The Bluff 50K Race – A Runner’s Report

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The race was, in many ways, a “pumped-up” version of last year’s race. In 2008, the inaugural running of the Bimblers Bluff 50K Trail Race was nearly flawless. This year, the good parts got even better, and new goodies were added. A very practical AND stylish technical long sleeve shirt was a nice surprise. A new custom designed Buff made for an appreciated companion to last year’s finishers’ award. Goodies in our race bag, handouts from the major sponsor (Poron), and a carb-load meal the night before all added to the “value” of the race.Out on the trail there were some minor but welcome changes too. While the course marking was good last year, it was even better this year. I heard of nobody getting hopelessly lost. The runnable parts of the course got even more runnable this year where prior damage from forestry activities has been repaired. This improved runnability was proven out by the fast times.

What didn’t change from 2008? The RD’s fanatic attention to detail, the weather, the beauty all around us, the camaraderie, the ultra-enthusiastic volunteers, the good food, and the “surprise” at the difficulty of the race. So, what about “The Race”?

We lined up at the soccer field at Guilford Lakes School under sunny skies and over soggy ground. The heavy rains on Saturday assured that the course would have mud, slippery leaves, and high water crossings. However, the atmosphere would remain mild and sunny all throughout the race. After a beautiful performance of the National Anthem, we were off, once around the field to spread us out, then across a road with the traffic stopped by the Guilford Police, then into Timberlands on our way to the first aid station at approximately 3 miles. The Timberlands Preserve is a lot of fun during “fun runs” but can be challenging, and even frustrating, during races. Everything feels “small” to me in Timberlands, requiring lots of attention to detail. There are many turns and intersecting trails, all well marked. There are many ups and downs, none big, but very frequent, requiring constant shifting of “gears”, and there are many rocks and roots, demanding thoughtful foot placement for almost every step. In addition, at the start of the race, there are many runners around forcing you to either adopt their pace, or do a lot of tricky maneuvering. This is good, traditional “cross country” style racing. What I like about it is that it encourages you to not start out too fast.

Soon enough I carefully crossed Rte 80 with the help of race marshals,  and blew right past aid station #1 after checking in. I had 2 bottles and some Hammer Gel with me, and I was only 3 miles into the race, after all. Stopping would have been a better idea, as the next aid station was not for another 8 miles. This next section starts in the old North Guilford Archery Range. There is an extended stretch of very runnable single track trail with good footing, slight hills, minimal mud, and two tricky water crossings. I felt my speed increasing through this area. Fairly soon, I crossed Hart Road, which is very lightly traveled, and headed back into the woods. This next section, which includes property owned by the Guilford Sportsmen’s Association, the monastery, and the Regional Water Authority, which goes on for probably 4 to 5 miles, is almost all dirt and/or grass forest roads. There were some big puddles, but you can go fast, and I did. There are some very significant hills on this most ly road section, and it paid off for me to walk the biggest of them. Toward the end of the “road” parts, there are some huge (wide and deep) puddles and oozing mud. Normally, I would plow right on through. This time, I decided that dry feet would be happy feet late in the race, so I took the time to circumvent most of the puddles. After this stretch, the course returns to single track, and almost immediately reaches the end of the out-and-back and the beginning of the loop, done clockwise. The next mile or so to aid station #2 is very technical, with lots of ledges, and rock hopping, but with stable granite and quartz underfoot. Overall, the forest is fairly open here, as the stone ledges and cliffs discourage dense growth. Soon, the trail plunges into the gap to cross Rte 77 and approach aid station #2 and the bottom of The Bluff.

Kerry, the RD’s wife, reminded me to “calm down” and pace myself. That was wise and appreciated advice, as I was, admittedly, getting a little too enthusiastic. “Irrational Exuberance” had been responsible, in part, for a DNF at my previous race this fall. Walking up The Bluff is a no-brainer. I really do not see any other option. The trail up The Bluff seems to have been re-routed, very recently. There are now a series of switchbacks. They are a big help, but an elevator would be better. Eventually, the trail becomes runnable and goes up a series of false summits to the true top, which affords great views to the north, east, and south. It was along this stretch, between aid stations #2 and #3 that I fell into pace with Choukri Benmamoun, which turned out to be fortuitous for me. I did not previously know Choukri, but I sized him up as “fast”, but also as a “road runner”. I turned out to be correct on both counts. He quickly deduced that I was totally confident of where I was, and where the next turn would be. So we formed an unspoken alliance. He would keep me moving, quickly, and I would keep him on course. This is exactly what we did for the next 10 miles or more. The remainder of the course to aid station #3 has moderate hills, lots of turns without actual intersecting trails, and the most miserable footing. Loose traprock abounds, sometimes visible, sometimes hidden under wet leaves. Finally, a stretch of dirt road, a little more trail, and the course emerges onto Rte 77 about a mile north of aid station #2. Aid station #3 is on the far side of Rte 77. I made a brief stop at aid station #3 so as not to lose Choukri. The course then heads for aid station #4 at Renee’s Way in the Rockland Preserve. It is a very long 6 miles to aid station #4.

The Rockland Preserve has everything. Water crossings, mud, technical single-track, dirt roads, big hills, little hills, ledges, flats. It is a great place to train for all conditions in just a few miles of trail. This section beat me up badly last year, but this year, I came into it better prepared, and paced myself better through it. As a result, when I left aid station #4, I knew that an increase in speed might get me a good finish time, unlike last year when I knew an increase in speed would just help me make up for lost time in Rockland.

There is about 1.5 miles of mostly nice trail from aid station #4 until you finish the loop and turn left onto the out-and-back. Having said that, the single most technical section of the entire race, which I “affectionately” call The Minefield, can be found here.

Back onto the out-and-back, if you have your legs still playing along, you can make good time, with the encouragement of an ever closer finish line spurring you on. For much of this stretch, I maintained my connection to Choukri. However, as the trail got smoother, he got faster, AND more confident of his surroundings. At the last big hill in this section, I decided to walk to conserve energy, and he kept running. That was the last I would see of him until I finished. The smooth road and trail were allowing me to run fast enough to bring on some pain in my quads, and I was worried I would not be able to manage the final return from aid station #5. As it turned out, I was managing my pace fairly well. At aid station #5, I grabbed some M&Ms for a quick sugar boost, some potato chips, and a gulp of Gatorade. No need to refill my bottles, etc… I was planning on being done soon.

The final return through Timberlands provides all the challenges described previously, except the crowds. Since my quads had limited my speed through the previous section, I found myself with more energy than I expected. This allowed me to maintain as fast a pace as the technical trails would allow. As a result, I was able to pass two runners in Timberlands, two runners that I did not even expect to be there, as the sight-lines are very limited in Timberlands. I passed the second runner just before bursting out of the trees and onto the road. Fortunately, Big George was there warning cars of runners, because I was going too fast downhill to stop. While I had too much energy at the end, it sure was fun to sprint through the finish gate!

In the end, my low expectations for myself at this year’s race caused me to start very conservatively and ultimately better last year’s performance by roughly 6 minutes. I was ecstatic, especially in light of my recent DNF.

The Bluff 50K is a great race. It is Connecticut’s only trail ultra (so far), and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves trail races, and to marathoners looking to “kick it up a notch”. Don’t come if you are looking for fast times (I have run a 50K 30 minutes faster elsewhere). Come for great trails, great people, great organization, and a great sense of accomplishment when you cross the line.

Am I a little “biased” towards this race? OK, in the interests of “full disclosure”, I must acknowledge that I live 20 minutes away, I run the trails frequently, the RD is a friend of mine, and many of my friends, family, and training partners were either running or volunteering. Still, I assure you that if you are from “far away”, it is worth the trip, and if you know nobody when you get here, you can leave with new friends and future training partners. I make no assurances that you can leave with new family members, but hey, you never know…