Blog - Page 37 of 54

September 20, 2016

VT50 Warning-Bee Sting Allergy? Bring your Kit

A heads up folks,
The ground bees are out in full force this year. So if you have bee sting allergies, please bring your bee sting kits.

For folks without allergy, the stings still hurt so be aware of where you are treading with tires and sneakers.

September 19, 2016

Note from VT50 Race Director. Mike S-Almost Race Time

Hello Vt50 Race Participants

Less than one week away and we are all getting our jitters. So many emails going out and coming in. Many of you veteran VT 50 participants know the routine but some newbies don’t.

Please review and print our online documents:
Vermont 50 Documents to Print

The Saturday packet pick up from 12-8. Also on Saturday we have vendors and the kids races…

Pre-Race Pasta Dinner
Saturday Night the Resort puts on a dinner you can buy tickets at the front desk. The NEW chef sounds like he will have a GREAT meal for you and the family.
Windham Building Holiday Inn Club Vacations
Date: September 24, 2016
Time: 5-8:30 pm
Prices $14.95 adults, children under 12- $8.95
Meal tickets available for purchase at the Holiday Inn Club Vacations Hotel Front Desk.

Menu will include: Linguini, Penne Meat Sauce Marinara Sauce Alfredo Sauce Baked Ziti Assorted breads Assorted steamed vegetables Apple Crisp, cookies, brownies Assorted can soda Water Cash Bar Buffet style starting at 5 pm and will remain open till 8:30 pm Gluten Free Options will be available.

SUNDAY
It could be COLD Sunday morning!
If you are not local, you should be aware that the evenings and mornings have been chilly. Getting dark earlier and dark in the early morning, so be prepared.

Pre-Race Check-in and meeting for 50 Mi Mtn Bikes and Runners
Sunday start is early and the morning mandatory check in starts at 5AM for the 50 milers.
With the pre-race meeting starting at 5:30 sharp!

50Km Check in and Start
50K check in is at 7:30 with pre-race and the START is at 8AM

Parking, Oh Boy-PARKING
PARKING race morning it is IMPORTANT you leave enough time to check in and listen to the meeting.
Traffic is VERY heavy and the 600 cars need to flow in, which can be an issue.
Remember NO RVs, we do NOT have room.

Energy Drink On Course-GATORDE
On course drink became an issue, I will take the blame.
RUNNERS the “Tail Winds” will not be on course this year!!!!!!
We have to use “Gatorade” because of this late issue.
NEXT year TW will be there.

Race Course Changes-We have some!
As many know, the Vermont 50 goes through many Private Lands, which makes the race special. It also causes last minute issues… lands sold. New owners, logging, and so on. There have been a few last minute snarls which could cause some minor changes with distances between stations. This is more of an issue for Runners than bikers. We will do our best to keep it less noticeable and doable for you.

You’ll find out some of these changes at the mandatory pre-race meeting, please be there to hear these changes!

Chipped BIBs around the finish area-please remove the chip…
Timer request: wearing your chipped bib near the finish line after you cross causes multiple readings. It will be best if you would either remove the chip attached or just keep the bib way from the finish line. Thanks for your help.

Volunteers still needed.
Remember if you are not going to be with us racing, we could always use more volunteers. Sign up is on our site at https://vt50volunteers.blogspot.com/

Another reminder that there is no transferring of bibs / plates allowed.

More info to come, probably-you know me
Most importantly, this is NOT my last blog, I am sure. BUT all next week I will be WORKING on the race and mostly down at the site. There is little to no cell reception. I will try to answer your emails in the evenings.
Have a GREAT week
Mike

September 18, 2016

Note from VT50 Race Director Mike-Mtn Bikers, Relay Teams

Race Waves
What are they and Why?

