What was the Umstead Trail Marathon mascot in 2011?

As you may remember from my race report on the 2010 Umstead Trail Marathon, each year they choose a local animal native to Umstead as the mascot for the race; the animal appears on the race shirts, the finisher pint glasses, the awards and various other signage. The two years I ran Umstead, the animals were a vulture (2008, when the vultures really were circling me) and a rabbit (2010).

Since I wasn't running Umstead this year in favor of the St. Patty's Run Green 8k downtown, I had been wondering what animal would be chosen this year for the Umstead mascot. The answer? It was a tick:


That shirt will definitely stand out in a crowd, both color- and tick-wise. I do like the day-glo colors the last couple of years. Maybe I'll be able to do Umstead again in 2012, when they may be back to a warm-blooded animal.

Here's one marathon mommy's race report from this year.

Skirtchaser 5k Cuts Down Its Schedule

Unfortunately, the Skirtchaser 5k, one of the funnest races and best post-race parties in town the last few years, will probably not be back to Raleigh in 2011 in its usual form. The main Skirtchaser 5k series was cut down to just Tempe and Denver, but local Skirt Sports apparel dealers around the country are being encouraged to put on their own "Skirtchaser Dash" events. Although they won't be as big as the bigger Skirtchaser 5k series races have been, hopefully the dash events will still be a lot of fun and still include hundreds of women running through town. The Dash series schedule should be announced sometime soon.

2011 Krispy Kreme Challenge: Been There, Donut.

This past Saturday saw the return of one of Raleigh's best and most eclectic running events, the Krispy Kreme Challenge. In this race, started by four friends at NC State seven years ago, the runners face the challenge of running 2 miles (actually about 2.3) from the NC State bell tower to the Peace Street Krispy Kreme, eating a dozen donuts, and running back -- all in an hour or less. (There's also a non-eating, Casual division for runners like me trying to get rid of calories, not put a bunch in.) Although I missed the inaugural, when it was just those four guys and a few friends, I've been privileged to run KKC each year since then, so 2011 was my sixth run. The race has grown exponentially each year thanks to coverage from ESPN; in 2010 they capped the race at 6,000 runners, and the 2011 cap of 7,500 runners was reached more than three weeks early.

The 2011 running was the first one to face rain in addition to the cold temps. (The 2009 race still stands as the exemplar, when we had perfect warm temps and sunshine, which always helps to bring out interesting costumes.) I'm sure the cold and rain helped keep the number of runners down somewhat, but there was still a good level of excitement and fun among the wet and chilly runners that did show up.

I waited in the warmth of the Hillsborough Street YMCA with some running friends until about twenty minutes before the race, and then we made a break through the rain to the start/finish line about a quarter-mile away at the bell tower. I was able to weasel my way into a spot near the front of the pack of runners, and I could see the pack extending way on back past Sadlack's Heroes down Hillsborough Street. I didn't see as much media coverage, probably because of the rain, but a lot of folks had out their own flip cameras, interviewing their friends and other runners, especially the folks who came out in their costumes anyway. As I stood packed in the mass of runners, I looked up at the bell tower and thought about the race's early history, when it was still small enough for us to mass on the grassy space and take off from there, and when we finished by running up the walk, up the steps and touching the bell tower, just like the original challengers.

Unfortunately, we weren't able to hear much of the announcements that were made pre-race, but a large video screen displayed the countdown to start, and as soon as it reached zero, there was a loud cheer and we were off around the new roundabout and on down the street! There was lots of excitement and a good number of soggy spectators cheering on the festivities. The warmth we got huddled up at the starting line gave way to a little bit of chilling wind on the road, but as the runners spread out along the road, passing each other at different speeds and making the various turns onto Saint Mary's Street and through Glenwood South, we got to enjoy all the fun and the costumes.

Costumes were down a bit, probably because of the weather, but a lot of folks still put great effort into showing off and getting noticed. This year I saw Abraham Lincoln, Batman and Spiderman, Flash and Wolverine, Dog the Bounty Hunter, the Mario brothers, Hulk Hogan and Duffman. There were guys running as a group in long flannel pajamas, guys running in Snuggies, and women running in ballerina tutus (tuti?). Troy Polamalu was there, as were some Green Bay Packer fans. I saw guys in sombreros and guys in hot dog outfits, convicts and cops, chefs, the ever-popular banana suit, a flamingo, a drag queen, and a running Whoopie cushion. There were lots of Vikings this year, including one who was carrying some donuts on his hat horns. The guys from "Dumb and Dumber" were back again. I saw guys running in their Underoos and a woman running in a bikini. The guy from NC State with the big engineered donut on his head was back, and this year he was running barefoot; unfortunately the big donut didn't hold up as well in the rain this year. There were runners dressed up as donuts themselves, and folks painted to salute their schools. A lot more teams ran together this year and came complete with matching outfits. And, of course, Elvis made another appearance.

