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Emaad and I at the start. |
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Early on; Picketpost Mountain looms ahead. |
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In the morning. |
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On the AZT. |
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Later in the day. Long sleeve shirt off. |
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Southbound on the AZT. |
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Picketpost Mtn. from the southeast. |
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Swag: Shirt, glass, sticker, bib. |
Reports on my significant runs, mostly marathons and beyond.
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Emaad and I at the start. |
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Early on; Picketpost Mountain looms ahead. |
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In the morning. |
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On the AZT. |
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Later in the day. Long sleeve shirt off. |
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Southbound on the AZT. |
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Picketpost Mtn. from the southeast. |
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Swag: Shirt, glass, sticker, bib. |
Never Heard That Before
"Is she the b___h with the big v____a?" comes the voice over the speakerphone on the trail.
Trail runners are an earthy bunch, and discussions of bodily functions ("what color was your urine?," "the vomit was mostly yellow liquid") are fairly common. As are descriptions of body parts, but usually in the context of injuries, like cuts from falls, blisters, and encounters with poison ivy or cacti. But this is a first.
"You know, everyone out here on the trail can hear what you are saying. And yes, she's like that because she is in heat," comes the response.
The exchange relates to two dogs and identifying which one is to be picked up from the substitute dog sitter. With the proper dog identified, the conversation concludes and the runners within earshot - and there were several - go back to the business at hand.
She's Baaack!
Emaad and I had planned to run Boulder Field 50K, partly as a training run for his Javelina Jundred 100M attempt at the end of October. We did it in 2021, so we know the course and what to expect.
While we wait for a favorable weather forecast before signing up, I'm contacted by Jennifer, whom I've run a number of ultras with in the past. But she has been sidelined, first with heart issues that affected her at the 2014 Black Hills 100K, then with chronic and seemingly incurable plantar fasciitis. It has been seven years since she ran an ultra - specifically Ran It with Janet 50K in 2017. But she never gave up (one of her defining characteristics; see the 2014 Black Hills report and the 2014 Seneca Creek 50K report (running a 50K with a concussion and a broken tailbone, acquired BEFORE the race, not during)). But a surgical procedure corrected the heart issue and she persevered in finding a solution to the foot problem. Running the Maryland Heat Race 25K on August 17 convinces her she is ready for an ultra and we invite her to join us.
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First and second AS |
First Loop
The course is a figure eight, with the start in the center. The first loop is 13 miles and is itself a figure eight, with an aid station, visited twice in the center at miles 5 and 10.
I know that the first loop is hilly with some steep climbs, and so I take my trekking poles along. The plan is to discard them at the drop bags at the return to the start-finish for the second loop, which is longer but not as steep.Race director Stephan counts down to the 7 a.m. start and we are off. Not exactly. Emaad and the other runners are off, but Jennifer has gotten delayed in the porta-potty lines due to the 18-mile runners who will start at 7:30 and are now arriving at the part. I see her coming and wait as she puts her gear and trekking poles at the drop bag area. Off we start, pretty much a bit behind everyone else. But we quickly catch people in even less of a hurry than us.
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Jennifer at waterfall. |
Bob goes on as Jennifer and I stop to take pictures. As we go on we get passed by several fast runners who explain they had gotten lost and ran some extra miles. We, too, had gotten briefly off course earlier, but only for several yards, rather than miles. It isn't a trail run unless you get lost or fall down.
After our second visit to the well stocked aid station (bacon! grilled cheese! fried potatoes! candy! cookies! more!) (mile 10; 3:03 ET) we get to the Shades of Death Trail that runs next to Sandy Spring Run. I take out a gel and while I'm eating it and watching my footing, I clock my forehead on a low-hanging branch and wind up sitting on the ground. I'm OK, but take the opportunity to just sit on the ground, which leads to runners just behind us asking if I'm alright. Assured that I am, they go on.
