2011 Runners Stories

2011 Can Lake 50 Stories

Daven Oskvig (Amherst) - 7:04:27 for 50 miles
As sunlight began to pierce the morning sky in what would promise to be an unseasonably warm day, the assembled runners took a last easy stroll up and down the stairs at FLCC for the bathrooms prior to a few last minute remarks by RD extraordinaire Tom Perry. Without too much delay, he wished us well and off we went for this trek around Canandaigua Lake.

The Can Lake 50 is often the first foray into ultras for many with its complete road access for handlers/family complemented by incredible aid stations and support. You add in magnificent scenery with nature putting on its best fall show around this weekend and its easy to understand why so many make the foray into ultra territory with the Can Lake. This was the case for me just one year prior leading to a then respectable 4th place finish. I’m not sure I imagined being back a year later racing for the outright win, but I set off feeling deceptively good. I knew the day was predicted to get into the low 80s and perhaps I was just hopeful to get ahead of the heat.

Through the early miles I ran alone until joined by last year’s 3rd place finisher, Justin Dore, for a couple of miles prior to one of the two steepest climbs of the race, Bopple Hill. He ran ahead on the ups, I caught and passed on the downs. We reached Bopple together and walked and talked as we passed the remaining runners from the early start. I pulled away from Justin for good on the long down heading into Naples and later learned that the heat of the day took its toll on him.

The temperature did climb far more quickly than any of us would have wished and by the time we began heading north again on the east side of the lake, much of the final 20 miles would be totally exposed. But the fall colors did astound as the caterpillars on the road did abound while the runners made their journey around. I ran great until mile 35 when the heat got the better of me and I just couldn’t seem to catch up to my thirst. I slowed to a virtual crawl going back and forth between running and walking as muscles cramped.

I wondered how my fellow competitors were doing in the heat and if the Can Lake 50 would lose its reputation as a great first time ultra. Meanwhile I went on hoping that I could soon begin running like I wished. That hope would remain as far away as the finish as even after the second great climb of the race, Bare Hill, with the miles left virtually downhill from there, every little bump seemed like a giant mountain. I kept hoping that my perseverance would land me at the finish line first, but three miles shy of having essentially led the race from start to finish, I relinquished the lead for good to Tim Fisler.

Hard to believe it all started here just a year prior! Not sure my wife will ever forgive Tom . . . Speaking of Tom, I do not know an RD that cares more deeply for his race and the runners. He sends countless emails prior to and following the event. The aid stations are second-to-none and Tom himself takes the time to talk with every runner after they cross the line. I am not sure how Tim & I looked, but bad enough that Tom led us over to the shade, talking with us until he knew that we would be okay. What a day around the lake!

Stacey Arnold (Webster) - 9:53:01 for 50 miles, first ultra
Tom Perry, the race director of the CanLake 50 mile, was calling for racers to line up to start and there I stood, about to begin my first ultra marathon on an unseasonably warm autumn morning. My nerves were in high gear and the looks on the faces of my fellow runners told me I was not the only one who was greeting this experience with some trepidation. With the sound of a cowbell, I began my journey. The lake view and fall foliage of the first few miles made me wish I had brought a camera, but the hills to follow made me wish I had brought a second pair of quadriceps.

After a few rolling hills, I assumed the first giant climb was the infamous “Bopple Hill”. Muscling up at a power-hike, the peak and subsequent aid station were a welcome relief. I exclaimed to a volunteer that I was thrilled to be done with Big Bad Bopple, but like a doctor delivering bad news, she gently informed that Bopple was the next hill. Remembering the advice given me about eating during the walk/uphill portions of an ultra, I shoved a peanut butter sandwich in my pocket à la Napoleon Dynamite, and prepared for the climb.

At almost two miles long, this category three bad boy was the largest peak on an elevation map resembling an EKG printout. My hike up this “monster” (described with painful accuracy in the race details) gradually turned into a huffing-and-puffing death-crawl in the eventual 80 degree heat and blazing sun. After what seemed like an eternity, I was met with a cemetery (no joke) and an unforgiving down slope that would eventually demolish both my love of down hills, and the big toenail on my left foot.

The beauty of the scenery and camaraderie of racers and volunteers offset the ache in my hips from pounding on asphalt at an off-kilter tilt due to running strictly on the left side of the road for miles on end. At some point midway, I switched on my ipod (I’m one of those runners) exclaiming, “A little less than a marathon to go!” Thank you, AC/DC.

