Mind's Eye

2011 Summary

2011-12-08T20:25:00.000-05:00

February - Hyannis Marathon
April - Traprock 50K
October - Nipmuck Marathon
October - Bimbler's 50K
November - StoneCat 50 Miler

Western States Endurance Run Part 2

2010-07-10T01:09:00.031-04:00

It’s been my experience that the shorter the period of time between finishing a race and writing the report the more effective in capturing the essence of the event. Since the WSER I’ve been balancing recovery with our family vacation to Yosemite, San Fran, Redwood Forest, Crater Lake, Oregon Coast, Mt Ranier and Seattle.,,so I took notes the day after WS which have now disappeared somehow on our travels, so here we go. There’s just no way around it, this is a long race report.

We arrived at Squaw Valley on Thursday and settled in at the Squaw Valley Lodge which is a stone’s throw to the pre-race activities and starting line. Amie’s aunt and uncle welcomed her and the girls for the night to their place on Lake Tahoe affording me the luxury of a peaceful night’s sleep.

WSER is steep in ultra running history and is the 100 miler that attracts some of the best around to compete against one another. I decided months ago that I wouldn’t let the hype of the event be a distraction, but to use it in my favor. After all, regardless of the popularity of the event I still had to be prepared to traverse 100 miles across the Sierra Nevadas. Friday morning I decided to soak in the atmosphere at picturesque Squaw Valley while checking in, going through the standard pre race medical check, picking up some sweet swag and finalizing drop bags for delivery. At 1:30 I attended the mandatory pre-race meeting, delivered by Tim Twietmeyer, 5 time winner of the race. Per tradition, the top 10 men and women runners were brought front and center and introduced. Between my daily cup of coffee, the energy of the meeting, and the anticipation of the race, I think I had enough energy to carry me 100 miles.
After issues with connecting flights, my pacer from CT, Steve Nelson, arrived just prior to Amie and the kids. Steve was excited to be at Squaw and part of the event. I gave Steve a tour of the starting area, Olympic village, etc..before a pizza dinner with the crew. The kids quickly gave their approval of Steve after meeting him for the first time by awarding him “cool” status.
My goals and plan for the race: I went in confident that if I could manage the heat, only two things could prevent me from finishing within the 30 hour cut off time, 1. Injury, 2. Deviating from my nutrition plan and putting myself in a deficit that I couldn’t climb out of. My plan was to move well early before the heat of the day would naturally slow me down. Focus on what I’d need heading into aid stations, get what I needed quickly, and get out. The goal was to move at a controlled pace, take what the day would give me, and hope that this would put me in a position to finish in less than 24 hours.

Saturday morning Amie and I headed over to the start area, took some pictures, and met up with Steve who introduced me to Michelle Roy from Massachusetts. After some brief comments by Tim Tweitmeyer and Gordy Ainsleigh we counted down from 10 and we were off and running.

The first 4+ miles took us up about 2,500 feet of climbing to the top of Squaw Valley (elevation 8,700 feet) where we were greeted by many photographers and a handful of spectators looking with intensity and amazement, as though they were watching a train wreck or car accident. Once at the top I looked back for a quick glimpse of the sun rising over Lake Tahoe and Squaw Valley, quite amazing. An alternate route was used for the next 10 miles or so as the traditional course was not passable due to excessive amount of snow in the Sierra’s this year and slower than usual melt. Even though the alternate route was used there was no shortage of snow on the course as the next several miles were spent slipping and sliding on the white stuff. I was very focused on my footing and the snow covered trail through the high Sierras as if a mistake was made in certain areas, it could be your last. When I had the opportunity to look up at the massive high Sierras around me I was in awe. I cannot adequately describe the sights and to say they were beautiful and majestic would be vast understatements. The snow melt caused creek and stream levels to be high and the first of many knee high crossings came early..only another 24 miles or so before my first shoe change.

Around mile 20 as the heat started working its way into the day and I descended down into Duncan Canyon I felt an unusual strain in my right lower quad. Moving about 30 minutes ahead of the 24 hour pace, I pressed on through a section that for miles showed the effects of a devastating forest fire from a few years ago. Based on the increased discomfort in my quad and the fact that I had over 75 miles to go it became real that I may be headed toward my first DNF (did not finish). I didn’t train for months, travel this far, etc…to DNF. I took off my wool arm warmer and tied it around my leg giving some compression and relieving some of the pain. I threw all thoughts of a sub 24 hour finish out the window and set my focus on being able to finish.

The climb out of Duncan Canyon brought me to Robinson Flat, mile 30, where I would be weighed for the first time by medics, see my family, and access a drop bag. During the climb up I encountered the unusual contrast of hot temps and running on snow. As I approached the aid station a volunteer alerted other volunteers of my arrival which prompted them to greet me while holding onto my drop bag. A volunteer stayed with me the entire time as I changed shoes, etc..to make sure I had everything I needed…the volunteers were amazing.

I downplayed my quad issue with the medics, while asking them if they could be of assistance. After they said they could not help my situation, the conversation with the head medic went something like this:

Medic – Have you ever run this race before?
Me – No
Medic - You’ve got over 21,000 feet of decent left in this race that can do a number on healthy quads. The next 13 miles are all downhill.
Me - I realize what’s ahead as I’m very familiar with the layout of the race.
Medic - You can always come back next year. (Based on the look on my face he knew I wasn’t considering stopping as an option). Do you have any ibuprofen on you?
Me – Yeah
Medic – Take one and see how you do.

As I headed out of the aid station I saw Amie and the girls for the first time. They took a few pictures, I downplayed my issue, grabbed some kisses and moved on.

I don’t typically use ibuprofen on runs, but brought some in case of need, and was glad I did. After taking one, and saying a prayer, I continued forward. The next 13 miles were downhill and would be a test of my leg’s condition. It became brutally hot and I started making use of my “cool off bandana” by filling it with ice at the aid stations and tying it around my neck. In addition, I took advantage of the ice water at the aid stations by having the designated volunteer squeeze some out of a sponge over my head and neck at each stop. AHHH…What a relief. Ice cold never felt so good. Before long my quad wasn’t bothering me at all and I stopped thinking about it.

Steve was at Dusty Corners, mile 38, we talked a bit and I asked him to bring his ibuprofen for when we met at mile 62.

Mile 44 brought me to the first steep canyon with a descent of about 2,000 feet over a couple of miles, I thought it would never end. I felt really strong on the 2,000 foot climb back out as I saw others really suffering. All the hill training was paying off and I was making up some time. After the climb up to Devil’s Thumb it was time to head into another steep canyon, El Dorado creek. This canyon’s steep down slope brought back the quad pains but wasn’t an issue as I climbed strong on the 2,000 ft climb out. Another ibuprofen took the edge off but the pain was here to stay.

As I headed towards Michigan Bluff (mile 56) aid station I started to see spectators and soon recognized Amie and the girls who ran with me into the aid station. The girls enjoyed sponging ice water over my head before heading out to continue the journey. Pain has been manageable. Not far off the 24 hour pace and am wondering if I can hold it together long enough to give it a shot.

Overall I was pleased with my nutrition plan over the course of the race. I drank about 40 oz of fluids (water, Accelerade, pepsi) per hour from the beginning of the race until evening when the temps cooled. One S Cap per hour until the heat of the day, and then 2. I consumed one gel per hour and ate mostly fruit at each aid station as nothing else appealed. Each of my 5 drop bags contained an Ensure that was reluctantly consumed. My weight hardly changed at all over the course of the race which is a good indicator of hydration, etc…

The first sign that I was headed out of the remote wilderness of the first 60 miles came as the faint sounds of cars entered. Before long I was on an asphalt road and received a boost as Amie and the kids surprised me by running with me about a half mile into the Foresthill School aid station where I’d be meeting up with Steve who would run with me to the finish.

Being the easily accessible aid station for crew, etc.. and the location where pacers could join in it was alive with activity, people, an emcee announcing us as we came in, and some loud tunes. Feeling some hotspots I took the time to coat my feet with Vaseline. I was rejuvenated as I headed out of the aid station with Steve at about 7:15, and mile 62. On our way out I met Scott S, a local who’s new to ultra running and decided to volunteer (on his birthday) at the race when an injury prevented him from pacing me.

I think Steve was glad to finally be on the trails, I was re-energized by him joining in, and the next several miles were fairly runable, so at Steve’s suggestion, and my agreement, we picked up the pace and decided to make good time before dark. We must have passed about 30 over the stretch of the next 10 miles.

Eventually we hit some steep down slopes that where I experienced excruciating pain and could barely even walk down, let alone run. Runners gave encouragement as they passed by. You got it, another ibuprofen, this time without much of an impact. It was clear that any downhill that was more than gradual would be an issue. I was still moving OK on the flats and climbing strong on the up hills.

All day I had been referencing a pace chart that showed how close I was to a 24 hour target, which was based on actual experience of prior years runners. Being a bit behind I decided to ignore the chart of what others had done and focus on the time and miles remaining, realizing I still had a shot at 24. With about 28 miles left, if I could do well on the flats, stay strong on the climbs, suffer and endure the downs, and average a 15 minute pace, 7 hours would get me to Placer High School in time. Several scenarios could occur…I could give it a go, work like hell and if energy levels fell too much and fatigue increased substantially, or my leg gave issues on flats and climbs a 15 minute pace may be unrealistic. Do I want to bust my butt for 7 hours and have this happen? I could ease off the pace, suffer less, and finish the race in about 25 hours or so. Or I could give it a shot with the hopes of holding it together and put myself in position to get it done. This is Western States and I’m not planning on coming back, I’ve got a shot at 24, time to seize the opportunity, the decision was easy. I made up my mind and was determined. “Steve, we’re gonna do it.”

I continued to suffer on the downs as it was difficult to put weight on my right leg. I hobbled down to the rubber boat that waited for us and took us across the Rucky Chucky river. The crossing is usually done on foot, but due to high water levels the race director decided this to be too unsafe. My feet had sore spots on the bottoms but I decided to pass on a change of shoes and socks and lube that sat in my drop bag on the far side of Rucky Chucky, as I didn’t want to waste valuable time.

