Laurel Highlands 70 mile run and relay

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Question:

I can get by with one liberal shot of Vaseline. For me, and maybe a product of my socks, I didn’t get crud through my socks and into the Vaseline. I do get crud in my shoe which I will stop and remove. In essence the sock serves as a filter. I can see if one is wearing low not snug(elastic is less than ideal) socks and things making their way in. For most of my races I can by with low Wigwams but for this race I opted for a high sock knowing the trail was more rugged and full of "stuff." -DougF

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – . . . . . . I’m considering trying duct tape, but . . . . . . Hi, I just happened to remember that the only story I ever heard about duct tape and skin was not a happy one. My ex boss had an off-road racing truck, and got blisters on his rear end if he didn’t tape his cheeks together. (Weird, I know.) At the Mint 500 in Nevada around 1985 they forgot the adhesive tape, and used duct tape instead. Different glue!!! Many hours later, when the tape came off, so did a lot of skin. (ouch!) Maybe experiment in a small noncritical if you are thinking of duct tape on skin.

Duck tape is very popular because it sticks, stays well and wards off some real evil blisters. If the choice is some discomfort AFTER the race I’d go with the duct tape in a heartbeat. Running with blistered, bloody feet for hours and hours is not fun. I prefer Johnson&Johnson tape but I know it does not do well in stream crossings. If I know ahead of time the course is wet I go for the duct tape. DougF

Response:

ok, thanks. I think that’s why I’ve been favoring the tighter weave socks. I only use crew height (with some a little taller). Dot — "Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope

Response:

. . . . . . I’m considering trying duct tape, but . . . . . . Hi, I just happened to remember that the only story I ever heard about duct tape and skin was not a happy one. My ex boss had an off-road racing truck, and got blisters on his rear end if he didn’t tape his cheeks together. (Weird, I know.) At the Mint 500 in Nevada around 1985 they forgot the adhesive tape, and used duct tape instead. Different glue!!! Many hours later, when the tape came off, so did a lot of skin. (ouch!) Maybe experiment in a small noncritical if you are thinking of duct tape on skin.

LoL, well maybe gaffers tape? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Good luck! — Daniel

Response:

. . . . . . I’m considering trying duct tape, but . . . . . .

Hi, I just happened to remember that the only story I ever heard about duct tape and skin was not a happy one. My ex boss had an off-road racing truck, and got blisters on his rear end if he didn’t tape his cheeks together. (Weird, I know.) At the Mint 500 in Nevada around 1985 they forgot the adhesive tape, and used duct tape instead. Different glue!!! Many hours later, when the tape came off, so did a lot of skin. (ouch!) Maybe experiment in a small noncritical if you are thinking of duct tape on skin. Good luck! — Daniel

Response:

. I know I was quite undertrained for my first 50 mile. I missed the specifics of how or what caused your less than stellar first. Was in low mileage, insufficient quality(trained flat, race was all hills), low carbs, low salt, poor carbs, dehydration, too much hydration, bad pacing, bad/wrong shoes…some or all? lol well… My less than stellar first 50m was caused by very low running mileage – I did a trail run of 100 mins to 2 hours once a week for about 3 months before the 50 miler.

I think we covered this before but two hours each weekend is much too little. I would bump the every other weekend up to 5 hours and maybe two of these. The cross training didn’t help the legs for running much.

‘Tis true but it’s still good cross training I think I handled the race fairly well in terms of hydration – eating was a different matter. After 50k I couldn’t get anything down except liquids, and as a result I bonked very hard at about 43 miles, and though I did run some more, basically I was shot at that

point. Food is always an issue for most runners. The usual adage to practice in training only provides a little information. If your body absolutely dislikes some food or drink you will get some fast feedback Since training runs are less than the real deal you only know about those ingredients for that length of time. I can tell you that some food is just fine for a few hours and then it gets repulsive. For instance PB&J. You may like PB&J but how many before you stomach tells you one more and reverse peristalsis will take hold? I’m suggesting that variety of food if possible is the way to go. Personally I have found that SUCCEED!Clip (liquid food) works for me. I try to supplement from the tables with whole food but I know I’m getting good calories to include fat and protein from my drink. By the way, during your taper mode try to stay away from whatever food you determine works for you. This slight deprivation will help keep those foods exciting for a longer time race day(s). I was stupid to try to go 50m and should have stopped after the 50k. (It was stupid to even try 50k on that kind of training.)

