5 Things about the Tussey Mountain 50 Miler

This past weekend I ran the 50 miler relay at Tussey Mountain. This is my second year running this race.  Here's how it went this time.......
 
1. Sunday morning came way too early. It was a 5:30am show to meet at the gym to head up to the Tussey Mountain 50 miler race. You could have as many as 8 people on your team down or just one single runner that completes all 50 miles themselves (impressive). We arrived in plenty of time. We checked in our team, got a team photo, and made our way to the restroom. Our friend does ski patrol in the winter there so she took us to an actual restroom.  It was so nice to be able to use a sink.
2. First off were the ultra runners to start, followed by another wave of runners, then our team in wave three.  We started up the mountain to get to the first transition after dropping off our first runner.  Then it was time to wait for him to get to the transition. During our wait time we had plenty of snacks to pass the time and we chatted to fellow runners waiting to run as well.  Soon enough we saw our runner coming and it was off w leg 2. And the same thing happened with each leg afterwards.  Each leg was broken down to the level(easy, moderate, or difficult),mileage, and elevation. 
 I had leg 4 which was 5.6 miles, difficult, with the highest elevation at 1,500 ft. It was pretty tough. But not nearly as tough as Leg 6 called the Stairway to the stars. Which was 4.1 miles difficult with the highest elevation reaching just under 2,300 ft. 
3.During the course the runners were spread out so much that it was pretty quiet during the time you were running. The only time there was some excitement was when cars would drive by and cheer you on.  In between each leg while waiting for our runner we would eat. We had so much food we ate like we were running the full 50 ourselves. It was so fun seeing what other runners were eating. We saw an ultra runner(walking at the time) eating a candy apple. At this one transition we saw someone pull a grill out of their trunk and were heating up pizza on it.
 
4. For as long as the day was, it went by fast. Pretty soon it was my turn up again. I had leg 12 which was the last leg. As hard as leg 4 was, it was all worth it so I could do the last leg. It was 4.2 easy miles mostly downhill with a flat road to the finish. There is nothing like running through the finishing shoot at the end of a race and having everyone cheer for you. After the race they had so much food, pulled pork, brick oven pizzas, subway, and cookies.
5. Overall the race went very well. The only thing that would have made it a bit better was the weather. It was comfortable running, but it was so cold while we were waiting around at the transition points.  We thought it would warm up later in the day, but it felt like it was getting colder. This was great training for my upcoming 50k. I know it will be very challenging, but the course is nowhere near what Tussey Mountain was with the many hills and elevation changes.
Would you ever consider doing a race like this? -L
We are linking up with the gals from the Friday Five!
 

36 comments:

  1. A: You are awesome. And B: Nope. HA! But I can't imagine how long it would take me to complete that distance! Mad props to you- and congrats!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. Luckily I only had two legs. I couldn't imagine doing the whole 50 miles that some do.

      Delete
  2. How fun! I would love to do an ultra or a relay race but I have some things to work out first! I can't wait to here all about your 50K!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Everyone seems to love these relay-type races. I really need to get onboard! Sounds like you had a lot of fun and I expect that you make lots of friends with other runners at races like this since you spend a lot of time waiting for your leg. -C

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's fun chatting with fellow runners while they wait for their team member.

      Delete
  4. This was definitely great training for your 50k! I did a 70 miler relay on the trail once. My leg was 24 miles and stupid me didn't bring my headphones. I thought I would meet runners on the trail and chat- that's what normally happens. But since I was the very last leg, everyone was very spread out and the only time I saw anyone was once in awhile when I would pass someone or they would pass me!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Even though they suggested no headphones they didn't enforce it so I was happy to have worn mine bc it was pretty quiet out on the trail.

      Delete
  5. Sounds like fun! The worst part for me would be standing around in the cold weather. I'd rather be running!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love relay races! There is a whole different feel to doing a race on a team. That altitude is no joke though!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sounds like it was challenging but fun! I like courses like this, where you're just in the woods or remote areas running. Definitely sounds like a good practice run, and nice that you had the final leg. Congrats!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I've never done a relay race but they sound like a lot of fun! That's great that you got to run that last leg and cross the finish :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Sounds quite challenging, but I like the idea of brick oven pizzas at the end. They know what runners like.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep. There were so many goodies. We all ate like we have run the whole 50 ourselves....ha

      Delete
  10. Omg I would love to run a race like this, as a team! It seems like the perfect way to get ready for your very own 50K trail!! woo hoo! I am trying to decide if I am ready to sign up for just a 30K trail on Dec 6. I look forward to your recap!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You should definitely sign up for your 30k. Those hills were great training for my upcoming race.

      Delete
  11. Glad it went well overall. 5:30 is so early. That's like Disney race early, haha. This sounds like it was pretty cool and awesome to be the finisher for something like that.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah it was pretty early. But we did have an hour and a half drive ahead of us.
      Our wave didn't even start til 8:30.

      Delete
  12. So fun, sounds like an awesome event!!! Great job to you and your team!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks. It was fun to be able to do this race again. I missed it when I wasn't living in the area.

      Delete
  13. Replies
    1. It was, even though it was a very long day. Dec 19 Virginia Beach!

      Delete
  14. I would so do this! There's a 50 miler in Wisconsin that I want to do as a relay...I need to recruit a team!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Getting everyone to commit is a struggle. There was a few that backed out at last minute. Luckily we found some more people.

      Delete
  15. I haven't done a relay but would like to one day. sounds like a fun experience, but cold !

    ReplyDelete
  16. I would love to do a race like this! It sounds like a fun experience. It would have been nice to have some of those portable propane heaters in the transition area.

    ReplyDelete
  17. That sounds like a fun event! I really like the ultramarathoner vibe- Columbus's local trail runs have great support at the finish and the best food (chili, candy, hot cocoa, etc). I can't imagine eating a candy apple while running!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Awesome! I would love to do a relay but I not know how good this Florida girl would be with those hills and elevation! :) Sounds like fun though!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I've never done a relay race, but it sounds like a lot of fun! Well done!

    [I hate cold races too - shivering at a starting line is NOT my idea of fun...! ;) ]

    ReplyDelete
  20. Awesome! I would definitely do something like this! I love relays!

    ReplyDelete
  21. This looks like it would have been a fun relay - especially with the scenery in your last pic. I enjoy running among the fall foliage.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Fun!! I've never done a relay but I want to someday. And hills + elevation = ouch!! That is so funny about the candy apple - that seems like such a difficult thing to eat during a race, even for an ultra runner!

    ReplyDelete

Fairytales and Fitness is a personal blog authored and edited by us, Meranda and Lacey. The thoughts expressed here represent only our own and are not meant to be taken as professional advice. Please note that our thoughts and opinions change from time to time. We consider this a necessary consequence of having an open mind in an ever changing society. Any thoughts and opinions expressed within our out-of-date posts may not be the same, nor even similar, to those we may express today. Some links may contain affiliate links. Some links are just to pages we'd like to share.