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Sep 27, 2015

Guest race report - the Barkley Fall Classic race report

I wanted to share with you an amazing race that a friend did and I have no intention of every doing!  Haha.  Famous last words, huh?  David shares some incredible pictures and a report of the ever famous Barkley race down in Tennessee.  This is not the 100 mile but the marathon and 50k and it gives you a flavor for what the 100 mile runners experience.  So I hope you enjoy it as much as I did:

A Spectacle of Suffering
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother" 
-St Crispin's speech Henry V Shakespeare

This story all started when I was coming back from a quad injury in May and I wanted to challenge myself with something extremely difficult.  I heard about the Barkley Fall Classic and was stupid enough to sign up for it before my brain had a chance to realize what I’d just done to myself.  In the ultramarathon running community "Barkley" is synonymous with suffering and extreme difficulty.  If you've not heard of it, google search or Wikipedia search the Barkley Marathons then continue reading this article.  The fall classic is an 'easier' version of that with only one loop to complete in 13:20.  There is a 'marathon fun run,' and the '50k.'  Keep in mind Barkley miles tend to be longer than regular miles by about 20% as a best guess.  With time limit like that and the Barkley reputation I knew I was probably in way over my head. 

The summer was spent climbing every hill I could find in flat Michigan and doing long boring uphill climbs on my treadmill.  I tried to be as prepared as possible, which is to say I was probably not prepared at all for what lay ahead.  About a week before the race my dad elected to join me for some father son bonding time and because I might not be able to drive (or walk) when I finished and we headed down to Frozen Head state park on Friday morning.  Eight hours later we arrived at packet pick up in downtown Wartburg Tennessee where I met the man, Lazarus Lake, who made the original Barkley a reality and his partner in sadistic runner torturing, Steve Durbin.

We were given a course map, a compass, an emergency whistle and a tech shirt.  
Map, big and compass
Upon examining the map I noticed right away that it was a lie.  A big fat fib.  The distance scale had miles and kilometers wrong, the distance between the aid stations was wrong (Barkley miles) We were informed that course marking would consist of signs with arrows on them at “important points of the race.”  There would be no confidence markings anywhere on or off trail.  Welcome to a Barkley race where up is down, and mind games are standard practice.  We then ate dinner and watched an excellent documentary about the original Barkley Marathons with many of the other runners and then drove back to the hotel for a night of fitful sleep.

And suddenly it was Saturday morning and I was lining up at the start line.  
Start line
Was I really about to do this?  What the hell was wrong with me?  But then Laz lit his cigarette as our signal to start and we were off.  
Running past the yellow gate at the start
A quick 1.5 miles on flat pavement through the Frozen Head Park HQ and Big Cove campgrounds, we then ran past the infamous yellow gate and the running ceased as the climbing commenced up the 14 switchbacks of Bird Mountain then more switchbacks down. 
Ascending switchbacks on Bird Mountain
Bird Mountain trail around Aid Station #1
Then switchbacks up to Jury Ridge.  Then down.  Then up again.  Then down.  The switchbacks seemed endless.  
Trails on top of Jury Ridge
Top of Jury Ridge
And finally after nearly 9 ‘real’ miles we reached the first aid station and bib punch on Bald Knob.  For this race you had to get your race bib punched at certain points on the course as proof you made it to certain places. 

I grabbed some pretzels, some trail mix and slim jims, and drank my fill of water as it was already fairly warm and humid then headed back onto the trail.  The trail here was mostly well defined single track and very runnable on the flats and downs.  Knowing that the worst climbs were still ahead I stayed as controlled as possible with my pace.  The next spot was a place called Deja Vu hill where we'd get a second bib punch and so named because you run a loop around a mountain, going up the mountain then down then back up again but it was a relatively easy and beautiful section of the course. 

