"no omelettes"

Cruising into the second aid station along Sawbill is where I heard this remark. While standing at the table grazing on various food items, Gregg Robertson approached me w/a loaded smile indicating he would bust out something comical. I love bumping into him on course at times when he's playing a support role as we're familiar w/each others' characters. A blue collared athlete that trains really hard but doesn't take it too seriously all at the same time is the best way to describe myself. Welcoming distractions that don't pertain to the task at hand I believe is important for one's morale during an ultramarathon. However, before proceeding to Carleton Peak for the turnaround we discussed business up the trail and little did he know I was thinking the same about a group two hours earlier. More on this later...

Lets back up, the beginning of the week brought some news that bummed me out when I learned my fiancee couldn't make the trip because she had callbacks on Sat/Sun following auditions Mon/Tues. Jen & I don't get up the north shore as often as we'd like so we'll have to take a rain check. Speaking of which, this idiom would play out in reality as the area got quite a soaker in the days leading up to the race. However, Friday evening was beautiful and I spent it outside on the balcony killing a few soldiers of Leinie's 1888 Bock. This is standard protocol now days but potting plants and hanging bird feeders on Shepherd hooks also isn't normal since I usually get too involved which can give rise to a backache. Just call me the drunken urban gardener for this occasion. Cancelling our reservation @ the Cliff Dweller led to my preferred prep routine of driving up the morning of. A pre dawn departure is one way of doing it and seems to burn off the grogg in the process. Dave Hyopponen was eager for this kind of adventure and we had planned for him to pick me up by 4:00 AM. Trying to talk this guy out of it was impossible even after making it clear that his 25K began a couple hours after my 50K. Arriving early he mentioned we'd be meeting another passenger in the Super One Foods lot to carpool up together. Kim Holak didn't know Dave Hyopponen and I saw the apprehensive look on her face as she approached the vehicle. Once inside, relief came to her as she saw me riding shotgun and patted my shoulders from the backseat to signal a go! Scenic 61 is always a pleasant route and did not disappoint us w/magnificent colors over Lake Superior prior to sunrise. As we continued on, Kim told entertaining stories to us of when camping w/Andy and his parents in Washington State. They'd encountered many terrorizing grizzly bear moments when rain flies were torn off, food stolen, etc. Nobody was ever hurt fortunately. Meanwhile, Dave Hyopponen's nervous tension mounted as he didn't know what to say in the event that the people at registration would deny him entry since it was posted on the website that a limit was reached. There was certainly a degree of risk by heading all that way and maybe having to settle for a lonely run while competition was taking place. Arriving before they opened the doors gave him a bit more time to rehearse a plea. When inside, I signed the list and got my packet to notice at my right, Dave conversing w/a guy telling him everything he didn't want to hear in a stern manner. We then moved over to Moguls where I read coffee shall be served at 6:00 AM sharp!!!!! As I sipped a cup of all that is holy, others racers, as well as the waiter(cool guy might I say), encouraged Dave to convince them somehow to hand over a bib. Explanation was that it is a forest service safety guideline to only have a set maximum number(unknown??) of people in the woods on the SHT. Anyways, I went to the bathroom to change and returned to find out Dave must have begged enough that a kind lady overheard the scenario and caved in...so it goes! Upstairs we'd see Chris Gardner and exchange a little banter in front of the doors to the Caribou Highlands Lodge. Lastly, grab or leave any equipment and head up to the road.

Weather conditions proved sensational as I was slightly chilled at the start but knew that would only remain briefly. This out-n-back course is arguably the most brutal of any in the region. Rocks and roots litter the trail and w/recent showers it was messy like I predicted. Heading up pavement the service road turns into gravel within a quarter mile and this is where I played my hand of poker. Watching a pack of eight runners that I know were in my ability level closely and seeing the slight strain on their faces made it easy for me to let them press on up Mystery Mountain. This would be my debut 50K ultramarathon and I figured it'd be best to not get ahead of myself, so, keeping veteran Kim Holak out of sight for now would help resist the urge to chase. Otherwise, my race could be summed up in one word....PATIENCE! Listening to my feet as I'd put each down to the earth like a metronome was key to success. Probably the most important observation I've made this spring is reducing stride length & higher cadence give me a better chance to stave off muscle abuse that eventually becomes intolerable. Fortunately, I've got a stomach that can take anything I swallow and w/the grocery list in front of me I'm glad. You see, I try ignoring flavor and just go for the nutritional value of what everything I'm consuming has to offer. Of course, there's carbs, protein, & fat but I pay more attention to the salt and sugar. Gels are a waste of time & energy I've learned in the past so I keep things solid and have plain H2O follow it down the chute. Handfuls of pickles, olives, gummy bears, PB&J sandwich, and chunks of salted nut roll were the foods I stopped to eat from volunteers at every opportunity in no discernible order. The ground was more technical until reaching Oberg Mountain where a rough description switched over to muddy grass & soil. I tried to dodge submerged sections by hopping on boulders and logs to prolong my dry feet but such attempts became worthless further out. My ultimate goal was to perform a steady state effort throughout and on the return trip around ~2/3 complete is where I battled some demons for 20 minutes or so. During this bout is where I also caught the first of that octet I already mentioned and thought...yes, here they come!?. This pattern continued as I plucked one after another noticing how each were either mentally and/or physically destroyed. Borrowing Clint's GARMIN aided me in being certain how much trail remained to cover on my way to the finish line. Oddly, Kim Holak would be the last person I'd pass near the gondola before taking a right bend toward the valley and following the pool fence to jot left for a few final meters. Superior Trail 50K served as the Upper Midwest Trail Runners Ultra Championship Race and the event had record attendance! I'd place 15th out of 129 competitors which left me very satisfied. My time was 4 hours 54 minutes 18 seconds(only three-four minutes slower on the way back than out).

It'd be challenging to find a more inspiring venue to host this and the delicious meal of chili, keg of root beer, & more afterwards gave those a chance to socialize on the patio while absorbing the happenings of a long day.