So you want to run the Bluff?
August 29, 2008 by Mr Bimble · 2 Comments
Race is rapidly approaching, if you are thinking about running the Bluff, now is the time to log on to the internet or put pen to paper before registration closes on October 6, 2008.
There will be NO RACE DAY REGISTRATIONS!
The Bimbler’s Bluff 50k
“… exactly what you think it isn’t …”
26th Ocober, 2008 - 8:00 am
Guilford Lakes School, CT
Race information and course details for the Individual Race and Goat and Gazelle Relay (pdf format)
Register on-line at 
or by mail (pdf format entry form)
Sport Person of the Week - Guilford - Jerry Turk
Jerry Turk: An Enduring Passion for Trail Running
By Steven Sellers, Courier Assistant Sports Editor:
Imagine you’re in a 100-mile race through the Rockies. You zip into the Colorado night, dive into a canyon, scale a 12,000-foot summit, and see the sun peak over the mountains 24 hours later. Now imagine doing it all on foot.
Jerry Turk imagines it and he does it. He is one of a growing number of endurance runners who have elevated long-distance running to an art form, mixing human endurance with nature in a sport variously called “adventure running,” the more accurate “endurance running,” or just “ultra” for short.
“As a teenager, I was a swimmer,” says Jerry, of Guilford. “But when I lived in the South of England, running became more convenient. I loved the rolling hills and the country areas. Eventually, I moved into adventure racing. When I came to this country in 2002, I concentrated on trail running—I found them much more interesting than roads. Then other local people became interested and the whole thing snowballed.”
Jerry liked trail running so much that he became, well, its trailblazer in Connecticut.
“I’ve always been involved with a group of local runners,” he says. “It was nice to see people join and see their confidence increase. Then we decided to put on headlamps and it really became fun.”
Headlamps? Some runners take to the trails at night, upping the challenge even more. And anyone faintly familiar with endurance running knows that 100-mile courses mean running all night; you supply your own illumination.
Endurance running has become so popular that there is a “Grand Slam” for the sport. Four annual events, held each year from California to Vermont, define hardcore endurance runners. Technically they are timed races, but the victories are collective ones, measured by an ability to survive the challenge, not unlike scaling Mt. Everest.
The first (and original) event is the Western States 100-mile Endurance Run, held each June in the Sierra Nevada of California. It is followed in July by the Vermont 100-miler, Colorado’s Leadville Trail 100-mile Run in August, and Utah’s Wasatch Front 100-mile Endurance Run in September. Most of the runs have an outside limit of 30 hours to complete the course, putting the enormity of the test in perspective.
Each run is unique. In some, like Vermont, runners are joined on the trail by horses and in others, like Leadville, they are buffeted by winds at 12,000-foot summits. The Wasatch Run, which puts any Stairmaster to shame, features a cumulative altitude gain of 26,882 feet and a cumulative altitude loss of 26,131 feet.
Preparing for such runs is a guessing game, Jerry explains, because “you don’t know how your body is going to react” to such extremes.
“My goal was to build a massive amount of endurance,” Jerry says. “You learn what to do, what not to do, how to deal with feet in sneakers for that length of time, and that sort of thing. This year I’ve put on the mileage. I’d do long runs on Saturday and Sunday, five to six hours.”
In this year’s Vermont 100, Jerry finished 27th overall out of 266 runners and fourth in the 50-59 age group. His time was an impressive 21 hours, 15 minutes, and 18 seconds.
The Leadville 100 in July was more difficult. It proved that endurance runners must be ready for anything: weather, forest fires (the Western 100 was cancelled because of one), wildlife, and even a stomach bug.
“I wasn’t feeling at all well the day before,” Jerry explains with an engaging British accent. “I only had two cups of coffee and half a bagel. I struggled to get enough calories. At the halfway point, I questioned whether I could make it to the end. I stayed with it until mile 77, when I could barely keep my legs up. I knew I had another 10K climb ahead so I decided to call it a day.”
Jerry, of course, will be at the starting line of the next ultra-distance event, but endurance running is only the leading edge of his passion. He has been a strong voice for trail running in Connecticut, notably in the annual Bimblers Bash, a 10K race he organizes each spring on Guilford’s Westwoods Trails. Getting out on the trails, he says, is the key.
“I felt that Connecticut has been underserved [in trail racing]” Jerry says. “There are plenty of 5K and 10K road races, but there’s not enough trail running events.”
