Tuesday, September 20, 2016
New Web Site!
For those that are interested, I have launched a new web site relating to Stage Racing. Check out ultrastageracing.com for a plethora of information.
Friday, October 3, 2014
After Action Review
Now that I am back and some what rested here are some pointers relating to my participation in the 2014 G2G.
1. 20,000 kcals is almost not enough for this race if you are competing. 14,000 is a starvation diet, and you will starve! You should consider very carefully how much you bring. I also found that fewer nuts and more liquid based calories would have been good during the hot days.
2. Full gaiters are very useful due to the large amounts of very fine sand. Some got by without them but at a cost of time or blisters.
3. The standard kit worked well. Nice to have the down jacket at times to save body heat and calories. Starting weight was under 18 lbs without water. Finishing weight was 7.8 lbs.
4. Foot taping is a must. Again there were many there that did not know about this important aspect of stage racing. Research and practice before hand is a good idea. If your feet are trashed it is unlikely you will finish.
5. Hydration and electrolyte maintenance was critical. This got many on the long day. Even though it was not extremely hot (temperatures were never over 100) those not use to it were suffering. I would suggest some bit of heat training for this event.
6. The scenery was great. You need to stop and look around, take some pictures, etc. Since there was no moon out, the stars were great especially in the dune field. Many shooting stars.
7. Sleeping was difficult at times due to unlevel and uneven ground. While those setting up camp tried, the requirements imposed on them by various entities made the selection of camp sites difficult. Some used sleeping pills. If you do I would suggest understanding their effects prior to arrival.
8. There was sufficient water available on the course and at camp. Note enough to shower and do laundry but more than enough to stay hydrated and practice proper hand hygiene.
9. The altitude was getting to some. If you live at sea level it will hurt some.
10. This is a hard race due to the daily distances and terrain. It is difficult to make a direct comparison to other events like MDS or other stage races due to differences in terrain, temperature, weather, etc. Cut off times are reasonable however some will not make them. If you prepare you can finish this event.
11. Course marking was good but many still missed turns. You need to pay attention and think at this race!
12. Cross country (off trail) running is good to practice.
13. Having great tent mates is awesome!
14. You really need to pace yourself during the entire event. It is very easy to fall off the edge!
15. Be sure and label all your food/wrappers with your bib number prior to check in.
16. Try and arrive early to enjoy some of the offerings in Kanab. The town is very friendly and supper supportive of this race.
17. Logistics were good.
18. The dunes were very hard but short.
19. You need to have a very positive mental attitude for this race. Things will not go your way on many occasions and you need to be able to bounce back. "Keep Calm and Stage Race On!"
20. This is a great race right here in the good old USA. If you are a stage racer you should do this one!
 |
| Ready for the Start! |
1. 20,000 kcals is almost not enough for this race if you are competing. 14,000 is a starvation diet, and you will starve! You should consider very carefully how much you bring. I also found that fewer nuts and more liquid based calories would have been good during the hot days.
2. Full gaiters are very useful due to the large amounts of very fine sand. Some got by without them but at a cost of time or blisters.
3. The standard kit worked well. Nice to have the down jacket at times to save body heat and calories. Starting weight was under 18 lbs without water. Finishing weight was 7.8 lbs.
4. Foot taping is a must. Again there were many there that did not know about this important aspect of stage racing. Research and practice before hand is a good idea. If your feet are trashed it is unlikely you will finish.
5. Hydration and electrolyte maintenance was critical. This got many on the long day. Even though it was not extremely hot (temperatures were never over 100) those not use to it were suffering. I would suggest some bit of heat training for this event.
6. The scenery was great. You need to stop and look around, take some pictures, etc. Since there was no moon out, the stars were great especially in the dune field. Many shooting stars.
7. Sleeping was difficult at times due to unlevel and uneven ground. While those setting up camp tried, the requirements imposed on them by various entities made the selection of camp sites difficult. Some used sleeping pills. If you do I would suggest understanding their effects prior to arrival.
8. There was sufficient water available on the course and at camp. Note enough to shower and do laundry but more than enough to stay hydrated and practice proper hand hygiene.
9. The altitude was getting to some. If you live at sea level it will hurt some.
10. This is a hard race due to the daily distances and terrain. It is difficult to make a direct comparison to other events like MDS or other stage races due to differences in terrain, temperature, weather, etc. Cut off times are reasonable however some will not make them. If you prepare you can finish this event.
11. Course marking was good but many still missed turns. You need to pay attention and think at this race!
12. Cross country (off trail) running is good to practice.
13. Having great tent mates is awesome!
14. You really need to pace yourself during the entire event. It is very easy to fall off the edge!
15. Be sure and label all your food/wrappers with your bib number prior to check in.
16. Try and arrive early to enjoy some of the offerings in Kanab. The town is very friendly and supper supportive of this race.
17. Logistics were good.
18. The dunes were very hard but short.
19. You need to have a very positive mental attitude for this race. Things will not go your way on many occasions and you need to be able to bounce back. "Keep Calm and Stage Race On!"
20. This is a great race right here in the good old USA. If you are a stage racer you should do this one!
 |
| End of Stage 5 (and the race) |
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Stage 3 Grand to Grand- A Grand Beat Down
This was the hardest stage I have ever done.
Fifteen of us had to start at 10:00, two hours after everyone else so the aid stations would be manned. All went well until CP2 and then I was falling behind on nutrition and electrolytes. I slowed down and plodded into CP4 eventually where I drank a recovery drink & that helped a lot. The Italian that was gunning for me pushed hard by me when I was down. I felt much better from CP4-CP6. The cooler temperature eventually helped and I made the dunes at dark. It was very soft sand and slow often I had to climb on all fours! I eventually caught the Italian about seven miles from the end and four of us (him and three of us from tent 5) finished all together about 20 minutes after midnight.
