North Face Blue Mountain 50 Miler Recon Mission

Covered a good chunk of the 40K NF Loop at Blue on Thursday.   Here is my take on the course.

First I did the "Len Gartner" section below.  In Red is the NF course and in Yellow is the route I took.  

Only one big hill in this loop ,  another moderate but both were small in comparison to the Ski Hills at Blue.   

There were some really nice views of Georgian Bay here are a few pictures and a video ...

Logged close to 11K on the loop ,  made a few detours.   The trails had some really rooty sections ,  not much rock and were all really hard packed.   The trail really opened up the second half of the loop and it made for some very fast Ks.  I would rate this section as easy and fast ... good chance to stretch your legs out.   Watch out for Poison Ivy adjacent the trail ... if this sorts of thing freaks you out then wear high socks.

On race day we leave the Len Gartner loop for just shy of 4K  on the road . Yes  you read  that correct ,  4K on the road.     On a hot day this means exposure and deer flies so be prepared.   Although the footing is grand there is elevation ,  again its not monster but you are either going up or down .... not much flat.   Here is 3.2k of the road section in 30 seconds ....

Next up was the Scenic Caves Loop.   Parked at the top of the Southern Comfort Chair and headed out on the Mission Rd Side Trail.   Here is the route I took ,  Red is the NF course,  Yellow is me.

The Mission Rd Trail was nice,  a wee bit overgrown but mostly runable albeit slowly.   Last few hundred meters  of the side trail is a flat gravel road.   When you join the main trail you are on a gravel road for a steep 1K or so uphill reminiscent of "First Hill" at Creemore.   When you reach the top of the Hill we get into the Cross Country Ski Trails .   I   didn't do the back and forth thing following the Bruce Trail.   This are is part of the Blues "Scenic Caves" and wondering off the Bruce Trail is considered trespassing.  Folks pay good $$ to get into this area so I didn't have a problem with sticking to the trail.    After the Ski trails there was a a K or so if Gravel Road  before you drop back down the escarpment.   This is about as high as you can get above Blue but unfortunately there were no scenic views ... reserved for paying guests!    Once you have made the big climb the run across the top is pretty easy and a nice change after the "Grind"!  Here is my Garmin data ....

Finished off my day dropping down the "Cascadia" trail and then headed back up the "Grind" better known as "Gords Grove" in the winter time.    Cascadia was just plain fun to run down.   The trail follows a cascading stream from the top to bottom of Blue.   There are tons of stairs but most of the time there is a path beside them if you dare.   If its a dry day and your quads can handle it you can fly down this section.  If its wet we will be picking our way down the stairs!   Here is a real time video of my descent ,  hard to believe it takes that long to go down ....





Next up is what the NF folks are calling the "Grind" and it it describes the ascent very well.   I have Skied at the Orchards all last Winter and going down all the time I didn't find it all that steep but heading up ...YIKES.   On fresh legs early in the race I expect to maintain a 11:00 pace,  second time around it will be slower.    I headed up the middle of the Ski Hill but there are Bike Trails that I suspect we may be using on race day.   Here is the route I took as well as the Garmin data ...

Next weekend  I want to head back and do the section from the top of Blue to the Len Gartner section including going up the steepest hill " Kandahar"!    I really loved running at Blue race day is going to be a blast.

Pick Your Poison 50K Trail Race - OUS Season Opener - April 27, 2013

 Did the OUS PYP season opener at the  Horseshoe Valley Ski Club yesterday.    The race plan was simple go out easy and run 50K.  I wasn't looking for a time so I left the watch and Garmin  at home.

 Its was 4C,  overcast with a bit of rain and a cool breeze at start time.    I started overdressed but  comfortable for the first of four  12.5K loops.     Headed out with an old running friend Gary Johnson were last or next to last put of the gate and held that position of the first few Ks.   The first 4K of the loop is a gift ,  gentle downhill to flat over wide tractor trails through the forest.  At the end of the constant run I  found out that Imodium would have been a better choice then a multi-vitamin for breakfast.   For some reason I never saw Gary again !   The second 4K was a combo of trail ,  a trek across and up a couple of Ski Hills then a long , long gentle downhill.   The last 4K of the loop started with a big big climb and then a long gentle single track running parallel to a golf course ending at the final aide station before start/finish.   In past years I had always ran this section of single track bit not this time ... it was a walk!   Finishing the first loop I headed to  the car ,  dropped my running jacket and picked up a bottle of water.  As I was heading back out the winner of the 25K was coming in.   There was no clock at the start/finish but I figured  it must have taken me more then 2 hours to finish the first  of four loops.   I thought to myself that I just ran my last loop first ha ,  ha.