As we headed up to Green Gate at mile 80 someone was heading towards us, obviously going the wrong way, when I heard “Bruce? Is that you?” A surprise visit from Amie. I gained new energy when she told me how good I looked (lie when you need to) and told me of all the family and friends tracking my progress all day. She asked “How are you doing?”…”Not so great, but I’m gonna do it.” Goodbyes and off we went.

The final 20 miles were down right ugly. I didn’t feel like eating, but wasn’t nauseas, and dry heaves entered the picture. They became more frequent and wouldn’t/didn’t go away. I noticed that I was involuntarily moaning and groaning. I guess my body was staging a revolution. After a while I gave up trying to resist as it was using too much energy. As fatigue increased I had to fight harder and harder to keep the pace. I became clumsy like a child learning to walk as crossing streams that I’d normally skip right across became a big challenge. My poor night vision, weakening light, combined with my zombie like state caused several instances of kicking rocks and stumbling, sending “electric shockers” through my body, zapping energy.
I just wanted it to be over and quitting wasn’t an option. I recalled Mark’s motto that kept me moving “the quicker you run, the quicker you’re done”.

Steve honed in to my needs, having me try different strategies to address the dry heaves, and taking in some water seemed to help. He made sure I ate at the aid stations and realized watermelon seemed to be working best for me. At future aid stations he’d immediately ask for watermelon, and eventually voiced his disappointment that many didn’t stock the magical fruit. Without warning I”d feel ice water being poured over my head and neck, a welcome relief. Steve consistently built confidence and gave hope, “you can do this.” He literally picked me up after a fall that landed me on my back. He was my crutch to lean on for the steep down hills. We were very efficient entering aid stations to minimize time as he’d fill bottles, I’d grab so food and continue on, Steve would meet up with me with my bottles heading out. We battled together for hours.

During the final miles Steve stayed out front trying to pull me along while repeating “come on Bruce, dig deep, give it everything you’ve got” and I kept mumbling “I’m coming, we’re gonna do it” trying to convince myself and to reassure Steve that I was giving all I had.
We didn’t stop at the No Hands Bridge aid station at mile 97 as time was tight…I recall one of the volunteers making a comment as though time was too short and my odds weren’t good. Steve kept pulling, we hit a steep uphill and I kept pushing as hard as I could. I remember skipping the last aid station at mile 98.9 where the workers rallied behind me, yelling encouragement, they were fantastic. We finally hit the road with one mile left and 10 minutes to go. This was the first point at which I was confident we could get in under 24. I opened up my gate and felt like I was in a sprint as Steve kept coaxing reminding me “no walking, you gotta run to the finish”. We soon experienced an uphill that was worthy of power walking but I knew it wasn’t an option. I told myself it was just another early Tuesday morning hill run at Soapstone with the fellas and ran it about as hard as I could. After some flats we turned the corner in the dark and could see the high school track and finishing line when we heard some voices. Amie and the girls were waiting and joined us as I ran as hard as my broken body would allow, arriving on the track as they announced my name. With a half lap left I looked at my watch realizing that we’d get in under 24. My pains and discomforts existed but took a back seat as I reveled in the moment putting a finish to our journey. Amie and the kids peeled off to the infield, I thanked Steve and told him this wouldn’t have happened without him, and gave him a fist pump as he peeled off. I gave a victory shout as I approached the finish, kissed my hand and jumped as high as I could (about 2 inches) to place it on the clock overhead that read 23:57:11. Upon finishing, Tim Twietmeyer placed a finisher’s medal around my neck, gave congratulations and said “another east coaster does it”, a reminder that not many “east coasters” have come in under 24 over recent years.

Coming to a stop after running for 24 hours is an unusual sensation. I sat in one of the folding chairs at the finish line as my transponder that tracked my location during the day was removed. I was asked by one of the race officials if it was OK if one of the local television stations could interview me. I conceded, the camera was on and I remember speaking but cannot remember any details. Given my mental state I’m sure my time on the evening news was quite amusing.

Pre race I had agreed to take part in the hyponatremia testing which required a blood draw to test my sodium level. I waited quite a while for the draw and the results but was fairly content just sitting, completely overwhelmed. My sodium levels were in line and we headed back to the hotel in Auburn after a medical check and advice to monitor kidney function due to some urine concerns.

After a shower, brief rest, and some conversations with friends on the east coast, we headed over to the awards ceremony. Runners, crews, and supporters sought out space under various tents to gain protection from the sun which brought 100 degree heat. We didn’t realize it but were quite early for the ceremony. Scott S came by, I introduced him to Amie, the girls, and Steve. We chatted as Scott presented me with some local N Cali microbrews, local fruit, and a WS shirt. He’s one heck of a guy. As we waited, about 40 minutes past the 30 hour cutoff, a runner drew attention as he entered the track with his pacer. It was Gordy Ainsleigh, age 63, who started the race 36 years ago. He deservingly was greeted to quite an ovation from spectators as the 30 hour time cut off had passed, Gordy wasn’t finished or giving up.

Like many, I was withering in the heat, and after being out there over 2 hours, 1 hour into the ceremony, and no sign of the sub 24 hours being called, I couldn’t endure any longer and had to get out of the heat and get some rest. Amie worked with Scott S and retrieved the impressive silver belt buckle.

The couple of days that encompassed the WSER were quite the experience. I’ve never suffered so much and worked so hard. My family, Steve, and I had quite the adventure. I greatly appreciate all of their support and will be forever grateful for the miles with Steve.

Western States Endurance Run Part 1

2010-06-29T23:21:00.007-04:00

I started the Western States Endurance Run on Saturday morning at 5 am and WE finished on Sunday morning at 4:57:11. I had the incredibly satisfying experience of running around the Placer High School track to the finish line with my wife Amie, 3 daughters, and pacer - Steve Nelson. I'm fortunate enough not to just have the support of my wife and 3 daughters, but their encouragement during the race as well.

As I recover, gather some thoughts, and vacation I'll start to work on blog post "part 2" that will detail the race. This post focuses on my valuable experience with Steve Nelson.

Steve enthusiastically gave his time and incurred costs to travel across the country to pace me at WS. This alone was pretty selfless, but he gave so much more. I struggled and suffered over the last 25 miles or so of the race as Steve listened to my body rebel by moaning, groaning, and dry heaving for hours. He was my provider, dumping ice water over my head to keep me cool, ensuring that I ate at the aid stations even though I didn't feel like it, picking me up when I fell, was patient, firm and motivating. He endured the quiet of the night as I struggled and couldn't talk. We pushed and pushed for hours to be able to give breaking 24 hours a shot and during one of my low points when I said "I'm not sure there's going to be enough time", he wouldn't let me off the hook, and got me on track. He verbally pulled me the last few miles.

Even though I suffered immensely during the later stages of this race I was determined to get in under 24 hours. However, determination alone wasn't enough. Without Steve's generosity, pacing skills, and attention to details, there's no way I finish the WSER in under 24 hours. I will forever be grateful for all that Steve has given, done, and sacraficed for me.

Checking In

2010-05-20T18:05:00.004-04:00

Yeah, I realize it's been a long time since I've posted, so here's an update. I started this blog as an easy way to share my ultra experiences with friends and family who have shown interest. It was not designed for other endurance folks (though all are welcome) which is why it doesn't have a cool name like "Ultra Stud", "Trail Nerd", "Endurance Junkie", etc... I reluctantly joined Facebook about 6 months ago as the running club I hooked up with uses it as a primary communication tool. Many who are interested are getting some progress updates through that system, but it's time to update all of you.

Overall, I've been pleased with my training for the WSER100. I've built a solid base of quality miles of trail runs, hill repeats, long runs, trail races, etc...I've logged several weeks of 50+ miles, a couple 60+, and a 70+ week. I've significantly backed off the miles the past few weeks as to manage some tweaks, discomforts, and a reoccuring IT Band issue. Sage ultra advice says it's better to show up at the start line a little under trained, than a little injured. So, while these current weeks are prime training periods, I'm spending my time stretching and strengthening, and hardly running. Since training has been solid I'm not overly concerned and am starting to build miles again. At this point, with only 5 weeks left to WSER100, my focus will be to balance continued progress with issues and increase training miles.

Since the temps at the WSER100 will likely reach 100 degrees, heat training becomes important. Fortunately my work schedule is fairly flexible, so over the next month I'll hit the office early and try to get my runs in mid day as often as possible. I recently read that AJW drives around with his heat on high as a way to prepare. I've considered this, but realized it might be tough to explain to DCF when the kids wither :)

Going to California!!!

2009-12-05T17:06:00.004-05:00

As the year ends it's time to start to think about what next year may bring. I had not made any firm decisions as the results of my application to the Western States 100 had yet to be revealed.
The Western States 100 Endurance Run is one of the oldest ultra races and challenging to get into. A certain number of participants are "invited" by winning other endurance distance races and other slots are reserved for those who have managed aid stations in prior year races. After these commitments, 270 slots were left and over 1,500 from all over the world signed up for the race. A lottery is used to determine the remaining slots leaving me with a 17% chance of being selected.

Today ,in Auburn, CA, a lottery for the 270 available slots was held at noon. While eating lunch with the family I had mentioned to Amie that the lottery was being broadcast live through the website so she grabbed her laptop and pulled it up to find out that my name had not been chosen. When we realized that the lottery was only half over Amie continued to watch and listen with anticipation while I headed out to run an errand as I wasn't too optimistic of getting in since my chances at that point were reduced down to about 10%.

While at my friend Ken's, cutting trim to finish a bathroom remodeling project, Amie called and I immediately knew I had been selected as her screams of excitement rang through the phone. As you can tell by the odds not many get to experience the 100 miler from Squaw Valley through trails once used by gold miners that end up in Auburn, CA. This section of the Sierra Nevada mountain range is absolutely beautiful and I'm pumped to have the opportunity for this experience.

Wow..only six months away..time to start training.

California, here I come.

Shenipsit Trail - End to End

2009-11-29T21:13:00.019-05:00

The Shenipsit trail, otherwise known as the blue trail, is a continuous route of trails with some connective roads that travel between Somers and East Hampton, CT. Saturday's plan was to complete the Shenipsit trail from one end to the other.

I met up with Art in East Hampton about 5:15 to drop my car at the southern end of the trail. I literally met Art for the first time at this point as he had recently learned of the day's excursion through a trail running club I just joined, The Shenipsit Striders. After a brief discussion of logistics, plans, and expectations Art was eager to join and we welcomed him in. We picked up Scott at the Bolton Notch area parking lot of the rail trail, grabbed Mark in Tolland, and headed to the northern end of the trail on County Rd.