Feeling renewed, I continued on, reaching a breathtakingly beautiful turnaround at lake level, which let racers see not only the pristine Canandaigua Lake, but also fellow (and also pristine) racers. Everyone I passed returned my smile and wave which I appreciated, even if they likely replaced them with a frown and finger as this crazy chic ran by.

I scaled the final big hill, Bare (name of the hill, CanLake is not a nude race) and knew I was almost finished. It was then that confusion set in. “Two miles to go” pointed down a dead end street and into…, a six foot tall roadblock. I looked down at the arrow, which mocked, “You didn’t hit the wall yet, so here’s an actual wall for you, blondie!” I contemplated scaling the thing, but remembered that “military style obstacles” are part of my next race, not this one. Opting instead to sneak around, I flew down a grassy knoll, up a hill (of course), and then… the finish line! Had there been fluid reserves in my body, I would have shed a tear.

As I described the hilly course to my family, a fellow racer overheard me, countering, “I only saw one hill… one hill fifty miles long”. Truer words had never before been spoken.

Travis Money (Canandaigua) - 9:13:43 for first 50 mile
The entire week leading up to the race I was a bit more nervous than usual. I think this was mostly because it was my first try at this distance but also because every time I checked weather.com the high for Saturday kept increasing from 72 to 80 degrees over the course of the week. Quite the difference from the 40 degrees we had the weekend before and from the typical race-day conditions.

I awoke at 4:30 Saturday morning and just starred at the alarm clock for a while. I only had a 5 minute drive to the start line (I live in Canandaigua) and had already gotten everything ready the previous night so I just kind of laid there while my mind raced about the day to come. I ate some breakfast and headed over to the start line where I chatted with some local runners I knew. We lined up and the race began. I’m always impressed with how fast people start this race and within the few miles the leaders were out of view. The temperature was quite nice at this point, probably low 60s and I got into a nice rhythm along West Lake Road. The sun rose but we were shaded by the trees along the lake and the miles clicked by. The course passes near my parent’s house around mile 9 so they were along the road taking photos and cheering folks on. I waved and slugged on.

The course is not easy by any means. You hit the first major hill around mile 10 and unlike the previous years I ran the entire thing and felt comfortable. I have lived here all my life and feel blessed to live in such a beautiful area. I enjoy just staring at the scenery and taking it all in. The runners get one of the first views of the lake, surrounding hills and fall foliage along Coye Road as they crest this first series of climbs. Throughout the day it was great to hear people say how beautiful the course was.

Back to the race…. I trudged along and started the climb up the locally famous “Bopple Hill” which is one of the steepest roads around. It was here that I first started to feel the heat of the day coming on but I knew more shade was awaiting me once I was at the top. I ran with a guy named Steve from Minnesota who was holding a good pace and we shared stories about races and the up and down weather. I was impressed to learn he was sixty and shooting for around 8 hours, a time I thought was possible for myself if things went well. We cruised along a long shaded downhill and into Woodville where the 50k race starts. I was feeling decent for being almost 3 hours in but decided to let Steve head on without me as his pace felt too fast for me with 30 yet to go. It was a big mental win to get to the end of the lake and finally start to head east and then north back towards the finish line. The sun was getting higher and the exposed sections of road were getting hot. The miles clicked by though and I hit the marathon point around 3 hrs 50 minutes which felt comfortable. I arrived in Middlesex, where the 50k used to finish, and grabbed some food/heed at the aid station. I was around 29 miles and there was a long exposed hill next so I opted to walk it. This felt great but I was concerned with all of the muscle twinges I had been experiencing the last few miles. I knew from previous endurance races they would eventually get worse regardless of how much salt I took in or stretching I did due to the heat. Up and over the hill through the 50k point I kept jogging along battling muscle cramps, stretching and popping salt pills. New to the course this year was an 1 ½ mile out and back that was entirely shaded along the lake. Many of the folks in the 50k passed me along this stretch and I feebly cheered them on. I had a hard time heading south away from the finish line but knowing that my wife and daughter were waiting for me at the next aid station I marched on.

It was a huge emotional boost to see my family. They walked with me through the aid station in Vine Valley and it helped distract my mind off the pain of somehow getting through 15 more miles. My 3 and ½ year old was so excited to run across the finish line with me. I left them to climb the last major climb of the day, the hill up North Vine Valley Road and then up the even steeper Bare Hill Road. I was cresting the hill in the hot sun when I saw an ambulance leaving with a runner in it. I was in rough shape but that put things in perspective and I hoped he/she was ok. I was now battling bad muscle cramps and no matter what I did I couldn’t run more than ¼ mile at a time, so that is what I did. I just kept moving. I knew all the major hills were over but the last 10 miles were totally exposed and it was HOT. I went through 40 miles in 6:26 and was still hoping I could do 8:30 if I could continue jogging then walking.

I was all alone and miserable from the muscle cramps but I was able to hobble along for another 4-5 miles running a few hundred feet then walking a bit and continuing over and over. I had some choice curse words for the cramps every time someone ran by looking pain free. The turning point in the race for me was just before mile 45 when I turned on Middle Road. I had my first full blown muscle cramp in my right calf. Imagine waking up in the middle of the night with one of those cramps in your foot or calf and multiply it by 10 times. My entire calf muscle had become a ball and for almost a minute I did all I could to pull up on my foot to try and release my Achilles. The pain was so intense that I became nauseous and thought I was going to throw up. No one was around and I was baking in the sun and if I tried to bend over my abs and IT band locked up. I was paralyzed and terrified that I was going to tear a muscle or tendon. I stood on the shoulder of the road and slowly raised my body up. My calf released and I stood there for a bit afraid to move.

I began to walk but my right quad and calf felt like there were going to seize up again. I crossed the 5 miles to go and my left calf went just as someone was stopping to check on me. For some reason I looked like I needed help. I fell to the ground on the side of the road in unbelievable pain. I had never experienced this kind of pain. Every muscle in my body was cramping uncontrollably, from the tendon between my bicep to my forearm to my feet and everything in between. I must have terrified the poor lady and her three kids who had stopped and was looking for her husband also in the race. She pulled over and gave me a foam roller and tennis ball to try and workout the cramps in my legs. I just laid there for 15 minutes with cars whizzing by wondering if this was going to be my first DNF in over 100 races. She asked if I wanted a ride to the finish line as I think my spastic muscle seizures and screams were scaring her kids. I said that I only had 5 miles to go and I was going to walk it in. My stubbornness even surprised myself…if that makes any sense as I knew I couldn’t take another muscle seizure like that. I managed to stand and thanked her immensely for stopping and once again started my death march to the finish line. I felt like it was 100 out but I heard someone say it was only 83. I hit 46 miles and looked at my watch. The last mile had taken me 42 minutes. I no longer cared about my time or my place but rather just reaching the finish line. I was able to start walking a bit faster but my legs were too sore from the muscle cramps to cooperate to do any more than that. It is amazing how long it takes to hobble 5 miles in the hot sun after running 45 hilly miles. Your mind really wanders. I found my family near the base of the slight climb to the finish and I almost cried as I saw them. I had just experienced probably the most mentally and physically challenging barrier I had ever encountered in a race and had persevered to finish. I was disappointed but happy. My daughter asked why I was walking funny and told me I looked silly. I didn’t care I had done it. Her and I crossed the line limping with some cheers from runners and families.

Thanks again to Tom and everyone out there volunteering and checking on all of us. I wish I knew the name of the lady who helped at the end to thank her in a lucid state. Hopefully I’ll be able to return the favor again in some race for a runner in need.

Andrew Suppo (Victor) - 4:55:59 for 50k, first ultra
Since running my first marathon in 2006, the Canandaigua Lake 50km was always an event that intrigued me and seemed like the most logical next step up from a marathon. It was a local event and an absolutely gorgeous area to run a race in. However, unlike most cool fall days in the northeast, forecasted race time temperatures were expected to reach 80 degrees! In the days leading up to the race, I really didn't know what to expect given the temperature.

Having taken my seat on the bus, I wasn't necessarily nervous, but more anxious. I started small talk with my seatmate and was pleasantly surprised to learn that she too was a local runner. Cheryl Schmidt was also running her first ultra. I then learned too that she also was obsessing about the weather forecast leading up to the race! It was a very calming conversation and was a great example of the camaraderie you hear about in the ultra-running world. On the course, mile 13-16 was an out and back and I was hoping to see her. I would give her some encouragement and in turn get some back. But we never crossed paths. For the rest of the race, I wondered if she was still running? Or had she like other runners that day succumbed to the heat and got the dreaded DNF? Nope, she preserved and finished!

For the actual race itself, severe cramping was a major issue - my calves didn't feel like wanting to run much the last 7 miles. But who wasn't suffering from some sort of cramping on that day, in that heat? Other than the cramping, my worst patch was between mile 5 and 10. The road slope was affecting my landing and my left ankle felt like the ball was going to fall out of the joint. Not a pleasant feeling, especially so early on in the race. After the long climb out of the Middlesex aid station around mile 10, the course headed west, back towards the Canandaigua Lake shoreline. After another short ascent the hill crested to one of the most beautiful running views I have ever encountered. And just like that, nothing ailed me! I felt great! It was at this point where I said to myself "there is no other place I would rather be right now". It was a phrase I repeated often throughout the race.

Lastly, I need to give another runner his due. After leaving the Vine Valley aid station at mile 16, the course quickly turned away from the shoreline and back into the hills. All of a sudden, the course seemed deserted, with the exception of one other runner - Tom Heuer, of Des Moines, Iowa. For the rest of the race, Tom and I were always near one another and his handlers were super supportive of me. Finally, around mile 27, we took a walk break together. I looked at him and said "Hi, I'm Andy" and he replied "I'm Tom". Nothing else needed to be said. I hope I provided him with as much motivation and determination as his presence provided to me those last 15 miles. Tom and I both finished under 5 hours, good enough for 4th and 5th place, respectively. And both good enough to take first in our age group. Thank you Tom Heuer.

Greta Ledgerwood (Penn Yan) - 8:26:19 for 50 miles
I am deeply grateful for everyone and everything that made October 8th an amazing race day....the dedication and hard work from Tom Perry RD and staff, so many volunteers, family and friends' support.

Tapering is not my favorite thing. I was feeling anxious leading up to race day. Running relieves that, so it was bottled up and ready to go! The expected heat and a nagging ITB was also on my mind. A little self doubt always creeps in....keeps you humble.

I woke up at 0500. Everything was packed the night before. Did my normal pre race routine and arrived at 0600 to get my chip.
**I have a thing about numbers. My bib# was 131....the same # of laps I completed in 2011 MTD....I really liked this :)

The surrounding energy always amazes me on race day. There is nothing like it. There is so much you can do with it...gather it up and stretch it out over 50 miles of beautiful road, leaves and lake (and a few squished snakes). My Goals:
*Run my own race
*Drink and Eat early and often....even if the temps were perfect for the first 10-ish miles
*Quick stretch at every break
*Get up Bare HIll and like the RD says....then Make your move!
**Mission completed.

I started out at my goal pace along Lakeshore. By the time I was on West Lake, I met a Kentucky racer and talked for a few mi, but remembering I was running my race, I had to let him go because I wasn't going to keep an 8:20 pace for 50mi. Later on near Miller hill I talked with Syracuse racer who gave me an ITB tip....Try and mentally think of relaxing your quads, really loosen them up and it should let the ITB ease up. It worked a few times for me! We played cat and mouse for a while (and then again in Italy Valley) :)

It was nice and shady on West Lake, but I continued to sip water and take E-tabs on the hour as scheduled. I had my first PB and J at the turn onto Coye Rd. There is an amazing spot on Coye Rd where there are cows on hills on either side of you with a beautiful view of the lake and scent of grapes. It is like heaven :)

Bopple was the next obstacle. Downed a Roctane Gu. Head down, small steps and pump arms from lake level to sky level! Felt great...after I got to the top. While I was climbing I called my friends and Dad to chat for distraction :) Another beautiful scene was at the top of the world before going down the other side. Wow!!! I checked around me...no one, so I started singing the Ray LaMontagne song on my ipod out loud..lol good thing no one was around me. I was really feeling good and on target with my plan. ORGAIN at mile 15 :) I knew things were going well because my kidneys were working (unlike last year at the 50k). Made it to Woodville, remembering where I started last year and how awesome it felt to do my first Ultra :) The road through Naples started to get hot. Twinges of everything that normally hurts in the back of my mind. ITB was ok though.

At the Halfway Point I always yell out "Halllllllfwayyyyy". Anything past that is closer to the finish :) Life is good. Down into Sunnyside and through HOT High Tor. another sandwich and later a Gu..arm warmers and Nathan vest off. Waist pack on (1.5L of fluid in so far with E tabs) Finally into Middlesex....cold neck wrap on and h2o over my head and wrists. I knew the hill outta Middlesex was gonna be hot and tough...Yep, it was. Met up with local racer who was contemplating bailing...stayed with him and encouraged him, he had a crew caring for him. Saw him after he FINISHED! Sweet!!

