Emerald Necklace 3 Day Stage Race

I first came upon this race last year after scrolling through Ultra Signup for events coming up in my area. The distances were reasonable and it was only an hour away. While I already had my races squared away last year, I kept this one in the pocket. So, when it came time to plan out this season, the Emerald Necklace 3 Day Stage Race made the calendar.

This race was run on the Sunapee Ragged Kearsarge Greenway (SRKG), a 75 mile trail that circumnavigates Lake Sunapee with close to 13,000 ft. of elevation gain. And just to add a bit more distance, because honestly, who couldn't use a few more miles, we started at a nicely restored train station in Andover, NH and ran the few miles from the station out to where the SRKG crosses to begin the race. We also ran back on the rail bed, too. It was the only duplicated section of the course.

The event started off Thursday night where a group of 39 gathered to be briefed on what could only be referred to as a terrible idea by anyone with more than 5 fully functioning brain cells left, at the New London town hall. Here, we checked in all our mandatory gear and went over the course for the following day, which would include summits of both Ragged Mountain and Mount Kearsage. After collectively thinking this was going to be a fantastic time, we were set free for the evening. A lot of us went over to the Sunapee Middle School, where our race/camp headquarters would be for the weekend. There, everyone was setting up tents or choosing to sleep in the gym, which was about 110 degrees. Either way there wasn’t much time for hanging out because the race was starting at 7am and sleep was of top priority.

Friday: Stage One - 25 miles

After avoiding rain for most of the night, my alarm went off at the most pleasant hour of 4:45am. Emerging from my tent, it was a slow, coffeeless stager around camp getting myself and my gear ready for the day (short sleeve or sleeveless? Oh, the decisions!). By 6am, a few of us loaded into my car and drove the 30 minutes to Potter Place, where the race would start. As we gathered, Tom, one of the fantastic race directors, went over some last minute details and sent us off on our journey as the day’s impending rain began to settle in.

The first few miles were on old rail bed, and possibly some of my fastest miles all weekend. Two miles in, we come across the SRKG trail mark and take a right off the rail bed to begin our climb up Ragged Mountain. The first bit of the climb was on dirt road, which turned off onto old jeep roads. From there it became wet and technical single track as the rain gave a slick coating to everything. Many of the sections of this ascent were steep and required power hiking. It was one hell of a way to start off the race. After summiting Ragged by the ski patrol lodge, the decent was more of the same slick, technical trail. On this section I spent a good amount of time trying to get my shoes to fit right, as I continually stopped to mess with them before finally emerging at the bottom behind (school).
From here, we ran across some fields and a seriously sketchy suspension bridge, to begin climbing a series of dirt roads and old jeep roads until finally coming into the course’s main aid station at mile 14. I refilled my pack and hand held, drank some Coke, and shoveled some chocolate covered espresso beans into my mouth before grabbing a handful of watermelon cubes and heading out.

The next section of the course climbed a steep, paved road (sure, I’ll keep walking) until arriving at the parking lot for the Mount Kearsarge trail head where we continued our up hill ascent for another mile and a half or so. This climb was again fairly technical and slick. Finally emerging at the summit, we were treated to some cool breezes and nice views before decending for nearly 5 miles. There was very steep, rocky terrain to contend with to start, but soon became very runnable. In this section my feet began hurting from all the relacing I had been doing earlier on in the race. Even after trying to loosen up the laces, it didn’t seem to make too much of a difference in the pain department. I muscled my way through the final few miles of the course before finishing 12^th place in 6:08 at Sutton Field. Taking my shoes off never felt better!

After finishing and changing out of my nasty running clothes, small groups of us were shuttled back to the Middle School, where we cleaned up and hung out for the remainder of the day. My girlfriend, Jenn, who had to back out of the race due to injury, came up to hangout and support me the rest of the weekend. (You’re the best, baby!)

Before turning in for the night, we again met to go over the course for the following day, noting all the turns and trails and such.