With hydration packs loaded with fuel we started our journey shortly after sunrise. After a couple miles we found ourselves in familiar territory of Soapstone Mountain. Scott, Mark and I have done a fair amount of trail running at Soapstone Mountain, Shenipsit Lake area, Belding Wildlife area, the rail trail, and Case and Birch Mountains. We moved well early on and I was pleasantly surprised to learn of some of the pieces of the trail that connect these unique and special places.

Mark, Bruce, and Art

Heading Through Valley Falls

We could see and hear the impact of the high winds as trees, limbs, and branches were strewn thought the trail. However, we were fortunate to enjoy comfortable temperatures and sunshine on our journey.

The branch that missed Scott by a nanosecond

After heading through some steep and rocky terrain at Soapstone, flat and straight at Shenipsit Lake, comfortable pines at Belding, and the rail trail we arrived at Scott's car which doubled as our solo aid station. After a brief stop to refill hydration packs, enjoy some oranges courtesy of Scott, and some other goodies, we said our goodbyes to Scott and continued on our way.

Scott and Bruce

Art and Mark and Bolton Notch pond.

Our pace slowed as we continued on the ascent up to Birch and Case Mountains. Case Mountain was probably the area we experienced the most people enjoying the trail, which is no surprise as it's an absolutely beautiful track out and into the Meshomasic State Forest.

Throughout the day our only issues with navigation seemed to occur heading through the roads that connected the woods. Mark's internal compass proved trustworthy, but relied on his detailed maps when needed. We ended up off course a few times, but were able to get back on track without much of an issue.

Feeling the fatigue of the day, we were encouraged as we reached Rte 2, a landmark that we were looking forward to getting behind us. One of the busiest travel and traffic weekends of the year was kind to us as we had an opportunity to cross both lanes without much of a wait. Fortunately our crossing window was wide open as Art's leg cramped up as we made our way over the pavement.

Successful crossing of Rte 2

Falls in Easthampton

The sun made it's way lower as we made our way through the "Mesh". We dodged our way through and around the standing water on the jeep roads of the next few miles. We continued into East Hampton and saw the sunset, climbed our way up over a ridge and experienced another sunset. As it grew dark we neared the end and were treated with an impressive overlook of Great Hill Pond and the surrounding area.

Self photo at completion

Started just after sunrise, finished just after sunset, total of 46 miles. It was great to experience the Shenipsit trail from end to end.

StoneCat 50 Miler

2009-11-08T10:23:00.012-05:00

After reducing miles since the VT100 I decided to sign up for the StoneCat 50 mile trail race as a way of providing motivation to increase my training, maintain fitness, and get re-energized. After committing myself the end of September I started increasing my weekly miles and getting in a 20+ long run each week. Not the ideal training going into a 50 miler, but I was banking on the hopes that the 1,600 miles I've run this year, most in preparing for the VT100, would give me what I needed for StoneCat.

The StoneCat trail races are held at Willowdale State Forest in Ipswich, MA. The course is a 12.5 mile loop consisting of a mix of single and double track trails. Clint, Mark, and I woke about 4:20, arrived at the race a little after 5 a.m., and were ready to rock for the 6:15 start. After a quick pre-race briefing about 300 of us were off an running. Half the group would detour off of the main 12.5 mile loop to pick up 1.2 miles that would be added to their 2 loops for the marathon distance race. The 50 milers would run the 12.5 mile loop 4 times.

Uncharacteristic of me, I didn't head into the race with much of a game plan for pace and nutrition. As usual the high energy levels drove a quick pace early on. After a few miles Mark and I settled into a pace with a half dozen other guys. The single file train helped carry us and kept our pace honest. The trails were comfortable and enjoyable with slight rolling hills and changing scenery throughout. The trails were absent of rocks but plenty of roots and stumps existed among the fallen leaves.
The train continued to roll along pushing the high end of my pace tolerance. I decided to stay aboard and hang on for the ride.

A decent pace and bypassing the 2 aid stations on the course allowed us to finish lap 1 in about 1:48. We didn't spend much time at our drop bags either. After trading out empty water bottles with prepared ones it was time to head back out for lap 2. Wish I could have stayed longer as Keith was on site. He came by the race for a brief stop to lend some encouragement which was much appreciated.

Heading out into lap 2, the train was now gone, and Mark and I continued to cruise along without another runner in sight for a while. We came across, ran and chatted with Ian, of the Trail Monsters Running Club, and race director for the Pineland Farms 50 I ran on Memorial Day weekend. Over half way through lap 2, around 20 miles, it was time for me to ease off the pace and I ran solo for a while. It was clear that I was starting to fatigue as an invisible stump caught my foot threw me to the ground so fast I couldn't get my arms out, as I fortunately hit with my shoulder and rolled onto my back for a comfortable landing. Lap 2 took about 2 hours.

A couple miles into lap #3 my legs muscles started to tighten, and I experienced some cramping in my quads. Then it began, time and time again I'd catch my foot square into a root or stump hidden in the leaves, sending a surge of energy through my body causing muscles to tighten even more. As they tightened my steps were lower, and the cycle continued.

I stopped at my first aid station of the race and was greeted by a volunteer offering me all sorts of food and drinks. The look on his face was of great concern; did I look as cruddy as I was starting to feel?
There seemed to be absolutely nobody on the course with the exception of an occasional runner I'd pass that was clearly on their 2nd lap. I struggled with nausea and intense muscle tightness the remaining 10 miles of lap 3. I battled through mentally and physically, staying focused, reminding myself that ultras bring peaks and valleys, and was hopeful my situation would improve. Lap #3 took a little over 2.5 hours.

I was greeted by Clint at the end of the lap. As in the few other ultras I've run in, I was reminded that anything can happen. Clint ran into a fairly severe health issue and made the right, but tough decision, of backing off the 50 miler, and still gutting out the marathon distance. I won't go into details about Clint's issue as it would probably leave your stomach feeling like mine did during lap #3.

Magically, my stomach issues disappeared and my legs had loosened a bit. As I rolled into a celebratory atmosphere at the first aid station on lap #4 I was amazed how helpful, encouraging, and friendly the aid volunteers were....their level of service seemed to increase as the day went on. The race's main sponsor is the Mercury Brewing Company and I think being an aid station volunteer came with the perks of sampling some of the sponsor's fine products. Seems like a win-win for everyone.
I rambled along the course and came into the final aid station with the fatigue that 46 miles can bring. The first thing I saw on the table was a platter of recently grilled hot dogs. Hot dogs never looked so good in my life. As I cautiously considered demolishing one the volunteer says "I've got Manwich's also". Are you kidding, Manwiches during a race...that could tear you apart. I had not had a Manwich in 20+ years..., once I saw them it was like love at first sight. I grabbed one and started walking as I ate, I was in heaven. Even better, all of a sudden I had more energy and felt better than I had in about 25 miles. For future runs I gotta figure out how to get Manwich meat into gel packets. I cruised the last 4 miles and finished the last lap in about 2.5 hours for a total time of 8 hours and 57 minutes. At the finish I was rewarded with some applause and a really nice finisher's jacket.

Mark stayed solid all day and turned up the pace the last few miles to break 8 hours with a time of 7:57. He's a stud.

My hats off to Gil's Athletic Club for putting on a well organized and supported race.

Amie - Guest Blogger - Shares Half Marathon Experience

2009-10-15T21:28:00.006-04:00

My story begins in 8th grade. I had been playing on the field hockey team, and my coach/P.E. teacher told me that I should really try out for the Cross Country team in High School the next year, since I was a really great runner. Reading between the lines, I realized that meant I was not good enough to make the Field Hockey team in High School! In any case, my 9th grade year I did, in fact, join the X-C team…….and LOVED it. I ran all four years, and was Captain my senior year. My coach, who was new the year I was a freshman, was a great runner himself. He competed in marathons, and I decided then that some day I, too, would run a marathon. Fast forward 25 years…….A few things happened. 1. My husband became an ultra-marathon runner, and indeed is quite an inspiration. 2. I read a book written by Dean Karnazes who ran 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days. Again, indeed quite an inspiration. 3. It was the week between Christmas and New Years 2008. My friend, Amy, convinced me that we should run the Hartford Marathon in Oct. 2009. Realizing that I could follow the 26 week beginner marathon training plan in the book I read (see #2), I agreed with Amy that we should run. I counted back 26 weeks from Oct. 10, 2009 and that brought me to the first week of April. I had three months (Jan.-Mar.) to work on getting in some sort regular exercise routine (3-4 days per week, no excuses). I had a tough time, but did fairly well and by the time April arrived, I was ready to hit the pavement. That training began slowly with a walk/run routine 4 days per week. It quickly progressed and after 5 weeks, I was no longer walking……just running. My long runs were increasing by about 1 mile per week, and by the end of June my long run was 9 miles (with Bruce) after which I developed shin splints. Those shin splints rendered me unable to run more than 4-5 miles (mostly on the rubberized track at Tolland High School) for about four weeks. By this time, to stick to my training plan I should have been reaching 13 miles for my long runs, and we were going on a 16 day vacation to all 5 Great Lakes. The shin splints were healing pretty well (with the help of a massage therapist and my chiropractor, a new pair of running shoes and LOTS of ice). I did run faithfully during our vacation, including another 9 mile run. However, at this point I really had to make a decision. If I really stepped up my already aggressive training plan, I could potentially get back on track to run the marathon. Or, I could not risk further injury (by now I was also faced with an aggravated IT band) and decide to proceed to train for the Hartford HALF marathon. I was disappointed, but realized that if I pushed it, I may not be able to run AT ALL in Hartford. I chose the half.

Well, today was the day. Bruce had made arrangements for our children to spend the night elsewhere since they had early morning soccer games. This way, I could focus on getting (or trying to get) a good night’s sleep and having the morning to just focus on race-prep and not kid-prep to boot. I had been so nervous in the weeks leading up to the event, that I was so relieved the day had arrived! Bruce had prepared a delicious pasta meal for me the night before, and I got to bed early. I had gotten everything ready, so I just had to eat my banana, get dressed and head out the door. We drove into East Hartford, parked there and walked over the bridge to Bushnell Park.

