I originally thought of doing Roxbury Connecticut but procrastinated too long and got shut out. Thought about doing Deleware but didn't want to sleep over. Checked and checked and found a new race. A 50K in Staten Island. Hm...Unfortunatly, they pretty much had no info. Another inaugural - hm. This was being put on by NYARA or the New York Adventure Racing Association. Sent them a few emails. Posted on their Facebook wall. Emailed them through Facebook and nothing! Disgusting. Anyway, eventually I got an answer to my posting on their wall asking what else I wanted/needed to know. Posted back immediatly and still haven't heard from them. How stupid?!? Still, it seems that they went and added some info to their website with most of what I wanted to know.
Day before Bucks, I sent a message to Gail asking how the 60K Knickerbocker went. Turned out she didn't do it. Ha? Turns out she never told Glen and he decided to go to his neice Bat-Mitzvah after all and she never really registered anyway and oh well. Told her that Bucks was still having same day registration but she said no. Still, we talked about this race. She heard about it too.
After Bucks, I ran with her and I brought it up again. It's kinda funny. She's really considering it but (and I truly love her and mean her no disrespect) but she is a klutz. She told me once how she fell and either broke her nose or almost broke her nose and of course had no money or cell phone with her to call her husband. She always talks about eventually running a 100 miler but most of those are trails and she is a klutz so to hear her wanting to do this one is strange...
Surely she knows this is a trail race?!? Part of me didn't want to tell her until she showed up but I just can't do that to a person. Made sure she knew it was a trail. She did. She used to live right near there. That's it. We are signed up.
Here's all the info the website has. Pathetic...
There will be 3 aid stations for the 25K and 7 aid stations for the 50K. The aid stations will have water, coke and a sports drink as well as snacks. Several of the aid stations will have restroom facilities. There is approximately 2300 feet of gain for the 25K and 4600 for the 50K. The trails as of this past weekend are in great shape. There are several street crossings, some of which will be manned by volunteers, however, it will be the runners ultimate responsiblity to ensure a safe crossing.
What's the saying? If you build it, they will come...
Got home and checked toe. Wasn't broken but it was hurting. Swollen, discolored and tender. I knew it was gonna get worst. Too boot, I also got schafed (badly) again.
Very worried for the next few days.
This past weekend, ran 7 again with Gail and Pepe on Saturday and again could not connect with Jim for Sunday. He had to go later but with us going to NJ, I could not. Same route as last week but run went well this time. No issues. Wanted to do 15 but ended with 15.80. Normally, I would round off to 16 but needed to get home so stopped. Toe is ok. Checked back all week and no shingles.
I hope the race goes well but the organizers need to step up. They posted that the 25K and 50K actually start at 8am (better for me) and also that we need to carry a flashlight or headlamp with us on 2nd loop. No mention if there will be a place to leave a bag with stuff like flashlight. Sheesh.
So here we are, about 3 days away from the inaugural Greenbelt Festival Trail Races, with the start/finish line held only about a mile away from where I live, in Willowbrook Park. The temps are going to be near freezing for the early part of this race, so I'll need to prep up the appropriate clothing for the race. I like to thank Matt Lebow and the Greenbelt Conservancy for getting this race launched. Finally, an ultra trail race held in my own backyard! What I would like to do for people is to try to go through the 25 kilometer course in general and what hazards one might expect when running the this loop (twice if you're doing the 50 km ultra). If you're in the NYC area, look outside your window today. Ah, it is most definitely raining! Now look at the weather forecast for Saturday morning... about 32 at race start. Yes, that's the temperature for freezing, but it will not be enough to freeze the mud that's on the course. So as a result, expect very sloppy and muddy conditions on Saturday. OK, the course itself...if you want an overall view of the course, you can go here if you have a Facebook account. Starting out we will be running around the lake on a path wide enough so that runners can easily seed themselves before hitting the single track trails. This is a good thing. Once we circle the lake we finally leave the Willowbrook Park vicinity and trek south on the Greenbelt White Trail. There will be a small stream crossing at around 2 miles in and then a general uphill climb as we go deeper into the Greenbelt. The