Marquette Trail 50 Race Report: August 19th, 2023

The Marquette Trail 50 is one of the the Michigan ultra classics. It's one of those events most ultrarunners in the state have heard of. It's known for being a challenge with quite a bit of technical terrain. Though the raw elevation gain numbers aren't impressive, the elevation is hard-won with steep climbs that culminate in crawling and even some light bouldering. The course is one of the most scenic in the Midwest. There are 8 scenic summits, and sections along Lake Superior, the Dead River, and even Forestville Dam Falls. The race maintains relatively small numbers: 300 entries for the 50K and 150 for the 50 mile. The tight caps and the popularity of the race force a bit of a competitive registration. Registration opens on Black Friday and typically sells out within days. However, the organizers clearly relay that there are no deferrals and no entry transfers. Keep that in mind in November when signing up for an August event. 

The stairs up Sugarloaf Mountain on the counterclockwise loop, photo by Danielle Musto

Race website: https://www.marquettetrail50.com/

Registration: UltraSignup

Location:  ★★★★☆

You guys know I love the UP. It is one of my favorite parts of this country. Marquette is a fun town: big enough to not feel like you're trapped hours away from civilization, yet surrounded by huge rugged trail systems. The Norquemanon Trail Network is a system of over 80 miles of non-motorized single track stretching through the central UP. The race hub is centered in the Forestville Campground, which is only about 3 miles outside of the true "city". This is a tiny 18 site rustic campground with one pump for potable water and two pit toilets. Now, I love my rustic campgrounds. Not having shower access after a 50 mile race is a bit of a bummer. Additionally, there is not nearly enough parking available to support the number of racers and spectators. People who did not camp at the race start had to park up to 0.75 miles away from the race site, with cars lining the seasonal roads. This led to some dicey passing and a late race start. I'm glad the start was delayed to accomodate those participants still searching for parking. Even so, it was a bit frustrating to be standing at the start line with no idea how long the delay would last.  

Organization: ★★★★☆

The race is completely volunteer-organized. Usually, I take that to mean: "keep your expectations low and be nice because no one is getting a paycheck." I was pleasantly suprised. If the race organizers weren't so clear about the volunteer-run effort, I would not have known the difference. There was adequate pre-race information available on the website and in emails. The uncommon issues were addressed. It was made clear from the time of registration that transfers and deferrals were not permitted. The website was very clear about the risk of bee stings on the course. The limited parking and camping situation was disclosed. The race was generally well marked. The summits were difficult to follow on the counterclockwise direction as you had to actually start the descent to see the flags, and there were many different ways to descend. This lead to some confusion. The rest of the course was easy to follow.

Course:★★★★☆

From the race website: "The Marquette Trail 50 consists of 50-kilometer and 50-mile distances.
The course is mostly single-track, climbing the four peaks: Sugarloaf, Top-of-the-World, Bareback, and Hogback. All the peaks have views of Lake Superior, and portions of the course skirt its shoreline. Much of the trail consists of moderate to difficult terrain with some very significant climbs and technical areas.

According to Ultrarunning Magazine, the course is rated 3 out of 5 for terrain (“hilly”) and 4 out of 5 for Surface (“Trail with substantial rocks, roots and/or ruts.”)"

I loved this course. It can be broken down into 4 loops for the 50 mile. Loop 1 is a wide, non-technical mile through the cross country ski area at the NTN trailhead. This is the "rollout loop" to try to help spread out the pack before plunging into dark, technical singletrack. Loop 2 is a rocky, rooty, but generally flat 10 mile loop that heads southeast from the start and turns back around the Forestville dam. The course follows the North Country Trail back up to the campground, and this is a generally uphill trek through some gnarly ankle turners. It's technical enough to force you to focus completely on where your feet land. Loops 3 and 4 are a 20 mile loop that runs northwest from the start. They are actually the same loop, but run in opposite directions. Loop 3 is counterclockwise, and Loop 4 is clockwise. This makes it feel like two very different loops. This is where the climbing comes in. Loop 3 starts you out easy with a nice sendy descent before the first rocky bunny hill. Then, you get slapped in the face by 304 wooden stairs and some rocky climbing to summit Sugarloaf Mountain. Once you pick your way down the rocky descent, you're blessed with 6 runnable miles along the Lake Superior shoreline. Following that, you hit a small techy, rooty descent before climbing Bareback Mountain. You get an aid station at Harlow Lake to think about your life choices before the real gut kick: Top of the World, followed by the steepest, tallest and most technical climb: Hogback Mountain. It's not that technical for a true climb, but for a runner at mile 28, it takes all the brains and bravery you can spare. Both climbing and descending close to the summit consists of some bouldering. After waddling back through the start/finish at NTN, you head out clockwise. This means you're coming head-on at everyone coming in from Lap 3. Additionally, the fun sendy downhills from Lap 3 are now climbs. The technical climbs are now technical downhills. This ups that challenge level and cuts the speed. I was more than a little nervous slipping and sliding down Hogback with a row of runners climbing right towards me! It's easy to get lonely and in your head during a long race. Having to pass runners actually gave me a ton of energy. Just having someone to smile at was so much fun. All the cheers and status updates on my placement gave me energy when I was starting to feel the heat and effort. 

