magic fuel showdown

Winter base time to consider fueling options.  Longer distances for 2011, multi-day events. If I can get in more than 100 cals/hr...say closer to 200-300 cals/hr...see room for improvement on the uber long. Here are two candidates I am trying over the next month or two.

Enduromax from QC Max Muscle. One serving 12-16 oz. of fluid, 240 calories, carbs from maltodextrin like most gels.  A bit of caffeine, some whey powder to give it protein.  Some potassium, magnesium,calcium to replenish electrolytes.The rest of the laundry list of ingredients...beyond me. Liquid form....good/bad. So far, I have not (often) broken my rule of just water in the bottle and whatever food is on the course. Runs about $40 for 20 servings.  This product was at turn around aid station at the Wildcat 50k.  Comes in Lemon Lime only.

Other candidate is Perpetuem Solids from Hammer Nutrition.  Perpetuem has been around a long time.  Bob Nelson first introduced me to it back at Howl at the Moon several years ago.  Up to now, another soy/whey based protein powder product.  Now available in 100 calorie chews or solids.  I like the idea of a solid, stable food source I can stick in the pockets.  Unclear as to how big or digestable these are.  Heard compared to "plugs of tobacco." Could cut them up, but hard enough to digest a small Clif bar at 20 deg F. Ordered all three flavors - Caffe Latte (with caffeine), Strawberry Vanilla, Orange Vanilla.  Around $0.30-$0.50/chew....somewhat more cost effective per calorie than gels (say $1.00/100 cals ea.)

Another report in a month or so when friends and I have had a few long runs to stomach test.

-Larry

wildcat 50k - the ultrarunning magazine draft

Here is a draft of the Ultrarunning article.  I will give a week for feed back before I send it in.  If you have a picture suggestion, please let me know.  I have learned to let females have veto power over pictures of themselves. Some wisdom with age.

-Larry

wildcat 50k - final results

Final race results here.  Yes, I took my time. Quicker next year. Have this annoying day job. Thanks to Nancy Shell for assembling the results and taking entries.

For those who did not come, you are welcome next year. If you look at the times, and think that they are perhaps somewhat slow for the distances, I humbly suggest that you might come and run the course anytime.  It is challenging.

 We will do it again and could easily double in size without too much trouble.  Bring extra food and drink, we supply basic food and drink. There will be new flush toilets and running water that wasn't hooked up this year, and we will change little of the successful formula.

Special thanks to all who helped make this a successful event.

• HyVee
• Walmart
• Max Muscle Sports Nutrition Quad Cities
• Muscatine Community Y
• Cornbelt Running Club
• Muscatine Running Friends
• Moline High School
• Buffalo Ambulance
• Wildcat Den State Park
• Friends of Melpine School

-Larry

lots of pictures - mark stegmeier - wildcat 50k

Mark took about 300 pictures. Everybody is here, more than once.  Free for any use.  Can make prints using Flickr.  Can download full resolution.


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

wildcat 50k race results

Race results have been tabulated.  If we misspelled your name, mis-identified you as a male or female, or could not read your handwriting, we ask that you let us know and we will correct.  And we ask that you work on your penmanship.

We had around 105 entries, according to the paper records.  83 of you wrote down your name in the book at the end.  I should have mentioned that at the start, but we were anxious to get moving. 29 of you did more than 26.2 miles and will have your names published in Ultrarunning Magazine.

We had far more food and drink than we might have ever used.  Thanks to all for the donations.  Better to have too much than too little.

Looking forward to next year, but a bit of rest is in order first.

-Larry

wildcat 50k race director pics

The race director's pictures.  Better coming soon.  I had a race to run and a race to run, if you follow.  Camera battery died, and smart phone is blurry cause I was cold.

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

race day results- wildcat 50k

The first annual Wildcat 50k hosted over 105 runners, raising nearly $1400 for the Friends of Melpine School to help build a playground at Wildcat Den State Park.

