Bluff Course Maps
July 16, 2008 by Mr Bimble · 4 Comments
Click here to view maps of the Bluff course. Also watch the Bulletin Board for annoucements regarding Bite of the Bluff training runs for an opportunity to try sections of the route with people who think they know the way!
New England National Scenic Trail
July 11, 2008 by Mr Bimble · Leave a Comment
The route of the Bluff will follow parts of the ‘Triple M Trail’ otherwise known as Metacomet-Monadnock-Mattabesett. In January 2008 the House of Representatives passed the New England Scenic Trail Designation Acton January 29, 2008 by a vote of 261 to 122, which will result in an amendment to the National Trail System Act to designate the Monadnock, Metacoment and Mattabesett (MMM) Trail System as the New England National Scenic Trail. Read more
Biting the Bluff with time to spare
July 7, 2008 by Mr Bimble · 2 Comments
A sizable bite of the bluff was completed yesterday and despite the hot, humid conditions everyone who we believe started returned to their cars. The run wasn’t without it’s moments though, we lost a dog over the edge at Bluff Head. No-one saw him go but we heard the rustling as he sped to the base of the cliff and just as the decision was made to start heading back down, the poor animal reappeared on the trail, exhausted from a hasty bushwhack back to his master. Then the owner, already nursing a knee injury, slipped and ended up sitting in a bog. From one angle it looked like he had slipped up to his neck in mud but his body was simply covered by foliage.
The northern loop of the Bluff course is tough, without wishing to sound as if I’m hyping it up, the course does include some significant sections of elevation change, very technical stretches and under the tree canopy it is easy to lose your sense of direction, causing you to question if it will every end. Yet despite this, the course has many interesting features including mica rock formations, several creeks, ponds and of course spectacular views from the Bluff itself. Later in the afternoon, Guthrie bumped into a local runner who mentioned he had also been running parts of the course and described it as ‘intimidating’. I hope the experience doesn’t put him off, the route is meant to be challenging but at the same time managable. The event is intended to not only provide a test of the runner’s ability but to make runners aware more aware of the many great trails we have around Guilford. As we munched on banana following yesterday’s ‘bite’, the conversation also turned to the demands of the route. When I first mapped it out I thought an 8 hour cutoff would be sufficient, I’ve always managed to comfortable complete it within 6 hours, but when other Bimbler’s tried it I upped the limit to 9 hours, after yesterday they convinced me that 10 would be a more realistic upper limit.
The goal is to create an opportunity for success, the unique finisher award we are planning will not be devalued by the longer time. It is great to hear that runners are out sampling the course, as it proves that at least one objective of the race is being realized. I just hope that they will now move on to accept the Bluff challenge and sign up!
4 on the 4th
July 5, 2008 by gps · 2 Comments
My race started out with a pub crawl (ok package store run) to find some Carlson Craft Brew for an after race pint or two for all, only to find that Town Line Wine and Spirits in North Branford was robbed.
Read more
Travelling Bimbler: Crowder’s Mountain State Park - Charlotte, NC
July 5, 2008 by Bullwinkle · 1 Comment
I figure since I have to travel, I might as well see some sights. I don’t usually opt for the “cultural” sights of the city, but the more challenging, geographic kinds. This trip I venture outside of Charlotte, NC and head to Crowder’s Mountain State Park. Read more
Western States - “Anger Management”
July 3, 2008 by forrest · Leave a Comment
Technical Problems/Cloudy Head Prevent Wardian From Setting World [Treadmill] Marathon Record - Says Wardian: “I can’t wait to try again.” 
Unable to run the canceled Western States 100 Miler, Michael Wardian setup a new challenge for himself: to beat the world record for running a marathon on a treadmill - and then continuing on to set the record for the 50K on a treadmill. Running at the Pacers store in Fairfax Virginia, Wardian was well on pace despite running on a treadmill that had a time limit of one hour of use and came to a complete stop at one hour and two hours into the run. Through 24 miles in 2:09:15 (5:23 pace) Wardian was 30 seconds ahead of where he needed to be. But with the restarted treadmill showing ten minutes and and just under two miles elapsed, Wardian experienced what so many do at the end of a marathon - a bit of confusion. Miscalculating the remaining distance required to complete the marathon, Wardian stopped his run with just over a mile to go - thinking the distance complete. When Wardian was informed of the error, the time taken to get the treadmill back to speed and the effect of having already “finished” a marathon before starting to run again were too much and Wardian ran to the 25.9 mark in 2:22:35 (already past the recrod of 2:21:40), stopped the treadmill and collapsed. Suffering from heat exhaustion, Wardian was taken to the Emergency Room and given fluids. Following the failed attempt, Wardian wrote to MarathonGuide.com: “I can not wait to try it again.”.
From :http://www.marathonguide.com
Grand Slam Update
July 1, 2008 by Mr Bimble · 2 Comments
The Arkansas Traveller 100 has been named as the alternative event in the 2008 Grand Slam following the cancellation of the Western States. The race will be held in the Ouachita National Forest on October 4th - 5th, 2008
