2015 ICE AGE TRAIL 50 MILE PREVIEW

2015 Ice Age Preview

The 2014 edition of the Ice Age Trail 50 mile was a race that some said would never happen. Combine moderate temperatures, extremely fast like-minded competitors, and a dry course and you get the fastest single day in Ice Age history! The relatively cool air temperatures at the start which rose along with the humidity through the day challenged the hundreds who took part in the Ice Age 50 Mile. One word described the men’s race, speed, and Max King ended up being the fastest resetting the course record (5:41:07) in the process! The women’s race was a little more spread out with Kaci Lickteig taking the win and the course record (6:41:39)!

The 2015 edition of the Ice Age Trail 50 miler has undergone some changes.  First, the sponsor changed from Montrail to Salomon.  Second, the race will no longer be offering automatic Western States 100 entries.  What has not changed is the fact that this is a storied race, on a deceivingly difficult course, with a very fast field.  The Ice Age Trail 50 has always drawn those newer to ultras, those with incredible road speed, and the wily veterans.  This year will be no different.  Following is a short breakdown of those who may contend for the top spots on Saturday!

MEN’S PREVIEW

Joshua Brimhall (AdiUltra/Nathan Sport)

Josh definitely fits into the veteran category.  With more than 60 ultra finishes you will rarely see a finish lower than 5^th; in fact most of Josh’s finishes are 1^st or 2^nd.  Most recently Josh took fourth at the Zane Grey 50 miler, a race most would describe as the hardest 50 miler in the States.  Josh has also won a 50k in 3:34.  The last time he raced Ice Age (2013) he fell a little shy of his goal of a win with a 6:25.  Expect Josh to come ready to race, and looking for some payback from this course.

Zachary Ornelas (Skechers)

There seems to be one thing in common with all “Skechers” sponsored athletes (Meb Keflezighi, Kara Goucher…) they are all ridiculously fast.  Well Zach is no different.  Zach just obliterated the competition at the US 50k Road Championships at the Coumsett 50k with an otherworldly time of 2:52:17!!  That’s right; only 6 North American’s have run a faster 50k.  Zach, a teacher from Michigan, is new to ultras.  He gave ultras a go in 2014, while also running his first Marathon, a 2:20! (Yes he still plans to go for an Olympic Trials Qualifier) Expect Zach to come ready to chase down Max King’s CR and anyone else who gets in front of him!

Zach Bitter (Altra)

Another Zach, one who is not new to Ultras or Ice Age is Zach Bitter.  This will be Zach’s 4^th Ice Age 50.  He has a 1^st, 3^rd, and 6^th.  As impressive as Zach’s Ice Age stats are, it is the rest of his resume that sets him apart from most other runners.  The 100 Mile American Record (11:47), the 12 Hour world record (101.66 miles), the 200k American Track Record (16:23:33), and the 6^th fastest 50 mile time ever (5:12:36) to name a few.  To top those off he also represented the USA at the 2014 world 100k Championships in Qatar finishing in 6^th (6:48). Recently Zach attempted to better his own 100 mile American record and go after world record, only to succumb to some severe quad issues.  In the past when a race has not gone according to plan for Zach he has shown the ability to channel all of the frustration into his next event.  With Zach’s intimate course knowledge expect him to come ready to hammer this course!

Chris Rubesch

Chris has finished 27 ultras, garnering 26 top 10’s, 7 wins, and a few course records.  He has raced Ice Age twice now with an 11^th and 10^th place finish.  Chris has a 100 mile PR of 16:40, and really knows how to push through the suffering.  Look for him to push hard with the front.

Stuart Kolb

Stuart is a Wisconsin native with 14 Ice Age 50 Mile finishes.  13 of those have been top 10’s!  Stuart has a 50 mile PR of 6:10 and an Ice Age 50 mile PR of 6:32.  With his experience and course knowledge look for him to run right behind the front pack waiting to pick off any who struggle!

WOMEN’S PREVIEW

Jessica Garcia

Jessica is a Wisconsin native who races to win.  Jessica has finished 9 ultras in her career with 7 of those being top 3 finishes.  She ran Ice Age in 2014 placing 6^th in 8:14.  She recently took 3^rd at the Chicago Lakefront 50K.  Expect Jessica to bring her speed and toughness to this race.

Annie Weiss

Annie, a registered dietician, burst onto the trail ultra scene in 2011.  Crossing over from a road racing background she quickly won her first two ultras (50k’s) and took second in her first 50 miler.  Then injury struck.  Annie started her comeback in 2014 and is now being coached by Tommy “Rivers” Puzey and comeback she has!  So far in 2015 Annie has taken 5^th at the uber competitive Black Canyon 100K, and a 3rd at the Chippewa 50k.  Look for Annie to continue that comeback.  OH as an aside the last time Annie raced an Ice Age Trail event it was the 50k and she won.