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(Photo by E. Burki) |
Another women comes along and we use her phone to document her visit to the waterfall.
Second Loop
Back at the start-finish I change me shirt and leave my trekking poles and drink some Coke at the aid station. (mile 13; 4:06 ET).
Off we go onto the second loop. I text Emaad to let him know we have left the start/ finish. Forty minutes later (times may be inaccurate due to cell issues) he responds that he has crossed the boulder field.
The first few miles follow the Gamewire Trail, gently but unmistakably uphill. Jennifer and I walk much of it. Finally there is a runnable stretch and I promptly trip and fall. "Hope I didn't land in poison ivy," I say. "No," Jennifer replies, "it's vinca." Other than a few scratches I'm uninjured.
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Complex carbohydrate hydration. |
We resume running, catch up with another pair of runners and soon pass under I-476 and get on the Stage Coach Trail, which follows part of the old stage coach road from Albrightsville to White Haven.
In less than a half mile we arrive at the next aid station (mile 17, 5:10 ET). Eyeing the usual soda, water and sports drinks, I know, from my 2021 experience, what question to ask: "Do you have any other refreshments?" "Like this?" comes the reply. An affirmative response and I'm soon sitting in a chair enjoying the cool beverage. I inquire about a medical kit, and get to clean up the small scrapes that I acquired from my slight fall. Fears of necrotizing fasciitis eliminated, I finish my hydrating beverage, and we are off again.
The stage road is wide, shaded and gently downhill and Jennifer and I take advantage of the terrain and run.
In a little more than a mile we come to the Boulder Field Trail and turn left onto it. The trail is rocky and rooty, and we are once again reduced to a walk.
In about two miles with reach the boulder field.
It is a remarkable 16.5 acre geologic feature (click on the link above for more on its geology). We have to cross about 100 yards from one side of the field to the other, carefully hopping from rock to rock.
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Boulder Field two miles ahead. |
Based on our time crossing the field, we are about an hour and a half behind Emaad.
On to the aptly named Stone Trail and then the even rockier Boundary Trail and we largely continue walking.
In about three miles we get on Fourth Run Trail and running again becomes possible, so we do. But only for spurts as Jennifer is scanning the ground for acorns. She explains that she is gathering acorns to start oak trees to plant on the family farm. I volunteer to help and am instructed to look for green acorns that show no signs of having holes that are signs of acorn borers. Further instruction is that the acorns should be put in water, and any that float discarded, and the remaining ones placed in the refrigerator in a sealed bag.
Fourth Run trail is aptly named. We cross it once soon after getting on the trail, then twice more as we go through a tunnel under I-476, and then a final time further on. The weather is pleasant enough, my Altra trail shoes drain well, and I make no effort to try to find dry ways across the run.
We reach the final aid station (mile 25.6; 7:59 ET), get our usual snacks and drinks of soda, refill the hydration pack and head off for the finish.
Much of the next couple of miles is runnable, so that is what we do. Hilly or rocky sections get walked. another section of the Stage Coach Trail provides a smooth running surface, and at mile 30 we turn right onto the paved and appropriately named Return Road. It is downhill and we run at the fastest pace we have all day. A left turn takes us into the parking area toward the finish and we cross the line in 9:30:13. Emaad is there to see us finish, having finished himself in 7:39.
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Jennifer and I at the finish. (Photo by E. Burki) |
Jennifer is awarded a trophy for fifth place in her age group. I receive a trophy for third in the 60-69 age group. There are several things wrong with this. First, that isn't my age group. Second, there were no entrants in the race in that age group. Bob, who we had run with early in the day was second in 9:07. A sprightly 72-YO won the age group in a fast 6:49. those young guys are hard to beat. When I get home, I use gold paint and a black marker to change the AG on the trophy from 60-69 to 60+.
Overall, I'm 133 of 144; 96 of 100 male; and 3 of 3 in the 70+ age group.