The con of this course: So. Many. Ground bees. I haven't been stung by a bee since I was 10 so I don't know if I'm allergic. Having someone out on the trail in anaphylactic shock would sure put a damper on the event though. 

There was quite a bit of non-race traffic on the trail later in the day. Most of the issues were from tipsy beach-goers on the Superior stretch. Not a huge deal, but something to be aware of. 

The trail of headlights through the singletrack start
Photo by Floline Media

Food: N/A

I really can't tell you what was at the aid stations. I never approached the aid station tables since I was using a liquid-only nutrition. Post-race food was provided by On the Border, which is a burrito joint in the UP. Burritos and tortilla chips were a real winner at the finish line!

The march up Hogback Mountain -- photo by Jeff Wolf Photography

To summarize: Marquette Trail 50 is a true Michigan classic, and you should definitely check it out. DON'T RUN IT IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO BEES!

My race: 

I was a little bit nervous coming into this. I knew I was on good form, my training runs have felt strong. However, I was scheduled to work swing shift the Wednesday and Thursday before race day and knew that would mess with my sleep and travel plans. I tried to trade out of the shift, but no luck. I chose to take it as a practice in focusing on the things I can control 

Race day started early at 3:30 am. Breakfast was the standard bagel and peanut butter, bottle of water, bottle of pedialyte sport, and a sugar-free monster. I started sipping on infinite go-far an hour before the race start.

Early morning start

The pre-race meeting was scheduled for 5:15, and that start was 5:30. Since there were parking issues, the pre-race meeting started closer to 5:30 and the start was delayed. I was so glad I camped at the race site so I had a stress free morning. I felt confident and calm at the start. The 50K and 50mile runners all started together. There were four waves, the first of which was the elite wave for any 50K or 50 mile runners who were vying for age-group or OA wins. The waves were self-seeded.

At the start, four men took off fast and six girls pretty much stuck together behind them. I was about #5 in the lineup around the 1 mile XC rollout loop. I shifted back to #8 coming into the single track. I didn't want to have to watch course markers in the dark. Instead, I wanted to follow the person in front of me focus on watching where I was putting my feet.  I felt sure-footed in the techy sections. Although Bandera and World's End really humbled me with the techy stuff, I feel like it's finally starting to click. 

I "sat in" and took the first 5 miles easy peasy. This is where a few more guys passed me. On some less technical descents I went around the pair I was running with. I started to cruise. I ran through the six mile aid station with one guy. He stopped to pee at mile 8 so I soloed in to the NTN trailhead aid station at mile 11, picking off several folks in the rocky NCT section. Bobby handed me a handheld with 1 scoop infinite and a fresh pack with 1 liter of water plus some snacks. It was pretty light out so I left my headlamp at that time.

I was just slowly picking off the men that had passed me and was comfortable heading through the first 4 miles of the big loop, most of which was downhill. There was a little rocky climb and then I was at the next aid station. I grabbed another handheld with 1 scoop of infinite. At that point, there were 3 women ahead of  me on course -- a 50 miler and two 50K women. The 50 mile woman had just reached the aid station when I arrived. I left the aid station just before her. I was immediately caught behind some guys who were having a harder time on the stairs up Sugarloaf. She caught up to me and we ran together across and down Sugarloaf. We chatted and ran the next 3-4 miles together. I pulled away on a flat section on the shoreline. The shoreline was my favorite section on the first big loop and my least favorite on the second. This was the longest section between aid stations: 7 miles. 

I rolled into the Harlow lake bridge aid station feeling a bit nauseous, but took on a new 1 L pack and handheld with 1 scoop go far in 14 oz water. I had only drank about 300 mL of water out of the pack. It was only 3.5 miles to the next Harlow Lake aid station but this section was a bit tougher/slower with the Bareback Mountain climb. I took on another handheld of infinite and was not enjoying it at that point. Despite the sour stomach, my legs still felt great. I could see the 2nd place 50K woman (Kate) ahead of me. She stayed in my sightline, but I was confident she was a 50K so didn't put in a dig to try to catch her. Instead, I kept my focus on trying to keep our distance even to prevent myself from overthinking the last bit of the course.

Sugarloaf Summit, photo by Floline Media

Hogback was next. It was technical with some scramble climbing to summit, then verrryyyy careful descending. This was followed by a nice little jog into forestville again.  I could see Kate this whole time. My lower intestinal tract was starting to bubble a bit. I had to hit the porta potty right before the finish line/start of the second big loop. Because the second big loop goes out clockwise instead of counterclockwise, I could see exactly how many 50 milers were ahead of me. Three men. One had just over 20 minutes on me, one had about 10 and one had 5. 

I had a fairly quick transition at this station. I changed my socks, got a new handheld with 1 scoop go far, and got a new hydration pack with 1.5 liters water. I was starting to feel the heat so grabbed some ice and shoved it into my sports bra and hat. I headed back out for the counter clockwise loop and saw I really only had about 5-7 minutes on the woman in second (Miranda). 

