by Sapan Bhatt

How much pickle juice are you willing to drink? Barring Vlasic from having a contest to win sports tickets, I didn’t think this was a query I’d encounter in my life. But that’s the magic of Pineland Farms. My mission this year was to send the 50k with gusto.

The Pineland Farms Trail Festival is a fantastic weekend-long event to announce the arrival of summer. Saturday’s events center on traditional trail runs of 25, 50, and 100 kilometers (one, two, and four laps of the course respectively, the course weaving through 14 miles of the property with 1,500 feet of gain). Sunday’s events center on canicross, a collaborative human-with-dog running event (in which we’ve had several Striders participate in the past). Spanning the two days is a 30-hour ultra, which consists of completing as many loops of a 10k course as possible.

That mix creates a lively vibe on the farm with tents, spectators, and crew welcoming runners to the start of their respective events. For me, the adventure started on my drive to Gray, with backroads taking me through the bucolic countryside of Auburn and Greene. These drives make me appreciate Maine’s billboard ban leaving the farms and forests unobstructed.

Pulling up to the farm, the memories and experience of running the course the previous year flooded my mind. The smooth, flowing nature of the trails belies the elevation gain, allowing for a strong and consistent pace. Rather than my previous year’s gear of trail shoes and a running vest, I opted for carbon-plated shoes (my trusty Saucony Pro 4s) and a single hydration bottle filled with hi-carb Tailwind.

There are two aid stations, each passed twice per loop, giving four opportunities for aid per 25k. My goal was to use my bottle fuel for the first lap, allowing myself to cruise through the stations, and then start supplementing for lap 2. Last year, the featured gel on course was Untapped, a delicious electrolyte-enhanced maple syrup. This year featured the equally tasty Go gel, which tastes like applesauce and packs a solid 75mg of caffeine per pouch.

From the starting gun, I used my course knowledge to push the pace and establish some early separation. I quickly lost myself in the serenity of the woods and fields, re-familiarizing myself with the undulating paths weaving through the farmland. The weather was sunny but relatively cool, keeping me comfortable as I kept the Tailwind flowing into the engine. I offered words of encouragement to the 100k runners as I weaved through my first loop, transitionining seamlessly into the second loop while counting on the next aid station to refill my bottle and restock my gel cache.

I rolled into the station and immediately went to the large Gatorade cooler to fill up. Nothing but air. Maybe Pineland is like the feast scene in "Hook," I thought, and I just have to really believe there's water?  Upon my inquiry, the attendant snapped me back to reality. He was "temporarily out of water" but reached below the table, pulled up two green jugs, and exclaimed, "We have plenty of pickle juice!"

Squeezing my empty bottle and facing a warming day, the choice was clear. I popped off the cap and poured 16 ounces of pure, unfiltered brine (aka "runners' moonshine") into my bottle. It immediately began to foam as I screwed on the cap and took my first swig. I thought of dehydrated sailors drinking seawater as the wave of salt and sour hit my tastebuds. Thankfully, this concoction would only have to last me until the next station, where I hoped I could dilute it with water.

As the miles and elevation accumulated, my engines began to dim (dropping about 20 seconds per mile) and I started to get cramping sensations. I kept the Go gels going (one of my biggest racing assets is my iron stomach) and fueled liberally as I crested past my 22-mile long-run maximum into deeper waters of distance running. Completing a few mountainous 50ks over the last year has made me more comfortable with this kind of distance and time on my feet.  A lot of running these types of races is having the reassurance that you’ve been in this situation before and you have the ability to finish strong.

I crossed the 50k finish in 3 hours 30 minutes, 23 minutes faster than last year, and 12 minutes ahead of second place. I quickly posed for a couple photos for Allyn from Maine Running Photos and, determined to get the Strava recognition for the distance, took to the road to run the last 3 miles before the adrenaline faded. 

The Pineland Farms post-race is always fantastic, with live music and a delicious farm store serving specialty hot sandwiches as well as salsa, cheeses, and meats from what’s produced on the farm. I caught up with my buddy Patrick, who has run the 50k with me both times, as well as Rob (who won the 25k), and Darren, a staple on the Maine running circuit. 

If you’re looking for a fantastic, local trail race that has great energy and is not too technical or intimidating, I would recommend Pineland Farms. Even outside the races, visiting the farm is a great family event with disc golf, animals, and nature trails.

Until next time ✌🏾

Sapan