Jay Peak 50k... second time around

I ran the Jay Peak 50k again this past weekend. It is one of my last races/ long runs before the Bear 100 and it went great! All I remember from the last time were UPS and DOWNS... it was constant climbs, which is why I signed up again this year- perfect training for a mountainous 100 miler. I went up the day before to check in and hang out around the mountain. Took the tram to the top to get some pictures- gorgeous views all around. Glad I went up the day before too because the day of the race you couldn't see a thing from the top because of the clouds.

The next morning I woke up in my tent around 4am with lightning and thunder and quickly got up and packed everything up before I (and my tent) got drenched. By the time I was finished and jumped in the car it was pouring. I arrived at Jay Peak Resort with the rain still coming down... it was going to be a long day! But then with about 5 minutes to the start it stopped! The rain was gone but the humidity stayed, it was about 70 degrees and 95% humidity the entire day. It was also super cloudy... no views at the top. 

The course changed a bit since I ran it two years ago at the inaugural race. There were more single track and a few more ascents which I think slowed down everyone's times. The race starts at the bottom of the ski mountain on the cross country ski trails- about 2 miles then comes out to the real ski trails- STRAIGHT UP!

After about a 1/4 mi of this hill we go back to single track on the Long Trail for another 1/2 mi or so to the top of Jay Peak. It was windy and cool up there.... great volunteers froze up there all day! Then you start the rest of the course which is basically up and down and out and backs all over the mountain. Great views and I love being able to cross paths with people on all the out and backs- makes it a bit more social and fun to see the same few people all day. 

View from one of the climbs

Quite a few fire road type trails with big climbs

The leaves were starting to change colors already!!!

The race has 2- 15 mile laps so the second lap we lost a ton of runners and it really thinned out. The race for me went pretty uneventful- I wore my Hokas for the first time and absolutely LOVED them for the downhills- NO knee/quad pain! Either it was the training or the shoes :) I used Tailwind for the first race and it went great as well- no nausea/GI issues... win win! I also ran the same pace for my first and second laps, which is a huge improvement for me! I really try to start slow and get faster as the race goes on and I could tell I was really picking up the pace towards the end of the race. I was really happy with how I felt and ran this race- it was a great confidence boost for my training for the Bear 100. I also finished 3rd place female! Woo!!  Bring on the Bear!!!

Super muddy but my Hokas worked well!

Runner "tan lines"... also wearing my new Recovery Oofos Sandals :)

Great race but the most uneventful finish line!!

SUPER close to Canada!

Bear 100 Training!

One great thing about moving to Albany is we are now within a 2 hour drive of the Catskills, Adirondacks, Green and Birkshire mountain ranges. Love having them so close! I have been trying to get to one of those places at least once a week to get in some elevation training for The Bear... no 5,000 foot climbs, but close enough :) A few pics of what my training has been the past couple months...

Vermont 100 pacing-

Paced for 30 miles at VT100- loved going back! My third year going to VT100- once to crew, once to run and this year to pace and volunteer, loved it!!!

Was able to see a lot more of the course in the daylight compared to when I ran last year :)

Someone made a runner nap area 

Adirondacks

High peaks

Had to carry Lucy down this ladder

Was able to knock out a few 4000 footers... Upper and Lower Wolfjaw, and Armstrong. Can't wait to go back for more. 

Catskills

A bit hilly and technical

Favorite running buddy :)

Mt Greylock 

In the winter, this is the ski slope- steep!!

Great overlooks on the top... highest peak in MA

A little late, but Finger Lakes 50 Mile Report

Oh man, where do I start? This was a tough one for me. I wasn't quite trained for this race but since my parents were coming out to run it with me I HAD to do it :) I knew I would be able to finish it, just didn't quite know how fast it would be! Mom and I decided to stick together since we ran the 50k together at this race last year. We loved it before, it's a 16 mi loop- rolling hills, single track, gravel roads, meadows... it has everything! And this year it had MUD! Lots of MUD. Shoe sucking mud. The first lap was good, felt strong, then we hit the second loop and my stomach started screaming. Nothing sounded appetizing, so I (stupidly!!!!) thought I would just hold off on eating until something sounded good. BAD IDEA! Stomach didn't settle down for the rest of the race. I couldn't stomach anything, any time I tried eating,  it felt like it would come back up... no fun. Which meant, I ran the last ~25 miles without eating anything- stupid, so stupid. I started dragging, slowed WAY down. Mom stayed with me the whole time pushing me on and keeping me going. I was so ready to see the finish line. Hard day for me- both physically and mentally- it definitely showed me how much training I had/have to do before The Bear 100! Was great having the parents running as well, love our ultra family :)

Pre-race selfie :)

Mom running through one of the cow fields/meadows

Moooo

So much mud!

Favorite spot on the course

thinking... I don't want to go any further...

DONE!!!!!!

Finishers award! Chair and pint glass!

Post race- I was looking forward to laying down the last 20 miles. So sick :(

Luckily there was a pond to wash off all the mud

Mt Dew and pickles make everything better