Before I start my rant, I should mention a bit more about Lee Anne's 100K at the Pine Creek Challenge on September 6. The scenery around Pennsylvania is spectacular! One problem with using the GPS lady in my car is that she lulls you into a mid-grade stupor. You stop paying attention to the road, because she is in fact driving the car for you. This may not be entirely accurate, so don't set cruise and lower your seat back for a quick nap...
So, I'm admiring the scenery and half-listening to the driving directions when I notice a sign ahead indicating that I am 10 miles from the Grand Canyon. Hmm. I'm fairly certain the Grand Canyon is time zones away from Pennsylvania, so I thought perhaps I would pay closer attention to where I was for a few minutes, before lapsing back into my stupor. Apparently, there is a different Grand Canyon in Pennsylvania! This came somewhat as a relief!
Lee Anne's plan for the 100K challenge (it is actually not a race!) was to treat it as a training run for her upcoming 100 mile race. She is hoping to return to Phoenix in December to address some unfinished business with an age category Canadian record. So, Lee Anne ran the 100K at what will hopefully be her 100 mile pace. Although slow, I was quite impressed by her constant pace. Lee Anne finished the 100K in 14:09, which would be about perfect for the first 100K in a 100 mile record attempt. More importantly, she still had some gas in the tank at the end. The aid station volunteers and I got a bit of a chuckle from Lee Anne when she pass us at the 95K point and loudly declared that after the race, she would like to go to Subway and get a sub. This is not the first thing I would have expected her to say! It also indicated that she was not "hurting" as most humans should be, after having run 95K!
On to the rant...
When I was young, I was a farmer. Okay, to be perfectly clear, I worked on a farm. I tossed 30,000 square bales of hay into a few barns each summer. I grew the crops and wrestled the bulls. So, it has been a little vexing that I have had continuous issues with growing vegetables in my garden. I wouldn't call the results pathetic, but definitely not bountiful.
I retired last May. I vowed to correct the gardening issues come hell or high water! (Note: I live on the Mad river, so high water is a realistic issue. The garden has been under water on several occasions) Step 1: Using the tractor, I put 3 tonnes of manure in the garden. I expected more weeds, but was pleasantly surprised at how few extra weeds showed up. The manure made a significant difference to the garden! We had tomatoes coming out the yingyang. The potatoes actually grew! Many cucumbers and peppers. This was all very nice, but I don't eat many vegetables. However, I do like carrots. I plant a lot of carrots. I spent hours (days?) weeding my 10 rows of carrots. This year, they were fantastic. Bumper crop! 4 rows were consumed over the summer and tasted sweet and wonderful. 6 rows I was holding back for the fall and over-winter storage. I have not over-wintered carrots in 30 years. I was pumped! Until the #^%@% beavers intervened...
I don't like beavers. These overweight rats are very industrious, but lack any sense of proportion. I have a 100 foot poplar tree that is 4 feet in diameter at the base. About 3 weeks ago, I noticed the beavers had been chewing it. Seriously? You are going to chew through 4 feet of tree? Get a life, buddy! Fortunately, they have abandoned their poplar quest (perhaps it was unpopular). They found something much more annoying to do. While Lee Anne and I where in Florida, the #^%^# beavers harvested all 6 rows of carrots. Normally, the deer eat the carrot greens at this time of year, which is no big deal; I can dig up the carrots. No. The beavers (there is 2 foot wide muddy trail from the carrots to the Mad river) dug up all the carrots and hauled them away. I didn't even know that beavers ate carrots! I'm calmer now, but earlier I had visions of dynamite and beaver bits flying everywhere.
I'm still not happy.
And so we are now preparing for the Run For the Toad race. Lee Anne is running the 25K, but since we have the Can Lake 50 the following week, I am relegated to being a volunteer. Even running the short race (25K) would adversely impact my 50K at Canlake. George and Peggy Sarson put so much effort into their race, it is important to be a part of their enterprise. If you are attending Canada's largest trail race, please stop to say hello. I will be handing out race kits on Friday, at registration early Saturday morning, then at the start/finish during the race.
I still remember handing Ellie Greenwood her Toad duffel bag. I think I behaved myself...
Hope to see you at the Toad!
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Outrunning a Beagle
Had a successful day. It started with a slow leak in my front right tire. That was not the successful part. I plugged it (the hole is near the sidewall) but it continued to leak. I had a great idea and put in a second plug. Still leaking! I noticed at this point that the sidewall was starting to bulge. Those of you that know how I drive (it wasn't that bad Stephan - at least we where airborne over the herd of deer) will realize that a weak sidewall in one of my tires is not such a good idea. Off to Cookstown wreckers, to buy a tire!
Yes, I drive what is arguably a sports car. When I told Jack at Cookstown that I needed a 215/45 R17, he just smiled and said "good luck". So I looked through their huge tire selection. Some came close - 205/50 might do in a pinch. So much for buying a pair! Then I noticed a 215/45 R17. Hmm. A Michelin, same as on my car. Model? HX MXM4. Really? With quite good tread. I brought it to the office, where the salesperson looked at the tire and commented that it was brand new. That hurt. Perhaps I wasn't going to get such a good deal. Canadian tire sells them for $235 (tax in). My price? $90. Okay, I'm happy. Off I went to Honda's workshop, to flip the rubber and balance the wheel. For free. One perq of being a former employee!
