Waterville, OH
I headed out to Circleville, OH Friday night before the
Saturday race after work. It had been hot most of the week (and humid), with
the same weather predicted during race day. It’s pretty unusual for the
temperature to be in the high 80s and low 90s in Northwester Ohio in the beginning of May, and
it reminded me of the hot temps during last year’s Woodstock 100 (in which the
heat index reached over 100!). I’m not a fan of hot and humid weather so I knew
it was going to be challenging, especially with these temps so soon in the
year. Most of the training for races in the beginning of spring is done in the
winter months, so there is obviously no chance to acclimate to very high
temperatures during this time.
Saturday race after work. It had been hot most of the week (and humid), with
the same weather predicted during race day. It’s pretty unusual for the
temperature to be in the high 80s and low 90s in Northwester Ohio in the beginning of May, and
it reminded me of the hot temps during last year’s Woodstock 100 (in which the
heat index reached over 100!). I’m not a fan of hot and humid weather so I knew
it was going to be challenging, especially with these temps so soon in the
year. Most of the training for races in the beginning of spring is done in the
winter months, so there is obviously no chance to acclimate to very high
temperatures during this time.
The ride down to Circleville was pleasant enough through
flat state roads that traversed wide open farm land. The single lane roads were
slow which made the trip longer than expected, but I arrived around 8:00 PM
with some day light to spare to set up my tent in the A.W. Marion State Park
campground.
flat state roads that traversed wide open farm land. The single lane roads were
slow which made the trip longer than expected, but I arrived around 8:00 PM
with some day light to spare to set up my tent in the A.W. Marion State Park
campground.
It wasn’t the best campground in the world, especially for
the price, but cheaper than a hotel so I can’t complain too much. There was an
obnoxious family around 200 yards away who had a small child who kept crying
which kept me up later than I wanted to. I forgot to pack earplugs, a big
mistake! Luckily around 11:00 I heard fighting and who I expect was the mom
told her husband she was leaving with the kid. She drove off soon after and the
noise was a lot better, letting me sleep for 6 hours before waking up at 5:00
AM.
the price, but cheaper than a hotel so I can’t complain too much. There was an
obnoxious family around 200 yards away who had a small child who kept crying
which kept me up later than I wanted to. I forgot to pack earplugs, a big
mistake! Luckily around 11:00 I heard fighting and who I expect was the mom
told her husband she was leaving with the kid. She drove off soon after and the
noise was a lot better, letting me sleep for 6 hours before waking up at 5:00
AM.
It was humid when I woke up – a bad sign. I ate some
breakfast, 2 bananas, an orange, and a protein bar, and packed up my things.
The starting/parking area was only a 5 minute drive from the campground, on the
opposite side of Hargus Lake. Hargus Lake is the central attraction of the
park, and there is a trail system that travels around its circumference. The
race course follows most of this trail and has a few detours to make it 8.2 miles
for one loop. 4 loops get you to 50 kilometers (~33 miles).
breakfast, 2 bananas, an orange, and a protein bar, and packed up my things.
The starting/parking area was only a 5 minute drive from the campground, on the
opposite side of Hargus Lake. Hargus Lake is the central attraction of the
park, and there is a trail system that travels around its circumference. The
race course follows most of this trail and has a few detours to make it 8.2 miles
for one loop. 4 loops get you to 50 kilometers (~33 miles).
| 50K Course |
I arrived at the start/finish area and picked up my race bib
and packet. There were a few odds and ends in the packet, including a nice
shirt which was unfortunately a little too large for me. After pinning my bib
to my shorts I sat down on a bench looking over the lake and waited for the
6:15 AM pre-race meeting as the sun slowly rose over tranquil waters.
and packet. There were a few odds and ends in the packet, including a nice
shirt which was unfortunately a little too large for me. After pinning my bib
to my shorts I sat down on a bench looking over the lake and waited for the
6:15 AM pre-race meeting as the sun slowly rose over tranquil waters.
 |
| Hargus Lake & Dam |
The pre-race meeting was held with enthusiastic participants
huddled around. There were maybe only a 100 or so people at the race, giving it
a nice, small intimate feel. This is much different than the Glass City
Marathon in Toledo I ran in two weeks prior, which had thousands of runners. I
much prefer this small feel.
huddled around. There were maybe only a 100 or so people at the race, giving it
a nice, small intimate feel. This is much different than the Glass City
Marathon in Toledo I ran in two weeks prior, which had thousands of runners. I
much prefer this small feel.