After the out and back in Vine Valley, another Orgain got me to Bare hill, met my bff pacer and she had a COLD Coca Cola :)This was to be the firestarter to making my move! I worked on my pace and was hitting 7:30miles at mi 43. Moved past what I had been chasing, full of pain but relentlessly moving forward. I turned my head, I could stop at the aid station that had the ORANGES last year on Middle road. Grabbed and kept moving. My husband and pacer kept me cool and motivated like no others! Tears in my eyes, we turned onto Lincoln Hill toward the finish...2 of my 4 babies met me and ran in with me :) the overall pain and loss of 2 toenails? well...totally worth it! Like the chalk on the road said somewhere along the race "FInd your Limits, and Exceed them"

**Almost 4L fluid...some over my head (mostly h2o, ~20ozPowerade)
**3 Gu, 1 Coke, 2 Orgain, 2 PB&Js and 2 orange quarters
**Hourly E-tabs

Thanks for reading.

Steve Harris (Niskayuna) - 10:45:38 for 50 miles, first ultra
I decided to do an ultra because I turned 60 this year and it was something new and challenging. I had run several marathons and had gradually worked up to this over about the last year. My longest training run/walk was 31 miles, so the idea of running a full 50 was an unknown. I had done hills repeats once a week for most weeks, and so thought I was ready for the hills :-). I am not a fast runner so my primary goal was to finish, although I had hoped that a finish under 10 hours would be possible.

Most of the first half went pretty smoothly and I was about 5 minutes ahead of my predicted pace. I was really grateful to be running with Roger Winslow, a Navy medic, who had the discipline and foresight to walk all of the hills (Roger is a larger framed runner who often competes successfully in the Clydesdale division of long races.. I really got to appreciate that runners of all sizes and shapes can take on long distance running and be successful). We had a good laugh about half way up Bopple Hill as the true size of the hill became apparent. He showed me a great "duckwalk" strategy for using different muscles going uphill. I was planning to walk the biggest hills anyway, but was feeling good and it would have been easy to get carried away.

Sometime between 25 and 30 miles, the heat and the hills started to become a real problem. I had worn a brim only hat and felt like the top of my head was baking in the sun. I did the best I could to stay hydrated, take electrolyte pills and keep the calories coming, but the energy just was not there and I badly wanted to call it a day. I started walking much more frequently and just kept telling myself that it was bound to get better. Fortunately, I never got any of the cramps reported by other runners until after the race and was able to persevere and finish in 10:45. In fact, I seemed to get a second wind in the last few miles and was able to pick up the pace, but the last stretch going back up hill was really hard. After finishing, I made the mistake of sitting down and the leg cramps and nausea came on fast and furious. I never was able to get down the stairs for food and had to be helped to my car after about an hour of finishing.

One of the best things about this race was the presence of my sister as a pacer and my wife as a handler. They were great!!! My sister hung in there with me for the last 14 miles even though she had never run that far in her life. My wife drove by frequently as a reassurance that she was there and stopped at almost every aid station to provide extra supplies and encouragement.

I could not have been more impressed with the pre-race information, the dinner, the directions, the volunteers, and my fellow runners. Thanks to all for making this a really great race. Congratulations to all my fellow ultra runners. Thanks for being such an inspiration.

Bill McGovern (Marathon) - 8:05:49 for 50 miles, fourth finish
Last year Tom Perry wrote about making this a destination race. I believe he is on his way to achieving that goal. I was cheered on by license plates from as far away as Iowa! The pre-race dinned new to this years race was awesome. The food was great. A big thank you to all the many volunteers on the course. I don't remember there being this many people out there in previous years. The weather certainly wasn't fall like. I remember saying before the the race "heat, I like heat". Well.......

The first half of my race went well. I had a good comfortable pace going. Todd and I kept playing tag until Bopple where he took off. I walked Bopple as usual. Going up it I was caught by a guy running his first Ultra. He walked with me while I explained the hill and course. Rounding the corner facing the second half of the climb he was in awe of what he saw. His parents were waiting at the top. He was exuberant telling them he was glad he ran into me. We would run close together all day watching each other wilt.

I was about a half mile from Middlesex when I felt someone turn up the temperature. From there on the race was a challenge. My paced slipped and I was forced to a run/ walk strategy. Todd's wife Laurel and their daughter were there to give me aid from time to time. The ice collars she provided were a great relief. Twice I started to experience cramping in my calves. Each time I took two e-caps and the cramping subsided.

I finished with my slowest 50 mile time ever. 17 minutes off the gold metal time. Weather permitting, next year I will redeem myself. But, it is a finish in tough conditions.

Some days you are the bug... Some days you are the windshield.

Saturday many of us were the bug. Once again big Kudos to Tom and gang. And my running partner from Massachusetts says he will also be back next year.