Saturday: Stage Two – 24 miles

After being fed breakfast, the day started off with a 30 minute bus ride back to Sutton Field where we finished the day before. Again, a few last minute words from the RD and we were off. The first mile was nice and cool as we headed past a lake before starting to climb for almost 2 miles up dirt roads and old jeep trails. I was feeling pretty good this morning. I was feeling none of the wear and tear from the day before and I had swapped out the shoes I was running in yesterday for my oldest, most comfortable pair to help with the foot pain I had. I kept a decent pace and ran everything I could as I knew there would be plenty of sections later that wouldn’t be so runnable.

 

About 6 miles in I came to a spot in the trail where the trail marker pointed up to the left but I couldn’t figure out for the life of me where this trail was. I stood around dumb founded for a minute until a few other guys showed up and pointed out where I was supposed to me headed. Turns out there are a few sections of the SRKG that seemingly only exist to make this trail a loop and barely, if ever, get used. This happened to be one of those sections. Weaving over heavily leaf and debris laden trail, we made our way out of this section before decending a number of roads out to Rt 103, where the main aid station of this section was located. I loaded back up on all my favorites and headed back out to start up Mount Sunapee. This section was power hiking at its best. As tiring as it was, I kept moving, noting the change in vegetation as I climbed further and further up before eventually emerging onto some open slope of the ski area and cresting over the top where the lady friend had hiked up to. We chatted for a minute as she walked with me towards the trail back down on the other side before I took off only to stop a second later to ask her which way I was supposed to go at a seemingly unmarked trail junction.

Unlike yesterday, I brought my ipod with me and was fully enjoying this summer’s tour gems as I made my way down to the parking lot. From the parking area, I ran down a number of paved roads which just hammered my quads. This was probably the longest paved section of the race, which ran by a number of farms and scenic views before turning off on a dirt road. I make it to the last “water only” aid station and fill up my hand held thinking the finish isn’t that far off from what I could remember of the talk the night before. Turns out there was something like 8 miles left. I ran into the woods on trails I had first run years ago during one of the races of the Western New Hampshire Trail Race Series. These trails again eventually gave way to lesser and lesser used trails. I felt like this section was never going to end and was convinced that just around every turn had to be a road I would come out on or something signifying the race was almost done….. ugh. Finally I emerge at a disc golf park and run out to the main road and take a left. From here, the SRKG goes through neighborhood streets, scenic river front trails, and across the patio deck of a local restaurant where people were eating baskets of fried clams and enjoying ice cream.

Under the heat from the early afternoon sun, I ran the pavement back to the Sunapee Middle School, where the finish was located today. I crossed the finish after 24 miles 9^th  in 5:19. Over all, it was a solid day of running.

 

After pounding some chocolate milk and water, I sat in an ice bath for a bit to soak the leg muscles. It was the first time in a long time I wasn’t a huge nancy about getting into cold water!

 

The rest of the afternoon was spent cheering on runners as they finished, eating, drinking, and playing Trivial Pursuit.

Sunday: Stage Three – 31 miles

Oh Lord! My legs! My Quads!! They hurt!!! Moving around camp that morning was not fun. The past two days had caught up to me. If this were any other day, running would have been filed under HELL NO!!! But that option didn't exist today. I geared up and waited in the early morning fog to begin the final stage. I went out with the group of guys I had been running with for the first half of the previous day. There was no way I could hang. I couldn’t even hang with those further back from that group….. I was hurting and mentally drained wondering how the hell I’m going to push through another day of this in my current condition.

The first several miles were ssssslllllllooooooooowwwwwwwww. My legs eventually began to loosen up a little. I was running more than walking and beginning to think I might be able to put the wheels back on this train. I get to the first aid station at mile 11 to Jenn asking what I needed. Since new legs weren’t available, I instead filled my hand held, drank some Coke, and put a few more gels in my pack before venturing on.