The beagle? I am training for the Can50 50K on October 11. I have left it too late, but am hoping to cover enough ground in the next 4 weeks to appease the training gods. Good luck with that! My wife Lee Anne used to run a tricky 15K while I was working in Tokyo, which we subsequently named the Tokyo run. By substituting some epic trails for a few road sections, the syncopated Tokyo run becomes a hilly 12K with almost no cliffs. That last part is a hint to those who have run the Creemore Vertical Challenge... After 1.5K of trail and about 1K of road, I stumbled upon a beagle, who I assume was protecting his territory. There are 3 results from an encounter with a dog on a farm road. 1. (The best): It barks at you, then goes back home. 2. It attacks you, then goes back home. 3. (This is awful, so prepare yourself) It follows you. For miles. I learned several things from this encounter. It is very difficult to outrun a beagle. I suspect that the beagle in question is used for fox hunts. As in, it lives at or near the Toronto hunting club, in an upscale section of Mulmur (where, incidentally, they have a 1.5 to 3 million dollar real estate range) and is used to running for - oh, 3-4 hours? I tried the usual endeavours, such as stopping, pointing back along the road and yelling "GO HOME". It would lie down (this is good), then when I was 35 meters away, jump up and continue to follow me (not good). This went on for 8K. I tried other venues, which in retrospect do not seem overly intelligent, such as racing up the escarpment (perhaps beagles have trouble running long uphills? NO!). Eventually I resigned myself to running home, then (hopefully) finding a phone number on the beagle's tags and calling the owner.
The last part of the Tokyo trail run follows the last 2K of the CVC. There is a T intersection about 1.5K from the finish line where runners turn left and encounter 2 short cliffs. Just before the turn, I realized the beagle was not in sight. Would this be simple? I veered around the corner and brought the pace up to top speed. Into the bush I flew (okay, probably only a 5:00/K pace), up and down the cliffs and eventually home. No sign of the beagle!
Hopefully the dog finds it way home. I assume it will, as I last saw it about 1.5K from where I first encountered it. Conversely, there are many coyotes in the area around the T intersection. Ah! Such us life!
Dig Deep!
Yes, I drive what is arguably a sports car. When I told Jack at Cookstown that I needed a 215/45 R17, he just smiled and said "good luck". So I looked through their huge tire selection. Some came close - 205/50 might do in a pinch. So much for buying a pair! Then I noticed a 215/45 R17. Hmm. A Michelin, same as on my car. Model? HX MXM4. Really? With quite good tread. I brought it to the office, where the salesperson looked at the tire and commented that it was brand new. That hurt. Perhaps I wasn't going to get such a good deal. Canadian tire sells them for $235 (tax in). My price? $90. Okay, I'm happy. Off I went to Honda's workshop, to flip the rubber and balance the wheel. For free. One perq of being a former employee!
The beagle? I am training for the Can50 50K on October 11. I have left it too late, but am hoping to cover enough ground in the next 4 weeks to appease the training gods. Good luck with that! My wife Lee Anne used to run a tricky 15K while I was working in Tokyo, which we subsequently named the Tokyo run. By substituting some epic trails for a few road sections, the syncopated Tokyo run becomes a hilly 12K with almost no cliffs. That last part is a hint to those who have run the Creemore Vertical Challenge... After 1.5K of trail and about 1K of road, I stumbled upon a beagle, who I assume was protecting his territory. There are 3 results from an encounter with a dog on a farm road. 1. (The best): It barks at you, then goes back home. 2. It attacks you, then goes back home. 3. (This is awful, so prepare yourself) It follows you. For miles. I learned several things from this encounter. It is very difficult to outrun a beagle. I suspect that the beagle in question is used for fox hunts. As in, it lives at or near the Toronto hunting club, in an upscale section of Mulmur (where, incidentally, they have a 1.5 to 3 million dollar real estate range) and is used to running for - oh, 3-4 hours? I tried the usual endeavours, such as stopping, pointing back along the road and yelling "GO HOME". It would lie down (this is good), then when I was 35 meters away, jump up and continue to follow me (not good). This went on for 8K. I tried other venues, which in retrospect do not seem overly intelligent, such as racing up the escarpment (perhaps beagles have trouble running long uphills? NO!). Eventually I resigned myself to running home, then (hopefully) finding a phone number on the beagle's tags and calling the owner.
The last part of the Tokyo trail run follows the last 2K of the CVC. There is a T intersection about 1.5K from the finish line where runners turn left and encounter 2 short cliffs. Just before the turn, I realized the beagle was not in sight. Would this be simple? I veered around the corner and brought the pace up to top speed. Into the bush I flew (okay, probably only a 5:00/K pace), up and down the cliffs and eventually home. No sign of the beagle!
Hopefully the dog finds it way home. I assume it will, as I last saw it about 1.5K from where I first encountered it. Conversely, there are many coyotes in the area around the T intersection. Ah! Such us life!
Dig Deep!
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Late Night Post
It is not overly late, but I was cutting firewood all day, so it FEELS late...
Running is tough when cutting firewood. The back hurts, the legs are bleeding, My upper body is stiff. Do they make an Ibuprofen inhaler? I need more power Scotty!
Lee Anne is race director for the Creemore Copper Kettle Dash, held on Saturday, August 23 in conjunction with Creemore Springs Brewery's Copper Kettle Festival. The Dash is a 5K and 10K race. It went well, but again participation was down. Although much less work than the Creemore Vertical Challenge, it is still significant effort, for only 63 runners. Holding it a fourth year is questionable.
Next Saturday (Sept. 6) I will be crewing for Lee Anne in the Pine Creek Challenge. She was originally going to run the 100 mile race, but the course is not certified, so she will run the 100K as a long training run. I hope to get a few miles in by pacing her.
On October 11 we are running the Canlake 50. Again, Lee Anne will show me up by running the 50 mile, while I attempt the baby ultra (50K). I should probably start training soon...
The Toad is a bit of a quandary, as I don't do well racing 25K the week before a 50K... This will take some thought.
Oh well, that's it for now. Bedtime!
Running is tough when cutting firewood. The back hurts, the legs are bleeding, My upper body is stiff. Do they make an Ibuprofen inhaler? I need more power Scotty!
