This year, I took the chance to kick off the year right with two 50ks New Year’s weekend. On Saturday, we ran the Tsali 50k in the mountains of North Carolina, then hopped in the car and drove to Atlanta, where on Sunday morning we got up and ran the GUTS Fat Ass 50k.
The physical challenge of it was fun and it takes discipline. You don’t want run all out on the first race and find yourself horribly sore and stiff, or even injured on the second, so even if you don’t have a “fast” time in the first race, it doesn’t matter- most of those people aren’t going to be running a second ultra the next day anyway.
The extra wrinkle in this weekend, though, was the bitter cold. We started both races at 18F and finished both at 31F, but that just made it more of challenging and truly memorable way to start 2010.
And of course with running both in the same weekend, it was only natural to compare the two…
Tsali Frosty Foot Fest 50k
Brrr...we didn't expect snow!
The Story: This is the second year for this race. According to the race info, the proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (a worthy cause), but oddly, in a sport that doesn’t typically offer money prizes, this small set of races (50k, 25k and 8k) has a $1000 cash purse (“for the top 3 male/female in each distance”). I have to wonder if this is the reason for the surprising lack of amenities this year. Fewer people signed up for the 50k than last year, meaning fewer dollars coming in to support a cash purse.
The Company: It was a race party weekend with good friends and training partners, the Quick Chicks and extended QC Clan. Tracy Rafferty and Terry Cash were going for their first 50k finishes and Liza Graves was heading for her third (this was her first 50k last year). The group had rented a cabin from fellow QC Nancy Johnson and it was hard afterward to leave the gang to head toward Atlanta. The company made this the perfect setup for a great day…
Some of our 50kers at the start - Tracy Rafferty, Terry Cash, and Liza Graves.
The Quick Chicks (l-r) Liza Graves, Julie Adams, Tracy Lee, Susan Musser, Tracy Rafferty (aka Momma Chick).
Honorary QC Shane Hege, the leader of our 50k contingent.
Course: The route winds along single track mountain bike trail and dirt road in Tsali Recreation Area, most of which skirts the shore of Fontana Lake. With the cold weather, we had some awesome views of snow-covered peaks in Great Smoky Mountains National Park across the lake.
Tsali starting area.
SWAG: A long-sleeved tee shirt. Last year, all finishers got medals. This year’s entry info said “Medals to age group winners” and “Awards ceremony and raffles will be held at 2:00pm. Winners must be present to win.” Two o’clock?!? We would have had to run a zippy 5-hour 50k, even though the cutoff is a full 8 hours, to make it there by 2:00 p.m. Hapless runners like us that finished in 6:56, two of which were age group winners, just didn’t get medals. Though medals may not be a big deal, we had all been talking about donating ours to a program at the Children’s Hospital, and it would have been nice to be at least recognized as an age group winner and have something to donate.
Conditions: 18F at the start and snowing…painful windchill all day as we wove in and out of the coves on the lakeshore…31F at the finish.
Aid Stations: My friends asked what there would be at the aid station tables and I told them probably the same as last year – GU and vanilla cookies. Since the entry form advertised “feed/water stations approximately ever five miles,” and this was the second year for the race, I assumed it would be at least as good as last year and advised my friends the same. We all packed a couple of GUs anyway, just in case.
True, there were aid stations about every five miles, but shockingly lacking was the “feed” part of the equation. Of five aid stations, one was water only, three had Powerade, and only one had food of any kind – a box of oatmeal cookie sandwiches and an unappealing bread loaf bag with PB&J quarters molded together at the bottom. The aid station workers were very friendly, but the aid was certainly not as advertised and we were all incredibly thankful we packed the few “in case of” GUs we did. Really, I’ve seen incredibly better aid stations at races that operate on a donation instead of a race entry fee. But if that’s the way it’s going to be, for heaven’s sake at least be clear about it so we know to pack all our own food.