No comment.,,,,,but you on to something Actually I was fairly happy with 6:28 through 50k that day. For the training I had done I felt pretty good after that. It was after that when things feel apart.

The two hour runs were bare bones. For a 50k I like 3-4 hours and gets me in from 4:20 to 5:30 depending on difficulty of the race. My feet have always given me problems in extended events like 24 hour ROGAINEs, or shorter ROGAINES 6 or 8 hours where we ran most of the

way. If you get hot spots say near the ball or arch, a series of strips of tape work wonders. I used two strips of J&J tape under the ball and joined at the top but should have used three since this race had lots of mud and muck. I stopped changed socks, retaped with three and was fine the rest of the way. Once you pull off you socks you may as well put on some clean ones. Vaseline around the toes works for me.

Me too. Some people use tape there also but I have found goop works nicely on my toes. Vaseline also works in many other areas which I won’t detail other than from my waist down I’d be slippery if someone grabbed me. What’s good is your on the right track. If any other questions you can try Email so we don’t want to bore 5k the red-liners. -DougF

Response:

I was wearing thorlo trail-running crews. Maybe there are better socks for racing, though for training these seem fine.

I use same socks for training and races. I think I do a little better with SmartWool (lighter weight ones in summer and heavier in winter), Bridgedale (I think I’ve got 2 weights of them also), and Ultimax (winter weight) than with Thorlos. *For me*, the insides of the thorlos seem a little rougher than the others, and hence more likely to abrade when wet, but I should probably test them more. They’re definitely not as warm as my Smartwools or Ultimax in the winter. The vaseline seems to last just a few hours for me, and mainly I use it around the toes.

Ok, thanks. That seems in line with my short tests. Also I know some use short gaiters, and I may try this in the future.

I think gaitors will help with stuff coming in over the top, but may not help with stuff coming in the mesh. I’ve noticed after mud runs (no where near the top of my shoe), that I’ve got mud between sock liner and shoe proper, as well as in socks, etc. I got a pair on sale at REI this spring, but haven’t tried them yet. Most running gaitors only barely meet the top of the shoe and maybe a little over the laces, whereas a ski gaitor goes almost to tip of toe. I’ve considered modifying a pair of neoprene socks (or maybe the stormcloth ones) into a shoe cover for winter running. I’ve had horrible experiences with wet feet. Once in a 24 ROGAINE it rained and early on our feet were quite wet. Since ROGAINE is largely cross-country, and the allegeney terrain was very steep and rugged – our feet were toast.

I can imagine. I’ve had bad experiences with field work where we’re in the rain all day, and get to repeat it all each day for the next several days. On some of those trips I don’t think my feet dried out between days. Although I don’t think we ever reached the point of shooting pain from nerves like you describe. How to handle wet feet for 24 hours I still have no idea.

Yea, I think that’s a major issue. That comes up on the ultra list periodically since I think it’s Hardrock where people are running with almost continuously wet feet. Wearing Gore tex socks may or may not help (I have some to try next time) because your feet sweat so much that it might not make much difference.