My Garmin tells the story of our effort: 31.06 miles in 9:30:09 at an average pace of 18:22. According to the Garmin, we ran for 2:40, walked for 5:46 and were idle for 1:03 and had 3270 feet of total climb. We certainly took our time at the aid stations, and perhaps picture taking and acorn gathering added to the idle time. But we executed the plan, which was to get to the finish.
On the way home we stop at Dairy Queen for some welcome treats.
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Swag: sweatshirt, hat, bib, Wetterhaus, AG trophy (altered). |
Planning
Emaad and I take a surprisingly relaxed approach to the run-up to the Ultra Challenge Cotswold Way 100K. Sure, we are flying 3600 miles to run in an area we have never seen before, and our families are coming along on the trip (but certainly not to cheer us on) to England, and we are staying about an hour from the start which will entail driving on the 'wrong' side of the road to get there, but we are experienced enough ultra and trail runners to feel confident that we can comfortably finish under the 34 hour cut-off. We ran a 60K in February, a 50K in May and I ran a trail marathon, also in May. So we are appropriately trained. Since we are doing the 'continuous' challenge (there is a two-day challenge, with an overnight stop between the two halves) we figure we should be done in 18-20 hours.
Only two things are of some concern: the weather (it's England, after all), with week-out forecasts calling for a 30 percent or so chance of showers, and the climbing. According to the website, there is about 7200 feet of climb, most of it in the first half. That seems like a lot, but it is rolling hills and we did Rim to River in the Grand Canyon last year, and that was 4800 feet of descent followed by 4500 feet of ascent. Poles were necessary, but there was nothing "rolling" about the Grand Canyon - it was always down followed by relentless up. I decide that poles will not be necessary.
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Ready to start. |
An uneventful drive takes us to the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester for the start of the race. Everything is well organized and we are directed to the parking near to the starting area. We get our bibs, route card and lanyards with our QR codes, hand in our drop bags for delivery to the midway rest stop and stroll to the start corral where our codes are scanned. There is a short briefing where we are told, amongst other things that some District Councils along the way have prohibited the race organizers from removing hazards along the way ("Watch your heads") or trimming overgrowth along the paths. An enthusiastic trainer leads some stretching (I don't take part, wanting to conserve energy) and at 8 a.m., we are off.
The temperature is a bit cool and I am wearing arm sleeves, but they come off in a couple of miles. The weather turns out near perfect, without a drop of rain and if anything, temperatures a bit on the warm side, with highs in the upper 70s.
We are shortly on a single track path with tall grass and bushes on either side. It soon opens up onto the edge of a field and in a bit we pass some buildings between which is a pack of 20 or more young beagles with a couple of people. Perfect for fox hunting, except fox hunting is banned in England.
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Along the Thames and Severn Canal. |
Emaad and I go along in the company of a young couple and a pair of other challengers. On the path alongside remnants of the Thames and Severn Canal I stop to take a picture of a tower. Running to catch up with the rest, the woman is on the ground, dripping blood from her forehead. Her hands are also a bit bloody. She cannot see the source of the blood from the wound and is disturbed by it as her companion tries to comfort her. The others have also turned around to render assistance. Fortunately her companion has a first aid kit with him and as it appears that she is in good hands and not seriously hurt, so the rest of us go on.
We shortly come to the Coates Portal of the canal tunnel, opened in 1789 and originally 2.2 miles in length. Up and over the tunnel we go, and back on the path we see a Great Western Railway train zoom past.
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St. Kenelm's Church, Sapperton. |
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Rest Stop 1, Edgeworth Polo Club. |
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. . . cows . . . |
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. . . sheep . . . |
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. . . and more cows. |
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Lunch. |
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Roses, clematis and more. |
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Moss-covered stone wall. |
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Tyndale Monument. |
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Somewhere on the Cotswold Way. |
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There was a street named "The Street." |
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Swag: bib, QR code and lanyard, route card, buff, 3/4 challenge finishers' medal, finisher's shirt with May [sic] 2024 date |
Weather or Not
Emaad and I wait until Tuesday before the race before signing up for the Dirty German 50K. The forecasts for Saturday are uncertain and changing from day-to-day and neither of us want to run in a steady rain. The forecasts gradually reduce the probability of precipitation to showers later in the day and we decide to go. Forecasted showers in the days preceding the race suggest there may be mud, but that is of little concern.
