Xtreme 10 Race Report

The race is a unpaved trail race through a forest preserve. It is a 9.6 mile loop, with added distance to round it out to 10 miles. The forest preserve is beautiful, and the trail is challenging. There is a hill called “Big Bertha” about 2.5 miles into this course, that gains 125 feet in just over a half mile.

Since we live only about 20 minutes from the Preserve, we have ridden our bikes and hiked there in the past. We hadn't been there in a few years when I registered for this event, so we scheduled a few runs/walks over the preceding weeks to get re-acclimated. It is a very good thing that we did.

My first full circuit out there was opposite to the direction the race goes, and I went DOWN “Big Bertha”, not up. I turned in a respectable (for me) 1:58. The next weekend, I did it in the other direction, and encountered Bertha in all her glory, turned in a better time, too with 1:48 for 9.5 miles.

Race day came last Saturday, and I was a little nervous about the run. I was very glad I had pre-run the course, but wasn't sure I'd be anything better than last place. I know that really doesn't matter, but...

The race is touted as having the best goody-bags and the best food of any chicago-area event. It seemed to be pretty good when I checked in. There were large commercial grills being set up, a gatorade tent, a place to get lipton tea and monster drinks. Hamburgers and sausages were starting to be grilled and it looked like a party, including a giant Budweiser tent with the promise of Free Beer !.

Like almost any event, it started a little late, and with a rather odd start lineup.

Bib colors were assigned according to how fast you said you were when you registered. I was, of course, in the last group, the Sub, sub, sub-elite. Each group had a “Cross-Country” style start, lined up at the woodline and running across a meadow to a bottleneck to get on the actual trail. Each group started out about 4 minutes behind the previous, faster group. We were repeatedly admonished to start ONLY with our own group, with NO mixing of colors. I suppose you would have to be pretty damn good to make up the 4 minute lead and mingle with the last of the previous group, but they still hammered that point home, over the PA, again, and again, and again.

So, the gun fired and my group started out, across the meadow, and into the bottleneck. I found a few like-paced people to start with and kept to a comfortable pace. First 2 miles went well, very humid, but not unbearable given the trees shading the trail. We hit Bertha at 2.5 and I powered partway up, then speed-walked up the remainder. Lately I have been walking at a 12:30-13:00 pace when I concentrate on form, so I was able to roll up the grade and not lose much time. As it leveled off, I recovered and picked up to a jog again, then cycled through my walk/run intervals. Given the humidity at the start 85% at 7AM, I brought my amphipod belt and 1 bottle, and 2 gu's. I took water at the first water stop, took it again at the stop after Bertha, and then at the third stop, No Cups. They were already out of cups. Sam's club is the title sponsor, and they run out of cups. Sheesh! Very glad I had my 'pod, I bypassed the cup-less water stop, kept plugging along, doing my usual “I pass you, you pass me” game with some other folks.Got to next water stop, no cups. I opened up my 'Pod bottle, had it filled from a jug, and scooted on. The rest of the trail isn't bad, very slight grades and nicely shaded path. There was some traffic to contend with, as they did not close the course for the event. Yes, there were bikes, and baby strollers, and groups of meandering people to dodge as we competed. Such Fun!! I did pretty well all told, considering the heat and the fact that it is the longest distance I have ever competed at. Finished up at 1:55:28. Under the 2 hours I alotted myself, and well under the limit enforced for the event. And I found out that more than 60 people were still behind me, out of a field of over 600.

When I crossed the finish, I was pleased with my time, and wandered over to partake of some gatorade and maybe a sausage or burger or 3.. I was able to get the sausage, no prob, but Gatorade, NOPE, “Sorry, we're out”. Beer ? “Nope, sorry, we're out”. No electrolytes available at all. There were skids of water, and we were each handed a bottle as we crossed the finish, and there were skids of bottles of lipton teas.. But not what I was looking for. The gatorade was NEEDED, the beer woulda been nice after a sausage, and before a burger..But,alas, nothing but water or diet tea.Oddly, there was a tent representing the Atkins diet food people.. Hmm, no carbs? Just what runners want and need.. Never did see any kind of crowd around that tent.

Needless to say, I wasn't impressed with the event.. Not enough cups for water stops, running out of other drinks.. I was impressed with the volunteers, though. They were fantastic, enthusiastic and encouraging.

In summation, I think I will continue to use this trail as a training run, given it's challenges that give an advantage on flat courses, but I will not do this particular event again.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to 8 Miles....

