fallen heroes. Your dedication to SOWF is Amazing. The aid stations and volunteers you have now are Fantastic!! They know their job and do it Well." Jean and John H.
""I liked all the aid stations (50k). Everyone was attentive, supportive, and friendly. The food was fresh and plentiful which sometimes can be an issue. The finish line aid station food was great and the volunteers were really helpful as one even filled a plate for me! " Ken T.
"Just wanted to say thank you for an amazing race experience! As the only Canadians there, we were honoured to take part and very touched by the show of patriotism. The course was incredible and so was the energy, I hope to join you next year for the 50 mile!" Sincerely Amanda G.
2012
Yesterday I received my first issue of Ultrarunning.
Reading the article you wrote about the race brought me right back to all the great memories of that weekend and inspired me to continue with my training for future events. I've been a bit worn out lately (probably a little overtrained) and the inspiration came at the perfect time!
Prior to my training for the Destin 50 I had not done any running for 16 years and had never run any distance greater than 26.2 miles. The Destin 50 was my first ultramarathon and the full range of emotions I experienced during the event still resonate six weeks later. I was ready to quit at mile 25 with severe hip pain (and that brutal headwind). Just as I was about to stop I thought about what you said in the pre-race meeting - that we should run for those who have fallen and that they would be there with us... something deep inside me felt obligated to be stronger... I kept moving. I surely would have quit if not for your words.
The entire experience had a major impact on me and I look forward to being a part of such a passionate and generous community in the future. I would like to thank you again for a first-class event. Your willingness to devote so much time and effort to raise funds for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation was truly inspiring as well and it was also a much-needed reminder (for me) that we all have the power to make a difference.
-James E.
"The toughest 50K race I have ever ran." Legendary ultra runner Jim Dill at the finish line
Here is a great race report from the Special Operations Warrior Foundation!
http://www.runnersworld.com/community/forums/training/ultra-marathons/destin-50-beach-ultra-report-long
Destin 50 Beach Ultra
2012-02-19
Destin, Florida
United States
60F / 16C
Sunny
Run - Ultra Marathon
Total Time = 7h 42m 44s
Overall Rank = 2/52
Age Group = 30-39m
Age Group Rank = 1/16
Pre-race routine:
Arrived in Destin Friday. Stayed at our new condo for the first time. Drank a bit too much wine and beer. Ate a nice pasta dinner at Tuscany on 98. Jogged 2 miles on the beach Saturday morning. Went to a very nice pre race meeting after packet pick up.
The event benefits Special Operation Warrior Freedom which provides scholarship money to children who lost their parent(s) in combat. The area is a military area and the RD is a miltary guy. the RD is a supr cool, super nice guy.
I also met a zany ultra runner who calls himself the run bum. www.runbum.com He runs all the time, living the dream. Really cool dude.
Saturday I packed all my drop bags-multiple shoes, socks, gels, drinks, food, SUNSCREEN, lube. Ate a light dinner and drank a few beers.
Event warmup:
Not much warm up. Some light stretching. Met a guy from the same county I live in who I'd hooked up with online, Cory. Chit-chatted, was led in a nice prayer.
Run
Comments:
This was my first event past 26.2 of which I'd done 10 with a 2:54 pr just 2 months prior. I ran a 20, 23,25 and 32 in training. I did 19 miles of beach running prior to race. I checked the maiden event results from last year and really thought I had a chance to win. The guy who won last year was back this year. The goal was to start out at 7:50-8 per pace and see how long I could hold it. Primary goal was to break 7 hours with sub 8 being b goal and finishing c goal.
I had a nathan handheld packed full of gels and a nathan belt with 2 flasks and many gels. The plan was to take gels every 40 minutes or as needed as the race progressed.
I was following the previous years winner's footprints in the sand from the minute we started.
One real cool thing to note about the start-I really like races that start on time and with this being a military oriented event it did. It was to start at 5 am. When I plugged my garmin in my computer, it started at 5:00:02. AWESOME.
We started at 5 under the absolutely breathtaking moonlight with a slight tailwind right down on the shoreline of the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. I ran mostly by myself for the first few miles following the leaders prints. The sand was mainly hard packed on the way out. There were supposed to be several river crossings during the first 30 miles, so I didn't stress over keeping my feet dry. If they got wet, they just got wet, I just wanted to make sure I stayed on firm sand if I could. This was probably a tactical mistake. I should have tried to avoid the water and sand as much as possible. The river crossings weren't that bad.I stopped at the 5 mile station to refill, forgetting that there was one at mile 10 another tactical mistake.
At mile 14 I met the leader who was at mile 16! Oh well, barring a collapse by him, I needed to run for 2nd.
I changed shoes and socks at mile 15. I left the 15 mile station right a 2 hours-8 min/mile-right on track!!
This is where things started to change. We were headed west for the next 25 miles. Mother nature decided to drop a 20-30mph wind out of the west. It was brutal It slowed me to a walk several times. I began questioning being able to finish. I knew sub 7 hrs wasn't happening. It was here I knew I had underestimated the toll the sand was taking on my muscles. The hard packed sand was nowhere to be found. It was either squishy or sticky or fluffy for the next 35 miles. I slogged my way to the 30 mile station. It was cool meeting the other runners on their way out as I was coming in.
I changed shoes at mile 30. I had been executing my nutrition/hydration plan to perfection through mile 30. After that, I quit thinking clearly and it seemed like I was constantly taking a gel or drinking something. It had warmed to 60 or so with 100% humidity and sunny. I resolved to keep my feet as dry as possible the last 20 miles. My family was waiting on me outside our place at mile 32. I was supposed to be there by 9. It was more like 9:20. It was great to see them. Kissed my wife and headed on into that cursed wind. It was restless.
