The Great Eastern 50k was held this past weekend, September 23, 2006
at George Washington National Park, VA (Afton, VA). 100 plus ultra
runners toed the starting line at 6am on this mild 70 degree humid
day.
Mark Lundblad who placed 2nd Overall Male (Billy Barnett placed 1st
and Glen Redpath placed 3rd…..official results should be posted soon
at:www.badtothebone.biz)
reported that the racecourse was well directed and marked, but still
very tough. The course offered a "fast first half with paved road and
gravel road which I like, middle section very technical/rocky lots of
climbing, last section the same as the first but a big 6 mile uphill
mostly gravel road climb except the last 2 miles downhill on the
Parkway to the finish. Total elevation gain 7,240 but it is probably
more as they changed a section of the course this year and added more
climbing...just what I was not expecting," Lundblad explains.
"I went out faster than I normally do this time and had a good lead (3
min. after 11 miles) then lost it on the rocky trail section then
later caught Billy [Barnett] at the end (3 miles out) but could not
keep it up. I was cramping up pretty bad in my quads the last few
miles and I gave it all I had."
Lundblad was supported on race day by his wife, Anne Lundblad, who
placed 2nd in last year's 100k World Championship, leading the USA
Team to a gold medal.
Mark Lundblad, 37, resides in Asheville, NC where he is currently
coaching a group of runners, organized by Asheville Race Training, who
are preparing for the Shut In Ridge Trail Race coming up November
2006. He will be coaching another group, starting in November 2006,
for the 2007 Black Mountain Marathon.
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