ErieTom
Registered: 02/17/06
Posts: 52
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Reply with quote | #1 |
Many of you might already know about the trail race I'm organizing for Oct 10th - 11th of this year called the Oil Creek 100 Trail Runs located about 40 miles southeast of Erie in Titusville PA. The world's first oil boom & the oil industry began here when Colonel Edwin Drake drilled the first commercial oil well in 1859. Oil Creek State Park will be the location of the race.
We will be holding 4 races simultaneously that weekend, all starting Saturday Oct 10th morning:
5 AM - 50 and 100 mile races start
- both have same 32 hour time limit = 38:24 & 19:12 / mile paces
- pacers will be allowed for the 100 mile participants after mile X (TBD)
- drop bag locations will be available
- 1 PM Sunday Oct 11th the 100 miler will end & awards ceremony start
- heavy high quality traditional trail ultra belt buckle will be given to all
ultra finishers (gold finish for 100, silver finish for 50 miler)
7 AM - 50K start
- 12 hour time limit (during the 12 hours of daylight) = 23:14 / mile pace
- heavy high quality traditional trail ultra belt buckle will be given to all
ultra finishers (bronze finish for 50K)
8 AM - 10Kish (distance TBD) start - a sampling of the hills & trail that the ultra runners will experience for up to 32 hours 
- solo & 4 person team races
- fun run and walk / hike
If we get final approval on using new Titusville Middle School for race headquarters, we will be offering showers to the runners, pacers (and crew for that matter if they want one) for a nominal fee of $5 to cover the cost of the custodians for the entire weekend.
Check out our race website - easy to remember - OilCreek100.org or just OC100.org
I hope to see you in October - mark it on your calendars!
"Erie Tom" Jennings, Race Director
Oil Creek 100 Trail Runs
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duchossois
Registered: 03/02/06
Posts: 157
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Reply with quote | #2 |
Hi Tom. I really hope you can make event go. Bad news, I am already committed to three untras in a row in the three preceding months (Buckeye Trail 50k in July, Burning River 100 Mile in August, and Punxsutawney 50k in September). These come right after the three marathons in a row (Boston in April, Cleveland in May, Seattle in June). I don't know if I am going to be up to running another ultra after all of that. I will try to make it, but I am not sure.
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Frank |
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ErieTom
Registered: 02/17/06
Posts: 52
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Reply with quote | #3 |
Hi everyone, just a quick update to let you know that registration is NOW OPEN for October 10th's "Oil Creek 100 Trail Runs" in northwest PA at beautiful Oil Creek State Park in Titusville PA - the birthplace of the oil industry in 1859. Titusville is about 2 hours east of Cleveland.
Participants are initially limited to 75 each in the 50K and 50 miler, and 100 runners in the 100 miler. I may open up more slots but it isn't guaranteed, so if you are thinking about doing it you may want to sign up soon as we already have 34 runners signed up in the first few days of registration with CA, FL, GA, KY and VA being some of the states already represented. If you are thinking of doing your first trail ultra, this is the race for you with these generous cutoff time: 100 miler (5 AM start) - 32 hours = 19:12 / mile
50 miler (6 AM start) - 31 hours = 37:12 / mile
50K (7 AM start) - 12 hours = 23:11 / mile Trail ultras are more about FINISHING and less about time - if you finish you get a specially designed finisher's award - the traditional trail ultra belt buckle. I am working on an alternate finisher's award for those not interested in the traditional buckle. If you can go 31, 50 or 100 miles on the gnarly Gerard hiking trail, believe me, you'll have earned your finisher's award. The race website has had over 3,580 unique visitors from 32 COUNTRIES stop by since it's Jan 11th launch so there is a high likelihood the race will attract international trail runners. RunRace.net accepts checks, money orders, and credit / debit cards. Bring your family, friends, crew, or pacer as there is a distance for varying abilities, and the race will be family & crew friendly with race HQ being in the beautiful new Titusville Middle School. Showers are available for a nominal $5 fee for runners, pacer, and crew to cover the custodial staff's time as they give up their weekend so we can have the race at this gorgeous facility. I hope to see you in October! Tom Jennings, Race Director
Oil Creek 100 Trail Runs - OilCreek100.org / OC100.org
"Unforgiving. Historic. Gnarly. Do you have what it takes?"