Somewhere in the next 8 miles my legs began to feel better but I was still physically exhausted from the past two days. Running down the creek between miles 17-19 was nice and my pace opened up a bit before coming into the major aid station of the race at mile 19 to Jenn holding up a box of Munchkins to my delight. I’m not sure there is any other sport where you can eat donuts and drink soda in the middle of a grueling athletic endeavor. Seriously, you can yell, “Look at me, I’m an athlete!” with donut glaze all over your face and no one is going to question your abilities!

The trail out of the aid station was steep for the next mile before giving way to runnable, rolling terrain. After several miles I came to Bog Mountain, the only sizeable climb of the day. Passing over the top, I knew there wasn’t that much further to go. I started making check lists in my head. Thorn bush laden clear-cut trail…. Check. Water only stop… Check. Back on the original rail trail… Check!!! From here it was just a matter of grinding it out to the finish. In a short time I was able to see the red of the old caboose out in front of the station, which just never seemed to get closer. Finally, 100 yards or so from the finish, you could hear people cheering as I brought it in strong, crossing the line 15^th in 7:53 to conclude this epic journey!

It didn’t take long (roughly 15 seconds) to get a beer in my hands and take in what an incredible event this was. Everything from the course, the camp, the runners, and the outstanding job Mike and Tom did putting this event on was top shelf! As tired as I am a day later, I can’t wait to come back and do this again! Good times!

Aaaannnnnnd let's recap the last 9 months of blog avoidance

After the Pisgah 50k in September, I didn't have anything else on my immediate race calendar. Earlier in the year I had wanted to find something other than Ghost Train to run later in the fall. I figured something would come up that would pique my interest.... yep, nothing I could find. The thing was, I was actually feeling like I was in good enough shape to run my first 100. Now I was pissed that I hadn't sign up for Ghost Train, as is had sold out months before and the waiting list was already stacked.

Cedric, however, was signed up to run his first 100 at Ghost Train, and I figured that pacing him for a while would be a great way to bag a whole bunch of miles. I started out with him around 5pm at mile 45. We had a good time hitting up that 4th lap. Ced showed no signs of of the previous miles and we kept it locked in at a comfortable pace. Around 9pm things changed... for me.

About 14 miles into my pacing duties, we start heading up the one lone hill (if you can even call it that) on the entire course. We come upon a girl who just looked like hell and was clearly struggling. I ask if she was ok. She says no. I ask if she needs any fluids, GU or S-caps... No. She then proceeds to tell me she had emergency surgery on her tonsils the day before but was damned if anything was going to keep her from running her first 100 miler. She said she could feel the blood running down the back of her throat and was getting cold and really light headed as if she might pass out at any moment. I decided that sounded way too bad to have her walk on her own and let my buddy go on. I proceed to walk with her for the next half mile waiting for a passing runner to ask if there was a volunteer at the next road crossing. There was not. She was getting really cold and shaky. She hadn't taken in any fluids or food in a long time due to her throat. I give her my jacket and tell her to wait at the next road crossing. I take off sprinting for the turn around point on the course a mile further down the trail. I drive with a staff member back to the road crossing. The woman gets picked up and I head back out with Ced for the rest of my time pacing him. I dont think much more about it, but I was hoping I get my jacket back, which I eventually found at the start/finish area once I was done pacing around 2am.

When I get home I find this message on the race's FB page...

Dear guy in green who gave me a wonderful coat and ran for help, I love you...and I hope you got your coat back.
-Jellybean

After my divorce earlier in the year, I had been saying that if I kept doing the things I love, I would eventually meet someone else who shares those loves. So the short story... Within a month, this chance encounter in the woods led us to a relationship.

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The new year starts off rehabing nagging injuries, but by April, its time to start building the miles as I'm making 2015 the year of my first 100 miler. I don't particularly feel like I need to be registered for races, as I can run long on my own and for much cheaper.

The end of April saw the first, and hopefully annual, For Pete's Sake 50k. The concept of this was to get my friend Pete his first ultra distance and thus naming the run after him. It also helped to name it after him because the likely hood of him bailing on it was well over 50%.... you nancy!