I finally made it the mile 38 station. The Back Porch restaurant. They let me use a storage shed for bathroom,so I didn't have to climb the stairs!! Thanks so much!! They also asked my name and cheered for me as I came back through. I ditched my handheld and knew I only had 2 more miles of that terrible wind! I saw the leader at about mile 38 and asked how the tailwind felt-he said, AWESOME.
Finally turned around at mile 40 and it did feel awesome!! The last 10 miles was great! I met the third place runner about 4 miles behind me, so I felt good about a 2nd place finish. Saw the Run Bum on the way back in. He was filming his run. He assured me that I wasn't catching the leader!!
I finally smiled to myself aboout mile 46, knowing that I would finish strong and feeling proud of my accomplishment.
Came across the finish line in 7:42. Hugged my family, took some photos.
What would you do differently?:
Keep feet dry.
Plan aid station stops better.
Post race
Warm down:
Sat down, took my shoes off, dumped out the sand. Found a huge blood blister on one toe. One ankle was scuffed from where I was kicking it with my opposite shoe which was covered in sand.
What limited your ability to perform faster:
Training on sand.
Event comments:
This is one of the best races I've ever participated in. The organization was flawless. The RD is very informative. The cause is outstanding. I will be constantly thinking of ways to improve for next year and will be recruiting people to come race it.
www.destin50.com
The race itself was a fantastic and wonderful experience, and yes it was a battle. We stayed at a condo overlooking the beach and starting line in Destin. If you have not been there I tell you it's nice - the whitest, sugary sands I have ever seen. Strong thunderstorms rolled through the night before the race, ending just before our 5am start. I got to the starting line 1 min before takeoff snacking on a baked potato finishing up my carbo loading. 78 of us took off on the 50 mile run in darkness, with our headlamps illuminating the seashore with shells, starfish, and jellyfish on the beach. A crescent moon and a few stars were scattered among the stormy clouds above the gulf. Sunrise about an hour and a half (8.5) miles in was nothing short of magnificent. The wind 20+ mph wind was at my back and I was feeling great. My awesome crew and family met me at the 15 mile point, where I ate the best oatmeal I have ever tasted and reloaded my water supplies before I turned into a biting west wind. The 15 miles back to the place I started were the most challenging I have ever run. The wind started blowing well over 20mph, whipping up both waves and sand. Many times I was able to move myself outside the effort - thinking of family, friends, God, the awesomeness of the ocean, and admiration of the effort of those running with me. Waves whipped up, pelicans cruised low along them, and clouds mixed with intense sunshine. I reached the starting tent (30mi), greeted by my family and a combination of hospital and restaurant. I wolfed down a bunch of oranges, bananas, and some cliff bars, and took off again. We were allowed pacers for the last 20 miles, and my son (14) met me at the next aid station 33.5 miles in. For those who do not know, he has been putting in some heavy miles since last summer when he joined the high school cross country team and is in awesome shape. He wore a smile on his face and enthusiasm on his being. He also wore a wonderful backdraft backpack filled with cool water and snacks. He shared all these and more with me for the final miles of the race. We battled the wind for 7 miles and enjoyed the turn toward the finish. My beautiful and athletic daughters ran the last mile with me hooting and hollering as I crossed the finish line. 50 miles, 11 hours, 8 minutes, and a few seconds. K gave me a cold Coke (best I've had) and we hopped in the resorts hottub about 50 feet from the finish line. We had followed Sunday's run with a couple of incredible family beach days building sand castles, taking family walks, and eating (lots!), Jake and I actually got a couple mile run in on Tuesday as my recovery went amazingly well. -Mike
Had an amazing experience with the 50K this year and I am looking forward to training and completing the 50mile next year! Thanks so much for everything...what an inspiring race this was! I cried crossing the finish line :) nothing like it! -Tera _t
The next morning Rach got up first as the 50 milers start at 5AM, a full hour before the 50K runners take off. I got up about 30 minutes later, made some oatmeal (yes, I cooked it myself) and watched a little TV. About 15 minutes later Sandi and her dad were ready to go and the 4 of us made our way down to the start.
When we arrived at the start/finish line it was dark, cold, and windy. This statement may be creating an inacurate picture in your head. I was only wearing a light long sleeve shirt becaue I am a baby in the cold, and at this time, it was just a bit breezy. The real wind would come later. We wished Rach good luck and away she went, down the beach into the darkness. Me, Sandi, and her dad went back to condo to get ready for the 50K start. I was pretty excited and teased Sandi about our ice cream bet. About two weeks prior to the race I challenge Sandi to an ice cream bet. A winner take all, double scoop with sprinkles kind of bet. Sandi was sooooo confident that she was going to win she had already identified the place I would be treating her on Monday. A place called 32° Frozen Yogurt. A little cocky aren’t we Sandi I said….Sandi just smiled. Rach had been working on me the two weeks leading up to race to make it a loser buys everyone on the trip ice cream. Apparently, Rach was feeling pretty good about Sandi’s chances too…I wonder why? I don't even need to say anything here.
