Notes
2016 RACE REPORT
GUNPOWDER 50K
The Course:
You start from the usual parking lot like at most Ultras at State parks. Decent organization, actual race clock and pull tab bibs. (No chips which is fine for a small group (106 registered 50Ks) The RDs gave the usual talk: Flags will be on your right except when they are on your left. There will be mud, nice volunteers, more mud, some water. The real bathrooms are down the paved road hill from the start. Good distance. Either you do your business in plenty of time to get back to start, or we actually ran past them from the beginning and you waste race time.
Not unusual for Ultras, we started 10 minutes late. This race is 25K or 50K and you can switch during race day, just tell the organizers. Race starts and we head downhill on pavement. A switchback pavement and then past huge pile of dirt blocking road and up some rock strewn hill. Lots of hills today but not as bad as Bull Run Run. This year I have done Mid-Maryland 50K, Hashawa Hills 50K, Seneca Greenway Trail 50k, Bull Run Run 50 Mile and today, Gunpowder 50K. What it has done has allowed me to compare the different courses. So, you’ll be getting a bit of that in this report.
The group cleared out pretty quickly, so no choke point like CAT 50K. The course winds throughout the park but mostly up and down around the river. This course unlike Patapsco/Wincopin etc. you spend a lot of time right next to the river. This part is very, very runnable. In fact, I would say that 80% to 85% of the course is runnable which can actually wear you down.
The Tough Parts:
There are a couple of points along the river that just suck when it comes to running. Basically you can’t. You are tip toeing on the edge around sharp rocks, through branches, bushes and you have the speed of a slug. Just not fun. And remember, you get to do all of these points twice.
Some hills but nothing at all like what you face at Catoctin 50K. Only the last mile or so is straight up looking like Catoctin but you can make it through by that time.
What is also not unusual but limits the social aspect of the course is the single track. It is choked with sharp thorn weeds next to most of the track so you have to stay on course. Towards the end there is about a mile or so of track that reminds you of Patapsco. Clean, dry, bit dusty, some rocks but again runnable.
They actually have a part called, The Loop. About 4 miles around and not easy. You hit it at mile 10 or so and then again at 24/25. Reminds me of the Do Loop at Bull Run Run only because it is a loop and about the same distance. Otherwise, I actually like this “Do Loop”.
During the 2nd loop, I kept expecting Alan Lagon to “Lagon me”. This when Alan starts very conservatively and is far behind and then he tracks you down and with a little tip of the hat, buries you. Did it to me and Chris at Seneca and BRR and maybe also at Hashawa. So Alan is in the race again. (BTW, nice guy) This time, I’m determined to not get Lagoned today.
Lessons I learned:
I learned that unless you go to some race with Hell or Grind or Ring or MMT or some other nasty word in the name, most of these races are similar to other ones in our area. If you are near a river, expect mud. Hashawa and Seneca were mudbaths, BRR more only because of the extra mileage. Most of the courses look like Patapsco in parts, Wincopin in parts, MPEA in parts, CAT in parts, but none of them look a nice manicured field like at Raven stadium.
I learned that you meet and talk to neat people on the course. Some are having a good day and then today I caught up with Brian Carr who I had met at Mid-MD 50 K in the 1 degree weather. He was actually on his third loop getting in a 50 mile day preparing for OD 100. I caught up to him and he was fading and hitting a bad place. We walked a little, he started to feel better and then was able to push ahead. Even some of the best can have a tough time.
I did a good job measuring my pace and energy. The second loop was slower than I wanted but the temps were rising and I was tiring. Before the race, Ultra Sign Up had me finishing at 8 hours 55 minutes based on other Ultras. I thought that was pretty slow because 9 hours was the final cut-off and I just thought my results this year showed better than that.
I figured I could hit 8 hours and planned a 3 hr 45 minute 1st loop and 4:15 minute 2nd loop. Came in 1st loop and with changing shirt and fueling up got out at 3 hours 23 minutes. Feeling good, I reset my goal. Did the quick math and thought, I could get 7 hours. Just need to come in 2nd half in under 3 hours 37 minutes. So basically, a minute slower for the loop and I would make it. 1st loop ended up right near 13 minute per mile pace.
2nd loop, much like the first except now the weeds are literally leaning into the pathway. (No idea why) Also, the one sort of wet creek crossing, the water was actually higher on the 2nd loop.
Sum it Up:
I liked the race. It was a “Fat Ass” which means you contribute a gallon of water and $5. The aid stations are okay but not big food like at Seneca or Bull Run Run. It is put on by BRRC and they do a decent job. The course distance is real, real close to actual 50K instead of 33 miles like CAT 50. Picture below is fuzzy but you cross under the big pillars of Rt. 83. Some of the columns were worn down to the rebar and others had cracks. I thought of Hafiz.
I started up the very steep incline at the end and for the first time looked at my overall time. I was at 6 hours 57 minutes and 40 seconds and facing a straight up hill. Stopped power walking and started running. Couldn’t see the finish line but time was ticking. Got around the last corner and made the finish at 6 hours 58 minutes 28 seconds. Broke 7 hours. Oh and Alan did not “Lagon” me today. Yea Baby!