50K, 50 & 100 mile trail races
RRCA's 50 & 100 mile PA Trail Championships
A nonprofit 501(c)3 organization for the betterment and promotion of Oil Creek State Park, PA's natural resources, the entire Oil Region, and long distance trail running |
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ErieTom
Registered: 02/17/06
Posts: 52
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Reply with quote | #4 |
I added a "training runs" page to the race website:
http://www.OilCreek100.org/Home/training-runs-hikes
Give it a look and please join us on one or both of these Saturday mornings - May 9th and May 23rd. Depending upon the turnout we may have different groups leaving from the park office at varying speeds and distances... including any of you that want to hike the trail.
Email me if you plan on attending and your desired pace and distance so I can get a feel for how many groups we may want to have and how much water to put at the Wolfkiel Run picnic pavilion (aid station # 2 - near the Miller Farm Rd bridge area which is the halfway / turnaround point of the 16 mile loop many people will be doing).
I will be in the last "stop and smell the roses" and walk-all-the-hills group. Race directing duties have definitely cut into my trail running time and conditioning. Stick with me if you want to train at a pace which will give you a shot at finishing the 100 or your first 50. You'll need to walk most of the hills or there is a good chance you will DNF at the race in October.
Hope to see you on May 9th at 8 AM at the Egbert Farm picnic area across from the park office in Petroleum Center!
-- Tom --
"Erie Tom" Jennings, Race Director
Oil Creek 100 Trail Runs - OilCreek100.org / OC100.org
"Unforgiving. Historic. Gnarly. Do you have what it takes?"
50K, 50 & 100 mile trail races
RRCA's 50 & 100 mile PA Trail Championships
A nonprofit 501(c)3 organization for the betterment and promotion of Oil Creek State Park, PA's natural resources, the entire Oil Region, and long distance trail running
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ErieTom
Registered: 02/17/06
Posts: 52
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Reply with quote | #5 |
We had about 25 people at our group run yesterday at Oil Creek State Park, located just about 45 or 50 minutes southeast of the I-90 / Peach St exit (where the Millcreek Mall, etc. is located) ! Fantastic day!
Only 3 weeks until the first price increase in all 3 distances - 50K, 50 & 100 milers.
OilCreek100.org / oc100.org - hope you can make it! You'll LOVE this trail !
Erie Tom
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gale813
Registered: 01/18/06
Posts: 319
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Reply with quote | #6 |
I've never even considered doing something like this, but the 50K seems intriguing. I have done around 35 half marathons but never a full. With the generous times, you've got me wondering if I could do this...... hmmmmm....... 
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Running sober, one step at a time!! |
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ErieTom
Registered: 02/17/06
Posts: 52
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Reply with quote | #7 |
Trail running is much less intense & more aerobic than road racing typically... and more about simply FINISHING. The hills and difficult terrain very often equates to walking or jogging these sections slowly so you don't fall. So if you think of it as more of an all-day hike / jog, and if you can get some time on the Buckeye Trail (for example) to train, you'll be fine. But you'll need some hill training in order to finish it and still be able to walk. :-)
I wanted this to be a low-stress event so that is why I gave such generous times. We will be there for 32 hours for the 100 miler so I figured why not make the other events relatively stress-free. I'm a mid- to back-of-pack runner so I understand the stress of a cutoff time hanging over your head and how it can diminish the enjoyment of the race.
Even walking / hiking 50K or 50 miles on this trail will not be an easy task, so like most trail ultras, it is more about FINISHING and less about time. I don't plan on yanking anyone from the 50K for taking longer than the 12 hours as long as they have personal lighting for going into the evening on Sat. Oct 10th.