So at the start, I walk up to Sandi and offer some pretty obvious advice like, “have fun” or “go out conservative” or “keep your feet dry” and the gun goes off…bang! The 50K starts in the opposite direction of the 50 milers for a quarter mile and then we turn around and head in the same direction as Rach and the other runners. Within the first 10 seconds I knew I had my hands full as Sandi appeared to be on a mission only a few paces behind some silly guys who had gone out extremely fast. A quarter in and Sandi was a hundred meters ahead of me. I remember thinking they must have lots of sand in Salida, CO. So I humming along and put in my iPod shuffle which has only two songs on it, both by Lee Coulter. One is named “I Would Love” and the other is “Photograph”. You can check him out here (http://leecoulter.bandcamp.com/album/lee-coulter). Lee has a very cool laid-back feel and I thought he would be perfect for a beach run. Within an hour the sun was rising and we were running towards it…absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Then my iPod went on the fritz L….no big deal. I have a green shuffle sitting at home waiting to be used so I’m fine with it. I took it as a sign that I should spend more time listening to the waves and my surroundings and less time listening to Lee so that’s what I did. Around 12.5 I see Rach coming back the other way and she tells me that Sandi is doing well and that the second place female in the 50K is right behind me. It was more like, Sandi is kicking ass and the next women is behind you (more than 20 minutes back). I say “tanks” and keep running. I really wasn’t worried about where I was as I was out there just to have fun and cover the distance. What I was interested in was seeing how Sandi was doing among the 50K competition. So around 14.5 I see Sandi hauling ass. When I saw Sandi earlier (I could see her from pretty far away, we always no eachother's stide) I just started laughing, and when she got close enough I just asked "where is everyone else!?" She inspired me to run faster for about 20 seconds, before the wind again tried to force me to a walk (Im to stubborn to give in). I mean flying across the sand. Meanwhile, many of the 50-mile runners who had started earlier were walking because of the stiff headwinds they were now facing after hitting the turnaround at mile 16ish. I see Sandi, give her a low five, and she says, “this wind sucks” and keeps on trucking. Sandi had to be more than a mile ahead at this point. About two minutes later I see the first place guy and he looks beat, in fact, he keeps looking at his watch, looking up ahead (at Sandi) and then sways back and forth like he had one too many margaritas. I wanted to tell him to forget about catching her and just try to hold onto his place, but I just said “good job”. I hit the turnaround at 2:30 on the nose…too fast for me as I was thinking 6 hours would be great given the shape I was in. When I made the turn and started running into the wind, I knew it was going to be a LONG day. At mile 18 I hit the wall, no doubt due to my lack of training and my slightly aggressive pace. I know, it's hard to believe he went out too fast. Then at 23 I quit trying to avoid the tide as it crashed upon the beach and started running right through the water, which lead to about 3 pounds of sand in my Brooks Trance shoes. A half mile later I was carrying my shoes and running barefoot. Along the way I caught up to a 50-miler runner named Brandon who was stationed in FL w/ the Air Force and was doing his first 50 miler. He dropped around the 35-mile mark. I caught another 50 miler named Jerry from Boston who was an IP attorney and he and I hiked that last 6-7 miles together. This was his first 50 miler and I was more than happy to keep him company even though I could have run a little ahead of him, I knew I wasn’t going to break any records that day. Jerry and I talked about family, work, politics, education, and running. Jerry is doing Marathon Des Sables in April and decided to do Destin 50 as a tune up for that race. Jerry’s plan when I caught up to him was to hike until mile 40, hit the turnaround and then use the wind at his back and run/walk as much as he could to come in under the 14 hour cut-off for the 50 milers. I said that was a good plan and that I would see him just before 7 PM at the finish.
With the 50K finish line insight I saw Sandi walking towards us and I turned to Jerry and told him I better say goodbye now because when she got up to us she was going to make me run to the finish, he just laughed and kind of gave me the “really?” look. On cue, Sandi walked up and said can you run to the finish? Good job Sandi. And I said sure…so we ran it in. I crossed the line right around 7 hours. My second slowest 50K ever, but having lots of fun and enjoying every step of the way! All that matters is enjoying the journey :), and, that's still pretty good for not running for a month! When I crossed the line I immediately asked Sandi how she did and she told me she won! 40 minutes ahead of the 1st place man! She crushed it! I am so proud of her! I still cant get over this, it is just way too cool. I love bragging about my sister! I asked if she heard from her dad how Rach was doing and she told me that she was running strong in second through the 30-mile mark. We headed back to the condo where I took a quick shower, changed and then headed back to the finish line to wait for Rach to finish.
Meanwhile, I was still running. It was taking forever just to cover a mile. There was a constant wind slowing me down until the 40 mile turnaround. I tried to do the whole "chi" thing and clear my mind and not think about anything, which lasted at its max for 20 seconds. My thoughts mainly went back to "I am so proud of Sandi (I knew she had killed it in the 50k, I just didnt know it was by 40 minutes!) but Im gonna kill her." I was so bored! Yes, the beach and ocean was beautiful and all, but it was boring! There were no hills, no trees, and no one to talk to. The first place women was out now out of sight, but probably no more than 10 minutes ahead. I thought I'd have a chance to catch her after the turn around, but she kept a good pace. Still, the turnaround came with much relief. I dont think I really gained a second wind, but I now had the wind at my back. I don't know the splits, much the 10 miles back felt much faster then the way out. I kept playing an interval game with the building, boardwalks, garbage cans, etc. with the option of walking for a minute at eachone, but I was able to keep going without stopping. Finally, I saw the white tent at the finish line. I was getting close! However, it turned out the a person can see that white tent for 3 miles down the beach...
