Pineland Farms 50k 27/05/07 (Portland, Maine)
First time in the USA, first time over 26.2 miles, first time running drunk - it was a trip of firsts; and top marks to most of the stuff we did and saw. America exceeded the expectations I had, certainly Portland and surroundings did.
New York looked dinky from the plane as we landed at Newark; a ridiculous skyline appearing to have been designed by someone with tall building blocks and no fear of heights. A ground hostess wearing a “We Miss the World Trade Centre” badge. We didn't have time to explore but rode on the sci-fi Airtrain monorail to another terminal to catch the flight to Boston then the bus to Portland. 20 hrs of (not) watching bland family fodder on small tellies and reading 150 pages of a novel. Remembering now and then to do dvt relief exercises. Glad to have a couple of days to unwind before the race.
We stayed with Ian and Emma, great friends we used to run with in Scotland before they moved to Portland, Maine. Ian is a co-director of the race, which was run this year for the second time. It is 2 laps of 25k, round trails originally created in undulating farmlands and woods for cross-country skiing in the winter. The course is never flat or straight for any length and while helping Ian and Emma mark the route in the days before the race (and running sections,) I thought I would be lost for most of the race - only recognising landmarks such as the Yurt and the Start/Finish area as we passed by, but it wasn't so bad. It is very beautiful, and different areas have different characters. All hilly though. The good thing about the hills is that none of them go on long enough to grind you down; soon you'll turn a corner and a steep descent followed by another climb on a dirt track or a stubbly field and if you're lucky you'll see a woodpecker or a chipmunk, a dragonfly or a butterfly.
Marking the course.
The Yurt
Ian is an architect and his strong sense of design and planning pervades the event - from excellent merchandising to the design of posters, webstuff and information boards to the course layout itself. Also getting in tow with sponsors and organisations. Including the “Y” right next to the course where there are probably the best facilities ever. A dispensing roll of poly bags for your wet kit and super large head showers that revive you after 31 miles. To say nothing of a goody bag containing sports fuel stuff, a trail magazine, a Pineland Farms print technical (Asics) t-shirt (in ladies sizes that fit ladies), money-off voucher for a local sports shop and an invitation to a free BBQ with - get this - as many free beers as you can drink after the race, courtesy of Gritty McDuff's - Maine's Original Brew Pub. All this for $40. (Less than £22.) It would be a bargain even before you cross the finish line and are presented with a metal cowbell printed with the ubiquitous Pinelands Tractor. We met the other forces behind the smoothly oiled machine of Pinelands; Eric, Phil and Ken, while out marking and running the trails. It is their hard work that helps make the event so successful.
Race day we were up at about 5ish - the race starts 8am to avoid the heat. The 2 previous days had seen up to 97° on the Time and Temperature building in town and we were hoping the forecast cooling would materialise on the day. It turned out pretty much perfect weather - warm and sunny - with the shade of the tree-lined trails helping out when it got too humid crossing the fields. The fields had trails mown through them for race day though the stubbly ground underneath wasn't quite as smooth as you would hope. I had been trying to choose between trail shoes and road shoes - settling for the latter, thinking that comfort in the late stages would make for a better time than grip on the steep and bumpy sections. The dust dry course confirmed this choice. Many runners carried bottles or drinks but as there was an aid station every 3 miles I thought I would go as light as possible and carry just a couple of gels in my back pocket. There was a drop zone we would pass through at 10, 16 and 26 miles where I left a load of gels and 2 bottles of extra salty energy drink. Also an mp3 player and camera. Emma used the camera to take the shots of us on the initial loops - recovering from injury, she had chosen to run the 25k version (one lap) of the race. As if that wasn't enough to organise, they also had a Canicross race the same day; where runners are tied to a dog and dragged through the woods. You probably have to like dogs. We reckoned Lucy and Kipper would blow away the competition. Its also a shorter course - I think because the dogs have more sense.
The hat was sun protection rather than a fashion statement.At the start I realised I stood the best chance of a terrible race if I followed my usual form and hared off as fast as possible. So for a change I relaxed and chatted to Ian - reflecting it would be the last time for a good long while that we would be feeling chipper and strong. Keeping half an eye on the lead pack I picked up the pace and ran alongside a guy who turned out to be Stephen Wells. More experienced in ultras than myself, we got chatting (I never chat in races!) and I found his times over marathons were similar to my own. At 5k he checked his watch (21.35) and declared we were going too fast. The first part of the course is downhill though, and I was really enjoying the scenery and the relaxed pace. There were markers every 5k you couldn't miss. I think it was near the 10k (22.56 for the second 5) a couple of younger lads went past and I thought perhaps it was time to raise the game. I knew I was amongst the top 10 and suspected after I overtook the lads then later a guy in a red vest, that I might have moved into third. However it's a long day out and I didn't push hard to begin with. In fact the course, the scenery, the wildlife and the weather were all making my heart soar and I felt euphoric. I didn't even have to run at a pace that felt uncomfortable. I began to see the point in ultras. This was good. It had always escaped me why folk would want to run beyond a marathon - the last five miles were always about four miles too much and I would run in a terrible style. This however might be the answer. The trails were mostly grass and dirt and gravel - we crossed a couple of tarmac roads but apart from the constant roller coaster course which would eventually take its toll, this was ideal running.
