Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

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Robbie-T
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Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

Postby Robbie-T » Sat Jul 03, 2010 10:16 pm

Lots of hills, up and down the escarpment, a Challenge, I seem to fancy hills, OK bring it.
Based on previous races I picked a goal of 1:53:59 and top 10.

Doonst and I made the trip up to Creemore together, we arrived there about a hour early and the place was already busy, full of keener trail runners. Walking around I was actually feeling a bit intimidated, to me it looked like there were plenty of buffy, well seasoned trail runners chomping at the bit to be let lose on the trail.

Before the race, we chatted with West Grey Runner, Ann-Elizabeth, Air-Forcie and his buddy.

Well we lined up for the take-off and out we go, I jump up with the leaders, and the 3 legends are gone pretty quickly, I run at the lead of the second pack. I'm having trouble getting my breathing to relax with all the excitement and the just over 4:00 pace through the first 3 km. One guy passes me in the 3rd km and I stick with him, we climb one of the first hills, I pass him at the top and don't see him again.

Around 5k we head back into the trails I splash some water on my face to cool me down, this seems to wake me up and help me relax. About 7k I feel this new guy making his move on me, luckily I start to feel my legs come alive on this long road climb, just before the first steep downhill around 11-12k he passes me, I follow along for a bit and pass him on the next hill, never to see him again.

After that I was on my own but kept believing that someone would be coming up on me again. I was in 4th place on a tough course with a bunch of strong runners, I was nervous.

Climb climb climb, when does it stop, my km splits on the course ranged from a low of 3:54 to a high of 6:26!! One of the funnest climbs was a rocky washout trail that was long and pretty steep, I sore out loud when I thought I must have gone to Hell and was climbing the never ending hill. As the race went on I could feel my calves and hamstrings clinching, I knew that they were working hard, my ears were becoming plugged, a sign of dehydration. I kept on pushing taking in fluids where I could and hope that I would make it to the finish before I seized up.

At 20k we go through an uneven hay field and back into the bush, somehow I managed a 4:08 and 3:58 km between 22 and 24, I just remember wanting to be finished. The last 1-2km where pretty challenging single lane dirt trails with ropes for assistance to climb a few banks, finally back to the RD's home across the bridge and run through the finish. Everyone was saying I was smiling and looking fresh, that was nice of them to say but that was a grimace not a smile, I was happy to be done, I felt whipped.

Jumped in the river for a bit, changed and came back to enjoy a couple beers and pizza with the boys.

I was 1:57:46 - 4th overall and 2nd in my age group 40-49, that earned me a handmade coffee mug, Canadian Maple syrup and some local ground coffee.

Awesome great race, the course more then exceeded my expectations. I was expecting mostly hot boring gravel roads, but honestly I remember way more trails then roads, this race had a great variety of challenging terrain. Organization was a good as any race that I have been to with a super friendly atmosphere.

You want a Vertical Challenge? Try this race.

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Last edited by Robbie-T on Sat Jul 03, 2010 10:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

Postby Jwolf » Sat Jul 03, 2010 10:55 pm

Wow- that's amazing Rob! Great race.
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Re: Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

Postby दिवंगत » Sun Jul 04, 2010 6:59 am

Robbie-T wrote:that was nice of them to say but that was a grimace not a smile, I was happy to be done, I felt whipped.

You get tired?? :lol: Nice race and result, congrats Robbie!

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Re: Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

Postby Jo-Jo » Sun Jul 04, 2010 7:36 am

Well done Robbie-T.
Got a chuckle from your comment about "the legends"...doncha you...you're becoming one of these :D :D :wink:
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Re: Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

Postby AirForceRunner » Sun Jul 04, 2010 7:39 am

1Ironatatime wrote:
Robbie-T wrote:that was nice of them to say but that was a grimace not a smile, I was happy to be done, I felt whipped.

You get tired?? :lol: Nice race and result, congrats Robbie!


