Woodstock Groovin Freak 50K in Hell

September 6th

We found peace, love, and lot's of mud running at the Woodstock 50K in Hell, Michigan! Oh what a groovy time we had at this race.

Woodstock is a weekend running festival outside Pinckney, Michigan in a community called Hell. Yes, Hell!! And...Hell yeah!!

The race is on the Hell Creek Ranch and features a 16.6 mile loop on mostly single track trails with some dirt roads thrown into the mix.  There's also a "Natural Option" for those who truly want to run free!

There is so much to love about Woodstock!! And there's a race for everyone -- from 5K to 10K to half marathon, marathon, 50K, 50 miles, 100K, and 100 miles. Take your pick!

As the name implies, Woodstock takes its hippie-cool theme from the Woodstock music festival in New York in 1969. So you have to show up ready to get your groove on---and that's what we did!





Yes, we had to dress the part. Our hippie crew consisted of Running Squirrel, Sparkle Bunny and me, Righteous Pony.

We hit packet pick up on Friday. Running Squirrel won the costume contest for that day for "least recognizable,"  what with all that hair!

Of course, it wouldn't be a 2014 race without some rogue element thrown in to keep things interesting. I had originally signed up for the Freak 50K, figuring it would be the perfect max long run before Can Lake. However, Coach had me down for the Hippie Half, seeing as how the race fell on a recovery weekend. But who wants to go to Hell just to run a Half?! So Coach and I compromised and decided that I would do the Mellow Marathon.

At least that was the plan...until a couple weeks out. Mellow Marathon just sounded way too tame compared to the Freak 50K!  Right up until the day before the race I couldn't decide. Go for the longer race with the cool name? Or go with Coach's plan? I was torn!! I knew Coach was right; I should follow his advice. But the rogue part of me just wanted to do the Freak!  So...Freak 50K it was.

Race Day, Man. Far out!

Whoa, we look like a trio of drunks at a frat party in this pic! Either that or we look like we're in a haunted forest getting the bejesus scared out of us. Right on! F* the establishment! (okay...getting a little carried away with the hippie slogans...)



We hit the trails in the dark and slogged our way through the soupy mud. It had stormed the night before, turning the trails into a sticky, mucky, mess.

I couldn't believe the hundos (hundred milers, like our new buddy Ron with the red, white & blue beard below) had been running all night in this slop!

The hundos' race kicked off in the heat of the afternoon the day before, while we were picking up our packets.  And while they ran through the pouring rain all night, we were sleeping all comfy at the hotel!

But back to our race...

For us Freaks, the first few miles in the dark were indeed pretty freaky. We were running single file--trying to run, that is, without tripping. Most of us had on headlamps, but it was still hard to see where we were stepping! Finally....the pack started to spread out and the sun came up. We could finally see the trail and the forest surrounding it.

The single track was pretty tame....but I knew I wouldn't be breaking any personal speed records with all those hillz.  Speedy Lane? Ha!

Sparkle Bunny and I were taking it slow...figuring we would negative split this thing!



Approaching the end of the first loop I could hear the band playing -- they had quite the party going on at the finish line! That gave me a huge boost. I spotted Sparkle Bunny's husband, Space Pilot, and we exchanged high fives.

Loop 2

After fueling up, Sparkle Bunny and I headed out for Loop 2. I was thinking, man I am so glad I went for the full Freak 50K. Why? Because I just love to run. I love it. And the more I can run, the happier I get.

Approaching mile 23ish, we ran into a detour. There was a massive beehive up ahead! We had passed it on our first loop and it was buzzing with activity, BIG TIME.  I thought about going rogue here and busting through the "barricade." I'm not allergic! What's the big deal?! But....venturing off the trail into the woods for an unscripted detour seemed like more of an adventure. So...detour it was! 

 My runner's high began to vanish by mile 27. I had had enough! Enough of the hillz and the mud. Enough of this endless trail that just kept going. I was so over it! It's scary how quickly your mood can tank! But I knew it was all in my head. This was just a training run, after all. Suck it up, Righteous Pony.

A few twists and turns later I ran into this oh so cool volunteer and she cheered me right up!

By this point, Running Squirrel had been finished for a few hours....and Sparkle Bunny had motored well ahead of me. But FINALLY, as I approached the 10 hour mark (!), I could hear the finish line band and I kicked up the pace and cruised on in!

Peace sign bling in hand, we had to recreate our drunken frat party pose:

We celebrated with a big fat dinner at a place called Jack's. I cracked up at the sound of my voice ordering a "half slab of ribs" --not my usual fare. LOL  Just look at this pile of meat!! I destroyed it, yes indeed.

Well, Woodstock was a blast. Maybe the most fun I've had at a race all year! Thanks Sparkle Bunny for the idea...and Space Pilot for driving us around and cheering us on.

Sitting there with my slab of ribs and supersize beer, staring off into oblivion....What the hell could I possibly be thinking here? Wistfully relishing the journey? Reliving the good times on the trail? Contemplating the taper to come?