I had some REI gore-tex socks that I returned unused. My foot has a high instep so the non-stretchiness of the gore-tex binds in some places and bunches in others. I’ve got a collection of SealSkinz (not the river crossing kind that have a sealed top), neoprene, and stormcloth socks that I’m going to try eventually. I had these from trying to find something to keep feet warm (at least non-frostbitten) on bike during a winter tri at +1F. They didn’t work for that (outer neoprene booties worked great and what I use for snowshoe running at -20F), so I’ll try them for wet days. SealSkinz are the most likely candidate from the bunch since they fit reasonably well. I asked one of the guys that ran the Susitna 100 in 2003 (the year the rivers didn’t freeze and the race was relocated to safe ground) what he did for shoes/socks in the soggy snow. He used Asics 2080s with Smartwools. In the past he’s used neoprene socks – at least once where he got bad blisters as a result. The equipment list for the Su100 suggests having some neoprene socks. Maybe gore-tex with sock changes every 4 hours and tape above the gore-tex socks? Without tape, water will run down your legs into the socks. Same problem (with no solution) for waterproof running shoes.

all good ideas. Still no real idea on this…

and it’s not the kind of thing that you can test unless you’ve get a wet run. Thanks for your comments. Dot — "Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Fresh socks each time? What are the problems with you feet? In general, between Vaseline, carefully placed tape and good socks I seldom have to touch my feet. I missed spot this year and stopped to re-tape the bottom with three strips rather than two. My feet have always given me problems in extended events like 24 hour ROGAINEs, or shorter ROGAINES 6 or 8 hours where we ran most of the way. Vaseline around the toes works for me. Doug and Tony and others that might tape/vaseline feet, Just curious, but do you vaseline lightly and re-apply as needed – maybe every few hours. Or a heavy dose that lasts, say, 6-12 hrs or more? For all long runs/races or just ones likely to be rainy and/or muddy? Any problems with grit being embedded, although I suspect this is a function of fine-grained soils (clays, silts) and mesh opening of shoe?

Yes, grit from the dusty trail made me re-vaseline my feet and change my socks a few times times. I was wearing thorlo trail-running crews. Maybe there are better socks for racing, though for training these seem fine. The vaseline seems to last just a few hours for me, and mainly I use it around the toes. Yes mesh openning on the shoes probably lets in too much dust. I was wearing new balance 805’s I believe. I like new balance because they’re one of the only brands to have widths that fit me well, but maybe some other kind of shoe is better. Also I know some use short gaiters, and I may try this in the future. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -The reason I’m asking is my feet seem to do fine when dry – at least so far (but long run is still under 2 hrs). I used vaseline on feet for the first time this spring when running in wet field with shallow standing slush water (snow melt that can’t drain through frozen ground) – only about 45 min (thought I used it a couple times but can only find the one log entry). It worked fine, but it tends to soften my feet, making them more vulnerable to problems unless I put enough on. That said, it helped a tender toe recover after a long run with a slushy ending that drew blood from that toe (tip where sock must’ve bunched). I never had a problem again on slush runs (used vaseline), but never had to deal with continuously wet feet on a long run (over 1 hr). For non-winter socks, I tend to use smartwool hiking or light hiking or bridgedale. And yes, I know I’ll have to figure out what works for me, but was just interested in your experiences. I’m considering trying duct tape, but don’t have the conditions enough to have gotten that far with trials – and don’t know where abrasion points are likely to be yet – other than skin completely deteriorating from being wet for many hours. I do have John Vonhof’s book (Fixing Your Feet, not the newest edition) and subscribe to his e-zine, although behind on reading both.

I’ve had horrible experiences with wet feet. Once in a 24 ROGAINE it rained and early on our feet were quite wet. Since ROGAINE is largely cross-country, and the allegeney terrain was very steep and rugged – our feet were toast. The race started at noon Sat. By 3am we were starting to get very bad trenchfoot, and by 6am we were hobbling 5 miles back on the road to camp, quitting 6 hours early. The pain is indescribable – every single nerve ending in your foot is shooting and every step its agony. I think most people in that race suffered from some level of foot problems, including the winners – I remember seeing them hobble up to get their awards. How to handle wet feet for 24 hours I still have no idea. Wearing Gore tex socks may or may not help (I have some to try next time) because your feet sweat so much that it might not make much difference. Maybe gore-tex with sock changes every 4 hours and tape above the gore-tex socks? Without tape, water will run down your legs into the socks. Same problem (with no solution) for waterproof running shoes. Still no real idea on this… – Tony – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Thanks. Dot — "Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope

Response:

Fresh socks each time? What are the problems with you feet? In general, between Vaseline, carefully placed tape and good socks I seldom have to touch my feet. I missed spot this year and stopped to re-tape the bottom with three strips rather than two. My feet have always given me problems in extended events like 24 hour ROGAINEs, or shorter ROGAINES 6 or 8 hours where we ran most of the way. Vaseline around the toes works for me.

Doug and Tony and others that might tape/vaseline feet, Just curious, but do you vaseline lightly and re-apply as needed – maybe every few hours. Or a heavy dose that lasts, say, 6-12 hrs or more? For all long runs/races or just ones likely to be rainy and/or muddy? Any problems with grit being embedded, although I suspect this is a function of fine-grained soils (clays, silts) and mesh opening of shoe? The reason I’m asking is my feet seem to do fine when dry – at least so far (but long run is still under 2 hrs). I used vaseline on feet for the first time this spring when running in wet field with shallow standing slush water (snow melt that can’t drain through frozen ground) – only about 45 min (thought I used it a couple times but can only find the one log entry). It worked fine, but it tends to soften my feet, making them more vulnerable to problems unless I put enough on. That said, it helped a tender toe recover after a long run with a slushy ending that drew blood from that toe (tip where sock must’ve bunched). I never had a problem again on slush runs (used vaseline), but never had to deal with continuously wet feet on a long run (over 1 hr). For non-winter socks, I tend to use smartwool hiking or light hiking or bridgedale. And yes, I know I’ll have to figure out what works for me, but was just interested in your experiences. I’m considering trying duct tape, but don’t have the conditions enough to have gotten that far with trials – and don’t know where abrasion points are likely to be yet – other than skin completely deteriorating from being wet for many hours. I do have John Vonhof’s book (Fixing Your Feet, not the newest edition) and subscribe to his e-zine, although behind on reading both. Thanks. Dot — "Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Actually my rough thinking is 50k this year, 50 miles next year, then laurel highlands in 2006, and maybe 100m in 2007. Food for thought if you don’t mind training in the winter for next year. Do Hinte-Anderson 50k in the spring http://www.hatrun.com/ recover and do a summer or fall 50. The HAT run is an easy course compared to the Finger lakes runs and usually a great spring day. many use this race for their first.

Thanks Doug I’ll check it out. I’m think that my renewed interest in running will carry through the winter. As for Laurel, unless you like to play mule and haul all your own stuff on you back and/or drop bags, don’t do it without a crew. Some of the aid stations at 8-9 miles apart and in trail pace that can be 2-3 hours. I carried a two bottle belt and should have opted for larger bottles. Even with a crew the access points to the trail are minimal. I know I was quite undertrained for my first 50 mile. I missed the specifics of how or what caused your less than stellar first. Was in low mileage, insufficient quality(trained flat, race was all hills), low carbs, low salt, poor carbs, dehydration, too much hydration, bad pacing, bad/wrong shoes…some or all?

lol well… My less than stellar first 50m was caused by very low running mileage – I did a trail run of 100 mins to 2 hours once a week for about 3 months before the 50 miler. The cross training didn’t help the legs for running much. I think I handled the race fairly well in terms of hydration – eating was a different matter. After 50k I couldn’t get anything down except liquids, and as a result I bonked very hard at about 43 miles, and though I did run some more, basically I was shot at that point. I was stupid to try to go 50m and should have stopped after the 50k. (It was stupid to even try 50k on that kind of training.) Actually I was fairly happy with 6:28 through 50k that day. For the training I had done I felt pretty good after that. It was after that when things feel apart. Yes, 30 mins is a long time, and I don’t really know what took so long. I recorded every stop with a lap time. Twice I ate some solid food, restocked the cliff bars and gels i was carrying, attended my feet and then put on fresh socks. Fresh socks each time? What are the problems with you feet? In general, between Vaseline, carefully placed tape and good socks I seldom have to touch my feet. I missed spot this year and stopped to re-tape the bottom with three strips rather than two.

