June 18, 2008 - Back from Pittsfield

I know this should have come earlier but I have been really busy. Better late than never!


The Pittsfield race went well. It was my first organized ultra distance event and not only did I managed to finish the race but I also managed to beat 7 other finishers, coming in 50th place. I ran a total of about 55 miles in 15 hours and 42 minutes. I went off course for about 1.5 miles which probably ended up adding about 20 minutes to my time. 69 people started the race which means that 12 drop out throughout the day for unknown reasons.

The course itself was absolutely brutal. There was a total of about 14,400 feet of vertical climb over the length of the course which also meant about the same amount of vertical decent. I didn't really have a sense for what that was actually going to be like but once I started experiencing it first hand, I realized that 14,400 feet is a lot. My legs got the work out of a life time last weekend but never did they give out on me thankfully.

Jennifer and I traveled up to Vermont on Friday night with our friends Julian and Harley. We managd to get to Pittsfield around 9pm, just in time to get my race packet. After chatting with the race director, Andy, we headed to get a quick dinner at Applebees in Rutland, and then right to the hotel to settle in. We went right to sleep. I slept alright but I was on edge a bit because I was a bit nervous. We woke up around 3:45 and threw our clothes on and headed to the starting line. I had prepared everything I was going to need (my drop bag and my hydration vest) the night before so I was ready to go in the morning. The whole crew managed to get to the starting line by about 4:30am in order to be all set for a 5am starting time. The picture to the left is Jennifer and I at the starting area around 4:30 am.

The race went off at about 5:10 but the first 12 miles seemed really difficult to me. There was something weird going on with my stomach and it was really bringing me down. I managed to keep a good pace through the first 12 miles regardless but it wasn't fun. after about 2 hours or so I rolled into, for the first time, to the Upper Michigan aid station which was the main aid station (see the picture to the right). I stopped and used the rest room and my stomach seemed to get back on track a bit. I also switched out the Heed in my bladder for regular water and I reduced the amount of salt that I was eating. I headed out for the next 7 mile loop and, fortunately for me, Jennifer had her shorts and trail shoes on and she was dying to go for a run. So Jennifer and I headed out together for the next 7 miles. This really brought my spirits up and helped me get over my stomach problems. It would be fun to run a full ultra with her one day (if she ever gets that crazy). After we came back from the 7 mile loop I had completed about 19 total miles and I knew that the longest and most mentally trying section was coming up next, the Blood Root Loop (BRL). So I spent a few minutes at mile 19 at the aid station and then I headed out. I left on the BRLat about 9 am and I finished that section at about 4pm for a total of about 19 miles. The BRL was 19 straight miles of steep climbs, steep decents, mud pits that were probably 2-3 feet deep in spots, stinging nettle and all around misery. There were times on the BRL that I thought I was never going to finish. A few miles into the BRL my feet got soaked because of the mud...this really screwed me because I spent the next 6 hours running through the woods with soaked feet. I showed up at the Upper Michigan Aid station at Mile 37 around 4:00pm. I changed my shirt and I put on dry shoes and socks. There was an EMT guy at the aid station who lanced all my blisters and took care of my badly screwed up feet. The picture to the right is me with Harley and Julian just before I headed out of the aid station at mile 37...I believe that this is where most people quit the race.

The next 8 miles somehow turned into about 10 miles. I missed a sign for a turn and I managed to go about 1.5 miles out of my way before I realized that I was off course. One of the volunteers for the race pointed it out to me and then asked if I wanted a ride back to where I should have turned. I thought about it for a minute because I kind of felt like it was cheating to get a ride but he talked me into it and I jumped in his jeep for quick ride back to the turn...I got out, thanked him and then continued on my way. I had been on a pretty nice high after leaving the aid station at mile 37 and then after I realized that I was off course I was dropped down into a pretty crappy low. eventually I made it through a few more climbs up and down a couple of mountains and hit the main road in Pittsfield and I saw our Land Rover. Jennifer, Julian and Harley were waiting for me. I came up to them (see picture to the right) and they cheered for me and told me that I was about to come up to mile 41...this really confused me because I knew I had been running for about 8 to 10 miles...we got to the aid station and I asked the volunteer where I was and he said "Mile 47" and I was thrilled! After the Mile 47 aid station, I would not see my crew again until I got to the finish line just before 9pm that night. The next 7 miles were a the most difficult in terms of terrain and by far the most mentally challenging.

