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.