Lee Anne is race director for the Creemore Copper Kettle Dash, held on Saturday, August 23 in conjunction with Creemore Springs Brewery's Copper Kettle Festival. The Dash is a 5K and 10K race. It went well, but again participation was down. Although much less work than the Creemore Vertical Challenge, it is still significant effort, for only 63 runners. Holding it a fourth year is questionable.
Next Saturday (Sept. 6) I will be crewing for Lee Anne in the Pine Creek Challenge. She was originally going to run the 100 mile race, but the course is not certified, so she will run the 100K as a long training run. I hope to get a few miles in by pacing her.
On October 11 we are running the Canlake 50. Again, Lee Anne will show me up by running the 50 mile, while I attempt the baby ultra (50K). I should probably start training soon...
The Toad is a bit of a quandary, as I don't do well racing 25K the week before a 50K... This will take some thought.
Oh well, that's it for now. Bedtime!
Monday, August 11, 2014
Dirty Girls: Volunteer
I almost feel guilty about volunteering at the Dirty Girls race. The Mansfield Outdoor Centre is an 8 minute drive from my house. When other volunteers are finished their shift, they have a 2 hour drive home. This is significant because DG is a 12, 24 and 48 hour race. Vollies are typically at the race site all day or all night. A 2 hour drive after helping runners for 12 hours is tricky!
Being retired, I was able to give Diane (RD) and Henri (her beautiful assistant) more of my time. I helped with course and race set-up on Thursday, had Friday off, then worked at the start/finish aid station on Friday and Saturday nights. Probably of more importance from Diane and Henri's perspective, Lee Anne and I offer them a room to store race materials and a bed to sleep, up in Creemore. I think a good night's sleep on Wednesday night, 8 minutes from the race is very key. Diane and Henri don't get much sleep from Thursday evening to Sunday evening!
As mentioned above, DG has 3 races. I like to think of them along the following lines:
12 hour: Seriously disturbed humans
24 hour: Do you really consider yourself to be human? Why?
48 hour: Avoid these people. No, really - avert your eyes!
There comes a point in the 12 hour race where each and every one of the runners questions their sanity. I hope. Almost immediately following this "anti" epiphany is the realization that there are other people out there who look at the first 12 hours of running as the warm-up. Working at the aid station, I could almost predict the point at which the 12 hour runners would look at me, stare for a few seconds, then exclaim "those 24 and 48 runners are totally whacked"! Aside from being married to one of them, I couldn't agree more...
If we suspend sanity for an instant, purely in the cause of pursuing a logical conclusion, it could be argued that running 24 hours is simply a very great challenge. People have done extraordinary things for a very long time, for various good reasons. I once participated in a 12 hour dance-a-thon. People drink alcohol for more than 24 hours. Some of them live! Running, although much harder than dancing or drinking, can be maintained for a very long time. The 24 hour runners followed a fairly typical decay. Most ran between 6 and 12 hours, then ran/walked for another 4 - 6 hours, then walked with a few running "breaks" until the 24 hours was complete. None of this is overly strange, from an academic perspective. But you might want to volunteer at a 24 hour race before you decide to run one yourself. You will soon realize that the most bizarre things will happen to you! You learn the best way to duct tape a broken orthotic. You hear cute little comments like "I just threw up 3 times. I'm feeling much better now, but will pass on the cold french fries". Joe Cleary (okay, he was in the 48 hour race) was stung by a wasp. His hand swelled impressively. It looked like medical attention was a valid option. Joe is 73, but decided that continuing with his run was "reasonable"... Really?
Running 48 hours is considered lunacy, even in ultra circles. I consider myself to be an ultra runner, although I have not yet been able to train for "true" ultra distances (50 miles or more), but even if I was completely healthy, in top shape and had no injuries, going for a run that started at sun-up, progressed until sundown, then continued through another sun-up, then another sundown, and finally another sun-up? Nope. Not going to happen! The neat thing about a 48 hour race is perspective. It makes a 24 hour race seem normal. I mean, you only see the sun go down once. How hard can it be? I know, leaning towards certifiable.
Working at an aid station is a lot of fun. You are the only person not experiencing extreme pain. You are coherent (assuming the wine is moderated) and all you need to do is provide the runners with SOMETHING that appeals to them. This can be tricky, but after working at an aid station for a few races, it becomes easier. Is the runner sweating? No? Push the cold fries dipped in salt. The runner looks good, but wants a change of menu? Suggest some soup or a grilled cheese. Runners tend to rely on gels, or a special mixture in their handheld bottle. This is important as they need to find what works for them hour after hour. But all runners eventually tire of the same old thing. That's when a volunteer can make a big difference. DG is a LONG race on an 8K loop. You see the same runners about every 90 minutes. Yes, it is a fairly tough course! You start to anticipate what they would want. I try to instill humour into the equation. Come on Kim! Only 45 hours to go - time to pick up the pace! Just a note: Runners either laugh at your joke, or they kill you...
Well, Lee Anne and I just found out that we are in the Can Lake 50. We were quite far down the waiting list, but are now in the race! Lee Anne is running the 50M and I will tackle the 50K. I don't know much about the race, aside from it takes place mostly on pavement, and the RD Egils Robs is very competent and accommodating. So we are off to Rochester NY on October 11. Looks like I am only running 25K at Run for the Toad!
Cheers!
Being retired, I was able to give Diane (RD) and Henri (her beautiful assistant) more of my time. I helped with course and race set-up on Thursday, had Friday off, then worked at the start/finish aid station on Friday and Saturday nights. Probably of more importance from Diane and Henri's perspective, Lee Anne and I offer them a room to store race materials and a bed to sleep, up in Creemore. I think a good night's sleep on Wednesday night, 8 minutes from the race is very key. Diane and Henri don't get much sleep from Thursday evening to Sunday evening!
As mentioned above, DG has 3 races. I like to think of them along the following lines:
12 hour: Seriously disturbed humans
24 hour: Do you really consider yourself to be human? Why?
48 hour: Avoid these people. No, really - avert your eyes!