Of course Sandi and I were early and it was nice because we really enjoy spending time chatting together (he tells ME he misses Sandi!). A lot of the time we spend talking about running and racing. Sometimes we talk about traveling, sometimes work, other times family. But most of the time I am trying to gain a better understanding of her twin. The woman I am completely in love with and the girl she has known since her first breath. A twin can provide an interesting prospective and I have been told that I am an intent listener. In this particular conversation I asked Sandi about the use of the word “silly”. Yes, silly. You see, I am called silly maybe once or twice a week. And I sort of take it as a back handed comment. Almost like “duh, you don’t get it do you?” or “you idiot” type of comment. I shared this with Sandi and she reassured me that silly was an endearing comment and that if Rach actually meant idiot she would call me an idiot. This made me feel better and we continued to wait for Rach. Thank you Sandi :) (...but adimittedly, it may be a bit of both lol)
Right around 10 hours, we saw the first place female cross the line, a few minutes later Rach finished behind her. The stupid quarter mile trips to the stupid bathrooms probably took 7-8 minutes off my time. However, I did probably spend a bit too much time staring at food at the aid stations. 9th overall, 2nd female. Just like Burning River :/ Outstanding considering she spent the entire month in Tanzania running about 3-5 miles a day and her longest runs were a few 10 mile runs the week prior to the Destin 50. Apparently climbing a mountain doesn't help either. I am so proud of my baby to be able to crank out a 50-mile race in that freaking sand and to place so well. You are so tough! Why thank you :)
Awesome time today. Thanks to the organizers and volunteers. Aid stations rocked.
Special thanks to the Back Porch. They asked my name and radioed it ahead to the turnaround. They also let me "use" their basement so I didn't have to climb the stairs.
Top notch awards and medals too !!
My first race past a marathon and it was unbelievable . -Kristopher W.
Michelle Boughton Day Zane, thank YOU for this amazing race! I ran every step thinking of the soldiers and their sacrifice. I will be back next year, and I will spread the word amongst my running community.
Terri Preast Agree with Michelle. Already discussing next year with my "crew" (my wonderful husband) - a challenging adventure that I'd love to tackle again next year! Run Bum What an awesome food/run/drink filled weekend! Ate BBQ the entire ride down to Destin, partied with my friend Tina, ran the Son of a Beach 5k on Saturday, ate 3 dozen oysters, ran the Destin 50 miler. I ended up eating 2 hand fulls of bacon, 3 beers, 1 jack n coke, and 1 dozen oysters all mid race. I even stopped and got a couple of serves in on a volleyball game. Remember its about the fun during the run! Thanks to everyone who made this weekend happen.
2011 2
"Top 5 races in the world for us Run Bums no question about that!" -RunBum.com
Runner's World Forum Report
Active.com Review-
Brian Shonk said: Wow! The inaugural Destin 50 Beach Ultra was an amazing event! The weather was great, the beach wa...
Wow! The inaugural Destin 50 Beach Ultra was an amazing event! The weather was great, the beach was awesome, the volunteers were excellent, and the checkpoint sponsors went "above the call." However, with all of that, the best part of the event was the fact it was created to raise awareness of and monies for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation - a fund designed to provided educational scholarships to dependents of our American Hero Special Forces who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country. I was thankful to have the opportunity to give back to those who serve.Race Director Zane and his crew of volunteers have already solicited feedback for making the event even better for 2011 (I heard they have already planned for more water stations - thanks Zane!). Start your 2012 off right and plan a mini-vacation around this ultra event. The resort that hosted the event was great to all of the runners and, even though I live in the area, I am going to rent a room there for the 2012 run so I can better take advantage of the amenities and the convenience of stepping off of your own balcony and onto the race course - 50 miles of sugar white sand and emerald green water.Brian - Team "What Was I Thinking?"
One of the best experiences of my life on so many levels. Excellent job Zane and crew. -Kelly
Great day today RUNNING in the SUN on the BEACH at DESTIN 50 ULTRA! Thanks to Zane Holscher for a fantastic, über organized, super fun event! I was fortunate to finish 5th OA & 1st chick in 7:42, and set a CR. Got to catch up with idols Connie Gardner who set a new CR in 50k & Joe Fejes who rocked out the 24-hour! AWESOME AWARD...AC-130 shell!! Nice road trip with my daughter Mackenzie ! -Traci Falbo
Aid Stations were great, people were great! I'll be back next year and as long as I'm able to do it. -Chip N
A foreign language race report- the photos tell the whole story. http://avatarakali.livejournal.com/806114.html
I would like to thank you for the awesome medal and awards. By no means are we high caliber athletes but love the opportunity and always give 100% while providing our best efforts. From the minute we arrived until departure, the entire experience was wonderful. Together we have run many races and this was the first experience we were able to start off with a public prayer, well done sir. -Debbie + Steve
I have completed 19 marathons, and several hundred other races in the last 35 years since I began running, and the Destin 50 is definitely one of the top 5 races I have ever competed in. The course description and website permitted me to prepare well so there were no surprises. The aid stations were spaced perfectly, so my 2 quart camelback belt held enough water to last between them. The volunteers at the aid stations were phenomenal... extremely helpful with quickly accomplishing the tasks necessary to get me back running with water, supplies, sunscreen, and dry feet. -Steven R.
This was my first ultra but I have run many marathons. I cannot think of one thing I would say was a negative. Great people involved working and I felt welcomed and supported from the minute I arrived to sign in until I left after the race. The medal is one of my favorites of any race. I also loved the shirt. -Dr. Azar
The race is among the best of the best, you and everyone involved deserve to the pride of knowing your race is on par with the best in the world! The organization, communication, and execution requires zero changes. -Stephen & Natura
2013
*Connie Gardner This is one unique ultra! The accommodations couldn't possibly be more perfect. The condo we stayed in at Resortquest was amazing. Right on the beach. The beaches at Destin are probably the most beautiful in the country. It was very surreal, the race was one of the most challenging, grueling events I have run, yet every step of the way was absolutely beautiful.
Thanks Zane, volunteers for putting on such an unforgettable experience. I will be back for this one! * **Joe Fejes Interview *Northwest Florida Daily News Article
*Run Bum Report
Thomas This was the best race I have ever been in. I can't say enough about it. Every part of it. I would like to do this one again and again. Thanks so much.
