Training is underway for Mr. Jesse Padberg. Is he doing another marathon? Perhaps a more challenging course? No, that would be too easy! Mr. Jesse Padberg seems to be on a mission to kill himself. Am I really that hard to live with?
On October 20th, 2012, Jess will attempt the "Deadman Peaks Trail Run", a 50+ mile ultramarathon on the Continental Divide Trail south of Cuba, NM. This is the description of the race from their site:
While the course does not have any huge climbs or extreme elevation ...
(LIARS! It takes place between 6,350 and 7,400 ft and has about 6,300 total feet of climb)
... it is not an easy course...
(LOL!)
... Take a look at the 61% finishing rate from 2010! It is very remote...
(oh great, just what you want when running extreme distances...by yourself...in the wilderness.)
...This portion of the CDT is rarely used. The trail is extremely rocky. There are several miles of slick rock...
(my favorite!)
...The climb and descent of Mesa Portales includes scrambling. Much of the existing trail is very faint...
(that translates to: 'easy to get lost')
...Runners need to be ready for a long day in the wilderness. The weather in October is usually very cool and dry(high of 60F, low of 30F), but be prepared. There is no shade on the course. It could also snow or rain.
(perfect! Just the place to run 50+ miles!)
One word to describe what I think of this race? HELL!
Having just come off my first marathon, I am shocked at anyone that would want to run MORE than 26.2 miles much less almost double that. I also find it interesting that when you start talking about ULTRAmarathons, they no longer feel it is important to tell you how many miles the course really is. This one I believe is about 53 miles (IF you don't get lost on their "faint trails"). Evidently they think 'hey crazy, if you are out here even thinking of running 50 miles, just run until we tell you to stop! It could be 50, it could be 53, it could be 59! HA HA HA!'
I believe this is how the Devil has fun.
Among marathon runners, the Elite group of Ultramarathoners, is small, exclusive and for many elusive. It is taking the unimaginable and adding awe, wonder and a little magic to the equation. How does someone push their body past the extreme of a marathon into the realm of an ultra? I have no idea, but I will keep you posted!
-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com
Awesome Jesse! I heard it is a great race. I was considering it this year, but it conflicts with my gf's racing (Ironman) schedule.
ReplyDeleteThere are a ton of ultras (of various distances) in NM, CO and AZ! As training, think about the Jemez 50k. It's a wonderful race, up here in Los Alamos! There is also the Valle Caldera marathon - pretty tough, a little later.
Scott, thanks for the info! I will pass it on to Jesse. He and Chris ran the Valle Caldera Marathon as their FIRST marathon, crazy right?
ReplyDeleteI was going to run the Jemez 1/2 this year, but we are sponsoring a 5K for our son's school in Dixon that day. What do you think of the half? Sounds very challenging.
I know Jess would have done the 50k or 50mile at Jemez if he had been in shape for it. Next year for sure!
Ha! The Valle was also my first marathon!!
ReplyDeleteThe half is great - I love that loop. A training staple for me. It is currently full, however there is a wait list, so it might be a possibility. If you are going to do it next year, sign up early. The JMTR has a blog and FB page, which is updated regularly. Maybe Vivac can sponsor! I just did the new Tijeras 45km/miler with a keg of Marble at the finish. Brilliant!!
There is a new 50km at Mt. Talyor this fall. They have a ton of great sponsors. Might be perfect timing for Jesse's 30ish mile day, prior to Deadman. That's what I used the Tijers 45km for. Great to practice fueling and push a little. It turned into 30 miles, after we had some "bonus" miles because of vandals pulling some of the markers.
Hopefully, I'll be up to Dixon to get a tech shirt (and our wine) before the JMTR!
The half will be for sure next year then!
ReplyDeleteDo you have a favorite Marathon for people not wanting to push as hard as Valle Caldera?
We would love to work out a sponsorship with any and all races! Let us know if you have any info about that. I will check the official race pages as well.
We are short on sizes for sport shirts but can special order at no additional cost in your size in your color (red, blk or wht). You can ck them out at the tasting room and have it in about 10 days if we don't have your size in stock.
Thanks for the info about the races, Jess is going to be so excited!
Cool - yeah Bill Geist is the RD. He's a great guy and very responsive. Either contact him through the site: http://www.highaltitudeathletics.org/JemezMt.htm or there is also a FB page called Jemez Mountain Trail Runs. I think the guy in charge of sponsors is Vlad.
ReplyDeleteThere is also a FB page that is a closed group - Los Alamos Trails. You guys should join. If no one else does, I think I can accept your request. It is a great resource for all the trail running activities up here. There is a fairly large, and well respected, ultra-scene here. If Jesse wants any advice or to hook up with groups that might be doing trail runs throughout the State, or even come up here for a long run. Folks often get together to do higher elevation runs in Santa Fe and north in Taos.
I've actually only done Valle - as far a a true marathon distance. Join the FB LA trails group and ask around. I know Taos has one the same day as the Valle - but I think it is a road race. Is this for you or Jesse? There is always southern Colorado. Salida always seems to be holding races. A great resource id the UltraRunning magazine's online calender http://www.ultrarunning.com/calendar.html they have a ranking system with respect to both the steepness (vertical gain and loss) and for the trail/road/surface condition (i.e. how technical it is). There are a lot of races like the Valle that are run on old logging/mining roads. Maybe he already knows about the calender, but that would be your best bet for options in the area.
We also have the Triatomics club up here. Liz (my gf) is a triathlete, but I'm also a member just because it is a great resource and community of people. They would be another group to consider joining. We hold a lot of training options throughout the week/weekend (track,trails,bikes,bricks,open water swims, etc) that all are welcome to attend. There are also Xterra folks involved. So, they would also have recommendations for races in the area. Better yet! You guys should do the Atomic Man Duathlon. It is April 29th, so it's close, not sure if you are bike riders. I go out on training rides with Liz (long!4+ hours) as cross-training on Sundays. Really helps with quad muscles and with breaking up all the running. If you don't want to participate, I think they would still accept sponsorship. Maybe you do already? I think I've seen coupons from you guys. But they have a great spread of local food post race - it's at a Middle School so maybe alcohol isn't an option. But I love the idea of post-race booze from sponsors!! Especially, great wine/beer.
Oh-we are very excited about all the new wines! Can't wait to get up there.
Holy cow Scott! You are a gold mind of information! Jesse is a bike rider, mostly off road, but would love the duathlon! I will look into the various pages, what a great support system, I am very excited to join! Jesse is going to be SO excited about this group of ultra runners you have in LA, how fun!
ReplyDeleteI am the one looking for milder marathons, ran my first full this March in Napa and want to do another, but I'm pretty intimidated to run these crazy ones around here. Jesse is running the Taos Marathon (full) I am doing the half and I think his brother, Chris is running it too (full).
We have been partnered with Chasing 3 so you may have run into our coupons during a race because of that. We are looking to increase exposure with more prominent placement on the shirts...namely the "Fueled by Vivac" logo.
Thank you again for all the great info, it is incredibly helpful!
hey Scott thanks for all of the info. yeah, i did know about the ultra running calendar, but i didn't know about the the LA trails group, i will get in touch with them soon. that sounds like a great group to hang out with.
ReplyDeletethis year i am going to run the Taos Marathon even though its a road race mostly because it is put on by my ex-track coach and want to support. i haven't run it yet. i was going to run the valles caldera until i heard this one was back on.
Xterra has been something that i have always loved the sound of,but never looked into it. maybe someday, not this year. right now i just need to concentrate on Deadman.
a race i wold love to do sometime is the pagosa springs "Devils Peak", i think its called.
thank you so much for all of the ideas and info. hopefully i will see you soon on a trail run with the LA trails group.
jesse
Yeah - Posting to the LA Trails FB group page would definitely elicit responses to anything about Deadman Peaks/Devil Mtn. When I told someone I was thinking of Deadman - their response was to bring everything you might need - since it is in Cuba, which doesn't offer much in last minute supplies. I've wanted to do the Pagosa race too. The LA runners do that one frequently - it'd be a great time of year to be up there, but often conflicts with other races.
ReplyDeleteMaybe next year I'll be able to string more 50milers/50kms together. I'm always impressed by the folks that are seemingly able to do a 50m/50km each month with 2-3 100s sprinkled in... This is only my second year of up-ing my volume to do 50 milers. I'm hoping to be able to do Deadman, but my big goal this year is a 100 miler just outside of San Fran (Headlands 100) mid-September! We have relatives in Sonoma (Dry Creek), so I think we'll take a page out of your book and head up to Healdsburg and drink a ton of wine to recover after the race.
I know the Triatomics are getting ready to order more jerseys/jackets/tri-tops/etc., with all of our new/different sponsors - not sure if that is something you guys would consider. Everyone up here wears them while training (typically biking) and usually wears them at all the races they participate in. The Triatomics are also a great group to be involved with.
Michele again, you are talkin my language! LOGOS ON STUFF! We are working on getting "Fueled by Vivác" on every race/ apparel sponsorship we can. Is the Tratomics group on FB as well? You think that is the best way to approach them for logo placement or do you have a direct link to the person in charge of that?
ReplyDeleteGood luck on the 100! That is truly awe inspiring. And yes, you will need LOTS of wine. Take a picture in our Fueled by Vivac sports shirt (just ordered more) at the race and post it on our blog, we will give you a bottle of wine in return!
Hi Michele -
ReplyDeleteJust email Liz Miller (my gf), who is the Triatomics Social Chair, directly at liz.e.miller@gmail.com
Scott