There comes a point in the 12 hour race where each and every one of the runners questions their sanity. I hope. Almost immediately following this "anti" epiphany is the realization that there are other people out there who look at the first 12 hours of running as the warm-up. Working at the aid station, I could almost predict the point at which the 12 hour runners would look at me, stare for a few seconds, then exclaim "those 24 and 48 runners are totally whacked"! Aside from being married to one of them, I couldn't agree more...
If we suspend sanity for an instant, purely in the cause of pursuing a logical conclusion, it could be argued that running 24 hours is simply a very great challenge. People have done extraordinary things for a very long time, for various good reasons. I once participated in a 12 hour dance-a-thon. People drink alcohol for more than 24 hours. Some of them live! Running, although much harder than dancing or drinking, can be maintained for a very long time. The 24 hour runners followed a fairly typical decay. Most ran between 6 and 12 hours, then ran/walked for another 4 - 6 hours, then walked with a few running "breaks" until the 24 hours was complete. None of this is overly strange, from an academic perspective. But you might want to volunteer at a 24 hour race before you decide to run one yourself. You will soon realize that the most bizarre things will happen to you! You learn the best way to duct tape a broken orthotic. You hear cute little comments like "I just threw up 3 times. I'm feeling much better now, but will pass on the cold french fries". Joe Cleary (okay, he was in the 48 hour race) was stung by a wasp. His hand swelled impressively. It looked like medical attention was a valid option. Joe is 73, but decided that continuing with his run was "reasonable"... Really?
Running 48 hours is considered lunacy, even in ultra circles. I consider myself to be an ultra runner, although I have not yet been able to train for "true" ultra distances (50 miles or more), but even if I was completely healthy, in top shape and had no injuries, going for a run that started at sun-up, progressed until sundown, then continued through another sun-up, then another sundown, and finally another sun-up? Nope. Not going to happen! The neat thing about a 48 hour race is perspective. It makes a 24 hour race seem normal. I mean, you only see the sun go down once. How hard can it be? I know, leaning towards certifiable.
Working at an aid station is a lot of fun. You are the only person not experiencing extreme pain. You are coherent (assuming the wine is moderated) and all you need to do is provide the runners with SOMETHING that appeals to them. This can be tricky, but after working at an aid station for a few races, it becomes easier. Is the runner sweating? No? Push the cold fries dipped in salt. The runner looks good, but wants a change of menu? Suggest some soup or a grilled cheese. Runners tend to rely on gels, or a special mixture in their handheld bottle. This is important as they need to find what works for them hour after hour. But all runners eventually tire of the same old thing. That's when a volunteer can make a big difference. DG is a LONG race on an 8K loop. You see the same runners about every 90 minutes. Yes, it is a fairly tough course! You start to anticipate what they would want. I try to instill humour into the equation. Come on Kim! Only 45 hours to go - time to pick up the pace! Just a note: Runners either laugh at your joke, or they kill you...
Well, Lee Anne and I just found out that we are in the Can Lake 50. We were quite far down the waiting list, but are now in the race! Lee Anne is running the 50M and I will tackle the 50K. I don't know much about the race, aside from it takes place mostly on pavement, and the RD Egils Robs is very competent and accommodating. So we are off to Rochester NY on October 11. Looks like I am only running 25K at Run for the Toad!
Cheers!
Friday, August 1, 2014
Limberlost and Lumberlabour
Okay, this RR is late. I know, I'm retired, so what the hell could be my excuse? You're not going to like hearing this again, but I've been busy! Read after the RR if you care to find out why.
The Limberlost Challenge
The Limberlost Challenge ranks as one of Ontario's finest trail races, a big part of which is the most excellent course. Even in a wet and muddy year such as 2014, it ranks as a favourite among many of Ontario's trail aficionados. TLC and Creemore have a special connection, that grew out of a need to address the perceived problem of holding 2 Ontario ultra (OUS) races on consecutive weekends. Due to logistics, it would have been problematic to change the date of either race. Instead, Neil (RD for TLC) and I decided to make a challenge for those who ran both the Creemore Vertical Challenge and The Limberlost Challenge. Hence the birth of the (what else!) Ultra Challenge Challenge. Those completing both races would be presented with a coveted UCC finishers medal. The top 3 M/F would also get prizes (pottery) and a plaque.
The above is a fairly lengthy explanation that I needed to help Neil with the UCC; calculating and tracking the times, and presenting finishers with the UCC medal. There's no way I'm going to be at TLC without running the course! Running the 28K would give me time to help with the UCC after my race was complete.
Since I'm about 2.5 hours from Huntsville, I drove up the morning of the race. TLC boasts one of the greatest venues for staging a race, with plenty of parking, space for a big tent and a lake to cool down in after my 28K shift was done. Races start every 20 minutes, so that all 4 races begin between 8:00 and 9:00.
My running is starting to progress in 2014. I think this has to do with more physical exercise (retirement does not translate to leisure, in my case), losing some weight and no injuries. At TLC, I decided to push the pace a little, for the first time in 3 years. I stayed slow during the first 5K, to make sure there were no hidden issues, then gradually upped the pace until it became "challenging". I was not rocketing the course by any means, but finished the first 14K in 1:44, which is very respectable for me. Fatigue and being unused to pushing during a run meant that my second loop was slower. I was happy with a sub-2 hour second 14K and a finishing time of 3:43! It has been a while since I was in the top half of the finishers, so I was surprised to see that I placed 5th of 13 in my AC. This helps tremendously as some days, I wonder if I will ever be able to run fast again.
After the race, I enjoyed the lake (okay, in case someone reads this who saw me in the lake, I went up to my shins), had a shishkabob, then hung around chatting and handing out UCC medals.
Great race!