There have been lots of people dropping or missing cut off times. My ranking is going up and I am still holding on to 1st old guy. Three of us in our tent are in the top 10! Thank you for the emails and thoughts. I have one small blister on left heal but otherwise I'm doing OK.
Rest day today, I hope I can catch up on some sleep.
UPDATE!
The results are up and I have moved up to sixth place overall and fifth male! Places 5-8 are all within 20 minutes of each other. In other news 24 people have dropped or been pulled.
Stage 4 tomorrow has more sand and hills. Not easy but the pack is getting much lighter.
My two hour power nap gave me some nice relief but I am still hoping for some more sleep when it cools off.
Stage 2 of Grand to Grand
Things went much better today. 27 miles. 1200 ft of climb at mile three and downhill after that for the most part. It got hot in the afternoon as the temperature was in the 90's. I managed my calories, pace, water and electrolytes much better than yesterday. I even got about 6.5 hours of sleep last night which helped. I finished about 8th or 9th.
One of the top runners (from Saudi Arabia) missed a turn and went 20 minutes down the road before he realized it. We paced him in to CP4 where he eventually dropped. I am leading my age group but an Italian that is in second place has figured out who I am. No doubt I will have to look over my shoulder now. I've got only 15 minutes on him so it is very close. Tomorrow will be very hard 53 miles, 75% sand, dunes and heat. I may have to start in the fast pack an hour or so after everyone else leaves.
Feet are great, back is ok but my quads are hurting with lactic acid build up. Hope they will work themselves out. About 1/3 of the way there.
Lisa is having a good time. Scenery is great but humidity is up due to the recent rains.
Thanks for the emails!
Stage 1 of Grand to Grand
There was a lot of thunder and lightning last night at the bivouac. It drizzled for a couple of hours and the tents required work at about 3:00 am. It was a long night and I only got about four hours of sleep.
The start was fast and weather heavy over cast. Dodged showers all day. First 20 miles were just over 10:00/mile. Last eight was off road through cactus, rocks, uphill, etc. Lots of walking then I got behind on food and a little behind on water. Finished in under 6:30 and in 12th place I think. No blisters. All is good. Will sleep ok tonight!
Tomorrow is 25 miles with some hills and sand I'm sure I will go slower.
The start was fast and weather heavy over cast. Dodged showers all day. First 20 miles were just over 10:00/mile. Last eight was off road through cactus, rocks, uphill, etc. Lots of walking then I got behind on food and a little behind on water. Finished in under 6:30 and in 12th place I think. No blisters. All is good. Will sleep ok tonight!
Tomorrow is 25 miles with some hills and sand I'm sure I will go slower.
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Checked in and good to go!
Today was check in. Medical was reviewed, weights taken and required equipment inspected for. Everyone had to also label all food packaging with their bib number to prevent littering (and associated penalties).
My pack is coming in at about 17.5 lbs without water. I am carrying about 10 lbs of food (20,000 kcals) and about 7.5 lbs of gear. About a half pound more than I wanted but I should eat fairly well.
Weather looks like hot with chances of rain on a couple of days, thus the heavier rain jacket is coming instead of the tachyon jacket. Route book is showing lots of "soft sand" through out the course. Aid stations are fairly close together, usually less than 7 miles so cameling-up should not be required too often.
The pre-race dinner is tonight the we are off to the bivouac tomorrow around noon.
My pack is coming in at about 17.5 lbs without water. I am carrying about 10 lbs of food (20,000 kcals) and about 7.5 lbs of gear. About a half pound more than I wanted but I should eat fairly well.
Weather looks like hot with chances of rain on a couple of days, thus the heavier rain jacket is coming instead of the tachyon jacket. Route book is showing lots of "soft sand" through out the course. Aid stations are fairly close together, usually less than 7 miles so cameling-up should not be required too often.
The pre-race dinner is tonight the we are off to the bivouac tomorrow around noon.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
On Our Way
Today my wife Lisa and me have made it to Kanab, the gathering point for the race. An easy flight into Las Vegas forum Albuquerque. On the flight we just happened to sit down next to probably the only other person going to the race from New Mexico, volunteer Susan Oliver!
Upon getting or bags in Vegas we met up with the others and loaded up for a four hour bus ride across Nevada and Utah. Fortunately the interstate has been repaired near Mesquite NV from being washed out in some torrential rains just days before. Traffic had been diverted three hours around the damage, lucky us. Hopefully we will have drier weather!
Over 40 competitors and volunteers were long for the ride, getting to know each other and sharing their anticipation. The rest of the contingent comes in tomorrow. I look forward to some relaxing time after a 70 hour plus work week and some very late nights. Repacking and reviewing my kit along with a short run is on the schedule too.
Upon getting or bags in Vegas we met up with the others and loaded up for a four hour bus ride across Nevada and Utah. Fortunately the interstate has been repaired near Mesquite NV from being washed out in some torrential rains just days before. Traffic had been diverted three hours around the damage, lucky us. Hopefully we will have drier weather!
Over 40 competitors and volunteers were long for the ride, getting to know each other and sharing their anticipation. The rest of the contingent comes in tomorrow. I look forward to some relaxing time after a 70 hour plus work week and some very late nights. Repacking and reviewing my kit along with a short run is on the schedule too.
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