It has taken me a couple weeks to report about this race. Don't get me wrong, this is a great event, on a great course (challenging), good atmosphere, and great food following the run, but I wanted to break 6 hours. That was my main focus when I decided to enter this event for the 4th time. Off the top of my head I've finished in 6:32, 6:18, 6:07, and 6:18 this time. I felt like I was better prepared than my 6:07 last attempt. My weight is at a level I haven't been to in 17+ years. I can't event remember the last time I was below the 180lbs mark. This, I figured, had to help me get under the 6hr mark.
This event is listed as the toughest 50k on the east coast. It travels up and down from the parkway twice with a total elevation gain and loss at above 7400ft. It is a beautiful location for a race but holds some very tough and technical terrain.
My problem with this course is that I typically battle cramping of my sartorius, hamstrings, quads, and calves after about the halfway point. This time I made it to mile 21 or so before bad things started to break down. I was following my plan pretty well, hitting my splits or coming in a tad faster, drinking 20oz between aide stations. and eating something at each aide station. I was going at a pretty slow rate on the climb up Apple Orchard falls, I lost a lot of time here, and when I got the sunset fields, the thought of running 5 miles down hill didn't cheer me up. I had to take the downhill pretty easy and cramps made me take at least 4 time outs along the way.
The surprising thing in all this was that very few people passed me during my suffering (that would have been more of a downer). I ended up coming into the finish in 6:18 and 29th place. Not bad overall and concidering it was the hottest race day for this race ever. I just think of what could have been and whether I will succomb to the pressure to run this race again and attempt a 5th try at a sub 6hr finish.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Mill Mountain Mayhem 10k - 4/18/09
We had perfect weather for this race. As some of you know this race has been over a year in the making. It has been an interesting process but worth it. The Roanoke City Parks and Recreation workers involved in this race were a huge help leading up to race day and during the race. Thank you.
This race is part of the Roanoke Non Ultra Trail Series (R NUTS) and this course is like a mini ultra trail run. It is a challenging course with over 1250ft of elevation gain and loss, lots of rocks, and a screaming fast 1.5 mile technical downhill to the finish. This course is very similar to the Promise Land 50k that Gina and I and a couple of other Mill Mountain Mayhem participants will be running next weekend.
We had 86 participants in this first year race. I look forward to this race growing. It is by far the Roanoke Valleys toughest 10k race. Each of you should be proud of your ability to run and finish such a tough course. It is a great accomplishment whether you were a front runner or at the end. These races are here for you to challenge you. There is only one winner and if you’re like me you will never see this person except at the start line. Challenge yourself and make a goal of matching or exceeding your time in 2010.
We had 6 people participate from out of state (thanks for coming to play with us), 32 from outside the Roanoke Valley, and 18 people that were new to Mountain Junkies LLC races. One of these was the winner David Cheromei, who ran the course at an amazing 5:41 per mile pace. Hard to believe. He crossed the finish line moving so fast that he had to hurdle the metal gate 80ft away. To me this is as amazing as our last finisher, Ray Gilbarte, finishing the race at age of 71.
Thank you for participating. I like seeing each of you compete and am enjoying the little community this R NUTS series has created. I look forward to the last race in the series, the Trail Nut 10k and Half Marathon, and what can be dreamt up for 2010.
Don’t forget the Sponsors:
Gilbert Chiropractic
Joel Gardner DDS
Super Shoes
Outdoor Trails
Road ID
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Josh Gilbert
Head Mountain Junkie
Gilbert Chiropractic
Joel Gardner DDS
Super Shoes
Outdoor Trails
Road ID
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Josh Gilbert
Head Mountain Junkie
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
4/4/09 - 6 hours of Warrior Creek
I've been wanting to participate in a "hour" race for a long time. This was just the place to do my first multi hour event. I haven't been riding my mountain bike much this winter or spring so I choose to sign up in the Male Duo Team category. I figured 2-3 hours of riding at 100% would be enough for my legs.