From our timing company

“I have a Penalty field set up for this year so just let me know if it will be 10:00 or some other number for leaving in an earlier wave than designated. Note that the system should handle 99% of the starters perfectly but no chip system is 100% (yet), so staging everyone correctly is very important. The WAVE number will be on every bib now on the label, so if you have strong people announcing this and making sure everyone looks at their bib and knows they have to go in the right wave or a later wave or get a penalty, that should lessen the abuse a lot.

There were more than a dozen who went early last year.

Race Information Changes-Things are pretty much etched in stone now.
Over the past several months we had asked for any changes to your information. This was to make sure we had it correctly stated in our database. This also gave us information we used to order our plate numbers, which are also color coated for your category and wave start.

That said at this point no more changes to your category are being accepted…Expert, Sport and Novice. This will allow us to really monitor who started when. This will also help you know when to start race morning.

The BIG orange sign stating which wave is back for dark morning hours. Between the wave number on the plate, the Big sign and the PA announcements we hope this will help organize the usually confusing start. Please understand we put a lot of effort to this.

Also remember each wave is compensated for the time they start. So you do NOT lose time.

IF YOU WANT TO START WITH A FRIEND WHO IS STARTING LATER YOU MAY. UNDERSTAND YOU WILL ACCEPT LOSING YOUR OVERALL TIME.

BUT your friend cannot start ahead with out accepting the 20-minute time penalty and the added correct wave start time.

I know MOST of you are out for the ride and this may seem “harsh” and “why”… but for those who are competing, we hope we are improving our end of the day results. If you only knew how many emails I receive telling me who started before they were suppose to. Lets just enjoy the day and ride some of the most beautiful trails in VT.

Just to let you know how important it is to start in the correct wave.

As stated on our Entrants page:

If you start in a wave ahead of your designated wave/category/age group, your start time will be moved back to the wave time you were classified in and an additional 20 minutes will be added to your finishing time. Your time starts when the chip in your Bib/Plaque crosses the timing mat.

The race cut off time for everyone is 6:30 p.m.

Relay Runners
One Bib per Team, One Car per Team

Please visit our web page at https://vt50relay.blogspot.com/ for more information.

BUT I wanted tell you that only one bib will be chipped and you have to pass it to each member that is running a leg. There will be extra bibs at the finish if you want one to bring home.

Also there will be a tag for the post race BBQ on each bib.

Each team will need a single car pass to be at the aid station to exchange runners. This pass will be available at packet pick up by the information table.

Please be sure to coordinate this with your team mates.

Remember only one runner from each team is allowed to be on course at a time.
On car per Relay Team.

Thanks,
Mike S. and The Race Committee

September 16, 2016

Vermont 50 Race Course

50 Mile Course Description

The Course starts on the road only 100 yards from the Registration Tent. You head down the paved Resort entrance road to Rte. 44. Sharp left, followed by an equally-sharp right turn onto unpaved Brook Rd. Now after 4/10 mi. turn left to start a 2.3 mile stretch of climbing and rolling dirt, then gravel roads to the first aid station.

Now you’ve got about 2 miles of uphill on snowmobile ATV trail. Then 1.5 of road before your next aid station, followed by 4 more miles of trail to Skunk Hollow.

After the aid station at the Skunk Hollow Tavern (@12 mi.), the next 8 mile stretch includes less than 2 on trail. Enjoy it because it’s going to change. A key feature of this course is the fact that it pretty much alternates between road and trail and gives you plenty of hills to deal with.

At mile 20 you’ll encounter 1812′ Garvin Hill, the highest point in Hartland, and wind up over and around it before heading back south on more trails and gravel roads. This includes a long descent of Densmore Hill Road, part of the revised 100 mile course, and then back up an equally long hill trail. At about 28 miles you come out onto Reeves Rd., where the 50K route hooks back in. Now there’s over 2 miles of fairly decent terrain road, passing Smoke Rise Farm, but, of course, followed by more canopied trail. Be aware that the great majority of the trails on the course are quite ride able / run able with little in the way of rocks or roots. Almost all are part of the Green Mountain Horse Association trail network and are well maintained.