The point to point course consisted of all familiar territory, and save for a few climbs, was all downhill. We started in Marlborough, NH and ended by tagging the gas pump of the gas station in Westminster, VT.

One of the many wonderful things about a lady friend who runs ultras, is that this seems like a great way to spend a Sunday. Even though Jenn was still dealing with an ankle issue, she ran the first 6 miles with us before crewing for us the rest of the way!

The start had all the bells and whistles.... A spray painted start line, lengthy RD speech, and group photos.....

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Come June, it was time to up the long run mileage again, and this time I wanted to complete a run I've had on my bucket list for a few years.

This run, which I entitled the Wheels of Steel 40 Miler, starts just over the border in Massachusetts. After running a tiring 100 feet back into New Hampshire, you pick up the old Boston & Maine RR Cheshire Branch rail bed. This trail takes you for 20 miles back into Keene, which Jenn ran with me, and from there, 20 miles out to Westminster, VT, ending at the gas station, which has become a tradition. 40 miles and 3 states LET'S HAVE AT IT!

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So next up? A couch to coast run.... A 3 day stage race..... things I haven't even thought of yet.... 100 MILES!

Pisgah 50K

There has been a lot of work going down on the running side of things this past summer. It turns out that being single is the best way to log a lot of miles. Minimal obligations and lots of free time.... just what I wanted!

I've been able to log a significant amount of miles, getting close to the mid 40's most every week, as opposed to the meager 30ish I was getting last year. I even went as far as taking a "runcation". I bailed on work for the week and was able to log close to 60 miles while visiting my sister in PA, my buddy Mike in Queens, and lots of tasty brew pubs and beer bars along the way. Running has never been better. I even ran into my first bear a few weeks ago!

Today was my 7th show down with the 50k distance. Weather conditions had called for thunderstorms and rain for the majority of the day, so it was a relief to toe the line under dry skies. After a few words from the RD, we were off down the road for a few miles before we hit the trail head. Runners for both the 50k and 23k were mixed in the group and it was difficult to tell who was who, or rather, should I be running as fast as this guy next to me?

I ran with Keith into the woods, passing signs made for us by his brother's family. It's always nice to see that, especially at a races of this distance where it isn't exactly a spectator sport. We made our way down the trail and took the left hand turn at the 50k sign as the 23kers kept straight on the trail. Apparently we were the only ones taking this left, at least that we could see out of the crowd that was in front of us hammering onward.

Once off on our own, we shot the shit for a minute before Keith pulled ahead and I turned my ipod on. The first few miles out there went by with ease. Weather it was me feeling good, or the tunes in my headphones, I was enjoying this jaunt in the woods. A mile or two further on I see Keith a distance ahead of me, something that rarely, if ever, happens in race situations. I oddly enough seem to pick up steam and over the next mile pull right up behind him. I'm feeling good. I consider the fact that it might all be clicking for me today, and despite the humidity, I might be able to make something of this.

After last year's performance ending in a 16th place 5:12 finish, I felt I had it in me to go sub 5 this year, as long as I could continue to feel good and make smart choices. I had put enough fluids and nutrition in my pack to avoid having to stop at any of the early aid stations, which would be a huge time saver and something I didn't do last year.

Throughout the first part of the race, Keith continued to stay at least 400 yard in front of me for the most part. I took advantage of running most of the hills and power hiking where necessary, which kept me in the game. After a while out there, I found it strange that I hadn't seen another runner other than Keith.

It wasn't until the climb up Pisgah Mountain, that I finally came upon a runner other than Keith. I passed him as he seemed to be struggling, and motored on to catch up with Keith, who I hadn't said a word to since I had put my headphones on back around mile 3. We shot the shit for a moment and talk about the discrepancies on our watches before he powered down the the back side of the mountain, followed closely by the other guy I had passed.