Once we reached Krispy Kreme, the volunteers did a great job of dividing the challengers from the casual runners, and everyone spread out across the Krispy Kreme property to consume their donuts. This was a popular spot for spectators to gather, so it was great atmosphere, and we were even getting a bit of a break in the rain. I enjoyed checking out all the eating approaches -- the "mash" still appears to be the most popular technique -- and I hobnobbed a bit with some familiar faces in the crowd, and then it was off for the return trip to NC State.

I remember the first couple of years I ran the KKC, you really did have to watch your step on the way back because of the runners who couldn't keep their donuts down on the return trip. The last couple of years, though, I haven't really seen a lot of instances of runners getting sick or throwing up on the streets. Either I must be getting faster or the Challengers must be doing their donut training better!

When we made the final right turn for the last half-mile on Hillsborough Street, we got the double-whammy of being straight into a headwind and the rain picking back up. But the last stretch up the hill and around the roundabout was still lined with spectators, so it was a lot of fun and great atmosphere for the finish. Despite the weather and low temps, everyone seemed to be in great spirits, and it was definitely a party atmosphere post-race. However, I was ready to get out of the rain, so I didn't stick around long to socialize and headed back down to the YMCA to get warm and get cleaned up.

I saw Chris Damico and Mark Korey out on the course, along with Celia and Andy and some other running friends from the Nog Run Club. Overall, the race raised a very impressive $100,000 for the North Carolina Childrens Hospital, so big congratulations to the race organizers for doing another excellent event! Maybe next year I'll enter the Challenger division....

Doris runs her first half

I love it when someone new gets the running bug, so I was very happy to help out when my friend Doris completed her first half-marathon at the Tobacco Road marathon and half last month. Doris was already an accomplished runner, having a handful of 5Ks, two 10Ks, and a sprint triathlon under her belt when she made the goal of completing a half-marathon in 2010. I had already heard about the new half-marathon training program at The Athlete's Foot in Cameron Village, so I forwarded that on to Doris in case she might think it was interesting.

Interesting? When I saw Doris at church after she attended the program's introductory meeting, she was as excited as I've seen her. The folks at TAF

Good running boomlet statistics

Today's local paper featured an article about the many learn-to-run programs that exist in my area. Some of them, like the Women's Beginning Running Program sponsored each year by the North Carolina Roadrunners Club, are for new runners who want to tackle that first running goal. Several local running stores and organizations have programs like these, often using some type of "walk to run" program. Another type of running program sponsored here gives experienced and intermediate runners the chance to build up their mileage under supervision and with experienced coaching, like stretching yourself from consistent 5Ks to half-marathons or marathons.

Included in the article were some interesting factoids about the current running boomlet we're experiencing, including the notion that the boomlet is indeed driven by the "walk to run" concept of including regular walking as part of a running training program:

- the number of runners in the United States has increased 57 percent over the last 10 years
- the number of runners in the United States is estimated to be about 35.9 million
- in 2008, running was reported to be the nation's fastest-growing form of exercise, according to the National Sporting Goods Association

Whether you're an advocate or critic of "walk to run" programs, you have to agree that any kind of training program that encourages more people to exercise, coaches them towards greater challenges, and provides a social support organization for their running is A Good Thing.

RIP, Biltmore races

Sad news that the Biltmore 15k and 5k races will no longer be held at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville after this year -- and it's already full this year. Biltmore is creating some new attractions that will occupy the space previously used by the race staging and finishing areas. The races were a big fundraiser each year benefiting and organized by the Kiwanis Club of Asheville.

I ran the Biltmore 15k in 2007 and always hoped I would be able to go run it again. It is definitely a challenging course, with alternating uphill and downhill miles near the beginning, but when you make that right-hand turn and make the trip down the great entranceway to the Biltmore house, it's very, very impressive. (And would be an excellent spot for race pictures.) I was also very impressed when we ran through the gardens just behind the house; it seemed like a special treat for the runners, and it was just as much a highlight as running past the Biltmore front doors.