The second loop is harder, because all the techy climbs were now techy descents, and Hogback was the scariest of them all. Each aid station through here was a very fast transition. I did not sit down again, and took 1 handheld with a scoop of go far in it at each of the 3 aid stations. I didn't love the lakeshore section this time around, I felt like I was crawling through molasses and was happy when there was a climb so I had an excuse to walk. 

I did not look at pace or heart rate at all until 4 miles to go. I ran by feel and had my watch set so I could only view the course map. At 4 to go, I looked down and saw that I was at 8:35. I knew that the last 4 were generally uphill but only about 1 mile was techy. I knew I was on pace for CR (course record). That's when I missed a turn! Luckily I realized my error quickly and it only added a minute at most.

Photo by Danielle Musto

When I crossed the finish line, the race director was right there with the OA women's prize: An orange mud hydration vest! I can't wait to give it a try. She verified my course record and congratulated the effort. I had bettered the women's course record by 4 minutes. Queen City Running Club generously put up a cash prize for this as well. After handshakes and photos, I was only too happy to lay down for a few minutes before digging into the post-race burrito feast. 

The vibes were pretty chill, and I really enjoyed this race. This was a great experience and I loved getting to spend some time in the UP. While I like to experience different courses given my limited capacity for racing, this is a race I could absolutely see myself returning to. 

Photo by Floline Media

Nutrition: 

I took in a bottle of infinite (1 scoop of fruit punch "go far" in a 14 oz handheld) at eight of the nine aid stations. With this being a hot and relatively fast race, I didn't take in solid food. I tried a couple of pringles but was immediately regretful. Infinite tends to keep you well hydrated, and plenty of water took care of the rest. 

Gear: 

I ran the small loop with my front-loading double 20oz Nathan (pinnacle) pack. The two large loops I used my 2L back loaded Nathan (Vapor) hydration packs. At each of the aid stations, I received a 14 oz Nathan handheld for my infinite. 

I ran the entire race in the Hoka Speedgoats, and was very grateful for the little bit of extra protection afforded by those soles and toe guards during the rocky sections!

Photo by Floline Media

Recognition:

My husband Bobby Munro is the MVP who makes this all possible. He is my superstar crew, my  encouragement, my chauffeur, and my best friend. My mom once again saved my stomach by cooking up some of the best pasta salad for me to have for my pre-race meal. My coach, Erin Young, believes in me more than I believe in myself and reminds me to run bravely. My physical therapist, Dr. Joe Hsainko at Onward Grand Rapids, keeps my body strong and stable. 

I am a proud member of Team Athletic Mentors, and Ambassador for the Iceman Cometh Challenge. I don't have nutrition or gear sponsors and do not receive kickbacks for gear/nutrition, I'm just sharing what works for me!

Worlds End 100K Race Report: June 3, 2023

Last year, while running with my coach at the Ode to the Hoff, we started talking about 100k's and 100 mile races on the bucket list. She mentioned a 100K in eastern Pennsylvania that had a strict cutoff and was reportedly as hard as a 100 miler. I couldn't remember the name of the race, so I started googling 100K races that were Western States qualifiers. Worlds End popped up. The pictures showed gorgeous trails, complete with rocks, peat moss and waterfalls. I had already missed registration so I hopped onto the wait list. I got called off the wait list in early February. 

There was weirdly little in the way of 100K race reports to sift through. The race site featured some links. There were several videos/vlogs on youtube, but only a handful of blog posts. The ones that existed mostly focused on the experience of the athlete/author and didn't give the nitty gritty of the course. I now know it's because this course turns your brain into mashed potatoes. I'm going to do my best to unpack it. Buckle in for the details!

Rolling into the 10.3 mile aid station
photo credit: Jeff Kascsak

Race website: https://worldsendultra.com/

Registration: RunSignup

Location:  ★★★★☆

Four stars if you love silence. Utter, remote silence. I think I'd bump down to three stars if I stayed more than 2 nights. I cannot emphasize enough how remote Worlds End State Park is. It is a gorgeous park surrounded by the Loyalsock State Forest in Forksville, PA. Loyalsock creek cuts through the park, offering swimming, sunning, and a perfect environment for bugs.

Sidebar: I spent all day wondering what a Loyalsock is. Apparently the forest is named after Loyalsock creek? But what is a Loyalsock? Please comment if you can enlighten me. This bothered me for 14 hours.  

The venue of Worlds End was really nice. Despite being a really remote area, the park is well-equipped. There is cabin and tent camping at the venue, and plenty of RV/car camping nearby. There were a couple of pavilions rented by the race organizer and set up for race day, along with plenty of picnic tables and fire pits (not that we needed fire that day!)

There is not cell service for a solid 10-25 mile radius of the park. So, take that into consideration and print a map. I didn't. Really wish I had!

Desi enjoying Loyalsock Creek

I was a little behind on my adventure planning, so we did not get a campsite in the park. We van-camped at the Bridle Trailhead of Loyalsock State Forest, about 3 miles from the start finish. This was a pretty rustic site. There was a water pump and pit toilet, but that was it. Worlds End had bathrooms with running water, but no showers in the day-use area. The race organizers set up several portapotties by the start/finish line as well. 