As I ran along, coming close to the Kilburn aid station, which I would pass through twice, I came upon that other runner who I had passed on top of Pisgah Mountain. Over my headphones I couldn't make out what he was saying to me, but after turning the ipod off, he was desperately looking for salt tabs. I offered up some s-caps and proceeded on my way to the aid station. This was my first pass through the Kilburn aid station before running the loop around Kilburn Pond. I pounded two cups of soda knowing the fluids in my pack would be good for another 5.5 miles. I also powered through the aid station fast enough to take another runner who was wasting more time there than me.

The Kilburn loop is sort of a two fold event. The first part, which is down hill for the most part, seems to be easy and fast. I passed another runner in this section. However, once you get to the backside of the pond, the trail becomes increasingly aggravating. While not really steep, your body seems cashed enough to make walking the uphills seem like the most desirable thing in the world. Somewhere in this stretch, I was passed back by the guy from the aid station. No worries I told myself. I hadn't been passed by anyone from further back in the pack so this wasn't that big of an issue.

I finally get off the Kilburn loop and back into the Kilburn aid station for the second and final time. I refill my pack for the first time all race, pound more Coke and head off as fast as I can toward the finish. The final stretch of miles were some that took their toll on me last year. I walked more of it than I cared to, and felt I lost a lot of time on this section.

This year I entered the final section feeling good and ready to battle. While the first initial climb out Rt. 63 parking lot was walked, I quickly returned to running and pushed on well past the places I had walked the previous year. It may have been in this section that I figured out my Halloween costume.... Oh god, watch out!

I finally came to the section that I found the previous year to have been logged. I knew from here it was only a matter of a mile to get to the road that would bring me in to the finish. I started to pick up the pace and look for that coveted turn onto the dirt road.

Coming down one of the final hills, I see the dirt road and the guy who had passed me on the back side of the Kilburn loop. At a volume loud enough for him to most likely have heard, I yelled, "That fuckers going down!", and proceeded to pick up the pace until I had zeroed in on him and passed him just before passing Keith's brother's house on the last mile in to the finish. At his brother's house, I drop my race vest and take off. Cresting the final hill I can see straight down the road to the stop sign. From there, it would only be a matter of yards to the finish. I keep my focus on the stop sign and keep my pace. As I draw closer to the end of the road, I pull in and pass my final struggling runner. I turn the corner and haul ass into the finish. 50k in 4 hours and 43 minutes in 9th place. This was exactly a half hour off of last year's time and almost 2 minutes faster than my previous 50k PR, which was run on a pancake flat course, as opposed to this course with 3,850 feet of elevation gain.

Over all, I couldn't have been more satisfied with my result. The biggest problem I have now, is where to take this success for one more bout in the ring this year.

I fully blame the Tweeprise.

There is only one true way for me to judge a Phish show after the immediate glory of having either been to the show or having listened to it on the now popular couch tour, and that is to give it my full attention while putting back some miles. Just how does 7/27/14 Set 2 hold up?

Today provided just that opportunity. I'm spending the weekend at my parent's house and my sister and her family are visiting as well. It's old times in the Casey household! As it is a Saturday, I would need to start my day out with a long run. The main problem here is that every route I used to run here in Londonderry way back in the day is a road route and provides little distance and even less allure. The only viable option I was able to arrive at was to be dropped off in Salem and run the old rail bed back into Londonderry.

I left the house just after 8 this morning and was driven down Rt 93 by my father to a spot I had mapped out the previous night. From that spot it was a solid half marathon back to the house. It would be rather flat, and if anything, a positive elevation run.

I started my watch at the trail head behind the bicycle shop and was off. I also started off my ipod in the middle of the Slave from 7/27, a show currently regarded as one of the best shows they've played in at least 10 to 15 years. The final soaring notes of the song gave way to the opening bass notes of DWD as I paced along an over grown rail trail in the cloudy humidity of the morning.

Before long I can upon a newly built bridge spanning a main road and the trail that picked up on the other side was newly refurbished with hard pack sand and stone. It wasn't too bad, but i liked the more natural feel of the first section of trail.