The first place finisher in the 50k was Nancy Foxen of Muscatine, who finished the 31 mile course in 4 hrs 49 minutes and 42 seconds.  Many others finished their first time at more than 26.2 mi marathon distance, including 17 year old Alexis Mazzini of Macomb, Illinois.

Race director Larry Sandhaas and course official Danelle Much were alternately praised and cursed for the 6.1 mile course.  Well over 1000 ft of elevation gain and elevation loss meant more than a mile of vertical climb and descent over five loops covering nearly 31 miles.  This is no small bonus for the runners in the relatively flat eastern Iowa landscape. Special prize ribbons hidden at strategic locations slightly off course may have caused some runners to exceed these baselines.

A thanks to all who attended, and for the support of Muscatine Running Friends, Cornbelt Running Club, Max Muscle, HyVee and Walmart for the successful race.

More photos to be posted after the race director, who covered a bit more than the course distance today, has a good night's rest.  Results will be posted shortly.

-Larry

Wildcat 50k - Final Updates

One day to go.
It's raining.  There will be mud, but the course will remain run-able.  The trails as Wildcat are well drained; the ranger has put down quite a bit of gravel over the years.  I have run the course immediately following a heavy rain and not gotten my feet too wet.

Course set up this afternoon.  Follow the pink ribbons and you will be fine.  There will be "special yellow prize ribbons" on the course.  Bring one of the YELLOW not PINK ribbons back to the start/finish line aid station by the Mill and you will get a special prize.

We will "open for business" between 6 and 6:30 am.  Race starts 7:30 am, course support ends at 3:00 pm. Parking by the Mill or along the road if the parking lot gets full.

Sign in at the shelter by the mill parking lot.  You can set up tables on the grass or crew from your cars.  Bring food and drink you would like to share to the picnic tables under the shelter.

Post race shower and cleanup available at the Muscatine Y 1823 Logan St, Muscatine, Iowa.  563-263-9996. Free if you are a Y member and if you tell them you ran Wildcat 50k.  Directions available at Start/Finish.

Look forward to seeing everyone at the start Sunday morning!

-Larry

wildcat 50k - course support

Was asked today about course support - food and drink. Here was my response.


We will have water and sports drink at the aid stations, each 3 miles apart at the start/finish line and the turn around.

Will also have "runner friendly food" including...

Bananas, strawberries, salted potatoes, chips, pretzels, trail mix, m n m's, raisins, similar fare.

I am going shopping Friday, and runners are invited to bring food as a donation to the event.

The course is challenging, but runable.  Stairs and elevation gain yes.  Trail is well drained, maintained and well marked.  You may get muddy, but no stream crossings.

Hope this reassures and answers your concerns.

Thanks for coming.

-Larry

Governors Run - "that was hard"

Good weather and a bit of muddy fun for one of the warmest Governor's Cross Country Run's in recent years.  Fears of not enough water in the streams for proper mud were dashed. Friends at left agree.

Talked to Russ Hart "course martial" before the race.  A bit of ribbon confusion with tree markings had Russ on the course at 7:30 am pulling and replacing ribbons for the type used by the park to mark tree removal.

And to the 3rd place Matt Roling finisher after. "That wolf thing must have been filled with lead!" "It was tougher than Living History Farms."

Photos below.  Good times. Worthy cause Nancy Kapheim Memorial Scholarship Fund.  Thanks all.
-Larry


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

the secret word - WildCat 50k

The secret word is "ultra marathon."

You are way too young to remember "You Bet Your Life" TV show with Groucho Marx.  "Say the secret words and win a prize."

If you say the secret word, you may be rewarded with an appropriate adult beverage at the end of your run.  Cause you earned it. QCRunner and WildCat 50k reserve the right to be juvenile.

Race prep goes well. Interest is good.  Stopped in stores wall shopping for supplies. Story in the Muscatine Journal.  Stories soon in Argus/Dispatch and Quad Cities Times.

Hope to see everyone at the WildCat 50k Nov. 14, 2010 7:30 am.

-Larry