Lumberlabour
I am helping my son-in-law Daryl to build a house in Toronto. Daryl and Lily (my step-daughter) bought a bungalow near Park Lawn and during the winter, Daryl and I demolished everything but the exterior walls and part of the floor. After a few delays (this becomes significant later on), Csaba (pronounced Chubba), a master carpenter, started framing the new house. It would be a 2 story modern style house, loosely based on Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. Daryl and I are the common labourers, while Ritchie, an experienced carpenter, is helping Csaba with the construction.
Csaba, who is lightening quick at his normal speed, has been going gangbusters to complete the framing before he heads to Hungary for a vacation to visit with family and friends. Trying to keep up with his requests for lumber and plywood is killing me! Is the house over-engineered? For the roof, we are talking 2x8 20 foot lumber for the rafters, strapped with 2X4 on edge, then 3/4 inch plywood for the decking. A typical comment from Csaba: "Hey Pierre! Please hand me 4 sheets of 3/4 plywood". Csaba means for me to haul the 4 sheets up through a window to the roof peak. I might be exaggerating a bit, but you get the picture...
The house will be impressive once complete. From just inside the front door, it will be 26 feet up to the peak. The house will be clad entirely in metal. More pictures to come!
The Limberlost Challenge
The Limberlost Challenge ranks as one of Ontario's finest trail races, a big part of which is the most excellent course. Even in a wet and muddy year such as 2014, it ranks as a favourite among many of Ontario's trail aficionados. TLC and Creemore have a special connection, that grew out of a need to address the perceived problem of holding 2 Ontario ultra (OUS) races on consecutive weekends. Due to logistics, it would have been problematic to change the date of either race. Instead, Neil (RD for TLC) and I decided to make a challenge for those who ran both the Creemore Vertical Challenge and The Limberlost Challenge. Hence the birth of the (what else!) Ultra Challenge Challenge. Those completing both races would be presented with a coveted UCC finishers medal. The top 3 M/F would also get prizes (pottery) and a plaque.
The above is a fairly lengthy explanation that I needed to help Neil with the UCC; calculating and tracking the times, and presenting finishers with the UCC medal. There's no way I'm going to be at TLC without running the course! Running the 28K would give me time to help with the UCC after my race was complete.
Since I'm about 2.5 hours from Huntsville, I drove up the morning of the race. TLC boasts one of the greatest venues for staging a race, with plenty of parking, space for a big tent and a lake to cool down in after my 28K shift was done. Races start every 20 minutes, so that all 4 races begin between 8:00 and 9:00.
My running is starting to progress in 2014. I think this has to do with more physical exercise (retirement does not translate to leisure, in my case), losing some weight and no injuries. At TLC, I decided to push the pace a little, for the first time in 3 years. I stayed slow during the first 5K, to make sure there were no hidden issues, then gradually upped the pace until it became "challenging". I was not rocketing the course by any means, but finished the first 14K in 1:44, which is very respectable for me. Fatigue and being unused to pushing during a run meant that my second loop was slower. I was happy with a sub-2 hour second 14K and a finishing time of 3:43! It has been a while since I was in the top half of the finishers, so I was surprised to see that I placed 5th of 13 in my AC. This helps tremendously as some days, I wonder if I will ever be able to run fast again.
After the race, I enjoyed the lake (okay, in case someone reads this who saw me in the lake, I went up to my shins), had a shishkabob, then hung around chatting and handing out UCC medals.
Great race!
Lumberlabour
I am helping my son-in-law Daryl to build a house in Toronto. Daryl and Lily (my step-daughter) bought a bungalow near Park Lawn and during the winter, Daryl and I demolished everything but the exterior walls and part of the floor. After a few delays (this becomes significant later on), Csaba (pronounced Chubba), a master carpenter, started framing the new house. It would be a 2 story modern style house, loosely based on Frank Lloyd Wright architecture. Daryl and I are the common labourers, while Ritchie, an experienced carpenter, is helping Csaba with the construction.
Csaba, who is lightening quick at his normal speed, has been going gangbusters to complete the framing before he heads to Hungary for a vacation to visit with family and friends. Trying to keep up with his requests for lumber and plywood is killing me! Is the house over-engineered? For the roof, we are talking 2x8 20 foot lumber for the rafters, strapped with 2X4 on edge, then 3/4 inch plywood for the decking. A typical comment from Csaba: "Hey Pierre! Please hand me 4 sheets of 3/4 plywood". Csaba means for me to haul the 4 sheets up through a window to the roof peak. I might be exaggerating a bit, but you get the picture...
The house will be impressive once complete. From just inside the front door, it will be 26 feet up to the peak. The house will be clad entirely in metal. More pictures to come!
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Creemore Vertical Challenge: Race Director Report
Reader's Digest version: I've never seen so many happy runners!
Not to say that everyone was happy. We had 8 people go off course, most due to a sign malfunction. Thanks to Jack Kilislian, for righting the sign after running 50K! I cringe at the thought of asking even more people to volunteer, but that is what it would take to place marshals at every potential misdirection site. Thankfully, it is no longer the trails that are generating lost runners, but the roads. Trails are easier. Rule of thumb: When you run by a flag, you should be able to see the next flag, or there should be no doubt as to where the trail goes. Example: 6 foot tall grass on either side of a mowed trail. Easy! Roads are not so easy. No matter how much signage, exhausted runners have the propensity to continue running in the direction they are going. And it takes some effort to scan for signage, especially on a new course. I put 4 red flags around the corner of each turn along with a lime green sign with blue arrows. After every corner, if you are on the correct road, you will see 2 red flags 100 meters from the turn and 2 red flags every 400 meters thereon. Nevertheless, every year runners go off course. I don't want to get cynical and declare that no matter what I do, there will always be lost souls, but sometimes I wonder!
At the start of the race we had a lot of regulars walking around muttering "What the hell is this!". The temperature was 18 degrees with little humidity. You could tell that they were getting nervous, thinking 'what diabolical natural disaster is he going to hit us with?'. Some of the regulars believe that I control the weather and take perverse pleasure in throwing a mixture of high heat and hills at the unsuspecting CVC virgins and veterans. Nothing could be further from the truth - I don't control the weather. But every year, runners don't so much race "Screamore" as survive it...