Bouncing along to the DWD jam, I came to the first road crossing, which was where the trail now became paved. I'm not sure why towns feel the need to pave a "trail", but I was thankful that the right hand shoulder of the trail had a dirt single track to run. It seemed the paved trail was excellent at attracting soccer moms and senior citizens riding hybrid bikes. The DWD jam transitioned smoothly into NICU. At this point, my pace had been a rather steady sub 8 trot and the sincerity and urgency with which Phish was playing with wasn't allowing my pace to slow any time soon. I ran past some dog walkers and Saturday morning joggers. I passed marsh lands with beautiful mirror still reflections of the surrounding trees.

And then I can upon the opening notes of HYHU that led to some of the most clever uses of self deprecating humor by the band. Fishman takes the mic and notes that he hasn't practiced any songs and would just make this a sing along and a drummer's choice. He subsequently broke into the rarely played and often agreed upon, worst Phish song ever - Jennifer Dances. The fact that this song was being played in jest, was just another in a long, long line of reasons why this is my favorite band. They finish up the tune and break into another rarely played tune off of Joy, Ive Been Around. It allowed for some fun band interactions and was a great way to finish out the set. I was so caught up in listening, I was barely paying attention to the fact that I was running, but I was still clicking off sub 8 miles.

Encore started off with a cover of Stevie Wonder's Boogie On Reggae Woman, which kept the pace, and my attention, in the zone. Closing out the encore was Tweezer Reprise. This song, after a night of Tweezer mayhem, was the icing on the cake for this show. You could feel the fever and urgency with which they were playing this song, and as they had been playing all night long. They were playing like they really meant it. I was rocking some sweet air guitar moves, and before I knew it, I was running like I was a man possessed! I meant to look down at my watch and see how fast that mile was, but alas, I was so caught up in the music that I missed the mile read out by a tenth of a mile. (after later review, it was a 6:49 mile) The music was just too good and I couldn't slow myself down. The set was over and I needed more...STAT!!! Time to start this set over again!

About this time, I ran past a group of runner's who were standing around in a parking lot at one of the trail heads along the path. I gave a quick wave and kept up what I could only assume was an extremely impressive pace for them to have witnessed, or maybe they were just thinking, "Who's this ass hat with the race vest on, on a paved bike path?" Either way, I failed to stop and check out the old Boston & Maine caboose next to the renovated train station.

Back into the first Tweezer of the set. The jam is cut short after two teases by Fishman to segue into Back on the Train. BotT was woven out of just as quickly as it was woven into, and seamlessly back into Tweezer before heading back into BotT again. This was some really early, to mid 90's style playing right here, and they were absolutely killing it!

Around this time I was crossing through downtown Derry and back to the splendors of dirt trails. The trails that run through the middle of Derry are pretty rough. I had to take several detours to be able to get on course with the trail only to have the next section be riddled with the wavering pits created by dirt bikes and 4 wheelers. I was able to find a relatively level edge and stuck to that for the most part.

The band segued into one of their new, and admittedly really good songs, Waiting All Night. The fresh melodic lines and solid vocals for a band that has never been known for their singing abilities, made me feel great even though this particular section of the trail was teeming with deer flies. I helped population control by killing at least 15 of them. I said I'm sorry.

Crossing Rt 28, I knew I was in the final 4.5 miles of the run. The opening guitar lines of Free helped push the pace and keep me ahead of the deer flies that were trying so hard to keep up. The band quickly wove back into the Tweezer theme again before weaving into Simple. The trail was straight and the view off in the distance of the next trail gate was locked into my view. I was still sticking to the sides of the trail to keep off the constant rolls from the motorized vehicles. The transition back into the end section of Free, with the repeated Free vocal line, in that time and place, thinking about everything in my life, completely resonated and I was washed over with adrenalin crushing the pace even faster. It was all coming together.

Passing past Poor Boy's Diner, I head towards the Rt 93 underpass, thinking about when this was just some rinky-dink little highway with a muddy old rail bed passing below, instead of the 4 lane super highway that it's become.

