Dude, Where's the Trail? 2006 Version
I decided a while ago to do Lou Joline's 50K, aptly named "Dude Where's the Trail." What I screwed up thoroughly, though, was being well rested prior to the event. I ended up putting in a total of 21.1 miles the day before (on Saturday).
Let me explain...Saturday's weather was just gorgeous. I ran with 3 newbie trailrunners for 6.7 miles at Kill Creek Park early Saturday morning on one of our normally scheduled training runs. On the way home, I decided to stop by SM Park, and check out the trails on the south side of the park. Well, I ended up putting in another 14.4 miles. So I already had over 21 miles "in the bank" for the weekend when I showed up Sunday morning to run the 50K.
"Dude" is no ordinary 50K. It is advertised as a run, not a race. It's also advised that runners should take a map, the 4 pages of instructions, and a cell phone. If you were smart, you went together in a group. My group consisted of Patrick Perry and Jacqueline Jackson, and for a short time, Mike (from Colorado). I couldn't of had any more upbeat, fun, (and fit) running companions.
Our little group: Mike, Pat, Me, Jacqueline
About 30% of the course involves following flags and bushwhacking through the woods without the pleasure of running on actual trails. This was the real fun part. The wild roses, brambles, and other assundry weeds, woods, and cat-of-nine-tails had their way with our legs & arms. Let's just say that I am now thoroughly exfoliated. We ended up taking a wrong turn during one of our bushwhacking episodes, and put an additional 4 miles onto our total. We just considered it as part of the fun.
Most bare flesh looked like this after the run.
Photo by Dick Ross at www.seekcrun.com
Oh yeah, the 21 miles that I ran the day before came into play during the run...(dumbass me). My legs basically felt dead from mile fifteen on. I suffered through it, and my running companions were sympathetic, and didn't pretend to notice too much.
More than a few Trail Nerds showed up for the race. What a fun day.
Dirty Deeds Run Dirt Cheap!
Group photo of some of the participants.
Trail Nerds Rick and Gabe prior to starting.
Photo by Dick Ross at http://www.seekcrun.com/
More Photos
Some comments from the Race Director:
We recommend that runners run in pairs because four eyes see markings better than two.The jury is still out on how good Ben's group with eight eyes were.They got to see more of the park than some of the others, 33 miles worth, but they missed the Maze, one of our best bits.
If your group had only two eyes, you were either very good, or very foolish. Mark Crisman and Gary Denny, who finished in 5:07 and 5:15 were very good. Mark told me the book was gone from the Silo, but he saw it there on Saturday! Two or three of these guys know the park better than I do! And I know it well.
- Lou Joline, RD
Let me explain...Saturday's weather was just gorgeous. I ran with 3 newbie trailrunners for 6.7 miles at Kill Creek Park early Saturday morning on one of our normally scheduled training runs. On the way home, I decided to stop by SM Park, and check out the trails on the south side of the park. Well, I ended up putting in another 14.4 miles. So I already had over 21 miles "in the bank" for the weekend when I showed up Sunday morning to run the 50K.
"Dude" is no ordinary 50K. It is advertised as a run, not a race. It's also advised that runners should take a map, the 4 pages of instructions, and a cell phone. If you were smart, you went together in a group. My group consisted of Patrick Perry and Jacqueline Jackson, and for a short time, Mike (from Colorado). I couldn't of had any more upbeat, fun, (and fit) running companions.
Our little group: Mike, Pat, Me, Jacqueline
About 30% of the course involves following flags and bushwhacking through the woods without the pleasure of running on actual trails. This was the real fun part. The wild roses, brambles, and other assundry weeds, woods, and cat-of-nine-tails had their way with our legs & arms. Let's just say that I am now thoroughly exfoliated. We ended up taking a wrong turn during one of our bushwhacking episodes, and put an additional 4 miles onto our total. We just considered it as part of the fun.
Most bare flesh looked like this after the run.
Photo by Dick Ross at www.seekcrun.com
Oh yeah, the 21 miles that I ran the day before came into play during the run...(dumbass me). My legs basically felt dead from mile fifteen on. I suffered through it, and my running companions were sympathetic, and didn't pretend to notice too much.
More than a few Trail Nerds showed up for the race. What a fun day.
Dirty Deeds Run Dirt Cheap!
Group photo of some of the participants.
Trail Nerds Rick and Gabe prior to starting.
Photo by Dick Ross at http://www.seekcrun.com/
More Photos
Some comments from the Race Director:
We recommend that runners run in pairs because four eyes see markings better than two.The jury is still out on how good Ben's group with eight eyes were.They got to see more of the park than some of the others, 33 miles worth, but they missed the Maze, one of our best bits.
If your group had only two eyes, you were either very good, or very foolish. Mark Crisman and Gary Denny, who finished in 5:07 and 5:15 were very good. Mark told me the book was gone from the Silo, but he saw it there on Saturday! Two or three of these guys know the park better than I do! And I know it well.
- Lou Joline, RD
posted by Ben, aka BadBen at 9:37 PM
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