I paused at the bib punch and ate some Clif shot blocks and headed towards the turn off for the Jeep road that would take me to aid station #2 and then my legs started cramping a little.  So I stopped to pop some salt tabs...except they were nowhere to be found in my hydration pack and the cramps were getting worse and hadn't done any of the biggest climbs yet!!  I briefly kicked myself in the butt, why did I put them in a place where they’d fall out so easily???  How stupid of me!  But then the ultra-running community saved my race.  Another runner, Chelsie saw me gimping along the trail and she offered potato chips and salt tabs which I eagerly ate and I managed to work up a slow shuffle as the cramps subsided a little and she then took off on the next uphill.  
Jeep road leading to Aid Station #2
I made it to the jeep road heading towards aid station #2 at Tub Springs.  There another runner, Lael, offered me some of her salt tabs as well.  RACE SAVED!  Within 5 minutes the cramps were nearly gone and since the jeep road was very runnable I managed to work up a halfway decent shuffle and ran with a purpose because when I took the salt tabs I also drank the last of the water in my hydration pack.  A Barkley mile later I arrived at Tub Springs aid station #2 and ate every salt covered thing in sight, refilled the hydration pack, stuffed some salted trail mix and slim jims into my pack and took off down the long downhill jeep road to Armes Gap.

It felt great to open my stride and actually run downhill on the easy jeep road, 25 minutes and 2 real miles later I was crossing highway 116 and climbing towards a section of the real Barkley, Testicle Spectacle.  

As I arrived at the power line cut where the spectacle awaited I noticed a runner sitting on the ground staring off into the distance, looking frankly trashed, and I asked if he was ok and he responded without looking up, “Yeah my legs are gone, you’ll need gloves.”  Heeding his words I pulled my gloves on and finally took a good look down Testicle Spectacle and realized that my goal of finishing the “50K” was probably going out the window and that finishing the “marathon” would be my primary goal.  
Looking up Testicle Spectacle from the bottom
Exhausted runners near the top of Testicle Spectacle
The pictures just don’t do it justice.  
Last verticle climb before the top of Testicle Spectacle
Imagine climbing down a mountain that is filled with briars, hell, sharp rocks, suffering, fallen trees, vertical climbing up and butt sliding down cliffs mixed with the broken dreams and crushed souls of many runners.  
Butt sliding down Testicle Spectacle
Down I went slipping, sliding, and getting absolutely covered in mud.  After 30 minutes I was at the bottom where a cheerful volunteer punched my bib and told me once I got to the top of the mountain I’d be halfway finished.  I’ve never been so wrecked to hear that I was only halfway finished with a race.
Vertical climbing on Testicle Spectacle
The climb back to the top was misery.  Opportunities for shade were limited and the temp had risen to the upper 80s.  Everyone was seeking the smallest bit of shade they could find.  Many of the climbs were so steep it involved being on hands and knees using rocks, roots, small trees and anything you could grab to climb 50 or 100 feet up and then pause to collect yourself and plot your next climb.  My mind was working against me the whole time, all I wanted to do was to be able to actually RUN again.  I was sick of the heat, sick of the climbs, and the idea of actually quitting kept creeping back into my mind.  But after 40 minutes of climbing I had finally scrambled up the last vertical hill.  I had went maybe 1.5 miles in an HOUR AND TEN minutes.  I’d heard of Laz mention the day before of places where progress would be “measured in yards.”  Clearly, I’d just been to one of those places. 

