Skyline Ridge 50k

I've not been very disciplined since finishing my last 2007 race, which was the North Face Endurance Challenge in San Francisco. That was my first ultra, at a distance of 50k. I didn't bother with my usual semi-attention to calories over the holidays, and packed on a few pounds. Come January, my long runs involved stretches of walking, and were sporadically sprinkled in my "training schedule."
Weird. You wouldn't think I was trying to work up to 50 miles in April, as an attempt to qualify for the Western States 100, huh?
Anyways, February 16th, I set out to do my first race of the year; a 50k at Pacific Coast Trail Runs' Sequoia course. 10km in, I twist my ankle. I feel like I can run it off, and do, but it degrades over the next 20k. When the 30k mark brought me back to the start line, I (wisely) stopped there, with a time of 3:20:45. It takes me about an hour to walk the half-mile to my car. Ankle is the size of a baseball, swollen and bruised.
So a March 1st second attempt at a 50k seemed dubious, but I was spurred on by it almost selling out three days before the race. I think I got the third last spot. This one takes us to the scenic Skyline Ridge in Palo Alto. I feel really good, chugging along for the first 6 miles, and fall right in front of the workers at the first aid station. Elbow into the ribs, just like North Face, but this time, I do a spectacular roll, and my legs are unharmed. The bruising to the ribs hurts when I run, but it's only pain, I try to convince myself. I return to the finish area for the first 23k leg in about 3:30.
My legs are now tired, but I have lofty goals for the year, so I head out for the first 14k loop. There's much walking of the uphills, and some walking of the downhills. It's tough going, and I return to the finish area at the 37km mark in 4:20.
Well, it's just another 14k to go. I can easily finish, even if I have to walk. But remarkably, I actually feel better. I don't go any faster, but I'm having fun again, and I run most of flats and downhills. I finish with a time of 6:18:56.
Hey, that's over three hours off of my 50k PR! Anyways, it was a great day, and if it wasn't for running, I'd probably never have seen what glorious views we have of the Bay Area on these trails. I do quite a bit of hill running, but it's still surprising to find how much the climbs take out of your legs.
I'm feeling pretty good about my 50 miler next month. It's not really hilly, and I think I can maintain a pace to finish sub 11 hours without too much strain.