Chicago Spring Lakefront 50k Race Report

Since we are training for the Badgerland Strikers Ice Age 50 miler coming up on May 14, 2011, we went for it. We registered on Wednesday, and ran on Saturday, March 26, 2011 in the Chicago Sprint Lakefront 50k Ultra Marathon.

Last week the Chicagoland weather was amazing – warm temps, sunny skies, low wind. On race day, we experienced real Chicago weather. The lakefront was beautiful, but the below freezing temps and the constant 20+ mph wind coming from every direction made this 50k interesting.

We did the Chicago Fall Lakefront 50/50 last October, and we really liked the chillness of the race and the runners. No surprises for this race. The race was low-key, the runners mostly friendly, and the crews caring and supportive. The sign-in is very simple, and for a runner who hasn’t done this before, there is no rush to get there super early since in our experience there hasn’t been a line, and everyone gets signed in rather quickly.

We waited in our car with the heat on high, and our hand warmers activated so when we went back out in the cold for the race start we would be as warm as we could. As the announcer directed us to start the race, we were off.

The course consisted of 3 loops of just over 10 miles each (about 5 miles out and back) on mostly limestone trails with some paved paths. There were beautiful stretches right along the beach, we went through park areas, and ran up to several of the lakefront paths beach houses (they were closed still for the off season, so no open bathrooms there). There are no real hills, climbs, or anything technical on this course, it is a pretty consistent stretch of path. The course had an aid station every 2.5 miles or so, which was amazing. There was one at the start, halfway through the 5+ mile stretch, then at the turnaround. Also, plenty of water, Gatorade, chips, peanuts, candy, cookies, bananas – they never ran out! And there were port-a-potties at each of the three stations with little or no wait.

Team LERIC got the first loop done in just under 2 hours. After pounding Starbuck’s Double Shots, and Eric scarfing down his Jimmy John’s slim we were off – feeling great. As you leave the start/stop area, the wind really lets you know it is there! The sun was shining on us so brightly at times, making us energized, and the wind and cold really hammered us at times which made it challenging to push through. We were discussing the night after the race whether our faces are red from sun burn or wind burn!

Just before we came up to the half point turnaround, we saw the first place leader heading back on his final loop. It looked like he was paced to finish around 3:15, which is amazing. There were many strong ultra marathoners out on the course, which was amazing for us to see.

We started to slow our pace down after we hit the half way point. Our Mississippi Ultra was just 3 weeks ago, and we were still battling some soreness. Also, we needed to take it easy here since this we were using this race as a training run for our upcoming 50 miler in May. We made it back to the start/finish line after 20+ miles continuing with our strategy of running 20 minutes and walking 5 minutes. This works for us, especially on such a flat course where there are no hills to walk up. We made it to the last turnaround, and only had about 5 miles to go. This was when we decided that we had to walk more than run. We ran into the aid station which we knew meant we only had about 2.5 miles to go. We walked most of the remaining miles, and were able to run our way into the finish zone! It was such a great feeling to get this race done, earn our medals, and eat some red beans and rice. What a treat. We took some pictures and jumped into the car with the heat on full blast, and headed over to Cozymel’s for some fajitas, chips and salsa, and some drinks – which were all well deserved!

This was a great run together. We are getting closer in terms of training and days to the next race, Badgerland Strikers Ice Age 50 miler.

Carl Touchstone Mississippi 50 Trail Run Race Report

The morning after the Fall Chicago Lakefront 50/50 we did it. We signed up for our first 50 miler. The Carl Touchstone Mississippi 50 Trail Run.

November 1st, 2010 is the date we signed up with the race set for March 5th, 2011. This being our first winter season of running, we were in for a treat. The winter weeks slowly passed as we headed out on the Prairie Path, only to find that our foot prints were consistently the only few if not only we would see on a daily basis in the snow and ice filled trails. The tough training paid off.

Laurel, Mississippi was where the race was. With two flights and a 99 mile drive into the Desoto National Forest Preserves we finally were there. Ready to run!

The packet pick-up was close to our hotel and close to the race start. We enjoyed the pasta dinner and the race director’s speech. We knew from the forecasts that there was going to be some interesting weather, but the race director had emailed us confirming that it was still on. Some discussion points I remember include that we find a friend that knows how to swim if you don’t, your shoes will get wet within the first mile, and that they do not intend to call the race.