But now that I was back on top of Testicle Spectacle, it was time to descend down Meth Lab Hill towards the town of Petros.  
Top of Meth Lab Hill looking down
Bottom of Meth Lab hill creek
Once again it was a long, slow downhill with terrible footing, the baking sun and more butt sliding, but soon I was back in the woods in the shade running past what looked like an abandoned meth lab and a small creek then it was a long walk/run down a paved road into the old Brushy Mountain State Prison and a much needed aid station!  
Paved road leading to prison
I topped the hydration pack off, ate more salty food and headed off into the prison itself.  
Brushy Mountain State Prison
We ran through the prison past James Earl Ray’s old cell, number 28, and into the solitary confinement section AKA “The Hole” to get my bib punched again.  
James Earl Ray's cell inside the prison
Running out of the “The Hole” I noticed people climbing up a near vertical hill using an old metal cable.  
Inside the prison
The sightseeing tour over, it was time for Big Rat Jaw. 
Rockwall off trail on Rat Jaw
Rat Jaw is legendary in the history of the Barkley races and we’d be climbing 2000+ ft in just a couple miles completely off trail straight to the top of Frozen Head Mountain.  Rat Jaw is also a power line cut, but it’s filled with more saw briars and crushed Barkley dreams per square inch than anywhere in the USA.  So up I went, using the metal cable to help climb up the slope, progress again measured in yards at a time.  
First vertical climb on Rat Jaw
I cut into the woods to the right of the briars and it transitioned back into crawling on hands and knees scrambling for every inch up the mountain.  I popped up next to the old coal mines and not seeing the runners I was following I decided to follow a pretty clear trail that went left past the old coal mines.  
The old coal mine on Rat Jaw
But the trail quickly disappeared so I stopped and took a bearing with my liar map and truthful compass and started climbing a dry creek bed straight up the mountain.  I was all alone and “out there,” but trusted my navigation skills to get me back to the power line cut and after more climbing I heard voices above me, and saw that I had come upon the left hand side of the power cut.  
Vertical climb on Rat Jaw
I ran into a runner that I’d seen on the course, Shenoa, and we decided to tag team the rest of the way up Rat Jaw.
Shenoa and me having a ridiculous moment on Rat Jaw
Initially, we stayed on the left hand side then I noticed the land was sloping downward so we made a decision to cross through the saw briars, a decision and situation so ridiculous we stopped and took a selfie of it while discussing how nuts we must be to PAY money to do this.  
Taking a moment to rest on Rat Jaw
After crossing the briars we found ourselves ascending again until we came to sheer wall of rock and another runner said there was a path through the rock wall to the right side.  This required crossing through saw briars a second time, which was even more absurd then the first time, but we found the cut in the rock and starting climbing, the terrain getting steeper and steeper.  
Shooting the gap in the rocks on Rat Jaw
We could hear voices yelling and clapping, we were close to the top!!  Shenoa said her husband was waiting at the top.  I dug deeper than I’ve ever dug before in my life and climbed as fast as my bloody and battered legs would allow.  I scrambled the last few feet up the near vertical summit…I made it!!!  But to get my bib punched required climbing 3 stories of stairs UP to the top of the lookout tower.  Choice 4 letter words for Laz were muttered very loudly.  But 2.5 hours after I started I made it to the top of rat jaw.  Bib punched, it was time to finish this. 

View from the top of Frozen Head Mountain

As I came down the lookout tower Shenoa was having a celebratory emotional moment with her husband so I just kept moving.  All downhill from here I told myself.  
Top of Frozen Head Mountain - all down here from here
As I started to descend the jeep road from the tower back to Tub Springs aid station I was just hit with overwhelming emotion.  I started sobbing so hard I had to stop running and walk.  I couldn’t stop thinking about how bad my personal life had been a year before, but now I had the right people in my life, how in April I pulled my quad muscle and was sidelined with no running until mid-May, but now 4 months later I’d just finished climbing one of the most legendary mountains in all of ultra-running and even though I was going to miss the cutoff time for the “50K” by an hour, I was still going to finish the “marathon.”  I’ve never felt such raw emotions in my life.  I felt like part of my soul had been extracted and I had never felt so alive in my life and through all the tears, blood, pain and suffering I smiled.

I hit Tub Springs aid station with that smile on my face ready to finish this.  I loaded up my hydration pack one last time, had a peanut butter granola bar which tasted like the best thing I’ve ever eaten at the time and started off for North Old Mac trail, 4 real miles until Laz, 5 real miles until the finish line.  As I ran my legs decided one more time they’d try and cramp on me as I pushed the pace down the mountain and just as I was about to be forced to a walk again I spotted Lael in the distance, I caught up to her and asked if she had any salt tabs left.  She did.  Amazing!  Legs refreshed one more time we started running and passing other runners.  About a mile from Laz and my last bib punch I left her and a couple other runners in the dust.  I needed to be done.  I came down off the trail and found Laz, smoking a camel and relaxing.  I shook his hand and thanked him for the slowest yet best first marathon of my life and promised I’d be back next year for the full 50K. 

Now it was just a mile to the finish on flat pavement.  Every step I took at this point felt like my legs were on fire from my toes to my thighs, I somehow managed about an 11:40 min per mile pace as my legs and brain screamed in anguish but nothing could wipe the smile off my face.  I could hear the crowd, I could see my dad waiting, and he snapped a picture of me as I sprinted to the finish.
Smiling at the finish
11:03:15.  32 out of 51 males who finished the “marathon.”  But the time didn’t matter, the place didn’t matter.  What mattered was I finished.  I finished one of the single hardest ultramarathons in the world.  My own words fail to even scratch the surface of how difficult this race was, and this report was my meager attempt at that.
Finishing with a smile
But I’m not satisfied, I’ll be back next year, I still have Chimney Top trail to conquer, I still have unfinished business.  I still need more of my soul extracted.  I still have a Croix de Barque to earn.   I leave you with some parting words from Laz:

“[Runners] made the choice to endure whatever it took to achieve their goal.  Because that is what sports, and life, is all about.  We never achieve great things by setting small goals and success is never guaranteed; it must be earned.  The only thing more impressive than finishing a race like BFC is returning from failure, and doing what it takes to achieve success.  If it was easy, what would be the point?”
Dog tags for finishing
For those interested in signing up?  Check out this link HERE.  Thanks Dave for sharing your experience and the great pictures of the race.

Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!

Sep 25, 2015

Porcupine Mountains Half Marathon Race Review


Short Version
Finished in 2:41:52 (official time); no new PR; actually a personal worst
Overall Place:  48/85
Overall Men:  31/46
Men 40-49:  6/11

Race #98 - Half #37

This was my hardest half marathon out of all the half marathons I've ever run with a personal worst for time.  Very hilly, a stream crossing, long lengths of mud.  It was, however, an incredible trail run in an incredible area.  My only regret is that I didn't stay longer to run more trails.  Everyone should come and visit this area at least once.  You will be happy you did.  Well, happy at least after you climb the ski mountain.  Great Lakes Endurance has once again proven they know how to pick trail courses to run.

--------------------------------

Long Version
Registration/Packet pickup
Registration is very easy and you can sign up online through the Great Lakes Endurance website via Active.  The race does not typically sell out so you are able to register almost up to race time.  Keep in mind they limit the number of runners so it's always best to sign up early.

The race had two options for packet pickup.  You could pick up your packet on Friday evening before the race (which is what I did) or you could pick it up race morning.  I like having two options and usually Great Lakes Endurance does not do that.  I will say that the race director will work out any extenuating circumstances for you though if needed which is awesome!

In my terrible blogger fashion, I got to the packet pickup which was at the local Americinn Hotel in Silver City and started talking to the race director and completely forgot to take a picture of the packet pickup.  Oops!  Well, they had everything set up and ready for the runners from 4-9pm at the hotel.  I was in and out in a matter of minutes.  Race morning also was easy for packet pickup since they were able to use the ski lodge.

Race Area
If you like to run (or hike) and you like to run trails, this is one of THE best places in Michigan to run.  The trails were incredible and my only regret was not staying longer to run more of them.  I really should have planned to stay an extra two days instead of leaving right after the race.

It's about a 9.5 hour drive from the Detroit area so this is certainly not a close race but it was completely worth the drive.

I decided to tent camp at the State Park which was perfect for this race.  The campground was really nice (even though no shower since they were rebuilding them).  It was right on lake Superior and while you can't see the lake well from my site, you can hear it all night long which is really cool!  Also, the campground is literally a one minute drive to the start line so there was no need to get up at 4am to run the race especially since my race didn't start until 8:30am.
My campsite in the State Park
When I got there on Friday, before making my way to packet pickup, I wanted to see Lake in the Clouds at the State Park.  Wow!  It's incredible and the trails there also looked equally nice.
Lake in the Clouds
We certainly don't think about having mountains in Michigan and while they are not like other States, they were very impressive.  I was hoping for a little more Fall color but unfortunately did not get it this time up here.

I also went to a see some of the Superior trail as well where you can see more of Lake Superior from a tower, as you can see below.  I'm glad I took the time to go see these sites.  The park is huge and you could easily spend a week there running trails and still not see much of it.
Superior Trail view
Start Area
The next morning I made my way over to the race start area.  The marathoners were starting at 8am and I got there just before they started running.  There is plenty of parking for the race so no worries on where to park since we are in the ski lodge area.
Starting at the ski lodge
It was a beautiful day and the weather up here can be very unpredictable.  We really lucked out this year.  The race director, Jeff, told me that it rained 3 inches on Thursday evening before the race.  You'll see some of that rain still on the course later in the form of mud.
The ski lodge
As is typical for Great Lakes Endurance, Jeff, the race director explains about the course and what flags to follow so you don't get lost.  I found the course to be well marked overall although there was one area I was a little unsure on but found the flags.
Jeff making race day announcements
As you can see below, the marathoners are ready to run and it's not a huge crowd.
Marathoners ready to run
The race also had water and HEED set up and ready for the runners as well as getting the food ready for after the race.  Due to the strong rains, the marathoners had to run a double loop for safety reasons.
Ready for Heed and water (and food after)
Ready to run!
The lodge is very nice and I imagine would be really fun in the wintertime since they get a ton of snow!

Inside the lodge
Runners waiting for the start
Next the half marathons were ready to run.  The race director asked people who had run their races before and if this was their first trail race.  Numerous hands went up for their first trail race.  I can't imagine this being my first since it was so difficult!
Let's do this!
Course
We basically did a loop with a short out and back section to an aid station.  I didn't really have a goal for this other than to just enjoy the area.  You can see from the map that I took a picture at the campsite which shows you how close I was to the start area.  Also, check out that elevation chart.  Nothing like running up a ski mountain to start off your half marathon race huh?

Course per Strava

In my usual fashion, I started out way too fast!
Here we go!
It didn't take long before we were climbing hills.  We would climb and climb and climb.  I actually had to walk some in the second mile!  Can't say I've ever done that for a half marathon before.
Wide to start
 The picture below wasn't even a quarter mile into the race and already it was really hilly.
Climbing already!
Soon it somewhat flattened out (not really) or at least didn't go really high up elevation. Haha!
Going up a ski hill
We made one more turn and you can see what you had ahead of you.  We were going to be climbing for a bit.


Holy elevation!
The elevation was crazy that first few miles that I stopped and turned around to take a picture of what we had just run up.  Believe it or not, that is only part of it too!  We were also running through grass too where normally people would be skiing so it made it even more difficult to run up.
Nothing like looking at what you just ran!
 Then it was time to start coming back down.
Going down now
One of the best views we got on the course was coming down the mountain.  The sun was coming up and you got an awesome view of lake Superior too.
Beautiful view coming down the mountain
As we came down, people were cheering us on which gave you a boost of energy.  Good thing too because we were going to need it for what was to come soon.
Running into the sun
We make our way around the parking area (and gives you an idea of the space there to park) and headed over to start climbing again.
Heading to more hills
Along the parking area
The picture below shows what we had to start running through.  It was fairly thick grass and tall but eventually turned into a trail as we got further along up.
Climbing back up the hill
We had to talk some of this (well I did at least) but many other runners were also walking this part too.
Tough trail to run
 Again I turned around to give you an idea of what we had just climbed.  It was pretty steep!
Yikes - don't look down!
The view near the top was awesome though and worth all the hard work.
More views of Lake Superior
 Then it was back to climbing again!  Ha!
Back to climbing
 The views did not disappoint in this section with the lake right by us.
Another small view!
It seemed as we got to a part where there was a view, there was more climbing.  As the race director said, "it's an all uphill course"  Ha.  It sure seemed like it.
Did I mention there's hills?
Can you believe we are only at mile two at this point.  I sure couldn't!
Only mile 2?!?!
Yeah, we had made it to the top of the ski mountain once again.
Near the top of the ski hill
It would be easier with snow
As we made our way through the grassy area, we were ready to hit the woods and the trails which were just around the corner.
Almost to the woods
Ah, I was in my glory.  The trails I had been seeking since I got up to the area.
Back in the woods
Mile 3 proved to be pretty difficult as well.  The race also offered a 5k run and I imagine that was every bit of a challenge as well.
Mile 3
We got some spectacular views as we navigated the trails.  Yes we have some mountains in Michigan.
What a view.  It shows how high up we are
Then the single track portions started.  I love running single track and this course was loaded with rocks and roots.  It was quite technical for a good stretch and you really needed to watch your footing the entire time you were running.  It was not crazy roots like the Tahqua race but you got a feel for what Tahqua was like here.
Great single track
 I was pretty lucky and didn't fall once but I did have one close call.
Technical area.  This part was pretty tough
There were parts where the views were amazing that you wanted to take your eyes off the trail but you knew that could not happen.  You needed focus on this part.  I did stop to take the pictures though.  I've always felt it was worth the extra 10 minutes on my time to get some incredible pictures.
More views!
The woods here are incredible and feel like they are untouched.  It really is a very remote place to run and I sure would not want to be back here without flags telling me where to go or at least a map.
Back to technical single track
There were numerous areas with boards to run over.  I love running on these parts.  Usually it's fairly wet in these area and the reason for the boards.  This was the case today too.
Wet area with boards
Then we go to some rocky parts.  This are was really challenging to run.  The rocks were big and small and they were loose too.  You didn't want to fall in this part.  It would not have been pretty.
Government Peak Trail - really tough running on rocks
This was actually the start of the Government Peak Trail where an aid station was located for the runners.

Back up what we just came down
The sun would peak through in areas of the trail but you didn't really need sunglasses as you ran in these areas since most were well shaded.
More roots
As we continued, we began to see that the trail was getting muddier and wetter than other parts.
More boards
Also, there were more boards to run through.
Really wet here

Beautiful stream
 Then some of the boards started to not be there and we were getting closer to water.
Mud to start
 You could start to hear the stream as you continued running.
Mile 6
I even got a quick picture of some backcountry hikers that looked to be using hammocks to sleep.  I would have loved to spend the night out in the back country like this.  It looks so fun!
Hikers camping in the back country
Sure enough, we made it to a steam and this was a breathtaking area to run.
Awesome stream
There is nothing I love more than running on a trail near a stream.  You just get this serene feeling being out there on the trails.
More running by the stream
The water was really rushing though today probably due to the rain.  We also got a couple hours of rain the night before as well.
Then we got to about the 6.5 mile mark.  Yes, that's right, we had to cross the stream.  OMG!  I didn't even realize that there was a stream crossing until the day of the race!  Wow, that was simply an awesome experience crossing over it.  Yes, your feet got wet but it was so fun!
Yes, we had to cross the stream!
It really didn't matter if your feet were wet because then after this stream the mud really started to come in parts.  You just could not jump over much of it so muddy - wet shoes it was for the next several miles.
Then the mud started
Mile 7
As you can see, the mud was long and wide!  There was no getting around it.  It sure made for some interesting footing.  Some of this mud was the shoe sucking kind so you needed to make sure your shoes were on well, otherwise, you could have easily lost one.
It was super muddy
Well marked
 The mud subsided for a little bit but I figured it would be back soon enough.
Mile 8
I actually took a turn to get the picture below as it was not right on the course.  It was only a few steps off and thought it would be fun to see it.
Nice pond
Sure enough, we were back to the mud!
More mud
This was the muddiest course I've ever run.  I can't imagine hiking this because the mud was everywhere and it was deep in parts too!
The mud was unpassable - crazy!
 Note there were trail markers on the tree to help hikers from getting lost.(blue)
Trail markers on trees
Then there was this pretty open area.  The diversity of the area was incredible.  It felt like you were on numerous different kinds of trails along the way.  Actually, we were on numerous trails.
Open to the sun
I could have stood there for a half hour just looking at that view......but I had to keep running!
Beautiful field
Nice pond
 We then went onto a little two track.
A little two track
The mud came back again and this was the deepest, muddiest section of the entire course.  It must have been for about a mile and I've not seen anything like it.  I've been in muddy races before and nothing I've done has compared to this.  I really enjoyed it!
The mud went on for almost a mile!
This was really difficult to run
Essentially it was between 9 and 10 miles that the mud continued and it was relentless.
Mile 10
The trail here widened and had there not been flags, I'm not sure I would have known this was a trails.  Haha!
Wide trail
By mile 11, it looked more like a trail and was easily marked to help us find our way.
Mile 11
It felt so remote even though we were not too far from the finish line.
Fallen tree
 I talked to a reader, Rob, pictured below who also was from Downstate.  It was nice to talk to him for awhile to help pass the time but I could not keep up and he finished ahead of me.
Mile 12
I was toast by this point and walked a little here and there.
Great area to run but uphill at the end
As we came through here, there was a girl cheering on the runners which was nice to see.
Mile 13
We made our way back to the parking lot to come around where the finish was.
Back to the parking area
Flat lands!
As we came around, there were some spectators cheering for you.  Given the size of the race, I was the only one coming into the finish at the time so it was nice they were cheering specifically for me.  It makes you feel good when people do that.
Almos there
The finish was in view and I was ready for a break!
I see the finish
 It was sweet success of yet another enjoyable race put on by Great Lakes Endurance.  This was absolutely without a doubt the hardest of the five races I did with Great Lakes Endurance this year.  Of course, the Grand Island Marathon was hard because of distance but otherwise, this was the hardest course of the shorter distances.  They saved the best for last.