John Kent Leighton Hands down, best ultra ever! But now I'm spoiled. In future races, I'll expect a cheeseburger to be waiting for me at mile 41. "I think the race was fantastic. Aid stations were wonderful. Love the bacon and pb and j at stinky's fish camp! And the flat coke!!" Jamie T. "
"The BEST aid stations I've ever seen at an ultra. Awesome event & staffing!!! Definitely on the list for next year!!! " Chip N.
"This was my first 50k and it was the best race ever. Aid stations are top notch with all the electrolytes, cliff nutrition, etc. I found that other than a water bottle, I really didn't need to bring anything. Thanks to the many friendly volunteers and shuttle bus drivers for making this so runner friendly. Loved it and can't imagine how it could have been better!! " Stephanie C.
"I have to say the best part was the support. Not just from my family but all the runners. Everyone kept saying goodjob or your doing well even if I was passing them!? When I took a moment to walking, one or two stopped at a time to make sure I was okay. I spent 31miles trying to understand why? Now that I have as long as the same group comes back, so will I. P.S. The race, setup, volunteers, and course turned out to be just awesome. Everyone working on this event really put on an amazing race!" Brad F.
"This was my first ultra / my first year running this race and I loved almost everything about it. Everything was really organized, the aid stations were excellent, and all of the volunteers were extremely helpful. I especially loved staying at a hotel that was right at the start/finish. All of the volunteers I met were SO helpful. Every time I got to an aid station someone immediately offered to get me food and to fill up my water bottle. It's a little thing that makes a huge difference, especially later in the race.Thanks again for all the work you and your volunteers did. I'm so glad I had the chance to participate in such an amazing event that supports such a worthy cause." Brandon W. Brandn .
"Awesome Race!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Never had a race (40 marathons) where the race director shakes everybody's hand at the finish line. Great stuff *chairs at the aid stations *great support people *great Foundation *Beautiful Sunrise. The 'bacon aid station' I think it was Red Bar was the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" David B.
"Thank you for an awesome race! The charity is fantastic. I couldn't have asked for a better experience for a first attempt at 50 miles. I look forward to running the next one. " Myles M.
"this is without a doubt my new favorite race. Why? Because of the common goal that beings us all together. Really gives a sense of camaraderie amongst all the runners, and really makes you appreciate being able to do what we do. The volunteers were the best. I guess that would be my favorite thing, that and of course the gorgeous course. Going to run it again next week! " Christy J.
"We look forward to your race every year and enjoy running and fundraising to help the families of our fallen heroes. Your dedication to SOWF is Amazing. The aid stations and volunteers you have now are Fantastic!! They know their job and do it Well." Jean and John H.
""I liked all the aid stations (50k). Everyone was attentive, supportive, and friendly. The food was fresh and plentiful which sometimes can be an issue. The finish line aid station food was great and the volunteers were really helpful as one even filled a plate for me! " Ken T.
"Just wanted to say thank you for an amazing race experience! As the only Canadians there, we were honoured to take part and very touched by the show of patriotism. The course was incredible and so was the energy, I hope to join you next year for the 50 mile!" Sincerely Amanda G.
2012
Yesterday I received my first issue of Ultrarunning.
Reading the article you wrote about the race brought me right back to all the great memories of that weekend and inspired me to continue with my training for future events. I've been a bit worn out lately (probably a little overtrained) and the inspiration came at the perfect time!
Prior to my training for the Destin 50 I had not done any running for 16 years and had never run any distance greater than 26.2 miles. The Destin 50 was my first ultramarathon and the full range of emotions I experienced during the event still resonate six weeks later. I was ready to quit at mile 25 with severe hip pain (and that brutal headwind). Just as I was about to stop I thought about what you said in the pre-race meeting - that we should run for those who have fallen and that they would be there with us... something deep inside me felt obligated to be stronger... I kept moving. I surely would have quit if not for your words.
The entire experience had a major impact on me and I look forward to being a part of such a passionate and generous community in the future. I would like to thank you again for a first-class event. Your willingness to devote so much time and effort to raise funds for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation was truly inspiring as well and it was also a much-needed reminder (for me) that we all have the power to make a difference.
-James E.
"The toughest 50K race I have ever ran." Legendary ultra runner Jim Dill at the finish line
Here is a great race report from the Special Operations Warrior Foundation!
http://www.runnersworld.com/community/forums/training/ultra-marathons/destin-50-beach-ultra-report-long
Destin 50 Beach Ultra
2012-02-19
Destin, Florida
United States
60F / 16C
Sunny
Run - Ultra Marathon
Total Time = 7h 42m 44s
Overall Rank = 2/52
Age Group = 30-39m
Age Group Rank = 1/16
Pre-race routine:
Arrived in Destin Friday. Stayed at our new condo for the first time. Drank a bit too much wine and beer. Ate a nice pasta dinner at Tuscany on 98. Jogged 2 miles on the beach Saturday morning. Went to a very nice pre race meeting after packet pick up.
The event benefits Special Operation Warrior Freedom which provides scholarship money to children who lost their parent(s) in combat. The area is a military area and the RD is a miltary guy. the RD is a supr cool, super nice guy.
I also met a zany ultra runner who calls himself the run bum. www.runbum.com He runs all the time, living the dream. Really cool dude.
Saturday I packed all my drop bags-multiple shoes, socks, gels, drinks, food, SUNSCREEN, lube. Ate a light dinner and drank a few beers.
Event warmup:
Not much warm up. Some light stretching. Met a guy from the same county I live in who I'd hooked up with online, Cory. Chit-chatted, was led in a nice prayer.