Jerry, who is a software developer for PowerPhone in Madison, has yet another adventure in the works. This time it will join three of his passions: trail running, endurance running, and the scenic open spaces of Guilford and Madison.
“On Oct. 26, we’ll be doing the first completely off-road trail ultra-race in Connecticut,” says Jerry. “It’s a 50K run called Bimblers Bluff. I was able to get the support of eight landowners in Guilford and Madison to do the race. It’s a loop course that will go through Water Authority land, state land, and private land, following the Mattabesset trail into the Rockland Preserve in Madison. The foliage should be pretty and the intention is to expose people to the trail systems in these great open spaces we have.”
Sidelines with Jerry Turk
What’s your most memorable sports moment?
My first race in Virginia really sucked me in. As I came over the last few hills, I knew I was close. I remember the sun was shining and I heard people cheering. It gives me a lump my throat even now. After your first race, finishes become more of a relief than a joy.
What advice do you have for would-be endurance runners?
The most competitive trail runners are in their 40s. They’re better able to deal with the stresses and strains. The oldest entrant in the Leadville [Colorado] 100-mile race was more than 70 years old. If you prepare yourself properly and believe in yourself, anything is possible.
Pictured: Jerry Turk is a trailblazer, bringing the burgeoning sport of trail running to new heights in Connecticut.
Photo courtesy of Cathi Bosco
link to on-line version: http://zip06.theday.com:80/blogs/guilford_courier/archive/2008/08/27/jerry-turk-an-enduring-passion-for-trail-running.aspx
World runner, 61, home to cheers
A grandmother has arrived home after an epic round-the-world run she began almost five years ago. Read more
Bite Of The BLUFF Training Run
August 25, 2008 by iggy · 8 Comments
August 30th @ 8 AM, a Bite of the Bluff.
Two hours: 1 out (Southbound), 1 back (Northbound). Start / Finish @ Aid Station 4 a.k.a. Renee’s Way. This run should get us down towards The Boundary Stones, but probably not quite all the way there. We have not run this section as part of The Bite yet. It is an out & back run - you can not get lost as we will leave arrows at key turns and there will be runners at all levels running. We even have a few runners that will be in taper caper mode for a little race called Wasatch100 or something like that.. :0 Come out for a run and hold these guys down to a slow taper pace!!!! 9 weeks to The Bluff!! Read more
Need a relay partner?
August 24, 2008 by Mr Bimble · 2 Comments
I’ve been approached by a couple of runners interested in the relay but who do not have partners. If you are in the same predicament, let me know and I’ll try and pair you up with someone.
It would be helpful if you could indicate whether you prefer to run as either the Goat, Gazelle or don’t particularly have a preference. Read more
Leadville 100
August 17, 2008 by Mr Bimble · 4 Comments
As we drove up into the mountain region where the small town of Leadville sits, my head wasn’t feeling very good at all. Every since we got of the plane in Denver, all the signs of trouble were building and by the time we checked in I knew I was going to have a problem. I’ve been fortunate this year not to have blighted with migraines and this one caught me off guard. From the time I woke on Friday I wasn’t able to eat or drink without my body rejecting it. We did go out for breakfast but I had to leave Guthrie to eat alone and during the race brief I made a hasty exit before the end to throw up. For the rest of the day I stayed in bed getting progressively more dehydrated. In the evening we ordered room service and I managed just 4 mouthfulls of pasta that miraculously stayed down. At 2 am the next morning I drank a cup a black tea and ate half a bagel with PB before the start. The weather was decidedly cooler than the conditions we left in CT and the weekend forecast was for possible snow showers. As it happened, race day brought hail, rain and chilly temperatures.
Because of the my disaster the day before my intention was to simply survive the day and finish, the start was a stampede and I was careful not to get caught up in the rush. The first aid station was 13 miles out and after leaving town we followed a trail by a lake that yeilded a cold off water breeze. I took a digger in the dark but thankfully didn’t do any damage. The aid station was chaotic as runners and supports squeezed into the shelter out of the weather. On the way to the next aid station thunder rumbled around us. The trail followed some power lines and they buzzed in the damp atmosphere. Suddenly a huge spark flashed above us from the cables as lighting flashed. With a few screams from the runners below everyone seemed to pick up their pace!
