Race Report: Jack Bristol Lake Waramaug Ultra Marathons

Guess what! I figured out what that weird acronym in the email subject I received stands for! Jack Bristol Lake Waramaug Ultra Marathons.  Or something close to that.


Some general race info: I registered for this race in February or March, when I realized I had a conflict on the day of the NJ Trail Festival.  I checked out marathonguide for nearby 50ks on weekends I was available (rapidly dwindling...), and found JBLWUM in Kent, Connecticut.  Lake Waramaug State Park is actually in three adjacent cities in Connecticut, but Kent was the only one I'd heard of.  The race offers three ultra distances run simultaneously: 50km, 50 miles, and 100km, with each race consisting of increasing numbers of loops around the lake, each of which is 7.6 miles.  The 50k cost $55, and all races ended up selling out by early April, so get in early if you're interested.  And you should be!

The course is breathtaking: paved, with minimal traffic, around a picturesque lake, with gorgeous real estate, and some cows that add to the "rural Connecticut" feel but don't even smell!  The website describes the course as "rolling," and I was a little apprehensive, since I couldn't find an elevation chart on the website, but that description is generous.   Here's the elevation chart from my Garmin:

I don't think that's 100% accurate, since the course was 3 loops with a bit tacked on at the beginning and end, and I don't see three repeated segments, but it's close enough.  The undulations were minimal.  Though it was 3 loops, each was long enough so that a) you didn't get bored - a big fear of mine, since at the Knickerbocker 60k I stayed sane over so many loops only because I had friends join me for each of them, and b) you weren't lapping or getting lapped by the same people over and over, which can be discouraging.  It was sort of weird to be running with 50 milers and 100 kmers, because it made it difficult to gauge whether or not you were running at an appropriate pace, especially for someone like me who was running her first 50k; obviously I was hauling ass a lot sooner than someone who was running twice as long as me.  But it was fun to chat with other runners and learn about their ultra careers, and every participant I encountered was more than happy to do so.  


One of the only marks against this race is that it's not very easy to get to.  I went out to Connecticut on Saturday afternoon and spent the night at my parents', and still had to be out the door by 5:15am to get to the park with time to pick up my bib and do whatever it is we pretend to be doing when really we're all just milling about the start area.  In addition to being far from any major city (even Danbury, which is only a major city by Connecticut standards), the park is also only accessible by local roads; my drive was 48 miles, and only 4 of them were on a US Interstate.  It's really hard to read directions and street signs when it's still dark out.


That said, once you get there, parking is a breeze; I pulled into the State Park lot at 6:45am, easily found a spot, had access to running water and flushing toilets in the park facilities, and was a 3 minute walk to the start area.  I waited in line for approximately 15 seconds to get my chip, bib, and race t-shirt.  There was a tented bag drop at the start/finish, so runners had access to whatever of their own stuff they needed, in addition to everything offered at each of the four aid stations.  


And I mean everything.  Water, Gatorade, Coke, ginger ale, Goldfish, Saltines, cookies, jelly beans, pretzels, oranges, bananas, chicken soup, eggs, bacon... and that's just what I spied or was offered.  Volunteers were over-the-top helpful; I had barely pulled into one aid station before someone was taking my handheld to fill it up and checking to see what else they could feed me or give me.  Aid stations were about every 2.5 miles, and while I did run with both my own fuel (2 Gus) and liquid (Nathan handheld), you could certainly run this race relying only on aid station support.


Even the race director, Carl, was super hands-on.  During the first loop, he drove passed the runners and at each of us, he stopped and said "How's it going out here?  Everything okay so far?"  Though to be honest, I had a soft spot for him already because he has the same name as my Garmin. 


About my race: As for my own personal race experience, it was a terrific one.  Not just because I performed well (though, duh, I did), but I really enjoyed myself as well.  I had no time goal in mind, this being my first 50k, but did want to feel like I was putting my Boston training to good use and run a hard effort.  While not nearly as challenging a course as Boston, this was, obviously, 5 miles longer.  


The first portion of the course is a 2.2 mile out-and-back, and after Mary introduced herself to me at the start area, we set off together.  We exchanged war stories about races and post-race antics, and ran at a comfortable pace.  I kept my jacket on for this portion, because it was still early, but by the time we headed back towards the start/finish area, I was ready to ditch it.


Mary and I drifted apart after the out-and-back, and I continued greeting the other runners as I approached.  Unfortunately, I never did find someone to latch on to and run with for any substantial distance, but it was still nice to exchange "Good morning!"s and "Looking great!"s with everyone I passed.  I was feeling good clicking off sub-8 minute splits, so I decided for that first full loop, I'd aim to keep all my miles sub-8:00, and gradually slow down with each loop.  Because positive splitting is definitely what most people plan to accomplish during a race...  As I came through the start/finish area, I was informed I was the second woman.  Well hooray!  Only 27 miles to go...

I had everything I needed with me for that first loop, so didn't stop at any of the four aid stations, but all the volunteers were super friendly, and I promised I'd see them again.  The first station (Monkey Station) was staffed by girls in leis and coconut bras.  The second was in a parking lot that also housed a hot dog and pulled pork truck, and I'm not sure if the two were related. The third station was staffed by one man who'd erected a sign listing "Marathon Legends Running Today."  He'd written about a dozen names, and how many marathons and ultras they'd run.  All were upwards of 200.  I told him I had some catching up to do.  The fourth station was at the start finish area, where all of the spectators were stationed (and there were actually quite a few), so it was always nice to hear some cheers.


