Net proceeds from the 2008 Bluff 50k trail race came to $1,118 and this money has been donated equally between two local charities who work to maintain open space preserves in the area where the race takes place. [Read more…] about Bimblers Bluff 2008 Proceeds
Bimblers Bluff 50K: Exactly What You Think It Isn’t?
The following race report was sent in by runner Siskanna Naynaha
Greetings to all!
Sorry that it’s been so long since my last communication, but things have been so crazy here (I know, you’re sick of hearing that!). In addition to moving from Glastonbury to West Hartford, Connecticut in the last month, Joaquín started school at a new daycare, James started at a new high school, Mekyael has taken on new work territories in addition to New England (namely, northern New Jersey and all of New York except NYC and Long Island), and I have been enjoying teaching a new—to me—class (Latina/o lit) and designing another for spring (Writing Through Research; basically a course in advanced research and writing, which I am focusing on film as a rhetorical “text”). [Read more…] about Bimblers Bluff 50K: Exactly What You Think It Isn’t?
Official Bluff 50k Photographs
The official race photographs from the 2008 Bimbler’s Bluff 50k are now available from Chris Renda Photography. Chris took a ton of pictures during the race; I hope you will take a few moments to visit his site to view them and possibly support his work.
Bimbler’s Bluff 50k(my tree hugging experience)
The weather could not have been better for my first Ultra Trail Race. As we ran through Timberlands it was quite apparent the storm the night before dumped a whole new thick layer of leaves. The color of the autumn leaves gleamed in the morning sunshine. I coasted through Timberlands touching the old growth trees as I ran by them. I boogied through the race Hill section past the boundary boulders. I yelled at a runner going forward on Race Hill when they should have taken that hard left north into the Genesee Section. Power walked up first long hill. Reassured runners that we were on the right trail once on Red dot. Cruised up to and thru Mattabasset Trail connector (vw green). Carefully navigated gnarly sharp slippery rocks in the Broomstick ledges area. Yelled with excitement on my way down the trail to aid # 2. Met my buddy Nate there. I refueled my water bottle and heard Iggy say “eat like a horse Suds” so I did. Meet and greet with fellow bimblers Iggy and Ticket. Then off up steep trail (escalator) to the top for photo opts. [Read more…] about Bimbler’s Bluff 50k(my tree hugging experience)
Babysitting a violin – Bluff Race Director’s Report
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It must rank as one of the most unusual race director functions, but minutes before the start of the Bluff 50k I was asked if I could find a shaded safe place for a valuable violin belonging to one of the competitors. Just like ultra runners, it seems that antique instruments don’t do well if exposed to excessively hot conditions for too long, and unfortunately regular applications of Gatorade or salt tablets don’t do them much good either! Everything else about the ‘Bluff’ though did seem to live up to its pre-race hype of being “…exactly what you think it isn’t…”, when a few minutes after 8am on Sunday October 26th 2008, the 1st Bimbler’s Bluff 50k officially started. [Read more…] about Babysitting a violin – Bluff Race Director’s Report
We’re not bluffing!
We’re not bluffing when we say the Bluff 50k is really happening, but I bet if you’ve registered your heart just missed a beat because you thought it was cancelled! 🙂
If you are not registered, please do not arrive on race day seeking a late entry, the few cancellations we’ve had have been filled from a wait list. The volunteers checking runners in on Sunday will not be able to accept any race day entries. Early suggestions of rain on Sunday have been replaced with a forecast of sunny periods. The food and drinks have been purchased and a small army of over 30 volunteers will be on hand to dish the stuff out. If you’re not running but would like to watch, the Old Archery Range on route 80, Bluff Head on route 77 and Renee’s Way, Madison are going to be the best places to see and cheer the runners on. Plus of course, there will be the finish at Guilford Lakes School with the first runners should be back sometime between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm unless they discover that the Bluff really is “… exactly what you think it isn’t…”