All of last week’s walks felt like a fight for some reason. Wrong gait, wrong technique, wrong this that or the next thing. On Sat I went out for my long walk and had an awakening of sorts….or maybe common sense finally stepped in.

Patrick had a 10 mile trail event, so it was truly a solo 8 miler for me. No worries that he’d be waiting for me to finish to head home so decided to head down to a really nice (flat) trail and try to have a better walk.

It’s the I&M Canal trail – a crushed limestone surface that was the old tow path for the canal traffic before the larger shipway was created. The path actually sits between the two water ways so you have the small canal on one side and the wide one on the other. Nicely shaded almost the entire way as well.

Unlike other trails we’ve used, this one was oddly but pleasantly quiet. No runners so into their zone they don’t see anyone else or cyclists blurring by without any warning (I cycle and HATE that –always announce yourself please). On my outbound 4 miles I encountered about 6 people in total. Everyone said “good morning” and the 2 cyclists that came from behind me announced themselves (thank you).

Parked at the trailhead, grabbed my amphipod and iPod and prepared to set out. It was 7.30a and although temp was a pleasant 68, it was 85% humidity. Yep, going to be soggy mess in about oh, 15 min.

So I set off and did what I promised myself, take the entire first mile nice and easy. When the Garmin chimed the mile, I switched gears and very shortly found myself right where I had all week. Calves/shins start to hurt, unable to get the right feel. Tried switching to songs that usually help with tempo but no good. Getting angry and doubting myself and thinking this is going to be one long nasty walk if this keeps up.

Then I hear plopping type noises coming from the small canal. Took out ear buds and looked toward the sound to see fish jumping up to feed on surface bugs. With the iPod off I also hear more than just the birds closest to me. There are full beautiful songs going on out there and looking around (instead of trying to concentrate on a spot along the trail) I see all kinds of birds going from tree to tree. And butterflies – lots of them – on the wildflowers that line the path. Then there’s the wildflowers themselves and sun in broken patterns across trees, leaves and flowers. Then I noticed two fishermen quietly casting lines from their boat on the larger body of water which the sunlight had given a shimmering silver appearance.

Soon I’m coming up on one of the trail signs. They’re not every mile but when there show distance to next park/access area as well as little bits of history on the canal system. It showed 0.1 mile to next spot and last one I saw showed 2.1 miles. Funny, didn’t feel like I’d gone 2 miles. Looked at Garmin and realized had less than a half mile to go until time to turn around. I made sure the iPod was off and coiled the ear buds around it for the journey back. Not using it anymore today.

Just before the turnaround heard the familiar “on your left” so waved my hand to let them know I heard. It was a couple on a tandem recumbent (looked cool). They were in the same parking lot getting the bike out of their car and put together when I headed onto the trail. As they came up alongside me the lady said “Wow, you walk fast! Have a great day.” I hollered “Thanks and you too!” then thought - me, walk fast? Not really, so many people faster than me but….thanks. You can see the smile that crept onto my face, right? :-)

On my way back I saw really big flowering water lilies in the small canal (at which point made note to bring camera next time), heard woodpeckers ‘talking’ to each other from one side of the water to the other, boats heading out of the marina, a tug pushing 3 barge containers. I slowed as I came upon a bridge over a mini waterfall to enjoy the sound and sight just a little longer then picked up the pace again.

There were more people on the path the closer to the parking area I got and I realized something. With the exception of myself and 2 others I saw, no one here appeared to be training for anything. They were out enjoying the weather, the day, each other and just getting out. Walking, casually biking and saying Hello to everyone else who had come out.

I also realized the walk had gone far better after I shut off the music and stopped analyzing every single step I took. Nasty habit of mine and it had gotten the better of me all week. With the music running I focused on staying with the beat, checking arms, legs, core, swing, push, etc until I can’t figure out what’s right or what’s wrong. On that trail when I listened to nature and just let the body move itself along, it was comfortable and it felt good. Do still check my shoulders as they pull up when I move faster.

Plus negative splits! Every mile was faster than the previous one …well until the last one (it was mostly in the sun, I was hot, dripping wet and hungry. GU’s only work for so long.)

So seems I need more “nature” walks. I’ve always enjoyed hiking for the sites, sounds, smells (ok sometimes not the smells) and the people you encounter on those trails. For some reason I thought in order to be a better, faster walker I had to give that up when on training walks. Not so. Appears that’s when I need it even more.

Not saying I’ll never walk without my iPod – let’s face it, some places are not scenic – but I will definitely start enjoying the music regardless where it’s coming from.

Ok, let's try this again

And I promise to actually keep it up to date. Really. :-)