Run
Comments:
This was my first event past 26.2 of which I'd done 10 with a 2:54 pr just 2 months prior. I ran a 20, 23,25 and 32 in training. I did 19 miles of beach running prior to race. I checked the maiden event results from last year and really thought I had a chance to win. The guy who won last year was back this year. The goal was to start out at 7:50-8 per pace and see how long I could hold it. Primary goal was to break 7 hours with sub 8 being b goal and finishing c goal.
I had a nathan handheld packed full of gels and a nathan belt with 2 flasks and many gels. The plan was to take gels every 40 minutes or as needed as the race progressed.
I was following the previous years winner's footprints in the sand from the minute we started.
One real cool thing to note about the start-I really like races that start on time and with this being a military oriented event it did. It was to start at 5 am. When I plugged my garmin in my computer, it started at 5:00:02. AWESOME.
We started at 5 under the absolutely breathtaking moonlight with a slight tailwind right down on the shoreline of the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. I ran mostly by myself for the first few miles following the leaders prints. The sand was mainly hard packed on the way out. There were supposed to be several river crossings during the first 30 miles, so I didn't stress over keeping my feet dry. If they got wet, they just got wet, I just wanted to make sure I stayed on firm sand if I could. This was probably a tactical mistake. I should have tried to avoid the water and sand as much as possible. The river crossings weren't that bad.I stopped at the 5 mile station to refill, forgetting that there was one at mile 10 another tactical mistake.
At mile 14 I met the leader who was at mile 16! Oh well, barring a collapse by him, I needed to run for 2nd.
I changed shoes and socks at mile 15. I left the 15 mile station right a 2 hours-8 min/mile-right on track!!
This is where things started to change. We were headed west for the next 25 miles. Mother nature decided to drop a 20-30mph wind out of the west. It was brutal It slowed me to a walk several times. I began questioning being able to finish. I knew sub 7 hrs wasn't happening. It was here I knew I had underestimated the toll the sand was taking on my muscles. The hard packed sand was nowhere to be found. It was either squishy or sticky or fluffy for the next 35 miles. I slogged my way to the 30 mile station. It was cool meeting the other runners on their way out as I was coming in.
I changed shoes at mile 30. I had been executing my nutrition/hydration plan to perfection through mile 30. After that, I quit thinking clearly and it seemed like I was constantly taking a gel or drinking something. It had warmed to 60 or so with 100% humidity and sunny. I resolved to keep my feet as dry as possible the last 20 miles. My family was waiting on me outside our place at mile 32. I was supposed to be there by 9. It was more like 9:20. It was great to see them. Kissed my wife and headed on into that cursed wind. It was restless.
I finally made it the mile 38 station. The Back Porch restaurant. They let me use a storage shed for bathroom,so I didn't have to climb the stairs!! Thanks so much!! They also asked my name and cheered for me as I came back through. I ditched my handheld and knew I only had 2 more miles of that terrible wind! I saw the leader at about mile 38 and asked how the tailwind felt-he said, AWESOME.
Finally turned around at mile 40 and it did feel awesome!! The last 10 miles was great! I met the third place runner about 4 miles behind me, so I felt good about a 2nd place finish. Saw the Run Bum on the way back in. He was filming his run. He assured me that I wasn't catching the leader!!
I finally smiled to myself aboout mile 46, knowing that I would finish strong and feeling proud of my accomplishment.
Came across the finish line in 7:42. Hugged my family, took some photos.
What would you do differently?:
Keep feet dry.
Plan aid station stops better.
Post race
Warm down:
Sat down, took my shoes off, dumped out the sand. Found a huge blood blister on one toe. One ankle was scuffed from where I was kicking it with my opposite shoe which was covered in sand.
What limited your ability to perform faster:
Training on sand.
Event comments:
This is one of the best races I've ever participated in. The organization was flawless. The RD is very informative. The cause is outstanding. I will be constantly thinking of ways to improve for next year and will be recruiting people to come race it.
www.destin50.com
The race itself was a fantastic and wonderful experience, and yes it was a battle. We stayed at a condo overlooking the beach and starting line in Destin. If you have not been there I tell you it's nice - the whitest, sugary sands I have ever seen. Strong thunderstorms rolled through the night before the race, ending just before our 5am start. I got to the starting line 1 min before takeoff snacking on a baked potato finishing up my carbo loading. 78 of us took off on the 50 mile run in darkness, with our headlamps illuminating the seashore with shells, starfish, and jellyfish on the beach. A crescent moon and a few stars were scattered among the stormy clouds above the gulf. Sunrise about an hour and a half (8.5) miles in was nothing short of magnificent. The wind 20+ mph wind was at my back and I was feeling great. My awesome crew and family met me at the 15 mile point, where I ate the best oatmeal I have ever tasted and reloaded my water supplies before I turned into a biting west wind. The 15 miles back to the place I started were the most challenging I have ever run. The wind started blowing well over 20mph, whipping up both waves and sand. Many times I was able to move myself outside the effort - thinking of family, friends, God, the awesomeness of the ocean, and admiration of the effort of those running with me. Waves whipped up, pelicans cruised low along them, and clouds mixed with intense sunshine. I reached the starting tent (30mi), greeted by my family and a combination of hospital and restaurant. I wolfed down a bunch of oranges, bananas, and some cliff bars, and took off again. We were allowed pacers for the last 20 miles, and my son (14) met me at the next aid station 33.5 miles in. For those who do not know, he has been putting in some heavy miles since last summer when he joined the high school cross country team and is in awesome shape. He wore a smile on his face and enthusiasm on his being. He also wore a wonderful backdraft backpack filled with cool water and snacks. He shared all these and more with me for the final miles of the race. We battled the wind for 7 miles and enjoyed the turn toward the finish. My beautiful and athletic daughters ran the last mile with me hooting and hollering as I crossed the finish line. 50 miles, 11 hours, 8 minutes, and a few seconds. K gave me a cold Coke (best I've had) and we hopped in the resorts hottub about 50 feet from the finish line. We had followed Sunday's run with a couple of incredible family beach days building sand castles, taking family walks, and eating (lots!), Jake and I actually got a couple mile run in on Tuesday as my recovery went amazingly well. -Mike
Had an amazing experience with the 50K this year and I am looking forward to training and completing the 50mile next year! Thanks so much for everything...what an inspiring race this was! I cried crossing the finish line :) nothing like it! -Tera _t
The next morning Rach got up first as the 50 milers start at 5AM, a full hour before the 50K runners take off. I got up about 30 minutes later, made some oatmeal (yes, I cooked it myself) and watched a little TV. About 15 minutes later Sandi and her dad were ready to go and the 4 of us made our way down to the start.