Heading into Hartford

The park was unbelievably crowded and we had a somewhat difficult time getting to the starting area, as there were huge barriers set up where the finish tunnel would be. I wanted to use the porta-potty, but the lines were impossibly long. We found my friend, Heather (who was running the first two legs of the marathon relay), in front of the capital building and I started stretching out. Bruce took some photos (funny how he quickly took on my typical role!), and we met a woman from Florida who, at age 47, was 4 states short of being a “50 stater”. Her goal was to finish all by the time she turns 50. Pretty cool. We soon saw my friend, Lisa, who would also be running the half.

Heather and Amie

Heather ran to benefit breast cancer awareness. Bruce liked her "Save The Boobies" shirt.

Amie and Lisa

I met a friend of Lisa’s whose group had T-shirts that read “Suffer now, Strut later”. I loved that! I felt like that pretty much summed it up! Although, I realize that much of the suffering took place during the preceding six months of training. It was now after 10am and the race was not starting. A few minutes later, a woman with a beautiful operatic voice sang The National Anthem. I am always moved by such a performance! It was now time to make our way past the many spectators who were between us and the start, and the race began! It was cool to see another friend, Tracy, as the race started. We moved slowly at first…really just a walk and eventually a jog. It was still really crowded all the way around Bushnell Park, and we were being carried by the crowd. Soon Heather plugged in her ear buds and was off to “be anti-social”. Lisa and I stuck together all the way over the Founder’s Bridge into E. Hartford when I made my first stop for a Porta-Potty. I quickly realized that there were 3 available, and with a line of 6 women in front of me….I was not willing to make that long of a stop. Before long, I caught back up with Lisa. I mentioned my need aloud, and another runner pointed out that up ahead there would be another set of Porta-Pottys down in the boat launch area that should still be set up…..though off the race course and down a hill, it seemed like my best option. I knew I would not be comfortable over the next 10 ½ miles without such a stop, so I went for it. Just as I did, I noticed several other people dashing down for the same purpose! UGH, I was too late and had to wait, but I was the first in line, so it was a relatively quick stop. I was back on track! Just around this time, though having taken care of my most pressing discomfort, I started to notice that a toe on my left foot was bothering me. I had also forgotten to start Bruce’s watch that I was borrowing, and already missed the one mile mark, tried to re-set it at the 2 mile mark, but messed up again! Already, I was making rookie mistakes that I had been warned about, but did anyway!! I decided to just watch for the next mile marker and totally re-set the watch. My big concern, and therefore my need for the watch, was to be sure that I was not being “carried” by the crowd to the point that I was running at too fast of a pace that I may not be able to maintain for the duration of the race. Before we headed back onto the Founder’s Bridge back into Hartford, I ran by my friend Mark. He was doing pretty well except that his knees were bothering him a bit. I told him of my frustration with the watch, and he told me we were at a 9:50 pace at that time, so that was good news, as I wanted to be between 9:40 and 10:00 pace. I decided at that point that I would just run, and not worry about the watch any more. I saw Bruce and our friend Carol for a third time in this loop just before I went on the on-ramp to go back over the bridge. With all of my problems and concerns “in check”, I felt like this was the time when I really entered the race. I was thrilled by all of the wonderful spectators out to support the runners. There were cowbells, signs, cheers and more! It truly was the best part of the race, along with the various music all along the race course. There were bands, DJs, bag-pipers, and drummers. I caught up with and ran with Lisa again for a short time as we headed down toward the Meadows, so that was great.

One of the most touching moments was when I was cheered on by a woman on a corner, by herself in a wheelchair, clapping and shouting words of encouragement to the runners. How cool is that?!! Around another corner, and down toward the river I saw a woman with a sign that said “Run One with God”. I told her it was the best sign I’d seen all day. Running along the river in the “Riverfront Recapture” park area was really calming. It reminded me of all of the places I ran on vacation this summer near water……Niagra Falls, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Superior…….it was cool. I got to see Bruce and Carol again after going under the bridge. I was feeling pretty good and strong, except that by this time I realized that there was something more wrong with my toe than just a nail cutting a toe, and it really hurt a lot. Luckily, though, the endorphins were dulling the pain, and I was actually enjoying the run. The turn away from the river brought more cool signs, one pointing out “U R truly blessed”. Yes, indeed. Many other professionally printed signs had famous inspirational quotes and it was a needed boost, as I was starting to feel a bit tired (now just under 10 miles). We head out and around to the Park St. neighborhood. Boy, were there a lot of people hanging out on the streets looking out in amazement at the crazy people running down their street! There was another DJ there with a bunch of guys grooving to the music, one of whom was running enthusiastically in place. I shouted to him that he aught to be in the race! What a big smile I got in return! Soon I was joined by Bruce and Carol, who actually ran with me for several blocks. Bruce had our camera with him in a black case, and another runner asked him if he was carrying his lunch box! Funny! That was a great boost as they were checking in with me to make sure I was feeling good and strong and able to finish out the last 3+ miles. Once they left me, I realized it would be the hardest part of the race, as it was nearly impossible to ignore my throbbing toe and it was now the longest distance I had run in my life! I ran up behind a group of three men who were chanting out some military cadence, and it was just what I needed to pick me up again. I soon realized that I was heading in the direction of Bushnell Park, and the end was in sight. I asked some volunteers handing out water what mile we were at, and they said 11 ½! I thought, “this is the homestretch….I am so close!!”. There were so many more people once we came around to circle the last part of Bushnell Park, I saw Bruce and Carol again, and knew it was even closer! Once I ran by them, I would loop toward the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch and it never looked so beautiful! The crowds were thick and things went into slow motion. I had a little bit of kick left in me, so I went for it and finished strongly. My official time was 2:10:45.

Check out my medal!

What a great feeling of accomplishment. After I got through the shoot having received a really cool medal and an ING “Finisher” water bottle, I connected with Bruce and Carol. It was so neat to feel what it is like on what has (up until today) been the flip side of the coin for Bruce. We made our way through the crowds and I had the opportunity to take off my shoe to see just what was up with me toe. My 2nd toenail (next to the big toe) was separated off of my toe and it was bleeding pretty nicely! Well, that explains the pain. The good news: sandal season is over! I had really hoped to finish the half before the first marathon runner came across the finish line, and having reached that goal, we went over to see the top finishers approaching. How amazing! We wound up seeing a few friends and enjoyed the end of race atmosphere. I was so thirsty, and couldn't wait to have some cold water. Once that task was accomplished, I got in line to get some food. My friend Mark found me, and we waited in the LONG line together. The food tent was awesome, and though I didn’t feel very hungry……I managed to eat just fine. What a great way to spend a Saturday morning. Six more months until a full marathon?!

Vermont 100 Race Report

2009-07-22T22:41:00.050-04:00

The Vermont 100 Endurance Challenge is an ultra marathon (and horse race at the same time on the same course) held in and around the Woodstock, VT area that includes over 14,000 feet of elevation gain on approximately 70 miles of dirt roads and 30 miles of trails. This course that contains incredibly beautiful views and picturesque farms would be the setting for my first attempt at a 100 miler.

Amie and the kids checked in at a local B&B while I checked in at the race with the medical staff who performed a mandatory pre-race check of my weight and blood pressure. Both were unusually high. There are three locations throughout the course were I'd be weighed, and allowed to go on as long as weight loss didn't exceed 7% of my pre-race number.

I met my pacer, Dave, and then caught up with Mark, Scott, and Mary who would be running the race and Clint who would be crewing and pacing Mark. After a good dinner in Woodstock and ice cream for the kids we headed back to Silver Hill Meadow to camp for the night while Amie, Amy, and the kids headed back to the B&B.

The forecast called for overnight rain that would continue through race day and diminish in intensity as the day continued. Sleep was intermittent as the sounds of the night included rain dancing on the tent, the cries of a baby, snores through the camping area, a relentless frog's croaking, and even a car alarm around midnight. While getting prepped in the tent after a 3am wake up we welcomed Keith who was sidelined from the race due to injury but made the surprise trip from Boston to support us...very cool. After making our way down to the starting area to check in my next surprise was seeing Amie wearing a huge smile of excitement, a welcomed sight indeed. The race folks honored my request to be re-weighed and the efforts were fruitful as my new pre-race weight that would be referenced through the day was 4 pounds less than previously recorded.

Mary, Scott, Bruce, Mark

At 4am the countdown from 10 ended at one and the race began with hooting and hollering as 249 individuals, with lights to shine the way, were on their way to tackling 100 miles. I carried a pace chart on me to track my progress towards a target of 22:15, which would give me almost a two hour buffer to hit 24 hours if needed. Mark, Scott, and I moved steadily along putting time in the bank as we comfortably moved ahead of pace. We engaged others in conversation and at one point were running in a group of about 8.

The course has 29 aid stations where runners have access to water and sports drink, and many also have a variety of foods including oranges, bananas, pb&j quarters, watermelon, soda, candy, etc...9 of the stations allowed handler access which allows runners access to items in drop bags and help from "crew" members. These handler stations are typically where spectators congregate, many waiting to assist their runners.

Mark moved slightly ahead prior to the first handler aid station at Pretty House, mile 21. As Scott and I came into Pretty House I felt like a rock star with all the cheering and support from those gathered around, simply incredible. Dave filled my bottles as I changed my shirt and reloaded my supply of gels and salt. I found going through the handler aid stations incredibly uplifting the entire day(s).

Scott and Bruce arriving at Stage Rd

At this point the clouds cleared, sun came out and I was about 30 minutes ahead of pace so Scott and I settled into a nice rhythm taking us down to the next handler station, Stage Rd at mile 31. Life was good. The crowd was large, loud, and impressive and once again, left me feeling like a rock star. Dave was right there filling my bottles and Clint and Keith were helpful in assisting with our drop bags. I had not realized that I was starting to fatigue until I left with incredible energy after seeing these guys and coming through the aid area. Shortly after this Scott and I parted and I was solo, but not for long.