Food at the End: None, absolutely none. Though the entry info promised “chili or pasta lunch to follow races,” and we finished over an hour before cutoff, the food was all gone and the race organizers were packing up. Rob and I nibbled on a bag of chips we happened to have in the car until we made it to Atlanta for dinner.
Ambience: In one word, impersonal. In another word, nonexistent.
Bottom Line: $50 for a tee shirt and three water bottles’ worth of Powerade. I was embarrassed for my sport and worried that Tracy Rafferty and the rest of the QC crowd would think this is what all ultras were like!
GUTS Fat Ass 50k
At the risk of repeating myself...BRRR!!!
The Story: This is a well-attended (it filled to capacity) Fat Ass run put on by the Georgia Ultrarunning and Trailrunning Society (GUTS) for its members to kick off the new year. I should probably explain that the term “Fat Ass” refers to a type of low key run that abides by the motto “no fees, no awards, no aid, no wimps.” It’s typically held after the holidays (thus, the name). You get a map or directions of the course but there aren’t usually any course markings or aid, and though over the years, some Fat Ass runs like this have become a little more elaborate than others, none are structured like a race. It’s a very simple setup.
The Company: Plenty of GUTS friends I love to see and run with. Again, the perfect setup for a great day.
Course: Four loops, starting at the RD’s house through Kennesaw National Battlefield, a popular urban park that include water crossings and a nice rocky hill.
Andy Colee heading along the course through the Battlefield.
Andy, again, heading over a bridge on the course.
Upping the bar: the GUTS idea of aid station food.
SWAG: Since this is a Fat Ass, the correct answer here is “none,” though we could have bought a “fat ass” tee shirt.
Conditions: Exactly the same as Tsali except windchill feels a bit worse because the course is more exposed.
Aid Stations: Four, with one every loop at the RD’s house, complete with two outside campfires, a standing heater, and inside bathroom! The array of food was impressive – Sport Beans, homemade ooey gooey bars, homemade cookies, pimiento cheese sandwiches, pasta, crackers, potato chips, dark chocolate M&Ms, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, water, Powerade, and plenty more stuff I can’t even remember.
Registration area, in Janice's garage.
Food at the End: Alas, there was a huge vat of hot chili but none of it vegetarian. The veggie version had already been consumed by the time we finished. We had to hop in the car once again and head to a restaurant.
Ambience: A party, even if it WAS bitter cold. There were plenty of people there to greet you and take care of you every loop and at the end.
Janice, the GUTS RD, at her home (i.e., the aid station). Sarah Tynes, the Pine Mountain 40-Mile RD behind her in yellow.
Bottom Line: $20 donation for a smorgasbord of race drinks and food (including homemade ooey gooey bars), comforting amenities, use of the RD’s house, and party ambience. Way more than advertised.
Bottom Bottom Line? Doing two races was a fun way to start the year with a bang and one I’ll never forget – I’d recommend trying it if you ever get the chance.
And if your first ultra doesn’t keep it’s promises, even in the low key world of ultras, give the sport another chance. As you can see, that’s the exception, not the rule.
Susan, I ran Tsali last year and was not real impressed. I about passed out somewhere along the last section due to lack of nutrition. Didn’t bring any food with me thinking the aid stations would be adequate. It was my first ultra and I had no clue what to expect. Stupid me went ahead and signed up for it again this year but was very leary when I read the part about the aid stations. I emailed the race director and he said he didn’t have enough volunteers to man more than 4 stations. My entry fee became a donation at that point. I DNS’d. Much better races than that one in the area!
January 25, 2010 at 7:00 am | Reply
Re: Tsali…I must say volunteers were not the problem. Every station was manned with at least 2 people; they just had no food. And I asked at each one “do you have gu,food, etc” just in case it was out of sight! I know all ultras are not like that which is why I want to give another one a chance. Soon! Thanks for the company; it was a great day.
January 25, 2010 at 10:37 am | Reply