[beardobees]

Looks like this may turn out to be quite the test:<br><br><a href="http://www.badtothebone.biz/docs/bmer50mprofile.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.badtothebone.biz/docs/bmer50mprofile.pdf</a><br><br>
My wife and I are excited to be staying at Skyland Saturday night after the race:<br><br><a href="http://members.aol.com/adnascar/skyland.html" target="_blank">http://members.aol.com/adnascar/skyland.html</a><br><br>
I just hope I have legs to stand on.

 

[runkg]

Looking forward to it -- last long run before Umstead. And the hills -- a good excuse to walk and save the legs!<br><br>
Does anyone know how Bel Monte compares to Masochist? More or less hilly?

 

[beardobees]

More climb at Bel Monte -- a good couple thousand feet, and I suspect more single track, what I know of the area.

 

[Toxic Runner]

I would agree with Bees. Definitely more single track, I'm guessing a bit more climbing from the profiles. I ran the BM 50K in 2005 and LOVED it. BTTB (Gil and Francesa) put on some good races.<br><br>
I myself, as much as I want to, will not be in this year. Mostly don't want to be away from the family all weekend. There's no way my wife should have to handle a 2 year old and a 2 month old solo all day, away from home. Not to mention my recent Umstead marathon performance convinced me that I need more hill work to adequately handle that course!

 

[beardobees]

Sorry you won't be there, TR. Methinks I could use some more climbing on my legs, too.<br><br>
My first ultra was the GEER 50K. I look forward to returning to the area.

 

[sk8dog]

Belmonte has a lot of rocks as well. We ran the course the last few weekends as I live approx 20 min from the start. One section we had approx. 10 water crossings up to our knees. So be prepared to get wet. One good thing, if you get thirsty there is plenty of water to refill the bottles....lol

 

[NITE OWL]

I'm in for the 50k.<br>
sk8, you mean one section of the 50k/50mile course has 10 stream crossings? How many stream crossings for the 50k?

 

[runkg]

Just took a second look at the Bel Monte elevation gain, with the perspective of running the Elizabeth Furnace FA this Saturday. Elizabeth Furnace is a 50k with about 6,100 of gain--and it was tough.<br><br>
Bel Monte must be one of the more challenging 50 milers out east.... are there any other eastern 50s with this much gain?

 

[roly]

<br>
Pittsfield Peaks Ultra Challenge has 14,000 ft of gain over 53 miles.<br><br><a href="http://www.peakraces.com/" target="_blank">http://www.peakraces.com/</a>

 

[beardobees]

If you run two loops at TWOT, it's 16,000 over 50 miles.

 

[roots]

Brennan: I ran with Dave P. today - he is doing the 50M here too. I mentioned you'll be there. I imagine you'll see him. Have a good race.

 

[sk8dog]

Nite Owl,<br><br>
For the 50k there will be at least 10 stream crossings for the 50 mile even more probably around the 12 or more side of things. All of these take place from the Turkey Pen Aid station until the next aid station. Sorry dont remember the name of the next one. Believe me when you past the first one get ready for lots more.

 

[beardobees]

Thanks, Lloyd. I'm just hoping I make it to the start line feeling OK. Seems I have a bum knee. A guttersnipe knee. A bag lady knee. A hobo knee. If I'm anywhere near Dave, he's gonna hear me crying babylike about it.

 

[CT Marathoner]

Brennen, Tim and everyone else tackling Bel Monte ---best of luck this weekend!!!<br>
Brennen --don't like to hear the news that you have a bad knee...if you 'rest' this week, it will hopefully be OK (did it happen acutely (suddenly), this weekend?)...if you can make it through, and you will (the course profile looks menacing) you've got that nice resort to look forward to!!!! Remember that you are supposed to enjoy this trip-haha.

 

[beardobees]

Actually, it happened the weekend before last after a couple decent runs. By Sunday afternoon, I was feeling a bit hobbled, and on Monday I was feeling it even worse--so I decided not to run at all last week M-F. Did a solid hike this past Saturday over Taurus Mtn. and the Beacons (the climb up to the top of South Beacon is really steep and fun). I ran on it a little there, then just a quick test yesterday on pavement, and there was much less pain than last week. Icy like nobody's business now. I'll run a few times this week and see how I'm feeling.<br><br>
Bel Monte, though, plays to my advantage with all that climb--I'm a pretty fast hiker, and I feel absolutely no pain when I hike. Just gotta figure out the downhills and flats if I'm hurting. ...<br><br>
Thanks for the well wishes, Emmy.

 

[CT Marathoner]

Brennen --that's good news if you can hike with no pain --since you did give it a rest last week, and were able to do a difficult hike this weekend, you should be fine as you have some days to rest, and do some easy walk/run/hikes and as you said ICE and more ICE.<br>
and easy on the downhills...yikes -those downhills are scary anyway.<br>
Frank's and my friend Tim will be doing the 50K and he'll look for you -he's the one who fell and scraped his face at the finger lakes --<img alt="uhoh2.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/uhoh2.gif"> --so no mishaps for him hopefully in this race.