So I called up a buddy from the 2008 Virginia Derailer Series and we set out to have some fun in Wilkesboro NC. Gina signed up with 2 other girls and they raced in the 3 Person Female Team category and did really well. We ended up having a group of 9 guys/gals from the Roanoke area participating in this race. It was fun group to hang with.
We headed down to Wilkesboro on Friday to get in a course pre-ride. Unfortunately it rained 3 days prior to the race so the course was a bit muddy on Friday afternoon. Fortunately the wind picked up in the afternoon and helped dry the course out for Saturday. The course ended up being in great condition.
The course was 10.5 miles of rolling, curvey, and in a couple places hilly singletrack. This course had the most berms on it of any trail I've ever been on. You could practically ride sideways in some of the curves. It was a blast and a real lung burner. The trails winded in and out around the lake so you could see water in a number of spots.
The race had a last lap cut off at 3:30 so our team only got in 5 laps. I did 2 and Vandenberg did 3. It was a great time. Ride a lap, hang out for an hour, clean up/lube the bike, eat, hydrate, and then get out there and hit it again. It made for a fun and entertaining day.
The Brushy Mountain Cycling Club (BMCC) did a great job with this event and cutting the trails. I think we'll head back here in the future.
So I called up a buddy from the 2008 Virginia Derailer Series and we set out to have some fun in Wilkesboro NC. Gina signed up with 2 other girls and they raced in the 3 Person Female Team category and did really well. We ended up having a group of 9 guys/gals from the Roanoke area participating in this race. It was fun group to hang with.
We headed down to Wilkesboro on Friday to get in a course pre-ride. Unfortunately it rained 3 days prior to the race so the course was a bit muddy on Friday afternoon. Fortunately the wind picked up in the afternoon and helped dry the course out for Saturday. The course ended up being in great condition.
The course was 10.5 miles of rolling, curvey, and in a couple places hilly singletrack. This course had the most berms on it of any trail I've ever been on. You could practically ride sideways in some of the curves. It was a blast and a real lung burner. The trails winded in and out around the lake so you could see water in a number of spots.
The race had a last lap cut off at 3:30 so our team only got in 5 laps. I did 2 and Vandenberg did 3. It was a great time. Ride a lap, hang out for an hour, clean up/lube the bike, eat, hydrate, and then get out there and hit it again. It made for a fun and entertaining day.
The Brushy Mountain Cycling Club (BMCC) did a great job with this event and cutting the trails. I think we'll head back here in the future.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
3-28-09 Montvale 5 & 10 Mile Trail Races
The 10 day forecast leading up to this race looked pretty bleak. It was calling for 4 days of rain leading up to race day and an 80% chance of showers on race day. And this time the meteorologists had it right.
Gina and I went out on Friday to finalized the course, verify the total distances and mileage at the water stops, and to paint and put up the flagging and caution tape. The weather for us was great until about 4pm. That's when the rain started up again and didn't stop until 4am race morning.
Fortunately, most of the course tends to hold up well to wet weather. That is if the rain could hold off. The race day forecast was right on. There was no rain for the entire race and it didn't begin to sprinkle until Gina and I were pulling away at 3pm. Perfect.
Race morning the temperature was 58 degrees and cloudy. We had 71 preregistered for this race and another 27 people signed up to battle the course on race morning. For a first year event it is very hard to predict how many people will come out. I always hope for a minimum or 100 people but it takes more than hope.
Congratulations to all that finished. It is a big accomplishment anytime you run 5 or 10 miles. Most of the world will never experience what that feels like. These races were set up to push you. To push you on to new distances and new challenges. If you can run a 5k(10k), why not a 5 miler(10 miler). If you survive, why not a 10k(half marathon). I for one know that it is mostly a mental game. Your body will take you where you want it to go.
There were some impressive times Saturday:
5 Mile
1st Male - Sam Allen - 35:20 (6:44 per mile. It was a 5.25 mile course)
2nd Overall and 1st Female - Sarah Krycinski - 40:40 (7:45 per mile).
10 Mile
1st Male - Ed Dickenson - 1:04:51 (6:45 per mile. It was a 9.6 mile course).