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Waiting for the start. Neither the buff nor the shirt made it to the start line. |
We drive to Philadelphia Friday, stopping in Media to visit some of Emaad's college friends, and arrive at out hotel, which is about 10 minutes from where the race will start in Pennypack Park. Pasta dinner at an Olive Garden across the street from the hotel is followed by a visit to a grocery store around the corner to get some items for breakfast (and TastyKakes to bring home) round out our evening.
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Uber Hans entertains at the start. He showed up on the course later. |
At the Start
A quick ten minute drive gets us to Pennypack Park and a parking spot on the street a three minute walk to the start. We get our bibs and shirts and claim some space on the lawn by the start-finish line. I dressed on the prediction that the morning would be cool. but as we wait for the 50-mile runners to start it is clear that the day won't be chilly. I change from a long sleeve shirt to a short sleeve one and remove my buff.
We watch the 50-mile runners off at 0730 and at 0800 we are off. The flat beginning narrows down, and we mostly walk single or double file. As the field spreads out I try to keep up with Emaad, but he is a man on a mission and takes off. I had forgotten that he said he was going to try to run quickly. I plod on.
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Pennypack Creek. |
The course is a bit different than when we ran it in 2019, and seems to be significantly less hilly. I'm mostly running alone, but I chat, as I am wont to due, with any runners that I catch up with or who catch up with me.
Despite the rain earlier in the week, the course is not particularly muddy, with only an occasion spot or a small puddle on some of the sections of trail along the creek.
Even though it has been five years since running the race last, the trails are pretty familiar.
The first aid station (about mile 4.5) is well stocked with the usual ultra food of cookies, salty things and candy, but also with freshly fried bacon and grilled cheese sandwiches. I joke with the volunteers that while the bacon is excellent, it would be even better if there was chocolate to dip it in.
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Flowers. |
Team Father - Daughter
About mile 14, or a couple of miles from the end of the first loop, I come upon a man and a younger woman running together on the paved section of the trail. A glance at their bibs reveals that they are in the 50-mile race. It turns out that they are Rob and Anna, and he is her father. Originally Anna's mother was going to run with her, but an injury forced her to drop out, and the ever-accommodating race director Stephan allowed Rob to take her place. This is Anna's first ultra and she is concerned about making the cutoff at the end of the second loop (50-mile runners have to run three loops, including a mini-loop, to the two loops of 50K runners). Rob is an experienced ultrarunner, with a 100-miler and two 100Ks to his credit and does not seem as concerned. I express confidence that they will be fine as well.
Back to the start-finish, I head out on the second loop while they stop by their drop bags. It isn't long before they catch up to me and it is a chance to re-tell my oft-told tales to new ears.
In the meantime I have texted Emaad to ascertain his lead over me. He replies and seems to be about 15 to 20 minutes ahead.
I mention my fear of necrotizing fasciitis - along with that of ticks and poison ivy - and hit the jackpot! Rob is a military doctor, and has treated cases of the flesh-eating bacterial infection. He provides advice on ways to reduce the risk of getting it.
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The trail along Pennypack Creek. |
After several more miles Anna catches up with me without Rob. She has decided that she needs to assure making the second loop cutoff and has pushed on. She passes me and is soon gone.
Levitating to the finish. |
Soon the finish is in sight and I see Emaad ready to take pictures. Feeling frisky, I hop into the air, then run to the finish, crossing the line in 7:38. I collect my Wetterhaus for being first in my age group (and last, and only) and seek out Stephan for a picture with the race director. I get a bratwurst and potato salad to ear and head back to our chair.