We all lined up soon after the meeting, toeing the starting
line. We were off running at the sound of the horn and first ran over the dam
on the west side of the Lake. The trail soon dipped down into the woods on
single track trail where we remained for the entire loop.
line. We were off running at the sound of the horn and first ran over the dam
on the west side of the Lake. The trail soon dipped down into the woods on
single track trail where we remained for the entire loop.
The first miles went easy, up and down gentle hills, and I
was feeling pretty good. There is a water stop at 4.8 miles and an aid station
at 5.8 miles at the Campground on the other side of the lake. I reached the aid
station after an hour of running and continued on to the beginning of the loop.
I reached the starting area in 1:20, and was feeling pretty good after grabbing
a gel and some ice water. I headed out on the second loop feeling pretty
strong. The second loop was a little slower, with the heat and humidity steadily
increasing. I got to the campground aid station and ate some pineapple and
grapes, grabbed a gel, and filled my water. I reached the start/finish aid
station soon after at around 3 hours. After passing through the aid station I
started to feel very nauseous. Nothing I ate or drank seemed to settle well in
my stomach. I got rid of my shirt, soaked in sweat, before starting the 3rd
loop. I tried to run but was soon defeated to a brisk walk because of my
stomach. If I ran I would have thrown up. The heat and humidity had bested me.
was feeling pretty good. There is a water stop at 4.8 miles and an aid station
at 5.8 miles at the Campground on the other side of the lake. I reached the aid
station after an hour of running and continued on to the beginning of the loop.
I reached the starting area in 1:20, and was feeling pretty good after grabbing
a gel and some ice water. I headed out on the second loop feeling pretty
strong. The second loop was a little slower, with the heat and humidity steadily
increasing. I got to the campground aid station and ate some pineapple and
grapes, grabbed a gel, and filled my water. I reached the start/finish aid
station soon after at around 3 hours. After passing through the aid station I
started to feel very nauseous. Nothing I ate or drank seemed to settle well in
my stomach. I got rid of my shirt, soaked in sweat, before starting the 3rd
loop. I tried to run but was soon defeated to a brisk walk because of my
stomach. If I ran I would have thrown up. The heat and humidity had bested me.
I walked almost the entire third loop, waiting for the
nausea to go away. I grabbed a salt tab at the campground aid station and ate
some more fruit. By the time I walked back to the start/finish line, it was 5 hours
and 30 minutes; the third loop took me a pitiful 2 and half hours to complete! I
ate a gel and another salt tab and filled up on water. I instantly felt better
and began running the final loop. I felt great for the first time until I
tripped on a root and fell head first into some mud. I got up and brushed
myself off – I was by myself so no one saw what I just did!
nausea to go away. I grabbed a salt tab at the campground aid station and ate
some more fruit. By the time I walked back to the start/finish line, it was 5 hours
and 30 minutes; the third loop took me a pitiful 2 and half hours to complete! I
ate a gel and another salt tab and filled up on water. I instantly felt better
and began running the final loop. I felt great for the first time until I
tripped on a root and fell head first into some mud. I got up and brushed
myself off – I was by myself so no one saw what I just did!
I reached the finish line in 7:36 – much longer than I
anticipated, but at least I finished. After having to drop out of the Woodstock
100 last year I knew the feeling of not finishing and did not want to repeat
that. Even though it took me longer, I’m glad a saw it through.
anticipated, but at least I finished. After having to drop out of the Woodstock
100 last year I knew the feeling of not finishing and did not want to repeat
that. Even though it took me longer, I’m glad a saw it through.
Overall the course was a lot hillier than I thought it was
going to be. It had a lot of sharp inclines at around 30% or more, which wore
me down over time. The best part was being able to select the finisher’s medal.
This is the fifth year this race has been put on, so they offered a choice of
getting a medal from the first few years, which were really nice hand-crafted
medals. I picked the one from the first year – it’s really neat!
going to be. It had a lot of sharp inclines at around 30% or more, which wore
me down over time. The best part was being able to select the finisher’s medal.
This is the fifth year this race has been put on, so they offered a choice of
getting a medal from the first few years, which were really nice hand-crafted
medals. I picked the one from the first year – it’s really neat!
| Finisher’s Medal |
Overall it was a fun little course that challenged me harder
than I thought it would. It’s a great course for the spring as a training race
or a first Ultra and I would definitely recommend it to anyone living in the
area. Again, many thanks to the volunteers that spend a lot of time supporting
and putting on events like these. They wouldn’t happen without everyone’s
generosity!
than I thought it would. It’s a great course for the spring as a training race
or a first Ultra and I would definitely recommend it to anyone living in the
area. Again, many thanks to the volunteers that spend a lot of time supporting
and putting on events like these. They wouldn’t happen without everyone’s
generosity!