1st Female - Hollie Flynn - 1:27:06 (9:04 per mile)
Gina and I went out on Friday to finalized the course, verify the total distances and mileage at the water stops, and to paint and put up the flagging and caution tape. The weather for us was great until about 4pm. That's when the rain started up again and didn't stop until 4am race morning.
Fortunately, most of the course tends to hold up well to wet weather. That is if the rain could hold off. The race day forecast was right on. There was no rain for the entire race and it didn't begin to sprinkle until Gina and I were pulling away at 3pm. Perfect.
Race morning the temperature was 58 degrees and cloudy. We had 71 preregistered for this race and another 27 people signed up to battle the course on race morning. For a first year event it is very hard to predict how many people will come out. I always hope for a minimum or 100 people but it takes more than hope.
Congratulations to all that finished. It is a big accomplishment anytime you run 5 or 10 miles. Most of the world will never experience what that feels like. These races were set up to push you. To push you on to new distances and new challenges. If you can run a 5k(10k), why not a 5 miler(10 miler). If you survive, why not a 10k(half marathon). I for one know that it is mostly a mental game. Your body will take you where you want it to go.
There were some impressive times Saturday:
5 Mile
1st Male - Sam Allen - 35:20 (6:44 per mile. It was a 5.25 mile course)
2nd Overall and 1st Female - Sarah Krycinski - 40:40 (7:45 per mile).
10 Mile
1st Male - Ed Dickenson - 1:04:51 (6:45 per mile. It was a 9.6 mile course).
1st Female - Hollie Flynn - 1:27:06 (9:04 per mile)
Thank you for coming out. I hope you had a great time.
And remember to visit our sponsors and tell them you participated in the race.
Gilbert Chiropractic
Joel B. Gardner, D.D.S.
Super Shoes
Outdoor Trails
The next race is the Mill Mountain Mayhem on 4/18/09, visit www.mountainjunkies.net for complete race details. Early registration ends on Saturday 4/4/09. Guarantee a race t-shirt, and your preferred t-shirt size, by registering early.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
3/7/09 Explore Your Limits V
Thank you to all our volunteers and sponsors for helping us make this event happen. We appreciate your support.
Gilbert Chiropractic
Dr. Joel Gardner DDS
Super Shoes
Outdoor Trails
One week prior to the race the Roanoke Valley saw it's first snow (4-6 inches) followed by single digit temperatures on Monday. I'm sure I wasn't the only one wondering what the coures would look like 6 days later.
Gina and I marked the course on Friday the 6th and there was still a couple of spots covered in snow. Surprisingly much of the course was in good shape and drying out by the minute. I decided to change the 10k course this year to clear up some course confusion around the 10k trail entrance and the finish line. In addition, the new section of trail tends to hold up better when wet and is a twistier (those of you that have participated in the 10k in the past can let me know which version you prefer)
The forecast for race day couldn't have been any better; 80 degrees with clear skies. The temperature at the start of the race was 65. We had 173 registered runners signed up. At least two runners were celebrating their birthdays; Kim Bennett and Elizabeth Skaggs (sorry I forgot to mention that during the awards).
Congratulations to all that participated and especially our youngest and oldest runners.
5k - 10 year old Lizzie Boone & 11 year old Jonathan Phillips
55 year old Jean Vengrin & 73 year old Maurice Earles
10k - 14 year old Jodee Martin & 13 year old Dana Thompson
56 year old Dru Sexton (2nd female) & 70 year old Ray Gilbarte
Results are posted on www.mountainjunkies.net/explore_your_limits.htm
Photos were taken by JJ Wimmer. He will have the photos posted after he gets them edited and uploaded to www.johnwimmer.fototime.com/welcome
The next races in the R NUTS (Roanoke Non Ultra Trail Series) will be:
3/28/09 - Montvale Park 5 & 10 milers
4/18/09 - Mill Mountain Mayhem 10k
6/06/09 - Trail Nut 10k and Half Marathon
See our website for more information www.mountainjunkies.net
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)