For whatever reason, the weather gods showed a tangible lapse in creating horrific conditions. Running was actually enjoyable! Especially the 25K, as the temperature stayed below 25C until most runners had finished. Even the 50K runners enjoyed a nominally warm finish, hovering around the 27 degree mark. So, the hills provided most of the "Challenge" during the race, allowing runners to focus on the terrain instead of their core temperature.
Enfield Chip Timing was a huge help. Rather than struggling with my homegrown timing system, I could simply walk up to Jeff or his wife (yes, my memory has not improved) and ask for the 25K awards printout. No complicated processing of data, worrying about a runner's time not being registered because I was printing... Their "Finish" line was awe inspiring. So was the Results tent, where runners could look up their stats or view printouts of how they fared against the field. I believe there was also a Twitter going on.
By the way, it is raining cats and dogs as I type (13:56 on Tuesday).
Many runners made an effort to tell me how much they had enjoyed the race and how much they were enjoying the pizza and beer, while sitting in the Mad river! After hundreds of hours of work, to get the race ready, it was wonderful to see people having a good time. Worth the effort! I expect that Creemore Springs Brewery, the main sponsor, was a pivotal reason in the post-race success. Nothing like 190 thirsty runners enjoying themselves after a hard race.
Mike Tickner is dabbling with the longer distances this year. Mike has the CVC 25K record (1:42:46) and is no stranger to the course. I expect he was eyeing the 50K record and came oh so close to bagging it! Less than 2 minutes off the record, Mike rocketed the course in 4:03:41. Christian Otto (4:46:07) and Ben Compton (4:50:18) rounded out the podium.
Amongst the 50K women, a real battle raged almost to the bitter end. Melanie Boultbee was able to hang onto her pace a bit longer, posting the victory in a time of 5:01:18. Shortly behind her were Lisa Van Wolde (5:05:08) and Inge Boerma in a time of 5:08:18.
In the 25K, Kevin Beatty clocked an amazing 1:45:31 for the victory. Right behind him was Robert Bruillette in 1:47:03 and Brendan Neely in 1:55:56. Posting a sub-2 hour time takes some serious effort, so I would also like to mention Dave Rutherford, who at 49 years of age (just a youngster!) posted an astonishing 1:58:44!
It appears that the 25K women also had a battle going. Jessica Kuepfer won in a time of 2:20:20, with Vicki Zandbergen only 40 seconds behind, in 2:21:00. Third place was taken by Deanne McDoom in 2:28:48.
Well done to all that toed the line in what is regarded as one of Ontario's toughest races. For those doing the math, the 50K has 1.75 kilometres of vertical gain! About 8 trips up the Niagara Escarpment, anyone? Preliminary results can be found at Enfield chip timing:
http://www.enfieldtiming.com/creemore-vertical-challenge
A huge thanks to all the volunteers, without whom the race could not take place. Since there is no running club in Creemore, volunteers are sourced from friends, neighbours and family. Many have vollied for several years, which helps as they get to know the course, runners and how to support those in distress. Running an aid station is quite exciting and rewarding. If you cannot make it to the starting line one year, consider helping out.
As mentioned, Creemore Springs Brewery provides post-race refreshments free of charge. The race is challenging and the reward for finishing is to sit in the Mad river with a slice of pizza from Perfect Pizza and a beer. Runners tend to stick around for a while at Creemore, discussing their plans with other runners. Thanks to Hammer Nutrition for providing HEED (High Energy Electrolyte Drink), a key component when running long. Road ID provides bibs, pins and spot prizes.
Putting on the Creemore Vertical Challenge is in itself a challenge. If I was intelligent (stop laughing) I would outsource the prizes, finishing medals, early-bird prize, race set-up and trail prep. I said stop laughing... But then it would not be the Creemore Vertical Challenge. I spend 100 hours making maple syrup for the race. My wife Lee Anne spends about the same amount of time making the age category award pottery. I spend about 60 hours making 250 medals. Notice I have not yet mentioned the 100+ tasks associated with being a race director? Lee Anne takes care of food purchases and acquiring and juggling the volunteers. She also puts up with me during those rare stressful moments (picture the last month before the race). A big thanks to Lee Anne!
Going Forward
In about a month I will have a reflection meeting with Lee Anne. This is when we discuss how to fix what went wrong and any other improvements we can make. One big change is that I am no longer working. While working, if the race lost money, no big deal. I could afford to pitch in $1000. Not so any more. Due to various reasons, including the new North Face race at Blue Mountain next weekend, attendance at CVC was down. Last year I reached the cap of 250 runners. This year, only 193 people signed up. The race posted a loss of $314.94. This aligns with the current break-even point of about 200 runners. Problem: I can no longer afford to lose money on the race.
There are several alternatives to cancelling the race, such as moving it to a different date, or advertising more. There are also several other reasons for NOT holding the CVC. I stage the CVC in part so that I can donate the profit to the Canadian Ultra teams. If the race is not making a profit, there goes a key reason for holding the race! Also, the effort to stage the race is considerable and must be factored in. I have spent 400+ hours in each of the last 8 years. The risk and potential liability is another. Something must (and will) change in 2015.
So, overall the race was a success, although there are items that will need to be addressed. I retired on May 1, 2014, but view the CVC as a project, so in essence, I am only now a man of leisure. I wonder how it will feel to have no agenda? Wait a minute! I owe Lee Anne about 312 favours... Disregard the "no agenda" above!
Dig Deep!
