[bikernate]

Since we have another thread mentioning Lake Waramaug in CT I thought I'd start a dedicated thread. Who's planning on being there? As an aid station worker? As a runner? 50k, 50m or 100k?<br><br>
I'm going for the 100k! It will be my first one. I also have not figured out where I'm going to stay. Any recommendations?<br><br>
Nate

 

[pithydoug]

What? That's all roads. I'd rather do 10 miles with broken glass in my shoes. <img alt="notworthy.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/notworthy.gif">

 

[rundangerously]

i'm still bummed they moved this up a week <img alt="sad.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad.gif"> gotta be in boston, but sybil is the following weekend, and very doable!

 

[bikernate]

Yeah, I kind of feel the same way about it. That's why I'm going for it!!! What the hell is the matter with all of us? The harder it sounds the more we want to do it.

 

[sarah_heck]

I'm in for the 50K. I didn't realize it was on roads, but I'm not particularly concerned. I'm thinking of it as just a long training run in preparation for Pineland 50M and VT100 which will be more serious efforts.

 

[phredmur]

i'll be working it--probably at the finish. last year i was manning the clipboard. say hi if you're there.<br><br>
it is all road and multiple loops, but it is around a lake in a beautiful area of northwestern connecticut. i've never heard people complain about the course. it also has a lot of history. the very best ultrarunners of yesteryear have done this race many times. and the RD is a great guy and very accomplished ultrarunner himself.<br><br>
pithy doug- i'll ask the RD if he can add a 10 mile broken-glass-in-shoes division, kind of an adjunct to the pittsfield peaks 10 mi. death division.

 

[bikernate]

phredmur - Dumb question, but is there much in the way of a soft shoulder to run on or is there no escape from the pavement?

 

[Sherpa John]

Also known as a "cop-out" or whining... GET OUT THERE NATE AND SUCK IT UP!<img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">

 

[phredmur]

nate-<br>
this may sound crazy, but i haven't run an inch of this course. i volunteer there because it is the closest ultra to my home, and i have used it as volunteer time for the VT 100. usually only a few people run the 100k.<br><br>
you should ask "CT marathoner" (Emmy) or "run dangerously" (Frank), who i think both ran it last year for the soft shoulder question. i do know the road is winding and narrow in most places.<br><br>
i probably won't run vermont this year, but the RD at Waramaug is a really nice guy and i enjoyed helping out there the last two years, so i'll be there again. other than carl's (the RD) family, most of the volunteers are ultrarunners, so it's an enjoyable day talking running with people planning the VT 100 ot WS 100.<br><br>
last year both Jeff Washburn and Ray K. were there (running, but then hanging around at the finish), so i got a full dose of ultra history and war stories. that was great. ray has done literally hundreds of ultras spanning over 30 years and jeff ran 10 100s in 1999, and has started all the VT 100s (19 starts and i think 17 finishes). both great guys.<br><br>
fwiw i have run a 50 miler on pavement and found it tough on the knees. you get a fatigue from the pounding that is different from a trail run, but you also have no issue with footing, tripping or falling, or odd footplants that can also cause knee or ankle pain.

 

[bikernate]

Ummm,....no. That was a question. Cop-ing out and Whining is what we are going to hear from you when you write your RR on the 150.<img alt="sad2.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad2.gif"><br><br><br>
o.k. that wasn't nice. I'm sorry. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[Sherpa John]

haha... I love you dude... way to motivate <img alt="glasses9.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/glasses9.gif">

 

[CT Marathoner]

Nate -- glad you want to do the 100K --my friend Kim B. ran the 100K last year --she was going to stop at 50 but felt good so she went ahead and finished and won the ladies' division of the 100K..BTW, in ultrarunning magazine, the womens' winner Melissa Perkins-Banas's 2007 time of 3:47 was the the 4th fastest womens' 50K of the year, BUT the 18th graded 50K, so it is a fairly flat, easy course. Last year RunDangerously and I ran it 6 days after Sybil Ludington 50K and 2 weeks after Boston marathon (RD was training for VT 100 and I was training for Wakefield, MA Run-around-the lake 24 hour ultra , which is paved -arghh -Pithy Doug would never do it over VT). My feet started to hurt and my quads and calves were tight at the end --both of us were toying with the 50 miler but couldn't take the pounding. However, you should be fine if you run a few long runs on the roads (no glass though)..I remember that they got a record turnout last year but parking was not a problem. Nice drifit T-shirts also! and medals for all finishers. As for accomodations, the lake has many bed and breakfasts but they are expensive --$150 a night or so. The Race dir can give some hotel ideas -think the most reasonable would be Danbury area. As for the course, it's a paved road with a few undulations! You run an out-and -back of 3 miles and then 3 loops of 7.6 -more obviously for the 50 and 100K. I am pretty sure there are grassy areas on the side of the road -I remember a few stretches. One tough thing was that you are always on the same side of the road. But the course is beautiful and aid stations very 3 miles..one thing, I did find myself running alone as the loops are large (for a few miles, ran with melissa's husband Joe - a past winner).<br>
The race has a nice history and one year (2004?) they cancelled it because of a monsoon! Another year was driving rain. This year RD not running as he is racing Boston the next day (although that usually does not stop him) but i plan to run it.<br>
Oh, one nice feature of the race -you can go up or drop down in distance.

 

[sarah_heck]

Is there a place to leave a drop bag near the start/finish area?<br><br>
I agree that hotels are pricey in this area. I'm staying at a place called the Tollgate Hill Inn in Litchfield. I got a room there for about $125. They also have a restaurant and pub on site. This part of CT is so beautiful, I'm really looking forward to visiting again.

 

[pithydoug]

Just a small heads up for VT100, do some significant downhill running on roads as part of your training. The VT100 dirt roads are as hard as macadam and will pulverize your quads without some road work.

 

[sarah_heck]

Don't I know it. I had a hard time with the downhills on my first attempt in 2006. They pretty much did me in, mentally as well as physically. I didn't have the nearly the problems last year, for whatever reason.

 

[bikernate]

Ok, were one week away!!! I'm psyched as this is my first offical ultra of the year. I'm staying at "The Hopkins" which is 2 miles from the start. I got the feeling that the hotel part is almost an imposition to the owners. On the phone when I was booking my room the girl told me, "you understand that we are primarily a restaraunt and there are no phones or tv's in the rooms, right?" The she told me I have to send them a check to reserve the room. A check? No credit cards? Weird. Anybody else staying there?<br><br>
Training has gone really well, and I have been running almost 100% roads to get ready. Three weeks ago was a 70 mile week, followed by a 81 mile week and I'm chompin at the bit.<br><br>
Who's in?<br><br>
Nate

 

[RunLongVT]

Go get it, Nate! Run tough out there. Wish I could make it down, but I'm using my gas ration to run the 50k and watch the marathons in Boston this weekend.

 

[sarah_heck]

I'm definitely doing the 50K. I haven't put in a lot of weekly miles, I never do anyway, but I have done a few long runs and feel reasonably confident that I can finish. That's all I care about, well, and having a good time!

 

[bikernate]

Well, it looks like the weather is going to be excellent!! Can't wait to meet everybody. Anybody have a time goal?

 

[Sherpa John]

Excellent Weather?!<br><br>
Boooooooooooo!