For one ultrarunner, this year’s race isn’t over yet.

Click below for updates on Craig Swartwout’s attempt to complete the first ever “Ice Age 500″…

http://iceage500.breezellp.com/

As I write this, he has completed 235 miles.  Go Craig!

Tom Held of theactivepursuit.com volunteered all day at the IAT50 finish line and just posted this excellent story about Saturday’s race:

http://theactivepursuit.com/?p=211

Great race in the Southern Kettle Moraine Forest on Saturday!  Thanks to everyone who participated in this year’s event.

Zach Bitter was the overall men’s 50-mile champion, running the course in 6:05:45 — one of the fastest times in the 31-year history of the event.  Denise Bourassa from Bend, Oregon won the women’s race in 7:12:37.

As the top finishers in this year’s race, Zach, Denise, Chris Kollar and Melanie Peters won automatic entries into the Western States 100 this June.

Scott Gall from Cedar Falls, Iowa won the 50k race in 3:45:27 and Molly Grube took the women’s race in 5:05:38.

Bruce Mactaggart set a new course record in the Half Marathon:  1:21:44.  And Sarah Gall, Scott’s wife, won the IAT women’s half marathon in 1:30:59.

Complete results are posted at:

www.onlineraceresults.com

There are excellent photos from the race posted at:

www.alienginphotography.com

and

www.runningintheusa.com

More to come!

Friendly reminder — the 50 mile race starts at 6:00 am; the 50k at 8:15 am and the Half Marathon at 9:30 am this Saturday.  Please car pool, if at all possible.

You can pick up your race packet on Friday night at Randy’s Restaurant in Whitewater from 4:00-7:00 pm or Saturday morning in the Starting area.

Also, please discourage your crew from parking at the Horseriders Aid Station (miles 37 and 43).  The area will be extremely crowded with horses, campers and Ice Age support staff.  Thank you!

There will be four “hard” cutoffs in the 50-mile race and one for 50k runners this year:

50 Mile

Emma Carlin (40 miles):   3:40 pm

Horseriders (43.5 miles):  4:26 pm

Young Road (47.6 miles):  5:25 pm

Bluff Road (48.5 miles):     5:38 pm

50K

Start/Finish (22.1 miles):   4:00 pm

Unfortunately, these cutoffs are necessary because we’ve had people finishing hours after the official cutoff, which creates obvious safety issues.  We also can’t ask our volunteers to make any more of a commitment than they already have.  Moreover, if you can’t meet these times, it’s extremely unlikely you’ll be able to finish the race by 6:00 pm.

Also, note to late-finishing 50k runners:  water and Heed will be available at AS1 (Tamarack) after 3:00 pm, but there will be no volunteer support at that aid station.

If you miss these cutoffs, you’ll be asked by volunteers to turn in your bib number and withdraw from the race.  Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

The second of two training runs will be held on the Ice Age course next Saturday, April 28 at 7:30 a.m., starting at the Nordic lot off Hwy H (about 1.5 miles from La Grange).

We’ll run from the Nordic trailhead to Emma Carlin and back, for a total of 19 miles.   Water and Heed will be available at Horseriders Park (roughly 6.5 and 12.5 miles).

The course will be marked with white ground arrows.  Briefly:  Take Nordic to Bluff Road (about 1.5 miles), cross Bluff and follow arrows to Confusion Corner.  At Confusion Corner, cross the horse trail and veer right onto the Ice Age trail (marked with a yellow blaze).  Run through Horseriders Camp to Emma Carlin and turn around.  This is the north end of the 50-mile course.

For a shorter run, you can turn back at Horseriders (13 miles).

The first of two Ice Age training runs will be held this Saturday, April 21 at that the Nordic trailhead off of Hwy H (the Start/Finish of Ice Age).  We’ll start at 7:30 a.m.   Just say “hi”, sign in at the shelter and run.  Everyone is welcome.

Tom Bunk and Craig Swartwout have marked a 35-mile course.  There’s one “aid station” at Hwy 12 [miles 18 & 26] — water and Heed only.   Bring your own fuel.  We’ll run a clockwise Nordic Loop, out to Confusion Corner, left on the Ice Age trail down to Rice Lake, then back on the same route to the finish.  When you cross Bluff Road on the way back, turn right.  You will only be running the Nordic Loop once.

You do not have to run the entire distance.  Here are some shorter distance options:

1.  Nordic Loop only:  9 miles.

2.  Out and back to Hwy 12 (no Nordic Loop) or two Nordic Loops:  About 18.

3.  Out and back to Rice Lake (no Nordic Loop):  About 26.

4.  Nordic Loop and out-and-back to Hwy 12:  About 27.

If you’re just finding your rhythym at 35, you can tack on another Nordic Loop for 44.

See you this Saturday!

We’ve scheduled two training runs for this year’s Ice Age Trail 50 on Saturday, April 21 and Saturday, April 28.  Both runs begin at 7:30 am at the Nordic loop trailhead, the Start and Finish of the Ice Age Trail 50.

The first run will be 35 miles.  We’ll run a Nordic loop (9 miles), then out-and-back to Rice Lake.  An aid station with water and Heed will be set up at Hwy 12 (miles 18 & 26).

The second run will be 19 miles — an out-and-back to Emma Carlin, with an aid station at Horseriders (miles 6.5 & 12.5).

Both courses will be marked with ground arrows, but if you are unfamiliar with the area, it would probably be best to run in a group or with a partner.

You do not have to run the entire distance!  One popular short cut on the April 21 run is to turnaround at Hwy 12, reducing the total distance to 27 miles.

These are loosely organized runs — and everyone is welcome, whether or not they are registered for Ice Age.  Just sign in at the shelter and go!

If you are registered for this year’s Ice Age Trail 50 and can’t run for whatever reason, please email the Race Director at iceage50rd@sbcglobal.net.  Thank you!

Thanks to everyone!

Please check here for race updates or “friend” us on Facebook for the latest news.

Jeff Mallach
Race Director