A rare tarmac crossing and the red vest close behind...
Mary and one of the many arrow markers that kept even tired brains on the right trackI knew from helping mark the route we would pass the Yurt Aid Station 3 times before moving onto the next level of this sunny video game. The Aid Stations were equipped with all manner of things to keep you going. Volunteers, who would heartily congratulate you, water, Gatorade, fruits and sweets (still never had a Gummy Bear) and even, should you require it, a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich. Much later I met a competitor who got as far as biting into and chewing a sandwich but couldn't manage the swallow. During the race I had an entire relationship with Gatorade; beginning, middle, end. First cup - we meet across a crowded table, mmm delicious. Next cup the romance blossoms, I love this stuff. Several stations later and I am straying on to cups of water, and the citrus flavour (is that lemon?) is less appealing. Towards the end I was shoving it down as a necessary evil not much more pleasant than the bottles at the drop. I had been worried about cramp from loss of electrolytes so made up 2 bottles and added a pinch or 2 of salt to the first and a handful to the second. They also contained sports drink but they tasted pretty foul. After the first lap I had 2 gels and a big salty scoof of electrolyte heavy. That was all I could manage. However I was still having such a glorious time that I didn't even contemplate the mp3 player. Shortly after I saw the red vest again and decided to up the pace - thinking that if I could get far enough away from him I could discourage a challenge. I was feeling good as I set off round the second lap. I was also 3 minutes ahead of the 2 hour mark when the 25k-ers would be started so I knew there would be a flurry of activity soon. I had been running alone for some time. Because the course meandered (just look at that map) you would see and hear others through the trees - occasionally someone being dragged by a dog - so it wasn't lonely. I counted the Yurt once, twice, three times and wondered by how much my pace was dropping. At some point the first gang of 25k-ers past. I had looked over my shoulder to see three dudes coming and they shouted that they would go round me. I was going to shout back you have to catch me first, but they caught me first. From then on a steady stream went by. I checked numbers (50k-ers had red numbers 25k-ers white.) I would get overtaken on up-hills then try and retake the place (all be it I was 15+ miles ahead) on the downhill or flat. It bouyed me up but I did wonder if there was a red vest on the way. There was and it went past in the last 5k. By this time I had passed into a twilight zone of salty lemony treelined dirt-tracked otherness, somewhere between heaven and hell, but not so much it wasn't a disappointment to be passed. I told myself the race wasn't over and kept the pace as solid as possible but Steve Fluet showed his experience and crossed the line a minute and a half ahead. The last 5 miles were tough but I didn't stiffen up as much as I always do in marathons which made me think I had found my medium. The last few hundred metres of the course were a real joy. Emma had also overtaken me during the final lap, going on to set the women's record for the 25k, (a great return to form) and now came back to cheer me on out the last field across the road (thank you marshals) and through the trail that opens out onto a cheering cowbell-filled field where I hurpled across the line some 4hrs 9mins after starting. Fourth place.
The 4 images above were taken by Sara Demer, wife of Trail Monster James.
Mary goes head to head with the local wildlifeI had to sit down for a bit so missed Stephen Wells coming in just behind me. I then took a long very slow walk to the showers. By the time I got back to the finish Mary was crossing the line and Ian and his Trail Monster buddies were chewing the fat. We zombied around for a while enjoying the BBQ and free beers (very good recovery medicine) and chatting to fellow competitors. Mary did 5hrs 5mins and was pleased with her first ultra. She had about 8 gels, no salty drink, and a similar experience with the Gatorade. One near disaster occured when she left the portaloo (English for portapotty) and started down the trail in the wrong direction. A quick-witted marshal realised her error and turned her round.
Later at the awards presentation I was delighted to receive the first in age group trophy designed and built by Ian and framed by Eric's dad Ron - a trail shoe imprint with a metal plaque in the corner. Well worth making space in the suitcase for. Mary also got an agegroup award but after scrutinising the results it was found that they had missed the first lady in that category so she came second in her age and 6th female overall.
I loved this race - perhaps a combination of really good weather and marvellous course along with a very tight crew running such an ambitious event. It all adds up to the best race I've ever done. We had to travel 3,500 miles to get there but it was worth it. Outstanding.
Report Peter Buchanan
Photos Peter, Mary, Emma, Sara etc.
Ian and his Jeep - and yes that is an Inov8 logo tattoo.Pineland Farms Website (incl. route map and results) here
more to follow (including running drunk at The Beast Run...)
