Doug Freese wrote:
>
> I also agree that running in tiny circles for hours sucks
> and have not nor will ever do one. We seem to be looking
> at the extremes with unsupported animal shows and oval
> drudgery. I don't know about Scotland or Alaska but we
> have oodles of races of all distances that are well
> supported especially on trails. I'd much rather run a race
> with a single water bottle and support than a 55 gallon
> drum of fluid and a side of beef.
>
> A casual look at the calendars shows an incredible
> selection by geography: see
http://www.ultrarunning.com/
> or
http://www.ultramarathonworld.com/
>
But, Doug, you come from a road running background, and I
doubt that you ever did much hiking / backpacking away
from road. Your perception of "normalcy" is different
than mine
I've noticed you like doing ultras that tend to be hot -
not because you like hot weather, but because you like the
other aspects of those races, and you train for the hot
weather, which comes with the territory. In my case,
whether I really like unsupported races or not (to be
determined, but so far I like the concept and the
training), that's what accompanies the races that I think
I'll like - and I think there's a correlation. I'll train
for carrying my fluids, the same as you train for heat -
except I can do it year round
FWIW, I do find I run more relaxed when I'm out with
camelbak, food, fluid, extra layer of clothes / place to put
peeled layers, map, compass, etc - because that's the
environment I'm coming from and what I enjoy most about
running now (probably not 10 yrs ago when I was doing a lot
of hard hiking in summer and welcomed the short, easy winter
road runs as something to do mid-week as a change without
having to worry about bears, etc). Even with 40 oz fluid
(<10 lbs total), my cb is lighter than a bookpack for the
office (about 15 lb). And waaay lighter than a large pack
filled with soil samples. I know I need waaay more than 40
oz of fluid, but some of my gear will get lighter as I fine
tune things.
When I was first looking at potential races, I was coming
from a r.r perspective - looking for aid stations and this,
that, and another. Then a local trailrunner / salesman at
running shoe store (posts here occasionally, thanks Mark)
clued me in on Alaska trail running, namely lack of aid
stations. This is quite well accepted up here. I've never
heard anyone complain about lack of aid stations. It's
another day at the office, so to speak. And the character of
many races would be changed negatively with aid stations.
Many races hit their limit, even if the only way out if
you're injured is to hobble 10+ miles. People take their
race preparations very seriously for these events. There's
other races where the penality for messing up isn't as bad,
and there's getting to be more of the shorter trail races in
the last couple years that didn't exist in the past. But
these other races have been around for 15 years or so and in
one case over 75 years.
An ultra with aid stations or a 5-/10-mile loop by one's car
might get some support for people wanting to get their feet
wet without the hazards of DNF'ing 25 miles from road
(helicopters are expensive). I would definitely consider
something like that. There used to be a 12-/24-hr race like
that (with about 1000ft/loop, iirc), but it's fallen out of
existence. Not enough people interested, I guess.
After I got used to the concept of carrying my own gear
(that is, finding out about local races and doing them,
rather than primary influence being r.r), I *really* like
the concept. Particularly now that my field work is
declining, and I'm not hiking as much as part of my job.
Most local trails are more fun to run than to walk.
The main consideration for me for a first ultra is would I
rather drive 3 hours to a local ultra vs driving 4-5 days 1
way (or flying, then getting rental car, etc) to do a race
that's fully supported but probably not as intiment. The
local race would probably have 20-30 people that I'll
probably know half of by that time since I've offered to
volunteer in 2005 and they have weekly training runs that I
hope to do when my mileage is up a bit. We're talking
negligible cost (say $100 if I stay in nearby motel night
before vs camping) vs something that's well over $1000,
probably closer to $2000; something known and liked vs
unknown environment. Time spent running (and cost) is one
reason why I'm considering something like a running camp,
rather a race for anything outside Alaska - get to do more
running and makes the travel time/expense more effective.
Note, it's not the $1000+ cost that's an issue, but rather
the amount of running I'd get (at any time) and
unfamiliarity for 1st ultra. That said, I have some
collaborators in Corvallis that I should visit sometime, and
I've hiked a little in McDonald Forest where a 50k and 15k
are held (1 spring but late, 1 fall at reasonable time). I
also have friends in upstate NY (really upstate) that I'd
like to go back and visit some time and would consider a
race in the NY, New England area. And there's some in
Rockies that might be interesting. Or helping mark/unmark
trail. But of all the race reports on the ultra list,
there's probably only a handful that make me want to go run
that race. There's just so much glitz with many of the ones
reported on. Maybe I'd like them, I don't know.
But none of these would be until after I do a local ultra.
My comfort zone is for familiarity rather than needing
support (or at least that's my perception).
With aid stations, I'd have to train differently - learn how
to use aid stations, etc. Water bottles don't work well for
me, so I'd be using a cb anyway. I think there's stream
crossings where I can filter water so don't need to carry 50
miles worth of fluid.
FWIW, that same group that does the summer 50 milers is
doing a 5-day event this summer (limit 12 runners) - but
basing out of 2 different camp grounds. Use one for the
first 2 or 3 runs, then move to another area and another 2
or 3 runs - all about 20-30 miles each. Camp chores, etc at
night. That's what the main clientele up here seems to like
- or at least the ones that are willing to organize events.
Many of them also do ultras outside. It's just this is what
they like up here - or at least that's my interpretation.
Oh, yea, these are the same people that suggest bringing ice
axes on some winter runs. But the summer ultra is a
relatively easy, backpacking trail.
And maybe somebody will start another ultra that has aid
stations. Who knows. There's a lot changing here in the last
couple years. I mean we even have snowshoe races now near
where I live.
Dot
--
"Success is different things to different people" -Bernd
Heinrich in Racing the Antelope
