Midwest Grandslam Recap

So now that the Midwest Grandslam is complete I thought it would be a good time to reflect on how it all went what I thought was good and what was not so good.
Overall I thought the MWGS was an awesome event that surprisingly wasn’t as difficult as I thought it would be. I think I may have got lucky in that I had no difficulties during the races other than the expected fatigue etc.
All the races were different in their own respects. None of them “easy”, but none of them overly difficult either. Again I think I got rather lucky with the conditions, all of these races are usually run in extremely warm and humid conditions, but temperature was never a factor in any of them. The only race that had environmental conditions become a factor was Burning River, with the mud as a result of the rain.
My biggest concern going into the series was the two weeks between Kettle Moraine and Mohican. I had heard that Mohican was the toughest of the races and that worried me. As it turned out I had one of my best runs at Mohican finishing very strong and if anything having 6 weeks between Mohican and BR and between BR and Hallucination was too much time. Funny how you can say 6 weeks is too much time between 100 mile races!
Having completed only 2 100 mile races and DNF’d one before going into the series I had some experience, but think I learned a lot more from the DNF and built on that at Kettle Moraine.
I had a great team of crews and pacers for each race too which I believe was vital to me finishing both the races and the series.

Kettle Moraine was an out and back followed by another different out and back course with a varying amount of hills, but not hard. The second out and back being a lot more technical than the first, with some muddy conditions thrown in to make things a bit more difficult in the dark. I had Joan and Oliver crewing and pacing for this one and I think we all had a good time. At this point I didn’t get to know any of the other slammers.

Mohican was a bigger race and more technical terrain throughout. It was the first multi loop course with 2 x 27 miles followed by two shorter 23 mile loops. I don’t like loop courses, but keep finding myself in them. Conditions were good, except for some mud in and around the falls area, and the heavy downpour for the last 5 miles or so. The downpour got me going though, Again Joan was the chief crew member, although initially she wasn’t even supposed to be here for this one. Scott Garrett and Dave Morl provided excellent pacing too.

I went into Burning River with lots of confidence, also knowing that the weather was much more favourable than the last time I ran it. BR is a point to point course which is my most favoured course type. But the rain sort of backfired a bit as a few long sections of heavy deep mud sapped a lot of energy and created some nice blisters that hampered my finish. Still a great event. Joan and Roger were the crew and pacers.

The final event was, let’s say interesting. Hallucination 100 was part of the Run Wood stock, hippy themed race weekend. BY this race most of the slammers all knew each other and we had built up a good family like respect for each other and were very supportive each and every one of us. Another multi loop course consisting of 6 x 16.7 mile loops this race started at 4pm on Friday, a first for me and I think this threw a lot of people off too as the finishing percentage was a little over 50% in ideal conditions. Although I had a personal best time here and felt good for the most part, I had a few beefs about this race. The aid stations had a pitiful selection of foods, mountain bikes on the course (single track) in the later stages of the race were a recipe for disaster. I found that there were too any race going on and not enough focus on fewer races. The event was great but….
Gary and Oliver were pacers for this race although Gary decided at the last minute to sign up for the race and so ran the whole thing with me. Joan crewed when she could as she was doing the 50 mile race too.

Again a great experience to do this series which I would recommend to anyone who has any experience with 100 milers. Made some great friends across the U.S. who I hope to keep in touch with run with again in races some where.

MEC Fall Races

Mountain Equipment Co-op are hosting two race events this fall and are looking for our support for more information check out the links below: MEC Barrie Race FOUR: 5k/10k/15k September 14th MEC Barrie Race FIVE: 5k/10k/Half October 26th MEC also host a Women’s ONLY meet-up run on Tuesday nights at 6:00pm and a Group Run on Saturday mornings at 9:00am! People can register online or drop in and they are also offering an Expert Seminar Series with various topics from Injury Prevention, Nutrition and even a session with “The Optimism Revolutions” Jim Willett about running the Gobi Desert. They are all located on our website at http://events.mec.ca for those who might be interested!