My feet have always given me problems in extended events like 24 hour ROGAINEs, or shorter ROGAINES 6 or 8 hours where we ran most of the way. Vaseline around the toes works for me. My feet weren’t that used to running because of a lack consistent running. Now that I realize I have to really train specifically for these races, as opposed to the less competative ROGAINE efforts, my feet are already getting tougher from more consistent running and longer trail runs. We keep learning hopefully. – Tony – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –DougF

Response:

Actually my rough thinking is 50k this year, 50 miles next year, then laurel highlands in 2006, and maybe 100m in 2007.

Food for thought if you don’t mind training in the winter for next year. Do Hinte-Anderson 50k in the spring http://www.hatrun.com/ recover and do a summer or fall 50. The HAT run is an easy course compared to the Finger lakes runs and usually a great spring day. many use this race for their first. As for Laurel, unless you like to play mule and haul all your own stuff on you back and/or drop bags, don’t do it without a crew. Some of the aid stations at 8-9 miles apart and in trail pace that can be 2-3 hours. I carried a two bottle belt and should have opted for larger bottles. Even with a crew the access points to the trail are minimal. I know I was quite undertrained for my first 50 mile.

I missed the specifics of how or what caused your less than stellar first. Was in low mileage, insufficient quality(trained flat, race was all hills), low carbs, low salt, poor carbs, dehydration, too much hydration, bad pacing, bad/wrong shoes…some or all? Yes, 30 mins is a long time, and I don’t really know what took so long. I recorded every stop with a lap time. Twice I ate some solid food, restocked the cliff bars and gels i was carrying, attended my feet and then put on fresh socks.

Response:

I assume you find someone that is running your pace and you just run together for companionship. I did the same thing. This guy came up on me and said he felt like shit and asked I minded running together. We ran the last 13-15 together and hardly said a word. We were both tired a simply having someone close when you yelled "oh Shit" as you tripped on rock was comforting. I thin finding someone to run with in the late stages is very typical.

ok, thanks. That’s what I assumed, right down to the expletives! Sprints to the finish in a ultra are very rare.

That’s what I figured. I was just looking for an alternate hypothesis Dot — "Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope

Response:

Great run Doug! I saw this race on the schedule and it looks like a great challenging race on interesting terrain, and may be a good stepping stone to a 100m. If the stepping stone is do LH one year and a 100 the next, good idea. If you mean to the 70 and the 100 in the same year I be careful.

Actually my rough thinking is 50k this year, 50 miles next year, then laurel highlands in 2006, and maybe 100m in 2007. I know I was quite undertrained for my first 50 mile. Other – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -say this 70 is close in effort to the easier 100’s. I could run Vermont in July but I have years at this an know my recovery. I may in fact try this next year assuming I still alive and running. How much time did you spend stopping to eat, rest, work on feet?, etc – or did you pretty much grab the food + Clip, and keep running. Minimal time. My crew would hand me one or two new bottles of clip, I’d forage the table for coke or Mountain dew and some food. Drink the fluid and take the food with me. Except for the time I took off my shoes and socks to tape a hot spot, I averaged maybe a minute or so. When I did 50m at finger lakes 50’s, the course came through base camp 3 times so some people stopped to eat BBQ chicken and take short breaks. When I stopped I ate some solid food and worked on my feet and the break time added up to over 30 mins total for the whole run. I’m wondering how much break time a more experienced runner like you has at these events. 30 minutes of aid station is lot of time. I drink at the table and take my food with me. You can always eat and walk if not run and eat.

Yes, 30 mins is a long time, and I don’t really know what took so long. I recorded every stop with a lap time. Twice I ate some solid food, restocked the cliff bars and gels i was carrying, attended my feet and then put on fresh socks. Considering that I had never run even a marathon before the 50m, and had some trouble with my feet before in ROGAINEs — I wanted to try to eat as much as possible and to take good care of my feet. I guess as one gets more experience with these events it doesnt take as long. Maybe – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -minute per station. Also it sounds like its a fairly hard course (with mud rocks roots and undulation (those steep ravines in the western Appalachian plain?)) – can you please elaborate for someone thinking of running this race. It hard to describe No deep ravines as it tries to keep on top of the Laurel ridge line. It follows the natural terrain of the top except when moving from one range to another. -Dougf

Response:

Great run Doug! I saw this race on the schedule and it looks like a great challenging race on interesting terrain, and may be a good stepping stone to a 100m.

If the stepping stone is do LH one year and a 100 the next, good idea. If you mean to the 70 and the 100 in the same year I be careful. Other say this 70 is close in effort to the easier 100’s. I could run Vermont in July but I have years at this an know my recovery. I may in fact try this next year assuming I still alive and running. How much time did you spend stopping to eat, rest, work on feet?, etc – or did you pretty much grab the food + Clip, and keep running.

Minimal time. My crew would hand me one or two new bottles of clip, I’d forage the table for coke or Mountain dew and some food. Drink the fluid and take the food with me. Except for the time I took off my shoes and socks to tape a hot spot, I averaged maybe a minute or so. When I did 50m at finger lakes 50’s, the course came through base camp 3 times so some people stopped to eat BBQ chicken and take short breaks. When I stopped I ate some solid food and worked on my feet and the break time added up to over 30 mins total for the whole run. I’m wondering how much break time a more experienced runner like you has at these events.

30 minutes of aid station is lot of time. I drink at the table and take my food with me. You can always eat and walk if not run and eat. Maybe minute per station. Also it sounds like its a fairly hard course (with mud rocks roots and undulation (those steep ravines in the western Appalachian plain?)) – can you please elaborate for someone thinking of running this race.

It hard to describe No deep ravines as it tries to keep on top of the Laurel ridge line. It follows the natural terrain of the top except when moving from one range to another. -Dougf

Response:

" 66 started which is close to a 30% drop rate which in not uncommon for this race. For curiosity, did they drop before the end or just not make the 22-hr cutoff?

I honestly don’t know. I finished, sat for few minutes and went back to my hotel to wash and get some eats. I was running empty and did have the alerntess to ask the timne of day, er, night. This looked like a lower key race than many you do (except FA) – and more (or at least a different kind of) fun, IMHO For curiosity, I noticed that close to 1/4 the runners finished in nominal ties (not all at once, obviously, but same time as at least one other). In this type race, I’ve always interpreted that to mean that people may tend to run together – or were there that many photo finish sprints?

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I had a dual role this year being the first leg of the relay and also doing the race solo. For once this year the weather was perfect, 50’s to low 70’s under the canopy of the trees. The trail is marked by the state and has permanent mile markers for every mile. When you feeling good they seem to go by like a picket fence in a speeding car. When you’re not feeling so good they take forever. I was going to do a 100 in July but I was tardy with signing up and got closed out and stuffed this race in as a last minute thought. I think the cool weather allowed me to push a little more than I should have plus the terrain was sneaky. Not a lot of overall gain and loss once you got past the first 8 mile climb but sharp undulation combined with mud, rocks and roots had a vacuum effect. I had lots of base (a 50k and 50 mile race) to get through the distance but not enough training runs on rougher terrain. A few 3 1/2 hour runs on the rougher stuff was a little shy of the proper training but I knew that ahead of time. I had a rough spell in the 50’s but pulled it back for last 15. I was 19th of 46 finishers in a time of 16:47. 66 started which is close to a 30% drop rate which in not uncommon for this race. The team ran 16:18 but they had me as the early albatross. The aid station were few and stark and hawking Gatorpiss. My relay cohorts and bride served as crew and I only had to drink one bottle of that swill. I had premixed a bunch of bottles of SUCCEED!Clip which really helped. No problems with salt as one SUCCEED!cap an hour kept the plumbing active. Like any of these races they always seem like a good idea at the starting line. See http://www.laurelultra.com/ for deatils. I’ll run an easy 4 tomorrow night. -DougF

