Brisk. The mercury registered in the low 30's as 58 of us milled about the Wild Duluth 50K starting line in Chambers Grove Park at 8:00 AM on Saturday. Fellow NMTC runner Lisa M. (wildknits) was explaining that we should be leveraging the honey bee strategy to stay warm, in which drones huddle about the queen to keep her nice and toasty. The drones apparently rotate regularly from inside the cluster to outside and back to allow all insect peons the opportunity to eek some bit of warmth out of the deal. Of course, on occasion the drones on the outside succumb to the cold and die; a real bummer for them and a detail which Lisa seemed to gloss over rather quickly. Hmm. Good thing the gun was about to go off...

The start was a hill charge winding quickly up the ridge across Hwy 23. This initially followed a deer path, which must be used primarily by really skinny deer. The twisty single-track served to keep the adrenalin in check, however, which was probably a good thing. The path soon widened and started rolling toward the Grand Portage aid station, even throwing in (thankfully, only) a couple of the infamous Voyageur power line hills.

Excitement of the first few miles over, the race really began for me at Grand Portage. The line of runners had stretched out, and I was running in solitude on my favorite section of the course. Winding comfortably through the trees, I settled into the consistent atomic clock stride I hoped would propel me to Duluth. More leaves had come down in the past couple weeks, and though they hid a few rocks and roots, they were less of a problem than expected. The log steps, so treacherous during the Grand Traverse, were not too bad either. The 100K runners had started at Bayfront at 6:00 AM. I encountered the leader as I approached Beck's Rd., and he was moving. 20 miles under foot and he looked as if he had just started. Impressive.

Let me repeat from my GT blog... Ah, Ely's Peak. Always a treat. You have to say that with gritted teeth to get the full effect. Seems that thought crosses my mind every time I run up that hunk of granite. Love the view, though. Started seeing more 100K'ers as I made my way along the ridge toward the Munger aid station, including Shelly, who was moving right along and being paced by Eve and her faithful sidekick, Lammbeaux.

The "Big W", an 8-mile stretch mid-race where your day is buoyed, or broken – Bardon's Peak, down to the foot of Spirit Mt., up Knowlton Crk. (including the 138 log steps), down to the Zoo and back up Keene Crk. to Getchell. Much more tolerable this time around than during the GT and previous training runs. Better attention to hydration had staved off any cramping. (See? He can be taught.)

A short distance past the Getchell aid station, I heard someone say, "There he is!". Thankfully, it was not coming from a member of the Duluth law enforcement community. It was fellow NMTC members Jim and Carolyn Gunderson running down the trail toward me. They had come out to do some pacing and keep me from getting lazy as I headed toward the home stretch. They kept me company all the way to the last aid station before jumping in the car to zoom to the finish line. Thanks, you two – perfect timing, and much appreciated!

When I emerged from the woods below Enger Tower, a bagpiper was playing on the corner by the highway overpass. Cool. I dig bagpipes. Can't seem to convince my wife I should learn how to play, though. Go figure. I trotted my way across, down the ramp and around the corner into Bayfront Park - greeted by Leslie, who was looking relaxed and refreshed. Almost as if she had already been finished for an hour or so, which she had - after turning in a blistering 5:18, 2^nd female, 1^st in her age group. Nice.

My wife and son were waiting near the finish and I was able to coax Colter into racing me to the line. He finished his race in about 10 seconds, and I finished mine in 6 hours, 24 minutes - meeting my goal of sub 6:30. A scant couple of minutes later, Lisa came across the line - hot on my heels and also under 6.5 hours. (I'm glad I was just far enough ahead that she didn't catch sight of me – or she would have reeled me in like a big ol' carp.) Fantastic run, Lisa!

Over the next few hours an intermittent stream of runners, including many other NMTC and NorthlandRunner contributors, would continue to trot in – most of 'em smiling. Congratulations, Rick B., Wayne (the Zinger man from Rochester), Steve H., Ed D., Gene Gene the Running Machine, Rick K. and anyone I missed or simply haven't been acquainted with yet. And, of course, a special bow to Shelly, the 100K iron woman. Way to go!

So, the first ultra-marathon is in the books. Good weather, good trail, good friends, damn good time. I would like to compliment Andy and Kim Holak and all of their fantastic volunteers for putting on one fine event. I tip my hat to you all.

I'll be back.

One final note: I noticed upon arriving at the NMTC Hartley run on Sunday that most of the early arrivals were people that had run in Wild Duluth events the day before.

You bunch of crazies...

Great recap Ron!

I forgot to mention that the male bees are all tossed outside of the hive and not allowed back in - they starve to death. it is just the female workers and queen that huddle together in the winter... sorry guys!

I will let M. Johnson, DDS know you appreciated his efforts! He showed up to 'pipe' me in and ended up entertaining quite a few other runners as he waited for me to show up.  He was a hit with the race directors as well - maybe a tradition has started?

No worries about me reeling you in on Saturday, though if I had known you were so close.....  ;-)

Way to go at Hartley, BTW - you like that 4 minute lead on me I guess ;-)

Great narrative as usual - thanks Ron!!

I want to know if anyone else has counted those Knowlton Creek steps - I've come up with 131 twice now - I'm convinced there's 131...

Aw shucks...thanks Ron!!

You looked really good when we passed you too...very strong!

Ah, the last statement in your post should have said

'WE bunch of crazies'!!!

Congrats on your first ultra ;-)

Knits - So the male bees get kicked out, eh? Worse than I thought. So, kind of removes my commitment to the warming huddle then? (He he.)

Leslie / Rick - Everytime I talk of the steps I think I'm going to add a couple more, until it sounds like we were marching up Machu Pichu.

Shelly - I knew someone was going to catch my pronoun slight of hand... Should have known it would have been the craziest one of the lot. 

Great wite up! Now I know where the heck I was! I had no clue where we were on that trail...all the way to Machu Picchu and back! Someday I'll figure it all out.

Congrats on the first Ultra!

It was nice to meet you, Ron.  And Congrats on your first ultra!  Impressive run and I enjoyed the write-up.  The whole zinger thing didn't really work out - I didn't get any to Shelly, I didn't get any to you… by the end of the weekend Lisa and Jon each had one and I had eaten the rest.  (Ok, on second thought it worked out just fine!)  Any thoughts on what your 2nd ultra will be?  I'm sure the gang can come up with a lot of suggestions.  :)

But Ron - we are human and can modify or behavior unlike the bees. I vote for keeping the males around.

Caught the pronoun, just opted to ignore it.

having never had a zinger before last weekend I guess I toppled a couple of barriers at one fell swoop. Not sure yet if Wayne is a good or bad influence....  ;-)

Will start throwing that list together for your next ultra, though I hear the Full Voyaguer may have a couple of new entrants.... 

Wayne / Lisa - My tentative plan calls for the Superior Trail 50K in the spring, the Voyageur 50-miler for summer and one of the Wild Duluth races for fall. All preliminary, and subject to any quirks in my schedule.

Any suggestions for cool trail events are always welcome.

The Chippewa Moraine 50K is a great race and a perfect 3 weeks before the Superior 50K.  :)

http://chippewa50.com/