paths here are smooth enough but there are some technical areas where there are roots and rocks. For the experienced trail runner, these are nothing, but it might cause a little shock to beginner trail runners. There is not much mud in this stretch; that will be coming soon enough. At about 3-4 miles you will reach the first road (Forest Hill Road). Cross the road and continue on the White Trail. Right after the road is your first muddy spot and a very slippery turn onto a small footbridge. In my training runs I have wiped out there a number of times so take this section very, very slow. The path stays a bit muddy at times before you hit a section where you'll be on wood planks. IF THE WOOD PLANKS ARE WET, THEY ARE VERY, VERY SLIPPERY!!! Slippery as in you just need a little sideways pressure on your foot to slip off the plank. Be very careful on those wood planks and you'll be fine. The course will still be going uphill at this point. After the wood planks you'll cross another road (Rockland Avenue). After crossing this road you'll be back on the White Trail with the uphill grade getting noticeably steeper. Watch for embedded rocks on your climb up. With the entire course entirely uphill at this point, you might start to tire a bit, but the end of the uphill grind is in sight...once you get to the top, you will hang a right turn off of the White Trail and head toward the Greenbelt Bikeway that parallels Forest Hill Road. Greenbelt Bikeway The Greenbelt Bikeway is the easiest section of the course; there are no rocks and no roots here. It is wide enough to pass slower runners without any problems and its slight downhill grade ensures a nice section to gather your wits before the next nasty section of the course. If you want you can casually glance to your left and watch the golfers tee off on the golf course as you run by. By about mile 5 you'll hang a left off of the Bikeway onto an adjoining trail and then another immediate left brings you onto the Blue Trail, a very nasty single-track section that hugs the ridge of Snake Hill. The trail itself is tilted which makes for some dangerous sections where you might slip down off the trail. If you can, slow down a bit and make sure your steps are sure and steady so that you safely negotiate this section. There is also one mother of a steep uphill at the end of this section that will bring you onto the boundaries of the golf course (near the driving range). You'll cross Richmond Hill Road at this point and get to your first Aid Station (around mile 6). One past the first Aid Station, get ready for the mud! And lots of it. The muddiest section is the section between Aid Stations #1 and #2, so get ready for a swim. After the first aid station you'll go for a bit on a path on the golf course before you head back onto the single-track trail (Red Trail). As soon as you hit the single trail, you'll start to hit the mud. Some of the trails here could look like small streams, so it is unavoidable to get your feet wet here. Take it with stride and run down the middle of the puddles since that is where the level ground is. Picking your way around the sloped sides of the path is not very safe as your feet might slip on the mud and take you down with it. The hills are slightly rolling at this point and shouldn't be much of a factor. You'll spend about 3 or so miles playing in the slop before you finally encounter another road to cross (Lighthouse Hill; Manor Rd. and Rockland Ave). Once you cross, you'll be on the White Trail for another 2-4 minutes until you hit another road; here you'll hang a left and stay on that road. You'll encounter Rockland Ave. again, cross it, and end up onto an unimproved road that leads up to High Rock Park. This starts a pretty hilly section of the course. The unimproved road is generally uphill; once you get to the other side, you'll be hanging a left back into single-track trail and a hard climb. Stay within yourself, walk the hills if necessary and you'll finally wind up on the High Rock Loop Road and Aid Station #2 (around mile 10-11). One of the hills in High Rock park After taking in your water and food you'll then meander the trails around High Rock Park as it generally goes a bit downhill. You'll eventually wind up on the Yellow Trail moving toward Moses Mountain. You'll cross another busy road (Manor Rd.). Once across you'll be beginning your climb up to the summit of Moses Mountain. The climb is gradual at first, but it will get very steep as you close in on the top. Once at the top soak in the scenery (it's the best!!!) before you start your descent down the back side of the mountain. Ahhh, the Scenery from Moses Mountain!!! The back side of Moses Mountain is where it gets fun. But you HAVE to be careful. The trail turns off to a very, VERY steep downhill. The best way to negotiate this hill is to butt-slide down because any other way will involve a