 2nd loop was a bit better.  The temperatures were beginning to rise and I was starting to enjoy the run a bit more until I messed up the only stream crossing we had.  Not paying attention the rock moved and I jammed my right foot between two rocks in the creek.  It hurt like hell and for a moment I though my day was done,  walked then ran it off and it felt better so the excuse to quite disappeared.  The reset of the loop was uneventful and I continued.  I was and had been drinking plenty ,  eating  and taking electrolytes and continued to do so.       Passed a couple of " this looked good on paper in Jan" folks in the second third of the loop ...having second thoughts!!!     I ran the single track parallel to the golf course this time ... moving much better for sure.  I was really getting warm ,  it was sunny and temps were now in the lower teens and rising fast.  Stopped at the and traded the long sleeve "Breathe Thermal" for a short sleeve compression T and my Ultra Aspire pack with nearly 2l  of water on board.  Vertical Pierre assisted me getting my drinking tube out and I asked him for the time and he said 12:40.  I had burned 3hrs40min with 4hrs20min remaining before the cut off.  I was a tiny bit worried but I was moving much better then the first loop but I had to avoid the "Death March" or I could be in jeopardy of missing the cutoff.

 Heading out on the third loop I felt much better having half the race behind me and was really looking forward to getting to the last loop.   The weather was really pleasant and I was resigned just to log a 50K run regardless of the time.  I ran all the  downhills conservatively ,  ran all the flats and slight inclines and was walking the steeper up hills.    Crossing the Snow fields with the mid day Sun blazing overhead I was  blinded by the bright and worried that I would be fried by the U.V.,  it was intense!    Nearing the end of the loop I came up on a women who would be running her first 100 miler at Sulphur.    For the second time in the day I asked what time it was and she said 2:30 so with 14K to go I had 2.5 hours.     She said we could walk it and make the cutoff and she as right.

Heading out on the 4th and final loop I blew by the start finish ,  no stop to change ,  no need to ask what time it was just wanting to get on the victory lap!   The 4K of constant running to the single track were a little bit tougher on legs that had already covered 37.5Ks .  I more or less hung in there running everything the same way as in loops 2 and 3.  Passed a few folks doing the "Death March"  one fellow who said he went blind in his left eye.   I suggested that he stop at the Aide Station and get a ride back to the Start/Finish.  Temps were now pushing 20C and the hard stuff was really making me sweat bit I lots of water and electrolytes so I was able to manage it.   Through about freezing at the start of  the race and how much more I was enjoying being warmer.   With a couple of Ks to go I was really enjoying the run.  I was tired but not spent and really felt like I could go another couple of loops.      Tripped the clock at 7hrs20min or so satisfied that I got on the score board.

 So all in all a good day logging my first 50K Trial Ultra of the 2013 season.  Right foot and right ass that had been giving me grief  were both fine.   I have a 6 hour Chico Race at Mansfield in 2 weeks and will be concentrating on picking up the pace a little.    At the end of may is the Sulphur 50 miler.


 Results haven't been posted yet but I will take a crack at guessing my splits.


Loop              Time
1                     2hrs0min
2                     1hr40min
3                     1hr35min
4                     1hr45min

I probably finished 5th from last place overall and 2nd from last in my AG 50+

I will post the results below when I see them.


Actual  Splits ... 

1:48:39.3

1:45:54.0

1:54:58.6

1:52:58.6

August 8 2009

Some things just have to be rationalized, namely my plans for Aug 8 2009. I am going to run my first 5K and 50 mile race in the same day!

At 09:50 I am going to run my first 5K with a goal of a sub 20:00 time. Its a local race in Neustadt, http://www.run4youth.ca/. But wait, three is more....

As soon as I am done the 5K its off to Mansfield for my first 80K run, http://www.dirtyrunnerproductions.com/trail_race/. The race starts at 09:00 am but I probably wont start until sometime between 2:00 and 4:00 pm. I cleared the late arrival with the race director . The only thing Dian said was that I have to complete 80K to be a finisher and get OSU points.

Top 3 reasons to do this ....

1) I am working nights the following week. Running all night will help me to adjust my sleep patterns.
2) Its cooler at night. It can be really hot in Ontario at that time of year. If its a real hot day I will go out real easy or I may wait until night fall.
3) I want to put my new headlight to use!