Traditionally, this has been staged at Astoria Park. My first year, 2015, was at Astoria. Then they moved it to Fort Totten, then back to Astoria and this again was at Fort Totten. In 2016, the wheather was extremly hot and humid at Fort Totten and this year, even tho it wasn't as hot and humid, it still was hot and humid. I think due to that and the nature of the course, he had a low turnout. Only 82 people registered and 13 DNSed. Very small field. Still, even tho it is a very hard course, I did enjoy it and of course I love the ultra running community so once again I was drawn in.
Unfortunatly, I don't like loops and after the 40 mile at Alley Pond Park (13 loops), I think I started thinking about stopping. Still, not too many July races and I signed up.
Attendees (in no particular order): Jamey - on the fence but last minute yes - The Freds (Mike, Maria and Andrew with Angelica spectating) - Ed Peters - Albert Lione - Burt (real nice guy) - David Drebsky - Phil McCarthy - Hammad (looking for a 26.2) - Albert (looking for a 26.2) - Jean (looking for his first Ultra and specifically 50K).
I told Hammad and Jamey that I would pick them up. Also, Albert asked for a ride home. Jamey decided to walk down but I would drive him home.
Main problem with this race is the 5pm start and how do you eat for it. I decided to try to stay off my feet as much as possible so I didn't take extra shifts at the YMCA but still had my 2 classes to teach from 12-2. I slept late (7am-ish) and did my thing. Taught my classes and hurried home to eat. From there, on to pick up Hammad.
Tangent here on how stupid people can be: I was on Commenwealth Blvd and had to make a right onto Jericho Tpke. The light takes forever. There was a guy leaning against the Bar over there. I should not have said anything as I believe alcohol usually helps people become Deuche Bags but I did. I opened my window and asked politely if the guy would do me a favor and press the walk button for me. The guy seemed nice. He smiled at me, pushed off the bar and promptly gave me the finger. I thanked him and closed the window shaking my head at my stupidity. He signalled me to lower the window. I did. He then took a bow. I told him I was just thanking him. The whole time, this piece of drunk garbage (Saturday at 3:30 pm) was smiling at me benevolently. What a DB...
I picked up Hammad. His goal was to do a Marathon. He definitly could do it. Still, a few days before he looked a little injured. When we got Fort Totten, the look on his face was of defeat.
I parked and we started the 1/2 mile walk to the registration area. One of Ritchie's emmails said take 2 rights but there were some cones on the left and I wasn't sure where to go. Fortunatly, I saw Albert Lione who told me to stay left. We got there and right away Ritchie said to me that someone has a plaque for me. I actually won my Age Group (1st in age) for the 2017 Grand Prix. I will post a picture. After we signed in, I got my plaque. Someone saw that and said "you already won" to which I announced "yes, all you bitches can go home now". Everyone laughed. The ultra community is relaxed that way. No drama for the most part.
Soon enough, we were lined up at the start. Ritchie is giving his last minute instructions. We were supposed to start in less than 5 minutes. Suddenly we see David Drebsky, running in towing a suitcase. Oi... He screams where and everyone points out the registration desk to him. He just made it. Jean is all ready. I told him to start easy. He told me he will. We start and Jean takes off like a bat out of hell. I start with Jamey and David. On the 3rd lap, I take off from those 2. This is the one place, I don't worry that Jamey will get lost. I eventually catch Hammad who is trailing Jean. I run with Jean who tells me that right away in the beginning, he oopsied and fell and got a bloody knee. Sucks. He's ok tho. His feet were hurting tho and sometimes he runs barefoot (holding his shoes in his hands) while most of the time he is wearing shoes.
I ran with a bunch of people on/off. I think the 6 hour format really works for me and I had fun. I actually did. I was worried tho since I only saw Hammad 1 time during the course. Mikey caught up with me and we stayed together for a while. Jamey caught us, slapping Mikeys Butt, exclaiming that he's never washing his hands after this. He left us. He actually finished before us tho the 3 of us ended with the same distance.
Hammad's tale: He ended up with 25ish miles. Screwed around with his nutrition and lost time in the port-a-bushes. He had it that bad. Sucks. Of all people, I completly empathize with him...
And now the ugliness that ruined the night... Really it was just a misunderstanding but does it matter? ( <--- rhetorical question)
Lap before last, there was already pizza and both Mikey and I took a slice to go. When we finished, we went to get pizza. Angelica came over and asked Mike to get pizza for Andrew. He's all cramped up and can't move. The pizza was at this point, cut into half slices or smaller. Mike took 6 halfs (that's 3 regular slices for the mathemetically challenged). Three runners and three slices. Nick, the RD of the greenbelt 50K and Ritchie's lifelong friend and probably biggest supporter at BUS, was manning the pizza. He went off at Mike calling him a Gabbon. We can only assume it means pig in italian. He went off loudly at Mike embarassing him in front of his peeps. He went off at Angelica. We thought he was kidding but he wasn't and the situation got bad. He started yelling. Mike started yelling. I got into the mix pushing Mike out of there. I went to Nick and tried to explain 3 slices for 3 runners but he wasn't listening. It just got ugly. The Fred's were upset. I was upset. It was just ugly.
Mike swore off BUS and vowed to let Ritchie know what happened. What can Ritchie do except defend his friend? What's the point of burning this bridge? I tried to calm him down but ...
I dropped Jamey off and then Albert and his daughter off at home. Hammad went with Jean instead of with me. I got home and started the chafe/shower ritual.
I would like to say biz as usual but alas I found a new place to get chafed. I got it bad on the knee toward the inside of the body on both knees. Now, Thursday, I still have some rough spots there and dried blood. Last night was my first hot shower. The other area which took a hit was my down under area. Sitting was a pleasure for a few days as I was full of bloody welts. Even today, there are epithelial cells in my underwear as the old dead skin falls off. Yes - this is awesome.
In any case, I tried to go to sleep around 1am Sunday morning and just couldn't fall asleep. The run at 7am was delighfully painful (no delight ; just pain). I was tired that day. Sitting in the car later for 2 hours while taking Jeremy back to Brookhaven was also a pleasure.
In any case, between the loops, the misunderstanding I had with Ritchie in December (misunderstanding that has since been cleared up) and now this misunderstanding AKA ugliness and I feel a need to take a break from BUS. I will still support them as I think they do a great service for the ultra running community but no more loops for me. I will miss the Forest Park run anyway because we are going away and that is really sad but maybe for the best. Mikey has since decided to do Forest Park and perhaps to just grin and bear it. Oh well...