painful face-plant. Forget about speed here; take it real easy getting down, stay safe, and you'll be fine. Once down you can then start running again. The course again at this point gets muddy in some sections so be careful so that you don't slip. The hills in this section aren't a factor; most of the course is pretty much flat here. At about mile 12 you'll cross Rockland Avenue again and start a tough little climb. At the top of this climb you'll hang a right onto the Nature Trail and eventually wind up that the Greenbelt Nature Center and Aid Station #3. At this point, you got through most of the real tough sections of the loop and it's time to head back to Willowbrook Park. You'll leave Aid Station #3 and head slightly uphill on the Nature Trail until it intersects with the White Trail. You'll make a sharp right on the White Trail. You might start to recognize where you are since you ran this stretch of White Trail when you started this course. You might also see some of the 50k runners coming the other way as they head out on their second loop. Remember to always yield to the faster runners. If you see one coming the other way, just step aside and let them pass. You'll cross Rockland Ave, encounter the potentially slippery wood planks, the very slippery muddy section (see above), then Forest Hill Road. You will be running generally downhill and as you progress, the trail will get noticeably nicer to run on. The last 2 miles of this course is a good cruising section. In the blink of an eye you'll wind up at Willowbrook Park and the finish line (or the halfway point, if you're a 50k runner). Congratulations, you survived the Greenbelt! Good luck to everyone running this race. I will see you on Saturday and hope that there will be people around cheering me on as I finish the second loop of my 50k race. :-)
Race day never starts on race day. My nephew got diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Symptoms fit. In a way, that's good. Now things can be dealt with - issues fixed. On the other hand, that sucks too.
In any case, turns out that there is a genetic component and since I'm taking off on Thursday for the kids Parent Teacher Conferences, I scheduled an appointment to be tested. I don't have symptoms per se but it's good to know and it's also good to know if I possibly gave the gift to the kids as well.
Between that and the lack of info on the race and the fall that I took which in my head could start shingles again, I was kinda of a mess (for me). I still slept the usual 4 and slept fine but ... Oh yeah, I got into it with DD in the pool as well.
Thursday went to the GI, had a nice conversation with him, told him about my nephew. He took blood. Lots of it. Wasn't counting on that. I thought a little blood loss before the race wasn't a great idea but with all the water I drink, my body will regenerate blood cells fast. Still, dude took 4 damn vials. Big ones. Whatever. Can't worry about these things.
Later went to the kids school. Things went well but Lee and someone else asked me if I was OK. Apparently, I didn't look good. I was hoping it was because I had just taken a small nap as opposed to something else.
Stopped at Quantum on the way. The RD asked that we make sure we have flashlights for the second loop. I lost one of my Spiel belts so I stopped there to buy a new one. Mo gave me some hot hands as well for free. I wasn't gonna carry any with me but hm...Maybe.
Friday, back to work. Resting up. Spoke to Gail. She's driving and willing to pick me up at 5:30. I thought she would complain that it's to early but she was cool with it.
Got in bed by 10pm for 4 hours of sleep but woke up around 1ish. Whatever.
Got up and did my thing. Walked the dog, finished getting ready and it was time to leave.
Before I left the house, I check the weather. It was 44 degrees and the high for the day was supposed to be 42. Wonderful.
On the road, we targeted arriving between 6:15 and 6:30. Check in wasn't until 7:15 but always better to arrive early. Got there at 6:13 and it was still pitch black. Took a small walk and back to the car. It was cold. Decided to definitly take the hot hands with me. I can always throw them out, right?
Before we knew it, the race was about to start. Wasn't sure what to expect in terms of Gail but she's a trooper and an ultra-marathoner.
The stats: 27 people doing the 50K. 48 people doing the 25K.
The course: Run around the lake - Run around the lake again 3/4 of the way and into the Greenbelt - 2 loops of joy. Around the lake was no prob. Gail and I were together. Some hints of mud and joy but I was able to avoid. Too early to get all dirty and cold. Back around the lake and the split. There is a section that we go South on until we split. Coming back we go into that section again to come home. The map they gave kinda sucked. The start is on the left side of the map if that makes sense.