The final section, which is lovingly named the "Hell Section" was difficult to say the least. The first climb was about a mile long and it was a close to "straight up" as it could be...my heart felt like it was going to explode out of my chest. Once to the top of the mountain there was a long down hill section. The downhill was close enough to the finish line that you could hear the crowd cheering for the runners who were ahead of me...this gave the impression that you were almost done but that was far from true. At the bottom of the down hill was another long climb. This up and down pattern went on for the remainder of the course...

About half way through the hell section a fairly violent thunder storm passed over head and it started pouring rain with some pretty awesome thunder and lightning. I had to strap on the headlight and find my way through the last half of hell. I kind of felt like some sort of special ops guy trying to make it to my extraction point.

Finally around 9:30 pm I emerged from the woods and saw the best possible site...a long flat field. I ran the last half of a mile in pouring rain and finally made it to the finish.

To my delight, I actually beat a few people. I managed to collect my finisher's prize and hobble to the car. My feet were pretty much destroyed after running with wet feet for about 13 hours straight...but they eventually healed!

Off to Pittsfield

Tomorrow we leave for Pittsfield (Jennifer, Julian, Harley and I). The race is starting to seem intimidatingly difficult and some may argue that it is the hardest 50M race in the US (or at least on the eastern side of the country). I have posted a course description below that was provided by one of the participants of last year's event.

I feel pretty well prepared except that I have never run with a headlamp and flashlight before...but how hard could that be? I also seem to be developing some sort of compulsive list making disorder. I continue to make list after list of all of the things that I need to bring with me both for my drop bag, clothing changes, nutrition, hydration, chargers for electronics...all sorts of things. After I complete a list I do it again because I think I may have forgotten something.

In any regard, I feel confident that everything will make it into the truck for the trip. I have my race plan, my nutrition plan and I am mentally prepared to run for 24 straight hours. My prediction is that I will finish in 18:30, or around 1:00 am on Sunday morning. I wonder if there is an all night Diner in Pittsfield where I can catch breakfast after I am finished?

Course Description:

Last fall I went out to the course and ran the "Bloodroot Loop" and a few other portions, covering about 30 miles of the course. I would say that this is the heart of the course. I had run a couple of moderate 50k's in 4:55 that summer and was in great shape. I had run the VT 50, my first, in 10:02 the week before and was feeling rested and recovered. The friend I brought down was a 4:30 50k runner and a sub-3 hour marathoner.

Those 30 miles took the three of us over 8 hours if memory serves. We finished with a glazed look in our eyes. It was brutal.

The course at Pittsfield starts in the little town center, which is tucked up against the Green Mountains. It climbs on dirt roads out of town and into the hills, starting on a well-traveled dirt road with homes and barns, and then passing into the Green Mountain National Forest. At some point, the roads devolve into "jeep roads." These are rough dirt roads with no winter maintenance that can be rutted and messy in the spring, sometimes totally unpassable. There are ruts and rocks and although you are on a "road", you need to wear trail shoes and watch your footing. I wrenched my knee pretty good at one point and kicked a couple of rocks that I thought at first had broken toes. These are the access roads to different campsites hidden deep in the park. The impression I'm trying to convey is that you are leaving civilization behind and climbing further and further into the park and up into the mountains. Eventually the double-track disintegrates into a bramble-clogged mess, a former-road, really; basically singletrack, that starts to climb straight up the side of the mountain. The overall layout of this loop is that it climbs up the ridge, drops way off the other side, then turns an about-face and climbs back up and over. The climb in both directions is steeper the closer you are to the ridge line, so when you hit the bramble-clogged singletrack, you feel like you are climbing a wall. It is the final push to the ridge, but it is nasty. Even walking, you will be breathing very hard and may have to stop and rest. It's ridiculous. Take your time to enjoy the pristine beauty of the national forest because it's the only thing that is going to take your mind off your discomfort and it really is an incredible forest.

At the top, you are treated to a precipitous drop down the other side. Be careful here. A- Don't fall. B- Don't let yourself get out of control. You never know what logs or rocks are going to appear in front of you. C- Don't get "on the brakes" so much that you have blown quads by the end. Frankly, I think that you would be well-served to walk the first downhill portion because it's just so nasty steep, so as to avoid A, B, and C, and saving your legs for the lovely, more moderate downslope that follows. Sadly, however, this is just elevation you are going to have to run again anyway on the way up, but enjoy the glimpses through the trees into the lush wild heart of the Greens. Here is where you realize that Sugarbush, Killington, and the rest are no different than these mountains. Any of these mountains could have been a ski resort.

