A determined group of 8 runners started out at 9:00 am to run a loop or two ...or 16 at the Foolish Gerbil 100 Mile Run. The air was crisp but the skies were dry for a moment and at least for the first three loops it never rained hard. By the 3rd loop the eight runners had picked up 5 more Foolish Gerbils.
Claudia went AWOL after two laps. Pushpa's friend Harold who had never run more than 10km was seen on his 2nd loop and Wendy Montgomery, Caroline King, Neil Ambrose and Sibylle Tinsel called it a day after 3 loops or 30km - just in time before the forecasted heavy downpours hit. Lorie, Karl, Kirsten, Barry, Tim, Pushpa and John pressed on.
While we started in pretty decent running weather, the conditions deteriorated as the day wore on and by late afternoon it had become wet, cold, miserable, nasty and generally unpleasant.
Tim was experimenting with nutrition and discovered that he can run 50 K on just water. Hopefully giving him some insight to solving the stomach issues that plague him as he gets up into the 80 K range.
Lorie ran 50 miles in a great time of 9:23 as she racked up another 50 miler in her quest to complete 50 - 50 mile runs in her 50th year. She added an extra 5 K just...well, just because. Not bad for an old chick.
I had the pleasure of running with Pushpa and Kirsten for most of the first 60 K. Pushpa entertained us with some of her adventures which made the miles fly by.
Kirsten had not officially declared that she was going to do 100 mile event, but came all prepared anyway. We were running well until the 7th loop when the Piriformis/hip injury she sustained at Hundred in the Hood flared up again. Stretching couldn't resolve the issue so she wisely decided to call it a day before doing more long-term damage. Thanks for the company Kirsten.
Gilles was waiting for me with a Big Mac and three donuts at the end of my 8th loop. I love you man! Thanks for coming out in such appalling conditions. The food helped, but by this time the wet and cold had done it's damage. Many of the puddles on the course had turned into small lakes and it was impossible to go around them without bushwhacking. The dry gloves I had put on were soaked before the end of one loop. Even with four layers of clothes and running the hills I couldn't get warm. At 110 K I became concerned I was heading into hypothermia territory and decided that was enough. It was very disappointing. Our pace was good and I had 8 1/2 hours to do the last 51 K to get in under 24 hours. I guess I have some unfinished business with that trail.
Thanks to everyone who came out. It seems that you don't have to be a Fool to be a fool. Did I mention that the weather was somewhat unpleasant?
| Name |
Distance |
Time |
| Karl Jensen |
110 K |
15:29 |
| Lorie Alexander |
50 M* |
9:23 |
| Tim Wiens |
70 K |
8:09 |
| Kirsten Ramage |
70 K |
9:20 |
| Pushpa Chandra |
60 K |
6:40 |
| Barry Hopkins |
60 K |
7:08 |
| Chad Hyson |
38 K |
4:20 |
| David Papineau |
36 K |
3:11 |
| Sibylle Tinsel |
30 K |
3:30 |
| Wendy Montgomery |
30 K |
3:30 |
| John Machray |
30 K |
3:40 |
| Gilles Barbeau |
30 K |
4:29 |
| Claudia Bullington |
20 K |
2:12 |
| Harold Rydell |
20 K |
2:59 |
| Carolyn King |
Custom |
3:05 |
| Neil Ambrose |
Custom |
3:05 |
* + Lorie ran a bonus 5 K
Comments
Flash - 2009 Foolish Gerbil 100 Mile Trail Run - Results
The Foolish Gerbil started out in pretty decent running weather, but as the day wore on the conditions deteriorated and by late afternoon had become wet, cold, miserable, nasty and generally unpleasant.
Tim was experimenting with nutrition and discovered that he can run 50 K on just water. Hopefully giving him some insight to solving the stomach issues that plague him as he gets up into the 80 K range.
Lorie ran 50 miles in a great time of 9:23 as she racked up another 50 miler in her quest to complete 50 - 50 mile runs in her 50th year. She added an extra 5 K just...well, just because. Not bad for an old chick.
I had the pleasure of running with Pushpa and Kirsten for most of the first 60 K. Pushpa entertained us with some of her adventures which made the miles fly by.
Kirsten had not officially declared that she was going to do 100 mile event, but came all prepared anyway. We were running well until the 7th loop when the Piriformis/hip injury she sustained at Hundred in the Hood flared up again. Stretching couldn't resolve the issue so she wisely decided to call it a day before doing more long-term damage. Thanks for the company Kirsten.
Gilles was waiting for me with a Big Mac and three donuts at the end of my 8th loop. I love you man! Thanks for coming out in such appalling conditions. The food helped, but by this time the wet and cold had done it's damage. Many of the puddles on the course had turned into small lakes and it was impossible to go around them without bushwhacking. The dry gloves I had put on were soaked before the end of one loop. Even with four layers of clothes and running the hills I couldn't get warm. At 110 K I became concerned I was heading into hypothermia territory and decided that was enough. It was very disappointing. Our pace was good and I had 8 1/2 hours to do the last 51 K to get in under 24 hours. I guess I have some unfinished business with that trail.
Thanks to everyone who came out. It seems that you don't have to be a Fool to be a fool. Did I mention that the weather was somewhat unpleasant?
* + Lorie ran a bonus 5 K
Congrats to you all
I was in a warm, dry car or in a warm, dry house all weekend. It's really to bad that the weather was so crappy.
Congrats to everyone who stuck it out as long as they did.
What a miserable day for a 100 miles
Anyways, Gilles will be heading out this evening to meet up with Karl and help him through the night. As for Chulita and I, we'll stay indoors this time
30km was enough for Wendy and
30km was enough for Wendy and myself this morning. Great run and training terrain! Especially liked running as a group and chit chatting with everybody. Karl, please put Wendy and me down for 3:30.
Claudia ran 20km on roads yesterday and did 2:12 min for 20 km today, despite Sinusitis.