After Greenall’s Aid Station at 31.9 mi there is another brief road segment; followed by a weaving route through the woods and meadow around Blood Hill, some steeps near the 100 finish meadow and a climb over a 1,600′ attention getter. In the last 11 miles the only road pieces you’ll be seeing will be one, then a half and then a quarter mile long, respectively.

You can pick up your pacer at Aid Station #9 Stones (approx. mile 42), but they have to ride on the shuttle to get there. The rest of the way is mostly trail, which gets progressively tougher when you enter onto the cross country network after the last aid station (Johnson’s), with about 3 miles to go. In the last mile you’ll be crossing the lower Ascutney Alpine slopes on mostly grassy trail, with some side pitch, mostly to the left.

It’s worth all the effort you’ve expended when you can finally look down at the finish line by the base lodge and pound/pedal your way down a quarter mile of blessed downhill. For those familiar with the Vermont100 course, the 50 Mile is basically superimposed on the last third but actually shares less than 10 miles of it. About 2/3 (67%) of the 50 Mile course is on trails or jeep (unimproved) roads. 30% is on smooth, rolling gravel roads and 3% is on pavement. It is a challenging course, with good footing/traction, plenty of hills and classic Vermontscenery that will be a welcome distraction.
The total vertical elevation for the 50 Mile race is about 8,900 feet.

Note, the following are the approximate percentages:

Gravel Rd./Trail or Jeep Rd./Pavement

50 Mile: 30% , 67% , 3%

50 Km.: 37%, 58%, 5%

50K Course Description

If you’re looking for flat and fast, this isn’t for you. If you are looking for something that isn’t quite so challenging as the 50 mile, listen.

Now it’s time to really get to work, when you enter onto 2+ miles of snowmobile-ATV trail which is fairly steep at the outset. When you exit the trail onto gravel road, at about mile 6, you take a sharp left, whereas the 50 milers went right to tackle 19 miles of stuff you don’t have to worry about.

You’ll get to your second aid station (2K-Ralph’s) shortly, followed by 3+ miles of gradual uphill smooth road. You may see 50 milers joining in from a trail on your right. They’ll be with you for ¾ mile until you get to the Margaritaville aid station, where you turn left onto trail again, and they keep going straight. After another ¾ mile you’ll join the 50 milers again, from which point your course to the finish is the same as theirs.

After the Greenall’s aid station at 13.4 mile there’s another brief road segment, followed by a weaving route through the woods and meadow around Blood Hill. A few more steeps near the 100 mi. Meadow, and a climb over a 1,600’ attention-getter. In the last 11 miles the only road pieces you’ll be seeing will be one, then a half and then a quarter mile long, respectively.

From Stones aid station, the rest of the way is mostly trail, which gets progressively tougher when you enter onto the cross country network after the last aid station (Johnson’s), with about 3 miles to go. In the last mile you’ll be crossing the lower Ascutney Alpine slopes on mostly grassy trail, with some side pitch, mostly to the left.

It’s worth all the effort you’ve expended when you can finally look down at the finish line above the base lodge and pound your way down the last blessed quarter mile.

Almost 2/3 of your total course is trail, most of which provides fairly decent footing, with little in the way of rocks or roots. Eight miles of it is on segments of the 100 Mile course.
The total vertical for the 50 Km is about 5,600’.

Race Weekend Sheet

Directions to Ascutney Mountain Resort
Ascutney Mountain Resort is 10 miles from exit 8 or 9 off Interstate 91

Map Of race area

Race Parking
Please park at the base lodge (and other designated spots only.) Walk or bike down to the race office-BIG TENT-in the Cunningham building lot (look for signs). Please use parking lots only for parking!! To get to the Base Lodge when turning off Route 44 continue straight (do not take turn). The parking lot will be on your right. If you park on the grass you will be towed!

Vehicles On Course
Participants must register ONE vehicle at the Information Table to be allowed on course. Relay Teams-one vehicle per team. Please stay off the actual race course as much as possible. You will be given Handler/Crew directions to designated Aid Stations at the Info. Table.

