The 2026 Surf the Murph was held Saturday October 17 at Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve in Savage, MN. This was on my list of potential races since 2018 - and I finally registered for it as my main fall event. Have never done a true 50mi event, but covered 52.4mi in a 12hrs event (actually ran ~10:30) back in 2012. Training went very well, and led to my good race at the O'Brien Trails races 50k 3 weeks prior (see that Blog post for training recap). Recovery from that was not ideal though, as I had a twinge around my left knee (it was really hard to place it exactly...around the outside, toward the back, just above, or below, the crease) very early on my third post-event run the following Saturday. On Tuesday - still not great after just 200 yards. Walking was not an issue, and even did some hiking along the north shore of MN. A 1-mile run Friday morning was positive enough for me to go for it.
As this was a three-loop course (16.7mi ea), I had my drop back at the start/finish with a bladder pre-filled with 2-32oz bottles of Gatorade, 2 additional bottles for after the 3rd loop, chips, M&M's, Gu and bars just in case (race info was lacking details on food other than pre-packaged fare). Brought along a camp chair, spare road shoes, extra socks/shirts, wind/rain jacket, etc as it was going to be a long day.
Start temp was 33° with a little wind, so I went with my running tights over my compression shorts, and both under my running shorts, compression socks, a t-shirt under a light jacket, my Afton buff, headlamp, Timex watch, very holey cotton gloves, and my vest with a bladder filled with water, some Gu, granola bars, S!Caps. I attached a disposable cup and my hat to my Ultimate Direction vest with a carabiner. Oh yeah - my Hokas, again recently modified to trim off the full extra insole to just leave the heel, and put that and the gel insert under the Hoka insoles. All to keep my ankle from rubbing too hard.
My race 'cheat-sheet':
This event was dedicated to the race-founder, Dr. Les Martisko, who passed away earlier in 2026. He amazingly completed 520 marathons and ultras (looked like a yearly consecutive streak from 1978 - 2025!)
LOOP 1, miles 0 - 16.7
Headlamp was necessary with the 6am start and sunrise at 7:31. The ~50 of us started of at a mostly leisurely pace onto the rolling forest hills. Found my place/pace early on and felt good. Walked every uphill (as almost everyone was) and opened up some on the downs, following a few headlamp lights just ahead of me. The reflective tape race markings (always on your left) were Wonderful - so helpful!!
First aid station was at ~2.9mi, and I checked out their snacks for later on, and realized I wouldn't need much of anything I brought. Was right on my best-guess pace at 34min and kept on moving. The next section had some steeper (up And down) hills, but had no issues at all...just kept my head down, with glances up to see where I was headed. I was just barely in range of a few people that I could see a general direction of lights or trail.
Was starting to get lighter out just before hitting the Horse Camp aid station (5.5mi in) and no longer needed my headlamp as I came into it after 1:04 total time (2.6mi section in 30min, still right on my best guess pace). I'd had a Gu in there, and had a granola bar, and made sure to keep taking water in. Thanked the volunteers (as I always do - regardless if I stop or not) and kept moving.
Next section had more prairie, and fewer, more gentle climbs. Enjoyed the sunrise as I continued my 'solo' running. The only time I had more than a few-word conversation with another runner was when Mark came up, and then by me. We met probably 11 years ago after I was finishing a run at Afton. We've kept in touch online - he continuously impresses me with his 50k-100k results. He went on to have a strong race, finishing 4th again! Somewhere around mile 8 I could start to feel my left knee, but nothing that impeded me at all - just letting me know it was there.
Did pass the new bench that was installed to honor Les Martisko. I gave it a touch on each pass. It's the only bench in the park.
At the Natchez aid station, right before we hit the road section at mile 9.9 (but just after the 10 mile marker - yes - they had mile markers every mile!). That 4.4mi section went by in 47min, and 1:55 overall (a few minutes under my best guess). No complaints!
Road section was fine, still had a few people in view ahead of me, and took the sharp right back onto the trails. I often pass people at aid stations as I rarely take more than a minute...so far I only grabbed a small candy bar or two. I was doing fine on my intake of food and water. I really enjoyed the single-track sections of the course, and had some more prairie section as we made our way back to the Horse Camp (adjacent) aid station at mile 12.8. Covered that ~2.9mi in 32min, still slightly under my guess, and overall time in 2:24. More snacks (Kit Kat, some chips, milky way...)
