Mad Dog (Ice Age Trail) Marathon

 
 Location: Sunburst Ski Area/Kettle Moraine State Forest, Kewaskum, WI
Date Run: 7/19/2014, 0720 start
Place: 2 out of 20
Duration: 4:55:37
Average Pace: 11:15
Elevation: ~1000'
Weather: 60-80F, mostly sunny, humid
Race Website: http://www.traildogrunning.com/2014_races/race_information_luna-tic_race_series

Every year we visit my wife's family in Michigan. This year she flew with my daughter and I drove the 20 hrs with our dog making for a good excuse to break up the drive with a marathon in a new state. A few years back I ran the Old Farts Marathon in Lowell, MI along the North Country Trail and liked it so this year I decided to sign up for the inaugural Trail Dog Marathon along the Ice Age Trail (IAT) on the other side of Lake Michigan.

As a small first time event, there were no race reports leaving me no idea what to expect with this race. Packet pickup was in the back of a bar in the small town of West Bend a few miles south of Kewaskum. There was no pre-race meal but they did provide you a free beer for carbo loading.

Race Route

The Race

As alluded to by the race logo above, the race distances offered were a 50K, marathon, half, and a 13K. Each start was spread out by 20 minutes with the 50K first. This is one of the smallest races I've ever been in. It was easy to find parking and know exactly where to go. The one drawback was only one (1) portapotty available at the start. No matter how small the race, just about everyone running tries to do some offloading before go-time. I was standing in the john line 7 people back when the race organizers announced (without requiring the use of a bullhorn) 5 minutes until the start. Fortunately the non-marathon runners let me cut to the front.

Just after the start of the 50K

Instead of a whistle, gun, or ceremonial song and dance, the race organizer simply explained, "when the race clock hits 20:00 [from the time the 50K began], start running..." There was not much jockeying for position with only 20 of us taking off at the same time and no real start signal. I tried to find a pacesetter but nobody volunteered so I just started running at a comfortable pace in the front. About 2 miles in, I realized one of the other marathoners was pacing off me. We got to talking and it turned out Josh was also from Colorado.

Josh and I crossing the road after completing the first 3 mi loop

The race had a short 3 mi loop west of the start and then turned north past the start entering the Kettle Moraine State Forest section of the IAT. It was mostly single track through thick trees and brush accentuated by grassy farm trails devoid of shade. The IAT runs along the terminal moraine of the last ice age (hence the name) so it was hillier than I was expecting. There were aid stations at miles 4 and 6 but the next one was not until mile 13. This would later become a mental hurdle following the turnaround.

Grassy farm trail

More typical section of the course

I made the mistake of not bringing a watch and having no idea what pace I was running. Josh took over setting the pace about 3 miles in. Despite being able to talk, after about 10mi into the race --when the sun and the temperature slowly started rising-- I realized we had gone out too fast. I suggested slowing down and we coasted comfortably into the turnaround aid station together but the damage had already been done. By mile 15 I felt the wheels coming loose and I slowed way down to try to keep them on, letting Josh to go ahead. Around mile 18 I caught up to him --he was hurting worse than I was. Both of us were questioning the location of the next aid station because it was warming up considerably. The 7 mi gap between aid stations was dreadful on the return. Unfortunately Josh had to pull out of the race after finally reaching that aid station at mile 21. Right around that point I bonked too. My glycogen stores were completely depleted so I did more walking than running for the last 5 miles. Amazingly I was not passed by another marathoner until mile 23. By this point it was in the high 70s, and the gently sloping open cornfields I had cruised down going out were a blazing torture to climb coming back.

Sunny open section

I finally entered a clearing with the Sunburst Ski Area visible in the distance. I felt like I had less than a mile left but in reality, there were still over 2 miles from this point. Upon crossing a road and entering a parking lot near the base of the ski area, the race turned right and ran a mile long loop along the edge of the Sunburst property before circling back to the finish. During this mile long loop I could see some of the other marathoners gaining on me. I increased the tempo of my old man shuffle, managing to hold them off to come in second overall.

I managed this race terribly. I need to take temperatures over 65 more into consideration.

Ratings

Race Organization (5=phenomenal, 1=atrocious): 3/5
The course was pretty well marked. The aid stations were well stocked with food, gels, HEED and water but the 7 mi gap between aid stations in hot humid weather (by my standards) was rough. There were no electrolyte drinks at the finish - only water and beer. The volunteers at the aid stations were friendly and encouraging.

Course Difficulty (5=Pikes Peak Ascent, 1=a flat dirt road): 3/5
The hilly moraines were difficult to navigate after bonking but the single track was not overly difficult to run on. The hills did surprise me. Although I enjoyed the shady hills more than the open cornfields. The weather played more of a factor in difficulty than the terrain itself.

Course Scenery (5=engagement proposal backdrop, 1=concrete walls): 4/5
Everything was incredibly green along this trail. Once again, the open cornfields were the only drawback.

Schwag (5=a tech T, embroidered towel & warmup pants, 1=a cotton shirt): 2/5
Got a tech tee and... not much else.

Overall: 3/5
Well done for a debut race.

Gore Creek Rafting - Poor Man's Aspen (Vail)

Access: Park a shuttle at the Eagle River Water & Sanitation Plant in west Lionshead Village. The put-in is in East Vail just off Exit 180 adjacent to the creek. There's a 3 hr lot on the left side of Big Horn Rd.
Start: 1000, 6/1/2014
Total Distance: ~5mi
Flow: ~1000cfs
Class: 3
Raft Occupants: 3

The fresh deep powder normally associated with Vail yields plenty of runoff into Gore Creek for rafting on big snow years. The creek starts in East Vail running right through the middle of Vail Village with a nice eddy out on the promenade in the Gore Creek Plaza just beyond the Covered Bridge. The put-in is just off the bike path that runs parallel to Big Horn Rd.

East Vail (I-70 Exit 180)

The river width is only 30 to 60 feet through East Vail with small short class 2/3 rapids. The bridge underpasses are more difficult to navigate than the rapids. Anything over 1000cfs and caution must be exercised to avoid decapitation.

Head Ripper Pipe

This section of the river runs through the East Vail golf course offering great views of the spring falls pouring down the mountains and the snow covered peaks of the Gore Range to the east.
Don't forget to bring a couple golf clubs for an impromptu hole from the riverbank.

Looking east on the Gore Range

After a few miles, the river enters Vail Village, where you are met with awestruck tourists snapping pictures from covered bridges. The Gore Creek Plaza makes a great place to stop for a drink before the somewhat larger class 3 rapids of West Vail. There's nothing like the looks you receive from the restaurant clientele sipping chianti on the patios when you pop open a river chilled PBR. Keep it Klassy.

Setting up a PBR bar in the courtyard

The next section through Lionshead has some dodgy spillovers but nothing unavoidable and nothing over class 3. This same section of river is used for the GoPro Games every spring. The takeout before the big boy class 3+ rapids (Dowd Chute) is on the west end of Lionshead Village, north side of the river. There's a bridge for Forest Rd. beyond the takeout. Ascend the short bank to the bike path. The treatment plant is on Forest Rd.

Prom Dress Couloir (Peak 1)

Access: Mt. Royal TH or the bike path in Frisco
Start: 0900, 5/2/2014
Total Distance ~6 mi R/T
Duration: 4 to 5 hours
Vertical: ~2000'
Aspect: NE
Weather: 30F-45F/clear, 10-20 mph winds above TL
Conditions: Wind compacted powder, corn

Peak 1 is the northernmost peak in the Tenmile Range rising prominently to the south of I-70 with Frisco in its shadow - especially in the winter when the sun sets at 1 PM over the western edge of town. The snowy summit stares at me every morning from my front porch so I've been itching to drop the Prom Dress for awhile. Save it for stable conditions with ~45° slopes crossing over cliffs and funneling into a 35° bowl.

The Approach:
There are really two choices. There's the obvious route from the Mt Royal TH that climbs past J-chute over Mt. Victoria with class 3 scrambling on the NE ridge to the summit. The summit often has a cornice that must be navigated to reach the east ridge and the entrance to Prom Dress. The traverse from the summit to the east ridge lies above 200' cliffs.

The other option is to skin from the bike path directly to the east ridge. The bike path option requires careful route finding as the summit is obscured by thick trees most of the way and there are several sub-ridges that can leave you removed from your destination.

Once you reach TL, gain the east ridge and proceed to the entrance on the looker's right of the ridge.

Tenmile Peak to the left

There are several line options along the ridge. Prom Dress is the upper most, roughly 3/4 of the way to the summit.

The Line:
Prom Dress Couloir has a 20' wide entrance. There is a vertical cliff band in front of a cornice of variable size with the entry of the line descending between the cornice and the cliff band.

Skier's right of the cornice is a second cliff band. The couloir extends for a couple hundred yards between the two cliff bands.

Dillon Lake in the distance 

The entrance to the couloir is around 40° and tops out around 45° in the middle. The bottom funnels into the 35° NE bowl of Peak 1.

From the middle of the NE bowl looking up on Prom Dress

The exit is through the trees at the base of the bowl back to Frisco. Route finding is key.

Below TL looking back on Peak 1

2014 Free State Trail Marathon

Location: Clinton Lake in Lawrence, KS
Date Run: 4/19/2014, 0800 start
Place: 1 out of 100
Duration: 3:43:25
Average Pace: 8:30
Elevation: ~1000'
Weather: 50-72F
Race Website: http://www.psychowyco.com/id1.html

By mid-April it's mud season in the mountains so I decided it was a good time to get away and continue my slow pursuit of 50 marathons in 50 states. Since moving to Summit County, CO road running has all but completely lost its appeal. For that reason I was stoked to find this trail marathon in Lawrence, KS.

I've done a handful of trail races in the last several years, and the Free State now ranks among the top. It was somewhat of a last moment decision to commit. I attempted to register online before the deadline but the website was not cooperating. Luckily, the race director Ben had provided his personal number on the race page and assured me I could register in person at packet pickup. He was even kind enough to honor the lower online registration price. Perks of a smaller sized event.

Clinton Lake Trail Network

The Race
The distances offered were a 100k, 40 miler, marathon and a half, all of which were run along trails on the north shore of Clinton Lake. In order to spread the runners out, the ultras started at 0700 while the marathon and half started at 0800.  The race started abruptly. Ben essentially said, "We have a great course, it's well marked, marathoners split from the half marathoners early on, rejoin them, and then split off again... sound good? Alright... GO!"

Listening intently to Ben the race director

The first split was after the first mile. ... Aaaaand I completely missed it because I was following closely behind a runner of the half. Fortunately another marathoner I had talked to before the race corrected my error by shouting after me after I'd only proceeded 200' in the wrong direction. There was a race volunteer standing at the split but he wasn't really paying attention. No harm but it could have easily ruined my day had it not been for the other marathoner.

The correct route continued along a cross country ski trail for about a mile before suddenly cutting left directly into the woods off trail. The deviation into the woods was well marked by flagging although I'm sure a few runners thought, 'can this be right?' The race director called this character builder "exfoliation". No joke. I was repeatedly clawed by branches and bushes. It was actually kind of invigorating. After briefly bushwhacking, the route led to a single track trail that quickly crossed a stream. This trail looped around rejoining the original split at about mile 3 and continuing along with the half marathon route.

Typical trail segment with flagging. (Image credit: http://runmoretalkless.blogspot.com)

At this point I was surprised to pass half a dozen (slower) marathoners. Apparently they had somehow gone off route around the bushwhacking bit and shortened it. This really irritated me - having missed the split and then passed marathoners that had clearly cut some corners - so I took off a bit faster than was prudent. I started passing half marathoners asking them if any other marathoners had passed. Before long I realized I was alone in the front so I tried to settle in to a comfortable pace. And the scenery made that easy. There were views of the lake through blooming redbuds as the sun was rising.

Running through a woodchuck nest

The route was moderately rocky with short rolling hills having moderate pitch in general. This was a welcome reprieve from the long steep sustained climbs I'd become used to in the mountains. One section -Red Trail- along the waterfront was more technical with lilypad-like rock hopping. It wasn't made any easier by having to pass half marathoners along this portion but it was enjoyable having to pay close attention to footwork.

The second and final split from the half marathoners at the end of Red Trail about 13 miles into the race was well marked with an aid station. The turnoff provided additional mileage for the marathon and ultra runners. Along this stretch I passed a few ultra runners but by and large the trail opened up with the absence of half marathoners. This segment of the trail looped around to the aid station at the split before continuing on for the final 3 miles to the finish.

Ratings
Race Organization (5=phenomenal, 1=atrocious): 3/5
The start was sudden. Some of the course markings in the beginning were questionable. But for the most part, being an area with a lot of intersecting and interweaving trails, it was remarkably well marked to avoid confusion. There were no mile markers until the very end, making it simultaneously pleasant and painful not knowing where I stood. The aid stations alternated between manned and unmanned. The manned aid stations were fully stocked with HEED, water, gels, candy, fruit, etc. I really liked that runners were required to carry their own hydration containers minimizing waste from once used small cups.

Course Difficulty (5=Pikes Peak Ascent, 1=a flat dirt road): 3/5
The uphill portions were brief and moderately steep. There were a few technical sections, particularly along the Red Trail segment. And the bushwhacking completely off trail was new to me. It was a lot more difficult than I expected but nothing like I've experienced in Colorado.

Course Scenery (5=engagement proposal backdrop, 1=concrete walls): 4/5
A picturesque lake and blooming trees within a clean forested area. The only drawback was the prevalence of close proximity parallel trails interweaving making them feel like they were nearly on top of one another at times.

Schwag (5=a tech T, embroidered towel & warmup pants, 1=a cotton shirt): 4/5
Got a tech tee and... (((drum roll)))... a beer mug. The medal was burly and unique to the marathon distance.

Overall: 4/5
Like I mentioned earlier, one of my favorite trail races despite the early hiccups.

Elvis's Crotch Couloir (Buffalo Mountain)

Access: Ryan Gulch TH above Wildernest in Silverthorne
Start: 0800, 4/11/2014
Total Distance ~5 mi R/T
Duration: 4 to 5 hours
Vertical: ~2500'
Aspect: North
Weather: 30F-45F/clear, 10-20 mph winds above TL
Conditions: from high to low - hard pow, soft pow, corn, slush

Silver Couloir is one of the lines in 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America By Chris Davenport et al. Little Elvis Couloir is the line skiers right of Silver. And Elvis's Crotch is the rarely ridden, narrow deep cut couloir that bridges the rocky ridge between the top of Little Elvis and the bottom of Silver. It is best to ski it in soft stable spring conditions, as an avalanche or fall on this line would be high consequence.

The Approach:
From Ryan Gulch TH, proceed to the first marked trail intersection and turn left up the Buffalo Cabin trail. Continue through the trees to TL, gaining the ridge between the glacial cirque in Buffalo and the northern summit.

Glacial Cirque with Tenmile Range in the background

Topo credit: the late George Dirth, http://grandlin.es

The top of Little Elvis is 100 to 200 yd before the first/southern access to Silver. Upon entry to Little Elvis, the entrance to Elvis's Crotch is guarded by a jagged rock pinnacle skier's left ~100' down.

Rock Pinnacle at top of Elvis's Crotch

Elvis's Crotch entrance is 45º sustained into a narrow choke that approaches 50º.

Choke at the top of the photo

The rest of the line is 40-45º with another narrow choke before the entrance to the bottom of wide open Silver. The chokes vary in width considerably with the snowpack. On this day, both the top and bottom chokes were little more than 2 yds across.

Approaching bottom choke

Beneath bottom choke

Looking down on Silver proper

Bottom 1/3 of Silver proper

The exit of Silver is skier's right into the trees along an aqueduct at the base of Silver above the Gore Range Trail. Exiting Silver can be a pleasant skin along an established skin track or a grueling bootpack over deadfall with ample route finding. After only a couple hundred feet along the aqueduct is the right turnoff onto the moderately steep uphill Buffalo-Willow Connect. It is not uncommon to miss the right turn and continue along the Gore Range Trail adding unnecessary miles to your trip. The Buffalo-Willow Connect will lead directly back to the Ryan Gulch TH.