Right away there is a lot of mud. Lots of puddles. A few streams to cross. I try to avoid as best I can. Gail goes right through. Her reason: She is a klutz and will fall trying to avoid hazards so go right through. Makes sense. I run and oops! shoe goes into mud, shoe stays in mud, foot is out of shoe and I step into mud. Had to rescue the shoe.
I believe in knowledge is power. I know it's lame but I'd rather know what I am getting into.
Well, Coach Iron Pete gave the most accurate description ever. I just kept reminding myself and Gail as to what's coming up.
Gail and I were joined at this point by Melissa and Rob. Their friend took off. Melissa was also fast in her own right. Rob slower and fastly considering stopping at the 25K mark.
One thing I didn't like about the race was the spacing of aid stations. They only had 3 per loop and I get it. Hard to put aid stations in a trail race and to find volunteers but to space it at 6 miles - 10/11 miles and 12 miles kinda sucks.
Gail and I did not stop at the first aid station while Rob and Melissa did tho eventually they caught up with us.
The first 6 miles were all about single track and mud, a nice wide road near a golf course and a run on the side of a mountain then the aid station. The side of the mountain was awesome. It was slanted with nothing preventing you to fall down the mountain on your right. To your left, incline. To your right, nothing but hurt. Every step you take, your left foot is basically higher than your right. I am amazed no one got hurt here.
The next 4 miles were the most technical I guess. All ups and down and some was tricky. On to the 2nd aid station.
Between the 2nd aid station and the 3rd aid station, you have Mount Moses to climb. Wasn't an easy climb at all, beautiful view and all and then we hit the downhill. Coach Iron Pete wasn't joking about "go on your butt". On the butt slide and grabbed the rope that someone left. First time, I did it nice and slow guarding Gail. The second time, I rappeled down with the rope. Last aid station and only 3 miles to go. We almost got lost at one point when we hit the section that the out and back share. Passed some 50Kers going back out Let some 10Kers and 5Kers pass us.
At this point, Gail decided she had fun. Enjoyed her self but she fell 3 times. The first was fine. The second and third really hurt her left hip. She was done. I paced her and now I am at the back. It's cool tho.
Went out for the second loop by myself. That sucked. Part of me hopes that they will put her in the 25K race. It's cool. On the other hand, I realized that's gonna make my results suckier. If I had a huge ego, then I would rather a field of 27 with a bunch of DNF's rather than a list of 21 but who cares. I took care of Gail and that's what needed to be done. No regrets.
Well, second loop sucked. All by myself. No one in sight. And to make it worse, some of the volunteers for the road closures had already packed up and left. One of the road closures was a big street but there was a traffic light. First aid station was unmanned. My nutrition at this point was Coke and gum. There was no coke at the first aid station. Drank some water and decided on a little powerade which was disgusting. At this point (mile 21), I was starting to lose focus so really jonesing for the coke but wasn't meant to be. Trudge on ahead I guess.
Never saw anyone the course. On my way back, I heard that there was a runner ahead of me approx. 10 minutes ahead. Would of been nice to catch them. Tried hard but wasn't meant to be. About 2 miles away and I got lost. Stopped to try to figue out what/who/where when I saw another runner. Ran with him. He admitted to being lost, that he doesn't recognize where we were but that his "spidey sense" wasn't going off. Thank God. Got to the finish. Gail was there. She got first for her age group in the 25K.
Met Elaine Acosta who I know is a friend of Emmy's and Frank. Saw her at a few races. Got food and headed home.
That night the decision was Pizza hut. Enjoyed the food and got back to last walk with dog. Small walk around the block. About 1/2 mile in all.
Jeremy decided he had to run it. Jeremy decided Jessie has to run too. Jeremy decided that LC had to run too and since I was holding the leash...After 31+ trail miles, 4 slices at pizza hut, I got to run again. The legs were fine but the pizza in the stomach...Oh...
For Mapquest purposes: 1 eton place, staten island ny 10314
Total shoe loss: First time my foot left the shoe and I stepped in mud. Then had to rescue the shoe. The next 3 times, my foot left the shoe but I was able to keep my balance and stick my foot back in. The next 4 times, I stopped myself as it started happening. I realized then that the way to pick your foot up while in the mud was not the usual but rather by flexing your foot and rising up with my toes.