When we arrived at the start/finish line it was dark, cold, and windy. This statement may be creating an inacurate picture in your head. I was only wearing a light long sleeve shirt becaue I am a baby in the cold, and at this time, it was just a bit breezy. The real wind would come later. We wished Rach good luck and away she went, down the beach into the darkness. Me, Sandi, and her dad went back to condo to get ready for the 50K start. I was pretty excited and teased Sandi about our ice cream bet. About two weeks prior to the race I challenge Sandi to an ice cream bet. A winner take all, double scoop with sprinkles kind of bet. Sandi was sooooo confident that she was going to win she had already identified the place I would be treating her on Monday. A place called 32° Frozen Yogurt. A little cocky aren’t we Sandi I said….Sandi just smiled. Rach had been working on me the two weeks leading up to race to make it a loser buys everyone on the trip ice cream. Apparently, Rach was feeling pretty good about Sandi’s chances too…I wonder why? I don't even need to say anything here.
So at the start, I walk up to Sandi and offer some pretty obvious advice like, “have fun” or “go out conservative” or “keep your feet dry” and the gun goes off…bang! The 50K starts in the opposite direction of the 50 milers for a quarter mile and then we turn around and head in the same direction as Rach and the other runners. Within the first 10 seconds I knew I had my hands full as Sandi appeared to be on a mission only a few paces behind some silly guys who had gone out extremely fast. A quarter in and Sandi was a hundred meters ahead of me. I remember thinking they must have lots of sand in Salida, CO. So I humming along and put in my iPod shuffle which has only two songs on it, both by Lee Coulter. One is named “I Would Love” and the other is “Photograph”. You can check him out here (http://leecoulter.bandcamp.com/album/lee-coulter). Lee has a very cool laid-back feel and I thought he would be perfect for a beach run. Within an hour the sun was rising and we were running towards it…absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Then my iPod went on the fritz L….no big deal. I have a green shuffle sitting at home waiting to be used so I’m fine with it. I took it as a sign that I should spend more time listening to the waves and my surroundings and less time listening to Lee so that’s what I did. Around 12.5 I see Rach coming back the other way and she tells me that Sandi is doing well and that the second place female in the 50K is right behind me. It was more like, Sandi is kicking ass and the next women is behind you (more than 20 minutes back). I say “tanks” and keep running. I really wasn’t worried about where I was as I was out there just to have fun and cover the distance. What I was interested in was seeing how Sandi was doing among the 50K competition. So around 14.5 I see Sandi hauling ass. When I saw Sandi earlier (I could see her from pretty far away, we always no eachother's stide) I just started laughing, and when she got close enough I just asked "where is everyone else!?" She inspired me to run faster for about 20 seconds, before the wind again tried to force me to a walk (Im to stubborn to give in). I mean flying across the sand. Meanwhile, many of the 50-mile runners who had started earlier were walking because of the stiff headwinds they were now facing after hitting the turnaround at mile 16ish. I see Sandi, give her a low five, and she says, “this wind sucks” and keeps on trucking. Sandi had to be more than a mile ahead at this point. About two minutes later I see the first place guy and he looks beat, in fact, he keeps looking at his watch, looking up ahead (at Sandi) and then sways back and forth like he had one too many margaritas. I wanted to tell him to forget about catching her and just try to hold onto his place, but I just said “good job”. I hit the turnaround at 2:30 on the nose…too fast for me as I was thinking 6 hours would be great given the shape I was in. When I made the turn and started running into the wind, I knew it was going to be a LONG day. At mile 18 I hit the wall, no doubt due to my lack of training and my slightly aggressive pace. I know, it's hard to believe he went out too fast. Then at 23 I quit trying to avoid the tide as it crashed upon the beach and started running right through the water, which lead to about 3 pounds of sand in my Brooks Trance shoes. A half mile later I was carrying my shoes and running barefoot. Along the way I caught up to a 50-miler runner named Brandon who was stationed in FL w/ the Air Force and was doing his first 50 miler. He dropped around the 35-mile mark. I caught another 50 miler named Jerry from Boston who was an IP attorney and he and I hiked that last 6-7 miles together. This was his first 50 miler and I was more than happy to keep him company even though I could have run a little ahead of him, I knew I wasn’t going to break any records that day. Jerry and I talked about family, work, politics, education, and running. Jerry is doing Marathon Des Sables in April and decided to do Destin 50 as a tune up for that race. Jerry’s plan when I caught up to him was to hike until mile 40, hit the turnaround and then use the wind at his back and run/walk as much as he could to come in under the 14 hour cut-off for the 50 milers. I said that was a good plan and that I would see him just before 7 PM at the finish.