Our next group training run is June 20th in case you would like to drive the couple of hours and check the trail out at Oil Creek State Park. We have elite runners that really move but I am generally with the folks that want to do the sloooow pace necessary to finish the 100 miler or their first 50 mile trail ultra. I walk the hills / inclines and jog the level parts and run the downhills (where it is possible).
You can do it!
"Erie Tom"
Tom Jennings, Race Director
Email: rd_oc100@yahoo.com
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gale813
Registered: 01/18/06
Posts: 319
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Reply with quote | #8 |
Ok... if this is rugged and more like a hike... I'm no orienteer (sp?), could I easily get lost???????
Yikes... I have been on sections of the Buckeye trail... not an easy hike, to say the least... LOL!!
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Running sober, one step at a time!! |
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ErieTom
Registered: 02/17/06
Posts: 52
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Reply with quote | #9 |
No chance of getting lost. Take a look at the pictures, etc. that are all over the race website - oc100.org / OilCreek100.org.
It is as difficult if not more difficult than Buckeye Trail so be sure to spend some time on BT over the next 4 months! :-)
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ErieTom
Registered: 02/17/06
Posts: 52
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Reply with quote | #10 |
In order for the TrailRunner magazine ad to get to subscribers at the end of this month and to hit the shelves at the beginning of July, the "early bird" price is still available through July 5th and then the prices increase on July 6th.
Primarily single track trail, 50K loop course, 45 to 50 minutes southeast of I-90 / Peach St. exit in Erie.
Check out the race website for photos of the RaceRead CoolMax Alta long sleeve silver t-shirt.
Generous cutoff times for both runners and hikers / ultrawalkers:
50K: 12 hours = 23:11 / mile
50 miles: 31 hours = 37:12 / mile
100 miles: 32 hours = 19:12 / mile
Want to help? Click on the green VolunteerSpot button at the top of each webpage on the race website - OilCreek100.org / oc100.org - and sign up for a task or to bring something. All you need is an email address to sign up - easy!
"Erie Tom" Jennings, RD
Oil Creek 100 Trail Runs - OilCreek100.org / oc100.org
"Unforgiving. Historic. Gnarly. Do you have what it takes?"
50K, 50 & 100 mile trail races
RRCA's 50 & 100 mile PA Trail Championships
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ErieTom
Registered: 02/17/06
Posts: 52
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gale813
Registered: 01/18/06
Posts: 319
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Reply with quote | #12 |
Tom,
You going to be at the Presque Isle HM that the Erie RRC is putting on this Sunday? Me and 2 friends will be going up. If you are there, maybe we can meet and talk about the 50K.
Frank asked me if you'd be there and I said I didn't know.
Gale
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Running sober, one step at a time!! |
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ErieTom
Registered: 02/17/06
Posts: 52
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Reply with quote | #13 |
Hey Gale, I'll be there volunteering! I'll be parking cars initially, I think, and then out on the course helping with traffic control supposedly. I'm hoping to have yard signs up in various strategic spots advertising Oil Creek 100 Trail Runs, as well as some handouts at registration / chip pickup (if they let me do this, that is!!!).
Here is what I look like, give me a yell if you spot me - "Hey ErieTom, its Gale from Cleveland !!!" lol
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gale813
Registered: 01/18/06
Posts: 319
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Reply with quote | #14 |
If I'm not dehydrated and halucinating, hopefully I will see you! This race is always so humid!! Do others know you as Erie Tom?? If so, I will ask around.
Three of us are coming up. We will be in a big blue truck with a kayak on top. Pretty hard to miss!! So if you are helping with parking, you will probably see us! 
When I get on my other computer, I will see if I can figure out how to insert a pic of myself on here.
See ya Sunday!
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Running sober, one step at a time!! |
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gale813
Registered: 01/18/06
Posts: 319
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Reply with quote | #15 |
It just occurred to me, I am going to be in Oil City hiking and biking the week after the half!! I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed... LOL!! I can get an idea of the lay of the land and if I see you Sunday you can tell me where the adventure will be and I can check it out... see how scary it is!!
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Running sober, one step at a time!! |
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