Last OUS Event of 2009, Vulture Bait 50K

[West Grey Runner]

Did the last OUS Ultra of 09 on Saturday. In a nutshell......

-Didn't freeze, broke new temp barrier for wearing shorts
-Didn't fall, last year I went down 5 times
-Tummy was good, gelled/ate and drank when I thought I needed it not on schedule
-Tried salt mixed with GU2O ...YUK but it worked. Next time its salt tablets
-New race strategy , went out comfortably hard not conservative, held an average 5:59 pace thought the 42.2K mark.
-First repeat 50 K Ultra , shaved 39 minutes off last years time , finished in 5:13:38.
-Lots of Maniacs...Rabid Chipmunk, Mini T, Ultra Queenga and the Viking, Chainsaw Baby, Nature Girl ( Her report should be a good read...running sick and injured )
-Great fun, food, awards and yak yak after the race

I am sad to say that's it for the 2009 Ultras, 6X50K and 1x80K events have been added to the record books. At least I have the next 6 months to work on the last 10K

[dgrant]

39 minutes from one year to the next! Great run Ron. This ultra stuff sure does agree with you!

[VeloCarrie]

Awesome! It was great to follow your season here and on your blog! I learnt lots! I hope to meet you sometime next year!

[scrumhalfgirl]

what a huge improvement over last year - congrats!

[Robbie-T]

Huge year Ron, congrats

[chunkymonkeymelonhed]

WOW! That's a great improvement from last year. This ultra stuff seems to agree with you. Well done.

[Doonst]

Great improvement, Ron, you gotta be pleased with that. Might be harder to knock another 39 minutes off next year. Last one, when will we get to have those short 2 word conversations on the trail?

[UltraQueenga]

Congrats on an awesome year, Ron! You've reached new heights and, judging by your running, there will be more in your record book in the years to come.
Way to go improving your time at VB and not falling and embracing the trails!

[Kristen]

Congrats on an awesome race!
Just curious: if the final 10k in a marathon are a mystery... what are the final 10k like in a 50k?

[Garrett]

Sounds like a great end to a great series! Congrats on a huge time improvement!

[Nature Girl]

I was totally going to do a point form report! You beat me to it!

That's a great way to end the year... 39 minutes. Wow. Congrats!

(BTW, I've been thinking about your jacket. I want it...)

[cgraham]

Great job on the race course and a great year for you. Congrats!

[ratherBrunning]

6X50K and 1x80K...

Impressive!! Congratulations on an exceptional season of running!!

[ilee]

Congratulations on a great race season! I can't wait to see what you do next year.

[MINITEE]

Well, at least I got to see you finish Ron! Fantastic season for you this year and I guess you've found your niche

What I can say is that you are always smiling out there, no matter how tough it seems in your race reports, the smile you have when you are out there certainly makes it look like you're really enjoying it!

[Chainsaw Baby]

Hey WGR! Totally agree that 6 months until the next OTS/OUS is sadistic...

Enjoyed sitting after the 50 and chatting with you during the ceremonies. 30 minute after an ultra is borderline utopia, the feeling of being totally spent, yet "wanting" to get back on the trails. We need some winter runs to bring me out of hybernation. Tony Powers has a "sun your buns" run mid-January in Niagara-on-the-lake. I'll be ready for some wine tasting by then!

Doug Barber DQ'd (I think it was actually a 25K DNF) due to ankle problems. It would have been his 249th marathon/ultra! That's 5 a year for 50 years! (I think Doug is 159 years old). Hope he doesn't read this chat site or I'm not long for this world...

Great effort for 2009 and we will have to schedule a deep snow trail run soon!

[West Grey Runner]

Trail Child Carrie

It was great to follow your season here and on your blog! I learnt lots!

Mutual on that one, the adversity you face on a daily basis and how you raise to the occasion inspires me! I am sure our paths will cross on trail next season.

Doonst

Might be harder to knock another 39 minutes off next year

Very true … aiming for a Sub 5 hour Vulture Bait Run next year.

KristenL

if the final 10k in a marathon are a mystery... what are the final 10k like in a 50k?

I have only done one Marathon and it was really hard past 30K. I have been experimenting with pacing the 50K distance and have had some success getting to 40K without falling off pace. I believe that extending my weekly LSD from 25K to 32K has really helped. I am going to continue with the same LSD distance over the next few months then ramp it up to close 40K late winter. The goal is to improve the fade that always seems to get me after passing the 40K mark.

Nature Girl

BTW, I've been thinking about your jacket. I want it...

I was really really comfortable the whole day. Base layer was a compression shirt then a long sleeve tech T then the shell. Regulated temperature by opening and closing the zipper as well as an on again off again running cap and gloves. I loved running in shorts at the cooler temperature.

MINI-T

What I can say is that you are always smiling out there, no matter how tough it seems in your race reports, the smile you have when you are out there certainly makes it look like you're really enjoying it!

Its just the game face. I do however enjoy going the distance, not sure why because underneath the smile is a guy thats really suffering! I can honestly say that there hasn’t been an Ultra where I finished feeling good

Chainsaw Baby

we will have to schedule a deep snow trail run soon!

You bet yeah Baby!

[Trailer]

Congratulations Ron on such a wonderful race and season. Trimming 39 minutes is massive.

You remain an inspiration for many of us - and I appreciate your honest and descriptive reports.