Organization: ★★★☆☆

 You all know by now that I'm a stickler for organization. I ranked organization as average here for a few reasons. This was the 9th edition of this race. As an established race, I like to see a fleshed-out website with all the details. Not everyone is going to join the facebook group to be up to date on race specifics. The website was a bit sparse on details. Even now, it only has a link to the 2022 participants guide, and not the 2023. This wouldn't be an issue if the guide was provided at packet pickup, but it isn't (not complaining, I'm all for saving trees). It is the athletes responsibility to download or print it ahead of time. Not a big deal if you were in the facebook group since the link was shared there. However, I do think that if the website isn't going to have the most up-to-date information, then it should clearly state that the facebook group is the go-to site for details. I think this will change in the upcoming years as more and more athletes don't have facebook. There were only two pre-race emails, which is great for the seasoned racer, but newbies may appreciate a bit more communication.

Since I've mentioned the facebook group a few times, I should give you the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/627879393987380

However, there were a lot of good things about organization! The pre-race meeting was excellent. Most of the time, I find those meetings to be pretty unhelpful. There were a lot of details regarding marking, distance between markings, and wildlife to watch out for. Apparently black bears inhabit the Loyalsock State Forest. While I didn't see one while running, we almost hit one with the van as it plundered across the road! 

Additionally, the athlete's guide was excellent. The timeline and rules were extremely clear. Maps and driving directions to aid stations were very easy to follow.

The race director was very up-front regarding what policies were enacted by the DCNR (no alcohol, no donations in place of trail service requirement, etc) that affected the race. 

Race Packet Pickup

Finally, the race website could not be more clear regarding who should and should not sign up for the race. An excerpt: "The Worlds End 100k is a 63.8 mile single loop trail ultramarathon on 95% single-track/double-track. The course has an elevation gain of 12,395 ft with a net elevation change of 24,790 ft. We support you with 12 aid stations and challenge you with a strict 19 hour cutoff. We have a reputation as one of the toughest, most scenic trail 100k’s in the country... The difficulty of the terrain means this is NOT an entry-level race. Each potential participant will be reviewed by the race directors after we receive the completed registration."

Course:★★★★☆

Oh this course. I wish I wasn't running so I could have just stared for hours and cemeted the scenery into my brain. Absolutely incredible sights. There were loose dry sections, muddy sections, so many rocks, insane climbs, scary descents, at least 20 creek crossings, fern groves, pete moss, second-growth forests, waterfalls... literally everything my heart could desire. The trails were very tough to follow at times. There was quite a bit in the way of markings, but several areas with sharp turns either up or down ridges where the trail could have gone straight. This made it tricky to follow in many areas. You definitely could not ever "zone out". The course was absolutely savage. There was no real reprieve in the constant climbs or descents until mile 52. But, that was the point. I'll chat more about course specifics in the section on my experience below. 

Cruising past those waterfalls!
Photo credit: Pfeffer Nusse

 Food: ★★★★★

There were 12 aid stations (3 were water-only) and each was a little different based on what the volunteer team brought. The facebook group (here we go again!) was key! The volunteers posted what they planned to have at the aid stations. Honestly, these were some of the best-equipped aid stations I've seen. They had the traditional stuff: watermelon, potato chips, cookies, candy, water, and tailwind. There were a lot of fun items too, though! Pierogis, roasted potatos, vegan and veggie soups, pickles, dried mango (what a frickin winner that was at mile 35!), sandwiches... too many things to remember! The volunteers were top-notch and so much fun. Pre-race, there were plently of pancakes and coffee. I didn't partake since my stomach can be a bit fickle, but I heard some rave reviews. Post-race, there was quite the feast of pulled pork, mac and cheese, soups, chili (one of which was vegan), and some other stuff that my mashed potato brain can't recall. Five stars for food! 

Loyalsock creek

My race:

What. A. Day! 

Race started at 5 am, so it was a dark start. It was probably a pleasent 60 degrees at the start, heating up to the mid 80's during the day. I'm not totally sure on specifics since I didn't have cell service for 2 days. 

I do love a nice dark start!

I lined up at the front and went out quick. The first 0.6 mile is paved and then it’s a hard climb and I didn’t want to get stuck in the conga line. I was sitting between 12-15th position when we hit the climb and that was a really nice position for me. The 100K is capped at 175 runners, for reference.

First 4 miles were mostly climbing. The trails were incredibly rocky! The image below was part of the course (I didn't run with my phone but took pictures the day before). I definitely am not super confident running on the rocks since it’s so different from home. A few guys passed me and I tried to follow their lines. At this point I was the first female. 

