ENDURrun +

There are a lot of crazy runners in Ontario. In fact we have our own event. It’s called the ENDURrun.

The ENDURrun is 7 races in 8 days, covering 160km (99.4miles).

I, being a complete lunatic, decided I would also throw in a 6hr trail race, the day before the ENDURrun started.

So Friday night I have my usual wieners and beans and head to bed at a reasonable hour. Only to be hit with sinus congestion from a head cold I had been trying to fight off. This resulted in the worst night’s sleep I have ever had before a race. Finally out of bed and had some Chicken Fried Rice for breakfast and off to the race.

Race #1: Aug 6th, The Dirty Girls 6hr Trail Run. This takes place at Mansfield Outdoor Center. I have run here before and it’s a tough course. The route I’m running this day is different than my previous race here. Today’s race consists of 10k loops, with 6hr cutoffs at 2.1, 5 and 7.5k.

Swag for this race is nice, instead of a shirt we get sleeves. One with the super Dirty Girls logo and the other with, for the ladies: “dirty girl” and for the guys: “I did the dirty girls”.

8am and we’re off. I’ve taken sinus and allergy medication and breathing is good. I didn’t bother carrying water on the first loop as I thought the aid stations would be more frequent, approx. every 2.5k. But they ended up only having aid stations at 5k and the start/finish. It was getting warm and humid by the end of the first loop, so I grabbed my water belt and some partially frozen bottles from my cooler and headed into loop two. I was giving Perpetuem a try during a race for the first time. I had used it once during training and found it not very thirst quenching. This time I used the maximum recommended amount of water. So I’m carrying one 8oz bottle of Perpetuem and another of water. 2^nd loop is a little slower as I’m feeling the humidity, hills and lack of sleep. I started eating pretzels at the aid stations half way through this loop. Still on track to meet my goal though. Started the third loop be switching out my two empty bottles for two fresh frozen ones. I’m going through them a little faster now too, although I still have a little ice in the water bottle at the 5k aid station, where I top it up. Slower again this loop and finish with enough time to meet my minimum goal, if I don’t fade any further. Two fresh bottles and out for the fourth loop. Still struggling and thirsty, could be the Perpetuem. At the 5k aid station I realize I won’t meet my minimum goal (besides the next 2.1 cutoff is short of my actual minimum goal), I decide to dial it back a little and save some for the rest of the week. I finish the fourth loop in 5:53:00 and call it a day at 40k.

I receive my Dirty Girls super medal, have a burger, visit briefly with a few running friends and head out to Waterloo Ontario for the ENDURrun.

Thanks to RunningFree Orangeville for a great job running the aid station at the start/finish area.

The ENDURrun consists of an Ultimate Event, consisting of 7 runs/stages. Patterning itself as a Tour de France of running. The first stage is a Half Marathon on the Sunday. This gives you your placing for stage 2, a 15k time trial. Stage 3 is a 30k Trail Run. Stage 4 is a 10 mile hill run. Stage 5 a 25.6k alpine cross country run. Stage 6 a 10k time trial and finishes with stage 7 a marathon. The male and female leader after each stage wears a yellow singlet. The male and female runners with the best combined time for stages 4 and 5 are awarded as King of the Hill and the male and female runners with the best combined times for stages 2 and 6 are awarded as Speed Kings at the end of the event. The ENDURrun also has a sport event consisting of the last three stages. A relay event , where teams of 2 to 7 compete through the 7 stages. As well there are limited entries for guest runners for each stage, where individuals can run various stages throughout the week.

The ENDURrun starts with an event meeting on Saturday night for all the ultimate runners, where we do a meet and greet as well as discuss some of the event details. Here we pick up our race swag, have light refreshments and receive an open invitation to use the pool and hot tub at the RD’s house, where this meeting takes place, throughout the event.

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011PreRaceMeeting

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrunPreRaceMeetingByRyanShootTheThrill

Stage 1: Aug 7th, the Half Marathon. 8am Sunday morning, a two loop course starts off pretty good but I just can’t get my quads to loosen up after the hilly trail race on Saturday. A couple of nasty little hills on the course, but I get through them okay. Pass a couple of runners in the last loop, without getting passed myself. Still ended up finishing almost 15 min slower than I wanted in 2:13. Lots of great food after burgers, tacos, fajitas’, salads, veggies, fruit and fresh made smoothies. Took advantage of the available massage and had them work on my quads.

2:12:55. 21^st out of 22 Male Ultimates, 27^th out of 29 overall

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011Stage1HalfMarathonByRyanShootTheThrill

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011Stage1HalfMarathon

Stage 2: Aug 8th, the 15k Time Trial. 8am Monday morning a one loop course with a tough uphill for 1/2k at 1.5k, with a corresponding downhill at 8k. A few rollers throughout the course, as well as a mix of terrain, mostly road, but some paved and gravel paths, grass and chip trails. We start off in the reverse order of our stage 1 finish, slowest first, followed at 1 minute intervals by the next runner. I start 4^th. I feel good and catch and pass the runners in front of me and at 2k I am in the lead. Unaware where any of the runners behind me are, I keep pushing the pace. Finally on a small out and back stretch, I see where my pursuers are. I get some good stretches for running and start pushing harder. I cross the finish line first, having held off all the faster runners, although many closed the gap. More good food, substituting rolls and cold cuts for the hot food. After a massage for my quads and right hamstring which was bothering me from the pace and camber of the roads. Then over to one of the crews house for a pool party.

1:25:48. 18^th out of 21 males, 23^rd out of 28 overall.