When we woke up and headed out the door around 4am for the 6am start it was pouring. We navigated through the pitch black roads and forest preserve to the race start. It was such a great feeling of excitement to see all of the runners geared up, the tents set up, and the race clock counting down to the 6am start. We put our drop bag under a tent and hoped for the best.

We lined up at the start, staying closer to the back. There was a 50k and a 20k the same day, and the 50k started at the same time as the 50 milers. The race director blew a horn and we were off. The blackness of the early morning had seemed to slip away and we were running in the dawn. Through the soft grassy trail start we were attempting to dodge the puddles and such. The race was set up as three 12.5 mile loops followed by two 6.25 mile loops.

The people we were running with were all very friendly and polite. The trail was not. As the more people churned the path, the mud fest began. The colors of the mud were amazing. Red, yellow and white, but it was still mud. We stuck to our plan of a walk run. Run for twenty minutes then walk for five. Also, we had decided to walk over hills and through the creeks. And yes, there were creeks. We had so much fun with the technical parts of the race, running between trees, up mud hills, through the creeks. Also, the aid stations were very supportive, and had what you needed ready for you.
 
The first part of the 12.5 mile loop was the most mud filled, the mid part of the race consisted of an out and back on a gravel road which took an upward climb on the way out, and the later part of the race had some sand to the trail. The last 1.5 mile stretch of this loop was a slight upward single track climb, which became a river at both the 2nd and 3rd loop.

They had a cut off time of 8 hours and 45 minutes in which you must have completed the three 12.5 mile loops. Seeing that our first loop took us 2:38 hours and the second loop 3:00 hours, and with the trail getting worse with the rain by the second we were very worried about finishing the final big loop within the 2:47 hours before cutoff. As we passed the clock after the second big loop and headed out to the third loop we knew what we had to do. We looked at each other in the pouring rain and decided to throw the run walk plan away and make a new plan. This plan was called RUN!

This loop was the best loop yet. The 2 Starbucks Double Shots we have had probably helped too! We cruised by several runners right off the bat, and were feeling great about it. We had decided that straight through the puddles, mud pits, and creeks was the answer, and speeding it up too. As we wrapped up the out and back section, we knew we were going to make the 8:45 hour cut off. We cruised through the last 1.5 miles which was a streaming river at this point and popped out of the forest to the race start/stop where we saw 8:30 hours on the clock. We made it!

The rain was worse than ever and the lightening was getting close. Leah rinsed out her shoes from all of the debris with a water bottle and put on some new socks that were instantly soaked. As we listened to other racers calling it quits, Eric went over and spoke with the race director. He told Eric that if we wanted to run, we better do it now, and that he didn’t know if they would have to call the race yet. Eric walked up to Leah to discuss and Leah let him know there was no way we were not heading back out for the final 12.5 miles left.

This time heading out was insanity. We were told that this trail was easier than the last, and it was. The water on this trail was constant. From a few inches in some parts to mid-calf we trudged through. The rain was very strong, the wind was fierce, and the lightening let us know this was a real storm. We passed by two runners within 2 miles, and we were feeling good. We shuffled step through the deeper puddles until we came up to a creek crossing. By this time it was more like a river. Eric went for it. He plunged in and Leah followed in the chest deep water. It was insane. We saw a tent up ahead and a runner going to it. We had discussed at this point that we have 10 miles left, and in order to finish within the 12 hour cut off time we could go as slow as 18 minute miles and still cross to get our belt buckles. It was rejuvenating.

As we come up to the aid station we are told some disturbing news. The race had been called. The storm was not getting better and was predicted to develop into a tornado. The race director’s wife had both of us, along with two other 50 mile runners climb into her car, and cruised us back to the start. As we pulled up, we followed in a 50 mile female finished. She was finishing in just over 9 hours and placed 3rd in the event. We received medals for our effort, were recognized for attempting the 50 mile event, and were given credit for finishing a 50k. We both knew we could have finished the run, but the weather just did not want to let us!

Once we got back to the hotel we took off our shoes to check out the damage. Eric’s toes were beaten up with blisters and pruned form the 9+ hours of being constantly soaked. Leah took off her shoes to find something a bit more disturbing. Nothing. Not even pruned. Maybe it was the socks, or the body glide we had put on our toes and heals before we headed out. No sure, but it was amazing!

We couldn’t believe it! All of the training, commuting, and with 40+ miles under our belt, it was over. We are very proud of the miles we did finish, and that we took the challenge head on with out any excuses.

This just fueled the fire for our next event, the Ice Age 50 miler in May!