Doonst does Iroquoia Trail Test (32K), gets a solid B
Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 5:01 pm
I wanted to do this race last year, but took a pass to be fresh for the RM Fall Tour 10 in 10. It's less than a half hour from home, its all on my beloved Bruce Trail, and it has a bit of a rep. "Only" 32 K, it does count for points in the Ontario Ultra Series; it's motto in the brochure is "not ultra long, but ultra tough". I've hiked it all, done long runs on most, and short races on parts of it, but still you never know what something is like until you do it at race pace.
A late night at the Brampton M&G was just the thing to take my mind of the race. Arriving at the race around 7:15, quickly ran into Strider and Mrs, then Robbie-T. Looked over the map of course changes, when the Bruce Trail reroutes, so does the race. They say this might be the last year doing the big rock scramble up and down the Nassagaweya Canyon, of Rattlesnake Point race fame. I was thinking that the changes might add a couple minutes, but it's all in the details. They definitely added tougher stuff than was cut out, but total distance might have changed. Rumour has it that it has been long for a few years.
First off we do a southern loop, a bit of road then down a singletrack into Bronte Creek canyon. Going down the road, I knew I was going too fast when I could hear Robbie and Dave talking. First K split, 4:40. Then on the trail, you had to keep up with traffic. Some rollers, then down the big hill. You are supposed to go through the creek, I'd say 3 out of 4 that I saw took the bridge. Not me, I didn't come to a tough race to take shortcuts, into the creek go. Very shallow this year, ankle deep. Fast sandy loop beside the river, back through the creek, and back up the big ravine. Still pretty crowded. Back on the road, I realize that I am ahead of planned pace. The worst thing for me in a race is stress; main 2 causes of stress are thinking that I am going too fast or too slow. Not a great start, well good in time but not in feeling. I cross the mat at the start line around 43 minutes for 8 K, I planned on 45-46.
Ditched my long sleeve shirt, downed a gel with water, and picked up my fuel belt from the grandstands. On to part two.
After about 1 K, we cross Derry Road and onto the "real" trail. This is my kind of trail now, dirt, rocks, roots, just rolling. All of a sudden I feel at home. Fairly flat for 3 K until Twiss Road, much better now. Crossing Twiss there is a nasty hill, almost climbing. Still its short, and the rocky section at the top quickly turns into logging road. One bonus of race pace is that the tough sections seem shorter! More slow rocks just before reaching Guelph Line. Everybody near me here is worried that we might be off course because its so nasty, but I assure them that we follow the white markers on the trees, not the easy road.
There is a water stop at every road I think, crossing Guelph Line it gets easy again. Then onto the new section. The first half is not bad, new groomed gravel then sandy double track. Second part is classic Bruce trail rocky cliff edge/side; rolling and rocky. Around this part we start to see the first people returning that did the early 7 AM start. In spots this adds some fun for the rest of the race. Back on the old trail, along the top of Nassagaweya Canyon. This is a tricky bit, slightly downhill but knarly bedrock reefs. I trip and go down to one hand once, but never off my feet. The big rocky downhill is as always, some people get scared and let you by. At the bottom is another reroute, to make up for the 4 k of new trail up top. Instead of the nice fast canyon bottom stretch and easy climb up the other side, we immediately go right up a steeper climb. Steep at first then flatter, finishes off steep too. At least I am running uphill when Robbie passes me going back, I didn't run the whole thing. Fairly quick section next heading out to the turnaround at Appleby Line, uphill at the end. We have to edge into the burr bushes as we pass the faster returning runners. There was a timing mat at the turnaround, on the road. I had my second gel here at 20 K. Time here was 2:03, so 1:20 on the way out after first 8 K loop. Now I am right on track for my whisper goal pace, all I