Photo Credit: Matt Dayak @412matt 

After the first 4 miles, you turn and run back down the lollipop and then start going back up again. It's rock and the trail is a bit slanted. At this point, around mile 7-8, I started to realize just how different the trails are from Michigan. In Michigan, our trails are mostly man-made and it is very obvious where the trail is. Here, the trail seemed arbitrary -- no real difference from the surrounding forest. It was flagged every 0.1 mile, but you constantly had to be looking for the flags to know where to go because it was so easy to go off course. And, the "flat, runnable" sections were full of ankle turners. That's precisely what I did at mile 8 -- turn my left ankle so hard I heard some nasty pops, and I went down hard. Whoops. That would come back to bite me. My left ankle has already had a lateral stabilization surgery, and because I destabilized it so early in the race, I was rolling my ankle every half mile to mile for the rest of the day. Sometimes it hurt severely, sometimes I would fall, and sometimes it would just throw my gait off and I would swear under my breath. That gets realllllly old after 12 hours.  

Refueling: most of the aid stations were on road crossings

I held onto my leading lady position until mile 11 or 12. At that point second place female caught me. We ran together until mile 28, then split up when I took a pee break. I thought I'd catch her again but she was gone! It was fun to have a lady to run with! She was from eastern PA and much more confident than I was on the rocks and technical descents. It was very dry and loose and the lack of traction really scared me, so I tried my best to follow her lines and not fall. 

Miles 15-35 had some wicked climbs, then wicked descents. It could not have been any more beautiful though. There are a ton of birds in the Loyalsock forest and I enjoyed hearing the bird calls change throughout the day. Apparently there are rattle snakes, but I did not see any. 

I could not. Stop. Falling. I fell HARD three times between miles 15 and 35. Like, full body on the ground, knock the wind out of you falling. Every time I rolled into an aid station there was more fresh blood. Both elbows, knees, and palms were bleeding. There were deep bruises on both quads, hips and upper arms. And, my poor left ankle was already so swollen I had to loosen my shoe laces. I picked up my trekking poles at mile 35 to try to help keep me upright. Another runner's crew member gave me some ice to stuff in my sports bra, which was a lifesaver in the heat and humidity.

Rolling into the 41.6 mile aid station solo

Miles 35-50 were the worst part of the race. I was beaten down by the relentless hills, technical descents, and the “runnable” segments that weren’t actually runnable for me. Remember, you really have to watch the markers. Problem is that when I would look up at the markers, I’d trip on a rock or root and fall. By the time I hit mile 50, I had suffered around 15 big falls. I was bleeding from so many abrasions!  The heat was really ratcheting up and it was very humid with no breeze. I starting dipping my hands and splashing my face in all the creek crossings.

I was straight up just wobbling my way through those 15 miles. I was moving slower than anticipated, and I started to panic that I wasn't going to finish in the daylight. If I couldn't stay upright in the light, how on earth was I going to finish in the dark? At mile 45, the woman in 3rd place, Jill, caught up to me. She was having some stomach issues but still looked strong. We filled our waters together at the 45.7 mile unmanned station, and she offered me an ibuprofen, which I gladly accepted. I tried to stick with her but my left ankle was so weak I just could not run over anything uneven. 

One of the early sections of trail demonstrating just how rugged it could be

I was so defeated when I came into the 50 mile aid station that I just sat there and sobbed. I wanted to quit so badly. All I could choke out was that I couldn't stop falling. My ankle was throbbing, I was bruised and bleeding, and I was moving so slowly. It was a pretty epic meltdown. A hush settled over the crew teams. I was so angry watching all the locals run through the segments I was wobbling through and falling. I was panicking over the prosepct of finishing in the dark. Luckily, Bobby isn't one to indulge in my self pity. He handed me some caffeine and assured me that this was a rough patch. Someone else reiterated that I was still very much on pace to finish in the daylight. A guy who's name I didn't catch, but he had an epic beard and cool leg tattoos, asked me if I knew what the rest of the course was like. I just cried. He told me that there was a big climb ahead, a few smaller climbs, but lots of runnable stuff. "You're not gonna fall anymore!" he assured me. Honestly, just knowing that things would get better was the best thing for me mentally. I got myself together after a good sit and cry. I kept my poles and cranked out the last two big climbs. Then the trail finally got more runnable! I was clicking off the miles at a respectable pace very comfortably. When I came into the final aid station, I felt strong and confident. I left my poles at the 58.2 mile station and tried to chase down the other two ladies. I gained some time, but didn't close the gap. The last 6 miles were mostly runnable, with the nastiest, steepest, downhill that I may have partially slid down on my butt. But, it was done! I chugged back into the park to see my husband and dog cheering (ok, he was cheering, she was looking for snacks). I ended up finishing 3rd female by only 17 minutes (top two were 40 seconds apart) and 10th overall. Out of 175 racers, there were 104 finishers. I smashed my time goal of 15 hours, with a finishing time of 14:12. And, I picked myself up from arguably one of the lowest points I've experienced in a long time and closed the race strong. I've got a lot of work to do to become a more technical runner, but I am so grateful for the experience I had at Worlds End. 

To summarize: You should check this race out. But respect it. I came into it with plenty of respect for the course and I was still utterly humbled. 

Nutrition: 

I took in a bottle of infinite (1 scoop of grape- flavored women's "go far" in a 16 oz handheld) at the crew-permitted (six of the twelve) aid stations. I did have one bottle of tailwind from an aid station since I was going to be 15 miles between crew-permitted station. I drank TONS of water. Peanut butter MnM’s, Mike and Ike’s, pringles, larabars, goldfish and some date balls were the snacks I packed and ate. I ate some grilled cheese, dried mango and lays potato chips at aid stations. I was in love with the pickles and pickle juice at the aid stations!  

Lucky enough to have Bobby sheparding me at aid stations
photo credit: Jeff Kascsak

Gear: 

I alternated between a a front-loading double 20oz Nathan (pinnacle) pack and a 2L back loaded Nathan (Vapor) hydration pack, depending on how far apart aid stations were. They could vary from 3 miles to 8 miles apart. I also had a 16 oz handheld for my infinite. I ran the vast majority of the race in the Hoka Speedgoats, but did use the cliftons for about 10 miles to let the speedgoats dry out after I fell in a water crossing. I used the Leki trekking poles for about 20 miles when I was really struggling. 

In other news, big shoutout to Nathan for the front-loaded pack! It was a gift to me for my placement at Bandera this spring -- we were allowed to choose one item off the site to be shipped to us. I'm obsessed with this pack, thanks Nathan! My poles fit really nicely in the back of this pack too. 

https://www.nathansports.com/pages/pinnacle-series

Recognition:

Huge thanks to the team around me: Bobby Munro (hubby and crew team captain), my mom Sarah who made a ton of food for us to eat on the road, my friends who babysat the two dogs and four cats at home, my coach Erin Young, and the super kind volunteers and other athletes crew members (especially Michelle Pede) who were so kind to me when I was having a rough patch. All the volunteers were fantastic all day! I don't take for granted the hard work that goes into organizing and setting up an event like this -- huge thank you to everyone involved!

I am a proud member of Team Athletic Mentors, and Ambassador for the Iceman Cometh Challenge. I don't have nutrition or gear sponsors and am not getting any kickbacks if you like my gear/nutrition, I'm just sharing what works for me!

The Mid South Double: March 10 & 11, 2023

Hot on the tail of the Marji Gesick, driving downstate from the UP last September, I googled "gravel bike races with ultramarathons." I vaguely remembered seeing pictures of runners slogging through the snow and mud at an early-season gravel bike race, and I wanted to know more. Cue finding the Mid South: "A weekend endurance festival celebrating hard challenges and the beauty of Oklahoma dirt roads." A couple of clicks revealed that THIS was the race I remembered -- runners trudging through a good old southwestern March snowstorm. My family lived in Oklahoma City for four years when I was a kid, and I remembered clearly how brutal and volatile the weather could be. Then I saw the event I knew I would be signing up for: the Double. The Double is a combination event for the truly sick: a 50K gravel road run on Friday, followed by the crown jewel event on Saturday: a 100 mile gravel road bicycle race. Results are determined from the summation of both finishing times. Just like that, my winter was planned: time to get back in bicycle shape! 

Race website: https://www.midsouthgravel.com/

Registration: BikeReg

Registration notes: Registration is handled through BikeReg. In October, the "randomizer" category opens. Athletes register for the randomizer, and no money is collected at that time. 1-2 weeks later, a second email letting athletes know if they were accepted into the event will go out. At that time, the credit card provided at initial registration is charged for the event. 

Location:  ★★★★☆

    Stillwater is a college town in Northern Oklahoma -- home of Oklahoma State University. It happens to be fairly large as Oklahoma towns go, but at a population of 50,000 it maintains a small-town atmosphere. The downtown area was essentially the race hub. 6 city blocks are taped off at throughout the weekend for the expo. There are plenty of public parking areas, and a map was emailed to attendees outlining what parking spaces were up for grabs. There are plenty of coffee shops, breweries, and a few restaurants within walking distance of the parking areas. Bonus: most of these shops extended their hours for the midsouth weekend! 

Van life with two bikes and two dogs

    Van camping is available right in the downtown area. There were about 4 total electric hookups, so for most vans/rv's, camping was primitive. There were portapotties very close to the parking area, which was convenient. There was not running water. Additionally, you're parking in a downtown area, so don't expect silence. I can't say it was the best sleep I've ever had, but it was free and it was convenient. Additionally, it was a bit too cold for the road shower after the run. That resulted in me running a 50K and then wiping off with wetwipes. Not necessarily my best self -- sorry to everyone I hugged!

Organization: ★★★★★

Post 50K with Bobby Wintle

    The Midsouth (formerly known as the LandRun 100) has been organized in the Stillwater area since 2012. Directed by Bobby Wintle (co-owner of District Bicycles in downtown Stillwater), the race has a different vibe from most big gravel races. This race is very much a: "everyone is welcome, everyone is honored, everyone is loved" type of event. While some races do pay lip service to radical acceptance, the vibes don't always match up to the marketing. Midsouth was different. I noticed while signing up that they have had a nonbinary registration option for a few years now. They also have several para categories. On the day of the 100 mile race, they had a team following not only the men's leaders, but also the women's and nonbinary category leaders. During our pre-race speech, Bobby Wintle said he'd be waiting at the finish with a hug. I thought that was a figure of speech, like when the RD hangs out and hands you a medal and a beer. Nope. He stood at the finish line for literally the entire day both races to make sure each competitor got a hug after. Let me note that these weren't quick professional side hugs. These were like real hugs, like those big tight bear hugs you share with a best friend you haven't seen in a year. That type of hug was shared with each and every salty, sweaty, red Oklahoma dirty runner and rider. 