Drop bags
Drop bags will be measured and weighed at the Information table also. See Drop Bag 101

Course Information:
Mountain Bike Guidelines and Course Description
Runner Guidelines and Course Description

The race cut off time for everyone is 6:30 p.m.

Vermont 50 Relay Team
Relay Team Information
Relay Race Areas-You must Have A Parking Permit to Drop off Your Team Members-one vehicle per team!

Mileage breakdown:
12.3 Miles Start to Skunk Hollow
17.9 Miles Skunk Hollow to Greenall’s
19.8 Miles Greenall’s to finish
Relay runners are responsible for getting themselves to the exchange points. Only one vehicle per team will be allowed, and it must have an official Parking Permit, which must be obtained at the Information Desk.

Mountain Bike Race
Mountain Bike Categories:
Novice – entry level or first time competitor.
Sport – intermediate competitor
Expert – very advanced competitor

Mt. Bike Age Groups
12- 17 Junior
18 – 26 Senior I
27 – 34 Senior II
35 – 44 Veteran
45 – 54 Master I
55 – 64 Master II
65 and up Master III
Biker age as of 12/31 race year

Additional Mt. Bike Classes:
Clydesdale – Novice (min. weight 200 lbs)
Clydesdale – Sport (min. weight 200 lbs)
Tandem

Endurance Run Race
Runners Male and Female in each category and class
Runner Age Groups:
12-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70-and up
Runners age is what they are on race day

September 15, 2016

Vermont 50 Race Weekend Food Preivew

We dare you not to gain weight this weekend…

Gluten free and vegetarian options will be available.

Saturday

Lazy Cow

Pre-Race Pasta Dinner (not included in your registration fee)

Where: Mountain View Ballroom, Windham Building Holiday Inn Club Vacations
Date: September 24, 2016
Time: 5-8:30 pm
Prices $14.95 adults, children under 12- $8.95
Meal tickets available for purchase at the Holiday Inn Club Vacations Hotel Front Desk.

Menu will include:
Linguini, Penne
Meat Sauce
Marinara Sauce
Alfredo Sauce
Baked Ziti
Assorted breads
Assorted steamed vegetables
Apple Crisp, cookies, brownies
Assorted can soda
Water
Cash Bar
Buffet style starting at 5 pm and will remain open till 8:30pm
Gluten Free Options will be available.

Sunday

ON COURSE Aid Station Food*

FINISH LINE FOOD

Two Snack/Aid Stations for Participants Only
Volunteers will host and restock tables for our racers
One Table for Mountain Bikers and One Table for Runners
Mountain Bike Table open approx 10:30 a.m.
Runner Table open approx. noon (earlier if needed)

Post Race Meal for Participants, Volunteers and Landowners

This meal is included in your entry fee
Mtn Bikers-your wristband is your meal ticket
Runners-your BIB pull tab is your meal ticket
Volunteers-your wristband is your meal ticket

(menus subject to change without notice)

Coventry Catering

Menu to be served on a rotating entree basis

Serving from approx. 11:30 a.m.-6:45 p.m.

Vegetarian Chili, Meat on the side
Pulled Pork Sandwich
Macaroni and Cheese
Potato Salad
Cole Slaw
Quinoa Salad

This meal is NOT self served and is NOT all-you-can-eat. This food is provided to feed our race participants, volunteers and landowners.
A limited number of meals will be available for purchase from Coventry Catering. Meal tickets will be on sale at the Merchandise Table.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Spectators, Family, Friends-Vendor Food Available

Lazy Cow

Coventry Catering

*Aid station workers will make every effort to separate items containing nuts from the other food, but those with food allergies must take responsibility for checking about this practice each time they take food, or supply their own food with their crew or handlers. If you have specific dietary needs, you will need to pack your own snack food in drop bags for Aid Stations #3, #7, and #10.