At the bottom, there is a left hand turn, and eventually another leading back up the mountain to the ridge again. This, again, is just ridiculously steep; a good solid hike. There are meandering double-track sections at various points here that are quite nice. Some are smooth and well-traveled, with a view over to the reservoir or to other mountains. Take a moment to enjoy these. You earned these views. Then get back to the job at hand. You will see lots of snowmobile signs. There is a big network of trails all over the state and a ton in this area. Eventually, after more huffing and puffing, you will reach the ridge again and do the process in reverse. Rugged, grown-over used-to-be-a-road plummets off the ridge in ski-trail fashion, eventually leading to worn-out double-track, then access roads, then normal dirt roads. This is a long, long way down. I had never run anything like this before. Then, on to the next loops of the course, none quite as nasty or as long as Bloodroot, but none too easy either, I gather. Enjoy.

June 9, 2008 - Less than a week to Pittsfield

Pittsfield Peaks is just 5 days away. This is my first 50M race and it will be exciting to see what happens. The weather is supposed to be perfect (low 70s as highs for both Saturday and Sunday with the lows in the mid 50s). I am traveling up to Vermont on Friday morning with my wife and a friend of ours who will both hang out and act as my crew when they are not BBQing and hanging out around the aid station and finish area...it sounds like they are going to have a good time.

As far as preparation, I am definitely mentally prepared for this race and I am guessing that I am in good enough shape too. I dont have any experience to go on so we will just have to see how it goes. 1 foot in front of the other for 50 miles and I should manage to cross the finish line. There is an expected 50%+ drop out rate for this race and I am guessing it is mostly due to the 14,000 feet of total climb...there is no way that I am going to quit which should make for an interesting final couple of hours...

In terms of actual gear, I need to plan out my entire clothing, nutrition and lighting strategy. It shouldn't be too difficult with Lisa's help though.


Training update:

I did a crappy job training last week after my long run but I got back in the groove on Saturday (kind of). I went out for a quick 5 mile run Saturday evening before a graduation party. It was about 95 degrees out and I am guessing it was 110% humidity. It was a tough run and somehow I also managed to come away from it with some new foot pain in my right foot. This is a bit scary because I have my first 50 M race in less than a week. So I am not going to run for the next week and hope that it gets better by Saturday morning.

Sunday I went for a 10 mile bike ride in the same type of weather. I was supposed to run 24 miles but I bailed on that because of my foot.

This morning (Monday) I hit the gym before work to cross train. I did 30 minutes of stairs and then wall sits, circuit training and pushups. Wall sits are awesome and super painful. I highly recommend them.

June 2, 2008 - Urban Blazers Hike

I took the day off from running after my long run and instead went on a 2.7 mile hike in Wissahickon park with Urban Blazers and a group of kids from Arthur Ashe. My legs were a bit sore but almost entirely recovered just 1 day after my 30 mile long run. This was a positive sign for me.

Here are some pictures from the hike:

June 1st - Long Run

Well, Pittsfield Peaks is less than 2 weeks away. I have no idea how I am going to manage 50 miles and 14,000 feet of total climb but, as always seems to be true, things will come together and I am sure everything will work out well. I have 24 hours to complete the course so hopefully that should help...although, based on last year's results, I wouldn't be surprised if I used up close to the entire 24 hours. Anyway, more on Pittsfield as time gets closer...

Yesterday I did a long run as Lisa has prescribed. I went 2 miles longer than Lisa had instructed and I ended up running 30.2 miles in total. I left my house at 6am and I returned at about 11:30 am. I ran up Kelly drive, through Manayunk, along the river trail to the Conshohocken bridge, up Fayette street to Ridge, east on Ridge to Bells Mill, down Bells Mill to forbidden drive, forbidden drive through Wissahickon park to Kelly drive and I finished by running back down Kelly drive past boat house row and up 25th street to my front door.

Overall, it was a good run and I actually do not feel too sore today. Which is a good thing because I am going on a 2.5 hour hike tonight with Urban Blazers.

As for Nutrition, I went through about 12 GUs, drank 3.5 liters of water and 20 oz of Gatorade. I think next Saturday I am going to switch the Gatorade out for another sports drinks and I am going to switch my GUs from a caffeine GU (I really like the Espresso Love flavor) to a regular GU until later on in my run...so I don't get hopped up on caffeine and crash.

Here is a map that I downloaded from my Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS watch: