My friend Chris said, of the VT 50, that it is fun and awful at the same time. As my first 50 mile race I agree that there was plenty of both.
First the technical stuff: No issues with fueling which I was really worried about - I ate gels, Clif Bars, and stuff from the aid tables at a rate of 2-3x per hr in an effort to thwart cramping, which has been a problem for me. I took salt tabs hourly and drank 6 liters of water. All this seemed to work pretty well to keep me energized, hydrated and mostly cramp free. Also no chafing or blisters. Thank you Lulu Lemon for their wonderful sport briefs (tmi I know)! And I wore Saucony Peregrine 3's - a softer shoe than my normal La Sportiva's, but the course was dry and not too rocky - 60% single track with the balance, dirt roads and fields, and I found them easier on my foot/ ankle (see below). I also seriously tapered over 3 wks prior to the race- partly to be well rested and also to rest my ankle that I strained in mid- August. So less mileage and a few less long ones than I thought ideal, but a well rested ankle.
The race: the course has over 8000' of climbing, pretty evenly distributed, and the date coincides with leaf season in Vt, so there are lots of views and stunning scenery. The contrast between forest track, dirt roads and fields is also special. The day started cold and foggy, and the scene at the start was surreal. Did I mention this is also a mountain bike race? So there are over 600 cyclists warming up with headlamp beams criss-crossing the parking and and start areas, and reflective clothing glowing in the foggy dark. The bikers go first (with glow sticks marking the first few miles of the course!), and by 6:30, it is light and the 50 mile race begins. My stated goal was a sub 8 hr run, and my (not so) secret one was the age group record of 7:13. The latter demanding a 8:40 pace. An easy start was required, so I settled into a rhythm and let the first 15-20 runners stretch out in front of me. Up the first hill (all of 1 mile into the course!) I joined up with John and chatty Amy, last year's women's winner. One of the advantages of running 9:30 miles during and all day race, is that you can have a conversation. Amy, whose husband was in the lead group up ahead, entertained us w training and racing stories with a bit too much intimate detail about chafing, etc, but it did pass the time. We all got separated at the 2nd aid station (AS) at 12 miles, which I mistook for just a spectator area, so blew past the drop bags, including mine, which was waiting w a resupply of gels, salt tabs, etc...A mile later I realized my mistake, but luckily, since my second bag was at mile 32, I found an untouched package of Clif Blocks on the trail, probably bounced out of cyclist's jersey! John caught back up to me, but we never saw Amy again. We then churned up Garvin's Hill as the fog finally lifted, treating us to a killer view back to Mt Ascutney at the summit, which was also the mile 18 AS. I took what seemed like 5 mins trying to fill and repack my Camelbak and lost John and seemingly the rest of the race as I streaked down the other side in the woods.
By mile 22 a new group had formed including John, Ben (a surgery resident from UVM), Joe (HS teacher and Nordic ski coach, and in my age group), and another silent guy in a red top. Ben filled Amy's void, but more like a talk show host, firing questions, and Joe, inexplicably would occasionally just start singing. All this time we were cruising, chatting and the miles were rolling behind us. Ben, Joe and I dropped the others and were moving downhill after the mile 32 AS, where I did retrieve my 2nd bag, and all was looking good, and I was thinking - if I could just beat Joe, maybe the age group record was there as well? Of course, that was silly thought, as just about then, we started a long switch backing climb and my legs started to abandon me. Joe shouted from above, but I knew I needed to back off or the end would be ugly. Now all alone, the course got even steeper - a godsend in a way, as I power hiked up and up, and allowed my legs to recover some.
I should note that this day was not strictly a solo effort, as my daughter, Ceci, made the trip from NYC to keep me company and join me at mile 42 as a pacer (pacers are often allowed in latter parts of Ultras). The hill finally topped out onto what seemed like a several mile long stretch of dirt road and I forced myself to run, although at a snail's pace. I should also mention that due to the fog or something, my Garmin was lost in some sort of VT Bermuda Triangle and was tracking way slower than the actual mileage. After a left turn off the endless road, there was a sign for "LJ's", the next station - I asked "how far?", the answer was 42 and my watch was reading 38! My excitement about the bonus miles quickly evaporated when I realized my pacer was no where to be seen. After some rapid fire questions, it was revealed that she had arrived late due to a mix up in the shuttle schedule, and to compound the problem had been misdirected onto the course as the official seemed to think I had already gone past! The pacer was now a rabbit!!
I tried to send word ahead via biker messenger, but I ended up passing the couriers. I was energized now, and after another 10 mins, I catch sight of her heading down the path to me! She had caught up to Joe and Ben, who knew I was expecting her, and they told her to go back. The timing could not have been better, as I was dying again. My watch read 6:30 or so with 6-7 miles to go, so it appeared that a good time was still possible, though I kept thinking about what Chris and others had said about how slow the last section could be. It was all forest trail - twisty, turning, up and down - not extreme, but generally inclined. In last year's 50k, I was flying through this section, now I was being cajoled by Ceci to keep my head up and feet moving. The last AS is at 47.5 and just never seemed to come. A brief burst into the now hot sun, we finally see an official who says 3/4 of mile to the station! Maddeningly there is a sign after the table that notes "3 miles to go". Still, it is down hill through a nice meadow -in fact we pass a racer who tells us this is his property(!) (we are now picking off stragglers from the 50k). But then back to the woods and more of what came before. I am cursing, Ceci is prodding, and the watch still shows 7:3x. The last mile is down the now defunct Mt Ascutney ski resort -a zig-zagging, cross slope, ankle crushing downhill - it is hot, and my stomach is starting to hurt. I catch a glimpse of John at the top of the slope above me, and find some sort of kick to take me past the line with the clock showing 7:49:38. Good for 13th place.
I was afraid to sit down after the race, for fear I would not be able to get up again, which was not too far from being true. Curiously, the 7 hours and 49 minutes went by quickly, and the race did not seem nearly as hard as I was expecting. It was disappointing to not have legs when I needed them, and no age group record nor even the age group win, though I did finish ahead of all but one person each from the 20-29 and 40-49 brackets among the 228 finishers. Ben and Joe finished together in 10th and 11th; John was 15th, Lisa 18th, both breaking 8 hrs. The top woman was 3rd overall in 7:01, a course record. The men's winning time of 6:09 was also a record. Ceci's XC captain from Williams, Liz Gleason won the 50k women's finishing 3rd overall.
It was a great day on a beautiful course, shared with old and new friends. Thanks especially to Ceci, and to many of you on this list for your support and interest in this crazy endeavor.
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