Great run Doug! I saw this race on the schedule and it looks like a great challenging race on interesting terrain, and may be a good stepping stone to a 100m. How much time did you spend stopping to eat, rest, work on feet?, etc – or did you pretty much grab the food + Clip, and keep running. When I did 50m at finger lakes 50’s, the course came through base camp 3 times so some people stopped to eat BBQ chicken and take short breaks. When I stopped I ate some solid food and worked on my feet and the break time added up to over 30 mins total for the whole run. I’m wondering how much break time a more experienced runner like you has at these events. Also it sounds like its a fairly hard course (with mud rocks roots and undulation (those steep ravines in the western Appalachian plain?)) – can you please elaborate for someone thinking of running this race. – Tony

Response:

I had a dual role this year being the first leg of the relay and also doing the race solo. For once this year the weather was perfect, 50’s to low 70’s under the canopy of the trees.

Neat – bet you enjoyed that for a switch I was 19th of 46 finishers in a time of 16:47.

Congratulations! 66 started which is close to a 30% drop rate which in not uncommon for this race.

For curiosity, did they drop before the end or just not make the 22-hr cutoff? It looked like many finishers were close (within a couple hours) to the 22 hr mark. Like any of these races they always seem like a good idea at the starting line. See http://www.laurelultra.com/ for deatils.

This looked like a lower key race than many you do (except FA) – and more (or at least a different kind of) fun, IMHO For curiosity, I noticed that close to 1/4 the runners finished in nominal ties (not all at once, obviously, but same time as at least one other). In this type race, I’ve always interpreted that to mean that people may tend to run together – or were there that many photo finish sprints? Just curious. I’ve noticed in many race reports that the smaller ones just seem to have a different aura (closer knit) about them. Congratulations! Enjoy your recovery! Dot — "Success is different things to different people" -Bernd Heinrich in Racing the Antelope

Response:

I had a dual role this year being the first leg of the relay and also doing the race solo. For once this year the weather was perfect, 50’s to low 70’s under the canopy of the trees. The trail is marked by the state and has permanent mile markers for every mile. When you feeling good they seem to go by like a picket fence in a speeding car. When you’re not feeling so good they take forever. I was going to do a 100 in July but I was tardy with signing up and got closed out and stuffed this race in as a last minute thought. I think the cool weather allowed me to push a little more than I should have plus the terrain was sneaky. Not a lot of overall gain and loss once you got past the first 8 mile climb but sharp undulation combined with mud, rocks and roots had a vacuum effect. I had lots of base (a 50k and 50 mile race) to get through the distance but not enough training runs on rougher terrain. A few 3 1/2 hour runs on the rougher stuff was a little shy of the proper training but I knew that ahead of time. I had a rough spell in the 50’s but pulled it back for last 15. I was 19th of 46 finishers in a time of 16:47. 66 started which is close to a 30% drop rate which in not uncommon for this race. The team ran 16:18 but they had me as the early albatross. The aid station were few and stark and hawking Gatorpiss. My relay cohorts and bride served as crew and I only had to drink one bottle of that swill. I had premixed a bunch of bottles of SUCCEED!Clip which really helped. No problems with salt as one SUCCEED!cap an hour kept the plumbing active. Like any of these races they always seem like a good idea at the starting line. See http://www.laurelultra.com/ for deatils. I’ll run an easy 4 tomorrow night. -DougF

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