IAU Trail World Champs

IAU Trail World Champs

29 Oct, 2016

Leading up to the race…  I had a solid summer of training but it slowly derailed as the race approached.  I started September off with a sinus infection which entailed a 5 day dose of antibiotics.  I followed that up with a throat infection that entailed a 10 day dose of antibiotics.  All of the antibiotics killed the good bacteria in my stomach which lead to a progressive case of C. Diff (diagnosed the Monday of race week).  The C.Diff. lead to another 10 day round of yet another antibiotic.  One could say that I had a nice long taper for the race and that I went on a weight loss program that put me down 6 pounds (not recommended).

Having a diagnoses and cure for my “digestive issue” started to give me a little optimism.  I gained a little more optimism when Jess and I didn’t encounter and delays or turbulence during our flights from Green Bay to Portugal.  I gained even more optimism as the week progressed and my meds started to do their thing and as running felt great (and I didn’t have to visit any trees during said runs).  I was enjoying the trip, the team commodity, the wonderful scenery and all of the pre-race hype.

Race Day… The race started off great.  The first 800m of the race traversed over flat paved street.  I got out nice and controlled and settled into the top 50 some place.  Shortly after 800m we turned off of the paved road onto a logging road and started a 2,000ft climb over the next two miles.  This climb felt amazing (all the maxed incline treadmill workouts paid dividends) and I found myself gradually moving up through the pack into the top 20.

The climb was followed by a technical descent where I struggled to hold my own, playing it safe and not busting my sh!t (Europeans have no fear when it comes to running technical descents in the dark) . When the descent terrain was more runnable, per say logging roads, I ate up a ton of ground on the lead pack and actually took the lead.  There were a few more ups and downs along the way before we came to the first city along the course that had a nice downhill stretch into our first water stop.  I built a 20 second lead going through the stop that was short lived as the Spanish crew team lead me down the wrong road.  After backtracking and finding the proper route I lost about 30seconds and 20 places.  None the less it was a small mishap; I was back on course and was still feeling great.

I jockeyed back and forth over the next couple miles.  I had been taking fluids, had a couple of gels and was feeling great.  I hit the first aide station and I found myself in11^th place.  I restocked on supplies and made short time in getting back on the course.  Coming out of aide station 1 we had another nice long climb, it was up this climb that things slowly started to go south.  I tried taking a gel and my stomach was having nothing to do with it.  I tried taking some sugar candy and my stomach had nothing to do with that as well.  I forged on trying to stay optimistic. 

My optimism took another hit when I ran out of fluids shortly after starting the climb to the highest point on the course (this seemed to be a common issue with lots of folks at this point in the course).  Considering temps were 15-20 degrees hotter than usual things were not looking good.  Half way up the climb teammate Alex strolled on by.  Shortly before the top of the hill teammate Mario caught me pulled me along until the next water stop.  I filled up with water and was able to stomach a handful of potato chip.  Mario and I ran the next mile together on the gravel road until we dropped off onto the trail down into the valley, from here on out every step turned into a struggle.  I crawled my way into aide station 2 as the 3^rd US guy behind Alex and Mario and had no word on how Jared was fairing behind me.  Needed 3 to score a team I continued on through the hell that was my race aiming for the final aide station at mile 44.

The tortilla wrap I was able to stomach at the aid station helped make the next 5k or so to the next water stop a little less miserable.  The following 10k or so to the next aide station covering the last big climb of the race brought back the full misery.  My body was trashed and I didn’t have a drop of energy left in me.  Jared passed me half way up the big climb and it was my final dagger.  I crawled/stumbled my way to the final aide station and I called it a day.  The remaining 9 miles were “all downhill” but there was no way I was going to make it to the finish line.  I was done, physically and mentally.  Jared, Alex and Mario all struggled on to rich the finish line (Corrine on the women’s side as well) to bring team USA a disappointing 15^th place finish after last year’s runner up performance.

Post Race… Jess and I explored Portugal for a couple of days and then headed home to our much missed girls and pups.  I was planning on heading out to San Fran to run TNF 50 but have decided to scratch that off of the calendar and call it a season.  It’s time to get healthy and take some time off.

Next up, in terms of ultras, is most likely going to be Chuckanut 50K in March in hopes of making the Trail World Team to complete in Italy of June 2017.  The outcome of Chuckanut will determine the route the rest of the 2017 schedule will follow.

Cayuga Trails 50 Mile: US 50 Mile Trail National Championship

Cayuga Trails 50 Mile: US 50 Mile Trail National Championship

June 4^th, 2016

Weather conditions on race day were predicted to get hot with temps starting around 60 and reaching the low 80s.  That being said, my plan of attack was to be aggressive early (some Zach Miller style racing) and settle in as the temps climbed.  Being familiar with my competition, I know that Jared and Dylan are good climbers and can finish strong and Matt is a really consistent runner.  Getting a gap on my competition early I figured would give me my best chances of pulling off the victory.  A victory would give me one of the four auto spots on the US Trail team to compete at the world championship race in Geres, Portugal on October 29th.

