Race: Creemore Vertical Challenge
Website: http://ouser.org/races/cree2012.pdf
Where: Creemore, Ontario
When: Saturday July 7th, 2012
Cost: 50Km - $60 by June 12. After June 12, $70. 25Km - $50 by June 12. After June 12, $60.
Time limit: 8 hours
Aid stations: Hammer Gel, Heed, chips, Advil, salt, fruit, water, drop bags at aid station 3 for the 50K runners
Swag: handmade pottery medal, organic coffee, tech shirt, finish line pizza and Creemore Springs Beer.
Post food: Gummy bears!!! Peanut M&M’s, coke-a-cola, ginger-ale, cookies, timbits, PB&Jelly sandwiches, bagels, pizza, beer.
My time: 2:42:22
Kevin’s time: 2:09:26
Winning men’s time: 1:47
Winning women’s time: 2:09
Garmin Details: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/197634733
Pre Race:
I didn’t know exactly how I should be training for this race so I decided that I would just continue on with my training that I was doing for my upcoming race, ‘The Sea Wheeze Half Marathon’. The only problem with my training was that it was mostly road and little hills involved. Since my last attempt at my full on May 6th I decided after so much hard core training that I would have more fun with my training this time, and not worrying so much about time or specifics.
As the race got closer and Doug my co-worker put on the challenge of a bet to see who could place better, him or I my competitiveness crept in and with that I started mentally preparing myself for the hills that I wasn’t doing in my regular training.
The night before the race I layed out all my gear, triple checked the weather that said 30% change of rain, and hot hot hot. I went to bed a little late only giving myself 5.5 hours of sleep.
Morning of the race I ate my oatmeal with berries, cinnamon, brown sugar and half a banana.
While driving North to the race rain started almost immediately, then a down pour with thunder and lightening. Once we got there and parked on the side of the road Kevin and I stayed in the car and waited for the rain to lighten up before getting our swag bags.
Race Play by Play:
At the start of the race Kevin and I lined up in the middle of the pack with about 125 runners. Everyone was just huddled in a small space, I wasn’t quite sure where the start line exactly was. In fact I wasn’t even quite sure what I was getting myself into. Despite a 10 minute lightening delay the gun sounded and we were off to the races.
After 100 meters we veered off the dirt road to a small wooded trail. On a good day this trail would’ve been dry with grass and leaves. Today it was just mud, keep in mind that the 50k runners had already passed through this one hour previously leaving it a slippery mess. Our run was now single file with feet giving way beneath many runners in front and behind. I had to run on the sides of the trail with the tall grass just to stay on my feet. The trail opened up in a few areas at the start where I could exploit and pass. Took about 2k before merging onto the first sign of road and from there it wasn’t long before tackling our first incline.
After hitting our first incline I saw a sign saying that hill#1 was now approaching. I thought “Are you kidding me, I just ran up a hill…What’s this one going to be like?”. It was steep…I walked several portions of it, as did many of the runners in vicinity of me. This is also where Doug almost caught me and I saw him on my tail so during the downhill I took off and followed Dean Karnazes tips of leaning forward and taking quick steps.
The next portion was just a mud slope down and up. I was thankful for the rocks along the way that helped me maintain grip and keep moving forward. It was at this point I was amazed with the runners who just sprinted through this slippery mud and didn’t fall. I was grabbing at branches on the way up while my feet were giving way. I also told myself that my next trail race I wouldn’t wear my nike frees.
Hill #2 was probably the must difficult. It was never ending and when I thought it was done it continued. During this hill I ran when the hill was not as steep and walked quickly as I could up the rest.
Runners during the race provided great camaraderie, they were enthusiastic, helpful and friendly. Always chatting words of encouragement while they passed you or while getting passed.
Near the end of the race while coming downhill the ground turned back into a slippery slope of mud and I fell/slid down to the bottom. Once there it was a steep climb up, one where I had to dig my nails into the mud to get a grip because my shoes couldn’t. When doing that I fell back down to the bottom…Finally seeing that there was a rope to help runners climb up and this time I USED IT!!!
Many fields, and hills later I came to the last km and had to choose a direction to finish, wet or dry? I decided to stay dry because I was already wet from earlier water and went over the bouncy bridge. The wet route would’ve meant wading through knee deep mucky stream.
After the bridge I just went around a corner and to finish again with no line in sight just a little canopy. Race volunteers noted my number and time and that was that.
I’m now addicted and can’t wait to do another one.
I”m thinking 50k next time!
Advice for 2013 Runners:
- Practice running hill repeats
- I mean serious hills!
- Don’t be afraid to walk up the hills. Walking strong is as good as jogging slow. You don’t lose too much time and can make it up on the way down.
- If your running for time, start near the front of the pack because the first kilometer is very narrow…Pretty much single file.
- Practice running on trails and mud if possible. Shoes can get wet and muddy, which means very heavy. Practicing with the extra weight.
- Run with a camelback, hydration back or belt instead of a handheld water bottle. The why is because falling is common and you will more than likely use your hands to help you through the course when climbing and going through bush.
- Pack your bag with gear for any type of weather. Rain, heat, hail, and cold.
- Sign up early for the race! It sold out fast and they only take 200 participants.
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