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011Stage2ByAndrewPearson

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011Stage215K

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrunStage2ByVickiShootTheThrill

Stage 3: Aug 9th, the 30k Trail Run. 8am Tuesday morning, a 6 loop 5k course, on a rainy day. Aid station at 2.5k and start finish. I was going to give the Perpetuem another try at 10 and 20k. Started off pretty good and the first two loops went pretty well, although my left hamstring which I neglected to have massaged on Monday started complaining. On the third loop I walked the biggest hill for the first time. Fourth loop started the same but I found myself having to walk the 2^nd biggest hill as well. I was also having difficulty recovering my breath after this hill, partially due to the rain sodden heavy air. On the 5^th loop, more of the same. I also walked one flat stretch for a minute or two, keeping company encouraging one of the other runners struggling badly. Managed to pick up a little in the 6^th loop and finished in 3:35. More good food, a massage for both quads and hammies. Stuck around until the badly struggling runner finished. And of course at this point the rain finally stopped.

3:36:20. 20^th out of 21 males. 26^th out of 28 overall.

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011Stage330K

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011Stage330K2

Stage 4: Aug 10th, the 10 mile hill run. This race is scheduled for 6pm on Wednesday night to allow a little recovery from yesterday’s trail race. This race is an out and back that takes place on Wilmot Line, home of Horror Hill.

Legs feel the best they have all week, although I do get a small twinge in my left hammie as we start off, but it quickly passes. I start off with one of the younger runners and we push the pace for first couple of k. Finally he loses me at horror hill as I have to walk it. I do manage to “run” all the other hills. Although pathetically slow and am passed by several runners. However I have great strength on the downhills and pass all but one of the runners who passed me as well as a few others. I manage to make up enough ground on the downs, that I can hold off the other runners on the final uphill. Massage again for quads and hammies. A BBQ after leading into a rest day on Thursday.

1:29:26. 17^th out of 21 males. 21^st out of 28

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011Stage410HillyMiler

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrunStage4ByRyanShootTheThrillPt1

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrunStage4ByRyanShootTheThrill02

Thursday I meet with some of the group for lunch and beer, although I passed on the beer float. Hot tub and pool and generally relaxed.

Stage 5: Aug 12th, 25.6 alpine cross country run. 8 am Friday, a 5 loop 5.12k course at a local man made ski hill. We start out in the chalet parking lot, quickly transition into some grass running followed by some mountainbike trail. This leads us to our first climb, up a dirt access road on the back of one of the ski hills. This road is deceiving, as just as you think you’re nearing the top it rounds a bend and more up, twice. Across the top of the hill and into a small loop of more mountain bike trail on the backside pf the hill. Back up and the first major decent. Straight down the ski slope. Across the bottom and then straight up another ski slope. Straight down another ski slope and then back up on a mountain bike trail that wraps around the end of the hill. Probably the easiest ascent , but definitely tougher as the day progressed. Finally straight down a last ski slope and into the loop finish. To do it again 4 more times.

Despite the early start it was getting quite warm as the day progressed, especially on the open ski slopes. At the end of the third loop I grabbed my sponge bandana from my cooler and draped it around my neck. It certainly helped especially on the uphill ski slope, where I would wring it out over my head. Then I would dip it in a sponge bucket at the aid stations. Still struggled on the uphills and was flying the downhills. Massage for the quads and hammies after then up to the RD’s for hot tub and pool.

3:23:46. 16^th out of 21 males. 20^th out of 28

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011Stage5265K

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011Stage5265KPart202

Stage 6: Aug 13th, 10 k time trial. 8am on Saturday on our only point to point race. A couple of small rollers but a net downhill run. This is the most popular race and gets the most guest runners. Based on our accumulated time, and the projected times from the guests, we again start slowest first. As I also had a couple of good hill runs I’m starting further back this time. It’s also strategy time. My closest rival is about 6 min behind. Do you go all out to try to widen the gap or do you save some for the marathon tomorrow. I start the first 5k hard and pass my rival in 3k (he is having gi troubles allowing me to catch him quicker). After pushing the first 5k and widening the gap, as well as passing several other runners. I dial it back for the next 3k. 2k to go and I try to pick it up again, but the legs are getting fatigued. I don’t catch a few runners in front and with half a k to go I get passed by one of the faster runners. I pick it up for the last half k but can’t catch him. This probably is a mistake leading into the marathon. Although I did gain another 4 min on my rival. This race ends at the RD’s house, where we’re served brunch, get our massages and some people use the hot tub and pool. Later that night we return to the RD’s house for a wrap up BBQ and use the hot tub and pool once again.

52:50. 19^th out of 21 males. 24^th out of 28 overall.

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrun2011Stage610K

https://picasaweb.google.com/runwaterloo/ENDURrunStage6ByRyanShootTheThrill

Stage 7: Aug 14th, the marathon. 7:30 Sunday Morning (although 6 runners, including my rival, opt for a 7 am start). A 2 loop course. Race starts and right off the bat I know I’m in trouble. Left hammie is aching and doesn’t want to loosen up, plus just general fatigue in the legs. I know I can finish, so I just have to keep on moving. Frequent aid stations and I’ve stashed frozen bottles of Perpetuem at a couple of them. I finished the first half only a couple of minutes faster than my half to start the week. I cross the lines with my hands in the air as if I’ve just completed the marathon, telling the race photographer to get my finish picture now as it won’t be pretty at the end of the second loop. 2^nd loop is more of the same except warmer, so drinking lots more and getting slower. Finally round the corner to the finish with 100 meters to go and see that I have a chance to beat 4:30, so I give whatever I have left and cross the line at exactly 4:30.

Rehydrated, got my massage and enjoyed one last good meal. Congratulated all the other runners. Today we had our first drop out, a runner who’s knee went in the first half and dropped from the series at the end of the first loop. Hopefully a quick recovery and he tries again next year. My rival finished in 4:31 so I maintained my lead/placing.