Not to say that everyone was happy. We had 8 people go off course, most due to a sign malfunction. Thanks to Jack Kilislian, for righting the sign after running 50K! I cringe at the thought of asking even more people to volunteer, but that is what it would take to place marshals at every potential misdirection site. Thankfully, it is no longer the trails that are generating lost runners, but the roads. Trails are easier. Rule of thumb: When you run by a flag, you should be able to see the next flag, or there should be no doubt as to where the trail goes. Example: 6 foot tall grass on either side of a mowed trail. Easy! Roads are not so easy. No matter how much signage, exhausted runners have the propensity to continue running in the direction they are going. And it takes some effort to scan for signage, especially on a new course. I put 4 red flags around the corner of each turn along with a lime green sign with blue arrows. After every corner, if you are on the correct road, you will see 2 red flags 100 meters from the turn and 2 red flags every 400 meters thereon. Nevertheless, every year runners go off course. I don't want to get cynical and declare that no matter what I do, there will always be lost souls, but sometimes I wonder!
At the start of the race we had a lot of regulars walking around muttering "What the hell is this!". The temperature was 18 degrees with little humidity. You could tell that they were getting nervous, thinking 'what diabolical natural disaster is he going to hit us with?'. Some of the regulars believe that I control the weather and take perverse pleasure in throwing a mixture of high heat and hills at the unsuspecting CVC virgins and veterans. Nothing could be further from the truth - I don't control the weather. But every year, runners don't so much race "Screamore" as survive it...
For whatever reason, the weather gods showed a tangible lapse in creating horrific conditions. Running was actually enjoyable! Especially the 25K, as the temperature stayed below 25C until most runners had finished. Even the 50K runners enjoyed a nominally warm finish, hovering around the 27 degree mark. So, the hills provided most of the "Challenge" during the race, allowing runners to focus on the terrain instead of their core temperature.
Enfield Chip Timing was a huge help. Rather than struggling with my homegrown timing system, I could simply walk up to Jeff or his wife (yes, my memory has not improved) and ask for the 25K awards printout. No complicated processing of data, worrying about a runner's time not being registered because I was printing... Their "Finish" line was awe inspiring. So was the Results tent, where runners could look up their stats or view printouts of how they fared against the field. I believe there was also a Twitter going on.
By the way, it is raining cats and dogs as I type (13:56 on Tuesday).
Many runners made an effort to tell me how much they had enjoyed the race and how much they were enjoying the pizza and beer, while sitting in the Mad river! After hundreds of hours of work, to get the race ready, it was wonderful to see people having a good time. Worth the effort! I expect that Creemore Springs Brewery, the main sponsor, was a pivotal reason in the post-race success. Nothing like 190 thirsty runners enjoying themselves after a hard race.
Mike Tickner is dabbling with the longer distances this year. Mike has the CVC 25K record (1:42:46) and is no stranger to the course. I expect he was eyeing the 50K record and came oh so close to bagging it! Less than 2 minutes off the record, Mike rocketed the course in 4:03:41. Christian Otto (4:46:07) and Ben Compton (4:50:18) rounded out the podium.
Amongst the 50K women, a real battle raged almost to the bitter end. Melanie Boultbee was able to hang onto her pace a bit longer, posting the victory in a time of 5:01:18. Shortly behind her were Lisa Van Wolde (5:05:08) and Inge Boerma in a time of 5:08:18.
In the 25K, Kevin Beatty clocked an amazing 1:45:31 for the victory. Right behind him was Robert Bruillette in 1:47:03 and Brendan Neely in 1:55:56. Posting a sub-2 hour time takes some serious effort, so I would also like to mention Dave Rutherford, who at 49 years of age (just a youngster!) posted an astonishing 1:58:44!
It appears that the 25K women also had a battle going. Jessica Kuepfer won in a time of 2:20:20, with Vicki Zandbergen only 40 seconds behind, in 2:21:00. Third place was taken by Deanne McDoom in 2:28:48.
Well done to all that toed the line in what is regarded as one of Ontario's toughest races. For those doing the math, the 50K has 1.75 kilometres of vertical gain! About 8 trips up the Niagara Escarpment, anyone? Preliminary results can be found at Enfield chip timing:
http://www.enfieldtiming.com/creemore-vertical-challenge
A huge thanks to all the volunteers, without whom the race could not take place. Since there is no running club in Creemore, volunteers are sourced from friends, neighbours and family. Many have vollied for several years, which helps as they get to know the course, runners and how to support those in distress. Running an aid station is quite exciting and rewarding. If you cannot make it to the starting line one year, consider helping out.
As mentioned, Creemore Springs Brewery provides post-race refreshments free of charge. The race is challenging and the reward for finishing is to sit in the Mad river with a slice of pizza from Perfect Pizza and a beer. Runners tend to stick around for a while at Creemore, discussing their plans with other runners. Thanks to Hammer Nutrition for providing HEED (High Energy Electrolyte Drink), a key component when running long. Road ID provides bibs, pins and spot prizes.
Putting on the Creemore Vertical Challenge is in itself a challenge. If I was intelligent (stop laughing) I would outsource the prizes, finishing medals, early-bird prize, race set-up and trail prep. I said stop laughing... But then it would not be the Creemore Vertical Challenge. I spend 100 hours making maple syrup for the race. My wife Lee Anne spends about the same amount of time making the age category award pottery. I spend about 60 hours making 250 medals. Notice I have not yet mentioned the 100+ tasks associated with being a race director? Lee Anne takes care of food purchases and acquiring and juggling the volunteers. She also puts up with me during those rare stressful moments (picture the last month before the race). A big thanks to Lee Anne!
Going Forward
In about a month I will have a reflection meeting with Lee Anne. This is when we discuss how to fix what went wrong and any other improvements we can make. One big change is that I am no longer working. While working, if the race lost money, no big deal. I could afford to pitch in $1000. Not so any more. Due to various reasons, including the new North Face race at Blue Mountain next weekend, attendance at CVC was down. Last year I reached the cap of 250 runners. This year, only 193 people signed up. The race posted a loss of $314.94. This aligns with the current break-even point of about 200 runners. Problem: I can no longer afford to lose money on the race.