have to do is bring it home. One thing I have learned though, is that your pace in trail races can fall to pieces really quick. Same terrain in reverse, I won't describe it all again. One woman went flying by me on the canyon descent, she ended up third place woman. Strangely I stayed with her up the other rocky side, then she was gone at the top. Feeling pretty good through here actually, even after 2 and a half hours. Then with about 7 k to go, I start feeling twinges, muscles threatening to cramp up. Both calves, and one ITB. Only when I climb up something, jump over, or hammer uphill. Only thing I can do is take it a bit easier and drink the rest of my Eload. Oh well, an excuse to slow down a bit. It never goes away, but it also never goes south on me. Even so, I pass a few people and not many pass me, others are hurting here too. Third gel at Guelph Line station, then the two tough spots before Twiss. After the last aid station there, I know its going to be okay. 4 k to go, mostly relatively easy. One guy passes me, and we're just criusin'. Then on an easy dirt path he goes right down. Gotta be careful in the last ten minutes, when you're tired and sloppy. I'm doing the math, wondering if I can actually bring it in under my whisper goal of 3:30. My marathon time, 3:40, is my stated goal. The one thing the Garmin can't tell me is the actual distance that the race will be this year. It's not until there's 2 minutes left that I see I'm good. I don't dare risk a sprint, that's how close to seizing up I am. Final time was 3:27:54. I'll take it! "Back" section took 1:24, vs 1:20 out.
Muscles got sore after stopping, just like in my marathon. Oh it hurt to try and undo my shoes! I swear it took 5 minutes of agony to change my socks and shoes. A little food cured that, barbequed chicken legs and salads. Without giving away anybody's secrets, all maniacs were smiling pretty big. I don't think Robbie thought it was tough enough.
We got rocks with our times painted on them, I'm sure pictures will be posted. Didn't make out in the door prizes for once. Oh well.
Here at home, I confirm as i suspected that it my slowest pace in a race ever. 6:29/K Still I knew it would be, that's sorta the point. I do feel like I have just run for 3 1/2 hours on a tough trail as fast as I could. Not bad anywhere in particular, just a little beat up. I did have a bit of a nap. I guess I earned it, its my longest trail race ever, and second longest run ever. Like it says on my rock, I passed the test!!
ETA: I see now that I came in 48th overall, (out of 118) just like my bib number. 9th in men over 50, out of 24.
A late night at the Brampton M&G was just the thing to take my mind of the race. Arriving at the race around 7:15, quickly ran into Strider and Mrs, then Robbie-T. Looked over the map of course changes, when the Bruce Trail reroutes, so does the race. They say this might be the last year doing the big rock scramble up and down the Nassagaweya Canyon, of Rattlesnake Point race fame. I was thinking that the changes might add a couple minutes, but it's all in the details. They definitely added tougher stuff than was cut out, but total distance might have changed. Rumour has it that it has been long for a few years.
First off we do a southern loop, a bit of road then down a singletrack into Bronte Creek canyon. Going down the road, I knew I was going too fast when I could hear Robbie and Dave talking. First K split, 4:40. Then on the trail, you had to keep up with traffic. Some rollers, then down the big hill. You are supposed to go through the creek, I'd say 3 out of 4 that I saw took the bridge. Not me, I didn't come to a tough race to take shortcuts, into the creek go. Very shallow this year, ankle deep. Fast sandy loop beside the river, back through the creek, and back up the big ravine. Still pretty crowded. Back on the road, I realize that I am ahead of planned pace. The worst thing for me in a race is stress; main 2 causes of stress are thinking that I am going too fast or too slow. Not a great start, well good in time but not in feeling. I cross the mat at the start line around 43 minutes for 8 K, I planned on 45-46.
Ditched my long sleeve shirt, downed a gel with water, and picked up my fuel belt from the grandstands. On to part two.