 Oh HELL NO.  All I could think was:  this was a groovy race, man, but I'm ready to collapse!! Peace out!

 

Can Lake Recon Road Trip!

August 29th

Road trip time! There's nothing like hitting the road with good friends. And if there's lots of running involved well, even better. This road trip was all about Can Lake course recon.

 

Our crew consisted of Carol "It's Just a Training Run" Shuford, Pam "What's Up Doc" Coleman, and Nicolas "Crazy Train Conductor" Nouvel. We had booked some cheap rooms at the swanky Miami Motel and had the Rolling Aid Station SUV (RASSUV) loaded  down with supplies-- we were set!

 

We met up with our new friend, Matt, and kicked off the run as the sun was coming up on West Lake Drive. 



The Can Lake course is 50 miles of road wrapped around Lake Canandaigua in the Finger Lakes region of New York. It's hilly and beautiful and challenging and I love it.

 

We had mapped out a point-to-point run and used the SUV as an aid station. The plan worked like a charm! 

West Lake Drive is the prettiest part of the course. You're running right by the lake past gorgeous homes with pretty boathouses to match.

 

This is my favorite view from one of the highest points on the course: 

About 15 miles in is the infamous Bopple Hill. It's a monster climb with a 17% incline at certain points. It just keeps going and going and going up some more!

 





Everyone got some good quality time on Bopple.  What's Up Doc gets extra credit here because she made an unscripted turn onto the Hicks Road-Hill-From-Hell and had to backtrack downhill and then take on Bopple! Ay-yi-yi!

 

SRab motored on up and made it look easy! She is a hill climbing machine!

At the top of Bopple is a nice resting place...

But there's no resting for this Silly Rabbit! She's keeping the burpee tradition alive!

 

Me? I drove the RASSUV and did some out-n-backs at our refueling stops. Once we hit Monica's Pies, I turned the RASSUV over to Nicolas and hit the asphalt to finish off my miles. By then it was blistering hot and I was sooo glad I had a mere 5 miles left to hit my 15 mile goal for the day!

 

Took a left on Parrish Road and ran around the south end of the lake to the east side. Eventually I caught up with Matt and we shuffled along until the RASSUV came to our rescue. 

 

 



 

What better way to celebrate a successful Can Lake Recon Run than with ice cream on the banks of Can Lake?

 

 

Can't wait to get back here in October and kick some Can Lake butt!!  But before I wrap this up, I have to show you how we ended the day. 

It's called the Ring of Fire!  Wellll....my pic doesn't do it justice, so let's bring in a professional:

 

 

The Ring of Fire is a Can Lake tradition. On the Saturday before Labor Day everyone lights flares and sets them on the shoreline creating---ta da---a ring of fire! Fireworks light up the sky and people hang out and watch the show.  It's their way of saying farewell to summer...

 

And as we stood there in the dark, staring out at the lights and the fireworks, I felt a bit of sadness. End of summer means end of epic Can Lake training....and it's been quite a journey this year. Isn't it always?

 

That's what I love about this stuff:  You pick a big fat goal race, round up some willing friends, throw in assorted training races, spice it up with a 4.4 mile swim, and train your heart out. Race day comes and you cash in all those miles of sweating and suffering for a glorious trip across the finish line. Sharing it with friends makes it priceless.

 

We are so ready for you, Can Lake. Bring it on!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wild 20 Run

August 9th

You're out of bed at sunrise. Slip into your favorite hi-tech, sweat-wicking combo. Wriggle your feet into your trusty Asics. Drive the usual route to your usual running trail and park in the usual spot.

You know every rise and fall of this trail, every crook and bend and dip.  It's....comfortable, reliable, predictable. It's boring, even. But you file that into the "mental training" category.

Then...out of the blue....you decide to take a random right. And then an unscripted left. You're on a new road, in  a new neighborhood. This is new territory.

That street looks interesting-- turn!  This one has a nice downhill --fine, keep going straight....or don't!  It doesn't really matter today.

You have only a vague notion of where you are, and no idea of where you're headed. But that's the point. This is wild runnin'!  And you love the randomness of it. To heck with the familiar, today you're going rogue!

Your pace ticks up a notch and the giddiness kicks in as you savor the newness. Pretty soon you're in a different neighborhood, on a shady lane, running by pastel-colored Victorian charmers. You've got 20 on your schedule and it doesn't matter how you get there, just that you get it done.

Around the next bend is an Amish farmer's market..

... tables covered with crates of fruits and veggies, buckets filled with sunflowers and daffodils.

 

You hear the ting, ting, ting of a railroad crossing and realize there's a commuter train station across the street.

How lucky is this? You could hop on the next train, ride to the next stop, get off and run back! Take this wild runnin' thing to a new level!

 Yeah, you're that crazy, but maybe leave that one for another day. Time to head back to the car to refuel. Hmmm.....that's if you can find your way back!

Riley's Rumble

August 3rd

With just two months to go to Can Lake, and our grueling, long August runs going full force, we were ready to ruuummmble at Riley's. A mere half marathon? Meh, child's play.

Or not. This race had some serious hills! But Carol, Nicolas, and I knew this going in...and we decided to incorporate it into a longer run.  Carol "The Machine" Shuford was wrapping a 30-something run around Riley's. And I had 18 miles on my rogue training schedule.

 

We blasted off and pretty soon I was playing tag with an older man whose shirt read "Antique but still running.." And he was running ahead of me and was soon out of sight! I was in slow motion on those hills.

The quiet, rural roads...the green rolling hills...the easy camaraderie with the other runners... yeah, all of that was great. But THE BEST part of Riley's Rumble was the popsicles --AKA Electrolyte Freeze Pops!

I opted for the One-More-Hill-and-I'll-Collapse Cherry. Yum! Why don't other races do this?

The volunteers were amazing too... I loved this race!

At the 8 mile mark I still had a 10 mile run ahead of me. It was a rough one-- the humidity, the sore feet, the lack of energy. I suppose the mileage buildup is taking a toll! But it can always be worse, right?

 

Can Lake bound in two months.

 

 

Mad Marathon Race Report

July 6
How to describe the Mad Marathon? Let's see....scenic, hilly, hard, absolutely mad! The first 17 miles of the course seemed to be all uphill. Actually, there was a two mile downhill thrown in there, but sheesh! I hardly noticed it.

This race was yet another roll of the dice. I had only trained up to 17 miles...and had no idea how much the hills would slow me down. My game plan was to walk the uphills and run the rest. Success would be finishing under 8 hours. Crazy, I know.

The race was held in Vermont's Mad River Valley, with all its barns-in-the-country-charm. Why, even the path to the outdoor expo was a veritable floral showcase!

This being the Fourth of July weekend, everything was decked out in red, white, and blue.



We were in cow country, for sure! Silly Rabbit, AKA Carol "It's Only A Training Run" Shuford, is the reason I did this race. When she told me how pretty it is, I jumped on board. Her brother graciously let us stay at his home in Montpelier; all we had to do was show up!

Mooooo

We had an action-packed day before the race. First stop was the expo, where this helpful alert notified us of the "special" aid station at mile 22. So it looks like if you doubt you're 21, you should carry your ID to remind yourself...

From the expo we headed up the mountain to Sugarbush Ski Resort and took the ride to the top. I have zero experience with ski lifts, so it was a bit nerve-wracking getting on and off. Lot's of nervous laughter.

Saw some bikes on the way up too!

The view on the way down was amazing. That's the Sugarbush resort way down there at the end of the line.

 

Race Day! 

I kind of like jumping into the unknown, living on the edge of my comfort zone. This race definitely took me there! It would be the hilliest marathon I've ever run.  As we stood at the start line waiting to go, I wondered how it would all turn out. The next time I saw this piece of asphalt I would be headed for the finish line. Oh happy thought. 

Ready to rock it!

 Aaaannnnd we're off!!

We hit two covered bridges within the first few miles. So far, so good.

And then we hit the first loooong uphill.

 This being just a training run and all, we had to stop for a selfie in front of a covered bridge.

Now here's something I haven't seen in a race before! Ranchers who live along the route brought out a couple of bulls and some baby cows and let them stand right there on the side of the road! No fence, no....leash....just right there a few feet away from us. So naturally I had to stop for a pic! I'm trying to give him a kiss...


Notice how he tilts his head toward me?

The volunteers, the spectators --everyone was just so nice!

 

Here's how the rest of it went, written in rap in honor of the rappin' rabbits of Team Rabbit!

 

Cruising along on the highest runners' high

STUK was smiling and chatting and slapping high fives! 

The aid stations were stocked, the volunteers cheery

Except for this one guy-- he was grouchy and dreary!

The ultimate Scrooge --with a scowl and a frown

But STUK wasn't about to let him get her down!

"Hey thanks for waiting!" She jovially shouted

But Scrooge said nothing -- just stood there and pouted!

"Did you see a rabbit run by?" STUK said with a grin

Scrooge looked at her like he just lost his best friend!

She spotted some salt and said "I'll have some of this"

"All I need is a shot of tequila --now that would be bliss!"

But with Scrooge looking scroogier, STUK said "See ya later!"

And she thought to herself:  Ain't nobody got time for this hater!

 

 

Up, up, up to the top of the mountain they climbed

Until STUK finally said, "What the heck? Am I blind?"

"Where's the big downhill? WHERE IS IT?!" She cried

She was starting to think that maybe they lied!

 

"The Dip" - straight up, straight down. Pic doesn't do it justice! 

With the sun beating down at mile 22

She gulped down some Gatorade and popped another GU.

And before she knew it, she was feeling just fine!

Finally, the big downhill-- all the way to the finish line!

SRab was waiting to give STUK her cool bling

Mad Marathon in the books--and another state too! Cha-ching!