Too funny....I was thinking the same thing yesterday. Robbie said his legs were worn out, and I thought "huh...that only happens to normal folks, not Robbie" :lol:

No surprise you tore this course up Rob. Glad to finally meet you. Everything Jo-Jo told me about you was correct. (That's a good thing).
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Re: Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

Postby VeloCarrie » Sun Jul 04, 2010 8:49 am

This sounds like a great race with the best swag ever!
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Re: Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

Postby Kristen » Sun Jul 04, 2010 10:08 am

Every now and then, your legs need a good whipping. Great choice of course to do it on, and super result!

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Re: Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

Postby ratherBrunning » Sun Jul 04, 2010 10:43 am

Congratulations Robbie! Very impressive!
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Re: Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

Postby West Grey Runner » Sun Jul 04, 2010 11:29 am

RobbieT ...quite appropriate
never ending hill
Pierre use to have signs on the course, the never ending hill was called "O2".

Congratualtions on you're 1:57:46 - 4th overall and 2nd in AG.

blank
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Re: Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

Postby blank » Sun Jul 04, 2010 11:34 am

Congratulations Rob, sound like quite the course! :shock:

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Re: Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

Postby Doonst » Sun Jul 04, 2010 12:22 pm

Another impressive performance, you never disappoint. I've got to go just to watch sometime, seeing you bound up O2 would be something. I did a double-take at your splits from the report, but going to mine and just add about 1 minute each it makes sense, since you were 32 minutes ahead. Coming in fourth, you're right between the legends of my early OUSer days, back in 2005 when I first met a slightly quick slightly heavy guy from Erin at the Paris half. You've come a long way Robbie.

As always its great to hang and travel with you, that was fun above all. From Paris and Waterloo, to Boston and Picton, now Kilbride and Creemore its always good times.
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Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

Postby b_squared » Sun Jul 04, 2010 1:57 pm

Great race Rob! Road or trail, sunny and hot or cold and wet, short or long distance, you seem to knock it out of the park every time! Awesome!

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Re: Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

Postby Mouse » Sun Jul 04, 2010 2:25 pm

Jo-Jo wrote:Well done Robbie-T.
Got a chuckle from your comment about "the legends"...doncha you...you're becoming one of these :D :D :wink:

Great report. I thought he already was a LEGEND... Glad to read that you had a fun time as well.
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Re: Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

Postby casual-runner » Sun Jul 04, 2010 7:28 pm

Congratulations Robbie! Great race!
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Re: Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

Postby scottp » Sun Jul 04, 2010 7:55 pm

Awesome race Robbie, Congrats!

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Re: Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

Postby QuickChick » Sun Jul 04, 2010 8:12 pm

Yeahhhh Rob! Very strong, as usual. I love that you specifically picked this race because of the challenge. I wouldn't have thought you would be intimidated at the start! Guess you'll be less so at your next trail race. ;)
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Re: Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

Postby Sir Crashalot » Sun Jul 04, 2010 8:22 pm

:clap: :clap: :clap:
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Re: Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

Postby Strider » Mon Jul 05, 2010 7:56 am

Well done, seems like you'll be in the perfect place for ITT, glad you are on my team ;)
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Re: Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

Postby ian » Mon Jul 05, 2010 4:55 pm

I feel dehydrated just reading about the latest of your big efforts.

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Re: Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

Postby UltraQueenga » Mon Jul 05, 2010 8:50 pm

Congrats on placing 4th, Robbie! That's an impressive time on that course and on a day like that. I'm glad you had a good time.
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Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

Postby CinC » Fri Jul 09, 2010 5:41 am

Note to self - the only way you will keep up with Robbie-t is when he's been running some mo fo hills in a race (re the 6:26 pace)! And I'm sure that was very short lived!

Well done sir!!
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Re: Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

Postby Jwolf » Fri Jul 09, 2010 1:54 pm

CinC wrote:Note to self - the only way you will keep up with Robbie-t is when he's been running some mo fo hills in a race (re the 6:26 pace)! And I'm sure that was very short lived!

You could keep up with that? Not me!
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Re: Robbie-T @ Creemore Vertical Challenge

Postby CinC » Fri Jul 09, 2010 6:38 pm

Jwolf wrote:
CinC wrote:Note to self - the only way you will keep up with Robbie-t is when he's been running some mo fo hills in a race (re the 6:26 pace)! And I'm sure that was very short lived!

You could keep up with that? Not me!


yeah - who am I kidding??

ha!
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