Subject: Dan Rossi 50 miler (late but oh well) From: Joan Date: Tue, 14 Dec 2004 11:33:28 -0800 (PST) To: ultra@listserv.dartmouth.edu The Dan Rossi 50/100 takes place by Atwood lake, in east-central Ohio. It is about a 45-60 minute drive to Canton, home of the Pro football hall of fame. The night before the race there was a nice pre-race banquet w/ good spaghetti, salad, drinks, and dessert. I had that and a sandwich 2 hours later and went to bed early. The day before coming to the race I had gotten a manicure w/ a cool fingernail polish (I rarely get them). The race is a small affair. The race director personally called me and asked if I'd like anything special at the aid stations. It was so nice being a person rather than just another bib # at so many other races (not that that can be helped). I also liked the small field size and don't mind running alone. Even w/ the small field size, since it's a loop course you're never totally alone. I was glad I had elected to run this rather than the Mountain Masochist. The race course is run mostly on the bike path on the side of Ohio route 542. Route 542 is a double yellow lined highway where traffic moves fast, though luckily the road is not that busy. (Few race site pics at: http://www.danrossi100.org/images/index.html ) When crossing the highway, usually the wait for cars/trucks to pass was minimal. The course is essentially a ~9 mile long oval, with 2 aid stations on spurs off the center of each "straightaway", on opposite sides of route 542. There are 2 spurs on each loop, to get to the two aid stations. One spur is maybe ~75 yards or so up a sloped parking lot to the one aid station, and the second spur goes off a minor service road w/ a slight uphill for about 100 yards, and then down a small hill, ending at the door of a cabin - where the second aid station is set up. The start and finish is at the top of the parking lot, by the first aid station. Each time one runs to the first aid station, one runs by the cars - where you can conveniently put whatever aid of your own you might want. 50-mile runners run down this small hill, and then turn left to the first turnaround, cross 542, and run back on the other side of 542. Then 50-mile runners cross 542 again in the center of the loop, and return to aid station 1. After this, the 50-milers run down the parking lot and turn left again, run up 542, cross 542 at the turnaround, and turn left into the spur to aid station 2 and continue for another out and back in the other direction on 542. At the end of this out and back the runner is back at aid station 1. Essentially, the 50-milers run 1 half loop, and then 5 full loops. The course passes by Atwood Lake and a few businesses and residences. It features rolling hills, with the hills on the 2nd part of the oval being harder (in my opinion). The race started at 7a.m., and it was chilly but nice, 38F and windy. I had on shorts, a short sleeved top, and a long sleeve top on top of that. I didn't carry any water, but had a bottle at the car I'd be passing in case I changed my mind. I started running easy, right behind the male leader and eventual winner. He started relatively slowly for the first mile or so; I was not going out all that fast. After 1.5 miles or so, he started pulling away and I let him go. I was running at my own pace. Somewhere near the first turnaround, I ran with Wayne Vereb and Jim Harris for awhile, both of whom I had meet at the pasta dinner the night before. We stayed more or less together for the next loop and a half. Sometimes we'd get a little separated at an aid station or hill, but then the others would catch up. Wayne told me the one mile was 8:05. The course does not have mile markers, but the highway has milepost signs, so for a lot of the race you can time your miles. For the first 25 miles, whenever I checked my mile time was approximately 8:20-8:30. I only timed about 1 out of 5 miles, maybe less. I walked infrequently for 30 seconds or so up hills, and stopped long enough at aid stations to down some calories. The aid stations were well stocked w/ Coke, Gatorade, Mountain Dew, all sorts of fresh baked goods, potatoes, potato chips, gels, hot chocolate, soup, sandwiches and I forget what else. I never took anything other than the drinks, one cookie, and potato chips. I got most of my calories from drinks and 2 powerbars I brought. My stomach gets weird at these things. The aid station volunteers were all very helpful and friendly. I took off the long-sleeve shirt after the first 1.5 loops and left it at the car. The temps would rise to 50-55F,so I wouldn't need it. Around mile 15 or so, Jim and Wayne pulled ahead of me, where they remained a pretty constant distance ahead for awhile. I was not worried, content to run my own race. I passed approximately the 1/2-way point in 3:33, approximately the marathon in 3:43, and approximately the 50K in 4:27. Around and around, and around I went. My stomach was feeling more and more iffy but nowhere near nauseous yet. I had my walkman and MP3 player, and enjoyed all sorts of dance music, some rap, and a little Bruce Springsteen... ..."My tires were slashed and I almost crashed but the Lord had mercy My machine she's a dud, I'm stuck in the mud somewhere in the swamps of Jersey" Near the first turnaround of loop 4, I passed Wayne and Jim. Wayne joked not to call him a weenie for passing him, and I said don't call me one when you pass me back. I felt great through the 4th loop and did almost no walking. My ultimate goal that day was to finish in less than 8 hours, and when i realized this would most likely happen, I was ecstatic. The 5th loop was tricky. The first out and back went OK, but on the second out-and back I started falling apart. This is where the eventual female winner Sharon Hathaway passed me. I started having breathing problems (asthma). I walked more of the uphills to try to maintain somewhat decent breathing. I kept my spirits pretty good b/c the sub-8 was still there. At the last mile, I completely couldn't breathe and stood with my hands on my knees for 30 seconds or so at one point. At the last mile, I was fortunate enough to run with Steve Godale, who was there crewing Wayne and Bill. I ran up the last small hill up the parking lot to the finish - which I crossed 7:32:35 from when I started. I was 2nd female, 3rd overall, including the men. A huge PR (previous best 8:24). A great redemption after WS100, which was more a survival fest than a race. Pretty amazing too considering in h.s. I was told I could never run well. I ran faster for 50 miles than I could run 1 mi in 8th grade! After the race I shook the race director's (Ruta Mazelis) hand, received a very nice print for finishing, signed by the artist. I saw Jim and Wayne finish, talked to both of them a bit as well as Steve Godale, and then left to shower and visit my grandpa, who lives in Canton. joan