It's a Saturday race which is a little bit annoying since I will miss the kids activities but I decided to make the best of it. Friday night went to rent a car. Wanted the cheapest thing they got. Branched out this time...Didn't go to the usual place. Turns out there is a Hertz on Jericho Turnpike about 3 miles away and they gave me a great rate and double upgraded me so I got this crossover between a SUV and a minivan. It was nice...I was hoping to borrow a car from DD since his wife was in Europe but he didn't offer so...
In any case, I was excited about this race. Well, mixed feeling I guess...Let me explain. It's a 2 loop race that starts with the 25Kers and 50Kers all going at the same time. No biggie except that means a fast(er) 1st loop and as you lose steam for the second loop you will probably be by yourself. now, last year, I was gonna run with Gail but after falling 3 times on the same place (left hip) she quit after doing a 25K. They were nice enough to move her to another division and she actually placed. Nice...But that left me all alone for the second loop and the pack was no where to be found. Also, there was a section as you were coming back from your loop that last year, in my opinion, was problematic. Translation: It was ok the first loop but as more and more people trampled it, when I got to it the second time, I got lost. Luckily that day I ran into Michael Samuels. Was there gonna be a repeat of last years confusion? Last year the trails were also VERY(!) muddy.
Driving down to Staten Island and all goes well. Forced the GPS to go with the Belt Parkway and the Verazanno Bridge. Cross over the bridge and I see a guy behind me with a map in his hands while driving. Who can that be except Andre??? And it is. Techno-phobe. I tried to signal him to get off at a certain exit but he completly didn't see me. Whatever. Got there and all is well. Talked to him a little and a few other people. I made friends. Eventually they opened the public plumbing and took care of buisiness. One little stressor was that I kept meaning to register but didn't and online registration closed Thursday and OOPS.... Wasn't sure what to do. Rent a car or not but put up a FB message and almost immediatly got my answer. You can sign up race day. NICE! So, took care of that too on the spot. It was kinda funny that people registering that day had no line but pre-registered people had a huge line.
So, Elizabeth asked me what time I will be back home and I just wasn't sure. Last year, took me a 6 hours and 25 minutes and then drive home. Here I am after my first (ultra) double and I just don't know how it's gonna go. My toes stopped hurting and now they were just black. On the other hand, my lower abs pain was still there and I just couldn't predict a finish time. Told her I will probably be home no later than 4pm.
Started 5-10 minutes late which sucked. I wanna just start already and get it over with. Eventually we did and around the lake we went. Seems like it's a little different than last year but we are immediatly in the woods. So far, the trail is really well marked. MUCH BETTER than last year. After the race, I went to tell them that too. In some areas, we are running in single track and passing is hard and other areas are wide(r) and passable. Interesting as we go on because you constantly have to decide what to do...Do you pass knowing you still have 30 miles to go and hopefully not burn out or do you stay behind the runner in front of you knowing he's to slow and basically slowing you down? That being said, I did pass a few people when it was obvious I could do better without too much of an exertion. I would like to think I did the right thing but who knows.
I run and run and eventually I run with a guy named Patrick. He's the guy behind me in the last picture with bib number 804. Initially I am behind him but eventually I lead and he sticks with me. It was great. We ran and talked. He trained for the NYC Marathon which didn't happen and after he stopped training he found this and decided to try it. He was a Queens guy who moved to New Jersey but his wife's parents live 5 minutes away. The plan is actually is that she and her brother and his wife will meet him. Well, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law are actually doing the 10K which starts 2 hours after us.
I know I have a long way to go so it's ok for me to slow a little to keep him with me.
There are a few street crossings in this course and last year they had a lot of volunteers who helped including cops but with Sandy (again!) we had to cross some of these by ourselves. Next year, it would be better tho I think I will retire this race.
It was kinda of funny tho because I kept seeing this one guy constantly through out the course. He would say hi, take pictures or hold traffic for us and then I would see him again later. Must have hopped on his bike and hauled tail. Nice!
