ROME TOWNSHIP, Ohio Ƶ Jessica Price laughs at 5K runs, scoffs at 10K races and spits at marathons.
She can do that now that sheƵs run a Backyard Ultra, running 87.5 miles in an unusual race March 22 in the Shawnee Forest near Lucasville, Ohio.
The former Fairland High School all-state distance runner and Shawnee State University All-American finished 20th of 110 competitors in the race, which features a series of 4.1667-mile runs known as Ƶyards.Ƶ
ƵIt was rough, to say the least,Ƶ Price said. ƵIt definitely was different. IƵm not used to running anything that long. I ran the Marshall Marathon about 10 years ago. It was quite the change in pace.Ƶ
The event, which Price called Ƶweird,Ƶ requires more than speed and endurance. Strategy is a key to success.
ƵIƵd come in with 14ish minutes to spare,Ƶ Price said. ƵThen IƵd recover and eat, rest and do it again. You have to time it just right so youƵre getting rest but not too much rest. I was getting 14 minutes after each yard I completed.Ƶ
A five-time NAIA All-American, Price finished second in the nation in the 10,000-meter run in 35:28.05 her final year at Shawnee State. She placed fourth in the 1,500 and seventh in the 800. All those races were on a track. The Backyard Ultra was a different animal.
The first 14 miles were on trails, which Price, a road runner, said were challenging. The next seven miles were on pavement.
ƵThat was one of the hardest parts, switching from road running to trail running,Ƶ she said. ƵAt 7:30 at night, we switched to the road, two miles out and back. You still had to watch yourself so not to come in with too much time and things get stiff.Ƶ
Price, 24, said the race was more grueling than anything sheƵs experienced. Running it required as much mental strength as physical. Her feet were a mess, and she had trouble walking up and down steps for four days after the event.
ƵI was sitting down and having trouble getting back up,Ƶ Price said of how she felt late in the race. ƵIt was hard. ItƵs so tempting just to quit. I was hurting after 30 miles. ItƵs a whole different ball game. I really wanted to give up at 62 miles. I was kind of done. I didnƵt want to get back up.Ƶ
Get back up she did. Her dad encouraged her, balancing telling her it was OK to stop with reminding her of her competitive drive. She pushed on another 26 miles.
ƵThis race takes men and women to physical and mental places that I canƵt even imagine,Ƶ said Stuart Price, JessicaƵs father. ƵThis race had runners from all over the country and included a world record holder.Ƶ
Price, who said she usually is in bed by 9 p.m., said running at 3 a.m. was quite the change from her normal routine. She often can be seen training in the Rome Township/Proctorville area, running beside the roads there.
Why would anyone subject herself to such a race?
ƵI went last year and saw them run it,Ƶ Price said. ƵOne of my friends was in the race last year. I didnƵt know really what to expect. I wanted to switch up the pace. IƵd focused on the half-marathon and was struggling with some injuries, so I wanted to slow down and see what I could do.Ƶ
Price put her biology degree to use as a lab tech for a contractor with Marathon Petroleum in Catlettsburg, Kentucky. She said she trained hard for the event, running about 60 miles per week and putting in a few 20-milers. She said she was pleased with her performance, but only to an extent.
ƵIƵm glad I did it,Ƶ she said. ƵI was really sad, though, because I wanted to make it 100 miles. You hit 100 miles at the 24-hour mark. At 87.5, I was done. My body was done. You kind of know when you have to tap out. I was having some hip issues two weeks before the race and had just gotten back to feeling good and running without pain.Ƶ
Price changed shoes Ƶthree or four timesƵ during the race. She said adjusting to a slower pace was part of the learning process as a rookie in the Backyard Ultra.
ƵThat was probably one of the hardest parts for me,Ƶ Price said of learning a new event. ƵI had to slow down from what I was used to. You try to conserve as much energy, so you walk up the hills. You kind of get in a groove. It was almost like a rhythm. Every time I was coming in at the same time.Ƶ
Price ran with a group and made some new friends.
ƵHaving someone to talk with made it better,Ƶ she said. ƵI ran with the same girl the majority of the race. You really get to know someone running 18 hours with them. We talked about anything and everything.Ƶ
Price said she looks forward to running the race again.
ƵNow that I know what IƵm doing, I know what to do to prepare a little more and not go into it blind,Ƶ she said. ƵI talked to people before the race and I didnƵt know how to prepare. Now I do.Ƶ