After about 1 K, we cross Derry Road and onto the "real" trail. This is my kind of trail now, dirt, rocks, roots, just rolling. All of a sudden I feel at home. Fairly flat for 3 K until Twiss Road, much better now. Crossing Twiss there is a nasty hill, almost climbing. Still its short, and the rocky section at the top quickly turns into logging road. One bonus of race pace is that the tough sections seem shorter! More slow rocks just before reaching Guelph Line. Everybody near me here is worried that we might be off course because its so nasty, but I assure them that we follow the white markers on the trees, not the easy road.
There is a water stop at every road I think, crossing Guelph Line it gets easy again. Then onto the new section. The first half is not bad, new groomed gravel then sandy double track. Second part is classic Bruce trail rocky cliff edge/side; rolling and rocky. Around this part we start to see the first people returning that did the early 7 AM start. In spots this adds some fun for the rest of the race. Back on the old trail, along the top of Nassagaweya Canyon. This is a tricky bit, slightly downhill but knarly bedrock reefs. I trip and go down to one hand once, but never off my feet. The big rocky downhill is as always, some people get scared and let you by. At the bottom is another reroute, to make up for the 4 k of new trail up top. Instead of the nice fast canyon bottom stretch and easy climb up the other side, we immediately go right up a steeper climb. Steep at first then flatter, finishes off steep too. At least I am running uphill when Robbie passes me going back, I didn't run the whole thing. Fairly quick section next heading out to the turnaround at Appleby Line, uphill at the end. We have to edge into the burr bushes as we pass the faster returning runners. There was a timing mat at the turnaround, on the road. I had my second gel here at 20 K. Time here was 2:03, so 1:20 on the way out after first 8 K loop. Now I am right on track for my whisper goal pace, all I have to do is bring it home. One thing I have learned though, is that your pace in trail races can fall to pieces really quick. Same terrain in reverse, I won't describe it all again. One woman went flying by me on the canyon descent, she ended up third place woman. Strangely I stayed with her up the other rocky side, then she was gone at the top. Feeling pretty good through here actually, even after 2 and a half hours. Then with about 7 k to go, I start feeling twinges, muscles threatening to cramp up. Both calves, and one ITB. Only when I climb up something, jump over, or hammer uphill. Only thing I can do is take it a bit easier and drink the rest of my Eload. Oh well, an excuse to slow down a bit. It never goes away, but it also never goes south on me. Even so, I pass a few people and not many pass me, others are hurting here too. Third gel at Guelph Line station, then the two tough spots before Twiss. After the last aid station there, I know its going to be okay. 4 k to go, mostly relatively easy. One guy passes me, and we're just criusin'. Then on an easy dirt path he goes right down. Gotta be careful in the last ten minutes, when you're tired and sloppy. I'm doing the math, wondering if I can actually bring it in under my whisper goal of 3:30. My marathon time, 3:40, is my stated goal. The one thing the Garmin can't tell me is the actual distance that the race will be this year. It's not until there's 2 minutes left that I see I'm good. I don't dare risk a sprint, that's how close to seizing up I am. Final time was 3:27:54. I'll take it! "Back" section took 1:24, vs 1:20 out.
Muscles got sore after stopping, just like in my marathon. Oh it hurt to try and undo my shoes! I swear it took 5 minutes of agony to change my socks and shoes. A little food cured that, barbequed chicken legs and salads. Without giving away anybody's secrets, all maniacs were smiling pretty big. I don't think Robbie thought it was tough enough.
We got rocks with our times painted on them, I'm sure pictures will be posted. Didn't make out in the door prizes for once. Oh well.
Here at home, I confirm as i suspected that it my slowest pace in a race ever. 6:29/K Still I knew it would be, that's sorta the point. I do feel like I have just run for 3 1/2 hours on a tough trail as fast as I could. Not bad anywhere in particular, just a little beat up. I did have a bit of a nap. I guess I earned it, its my longest trail race ever, and second longest run ever. Like it says on my rock, I passed the test!!
ETA: I see now that I came in 48th overall, (out of 118) just like my bib number. 9th in men over 50, out of 24.
Another race, Sheldon... You're such a Maniac .... 
:clap:
