Oh, another Ultra? And a bunch of my friends are running it? And I don't have to drive 6 hours, camp out and run/finish/drive home the next morning? Well then! Take my money!
I heard about this race, a new ultra concocted by badass distance runner Amy R. and her team, after I'd committed to the World's End 100k (still on my list of to-do races, seriously, it looks incredible!). I knew a couple of my friends were signed up for Chesterfield, but I still was planning on driving to PA, setting up camp and running out there...until...a bunch more people I knew signed up! Now I was into a true tug-o-war in my head about what to do. So I thought about it for a couple days, then canceled WE (there was a waitlist, so I made somebody's day!) and signed up for CG.
I'd made plans to drive up to Northampton, MA with Faith, drop her at her hotel with Laura and MJ, and meet later for dinner in town. John P. was driving up after his fishing boat docked, and he was able to meet us for dinner at an awesome restaurant in town, Fitzwilly's, where we all talked shop and figured out our game plans for the morning.
John stayed at my place, and we headed down to the race start in the a.m. for a warm (and getting warmer) pre-race briefing. I ran into a number of folks I knew, including Claire G., who was ready to rock the 50-miler, and Maria C., who was running the 100k as a trainer for the VT100M. I was shooting for 100k as well, as was Laura, and Faith the 50m. The heat was cause for concern, but whatever...
I signed in, got my bib and inaugural pint glass (I'm a total pint glass whore. Offer me a pint glass and I'll be your puppet.), bedazzled my bib with some stick-on rubies, and shared my Deep Woods Off with a bunch of other runners. It's a jungle out there, and it bites!
First Loop: At the race start, we all went out on a downhill with the typical enthusiasm of a bunch of trail runners: fresh and chatty, going faster than we should be going, and reveling in the cover of a riverside forest which appeared to go on forever...until it didn't! Surprise! The last two miles of the out-and-back course were along the river but totally exposed, and although it was early the Sun was beating down (on my baseball hat, haha). I had started out behind JP and his posse of runners, until Maria C. and I passed them and continued on at a decent clip. I'd later be accused (by nobody in particular...hmmm) that I'd gone out too fast, but it was more of a "I felt good, Maria and I had a good pace going, and I wanted to keep the momentum" thing.
The course! Jeep trail along the river
So close!
No Parking here! It's been that way for years :)
At the end of the first out/back, Maria wanted to move her drop bag to the car, I gave her my phone to call her husband (cell service is nearly nonexistent), and I started back out, only to run back after reaching for my car key and it wasn't where it was supposed to be. Found it! Crisis averted.
Second Loop: A hotter, slower version of loop #1. I was feeling the effects of the heat, drinking lots of liquids, and still...DAMN! When I reached the exposed part of the course, I was wilting. At the turn, I doused myself in cold water, filled up with iced drinks, and cooled off as I could. I had designs on cooling off in the river, but it always seemed too far off the trail so I continued on. A runner named Tammy had been back and forth with Maria and I for hours, and we three ran together for a while around 24-28 miles until Maria finally pulled away. Tammy and I ran/walked together for a bit, and I decided that I wanted to finish at 50k, and go sit in the river. It was HOT. So at the 50k mark? I told Amy I was all set. She recorded a 50k finish for me, officially 6th place in 6:12...then Tammy decided that 50k was good as well! So we hiked down the hill and sat in the river to cool off. A great way to end the day.
A good place to chill on a hot day!
Great spot!
I brought some craft beer for RD Amy and her crew, which they cracked open immediately! I also showered off with my RinseKit, and got another set of questions about it. Yes, it's awesome!!! No, it's not hard to set up. It's the best running accessory ever, and I can say that with conviction. Really. Showering off after a soupy, sweaty summer run is PRICELESS. Believe that.
I drove home and got updates, and everyone kicked ass at every distance, including Faith at 50 miles, Laura, Maria and John at 100k, and Claire at 50 miles as the overall winner...and in fact, the ladies won every distance category at Chesterfield! Very impressive, and with very good times on a hot day.
Post-race deliciousness, in the aforementioned pint glass!
I was wicked late with this post, and I have some catching up to do!
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