Post by sdrum on Jul 10, 2014 17:38:58 GMT -5
Linking PRNL (42.5 mi) + IRNP (40 mi) in One Calendar Day
UPUR2 – Upper Peninsula Ultra Run Double
July 10, 2014
On Sunday, August 17, 2014, I will attempt to set the fastest known time (FKT) for linking Michigan's Upper Peninsula National Park Service (NPS) entities - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (PRNL) + Isle Royale National Park (IRNP) via the 42.5 mi North Country Trail (NCT) and 40 mi Greenstone Ride Trail (GRT), respectively. Total distance covered will be approximately 82.5 mi. To my knowledge the UPUR2 will potentially be a first and initiate a new category. If I am incorrect with either assumption, thank you for feedback. Also, if this "event" is too contrived, I welcome additional discussion. It's all in the name of the journey!
The primary goal is to complete each run in one calendar day or on consecutive days, if weather grounds the float plane. It's possible, if I have good energy, to set another FKT on the GRT, which is the intent and means breaking 8:47:36 set by Eric Charette on July 10, 2012. Note, this means running from near Windigo (West side of IRNP) to the GRT's endpoint at Lookout Louise (East side) where the clock stops, hiking to Tobin Harbor (< than 1 mi), and canoeing (< 1.5 mi) to Rock Harbor for the night. Should be a fun project. Both runs will be self-supported; however, I plan to utilize the help of my wife, Liz, and good friends, Jeremy and Carly Rietmann, for assistance in between runs, with canoeing at the end, and pacing IRNP (Jeremy).
I will be following the common sense guidelines proposed by Buzz Burrell and documented by Peter Bakwin on this website, fastestknowntime.proboards.com.
1.) Announce your intentions in advance. Like a true gentleman, pay your respects to those who came before you, and tell them what you intend to attempt and when.
2.) Be an open book. Invite anyone to come and watch or, better yet, participate. This makes your effort more fun and any result more believable.
3.) Record your event. Write down everything immediately upon completion. Memory doesn't count.
In the name of setting an FKT by linking approximate lengths of PRNL + IRNP in one calendar day, I hope others will be inspired to complete the Upper Peninsula Ultra Run Double (UPUR2). I’m encouraged to complete this “project” by those who’ve run the length of PRNL and IRNP in the past. Namely, FKT’s for Jason Schatz running the length of PRNL in 5:56:57 (42.6 mi) and Eric Charette completing the length of the GRP on IRNP in 8:47:36. Outstanding times and adventures! If lucky and mentioned above, I hope to break Eric’s FKT on the GRT during my second 40 mile run of the day. I feel ready, but anything goes beyond 50 miles in a day, the farthest I’ve run to date. As for Jason’s FKT across PRNL with an average 8:23/mi pace on gnarly, wet, curvy, and undulating terrain, I may never be ready!
The Plan and Time Schedule (Sunday, August 17, 2014)
(1) 3:00am: Start running, solo and self-supported, from Au Sable Visitor Center near Grand Marias, MI
(2) 10:30am: Anticipated arrival at Munising Falls near Munising, MI, after running the 42.5 mi length of PRNL
(3) 11:00-Noon: Tentatively board a float plane in Munising (or Marquette, MI) with my friend and pacer, Jeremy Rietmann; our wives, Liz Drum and Carly Rietmann, will drive to Houghton, MI and later fly to Rock Harbor, near Lookout Louise, and set up camp. They’ll eventually canoe across nearby Tobin Harbor (less than ½ mi) and Eastward along the shoreline (less than 1 mi) toward a dock and trail leading up to Lookout Louise, where they’ll meet me and Jeremy by 11:00pm (or before if I'm in a good energy state)
(4) 2:00pm: Tentatively land at Windigo Visitor Center/Ranger Station and begin the 40 mi run the length of the GRT and across the backbone of IRNP
(5) 11:00pm: Tentatively complete the UPUR2 at Lookout Louise, the Eastern terminus of the GRT
(6) Side Note: 11:00pm – Midnight: hike less than a mile to the canoe, paddle less than 1.5 mi to Rock Harbor; sleep!
With the above adventure and proposed UPUR2 FKT in mind, weather will play a huge factor. Normally August is a somewhat “settled” month in the North Country; however, it could be blazing hot with 100% humidity or thunderstorm alley or cold and windy! I can’t wait to see what Mother Nature conjures up. As a wise coach once said “you can’t play unless you’re in the game.”
To Whom It May Concern – please do not hesitate to contact me via email at sdrum@nmu.edu or cell at 970-371-2620. See you on the trails!