I didn't expect to enjoy myself as much as I did during this race. The countryside was beautiful and the people were incredible. I had a great time joking with the aid station volunteers. I found myself with a heightened sense of gratitude the whole time. I met and became friends with Mark and Scott a couple years ago as they were starting their quest into ultra marathons. They've been a great help to me and you couldn't ask for better guys to train and enjoy these events with. Keith surprised us with a trip from Boston to help out and his encouragement along the way was priceless. Clint's been a great training partner as well and made some adjustments for the greater good. My wife, Amie, is simply awesome. She's been so enthusiastically supportive, I'm so fortunate. She surprised me at the start, and I saw her several times along the way, and of course at the finish, beaming with pride. My daughters even seemed to enjoy seeing daddy "looking so strong" (their words) as mom dragged them around to see dad. I was the recipient of several calls and texts from friends the day before the race wishing me well. The aid station volunteers gave their time, asserted their assistance, and were encouraging. Mark's family cheered and helped care for the kids. Dave, a stranger who agreed to pace me. Dani came over to the race to show her support as I came through Margaritaville. Seeing Shannon later in the race was refreshing. And of course, there's the other runners.

During this next section I had the pleasure of meeting Brian from San Diego, Brian from Oregon, and John from Virginia. They are amazing guys and it was great to hear of their past ultra adventures, future plans, and personal lives. Running and talking with these guys and others I would meet were a big factor in my enjoyment level throughout the day. At one point I was running alone and experienced delirium recognition #1 - the Christmas song "Most Wonderful Time of the Year" kept playing over and over in my mind.

The primary handler aid station, Camp 10 Bear, is used at mile 47 and 70. I came in with John 30 minutes ahead of schedule, feeling strong, and once again the crowd was uplifting. As the head physician pulled me aside I remembered Mark's words of advice "keep on your running pack and water bottles for extra weight". The conversation went something like this:

Physician - "We need to weigh you, can you please take off your running pack and water bottles".

Me - "Wow, you are good, you know all the tricks"

Physician - "What's your name?"

This is where delirium recognition #2 took place.

Me - "#81..(no, that's my number..I know this one, oh yeah)..Bruce"

Physician - "What did you weigh before the race?"

Me - (I know this one too, oh yeah) "164"

Physician - "And that's what you weigh right now. We're done with you"

I felt like I just aced a final exam. The attention I received at the handler station was impressive as Amie, the girls, Clint, Dave, and Keith helped with a change of shoes, socks, shirt, and band aids for my bloody nipples. We shared some laughs, I grabbed some food and kisses and off and running after a quick stop.

Just up the road, near the B&B I had the pleasure of being cheered on by Mark's family. Still strong, I was holding up fine with the exception of some skin irritations that I attended to with applications of Vaseline. Was alone a bit during the next 23 miles, but spent some time with John from Colorado, an experienced Leadville 100 runner (8 times) and Ramon who's competed in several Ironman triathlons. Our paces were similar and our finishing times were somewhat close. Delirium recognition #3 occurred during this section. I had finished applying lube, wiping my hand on my shorts, and headed into an aid station where I quickly grabbed a delicious half turkey sandwich and moved along. When I was done I realized I was eating with my lube hand, no mayo needed on that piece.

The rock star with his number 1 fan at Margaritaville

At mile 69 I came upon the B&B and was welcomed by Mark's parents, his wife Amy, and all of our kids who ran with me a bit. Another mile down the road I hit Camp 10 Bear and came in feeling surprisingly well and 30 minutes ahead of schedule. Amie helped with a change of socks, shoes, shirt and shorts. We made arrangements for my pacer, Dave, to meet me at mile 77. I grabbed some food and off I went to tackle the final 30 miles at about 6:30.

I was alone for the long and steep ascent out of Camp 10 Bear. The first thing I saw at the top of the climb was a runner vomiting and his pacer waiting with empathy. The next thing I saw was another runner vomiting on all fours, and his pacer waiting patiently. This was a reminder that even though the day had been going very well and I was 70% done, I still had 30 miles to go and anything could happen.

I made it to West Winds, mile 77 at about dusk, said hello to Shannon, Amie, the kids, had some laughs with the aid station folks, grabbed some food and pacer Dave and proceeded on the journey. We moved along well until we hit mile 84 and my pace slowed as my quads were suffering and we hit some steep ups and downs, giving up the extra 30 minutes I'd been carrying most of the day. It was dark now and we were treated to a beautiful star filled sky for the remainder of our race.

We came into Bill's at mile 88 and chatted with Shannon as I was weighed again (still at 164, sweet). A large contingency of runners had gathered and seemed to be taking their time before leaving as the atmosphere was celebratory with the scent of the finish line in the air. Had some chicken broth, other food, and moved on.

Even though our pace slowed we were moving strong and were able to pick up the pace a little at mile 95 as the terrain was flat. With a couple miles left you could hear the roars of the spectators at the finish line. This caused the pace to pick up and after some zig zagging through the woods, I could see a clearing up ahead and was asked by a stranger in the night, "What's your number?", "81", he announced "#81 coming in". I let out my victory yell as I entered the clearing then ran to the finish to the cheers of those gathered waiting for their runners. My official time was 22:57. As Amie and Clint congratulated me, Amie asked "How do you feel?", my response "DONE". After some food and a change of clothes is was back to the B&B for a couple hours sleep.

Done

Clint and Mark at finish

Mark ran strong and finished just over 21 hours.

Scott was on pace for his 22 1/2 hour goal until mile 70 when he started having some major issues that ended up leading him on an amazing experience. He overcame much and persevered to finish in 27:20.

After a fantastic breakfast with Mark and his family we headed over to the awards ceremony, chatted with those we met during the journey to hear the rest of their stories, received our awards and headed home. What a weekend.

100 miles is a long way.

Vermont 100

2009-07-19T18:34:00.005-04:00

I recently arrived home from the Vermont 100 and will work on a race report to share. It was a great experience and the enjoyment far exceeded my expectations. My goal was to finish in less than 24 hours and my official time was 22:57.

Nipmuck Marathon

2009-06-09T12:03:00.007-04:00

On Sunday I ran the Nipmuck marathon, which is considered the preeminent trail race in the area. It's been months since I've run single track trails, and running the Nipmuck race was a good welcome back.

After parking on the access road I was making my way to check in when I saw someone bent down and liberally applying lube to his inner thighs. "He should be well protected, he looks familiar, it's Mark." I checked in, dropped off my gallon of water (entrance requirement) and briefly looked for Dave who would be pacing in the VT100. I was looking for the opportunity to meet this stranger who will be guiding me 30 miles through the darkness of VT. The registration folks gave me his bib # with hopes of connecting later. As Mark and I finished prepping, Clint came through and it was time for the race director's pre-race instruction and warnings. Nipmuck Dave does not let the opportunity to entertain pass by, as this year he, and his back up singers, performed a parity of Michael Jackson's "Black and White" called "Fast or Slow".

Photos courtesy of Nipmuck Dave. Unexpectedly received via email. Thanks Dave.

The race starts with about 50 yards of pavement to spread the pack a bit before hitting the trails. Mark, Clint and I cruised the early section to avoid the impending bottleneck. We ran right along, my breathing heavier than expected, not sure if the pace was quicker than I realized or just some struggles. After a few miles we moved well at a comfortable pace and found ourselves behind the lead pack and in front of the remainder of the field, so not seeing others except for some time running with and sharing plans and experiences with Frank. We hit the 6 mile mark and first turn around at about 55 minutes and started retracing back, going the opposite direction of oncoming runners, which is fun stuff. We continued to cruise and I fell off the pack which was fine as there were still many miles ahead. I came through the start area at about 1:54, refueled and headed out the next out and back section of 7 miles. I moved along fairly well without others until about the 17 mile mark when the slight inclines seemed to a challenge to climb. My pace slowed and I started to see others now headed my direction so the next turn around could not be far. I made the turn and the course continued to slow my pace more than I thought it should. I continued to look for Pacer Dave by his bib #, which was 246. or was it 234, or 242? Mental capacity waning, I'd get passed every once in a while, but pressed on to the finish at a diminishing pace.

Nipmuck is a challenging and fun course. I came into the race feeling strong, expecting to shatter last year's time of 5:04, I left with a time of 4:54 wondering what happened....Regardless, it was Nipmuck, great to be back on the trails, running trail races, and having a great time. Mark finished at 4:01 and Clint at 4:50.

PS..Dave...Look forward to meeting you in VT. Thanks in advance..

Training Run

2009-05-31T12:11:00.006-04:00

I've been pleased with my recovery since Sunday's race. The slight soreness experienced going up and down stairs was gone by Wednesday. The rains kept me from running on Wednesday and I ignored the alarm clock and slept in on Thursday, forgoing my planned run. I can't remember the last time rain or the comfort of my bed successfully tempted me into avoiding a workout, but I didn't think twice this week. I ran a short trail run on Friday to test my ankle and legs and both held up fine.

Saturday's run had something for everyone. Mark looking to get in about 30 miles left home about 5am and ran the 7 plus miles to my house, in blazing time. We continued on the roads of Tolland to Shenipsit Lake Rd where we ran into Clint who joined in for the remainder of the run which took us on dirt and paved roads up and down some good hills through Ellington, Somers, by Soapstone Mtn, Crystal Lake and finished off at Mark's house. Refueled at a convenience store in Somers and bio break at Soapstone. Our pace was consistently strong throughout. The legs felt fatigued but held up well and actually felt better as the miles clicked away.

About 23 miles for me and a good training run for all.

Pinleland Farms Trail Challenge

2009-05-25T10:31:00.034-04:00

Last week I registered for the Pineland Farms Trail Challenge 50 miler in New Gloucester, ME, located about 15 miles north of Portland. Amie made arrangements for our family to stay in Freeport and make it a Memorial Day weekend getaway.

We made the 3 hour trip to Portland on Saturday and stopped by the Maine Running Company where I picked up my race number, race shirt and the kids were given rub on tattoos of the race logo. After lunch on Commercial St in Portland, checking in at our hotel in Freeport and a walk through LL Bean we met up with Clint who arrived from CT to run his first 50 mile ultra race.

We went to a local Italian eatery for dinner to carbo load and discuss the next day's plans. While talking about the race and my upcoming plans for a 100 miler this summer, my daughter Lora asked "Daddy, what if you die?" My response was "It'll cost less for the family to go out for dinner." I assured and promised her that I would not die while running ultra races, and I hope it's a commitment I can keep. Then my daughter Emma had a question for me that she was a little hesitant for other's to hear, but eventually let it out. "Can I run the race with you tomorrow?"