THe 9th Annual Sudbury Rocks Marathon etc.!!!

the 9th annual SudburyROCKS!!! Race, Run or Walk for Diabetes. The SudburyROCKS!!! Race, Run or Walk for Diabetes is the largest running event in Northern Ontario and also serves as a Boston Marathon qualifier. I am hoping that you would be able to list/display our event in your running club to allow your runners a chance to enjoy the beautiful north!!

Our annual event will be held May 11th, 2014!!

www.sudburyrocksmarathon.com


Let me know what you think!!


Chris Montgomery
Community Initiatives Coordinator
Canadian Diabetes Association
2141 Lasalle Blvd, Unit F, Sudbury, ON P3A 2A3
T: (705) 670-1993 ext 7

diabetes.ca | 1-800-BANTING | Leading the fight against diabetes

Run four Women Series

Here is part of an email we received regarding a new women's running series.

I think I mentioned to you that I’m organizing the Shoppers Drug Mart Run for Women on June 22nd in Unionville. It’s a really fun day! Great swag…Olympian Jenn Heil is giving a motivational talk…great route up main street Unionville…all for women’s mental health programs at Women’s College Hospital.

If you can run that would be great!! Can you also spread the word among your amazing running friends?
· Ask them to come out!
· Ask them to send this to other runners
· Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/runforwomenseries
· Follow us on Twitter: @runforwomen

Here’s an email and a PDF you can pass along…

MEC Half , 5k and 10k.

MEC BARRIE RACE THREE: 5K/10K/HALF - JUN01

Date: Saturday, 01 June, 2013
Time: From 09:00 am to 01:00 pm EDT

Organizer: MEC Barrie
Price: $ 15.00

MEC Barrie Race THREE: 5K / 10K / HALF
Saturday, June 1st, 2013 AT 9:00am

Location
Start & Finish at South Innisfil Community Centre, Town of Innisfil

Come on out for a great race and take in the beautiful scenic views that surround the quaint winding roads of Lefroy and Stroud in the Town of Innisfil.


Race Route - Out and Back

South Innisfil Community Centre
1354 Killarney Beach
Barrie - Lefroy, ON



Here is the link for registration! J
http://events.mec.ca/event/5825/mec-barrie-race-three-5k10khalf-jun01

Thank you again and have a great long weekend!

Amanda Parlett
Store Outreach & Learning Coordinator
705.792.4675 x.247

Cani Running Series etc.

See Canirunning.com for more

Barrie Spring Thaw 5/10k race Apr 20, 2013

Hi Folks

My name is Doug Fairchild. I've been running in Barrie for over 10 years now. It now time for me to give back to the sport. I have volunteered to organize this coming Barrie Spring Thaw race.

I'm writing you in hopes that you may put out the good word to your members. Perhaps even list it on your website. It's a 5 or 10 km event. Even have a 1k for the kids. The coarse will be familiar to you guys. A single loop course for both distances, around the lake shore. We are small time, looking to grow the event. Not much happening in Barrie in the Spring. Think of it as a good tune up for the marathon season. The event is timed and a nice t-shirt for signing up.

Registration can be done through the running room. We even have team rates (discount of $5/person). I have a bunch of t-shirts left over from last year I would be happy to drop off to any interested runners. One of of our volunteers was out to the running room last month giving some away, so perhaps you've heard of us.

Running Room Race Website

The Barkley Marathons 101

The Race that Eats its Young!!!

A few RoadRunners will on their way to Tennessee this weekend to try and complete the Barkley Marathons. Here is a good write up from the New York Times, tells you all you need to know.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/28/sports/the-barkley-marathons-few-know-how-to-enter-fewer-finish.html?smid=pl-share

Entering This Race Is as Hard as Finishing It
Only 12 ultrarunners have completed the 100-mile Barkley Marathons, and those connected to it hope a coming documentary does not alter its counterculture charm.

2013 Barrie Half Marathon

Registration is open for the 2013 edition of the Barrie Half Marathon. The race is to take place on Sunday June 16th.
More details can be found on the race website Barrie Half Marathon

For registration go to the web site or EventsOnLine