I was a little slower than intended on that first full loop, averaging an 8:03 pace.  As I set out for my second loop, I decided I'd try to keep all my mile splits sub-8:15.  Once again, I breezed by Monkey Station without stopping, but when I got to the parking lot station, my handheld was refilled, I grabbed a cup of Gatorade, and was offered bacon and eggs, which I politely declined on account of having 15 more miles to run.


The stretch between the parking lot station and the Legends station was the main road, outside the state park, and because it wasn't protected, it was very windy.  I stuck with a long sleeved top and gloves, and was glad to have both.  I kept plugging away, chatting to some fellows who were doing the 100k, and counted down my miles.  I passed a few women in this stretch, but having had no idea what race they were running and what position I was in, I tried not to get greedy and just focus on running my own race.  I finished loop 2 averaging 8:09/mile.


For the third and final full loop, I was aiming for sub-8:30 splits, and could break the remaining mileage down into distance to 26.2 and then the five miles after that.  I grabbed Gatorade at the start line aid station and forged ahead, beginning to feel a little tired.  Gatorade at Monkey Station, pretzel rods at the parking lot, an orange at the Legends station... I was trying to take in some calories whenever I could without eating anything I wasn't sure would sit with me.  I had no idea where I stood in the rankings, but was pleased with my splits thus far and didn't want to blow it with stomach pains. Or full on pooping my pants.  


I came across the "26.2 miles" spray painted onto the sidewalk in 3:34.  Let's talk about that for a minute.  A Boston qualifying time in its own right, that's 16 minutes faster than I actually ran Boston.  Eff weather. 


Moving on, I had just 5 miles to go.  I was tired.  But as I do in every race, I was calculating how much I could slow down and still run certain times. "If I slow down to 9 minute miles, I could still run 4:25.  If I slow down to 10 minute miles, I could still run sub 4:30."  Again, while I hadn't gone into the race with a time goal in mind, now that I'd come this far, I wanted to set one, and then exceed it.  


I came through the start/finish having averaged 8:26/mile for loop 3, and then had to head to Monkey Station and back one more time.  With about 4 miles to go, the leader passed me going in the other direction.  He looked like he was flying.  I gave him a clap and a whoop and didn't see anyone coming behind him for miles.  Dude killed it.


With 3 miles to go, my left hamstring got very tight and started affecting my gait.  The only other time this has happened was with about a mile to go during the Smuttynose Marathon.  A mile was survivable, but I was concerned about doing serious damage by limping for 3 miles.  I spent about another mile considering what would happen if my leg suddenly just broke off out here in the middle of nowhere.  But I got distracted from thinking about that when runners 2, 3, and 4 cruised down the hill in front of me and blew by headed for the finish.  And one of them was a woman!  Damn her!  But with a 2 mile lead on me, there was no way to catch her.  Fine, I thought, then I sure as hell better finish as the second woman.


I passed Monkey Station for the last time, hit the turnaround, and pointed back towards the finish.  Naturally, this seemed like an interminable distance.  And there were a good number of people around me that I wanted desperately to stave off.  A friendly guy named Kurt started talking to me just after the turnaround, and we ran together for a few.  But when he reminded me "yeah we're about the 5th and 6th overall," I was like "you mean you're the 6th overall," and laid down the hammer.  Only I didn't say that, because ultra runners are super friendly and non-competitive.  But I thought it.  I pulled ahead of Kurt and gave it one last push.  I crossed the line 5th overall, 2nd woman (only 13 in the field...), with a time of 4:17:32, 8:17 average pace.  


That's 5 minutes faster than my first marathon time.


And Kurt was indeed 6th overall.

Also, the next woman was like an hour and 15 minutes behind me, so there wasn't tremendous need for me to gun it on the homestretch, but one never knows.

Post race, Carl (the race director, not my Garmin) once again checked on me, making sure I was okay, handing me my medal, and telling me where I could find food and anything else I needed.  I shook his hand and thanked him for a great race.  And it really was.  Beautiful day, scenic course, friendly people.  And hot dogs!

Sorry I ate most of it before I took this.  Also, sorry that there were like 4 pictures in this post and one is a mostly-eaten hot dog.  I didn't carry my phone on me to take pictures on account of it being a race.  Deal.


Oh also, deal with this.

Because I have to.


So anyway, did I like this race?  For sure.  As I mentioned, I borderline overdosed on endorphins on Sunday.  Exhibit A.

And so modest!


But provided you have a way to get out there, I would recommend this 50k to anyone.  My ultra experience is obviously severely limited, but this was exactly what I was hoping for: laid-back people enjoying themselves while spending a few hours in the woods.  Though I didn't know anyone, I hung around after the race for almost an hour, talking to other runners and their families and the volunteers because I was enjoying myself so much.  I am significantly more sore than I am after marathons, but I don't care.  That's what beer is for.


I AM GOOD AT ALL THE THINGS!