Race Morning:

I woke up around 4:30, ate a couple USANA peanut butter bars, did a little race imagery and Jess and I headed off to the race.   At 6am the Ram Horn blew and we were off!!!  800 meters into the race I found myself all alone.  I felt super comfortable and relaxed.  At this point I started to push the throttle and let it rip.  I flew through the next portions of the course, feeling as if I was one with the trail. 

I’m now a quarter of the way into the race, I’m still feeling great and I’ve built a comfortable lead.  I make my way up the stairs of Buttermilk falls and take in some of the scenery.  At the top of the falls my legs are still feeling great and I press on.   I keep thinking to myself today is either going to be the day when everything clicks and goes great or I’m going to have an epic meltdown in the later portions of the race.  I must have been doing a little bit too much thinking because the next thing I knew I was flying through the air and then eating some dirt.  Some tree root wanted to be the funny guy… not so funny to me.   A couple expletives later and I was back on my feet.  I scraped up a hand, knee and had some pretty bad hot spots in my right leg.  After tweaking my hamstring last year and fading to 3^rd I was now beginning to worry. I fueled up at the next aide station and a mile or so later the hot spots worked themselves out and I was back to feeling good both physically and mentally.  

Photo Credit: Richard Bolt

I hit the half way point in 3:05, take a split on my watch and head back out for round two.  A mile later I encounter the chase pack of Jared and Dylan.  I check my watch and I’ve got a 13 minute lead, not long after I cross paths with Matt as well.  Would 13 minutes be enough of a lead with the heat settling in, the fast start and a group of strong runners on the chase?  I told myself yes and continued to forge on.

At the mile 32 aide station Jess greeted me with a buff stuffed with ice which.  Shortly after the aide station I did a little splashing around in the creek crossing.  The combination of the ice any water had me feeling refreshed.  I make the stroll up Lick Brook, make my way through upper Buttermilk falls and I push the pace on the descent into lower Buttermilk falls.  That’s when I come across funny guy tree root #2.  I once again hit the ground hard.  I get a little road rash and mess something up in my hand, luckily a not a leg.  Not as many expletives this time and I’m on my way.

I’m now ¾ of the way through the race and I’m starting to feel a bit drained.  I work on keeping my focus forward and try not to worry about my chasers.  I use the lap traffic to pull me along, leap frogging from one runner to the next.  I splash around in another creek crossing at mile 42.  I grab some fuel and ice at mile 43 aide station and continue on. Shortly after the aide station my body starts putting on the brakes.  I slow to a walk.  As I come to a little hill I find myself unable to even walk.  I stop fuel up and I lay down for a couple of minute.  A couple of runners check in with me as the go past and I ensure them that I’ll be fine.  I ask myself how bad do you want it?  How much do you want to make the world team?  How bad do you want to win this race?  I take a deep breath and get back to my feet. I find my body happy with the short rest and I am able to carry on.

I make the final climb up Lucifer’s stairs and I have 3 miles of downhill to the finish.  With a little under a mile to go Jess yells at me that I can get the course record of 6:47 held by Sage Canaday.  I pick up the pace and push it through the finish.  My 13 minute lead at the half way point was enough.  I get the victory, earn my spot on the US world trail team and I set the course record.

Photo Credit: Richard Bolt

Huge Thank You to Ian Golden for putting on an amazing event and the volunteers that help make it happen.  Between the outstanding race direction, competition, scenery and camaraderie, this race has become one of my favorites and I’ve already penned into my 2017 race schedule.

Another huge Thank You to my wonderful wife Jessica and her awesome crewing skills, I couldn’t have done it without you.  As well as to my sponsor USANA for providing me with supplements for everyday health, tasty snacks and great recovery shakes.

Results: 

Congratulations to everyone that finished and a big high five to those who made the top ten.

Cayuga Trails 50 Mile Results

Top of Form

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Place	Name	Age	Distance	Time
1	Tyler Sigl	30	50.40	06:43:41
2	Jared Burdick	29	50.40	06:55:05
3	Matthew Flaherty	30	50.40	07:06:19
4	Dylan Bowman	30	50.40	07:12:15
5	Robert Bond	27	50.40	07:22:31
6	Ben Nephew	40	50.40	07:40:28
7	Brian Rusiecki	37	50.40	07:40:35
8	Aaron Saft	38	50.40	07:47:35
9	Jan Wellford	34	50.40	07:50:02
10	Silas Carey	28	50.40	07:53:16

Door County Half Marathon

Door County Half Marathon

May 7^th, 2016

On the 7th the whole family made the trek up to Door County for the Door County Half Marathon.  Jess made her race debut post baby #2, I was looking to knock some rust off before the Ice Age Trail 50 Mile race the following weekend and our parents came along to watch the girls and cheer us on.  My plan was to win the race, be conservative and possible snatch a course record. 