Clint and I checked our drop bags and made final preparations so that we could get out the door quickly in the morning. During this process I recalled that when Scott and I ran an aid station at the Northern Nipmuck trail race earlier this year we recognized that many of the front runners had "ink", and now it was my time. Lora, experienced at the art of press ons, skillfully applied the race logo tattoo on my bicep..perfect, now I was ready!

After a 4:45 wake up, stop at D&D, and short drive we had arrived at Pineland Farms. A quick pre race briefing by the race directors and we were off and running. I felt comfortable and strong heading into the race and focused on using it as training for the VT100 with plans to:

make stops at the aid stations as quick as possible
try eating a variety of foods from the aid stations to determine what's best for me
run a steady pace throughout and not go out too quick
complete without compromising my ankle/foot that has given me issues
use my Go-Lite double water bottle pack the whole time, even though unnecessary

The first 10 miles or so Clint and I talked with several of the other runners and learned that many were using the race as training for upcoming 100 milers...many for Vermont 100, one for Western States 100, and another for Cascade 100. We ran comfortably and finished the first loop, at 19 miles, and re-loaded with supplies from our drop bags and I grabbed some kisses from my "crew" of Amie, Lora, Katherine and Emma. Clint and I parted about the halfway point as our paces were starting to vary. A couple of miles later I had a pleasant surprise, I ran into Steve Nelson (finished 4th last year) who was there in support of another runner, we ran a bit, chatted, and moved on.

Clint

19 down and feeling good

To this point everything was falling in line. I was quick at the aid stations. I tried all foods offered including PB&J, oranges, watermelon, M&Ms, Skittles, boiled potato with salt, Coke, Mountain Dew, pretzels, etc...and didn't have issues with any of them but tended to favor oranges and PB&J. My ankle felt really good and my pace was steady.

As I finished my 2nd of 3 loops and came by the start/finish line my energy levels increased as I was greeted again by my crew who helped me re-load with salt and gels. After another round of kisses and being told that I smell, I moved on. 35 miles down and 15 to go.

At this point I had not seen another 50 miler in 10 miles so I decided to turn on my MP3 player and enjoy some freshly loaded tunes. I inserted the buds, turned on the player, enjoyed about 10 seconds of music, and it went dead. After fussing with it for too long I gave up on it. Oh well...I opened up my pack to take out a package of Accelerade to mix into my water and realized I didn't grab any out of my drop bag on the way through....Oh well, time to adjust, Gatorade and water to drink and PB&J for protein.

As delirium started setting in I heard dogs barking and some one yell "get em". As I turned I saw a couple of dogs back on the path flying towards me. I increased my pace as I thought I was an escapee on a prison break in an action thriller and was being hunted down by guards and their dogs. The dogs were harnessed to their masters almost pulling them along, and they cruised right by me. A second came by, then a third, etc..I learned that this was part of the 4K Canicross race happening the same time. Very interesting..

Now on my third lap through the rolling hills were becoming more of a challenge and my pace started to slow. At this point I still felt fairly good and pushed but my legs didn't seem to be moving as quickly as I had thought they should be. With a couple of miles left the rains stopped, clouds cleared, and it was sunny for the first time in the race. As I neared the area before the finish line my crew cheered for me and Lora, Katherine, and Emma ran with me.

Emma stayed with me right to the end as we held hands and ran to the finish line. She got what she wanted, to run the race with dad, and I couldn't have been happier.

Total time was 8 hours and 39 minutes.

85 runners started, 76 finished, I was 22nd.

Coming through the finisher's chute I (actually Emma) was handed a golden cowbell for finishing, as well as pint glass with the race logo and a very comfortable Innov 8 running hat. We enjoyed the post activities with some grub, live music, and a great time talking with others.

Clint came through at about 9:30 for the completion of his first 50 miler, great job.... We shared our experiences of the day, watched the awards ceremony, showered, and called it a day as Clint headed back to CT and we went out for a seafood dinner and then back to the hotel for some swimming with the kids and time in the hot tub.

Hats off to the race directors as the race was very well organized, the course was well marked, aid stations were well stocked, aid workers were enthusiastic and helpful, post race activities were right on, and the swag was exceptional.

Monday ended up being such a nice day we decided to head to Old Orchard Beach on the way home for a few hours of fun at the shore. All in all, a great weekend.

A Look Into Ultras

2009-05-16T19:26:00.018-04:00

50 Miler --- DNS

2009-05-10T08:53:00.006-04:00

There are two well known acronym's in endurance races....DNF, Did Not Finish, for those who start and don't finish and DNS, Did Not Start, enough said. My list of DNS's is starting to grow more than I"d prefer. Yesterday was the North Face Endurance 50 Challenge at Bear Mtn in New York. Scott and Mark made the journey without me as I made the decision that it would be in my best interest to "DNS". I've had some issues with my right foot, that with attention has brought me from walking with a limp 4 weeks ago to being able to continue running on stable surfaces, including a 30 mile training run just yesterday. The North Face Endurance Challenge is a 50 mile race on single track trails over some good elevation changes and has a reputation as one of the more challenging races in the area. Last year 18 of the 86 starters finished the race. As my foot issues have improved I've gone from running slow on the flats only, to being able to run the hills at a quicker pace, but it's wasn't quite ready for 50 miles of single track. Keeping my eye on greater challenges planned for this year, it was in my best interest to "DNS" (not an easy decision, look at me mature).

I've been training about 50-60 miles per week and continue making progress. The Vermont 100 Endurance race is just over 2 months away and my weekly miles will continue to increase. I expect to run in a 50 miler in the near future and march on.

Saturday's Run - per Scott

2009-03-30T08:57:00.003-04:00

Click link below

http://scott-turco.blogspot.com/2009/03/long-run-on-rail-trail.html

Nipmuck Trail Training Run

2009-03-26T20:49:00.001-04:00

Click link below....

http://scott-turco.blogspot.com/2009/03/trail-run-on-nipmuck-courses.html

What are your plans for 2009?

2009-03-25T13:49:00.019-04:00

This question has been asked of me often over the past weeks.

I initially started this blog as a way to share some experiences with friends and family who've inquired about my races. Since I haven't posted in a while (since the VT50) many have wondered "What are your plans for 2009?" and "Are you still training/running/biking/swimming?".

I generally use this space to give race reports and since I have not actually started the last two races I've registered, I thought I'd give an update. I had plans to run the StoneCat 50 in November of 2008 and did not participate as I spent the day celebrating a life, at a memorial service. I then set my sights on the Hyannis Marathon using focused training to improve speed and see how much I could reduce my best marathon time. My training combined weekly long runs, intervals at the track, and some standard 5 to 8 mile maintenance runs. As my training progressed I was conscious of some discomforts and wrote them off to typical tweaks that I could run through. Well, discomfort turned to pain and after seeing an Orthepedic I landed in physical therapy to strengthen my hip and address issues with my IT band, which landed me out to the Hyannis Marathon in February. This was the best thing that could have happened. I became very diligent and disciplined in doing daily strengthening exercises and stretching, emerging much stronger from the experience, which will provide great benefits in nailing this year's plans.

In seeking a new challenge for 2009 I had my sights set on either an Ironman distance triathlon or ultra marathons. As I explored Ironman options my decision was made for me as these events are "sold out" a year in advance, which is amazing. Since volunteering at an Ironman event guarantees entry into the following year's race, I was planning to spend a July weekend helping out at this year's Lake Placid event which would enable me to register for 2010. Sounds like a good plan, right? I thought so too, until I found out last week that the volunteer slots have "filled" for this year...Are you kidding me? I have to plan 2 year's in advance to do an Ironman?

Ultra marathons it is. Which ones? Thoughts went something like this........I did a 50miler in September, maybe I'll tackle 5 or 6 50 milers this year. But I've already done a 50 miler, maybe it's time for a new challenge......The next real distance beyond 50 miles is a 100 miler.....It's hard to imagine it's possible......I like the idea of the challenge, just not the running part of it, as 100 miles will be painful.....100 miler it is.

I'm officially registered for the VT100 on July 18th and 19th. You know it's a long race when the date is expressed in days. In my opinion my athletic make up is average. I believe that with the proper preparations an "average" person can accomplish many things that most consider out of reach. My focus has been to keep myself injury free and improve my endurance level by making sure I get in a weekly long run.

I've hooked up with Scott and Mark the past several weekends for long runs as they are also training (their 2nd) for the VT100. Clint has also joined in as he considers a 100 miler this fall. The runs have been between 22-26 miles and will increase in distance. I've recovered well from the long runs which is a good sign. My plan is to hit peak training distance of 50 miles 2 months before the race which puts it in May. The timing coincides with some 50 mile ultra races, so I'm signed up for the North Face Endurance Challenge50 at Bear Mountain in NY, which is my planned next race.

When posting I wonder if anyone reads these things. Don't hesitate to comment so I know this blog isn't just me talking to myself, which would make me question my mental well being...

Cascadia 3s Trail Tested

2008-11-12T14:09:00.001-05:00

As the year winds down I don't have much to report on other than a new pair of trail running shoes. I've had a love/hate relationship with the Asics shoes that I used for most of the time spent on the trails during 2008. They're sturdy and proved to be successful as I avoided typical ankle injuries all year. The stiffness that helps protect can also be uncomfortable over longer runs, which I was reminded of about half way through the VT50. Was it the shoes or the miles of the ultra race that caused the discomfort? I'm sure both contributed.

A few weeks back I signed up for the StoneCat 50, a 50 mile trail race in Ipswich, MA and decided the Asics would not be joining me on the journey. After much research and probing others who run trails, I decided on Brooks 3s which received glowing independent reviews and was eager to put them to the test. Due to the unfortunate but expected passing of Amie's grandmother, my day would be spent at a memorial service, etc.. instead of beating myself up at the Stone Cat 50.
PS …Keith, Mark, and Scott all ran the race and set PRs. Great work guys!!!

I headed out this morning for an hour of running on the Nipmuck trail in Ashford wearing my new Brooks. The dirt road where I enter the trail is usually without sign of human life, so I was surprised to see someone gearing up for a trip into the woods, camouflaged from head to toe. Is this a hunting zone? I hope I'm not mistaken for deer. With my pace, no chance in that.