There are several alternatives to cancelling the race, such as moving it to a different date, or advertising more. There are also several other reasons for NOT holding the CVC. I stage the CVC in part so that I can donate the profit to the Canadian Ultra teams. If the race is not making a profit, there goes a key reason for holding the race! Also, the effort to stage the race is considerable and must be factored in. I have spent 400+ hours in each of the last 8 years. The risk and potential liability is another. Something must (and will) change in 2015.
So, overall the race was a success, although there are items that will need to be addressed. I retired on May 1, 2014, but view the CVC as a project, so in essence, I am only now a man of leisure. I wonder how it will feel to have no agenda? Wait a minute! I owe Lee Anne about 312 favours... Disregard the "no agenda" above!
Dig Deep!
Saturday, June 28, 2014
One Week to Go!
Preparations for the Creemore Vertical Challenge are progressing smoothly. It helps to have more than 1 week to cram in all the chores, tasks, communications and shopping before the race. Let's start with the fun stuff - the weather!
I take a somewhat perverse delight in watching the long range forecast before the race. It is always something pleasant, or at least provides some room for optimism. Hey! Only 30C and a light breeze. Luxury! Then on the day before the race, they change the forecast to horrific heat, humidity, tornadoes, thunder and lightning. One year we had all of the above! And I don't mind the crazy weather. Why? Because I stand around at the start/finish and cheer people on. Okay, that was low, even for me. I ran most of the course yesterday. It was only 27, but high humidity. I brought one water bottle. I sipped sparingly and it lasted until 19K. I do this on purpose, so that I am aware that running out of water at the aid stations is a really bad idea... For those who want a good chuckle on race day, the current forecast is calling for partially cloudy with a low of 14 and a high of 23. We can sit around the medical tent and joke about it after the race!
As mentioned before, there will be chip timing this year. I know that chip timing is not flawless (there will be manual backup, in case) but I struggled with the homegrown finish time entry system almost every year. The trickiest part was trying to print results. A finisher could not be recorded during the print set-up!
I have just installed a new bridge in the swamp. I'm not 100% happy with it. The leading edge is a bit dicey. However, it is a lot better than the gnome bridge (what did you call it Chris Mc?) and hopefully no one will drown.
The signs have been painted in the CVC colours. For those who missed last year, the new tech T-shirt colours are navy blue art on a lime green background. "Garish" comes to mind, but the shirts are highly visible, even at dusk. There are more signs, although chances are good that someone will get lost again this year. It is difficult to direct runners on country roads. I could use about 15 marshals for the more critical intersections, but I don't have 15 friends... Well, at least those willing to stand out in the hot sun for 6 hours directing traffic! I have also created a sign that reads "Creemore Vertical Challenge" for posting at the race site, to help those new to the race.
The aid stations will have about the same fare as in previous years. This year, there will be no gels. There will be more ice, especially during the afternoon. Aid stations 2 and 3 (which are both visited twice per loop) will have a 220L dunk barrel, as the sponge stations tend to run out of water in the afternoon.
Home base will offer aid station fare. Perfect Pizza and Creemore Springs Brewery are back on board. The water is now being sourced from Dennis Campbell, who has volunteered in past years as the photographer. His work is excellent - check it out:
http://www.denniscampbellphotos.com
Well, back at it! I still have to final-prep the trails, then I can start flagging (in more ways than one!).
Go Sharon Z! (she currently running Western States).
I take a somewhat perverse delight in watching the long range forecast before the race. It is always something pleasant, or at least provides some room for optimism. Hey! Only 30C and a light breeze. Luxury! Then on the day before the race, they change the forecast to horrific heat, humidity, tornadoes, thunder and lightning. One year we had all of the above! And I don't mind the crazy weather. Why? Because I stand around at the start/finish and cheer people on. Okay, that was low, even for me. I ran most of the course yesterday. It was only 27, but high humidity. I brought one water bottle. I sipped sparingly and it lasted until 19K. I do this on purpose, so that I am aware that running out of water at the aid stations is a really bad idea... For those who want a good chuckle on race day, the current forecast is calling for partially cloudy with a low of 14 and a high of 23. We can sit around the medical tent and joke about it after the race!
As mentioned before, there will be chip timing this year. I know that chip timing is not flawless (there will be manual backup, in case) but I struggled with the homegrown finish time entry system almost every year. The trickiest part was trying to print results. A finisher could not be recorded during the print set-up!
I have just installed a new bridge in the swamp. I'm not 100% happy with it. The leading edge is a bit dicey. However, it is a lot better than the gnome bridge (what did you call it Chris Mc?) and hopefully no one will drown.
The signs have been painted in the CVC colours. For those who missed last year, the new tech T-shirt colours are navy blue art on a lime green background. "Garish" comes to mind, but the shirts are highly visible, even at dusk. There are more signs, although chances are good that someone will get lost again this year. It is difficult to direct runners on country roads. I could use about 15 marshals for the more critical intersections, but I don't have 15 friends... Well, at least those willing to stand out in the hot sun for 6 hours directing traffic! I have also created a sign that reads "Creemore Vertical Challenge" for posting at the race site, to help those new to the race.
The aid stations will have about the same fare as in previous years. This year, there will be no gels. There will be more ice, especially during the afternoon. Aid stations 2 and 3 (which are both visited twice per loop) will have a 220L dunk barrel, as the sponge stations tend to run out of water in the afternoon.
Home base will offer aid station fare. Perfect Pizza and Creemore Springs Brewery are back on board. The water is now being sourced from Dennis Campbell, who has volunteered in past years as the photographer. His work is excellent - check it out:
http://www.denniscampbellphotos.com
Well, back at it! I still have to final-prep the trails, then I can start flagging (in more ways than one!).
Go Sharon Z! (she currently running Western States).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)