Coming out of the AS, took a sharp left (almost backtrack) back into the woods, and more enjoyable singletrack. Crossed a road, and the rest of the wooded trails I was more familiar with as I covered much of it on my 3 training runs at the park. Somewhere around mile 13, my left knee began to make more noise, and it increasingly became more challenging (painful) to run. Muscles were fine, but this tendon or whatever was not very happy. I did slow down some, and come into the start/finish area in 3:13, giving back a little time on that 3.9mi section (49min). With a fastest-guess of 3:15, I was right on it. I didn't take into account this drop bag time, but spent 6minutes there. Swapped out my empty water bladder for my full, Gatorade-filled one (unplugged the nozzle and swapped just the physical bladder, which really did make it easier/faster). It was still ~40°, so even though there were some warm spots in the sun, and I wasn't cold at all, I kept my clothes the same, knowing I would be slowing down the rest of the way. I did take off my shoes, to clear them out of any dirt, and loosen my socks a little, plus a tightness adjustment on my laces. I did drop off my headlamp, and swapped my buff for my hat.
LOOP 2, miles 16.7 - 33.4
For this next section, I was able to 'run' some portions, but slower than earlier, and downhills were certainly worse. After just a couple miles, I was basically just walking. I could do a little gallop that felt ok, but that didn't last long either.
This 2.9mi section (that took 34 minutes earlier) took me 47. The steepest downhills were now terribly painful as I took them gingerly, step-by-step. I had zero issues going uphill. Felt I could've gone uphill all day.
2.6 miles to Horse Camp took me 43. (30min that morning. but now there was grilled cheese! What a nice surprise!)
4.4 to Natchez and the road...1:07 (vs 43 on loop 1). After 26.6mi, elapsed time was 5:58.
I had decided by this point that I was going to stick it out, even as it meant walking the ret of the way. I was moving. I was out here and capable. Haven't taken the opportunity to attempt a 50mile race, so why not? It was beautiful out. I can typically walk a 14min mile on paved paths, and had been keeping a 16min/mi pace. Often my hands were on my knees, doing some controlled breathing, and making an effort to keep that pace. Just something to focus on aside form the pain. Strength was fine, cardio was fine...it was just my knees (my right knee started in a little at some point).
2.9 back to Horse Camp - 47min (32 earlier)
The last section back to the start/finish: 3.9mi in 1:02. 33.4mi done in 7:48 (4:37 for the loop). I did take some extra time here, 8ish minutes, to take off my running tights (it was ~56° at this point), remove my jacket, change socks, refill my practically empty bladder with 64 more ounces of grape Gatorade. A couple of people had dropped down and took the 50k finish. I wasn't stopping. I knew I had another almost 5hrs ahead of me. Downhills were now excruciating, with a tight grimace and holding my breath as I tried numerous ways to descend. I wanted the finish though, and headed back out after race time of 7:56.
Loop 3, miles 33.4-50.1 (or 50.8?!)
My original goal of 12hrs was long gone, but 13hrs was my secondary goal, and it seemed like continuing my pace would/should make that happen. Someone did joke about my know knowing my way around the course. Ha.
The next 13+ miles were tough. Maybe the toughest thing I've done. At various times. I could feel something going on with my right pinkie toe, my 2nd toe on my right foot, and a few other hot spots here and there with my feet.
I was completely alone on this loop, other than aid station volunteers, a few people out for a hike, and one runner who caught and passed me with less than a mile to go. As it happens on third loops sometimes (Trail Mix)- I missed a turn. I was going along, head mostly down, focused on my feet and the trail immediately in front of me...and kept going straight instead of a very sharp left. Once I realized I saw no trail markers, and there was more hay on the ground than I had seen before, I checked my phone map/location and saw I was off course, halfway to intersection 34. The sharp left at intersection 35 - had the sign with the left-facing arrow to the left-side of the turn. Ideally - to me anyway - it would be more toward the straightaway, and still with the left arrow...so I lost ~13 minutes (and one place in the standings - not that it mattered with the pace I was on!).
Now I had some concern about breaking 13hrs...but I could really only do so much. I 'pushed' as much as I could after the Natchez Aid Station and I felt I was moving decently for my condition. Each Aid Station volunteer was still very enthusiastic, and kept with my usual candy bar snacks. A focus on getting from Aid Station to Aid Station helped, and then as I counted down to less than 3, then less than 2 hours to go...then about an hour from the final aid station and I'd be done.
About the last aid station, it started to get darker as the sun was setting. I never did use my headlamp, although I did have it with me just in case. But still -- just continued to plod along, mile by mile getting closer.
Finally came into the last section and I could hear cheers as the person who passed me finished. I was going to be under 13hours!
Came to the finish - and through the finishing chute - and no one was there. Just darkness. That was interesting, and a first for a non-virtual race. Made my way inside the little building where packet-pickup was and asked about the finisher awards. Walked back out and there was a table in the dark with them. :-)
Got a post-race photo, and some congrats, and cleared out my aid station stuff.
Overall Sections and paces for each loop:
