Niagara Ultra 50 K Photo Race Report
* 50th marathon/ultra marathon!
* 6th marathon/ultra marathon in 8 weeks
* looking forward to summer maintenance - next race is Montreal Marathon in late September
-Weather: hot and humid; start of race 20C (with humidity 26C); humidity rose to 36C in the middle to end of race
-5th consecutive year running the 50 K ultra marathon. One of my favourite races.
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| Start line |
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| We're off! |
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| Rather quickly, the fast runners have dispersed from me |
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| Majority of photos in this race report are to convey the scenic views. |
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| 5 K |
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| Lots of shade - helpful especially when the race is often in hot & humid weather conditions |
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| 10 K |
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| 12 K -- for 1 K, there is uphill incline (best part is coming back for 1 K downhill). |
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| This photo is from the 1 K uphill - scenic! |
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| This is a tough spot - no shade |
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| 15 K -- thank you to the wonderful volunteers who have given up their day to support this race -- long hours |
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| Heading to Niagara Falls |
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| Full marathon turnaround 21.1 K |
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| Niagara Falls in the background! |
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| Left - USA falls; Right - Canada falls |
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| Niagara Falls, Ontario |
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| Photo taken after I made the 25 K turnaround. Needed to reach the turnaround at 10:30 AM (3.5 hours) - missed it by a couple of minutes - glad for the downhill to pick up the pace |
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| Horticulture -- great view! |
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| So hot... volunteers asking runners how they are feeling... I didn't feel all that well and with less than 6 hours of sleep, getting tired. After the turnaround from the Niagara Falls, a runner hit her head on the cement wall - going uphill - head wrapped with first aid :-( Not sure if she fell or fainted or heat exhaustion. |
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| 13 K to go -- this race is an out-and-back -- whenever there is an uphill, on the way back downhill, and vice-versa. |
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| 5 K to go. Starting at the 10 K and for every 5 K, I had my water bottle filled with either water or Nunn. That means I drank 5 L of fluid during the race. I could not fathom running this race without taking my own water bottle. Oranges, bananas, and the gel squares at the stations. |
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| 2 K to go. |
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| 1 mile to go |
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| Proud little brother, Bud, wearing the finisher's medal. |
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| Black sweatshirt this year |
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| Low number bib |
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| New medal design this year! It's to open a beer bottle - but I don't drink. Nice medal nonetheless. |
Came 2nd last with 9 runners dropping out. Glad I finished as I was worried I would get heat stroke. Didn't feel all that great with 20 K to go -- but with 5 K left, more shade I am was determined to finish. Glad I did! Slept at 9:30 AM and woke up at 9 AM -- didn't sleep well but glad I got the rest.