    Now that I've waxed poetic about the ethos of the race, let's talk about the actual concrete organizational parameters. Communication leading up to the race was great. Not too much, not too little. We received emails starting in January outlining travel, parking and accommodations. The expo was well-organized, with a strong mix of gear, nutrition, and cycling booths. I hung out at the Stillwater Humane Society booth (of course) chatting with the shelter director for about a half hour. Freckles, the puppy that came out with her to get some attention for the booth was adopted by a competitor!  

    The portapotties were cleaned EVERY DAY. I have never experienced such clean and well-stocked portapotties for the duration of a multi-day event before. 

    I really don't have any complaints about organization, the Midsouth team did a fantastic job.

Course:★★★★☆

    The Midsouth courses were released about a week before the event. They tend to utilize many of the same roads year to year, so you can get a fairly good idea of what you are signing up for in advance. This year, the run course was the same as the 2022 course: following the initial few miles of the bike course, then turning and running more of the early bike course in reverse going back to Stillwater. The first 2.5 miles are paved and a nt downhill, which make it very easy to go out FAST. Once you hit the gravel, the steep climbs and descents start to add up and really take a toll. The climbs and descents are so frequent, it really becomes difficult to find a good stride. I felt like I never really got comfortable in a pace, and my watch was really upset about the whole thing and was not able to give me a real-time pace either. One thing Michigan gravel did not prepare me for was just how rocky the southwestern gravel would be. Even in a fairly cushioned road shoe, my feet were incredibly bruised by mile 20 and I spent quite a bit of time running in the sand, uneven edges of the road in an attempt to get some relief. The run course is quite exposed, traversing past miles of flat open farmland. There is no protection from the sun and wind (or snow if it's that type of March). There is one water crossing, but since it was a relatively dry year, we were able to keep our socks dry by sticking to the logs on one edge of the creek. 

    The 100 mile bike is the principle event. It has a rowdy 6000+ ft of climbing, which is made up of steep climbs and steep rocky descents. Some of the gravel is fairly hard packed, smooth and fast. Some is so sharp and rocky that the road edges are littered with people fixing flat tires. This year there was the addition of a few miles of single track, in addition to the famous two-track sections. It really was a variable course, which made it so fun. It was also a really brutal course. On a good weather day, the whole thing is rideable. On a wet day, just plan on walking with your bike. 

    The red dirt is truly magical. During the race, several times I honestly felt like I was in a movie staring down this rolling road that was so brilliant in color, it couldn't possibly be real. 

    A note about the course: people line up EARLY. I'm used to ultramarathons where people finally put their toes on the start line 45 seconds before the gun goes off. I tried to line up 30 minutes early, and was forced to sit about 700 people back! People were packed so closely together there was no way to weasel my way up further. Luckily, I had my friend Jill Martindale to commiserate with at the start. We know for next time -- get to the start line even earlier than you think!

Start line with Salsa athlete Jill Martindale, one of those Michigan riders that merges the lines between heroes and friends

Food: ★★★★☆

    The run was pretty simple and standard: Scratch, water, and traditional ultra snacks like chips and fruit. Don't get me wrong, I love my traditional ultra snacks. But, average is average. The cycling aid stations really brought this up to an above-average food rating. Holy cow. The aid stations were a real party. Music blasting, costumed cowboys, and plenty of snacks. The winners for me on that particular day were the more traditional oreos, potato chips, cookies, and flat cokes. For those with hardened stomachs though, there was plenty of bacon and fireball to go around. The aid station energy really helped me power through. 

My race:

    I came into this race with the goal of winning the women's Double. This type of goal isn't necessarily the best, because while you can control many factors regarding your race, you cannot control your competitors. This isn't a criterium where the smartest racer wins. This is a combination of fitness, smart choices, and a whole lot of grit. 

    My husband (race buddy extraordinaire, Bobby Munro) and I started the drive to Stillwater Wednesday evening, stopping to camp in Missouri for the night. Along for the ride was our 6 year old American Bully, Nugget, and our 3.5 year old cattle dog/pit X, Desi. We finished up the drive on Thursday, and had our respective shakeouts: I went for a short run with Desi, and Bobby went for an easy spin. Friday morning dawned COLD. Cold enough that poor Desi required a fleece jacket to see me off at the start line! At the start of the race, it was a clear, crisp 35 degrees. It was slated to reach 60F later that day, but started out I opted to overdress. It's easier to rehydrate than to refuel, and I would have less than 24 hours to prepare for a long, hard bike race the next day. I didn't think I would be able to afford losing any extra calories trying to keep warm.