The hour and a half trip up to Peninsula State park was uneventful.  I picked up our packets, Jess and I went on our warm-up and we met back up with the family in the staging area which is about a quarter of a mile from the start.  I went off to use the restroom, came back to our meeting spot and the family was gone!!! It is now 15 minutes before the race.  There are 2500 racers and  hundreds of spectators on a 12 foot wide road that is wooded on both sides between me and the start line. My parents have my jersey and are somewhere in the masses.  I dodge the trees and scramble to the start line in hopes that Jess is waiting there with my jersey, she is waiting there but she is not holding a jersey.  We both scramble back through the woods going our own direction.  I get to the end of masses and I still haven’t found my parents.  I ask a random person to use their phone and call my parents; Jess found them and is back at the start with my jersey.  As I start to sprint back to the start line I bump into my father in-law, I give him my warm-ups and continue on.  I meet Jess, get my jersey and try to settle my nerves.

BANG! The gun goes off.  Knowing I’m on an adrenaline rush from the jersey fiasco I focus on staying calm and relaxed.  I hit the 1^st mile in 5:30 and I’m all by myself.  I continue to stay calm and relaxed and stroll through the rolling hills of Peninsula State park clipping off miles between 5:10 and 5:30 pace, never letting the pace feel laboring.  I break the tape in 1:10:02. Mission accomplished.

After some high fives and congratulations I back track the course to find Jess.  I get to around the 11 mile mark and there she is.  I encourage her on through her struggles of the last couple of mile.  Nearing the finish line she picks up our daughter Audrey and they cross the line together.  It wasn’t the race she was hoping for but it was a good for a comeback race none the less.

All in all it was a great race, even with the jersey fiasco at the start.  I got a nice gift basket for the win, it was a scenic course, the volunteers were great and the race was very well put on.  You can plan on seeing me at this race again in the years to come.

Ice Age Trail 50 Mile

Ice Age Trail 50 Mile
May 14th, 2016

Ice Age Trail 50 wasn't initially on my race schedule; however, i was asked to run the race.  With it being the 35th anniversary of the race and a $5000 bonus for a course record and $200 for age group records, I decided to take part.  Max King set the course record and my age group record in 2014 with the insane time of 5:41:07.  Two years ago I ran just under 5:28 at TNF-WI which is on the trails just north of IAT50 so I figured on a good day I'd have a shot at the record.

The race started off great.  In the first 9 mile loop I was clipping off miles well ahead of record pace and the race was feeling almost too good.  On the next out and back loop, things continued to go well and I felt great.  At the 30.5 mile aide station Jess said that I was ~5 minutes under course record pace (I made a cheat sheet for her that had what time I had to be at each aide station for the record... yes I'm a runner nerd sometimes).  Mile 33 I had a little rough patch where I got light headed.  My legs felt great, I just got starry vision so I backed off a little bit and it clear up.  Fast forward 3 miles and the same thing happened.  This time I had to walk for almost 3 miles before I felt comfortable enough to run without fear of passing out.  At this point the 5 plus minutes I was under CR pace was wiped out and I was actually well behind pace to even make it up in the last 10 or so miles.  That being said I jogged it into the 40 mile aide station and called it a day (best aide station I've ever been to which was put on by Flatlander ultrarunners... they had beer, shots, music, dance party, cold pizza, etc).

                       
Unfortunately this was not the first time I experienced  lightheadedness in a 50 mile race. At Fall 50 last year in Door County, I had the same thing happen around 30 miles as well. Both races I was taking plenty of fluids and nutrition.  Both races my legs felt fine and I was injury free.  Looks like I need to experiment with some different electolye mixes, sugar mixes and race fueling.

All in all, I'm new at this ultra stuff yet and will take these races as learning experiences to improve for the future. I finally have my injuries in check and I am developing specific strength in order for this mid-western guy to compete with the best on the mountains (thanks to my PT wife)! The first electrolyte mix that I am going to experiment with is Tailwind Nutrition. I will have to find something else with higher natural sugar and good absorption in order to prevent glucose depletion between 30-40 miles. 

I did have good success with my new FITS socks, which provided just enough cushion and moisture wicking to prevent blisters from forming! Definitely my new favorite sock! Plus they are made in the USA!

Next up US 50 mile trail champs at Cayuga Trails in Ithaca, NY on June 4th.  The race has a solid list runners, can't wait for the fun.