Seamus O'Possum's 30k Race Review

Short Version
Finished in 3:12:46 (official time); new PR since this was my first 30k race
Overall Place:  43/91
Men 40-49:  18/37
Men Overall:  32/50

Timed race #121

It was a long day for me.  I drove the longest I've ever driven race morning - over 3 hours!  Ran the race and then drove home.  The course was super muddy and made it challenging.  The park is pretty nice although I didn't bring my camera with me for this race.  It's probably not a race I'd run again.  Not that it wasn't organized but there wasn't anything special about it to bring me back.  If you have not run it before, it's one to run though and I'm happy that I did it.

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Long Version
Registration/Packet Pickup/Start Area
My day started by leaving my home at 3am to get there in time for packet pickup and the race.  It took me three hours to get to the race.  I could have left at 4am and had plenty of time to get there but the weather was looking iffy so I decided to leave extra early.  I didn't need to since I ended up being the first one there (ha, figures!).  Registration was on Ultrasignup and very easy and I registered for the lowest price of $65 on New Years Day.

Delaware State Park, Delaware, Ohio

Packet pickup was very easy as this was a small race so I got my packet in literally minutes and then went back to my car to take a quick nap and stay warm before the race started.  The race did have a nice fire going by the start though.  You could also pick up your packet the day before, at the local brewery, if you were coming in from out of town.

Packet pickup was right at the start area so I was ready to go after picking up my packet.  I literally sat in my car until 5 minutes before the start which was nice since it was a little chilly out but otherwise a perfect morning for a trail race.  The race gives their money to the Special Olympics, a great cause, and they had a local athlete get us started.

Course
This was a 30k race that was mostly on trails.  The trails were not extremely technical but there were technical parts on the course.  The first 10 miles were all on trails with the out and back.  It was interesting because there was a place where you needed to tear out a page from a book to prove you had been there.  The race never asked for it but it fun to do that.  There should have been a volunteer there though to tell us what to do.  I asked some runners that had run it before.  At least have a sign that says turn around and go back.  There were some volunteers before heading to this portion and they also helped you get back on track to head back to the starting area too.

Overall the course was not extremely hilly.  There were lots of little rollers but nothing really that steep except where you run by the dam wall and had to run up it and down it but it was nothing really.  The course was extremely muddy and there were bits of snow but overall the course was clear.  As we ran more, the course become more muddy.  There was no avoiding it and my shoes were wet after about 3 miles for the duration of the race.

Course info

There was a 10 mile option and a 30k option.  If you ran the 10 mile, you ran the first portion of the out and back course and finished.  If you were running the 30k, you went past the finish line after 10 miles and continued to run another 8 mile out and back.  I really enjoyed the first 10 miles of the race and hesitated as I came back in to just stop there but I came here to run 30k.  Had I lived in the area, I would certainly run the 10 mile option again.

Map - out and back for 10 then out and back for 8

The second out and back portion took you through some trails, running on the side of the road for 1.5 miles or so and around a parking lot in the park, crossing a river (which was very low this year) and then up to a dam wall where you ran that for about a mile or so.  It was all grass and you could tell that people run there regularly.  The dam was pretty cool actually.  I wish I had brought my phone to take a picture of it since it was so large.  Here's a picture I found online:

Dam at the State Park

As I mentioned, this was really the only hilly part and you can kind of see below how the elevation dips and goes up around 13-14 miles.  We basically ran to an aid station and then turned around.  I will say that there were lots of signs and ribbons to help us stay on track but the area after we ran by the dam to the aid station and back was quite confusing.  The race should have had someone there to direct people as there was one area that you crossed and people were going in different directions.  I followed the runners in front of me but it almost seemed like I missed part of the course.

While it was cool to run along the dam wall, it was freaking cold in this section.  It was really windy and next to the freeway so I was happy that I decided to keep my jacket and gloves with me.  I also put them in the car and would have been freezing had I done so.

Elevation

Splits

As mentioned previously, we ran about 1.5 miles along the park road.  While you could have ran on grass, it was difficult because it was tilted to one side so I ended up running on the cement, as most other runners did too.  About mile 14, my IT band started to give me issues.  I have no idea why other than I ran the race much faster than I've been training.  Also, the mud made for difficult footing and could have made the IT band angry.  You can see that I slowed down quite a bit after mile 14.  

After I finished the race, and it showed me at 17.5 miles, I figured either I missed part of the course at that second turn around or the course was short.  In reviewing other runners results on Strava, it appears that I was in line for distance with all the other runners so I don't think I missed any part of it.

The theme for the race was definitely mud!  This is the muddiest race I've ever run.  For those of you in Michigan, I would compare it to The Legend half marathon when it's really muddy but much more muddy.  It seemed we were constantly running through thick pasty mud that was wet and slippery.  I actually really enjoyed it.

Muddy!

Aid Stations
The aid stations were fantastic.  The volunteers were awesome and asked us what we wanted as we ran up to them.  They were friendly and helpful.  The aid stations were stocked similar to an ultra race with lots of regular food and not just gatorade and water and GU.  In fact, I didn't see any GU which is fine by me.  I'd rather have regular food like an ultra.  I only took some pretzels but they also had cookies, candy, pickles and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  Really well done!

Finish Area
The finish area was the start area.  In addition, it was also an aid station so for those that ran the 30k, you started there, hit it at about mile 10 then finished there.  The finish was perfect since it was right next to the parking lot as well so you were nice and close to your car.  There was an after race party at Stass' brewery with chili and beer but I missed it since I opted to head home after the race, given my three hour drive.

Amenities
The race did a great job with amenities.  For your registration (which the race sold out by the way), you received a well marked course except for the part I mentioned at the dam.  They had great aid stations.  You received a Winter hat, a car sticker with the race logo on it, a custom bib (the M below was for sweatshirt size)

Car sticker, Winter Hat, Custom Bib

You also received a custom race shirt that is a nice design and color.  For me, I don't prefer the REALLY huge logo, not because of how big it is, but because of how it will likely make you hot when running in it given how large it is.  It would have been much better if they just made a nice 3x3 inch logo on the chest.

Race tech shirt

Instead of finishers medals, you received a finisher sweatshirt that you received after you were congratulated for finishing by the race director.  They also have a tradition where you sign the pole of the race finish line so I'm permanently affixed to the race.  Ha!

The sweatshirt appears to be made quite well and is very comfortable.  I'm wearing it now as I right this race review.  While the logo is large on this too, it's not a big deal given you won't be running in it and the logo is really cool looking too!

Sweatshirt as finisher's gift

Organization
Outside of the portion of the course that was confusing, the race was well organized.  The website has any answers you had, the start was easy to find, the course overall was marked well, the volunteers did a great job and knew what to do.

Overall
Overall, it was a nice race.  The course was overall a fun run and you could really run it fast as it was not extremely technical.  I'm not sure I'd drive the same day there and back.  It would have been more fun had I been able to stay for the after party that was at Stass' brewery rather then heading on the road home.

Success!

If you are interested in running it, check out the Possum Races website.  They also have a 50k option coming up in May.

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

Disclosure:  I paid for this race with my own funds.  All opinions are my own.