The North Face Endurance Challenge Massachusetts
"A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity. The order varies for any given year" -- Paul Sweeney
This past weekend I completed the The North Face Endurance Challenge Massachusetts (TNFEC MA) 50 mile race at Wachusett Mountain. The race included two summits of Wachusett, over 25 miles of gnarly, rocky single track, another 12ish miles of less technical single trick, and another 12ish miles of fire road. I had a strong performance sliding in just under 10 hours taking 10th place overall.
After a 3:25 AM wake up and short drive to the mountain, I was able to watch the sunrise shortly before the race began. After going into Transvulcania so exhausted last month, I was excited to see how I would perform after being rested and sleeping in my own bed.
The Ultramarathon Man, Dean Karnazes himself, kicked the race off with a few words of encouragement (Also telling us he thinks TNFEC MA is one of the hardness North Face races due to the technical terrain).
We started with 700' of climbing over the first 2 miles with a mix of trail and fire road and bounced around some before summitting the Mountain, via Harrington Trail, at the end of the 6th mile. From there we dropped a few hundred feet and immediately summited again. I was holding a pretty solid pace, but those scrambles took a bit out of me.
After the Wachusett Mountain climbs, we jumped on the Mid-State trail (a trail that vertically traverses MA from the NH to RI borders) and headed over to Leominster state forest. For a while now, I have had a goal of running the full Mid-State (92 miles in length), but after spending between 12-15 miles on it this past weekend, I may put it off for a few more years. The section I was on was overgrown, had short steep climbs, and was quite rocky.
After struggling through mile 15 in 16:22, I was a little worried for what was yet to come. Luckily, once I arrived at the state forest I was met with some less technical single track that eventually turned in even less technical fire road. By mile 25, I was in high spirits and had even gotten my pace below 11:30. This was far cry from where I was at mile 25 at Transvulcania and I was relieved to be half way done.
Mile 25-30 put on another hurt with some more rocky single track on a trail called "Rocky Pond." Luckily, following this you were granted a second loop through the state forest, which meant 4 miles non-technical single track, 5 miles fire road, and 5 more miles of "rocky pond."
I breezed through miles 30-39. Ok, breezed really isn't the correct word. First, I questioned why I signed up for the 50 mile and not the 50k. Then, I questioned what I was doing in the first place. Finally, I questioned every aspect of the next two years that I have planned out.
As I stopped at the next aid station, somewhere around 34, I remembered one of the keys to snapping out of my funk at Transvulcania, Coke. After a few cups, I started moving again and miraculously a few minutes later I was feeling good. It only lasted for about 3 miles, but I was able successfully repeat this cycle multiple times until I finished the race.
I have yet to determine what causes this nausea. Not sure if it is the heat, an electrolyte imbalance, or simply my body revolting against me as I have found a way to push through the pain. But the key to getting through it appears to be anything carbonated.
As I went back into the woods at mile 39, I knew I had my work cut out for me over the final 11 miles. Almost all of it was rocky single track. At this point I had merged back with the 50k runners and was passing them fairly regularly. Every "nice job", "you look great", and pat on the back had a huge impact on propelling me forward. In order to hit my goal of sub 10 hours all I needed was to hold sub 15 minute pace on these miles.
After a hell of a push with a bunch of 13-19 minute miles, completed with both calf and hamstring muscles cramping, I arrived back at Wachusett Mountain and had the finish line in view. As I descended into the finish and saw the clock, I just smiled through the pain. Ultramarathon number 17 was in the books.
... and more importantly, I now have my 8 qualifying points for UTMB 2019. I haven't decided if I want to do the OCC (56k) or the CCC (100k), but I am hoping to make the trip to Chamonix to see the beautiful Mont Blanc and race with the worlds greatest trail runners.
After a change of clothes, some recovery drink, food, and a beer I headed home. Saturday was my 11th wedding anniversary and the day wasn't over yet.
Amy, thank you for your love, trust, partnership, tolerance, and support in all that I do.
Until the next one.
Scot
The North Face Endurance Challenge Massachusetts
Location: Princeton, MA
Location: Princeton, MA
Date: 5/9/2018
Distance: 50 Miles
Distance: 50 Miles
Goal: Sub 10 hours
Actual: 9:54:56
This past weekend I completed the The North Face Endurance Challenge Massachusetts (TNFEC MA) 50 mile race at Wachusett Mountain. The race included two summits of Wachusett, over 25 miles of gnarly, rocky single track, another 12ish miles of less technical single trick, and another 12ish miles of fire road. I had a strong performance sliding in just under 10 hours taking 10th place overall.
 |
| Pre-race |
The Ultramarathon Man, Dean Karnazes himself, kicked the race off with a few words of encouragement (Also telling us he thinks TNFEC MA is one of the hardness North Face races due to the technical terrain).
We started with 700' of climbing over the first 2 miles with a mix of trail and fire road and bounced around some before summitting the Mountain, via Harrington Trail, at the end of the 6th mile. From there we dropped a few hundred feet and immediately summited again. I was holding a pretty solid pace, but those scrambles took a bit out of me.
After the Wachusett Mountain climbs, we jumped on the Mid-State trail (a trail that vertically traverses MA from the NH to RI borders) and headed over to Leominster state forest. For a while now, I have had a goal of running the full Mid-State (92 miles in length), but after spending between 12-15 miles on it this past weekend, I may put it off for a few more years. The section I was on was overgrown, had short steep climbs, and was quite rocky.
 |
| The Summit |
Mile 25-30 put on another hurt with some more rocky single track on a trail called "Rocky Pond." Luckily, following this you were granted a second loop through the state forest, which meant 4 miles non-technical single track, 5 miles fire road, and 5 more miles of "rocky pond."
I breezed through miles 30-39. Ok, breezed really isn't the correct word. First, I questioned why I signed up for the 50 mile and not the 50k. Then, I questioned what I was doing in the first place. Finally, I questioned every aspect of the next two years that I have planned out.
As I stopped at the next aid station, somewhere around 34, I remembered one of the keys to snapping out of my funk at Transvulcania, Coke. After a few cups, I started moving again and miraculously a few minutes later I was feeling good. It only lasted for about 3 miles, but I was able successfully repeat this cycle multiple times until I finished the race.
I have yet to determine what causes this nausea. Not sure if it is the heat, an electrolyte imbalance, or simply my body revolting against me as I have found a way to push through the pain. But the key to getting through it appears to be anything carbonated.
 |
| The Finish |
After a hell of a push with a bunch of 13-19 minute miles, completed with both calf and hamstring muscles cramping, I arrived back at Wachusett Mountain and had the finish line in view. As I descended into the finish and saw the clock, I just smiled through the pain. Ultramarathon number 17 was in the books.
... and more importantly, I now have my 8 qualifying points for UTMB 2019. I haven't decided if I want to do the OCC (56k) or the CCC (100k), but I am hoping to make the trip to Chamonix to see the beautiful Mont Blanc and race with the worlds greatest trail runners.
After a change of clothes, some recovery drink, food, and a beer I headed home. Saturday was my 11th wedding anniversary and the day wasn't over yet.
Amy, thank you for your love, trust, partnership, tolerance, and support in all that I do.
 |
| Celebrating our Anniversary |
Until the next one.
Scot
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