2009 Vermont 100: Race Preview

Plus one equals TEN. Thats right, this years Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run will serve as my tenth run of 100 miles or more, adding me to the 1,000 mile club in Ultra-Land. I'm really excited about this as I'm actually starting to feel like a veteran of sorts. Although despite feeling this way, I know I still have much to learn and a long road to continue to go down. I always get excited for the Vermont 100. Of all the races I've done, this one is by far my favorite 100 miler. Everything about it make me smile. The people, the runners, the horses, the volunteers, the smells, the sights, the sounds... that tiny little buckle. I can't wait to get to the meadow, pitch my tent and step to the line to try and make it 3 for 3 on the home course. I'm excited to see my friends training pull them through to great heights and I'm excited to welcome a few newcomers to the club of 100 mile finishers.

Predictions:
Here are my tope five male finishers for the event listed in the order I think they'll finish. Good luck to them all as the mens race is shaping up to be a doozy!
1.) Jack Pilla; 2.) Wynn Davis 3.) Adam Lint 4.) Tim Shea 5.) Jason Patch
And as for the women.. Good Luck!
1.) Francesca Conte 2.) Annette Bednosky 3.) Amy Lane 4.) Laurel Valley

Weather:
As with any race here in New England, the weather tends to play a major role. It looks like the race will be run in classic New England summer weather this weekend; Hazy, Hot and Humid! Here is your forecast for the weekend:
Saturday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming north around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers, mainly before 2am. Cloudy, with a low around 55. Light south wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Sunday: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
This forecast has changed by the hour for the last week. As is with anytime here in New England, you just never know what you're going to get. Over the last month or so we had a stretch where we saw rain 30 out of 40 days. The course is soaked. Look at this from the Horse Ride Website: "Excessive rain has the field wet in many spots and parking is going to be directed to keep trucks from getting stuck. If you do not have 4WD, park in the lower field! The gates into the field are lettered. If you do not have 4WD use gate B. If you have 4WD you can park in the upper field, gate E, by direction only. Rigs will be parked around wet areas where you can put up paddocks. If we do this right, we should be able to get 25 rigs in there. Enter the lower field using gate gate C (closest to the tent). You will not be able to put you paddocks at your trailers in the lower field but can put them across the wet area in a nice, big, dry area. Lots of you have used that area before and it works nicely. Please be considerate, we cannot save spaces for your friends. Make new friends! For anyone with a small rig, there are 4-5 spaces in the small field across from the tent. All paddocks must be towards the woods to allow for others to get in." Its going to be interested no matter what the weather does.

Thoughts:
I'm as ready as I'm going to be. Today I was thinking about what's transpired since the last Vermont 100. I found out I had anemia, sunk into deep depression and checked myself into a hospital for a few days, had a hemorrhoidectomy, ran two 100 milers, ran a 50 miler, contracted Giardia, laid in bed for a week and a half... and now I'm about to step to the line of the VT100 with every bit of energy reserved to try and break 24 hours. I have a nagging left hamstring and a nagging left I.T. Band. Its going to be a very interesting race. I am resigned to keeping some very simple thoughts in mind. 1.) Have Fun. 2.) Walk the ups, run the downs and trot when I can. 3.) Baby steps 4.) SMILE

Goals:
1.) FINISH
2.) Sub 24 Hours
3.) Sub 23 Hours

HERE GOES NOTHIN! Good Luck everyone! I can't wait to see you all!

2007 Finish

2008 Finish