Lastly, I may video document some of the event. Stay tuned.
Best regards,
Scott Drum
UPUR2 – Upper Peninsula Ultra Run Double
July 10, 2014
On Sunday, August 17, 2014, I will attempt to set the fastest known time (FKT) for linking Michigan's Upper Peninsula National Park Service (NPS) entities - Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (PRNL) + Isle Royale National Park (IRNP) via the 42.5 mi North Country Trail (NCT) and 40 mi Greenstone Ride Trail (GRT), respectively. Total distance covered will be approximately 82.5 mi. To my knowledge the UPUR2 will potentially be a first and initiate a new category. If I am incorrect with either assumption, thank you for feedback. Also, if this "event" is too contrived, I welcome additional discussion. It's all in the name of the journey!
The primary goal is to complete each run in one calendar day or on consecutive days, if weather grounds the float plane. It's possible, if I have good energy, to set another FKT on the GRT, which is the intent and means breaking 8:47:36 set by Eric Charette on July 10, 2012. Note, this means running from near Windigo (West side of IRNP) to the GRT's endpoint at Lookout Louise (East side) where the clock stops, hiking to Tobin Harbor (< than 1 mi), and canoeing (< 1.5 mi) to Rock Harbor for the night. Should be a fun project. Both runs will be self-supported; however, I plan to utilize the help of my wife, Liz, and good friends, Jeremy and Carly Rietmann, for assistance in between runs, with canoeing at the end, and pacing IRNP (Jeremy).
I will be following the common sense guidelines proposed by Buzz Burrell and documented by Peter Bakwin on this website, fastestknowntime.proboards.com.
1.) Announce your intentions in advance. Like a true gentleman, pay your respects to those who came before you, and tell them what you intend to attempt and when.
2.) Be an open book. Invite anyone to come and watch or, better yet, participate. This makes your effort more fun and any result more believable.
3.) Record your event. Write down everything immediately upon completion. Memory doesn't count.
In the name of setting an FKT by linking approximate lengths of PRNL + IRNP in one calendar day, I hope others will be inspired to complete the Upper Peninsula Ultra Run Double (UPUR2). I’m encouraged to complete this “project” by those who’ve run the length of PRNL and IRNP in the past. Namely, FKT’s for Jason Schatz running the length of PRNL in 5:56:57 (42.6 mi) and Eric Charette completing the length of the GRP on IRNP in 8:47:36. Outstanding times and adventures! If lucky and mentioned above, I hope to break Eric’s FKT on the GRT during my second 40 mile run of the day. I feel ready, but anything goes beyond 50 miles in a day, the farthest I’ve run to date. As for Jason’s FKT across PRNL with an average 8:23/mi pace on gnarly, wet, curvy, and undulating terrain, I may never be ready!
The Plan and Time Schedule (Sunday, August 17, 2014)
(1) 3:00am: Start running, solo and self-supported, from Au Sable Visitor Center near Grand Marias, MI
(2) 10:30am: Anticipated arrival at Munising Falls near Munising, MI, after running the 42.5 mi length of PRNL
(3) 11:00-Noon: Tentatively board a float plane in Munising (or Marquette, MI) with my friend and pacer, Jeremy Rietmann; our wives, Liz Drum and Carly Rietmann, will drive to Houghton, MI and later fly to Rock Harbor, near Lookout Louise, and set up camp. They’ll eventually canoe across nearby Tobin Harbor (less than ½ mi) and Eastward along the shoreline (less than 1 mi) toward a dock and trail leading up to Lookout Louise, where they’ll meet me and Jeremy by 11:00pm (or before if I'm in a good energy state)
(4) 2:00pm: Tentatively land at Windigo Visitor Center/Ranger Station and begin the 40 mi run the length of the GRT and across the backbone of IRNP
(5) 11:00pm: Tentatively complete the UPUR2 at Lookout Louise, the Eastern terminus of the GRT
(6) Side Note: 11:00pm – Midnight: hike less than a mile to the canoe, paddle less than 1.5 mi to Rock Harbor; sleep!
With the above adventure and proposed UPUR2 FKT in mind, weather will play a huge factor. Normally August is a somewhat “settled” month in the North Country; however, it could be blazing hot with 100% humidity or thunderstorm alley or cold and windy! I can’t wait to see what Mother Nature conjures up. As a wise coach once said “you can’t play unless you’re in the game.”
To Whom It May Concern – please do not hesitate to contact me via email at sdrum@nmu.edu or cell at 970-371-2620. See you on the trails!
Lastly, I may video document some of the event. Stay tuned.
Best regards,
Scott Drum