Finish!
Aid Stations
The volunteers did an amazing job and were ready with water and Heed or gel when needed.  One was at the Government peak trail start and the other was at a cabin in the middle of the woods.
Aid station 1
Aid station 2
Finish Area
The finish area well well planned out and there was plenty of space for people to hang out and talk after the race.  I asked a volunteer to take my picture at the finish.  I was really looking forward to a tall glass of cherry juice that they always have after their races.  It has really helped me keep any swelling down of my legs.
Success!
Amenities
For your entry, you received a marked and measured course.  This was was probably especially tough to measure given the wilderness up here.  You also received a tech shirt that I love.  I choose the grey color but they also had green.  I love their shirts as they fit great and there are no sponsors on the shirts at all.  I also like they use a small logo on the chest.  There's no need to have a huge one on the entire shirt.  This will get used in training all the time.
Tech shirt
The race also offered finishers medal and keeping with their other races, this was a wooden medal with a great design.
Medal with ribbon
Medal close up

Organization
The organization was, once again, very good.  The website has all the information you need.  They put posts on Facebook when needed.  The finish and start area are well planned.  The packet pickup was well organized.  The course was well planned and the distance was at least 13.1.

Overall
Overall, this is another race you are not going to want to miss.  I realize for some of my readers that this is a long distance to travel for a half marathon but, heck, people travel the country to run in every State so I don't see the difference.  It's in one of the most beautiful places in Michigan and the best plan is to stay for several days.  Had my buddies came, it's likely I would have run another 20 miles during the weekend on other trails there.  It's a great time of year to run this too and the weather was perfect for running.  It was great sleeping weather in the tent too.  I cannot recommend this race enough and you should take your family up for a vacation and see the beautiful U.P.
Muddy shoe finish
Since I ran all five of their Summer races including, Two Hearted Half, Waugoshance Half, Grand Island Full, Tahqua 25k and Porcupine Mountains half, as a token of their appreciation for doing the race reviews,  the race gave me one of their custom pottery bowls they give out as age group awards.

These are some really quality pieces and I was so excited to get one to keep as a memory of the great times I had this summer running with Great Lakes Endurance.  I highly recommend every race that I did as the courses are some of the best trails you will see in Michigan.
Excellent work by Jill & Thomas Baugnet from Munising, MI
Have a great day and....Keep Running!!!!






Disclosure:  I received a discounted race entry in exchange for this review.  I was not required to give a particular opinion other than an honest one.