Next to us, Rob is seated. I ask him if he intends to continue. He confirms that, as he prepares to head out on his third loop. He has only a few minutes to spare, but experiences runner that he is, knows he does not need to rush. We cheer him on as he heads out.
Results
I finish in 7:38:18, good for 153/181 overall, 104/118 males and 1/1 in my age group. I'm the oldest finisher. I'm also four and a half minutes faster than five year ago, but the may largely be due to the course being easier, the weather better, and not lingering at the aid stations.
Age group Wetterhaus award with RD Stephan Weiss. |
And Anna and Rob? Rob catches up with her somewhere on the third loop and they finish the 50-miler together in 12:28.
Swag: zipper shirt, Wetterhaus, medal, hat and bib. |
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Bigfoot, or bare foot, or little Bigfoot? |
I ran my first marathon, the now-defunct Frederick Marathon, on April 30, 2006. Today, completion of the Farm Park Challenge Marathon marks my 100th marathon or longer race. More details below, but let's get to the sloppy details first.
Weather or Not
The forecast for race day remains unsettled as the day approaches. The probably of showers yo-yos up and down but never disappears. Temperatures are predicted in the low 50s. It sounds like perfectly miserable running conditions. But registration remains open until 1159 Thursday evening, so I wait to hear the 11 p.m. TV weather forecast before making a final decision. When the forecaster says that he does not think Saturday will be a rain-out, I sign up. Showers are manageable. And I had run FPC in 2022 under similar conditions, so I knew what to expect and how to prepare.
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Repeat five times. |
I bring three bags: one with dry clothes and a towel for when I'm finished, one with four shirts and hats, three buffs, a pair of socks and towels for in-race changes, and an empty one to put wet clothes in.
Friday night, after turning in, I'm awakened by the sound of a downpour and thunder, with lightning flashing. I figure it is 1better to get that over with before the race begins.
The morning is cool and there is a sight drizzle and I put on tights, a pair of long-sleeve shirts, a buff and gaiters to keep mud from my shoes. To minimize time at aid stations I use my hydration pack, which also provides pockets to carry gels and other food, and most importantly, a poncho. Before we start I put on gloves.
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The only stream crossing, just before the turnaround. |
There are three other events at the challenge in addition to the marathon: 3-, 6-, and 10-hour challenges, each of which require the entrants to complete the 5.1ish mile out and back within an hour, then do it again starting at the top of the next hour. Marathoners have the luxury of not having to meet the one hour requirement, and have the full ten hours to finish.
The 17 marathoners start at 650. It is not quite raining but not quite not raining either. The grassy sections of the course quickly get my feet wet, but the dirt single and double track are not muddy. Since the field is small it quickly sorts itself out. There will be little or no passing or changing places after the first couple of miles. I catch no one and no one catches me.![]() |
Turn-around. |
Almost at the turn-around there is a small stream crossing, but conveniently located rocks make it possible to cross without getting wet feet. The faster runners don't waste time doing that and simply dash across.
Back we go, and I finish the first lap in 1:03. This gives me a 7 minute head start on not only the 10- and 6-hour challengers, but also on the 27 3-hour challengers, who join us for the next three laps.
It doesn't take long for the challengers to catch up with me and then pass. I exchange greetings with familiar faces, both passing me and returning toward the finish while I am still outbound.
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"Crowded" second lap. |
At the end of the second lap (1:15) I go to the car and change my shirt and hat. It is refreshing to feel partly dry, even if that won't last for too long.
As the day proceeds the course becomes increasingly muddy. Puddles start to appear. The temperature is stuck in the low 50s, and I put my gloves back on. That is a bit of a struggle, as they are wet and my hands won't slide into them. It takes a combination of tugging, pulling and interlocking fingers to get them on.![]() |
First lap not muddy. |
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Sloppy fifth lap. |
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On the course. |