With the 50K finish line insight I saw Sandi walking towards us and I turned to Jerry and told him I better say goodbye now because when she got up to us she was going to make me run to the finish, he just laughed and kind of gave me the “really?” look. On cue, Sandi walked up and said can you run to the finish? Good job Sandi. And I said sure…so we ran it in. I crossed the line right around 7 hours. My second slowest 50K ever, but having lots of fun and enjoying every step of the way! All that matters is enjoying the journey :), and, that's still pretty good for not running for a month! When I crossed the line I immediately asked Sandi how she did and she told me she won! 40 minutes ahead of the 1st place man! She crushed it! I am so proud of her! I still cant get over this, it is just way too cool. I love bragging about my sister! I asked if she heard from her dad how Rach was doing and she told me that she was running strong in second through the 30-mile mark. We headed back to the condo where I took a quick shower, changed and then headed back to the finish line to wait for Rach to finish.
Meanwhile, I was still running. It was taking forever just to cover a mile. There was a constant wind slowing me down until the 40 mile turnaround. I tried to do the whole "chi" thing and clear my mind and not think about anything, which lasted at its max for 20 seconds. My thoughts mainly went back to "I am so proud of Sandi (I knew she had killed it in the 50k, I just didnt know it was by 40 minutes!) but Im gonna kill her." I was so bored! Yes, the beach and ocean was beautiful and all, but it was boring! There were no hills, no trees, and no one to talk to. The first place women was out now out of sight, but probably no more than 10 minutes ahead. I thought I'd have a chance to catch her after the turn around, but she kept a good pace. Still, the turnaround came with much relief. I dont think I really gained a second wind, but I now had the wind at my back. I don't know the splits, much the 10 miles back felt much faster then the way out. I kept playing an interval game with the building, boardwalks, garbage cans, etc. with the option of walking for a minute at eachone, but I was able to keep going without stopping. Finally, I saw the white tent at the finish line. I was getting close! However, it turned out the a person can see that white tent for 3 miles down the beach...
Of course Sandi and I were early and it was nice because we really enjoy spending time chatting together (he tells ME he misses Sandi!). A lot of the time we spend talking about running and racing. Sometimes we talk about traveling, sometimes work, other times family. But most of the time I am trying to gain a better understanding of her twin. The woman I am completely in love with and the girl she has known since her first breath. A twin can provide an interesting prospective and I have been told that I am an intent listener. In this particular conversation I asked Sandi about the use of the word “silly”. Yes, silly. You see, I am called silly maybe once or twice a week. And I sort of take it as a back handed comment. Almost like “duh, you don’t get it do you?” or “you idiot” type of comment. I shared this with Sandi and she reassured me that silly was an endearing comment and that if Rach actually meant idiot she would call me an idiot. This made me feel better and we continued to wait for Rach. Thank you Sandi :) (...but adimittedly, it may be a bit of both lol)
Right around 10 hours, we saw the first place female cross the line, a few minutes later Rach finished behind her. The stupid quarter mile trips to the stupid bathrooms probably took 7-8 minutes off my time. However, I did probably spend a bit too much time staring at food at the aid stations. 9th overall, 2nd female. Just like Burning River :/ Outstanding considering she spent the entire month in Tanzania running about 3-5 miles a day and her longest runs were a few 10 mile runs the week prior to the Destin 50. Apparently climbing a mountain doesn't help either. I am so proud of my baby to be able to crank out a 50-mile race in that freaking sand and to place so well. You are so tough! Why thank you :)
Awesome time today. Thanks to the organizers and volunteers. Aid stations rocked.
Special thanks to the Back Porch. They asked my name and radioed it ahead to the turnaround. They also let me "use" their basement so I didn't have to climb the stairs.
Top notch awards and medals too !!
My first race past a marathon and it was unbelievable . -Kristopher W.
Michelle Boughton Day Zane, thank YOU for this amazing race! I ran every step thinking of the soldiers and their sacrifice. I will be back next year, and I will spread the word amongst my running community.
Terri Preast Agree with Michelle. Already discussing next year with my "crew" (my wonderful husband) - a challenging adventure that I'd love to tackle again next year! Run Bum What an awesome food/run/drink filled weekend! Ate BBQ the entire ride down to Destin, partied with my friend Tina, ran the Son of a Beach 5k on Saturday, ate 3 dozen oysters, ran the Destin 50 miler. I ended up eating 2 hand fulls of bacon, 3 beers, 1 jack n coke, and 1 dozen oysters all mid race. I even stopped and got a couple of serves in on a volleyball game. Remember its about the fun during the run! Thanks to everyone who made this weekend happen.
2011 2
"Top 5 races in the world for us Run Bums no question about that!" -RunBum.com
Runner's World Forum Report
Active.com Review-
Brian Shonk said: Wow! The inaugural Destin 50 Beach Ultra was an amazing event! The weather was great, the beach wa...
Wow! The inaugural Destin 50 Beach Ultra was an amazing event! The weather was great, the beach was awesome, the volunteers were excellent, and the checkpoint sponsors went "above the call." However, with all of that, the best part of the event was the fact it was created to raise awareness of and monies for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation - a fund designed to provided educational scholarships to dependents of our American Hero Special Forces who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country. I was thankful to have the opportunity to give back to those who serve.Race Director Zane and his crew of volunteers have already solicited feedback for making the event even better for 2011 (I heard they have already planned for more water stations - thanks Zane!). Start your 2012 off right and plan a mini-vacation around this ultra event. The resort that hosted the event was great to all of the runners and, even though I live in the area, I am going to rent a room there for the 2012 run so I can better take advantage of the amenities and the convenience of stepping off of your own balcony and onto the race course - 50 miles of sugar white sand and emerald green water.Brian - Team "What Was I Thinking?"