This run would be the perfect test for my new Cascadias. I started in the dark, my headlamp lighting the trail in front of me. Consistently directing my light up to search for the next trail blazer to keep on course left dark minefields of rocks, hidden under the recently fallen leaves, to be an unavoidable hurdle and challenge. Time and time again an unexpected foot placement on the side of a hidden rock caused many twists, turns, and close falls. The Brooks were up to the challenge as they provided just enough support to prevent the ankles from rolling and gave incredible comfort at the same time. At one point my toe caught a rock head on and I started to spread my wings getting ready to take flight. I was able to recover just in time and was grateful as the design of the shoe's toe area gave solid protection, cushioning the impact, showing that it was up to taking a solid hit. The soles gave good traction on the face of larger, smooth faced boulders. These were less than ideal conditions for a run, but perfect conditions to test the new shoes. They proved to be rigid enough to take a hit and keep ankles secure, yet flexible enough to be comfortable. I look forward to testing their comfort levels on a long run.

Vermont 50

2008-10-01T09:30:00.038-04:00

This weekend I entered into uncharted territory by competing in my first ultra-marathon, the Vermont 50, a 50 mile race in the mountains of Vermont near Mount Ascutney.

The weekend of running started by meeting Mark & Scott and their families at the Cider Mill Road Race in Tolland on Saturday morning. The event accommodates all runners with a kid’s fun run, a one mile race, followed by a 5K. This gave an opportunity for all members of our families an event to run in. The Giguere family of 5 all ran in the mile, which marks the first time we’ve all run in a race together:). The event was well attended and amazingly the rain held off until the last runner finished the 5K.

After goodbyes to our families we headed north, in the rain, with Mark’s pop-up in tow.
As we got close to our destination Mark pointed out Mt Ascutney and other peaks in it’s range where the race would take place. I never realized before how much Mt Ascutney resembled Mt Everest.

Mother nature’s timing was kind to us with a break in the rain just long enough for us to set up camp at Running Bear Campground. During set up we were glad to welcome the arrival of Keith and Jana whom I met and had the pleasure of spending the weekend with at the VT100 this past summer. Keith, Jana, and I crewed for Mark and Scott, lending assistance to them at certain locations over the first 70 miles. Keith and I then paced, ran with, etc…Scott and Mark the last 30 miles to successfully complete the 100 mile race. The group was reunited.

Mike, a friend and co-worker of Mark and Scott's joined us for the afternoon and evening, the sole mountain biker of the group.

Keith,Mike,Mark,Bruce,Scott

After race preparations and registration check in we pulled together a traditional pre-race pasta dinner and shared some good laughs. Not only did the camper provide protection from the rains, it also gave us an opportunity to kick back, connect the laptop to the local wi-fi, and watch various episodes of “The Family Guy” before turning in for the night. We were camping in style. Thanks to Mark for the luxury accomodations.

Race days typically start with high energy levels and anticipation, and this race day was no different. After a 5am wake up and last minute prep we headed to the Mt Ascutney ski area, the race’s start and finish location. The 50 mile run is accompanied by a 50K run and a 50 mile mountain bike race. The mountain bikers departed in intervals from 6:15 – 6:35. Finally our time arrived and with a quick start the 50 mile runners were off and running at 6:40.

The course’s terrain is made up of single track hiking trails, snowmobile track, ATV trails, dirt carriage roads, fire roads, etc. with continuous climbs and descents. The four of us started out together at a fairly rapid pace as the first few miles were the easiest part of the course. After a few miles we headed into some good elevation climbs on the trails which slowed our pace and brought mountain bikes into the game. We ended up leap froging with the cyclists for the remainder of the race. As we were slowed by the ascents, they were slowed even more having to push their bikes and then would speed past on trails as we headed down. Surprisingly, the trails were in good shape given the amount of rain over the past couple of days.

There were aid stations (with water, Heed, fruit, pb&j, chips, soda, chicken broth, etc..) approx every 5 miles, with handler stations that contained our drop bags at the 12 mile, 30 mile, and 45 mile marks. The handler aid stations were the only locations on the course where spectators were allowed and assistance could be provided. Keith and I headed into the first handler station at mile 12 just behind Mark and Scott and were welcomed by Jana helping us restock with gels, water, etc…Mark and Scott flew out of the transition area and I realized this was the point to focus on my own pace. Keith and I enjoyed some solid running together for the next several miles.

There are a number of variables that can come into play during these ultramarathons that can have a significant impact on your results and level of discomfort. Meeting nutrition and hydration needs are important but are often impacted by how well the stomach and digestive system are handling eating and running. Before the race I set my watch to beep every 30 minutes, which was my trigger to take salt pills, a gel, and be sure I was hydrating with the help of my 2 bottle Go-Lite belt pack. Around mile 12 I forced down a Cliff bar and my stomach was not happy with me for several miles and I deviated from my plan by reducing gel intake and turning to fruit at the aid stations.

Keith and I were surprised, glad, and disappointed to run into Scott about the 22 mile mark as we knew he must have been suffering to slow his pace for us to catch up. Scott was struggling with some MAJOR stomach and digestive problems that he tried to run through but was too much as he was unable to take in any needed substance to keep him going. It was tough to see him drop. I was impressed how well he handled the scenario and kept things in perspective. Scott successfully completed the VT100 and other 50 milers and therefore knows his fueling and hydration needs and still ran into an unavoidable and uncontrollable situation. This was an eye opener to me and a reminder that proper preparation does not necessarily equate to completion and hurdles may lie ahead.

At about mile 23 I felt as though I had gone much further as the continuous climbing was taking it’s toll, my stomach was pissed off at me still, my feet were screaming at me, and fatigue started to set in. It was the perfect time to be heading into Smoke Rise aid station. As I approached I could hear Bob Marley’s “Wait In Vain” blasting which really picked me up as I came into the aid station dancing and singing and apparently a little delirious, one of the benefits of ultra running. Just the lift I needed.

I still had a long way to go and started focusing no further than the next aid station and was pleased to know the next one at mile 30, is a handler station and would likely see Jana. As I entered into this aid station there were several spectators gathered around who provided much appreciated encouragement. Jana had pulled my drop bag aside and had it ready for me so I could change socks, re-lube, change shirts, reload on fuel, etc..as she snapped pictures…(she was of great help all day, Thanks Jana) I was greeted by Scott who was a spectator at this point and appreciated his words of encouragement as I reconnected with Keith and headed out on our journey.

Keith was in great shape as he kept a good pace and engaged others runners and cyclists in witty conversation while I was still dealing with stomach pains and decided to be a hermit. Even though much of the course is on private property there were only a handful of homes along the route. I was surprised to come upon the yard of someone’s house who had their hose out for use and a cooler with a sign on it that read “cold beer”. Was this a mirage, or some sort of hoax? Keith moved quickly to look inside. “Bruce, there’s cold Long Trail Blackberry Wheat beer in here, what do you think?”. I was tempted to partake for about 2 seconds and then realized it would probably mean the end for me so I moved on as running 50 miles and drinking beer probably should not happen in conjunction with each other.. We continued… Keith moved ahead as I had to pull aside and water the trees. As things progressed I realized that I would be putting use to the TP that I’ve been carrying with me for 32 miles or so. Well, well, well, what do ya know, after dropping a couple of pounds I felt great!!! No more stomach issues, the fatigue subsided, and my feet were no longer barking at me. I had no idea that foot pain could be related to the digestive track!!

Entering aid station

With my renewed energy and strength I focused at the task at hand, and enjoyed time spent meeting and talking with other runners as I knocked off a couple of more aid stations. Even though I was dealing with some discomfort I felt relatively strong. Leaving the aid station at mile 40 brought me delight as I knew that most of the trek to the next aid station was down hill and that I would likely see Amie and the girls. I emerged from the forest and out onto dirt roads and Mt Ascutney came into sight. As I turned a corner onto a paved road I was overcome with emotion when I heard “THERE’S DADDY”, it was music to my ears. As I was greeted by my family they informed me that the aid station was right around the corner and they would run with me..very cool…it was uphill, but I turned on the jets to let them know that Dad is still king, even after 45 miles. I got some hugs and kisses, grabbed some quick fuel, some salt from my drop bag and Amie asked “Do you need anything, or want to change your shoes?” “No, I just want this to be over with, I’ll meet you at the finish.” And off I went feeling tired, strong, and delirious all at once.

At aid station, mile 45

Leaving aid station, responding to Amie's screams of excitement...

The conditions of the last stretch up Mt Ascutney were what I anticipated the whole course may have been due to the rains, thick mud. Certain areas had to be walked. As I made my way closer to the finish there were signs of encouragement hanging from the trees and the sounds of live music entertaining those at the finish line. For the first time during the race it started to rain and it felt great. The last stretch of the race was down a ski slope where the kids were waiting and ran part of the way with me to the finish. It was great to receive congratulatory cheers from and give high fives to Amie, the kids, Scott, Jana, Keith, Mark and their supportive families while running through the chute to the finish.

What a great support crew!!!

This was the most miserably enjoyable experience that I can remember. Is that possible? I finished in 10:08, 71st overall.. Keith finished in 9:57, 66th overall. Mark finished in 9:08, 35th overall…great work!!
206 runners registered for the race, 188 started, and 162 finished.

Jana and Keith
PS..Keith..thanks for picking up a Long Trail Blackberry Wheat for post race..

Mark and Keith getting necessary food, post race..

Reach the Beach 2008

2008-09-16T14:41:00.028-04:00

Reach the Beach is a relay race that starts in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and finishes about 210 miles away at Hampton Beach. This was my 3rd year running and each year I'm amazed with the great job the race directors, staff, and volunteers do as it's incredibly well organized and run. I would imagine managing the race is a logistical nightmare, but the race seems to go off without a hitch each year.

The race is broken down into 36 different legs in which runners rotate through, typically one at at time until the race is complete. Most teams have 12 runners that run 3 legs each that result in total miles of 13 to 22 miles each, depending on distances of assigned legs. The past two years I've had great experiences being on a 12 person team.

The seed for a 6 person team was planted last year during the race as we ran into "ultra teams" comprised of 6 or fewer runners and probed them for info and insights. At the time it seemed like a heck of a challenge and one that we wanted to take on in 2008. So we added a second team, of 6 runners, called "Another Round 2" and added runners to our 12 person team to fill the gaps of "Another Round 1".

