Ice Age 50 - race report

Checked the weather radar at about 4 am, and things were looking pretty good...30 to 40 some degrees.   "Breezy" 20 mph wind gusting to 30 mph.  Warmer than Mobile Marathon in January (17 deg with 20 mph wind.)  I have gotten a bit better at running in the rain, but it is still not my favorite.

An ultra is really course specific.  One "flat and fast" marathon can translate nicely to another locale, but every one of these off pavement frolics in the forest is a bit different.

Ice Age is a very well "run" event.  It's one of the oldest ultras in the nation, celebrating it's 29th year in the southern Kettle Moraine State Forest.  The race covers part of the 1000 mile Ice Age Trail system, that marks the southern limits of the last big glaciers covering North American over 10,000 years ago.  The glaciers melted back, leaving behind rocks and sand and hills and lakes.  (We the people of Illinois and Iowa would like to thank Wisconsin for sending much of your fertile black soil our way.)

The ladies I went with had a great time, and finished strong in their first 50 mile effort.  We made a pact to stay together.  No one left behind.  We had trained for months for this, and were going to finish as we had trained.

No wrong turns (on the trail)....plenty of white paint on the ground marking the turns.  Lots of food and closely spaced aid stations...every 5 miles or so fuel and hydration.  Not every minute a rolling barrel of laughs, but this distance is about overcoming, enduring.  This isn't a 5k....you're sorta out there for a while.

Weather....rain after mile twenty, followed by alternating bouts of sleet, rain and hail.  Particularly as we crested un-protected ridge lines. "Look at that view!"....then a little sun, punctuated by more wind and frozen pellets of goodness from heaven.

The first 10 miles on the Nordic Loop were well groomed, grassy cross country ski trails.  Once we got on the Ice Age trail, the remaining 40 was mostly single track, up and down continuous.  Almost 7000 ft of elevation change, which is mighty impressive for the midwest.  I heard cries of "Look, another hill...how Wonderful!" from the ladies.  Perhaps something else was intended, but that is what I heard. Hard of hearing, this old masters runner is.  Can't tell the difference between 50k and 50 miles either.

Good times.  Great friends.  A huge thanks and debt of gratitude to our families and spouses for tolerating this mostly healthy obsession, especially on Mother's Day weekend.  We all have kids and significant others, and could not do it without the support.  Thanks to all.

-Larry


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