Serena Wilcox

Serena ran her first ultra in 2008, so she knows a thing or two about racing.  She also happens to know something about winning while suffering.  She won the 2011 Vermont 100, and last year took 12^th at the Western States 100.  She has a 50 mile PR of 7:35 so she also knows how to run really fast.  Serena is slated to run Western States again this year.  She has already run a 50k and 50 mile as tune ups.  Watch for Serena to run her own race, and if she’s in position take it out for the win.

Also for your reading pleasure, here is the link to the www.iRunFar.com "This Week In Running: May 4th 2015" article including the Ice Age Trail preview information.  Please check back in to the www.iRunFar.com site on Monday May 11th for a recap of the action for the race!

Day of Challenge - 2013 Mad City 50K Race Recap

Mad City 50K & 100K

It is just running everyone can do it, some are fast and others slow.  But there are a select few that can really embrace the suffering required to run for a long time.  One of the reasons I love ultra-running is that it is a challenge.  Most often the challenge is 90% mental and 10% physical.  This mental challenge, the willingness to suffer to persevere, is one of the reasons I went from racing 5 miles to 50 miles.  The other reason was my love for and need to connect with nature.  Well with that in mind I decided to step, way, outside my comfort zone and attempt to race an early spring road ultra, the Mad City 50K.  For me this would mean running at an extremely uncomfortable pace, for a long time, in circles, on pavement, fully clothed, and in some really cold weather.

The Mad City course for both the 100K (USATF National Championships) and the 50K is the same.  A 10K loop around Lake Wingra in Madison, WI.  This is a faster course with the men’s 50K CR a stout 3:03 (Zach Bitter) and the 100K 6:56 (Michael Wardian).  Do not let the times or the fact that it is pavement fool you; each loop has an elevation gain close to 1200ft.  That is right around 6k of vertical gain for the 50K and 12K for the 100K, not too shabby for a fast “flat” WI course.  The RD Tim “Timo” Yanacheck creates an environment befitting a National Championship race.  There are two aid stations; one at the start/finish and another right before the 4 mile mark.  Timo’s dedication to the race and its participants allows the runners to focus solely on running.

The course on a warmer day!

Focus is indeed what I should have been doing right before the start of the 50K.  After jogging to warm up I ran into Eric Senseman, the eventual 50K winner, and we began to catch up.  Well the next thing I heard was someone stating that they called 30 seconds to the start of the race.  So as I ran to drop my sweatshirt the race started.  My first thought was, “What the hell, how do you miss the start of a race you showed up an hour early for!”  Followed closely by, “Oh well I have 31 miles to catch everyone.”  Well it is just another challenge, right?  The 10K loop rolls out pretty quickly around the lake to right around mile 2ish where the first bigger hill is.  This hill is runnable, as they all are, but taking them too fast early on will really fatigue your legs.   From there the path follows the lake past the University’s arboretum and up the other large hill near mile 4 right before the 2^nd aid station.  From this aid station you run downhill following the lake to zoo.  From there you have a quick flat shot to the start/finish to start your next loop.



Rokcing the VESPA & shades in the cold! (photo by Mary Gorski)



It is sometimes tough to remember that this is an ultra when you are running 10K loops, since you can so easily wrap your mind around that distance.   I was taught this lesson at mile 29 right as I passed the backside aid station for the last time, when my left hamstring seized due to fatigue, now that’s a challenge!  Up until that point all of my miles had been consistently in the 6:40-7:00 range.  Well not mile 29 that was near 17:00, but what can you do when you can’t really walk, but wait for the cramp to relax.  As soon as that happened I pushed back into the 7:00 range and finished the race for a total time of 3:51:38 and a 7^th overall.  “Timo” put on a fabulous race, and really made running on pavement in 28 degree, windy, weather enjoyable.  I would highly recommend the 50K as a spring tune up race to prepare for an Ultra summer. 

Speaking of making you feel awesome, my friends who run shorter distance races always ask me what kind of swag (gifts) you get for running “crazy” ultras.  Well Timo and his fabulous sponsors do not disappoint, the bag I received at check in was jam packed.  Plus there was a huge bonus!  I was a little fatigued after the race so I was not quite sure what the giant box I received along with my medal and plaque contained.  Well it was a giant box of dark and milk chocolate truffles, 60 of them, NOW that’s SWAG!  I love chocolate so I had my final challenge for the day, for this one I would need to enlist the help of my two little girls though!

Mad City BLING!

RACE RESULTS

50K         3:51:38 (PR)          7^th Overall

Thank you to my sponsors

Performance Running Outfitters

VEPSA Power

Nutrition

(3 hours pre-race)

3 Packets Justin’s Chocolate Almond Butter

1 Green Tea with Coconut oil added

1 VESPA ultra-concentrate

Multi vitamin, fish oil, 4 Capra-Flex

(Race)

3 VESPA junior’s

1-20oz Chocolate Coconut Water with 3 TBSP of honey

2-20oz (Mexican) Coke-Cola

(Post)

Salmon, avocado, sweat potato, & kale salad

Multi vitamin, 4 Capra-Flex

1 AWESOME Hard Cider!

GEAR

Hoka One One Bondi B2 - iRunFar.com
Too Much warm gear to list - Performance Running Outfitters