Heidi, Carol, Dave, Bruce, Jason, Jerry

Meet the team
Heidi - Ironman triathlete who's well on the way of meeting her goal of completing all US Ironman distance triathlons and a marathon in each state. Her passion for endurance events is contagious.
Carol - Calm demeanor but a relentless competitor. Downplays her abilities and ends up scorching each run.
Dave - Running form is incredibly relaxed and comfortable. Looks so smooth it appears as though he's moving slowly but is consistently at 7 min/miles.
Bruce - Me
Jason - Excitement about the event is evident throughout the event with high energy and humor. Runs on unique fuel sources that include beer and Red Bull. It works as he lights it up each time. He's a running stud.
Jerry - Consistently gets the job done. Tough and discipline as they come. About half way through his goal of a marathon in each state.

Thursday afternoon all 18 of us met at a commuter lot and departed for NH in three, twelve passenger vans. Many of us were strangers to each other just 2 years ago when we first climbed into a van together for our first race. It's amazing how well you can get so know someone in a couple of days, in tight quarters, and working towards the same goal. It was great to catch up on the lives of teammates and hear of races, families and adventures. Our expanded group enjoyed dinner together at Uno's in Manchester, NH where we shared laughs as we reminisced of the past 2 races and gave insights to the eager new runners to the group.

After a good night's sleep and breakfast in Woodstock we headed up to Cannon Mountain where we prepared for the race by decorating our van (nice work Heidi), completing the safety check, attending the pre-race safety meeting, registered, and had team photos taken. The start of the race is staggered between 7:30 am and 4:00 pm determined by the expected team pace with a goal of having teams finish around the same time of day on Saturday. We started at noon and Another Round 1 started at 2:20.

Being a part of a 6 person team meant that we would each run between a total of 29 and 43 miles each, distances that were new to all of us. The past couple of years we'd see how many runners we could pass on each leg. This year we cautioned ourselves about going out "too fast" and paying the price later. Well, caution ended up going to the wind as we let our competitive instincts take over, and we paid later as the pace of the later legs slowed. Being on a 6 person team not only required more distance but it also meant being "on" almost all the time. You were either running, getting ready to run, stretching, cooling down from a run, driving, co-piloting, or trying get nourishment. We proceeded through the night where chances for some shut eye were limited to about 20 to 30 minutes as opportunities presented themselves. My total sleep time was approx 40 mintues.

Our real individual tests started as the sun rose on Saturday and we we headed into our 5th run, we already had significant miles behind us, tight legs from being in the van, lack of sleep, stomach issues, fatigue, and the temperature started warming. Everyone rose to the occaision and got the job done.

As Saturday wears on and the finishing line gets closer there are more and more runners on the course which adds to the excitement of the event. At this time of the race there are several opportunties for pasta, snacks, sandwiches, soups, drinks, etc..at churches, schools, town halls, etc...the community does a great job supporting the runners - thank you. Real food becomes very attractive after 24 hours of eating from the van's well stocked supply of fruit and powerbars. We did enjoy a treat along the way as we were provided with homemade cookies by one of our runners who had to back out ahead of time due to injury - thanks Colleen!

We ended up finishing around 4:30 on Saturday with a total time of 28:28, 107th overall out of 356 teams, 9th out of 19 men's ultra teams, with an overall pace of 8:10. Was it challenging? YES Was it hard? YES Was it worth it? ABSOLUTELY.
The six of us just clicked together. It was great to able enjoy this journey with an easy going, fun, relaxed, and competitive driven group. Thanks to all!!!

Another Round 1 finished shortly after we did with a total time of 26:26,a pace of 7:35. It could not have worked out better as we cheered them as they finished and enjoyed post race celebrations together. They did an outstanding job finishing 37th overall and 2nd out of 32 mixed masters teams..Nice work..

After a quick dip in the ocean we headed for home. I wonder what next year will bring?

"The heat of the dog will melt the cheese"

Vermont Journey Half Ironman Triathlon

2008-08-24T19:16:00.005-04:00

Yesterday was my first experience with a half ironman distance triathlon, and it was enjoyable and memorable.

Amie, the kids, and I headed up to Salisbury, VT on Thursday afternoon and set up camp at Kampersville Campground on Lake Dunmore. We ended up with probably the nicest weather of the summer with sunny days, highs in the low 80s, and beautiful clear starlit nights with lows about 60. For some reason rain tends to follow us camping so we were pleased that it was a spectacular weekend for camping and the triathlon.

Friday afternoon I headed to Middlebury to pick up my race packet and really enjoyed time talking with other race participants about the event. From there I headed to Branbury State Park on Lake Dunmore, the location of the start, finish, and transition areas of the triathlon. I was eager to check out the race location and climb into my wetsuit and swim for about a half mile to get acclimated to the water. The water was clear, cool,comfortable, and fairly shallow, perfect for the race.

When we camp we generally take two tents, an 8 person for the family to sleep in and an old three person tent for the kids to play in. I chose to sleep in the three person tent the night before the race as not to wake the family as I'd be leaving early in the morning. The night prior I left my bike outside and it was wet from the overnight dew. Wanting to be sure I didn't have issues with my bike getting wet again I brought it in the tent with me overnight....my family thinks I'm nuts. On Saturday I woke with the sun, grabbed my gear bag, and headed to the race on my bike about 2 miles down the road.

After checking in I had my number written on my arm with a Sharpie, which is typical. What happened next I had not experienced before, they wrote my age on my calf, seemed unusual at the time. I set up my bike and gear at the transition area and ran into Peter, a super nice guy whom I met at the packet pick up the day prior. As we were talking, I watched as he unwrapped 5 Powerbars and stuck them directly to the frame of his bike. Now that makes for efficient fueling while on the bike. At about 7:45 Amie, looking excited, and the girls, looking tired had arrived. Amie took some pictures, Lora helped me stretch, and we listened to the pre-race announcements where I found out I'd be in the second of three start waves.

I had some time goals for the race but was unsure how realistic they would be as I had only participated in sprint distance triathlons, which are much shorter and typically take me just over an hour. I anticipated I'd finish this event between 5 1/2 to 5 3/4 hours. Going into the race I was pleased with my fitness level and confident in my abilities. As far as I was concerned there were only 2 things that would keep me from meeting the timeline. Number 1 - drowning (I am not Michael Phelps). Number 2 - injury. I tweaked my leg last month and after logging a couple weeks of 50 plus miles of running it got worse. It became evident that this could slow me down on the run after becoming fatigued. I decided to taper my running about two weeks early instead of one to give my leg some extra rest.

The race is about to start..game on....
My goal for the 1.2 mile swim was to focus on my technique, have a comfortable swim, and try not to waste too much energy. Once the swim began and there was separation between swimmers I was able to lock into a nice comfortable rhythm. "I'm actually swimming and not drowning, I love this wetsuit." The course was two loops, counterclockwise direction, so swimmers were swimming towards each other on either side of course buoys. At one point I was sighting to be sure I was on course when someone swimming towards me went by me on my right, he must be way off. I realized I was sighting the wrong buoy and swimming directly into oncoming traffic, took a sharp 90 degree turn and got back on course and finished the swim in 39:56.

I talked to Amie while transitioning to the bike and putting on my gear. She reminded me to apply vaseline to my most private of areas to prevent chaffing. While applying I had realized that I had pulled my tri shorts down too far and was exposed for the world to see. You should have seen the look on Amie's face, priceless. Fortunately in this environment of people, no one even cares, which is good because cold water causes shrinkage.

The bike route went right by the campground we were staying at and then out to Route 7 for about 50 of the 56 miles. The roads were typical of VT, rolling hills. My goal for the bike was to work a steady pace, and fuel regularly to keep my energy level strong, taking Perpeteum every 15 minutes, and 2 Endurolyte capsules every 30 minutes to prevent muscle cramps. My fueling plan was right on as I felt strong throughout the entire bike section of the race. At this point I had an appreciation for seeing the ages of the other triathletes on their calves as I went by them, especially the younger ones, most of whom started in the first wave of the race a couple minutes before me. I went by our campground again at mile 54 and was greeted by a roaring crowd of my family, some friends and their families who spent the weekend camping with us and being a great support. I finished the bike portion in almost exactly 3 hours with good energy and feeling pumped up.

After transitioning into my running gear my total time was 3:45. I was pumped because all I had to do was a half marathon, 13.1 miles, in 1:45 to complete the race in 5 1/2 hours, NO PROBLEM!!!!...so I thought. The run course was completely changed last week as flash flooding washed away the roads where the run was to take place. I was grateful as the new course went right by our campground again and I was energized by the opportunity to give high fives to Amie, the kids, and friends as I ran by hooting and hollering. The consistently strong winds that kept me fairly refreshed, even though slowing me down, on the bike were now gone and I was exposed to the mid day sun and warm temperatures. I skipped an early aid station and realized that since they were now my only source of hydration and fuel, this could not happen again. The course was an out and back, up and down some steep hills. Many runners were defeated by the hills and ended up walking them at a snails pace. I was committed to run, run, run. At the halfway point my pace was a couple of minutes behind my 1:45 goal. The pressing sun and fatigue caused me to slow my pace more than I had wished and I started to struggle. I had the great experience of witnessing Mark and Scott successfully complete the VT 100 last month on a terribly hot day. At this point in the race I was reminded of Scott being at a very low point at mile 50 and pressing on courageously to successfully finish 100 miles. I knew I'd finish but the memory helped me press on without letting myself slow the pace even more. One more trip past the campground gave me much needed energy to finish the half marathon in 1:58:25 for a total time of 5:44:20 where I was greeted by my wonderfully supportive Amie. We had a great time talking with some of the other participants and refueled with pizza, coke, water, Heed, iced tea, etc..

I really enjoyed the whole experience and was elated that my leg felt great throughout the race, particularly because I've got some high mileage races coming up and am looking forward to them as well.

My energy level was surprisingly good the remainder of the day and I experienced only minor soreness in my legs. I ended up going down to the lake and spent time with Amie, the kids and friends jumping off a floating trampoline into the water.

We ended the day around the campfire with a few celebratory adult beverages and lots of jokes. All in all, a great weekend.