berryman marathon 2016 edition

returned to berryman for the first time since 2007 (old race report here:  http://dirttrailrunner.blogspot.com/2007/05/day-in-hills.html )   i thought it would be fun to do this again as an early season reward for a decent spring, or just to enjoy a day in beautiful ozark mtn. foothills. 

i'm a different runner than i was in 2007 (older for one) but employed a similar conservative strategy.  race day conditions pretty perfect, starting low 50s into the mid-70s with sunshine.  hammered out some early miles with some gals from tn. doing their first race, then pulled away around mile 5 or 6. mostly power hiking the hills and tougher flats and running when i felt like it on the downs. was able to get into a nice rhythm in the middle portions, rolled into brazil creek aid station and said hello to mike and tonya siltman.

 had a couple of slight mental low points around 18-20, but pulled through.  stayed on cals and hydration, never cramped, never really lulled. i remember running the last 5 or 6 miles hard in '07 and tried something similar here, kicked the last 3 pretty decently, passed some runners and came in at 6:50.  i'm happy with this run, the trail is gorgeous, victoria white puts on a very low-key, i guess we could call it old school at this point, race with motivated volunteers and a nice post-race spread. 

drank a beer, had a burger, cruised the four hours to bloomington to see the jayhawks at the castle theater with kim.  one of my favorite bands of all-time put on an amazing show.  that's what i call a day.

pics:

2105 Running Year In Review

Total miles: 1970

Races:

5/15 Siltman Beer Run: 26.25 (or so) miles in 6 hours.

6/15 North Fork 50k, CO., 8:57

8/15 Howl at the Moon 8 hour 33.4 miles

10/15 DNF Farmdale 100 @ 50 miles

co. pics 2015

difficult pre-race training in conifer, co.

 

pics from race

heizer trial four hour recovery hike

north fork 50k trip report

rolled out thurs. w/tapp, whisk, and dierk.  set up camp and picked up packets on friday at pine valley park, co.  race morning was warm but nice.


 this is a killer course for a flatlander, 4700 ft of climb in 32 miles.  starts with a 2 mile climb up buck trail, you get some nice buttery flow in the burn areas, but interspersed with some steady ups.  i felt super strong, running conservatively.  the day heated up and tried to balance the fluid/electrolyte thing, tough to do in heat w/ no humidity.  chatted with some folks and rolled, enjoyed the scenery.

 felt really great going into the aid station at 24 miles, probably on sub 8:00 pace or even better.   ran into dierk, his son and girlfriend at that aid station, BUT, right after that is a climb.  i got smacked hard about a 1/2 mile into that, maybe let the highs get too high from 20-24 on the sweet downhill.  sucked down what water i had and slugged out the four miles into the last aid station--wasn't pretty for me, at least the trail was beautiful.  heat was brutal by this time and the last section is downhill but exposed.  i chose not to push hard to speed recovery, coasted and ran when i could, mostly hiked, sub 9:00 was the goal at this point.  finally hit the bottom and rolled across in 8:57, maybe not a seemingly fast time, but was super pumped for first official mountain ultra finish, and considering the altitude, heat, and climbing, this was actually a good number for me.

tapp killed it at 7:07, dierk was just a beast on the day before his 61st bday at 8:46, alex and dani knocking out their first official ultra finish in the same time, and whisk giving a brave performance in the heat (he'll be back).  postrace was feet in the river, tapp kind enough to bring my fat butt a beer and a burger, chilling out, then dinner of a massive trout filet with friends that evening.  killer.  only thing better would have been family there to share.

rest of trip was awesome: relaxed in manitou with some ipas, four hour "recovery" hike up heizer trail in cascade, hung out and soaked up the mountain vibes.  already looking at next year--bring on quad rock, this race again (fitty??), silver rush--something in the mountains.  ah, yeah.

6-Hour Beer Run

headed to middletown, il on saturday for tonya and mike siltman's 6 hour beer run.  this is a timed effort on a (roughly, although i think it's a tad short, whatever) 2 mile loop through their 40 acre farm.  i was able to put up a good measured, well-executed effort despite increasing heat and lots of sun exposure.  never really wavered pace-wise and stayed on top of hydration.  this is still a small race, only 18 entered, but i have a feeling it will grow.  the intimate setting means you're out there chatting with the other racers, enjoying the day.  got to meet some new folks and chat a bit with rich breaux, an ultra veteran who was out getting some miles in.  ended with 13 1/4 loops for a recorded 26.25 miles. 

post-race at this even cannot be beat.  you get a pint glass with the race logo, runners and RDs hanging around drinking mike's homebrew.  and i mean really, really top notch homebrew.  i only had time for the ipa, but there were five other beers kegged out.  i would take this sort of grassroots race over the big glossy stuff any day, and i will be back next year.  you should be there, too.