Despite the topic of handling the altitude at Leadvill, there is a significant amount of road running in this race before the ‘highlight’ climb up to 12,000 ft and Hope Pass. The climb up was brutal and the thin air quickly left you gasping and I felt quite helpless several times as I stopped to catch my breath. Just below the summit is the aid station know as the Hopeless Aid Station. All the equipment is packed to the summit on lamas and a collection of about 40 animals were tethered around the grass meadow around the station. From the top it was a quick descent to the half way point.
By now I was definitely struggling and contemplating calling it a day. My stomach was sore from heaving the day before and the feeling of nausea was still there. I trudged into the aid station and chatted things through with Guthrie, naturally she pushed me to try and make one more aid station, so I set off. Of course this meant revisiting Hope Pass! Just shy of the summit we passed a runner in distress complaining of pulmonary oedema, a complaint often brought on by the bodies inability to cope with high altitude. He declined assistance but asked that we advise the medics at the aid station. At the top I stopped for soup while the runners I had crested the summit with continued down, I caught them well before the next stop and was pleased for taking the time to take on nourishment. By now though my lengthy stop at the half way point was taking its toll. Leadville has a tough time cut off considering the difficulty of the route and as I arrive at the aid station after Hope Pass I had just a few minutes to grab supplies and leave before the cut, I then had to make the next station by 12:45 am. I made it with 15 minutes to spare. Again a quick re provision and out with a need to make the next cut before 3:00 am. Earlier in the night it hailed and the air was remained chilly, plus once I got wet I couldn’t warm up. No matter how much I tried to pick up the pace to generate warmth or drink warm soup, I shivered and my lower back around the kidney region started to ache. My inability to raise my core temperature was a worry and every time a took a drink from my drink bottles the cool liquid made it feel worse.
I arrived at the penultimate aid station having made the decision to call it a day, I knew the next section involved a 2,000 ft climb over 10 miles and the final stage was 13 miles of chilly lake side trail. Guthrie tried to encourage me to continue but afterwards said she was relieved.
So, the outcome means that my Slam quest is over although I still intend to do the other races. Would I do this race again? I found the volume of road mileage to be disappointing, The Bear 100 in Idaho is a much more scenic course. I would be much more alert to the amount of time spent at aid stations, this is a race where you can’t afford to squander time at the rest stops and I would also spend more time doing hill work, there was nothing ‘gently undulating’ about Hope Pass!
LEADVILLE UPDATES
August 16, 2008 by iggy · 7 Comments
1. As of Friday night Bimble had been in bed all day - sick since getting on the plane with a migraine - the kind that make it difficult to keep food down….. ARGH!! Guthrie said she thought he would pull through to make the start…. but he was real sick.
2. This morning heard from Guthrie - he did start -her text said he was 13.5 miles in 6 hrs and 15 min —- second text confirmed a typo…. it was 2 hrs 15 min - Yeah Bimble!!
If the clouds clear - tonight would be very bright with a full moon - at that altitude - you wouldn’t need a headlamp - it is like daylight…. forecast called for clouds and snow though….. will keep you posted - if you hear please post! Thanks, - I may just update by adding to the comments here….. IGGY
GOOD LUCK Bimble & Guthrie!! LEADVILLE OR BUST
August 13, 2008 by iggy · 4 Comments
If you find yourself sleeping peacefully on Friday night only to awake with a sudden gasp for breath at 6am Saturday morning……….. fear not! It is only the “Bimbler Inside” of you having one of those automatic reflex responses when one of our own step to the starting line of something well, BIG!! 6am East coast time is when Bimble will be starting his quest for the Leadville 100……. Guthrie will no doubt be ready to go as well!! We’ll look forward to updates and will be hoping you both get back to sleep at a reasonable time on Sunday! Enjoy the views guys…. it should be chilly at night Guthrie - bundle up girl!! (and take photos!!)
Bounce the Brewer
August 12, 2008 by Mr Bimble · Leave a Comment
Carlson Craft Brewery which recently opened in Branford is owned by fellow runner Andrew (Bounce) Carlson. His beers are well worth trying and if you are interested, check out this video tour of his brewery. Read more
Altitude Training
August 10, 2008 by Mr Bimble · 2 Comments
As Spuds and I hit speeds of over 100 miles per hour, neither of the guys following us seemed able to overtake. It was a perfect day, bright sunshine, warm temperatures and not a cloud in the sky. At just over 10,000 feet we were still lower than parts of the Leadville race course but altitude issues weren’t going to spoil today’s outing! Read more