Congrats to you if you got into the Biltmore during its too-short life! Treasure that race shirt, because there won't be any more of them! (but let's hope the race comes back in some form in the future)

Umstead Trail Marathon - March 6, 2010

OK, so in 2008 I ran the Umstead Trail Marathon for the first time. It was a lousy, rainy day, plus it was my first exposure to long single-track running, so I ran really poorly, and finished in just under 6:20, well after the six-hour cutoff time that Carolina Godiva enforces for the marathon. I didn't get any door prizes and the massage guys were packing up, but the thing that really bothered me was the "missed cutoff" next to my name in the 2008 results.

So 2010 was going to be the opportunity to redeem myself and restore the family honor. Fortunately, the weather forecast was much, much better -- clear, sunny skies with no precipitation and cool temps (39 degrees at 9:00 a.m. start time, with temps climbing into the mid-50s in the afternoon). Actually, I had not been looking forward to this run for several weeks in advance, especially after a very poor run in February and missing my last half-marathon trainer in Myrtle Beach, but after a confidence-building run the previous week I surprisingly started getting excited about it with a few days to go, and with the weather improving, my attitude improved as well.

Each year the marathon organizers from Godiva choose an animal native to Umstead to serve as the race mascot on the shirts, awards and pint glasses. When I ran in 2008, appropriately, it was the turkey vulture. But for 2010 it was a rabbit, so I figured that was a good omen. I didn't learn until this year that it's a big secret each year which animal is chosen; normally the runners don't find out until packet pickup on Friday -- although I have heard you can run through Umstead in the day or two before the race and see if the signs have already been set out. In the seven years that Umstead has been run, the animals are: black fly, squirrel, turtle, fish, vulture, frog and rabbit. The rabbit shirts for this year are great -- optic yellow, with the big, classy logo and huge rabbit. This is the kind of running shirt I will wear to death.

As usual, there was no problem getting to the race site, and there were lots of folks to visit with while waiting for the marathon to start. The race is capped at 200 entrants because of the size of the trails, and the race is sold out each year. Because it was really chilly in the morning, most of the runners were huddled around the fire in the main cabin at Camp Lapihio. Fellow NCRCers Rhonda Hampton and Bill and Sally Squier (who have done all seven Umsteads) were also on hand, as well as Mickey Fong from Carolina Godiva and Laura MacLean. Mike Walsh from NCRC would be patrolling on his bike -- I think he's doing the Ellerbe Marathon next weekend -- so I knew it would be nice having a familiar face out on the route. And the field was pretty top-notch, with Wayne Crews from Cary in the race and North Carolina trail ultramarathon legend Anne Riddle Lundblad coming down from the mountains. Finally we got the call to come on out to the starting area, where the race directors made the last few announcements and then sent us out!

The first few miles were much better than the 2008 race, when we got a downpour right at starting time. The sun was out, and the sky was a beautiful solid blue. The first leg by the airport overlook is out-and-back, so everyone gets a good look at the whole field and can sort of tell where everyone is starting out. I can tell by my Garmin data that I got a little excited as usual at the start of the race and went out a little too fast -- sub-10 in mile two??? -- but it really was a nice morning to be out, and I was very upbeat.

After about three miles on the main bridle trails, we made a turn onto the first single-track section, the Company Mill trail. The first half-mile or so of the trail is blissfully downhill, but then you cross Lani's bridge (Lani slipped and fell there once) and start going uphill. That was the first place I really started huffing and puffing, and with each rise in elevation I got a little bit slower. In the trail section I only passed one person, but I was passed by at least ten or twelve other runners -- at least there was someone to talk to! Two years ago the Devil's Spine and the Tree o' Death were especially tough because of how slick the rain had made them, but this year they were no trouble. Company Mill took us back to the main bridle trail for an aid station and a creek crossing, and then we were back on single-track on the Sycamore Trail. The two trail sections parallel each other on opposite sides of the creek, so you could see the runners ahead and behind you for a little while. Then Sycamore starts going back and forth up the bluff, which made for another tough uphill. (I joked that they had used some stimulus money to add some new hills to the course.) Eventually, though, after about 3.5 miles of single-track (it always seems like more), we were back on the bridle trails for the rest of the race.