One of the volunteers looked real familiar and I told her so and as I was leaving it hit me...She's from nycswim.org. Nice. Later on the second loop, I talked to her and thanked her for being here. She was awesome as she guarded a turn making sure people took the correct turn. Imagine standing in the middle of nowhere for how many hours.
I met him near the golf course. I saw him from a far and decided to try to catch him. I eventually did as he was peeing on the side onto the golf course. I told him not to stop on my account as he obviously has a green thumb. We laughed and ran. Actually, he responded with "I always pee on the golf course so why should today be an different?!?". Love it.
We ran and ran and made good time. A guy came and went passing us. Nice. Eventually we found him at an aid station hurting. He stuck with us after that.
We did get passed by a guy with 2 girls but we caught them at an aid station. Eventually we kept playing leapfrog but they got us at the end of the first loop. I didn't want to get passed by the triplet but my crew couldn't respond to it.
My crew? Patrick and the other dude who from the results I can see his name is Mohamed. He was training for the Disney Marathon and nervous about it. Patrick eventually dropped out and I ran with Mohamed but Patrick came back and joined us. How cool is that? The real nice thing here is that when we got to the end, we stopped and a quick runner-hug with congrats (from me to them) and good luck (from them to me). I pulled Patrick probably about 12 miles or so and Mohamed for 8. They finished and I wish them luck. Meanwhile, while they turned right to the finish, I went straight to go around the lake again.
Just for fun, here are 2 interesting results...1) I ended up with 6th for my 10 year age group in the 50. If I would have stopped right then, I would have gotten 6th for my 10 year age group for the 25. Weird. Also, I was only 14 minutes behind Andre...That one is realy interesting...
When we were less than 3 miles away from finishing the first loop, we saw the first of the 10Kers. Tall, skinny black guy with dreds and he was flying. A long time later a spanish dude came running. What a time difference from first and second and of course the rest of the field. We didn't even finish yet before 1st and 2nd flew by. The RD told me that he did it in 36. Turns out it was 38:31 and 40:56 but it seemed longer. Apparently first male later told the RD that he "could have gone faster but he just didn't know the course...". WOW!!! You should have seen this guy.
Anyway, I digress...
On the second loop, I was passed by 1 guy. I was hoping to run with him but couldn't. I mentioned that the course was hilly and he was going off on how flat the course is (WTH?) and blah blah blah. Whatever.
At noon, the aid stations become self-serve which sucks but it is what it is. When I almost got to one of them, the fast dude was there and walking. His knee. He wanted to bow out and wanted to use my phone. My phone was not accessible and I fibbed to him. Sorry. I did feel bad about it but I had to bug. I did find a person for him to talk to and hopefully he borrowed a phone. I hope he is well. I know it was a bad thing to do.
The course was very well marked. I know I said this already but it's true and deserves to be said again!
Throughout all this my nutrition was (as usual) half a cup of coke and my gum. I got to another aid station and it was actually manned and I took a minute to talk to the guy. Nice guy too. Eventually left him and I guess I was somewhat hydrated to an extent because I peed on the trail. Nice.
I'm at the last aid station. The one that you see twice: At mile 3 and at mile 12 and it's a welcome relief.
I know it's done and done. I mean what's another 3 miles at this point? I get to the chimney and the water crossing (bridge) and I am almost there. I see the turn that screwed me up last year and again I am glad the course is better marked. I see the carousel on my right and people cheer me on but suddenly it's gone and I am a little worried but before I know it, there's the exit out of the forest and there's the finish line and I am getting cheered on. Crossed the finish and got my medal. Such a small crowd that I see my name misspelled on the tv screen and the guy fixes it right there and then. Nice.
I PR'ed for a 50K trail by 38 minutes and 4 seconds. Nice. There's pizza and a BBQ and I get a burger and I chomp it down. I never have a problem eating after a race. Still hungry, I eat a slice too and head home. Got home by 3 and I have enough time to return the car and take the kids to the Y for their swim. Quick shower at the Y and watch them swim. Nice! Pizza later too. (PIG!)
It really was a great race. Sucks about not being able to rappel down the mountain but it's ok.