Saturday October 5, 2024, 7am start
This was the 4th running of the Fire Tower Trail Races 911k, 35k, 50k, and 100k) and my 3rd event, including my solo self-supported run here back in 2020 during COVID. I came back last year and returned again!
My training after the Black Hills 50k was initially not terribly satisfying as it took me 7 weeks to get back to Afton with longer training runs. The 3 long runs (18-20 miles) were fine and I had an absolutely great final taper week with no phantom (or otherwise) pains.
One additional 'challenge' for this year was that I was taking my daughter to a general admission ( = standing) concert in Minneapolis the night before the race (got to bed just after midnight) with a 4:15am alarm race morning. And then After the race, was taking her and another friend to another general admission concert (more standing) that evening in Minneapolis!
So I go up to St. Croix State Park at 6:20, got my swag (another beanie, sticker, buff and patch, and my bib) and after a toilet stop, waited for the start. I didn't have many expectations, just hoping to maybe break 6:30 and improve on my 6:47 from last year (my 2020 6:07 wasn't even in my head) and my laminated 'cheat sheet' with my 2023 splits was helpful. Temps were somewhere between 42° and 47° to start, but not chilly enough for gloves or a jacket. It was going to warm up and have some wind eventually.
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| Instructions |
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| Pre-Race |
After a few words from the RDs (including a warning not to leave your keys in the drop bags as there was no timeline for them to return), we started off and I quickly got into my pace, just chugging along. Even with a larger field (~116 vs 75 last year), it thinned out well enough with a few people nearby. The first 2 miles are sandy with ruts as it is also a horse trail (didn't see one horse today) and I found some quietness as I ran. We hit the road, turned and then onto a wide grassy trail.
Aid Stations are generally pretty frequent, and I hit the first one at Gate 31 (Mile 3.5) in 33 minutes - already almost 4 minutes under last years time). Didn't stop, so I passed a good number, and began again a day of flip-flopping with faster runners who spent more time at the aid stations. Took a vanilla Gu and stayed on cruise-control. I did talk with one guy for a mile or two leading up to the fire tower, which was nice.
Got to the Fire Tower (mile 9 in 1:31) and went right up - had to wait here and there both directions as others made their way but it wasn't taxing at all. It was a nice clear view as I grabbed 2 quick photos and headed right back down. Grabbed a bag of chips and a Milky Way and was out of the aid station after less than 5 minutes total.
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| zero clouds! |
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| headed back down |
Settled back into my groove and plodded on. This section was ~5.5 miles to the halfway, Overlook/Gate 25 aid station. Never had company to speak of, but was generally in eyesight of runners. I did have to yell at one guy who went right past the orange flags and turn-arrow...he heard me and turned around. We've all done that - I know I have. So we made our way down the road, some trail and onto some rooty/rocky singletrack by the Kettle River.
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| bridge view |
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| Would see this runner many times as we passed each other over and over |
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| Bald eagle through here avoided the camera |
I was surprised when my legs started to feel the miles before the halfway, but I pressed on and made it after 2:39. Took under 5 minutes to sit and fill my bladder with 1.5 bottles of Gatorade, grabbed some grilled cheese and chips, and headed back onto the singletrack trail along the river, headed where it meets up with the St. Croix River. I knew last year I lost some time through here as the grassy trail becomes uneven, and I did again this year, but I was still able to run more this time around. My right IT Band flared up for the first time in a Long time, so I tried to ignore it as much as possible. (Walking felt fine though)
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| Swans! |
This 5.1 mile section always takes longer than I'd like, but hitting the road and turning at Gate 25 means you're close, and I made it back to the Overlook aid station in 1hr (3:30 total).
This time, I was there only 2 minutes as I drank some of my leftover Gatorade and grabbed more grilled cheese. Back down the road and turned for the long 7.5mi section to the last aid station. This is when I started to think I could break 6 hours. I was always ahead of last year, and by this point, 26 minutes ahead of last year, and I walked pretty much the whole rest of the way.
This section has a variety of terrain, but it is mostly grass - uneven, with longish grass, but I was determined to run as much as possible. My IT band wasn't too bad, just tired legs.
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| Last stretch to the final Aid Station at Gate 31 |
After 1:33 for that section, and 5:12 overall, I now had less than 48 minutes to go the last 3.4 miles. (didn't stop at the Aid Station this time either). Seemed pretty safe as I was still doing a run-walk, and I still can walk pretty quickly. It was about 70° at this point with the sun overhead - but I kept moving.
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| (Start) Finish area |
Post event - didn't feel too bad for the evening concert (and stayed awake), walked some on Sunday, and after a run/walk on Wednesday, decided to let my IT Band heal and only walk (and use the rowing machine) for another week or two. Practically zero muscle soreness to speak of after 36 hours. :-)
Some images captured during the event from Cary Johnson, Mike Wheeler, and Jason Linn - Thank you!
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| Last stretch |
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| Before the Fire Tower |