The middle part of the race is a big 8.5-mile loop that we run in both directions, with a few changes on the return. It doesn't seem like there are any level places; we get a nice break going down Powerline Hill, but then we have to go right back uphill to the aid station, and then we get a nice downhill on the Corkscrew, but it's immediately followed by an uphill at Bond Lake up to the aid station at Trinity Road. That's where I started taking some walk breaks, always trying to calculate my pace to make sure I wouldn't fall too far behind. After the aid station -- BTW, the volunteers all around the course were great and very encouraging, even to the back-of-the-pack runners -- I got to run South Turkey Creek, which is a nice level-to-downhill two-mile stretch that provided a nice break before we got into the big hills. I still felt really good and was able to enjoy those miles a lot. But after the Crabtree Creek crossing on the old roadbed, the hills of North Turkey Creek start coming into play, and they are serious hills. I walked up most of them and tried to make up the time on the few level spots and the downhills. I was a little relieved when I got to the halfway point in 2:40, which was much, much better than the 3-hour time I was pushing in 2008. Maybe there is something to not being a rookie on the course.

A great part of the loop-and-back section of the route is that you again get to see the whole field. The leaders were of course making it look easy, but I really appreciated that some of them spoke to us back-of-the-packers and encouraged us along; that goes a long way, and it's nice to have the talented runners encouraging the slower ones. I got to greet and encourage everyone as well, and it was good to see all my friends running strong on their return loop. Pretty soon, after I made my turn at the aid station, I figured out that there were only about four or five runners behind me.

The return loop probably wasn't as bad as I made it out to be, but I did worry when I took an extended walk break at mile 15 that I was going to drop below cutoff pace. And although I had all the leading runners to keep me company on the first loop, the return loop was very solitary and quiet running by myself; other than the aid station volunteers, most folks on the trail had packed up to go see the finish. By the time I hit the hill at mile 18, I was pretty much toast and walking more than running, although I did try to make up time wherever I could. At four hours, I calculated that I had just about 7.4 miles to cover in the two remaining hours, which would have sounded easy at the start of the race but was now beginning to worry me. I was lucky that there was an extended downhill back to Bond Lake, and I was able to rip off a 12:00 mile for mile 21 of the race, which I probably gave back by walking back up the Corkscrew.

There's a 2-mile spur out and back on the Cedar Ridge Trail once you get to the top of the Corkscrew, and that aid station was a very welcome sight. I tried picking up my jogging again wherever there was a break in the terrain, and that helped my spirits a good deal, as well as seeing some other runners coming back so I didn't feel as alone out there. There are some tough hills on the return trip, though, and it became apparent that I and one female runner were the last folks remaining on the course, as we didn't see anyone behind us.

Cemetery Hill was the last obstacle. I was walking as fast as I could at this point, knowing that I had 34 minutes to cover the last two miles. I jogged as best I could on a brief downhill, figuring that every quicker step would give me more breathing room on the cutoff. I had noted at the start of the race that the first half-mile was trending uphill, so I figured if I could get back to that point I could jog my way in and use the downhill to save a few seconds at the end. Finally I was back on the Camp Lapihio entrance road, jockeying for position with the cars of other runners headed back out after completing their race. I finally reached the top of the last rise and began jogging the final downhill back into camp, knowing I was going to make it within the cutoff time. Most of the folks in the cars shouted some final encouragement, and the guy on the PA announced my finish to the crowd at the camp. My final finish time on my Garmin was 5 hours, 57 minutes and 42 seconds for 26.38 miles -- the "missed cutoff" from 2008 is banished! I was very, very happy to be 161st out of 163 finishers.

(I had been anxious to see what the elevation profile of Umstead was when I downloaded my Garmin data, but I don't think it really reflects how uphill-and-downhill it feels. I'm told this is a better elevation profile, based more on actual elevations than off Garmin data. (click for larger version) Either way, it's not a flat race!)
The post-race party organized by Godiva was very nice. There were burritos from Moe's, lots of chips, gummi bears, water/Gatorade/hot chocolate/coffee, and massages from one of the sponsors. And I did get some soap as my door prize from one of the race sponsors. Each finisher got a nice pint glass with the race rabbit on it, and for the award winners there were rabbit-shaped plaques. The goodie bag was also well-stuffed, with lip balm from a sponsor, discount coupons, and some nice running socks. Everything about this event is just so well done. It is a tough, tough marathon, but you can tell it's a labor of love for those putting it on. I hope I'll be able to do it again someday, but for now I'm going to rest my sore legs and enjoy being an official finisher! Thanks, all!

You can tell that the Umstead Marathon is loved by many. There are lots of race reports from this year out there already.