                                       

Running with Clara (left) and Sarah (right) who went on to go 2 and 3 overall in the 50K

    As noted above, the run starts off fast. I felt good clicking off the first few miles, but didn't realize how gnarly the course was about to become. My heartrate was a bit high, but I wasn't overly concerned given that this is essentially a road race. However, once the hills started hitting and the day st arted to heat up, I knew I was in for a rough time. I became extremely nauseous and any time I put water or a gel into my mouth, I would retch. I ditched my extra clothing at the halfway point, hoping that would help. My heart rate climbed and pace slowed down as I tried to rein in myself on the downhills to save my quads for the bike. At mile 22, my heart sunk as I realized that my run goal had slipped away and I was just trying to survive. I was able to hold down a half dixie cup of scratch, and just jogged in the last hour. As I looked through results, I had lost 30 minutes on the run. Now not only did  I have to rehydrate, but I had only consumed 60 calories on the run. I had some serious refueling to do in the next 19 hours. 

    The bike start wasn't as cold as the run -- at 47F, I was able to wear midweight gloves and armwarmers, which I would strip off as the day hit the mid 70's.  The first 2 miles were "neutral" and then we were off once we hit the gravel. I knew exactly what those rolling hills would look like from the run start the day before, and focused on keeping good control on the descents were line choice was paramount. The water crossing from the run was early on in the bike, although we approached it from the opposite direction. A few wild souls plowed through the creek, while the rest of us dismounted and carried bikes over the muddy walkway ridge. 

    At mile 20, the road switched from gravel with rocks to just straight up deep shale. As we hit it, I went down hard. My bottle holder cracked and both bottles went flying. My chain had been dropped and my front wheel skewer popped out. I chipped paint off my beautiful prissy road bike! I apologized profusely to the bike for using her for this type of rugged riding. A very sweet competitor, Kristen, held my bike for me as I popped the chain back on, and off we went. By that point, I was feeling bonky. I was so hungry but wrestling my narrow road bars hard enough on the gravel that I couldn't take my hands off long enough to dig around for snacks. My legs felt like lead, and I was angry I had crashed. A few miles later, my husband (who had starteed ahead of me, but flatted) caught up to me. I told him that I felt terrible, but knew he couldn't ride with me without it looking like I had a male domestique. He rode off and I wallowed in my self pity. 

    When I hit the first aid station at mile 36, I got off my bike, tightened up the front wheel, and limped dejectly up to the snack table. As I refilled my bottles that had spilled, I started eating. Everything. I grabbed handfuls of cookies and a bag of chips and mashed them into my mouth. In some cases, rage eating is the healthiest thing you can do. This was the point where I reminded myself that I am not fast. It's been years since I won a race on speed alone. My best races are those where grit saves the day. 

                                        

    After my 7 minute aid station pep talk, I rolled back out. I never got to ride with a pack, but would have a nice little doublet or triplet group for a few miles before it fell apart. Most of the time it was me alone, starting down the dirt roads, with a Britney Spears soundtrack in my head. After the 68 mile bonus aid station, I realized that I was feeling so strong. As most people hit their wall, mine was over and done with. I'd scaled that fricker and was on a mission. I giggled like a maniac through the single track section and practically sailed through the last 15 miles. I blew through the finish line and into another Bobby hug. As I chugged the Midsouth signature IPA, I sat and watched the athlete tracker. In a half hour, it was official. I was the women's Double champion. 

 

Gear: 

50K: I ran with a halfway full 2L Nathan hydration pack. Unfortunately, I really didn't drink much out of this. For navigation, I utilized the Garmin Epix. I ran in Hoka Cliftons. The course was so incredibly rocky I almost wished I had trail shoes just for a little extra protection, but road shoes were the most sensible choice given the speed of the race. I started out in a thermal long-sleeve, hat and gloves. The hat and gloves were gone almost immediately, and I was more than happy to take off the long sleeve when I saw Bobby at the half-way point. 

100 mile: This is such a fun one! I don't own a gravel bike. When I did the Moran 166 in 2021, I rode 166 miles of flat gravel roads on my mountain bike. Same thing for BWR last year. Its comfy and squishy and such a fun time. Less fun is getting dropped on flats because I get spun out at anything over 26 mph. So, I pulled the road bike out of retirement. I have a lovely 2018 Liv Langma that I bought just before my extended break from road cycling. Because I really only rode it one season, almost everything on her is still stock! We squeezed some 33 mm slicks (challenger strada biancas) onto the stock wheelset. I also switched over to a slightly smaller chainring to facilitate steep gravel climbs. That was my gravel rig. I got a lot of compliments on being the "road bike girl" during the race. I did suffer some gnarly carpal tunnel symptoms for about a week afterwards, but otherwise I was quite content with my setup. Navigation was with the garmin 530 head unit. 

    The weekend finished with me in 3rd for the double women on the run, but 1st on the bike with a big enough gap to secure the win for the double. Midsouth was such a cool event and I am so grateful I got the chance to experience it. I'll admit, I didn't particularly enjoy riding the trainer all winter to be in shape for an early season bike race. It was worth it, but only time will tell if I make that comittment again!

Recognition:

    As always, giving credit where credit is due: my husband Bobby Munro, who supports me through every one of my races and helps me with the bicycle gear selection. My coach, Erin Young, and team Athletic Mentors, for guiding me through my endurance journey. This race was made possible by the team of people, especially my mom and my coworkers, who cared for my deathly ill foster puppy and sickly cat while I was away.