At this point the trail has again, unfortunately been paved. Dog walkers, cyclist, and soccer moms littered the trail as I haul ass towards Clark Rd, which would be my departure from the rail trail. Powered by my second play through of Slave, I turn onto Clark and see a 6:46 mile click off on the Garmin. With just a little over a mile to go, I kept pushing the pace up Noyes Rd. Wanting nothing more than a final sub 7 mile, I let the Slave pull me up the road and onto my parent's street, where the final assault on the pavement concluded with a 1:37 half marathon. Just a few minutes off my actual road half PR, this was a solid accomplishment coming just 2 weeks after spraining my ankle, which I could still feel, but not in a bad way. I've been getting stronger and this was just what I needed to remind me I am still in the game.

Does this show hold up to legendary status? If it was a direct correlation to how I ran today, I'd have to rank this show pretty damn high!

Catamount 50k

Things have been pretty good in the running department this season and this race was no exception. Coming almost 2 months after the Bear Mountain 50 miler, there had been plenty of time for rest, serious miles, and warding off possible injuries. I had been weary of how much I could build up my mileage. With 3 ultras within the past 3 months (and 5 in 10 months), I've been wondering if I've been going about my training well enough to avoid injury. My right quad had been pretty hammered the past few weeks so with a week of rest and moderate mileage this week, I was ready to toe the line at the Catamount 50k in Stowe, Vermont.

Waking again at the heart warming time of 2:40AM, race day was underway as I headed over to Keith's to pick him up and drive just over 2 hours north to the Trapp Family Lodge. Set in the Green Mountains, the early morning views from the start/finish area were quite spectacular. The course itself was a 25k loop which we would complete twice. With roughly 2,500ft of elevation gain per lap, there was quite a bit of up hill battling.

 Armed with a hand held bottle and an extra 10oz of fluid in a flask in the front of my vest, (Note to self: DO NOT try and "clean" bladders and bite valves the night before a race and break them.) we started the 4.5 mile ascent to the highest point on the course. At this point in the day the air was still relatively cool, but the humidity was high. I was trying to push fluids early on as not to find myself in a hole later.

This first initial climb was via a series of cross country ski trails, which wound their ways around the front of the mountain. It was steep in sections but mostly runnable, or at least I made it runnable as to keep pace with the immediate guys around me, and even gain a bit on them. Cresting the top of the hill was the first aid station, which I stopped only long enough to fill my bottle before taking off on the long down hill section.  Aside from a few wet spots, the next 5.5 miles to the next aid station were quick and easy. Lots of great scenery to be had as well.  

I come into the second aid station in the rising heat of the morning to refill my bottle and grab a thing or two to eat. They also had a chia fresca shot which was outstanding! The next few miles of trail were in and around the woods and fields of Trapp Lodge. I was feeling great and running right where I felt I should have been. And that's when the extremely urgent need to "use the woods" hit. Not an issue, as I'm pretty much a zen master of this activity, but I did lose at least 4 to 5 minutes, which was kind of disheartening when I was running as well as I was.

The next four miles started out crossing a cow pasture, complete with compliments of the cows previously grazing on said pasture, before ducking back into the woods for what seemed like forever. In this section I was able to catch up to one of the runners I had lost during my bathroom break. We both noted that the miles in this section seemed extra long. The trail here was a bit rougher, with uneven footing, making it imperative to pay attention to where your foot was landing.

After a brief pass of another cow pasture, the trail meandered up to a dirt road and straight back to the start finish area where we would begin our second lap. I came into the half way point at 2:22, ready to refill my bottle and replenish my GU supply, which I had been steadily eating one every half hour along with an S-Cap. When refilling my bottle I may have gotten a little too excited and pounded the rest of the gatorade mix from my drop bag. I left for my second lap with a not so settled stomach.

Starting the 4.5 mile climb again, only this time in much warmer, bordering on hot, temperatures was not so much of a treat. There was a lot more walking on the steeper sections here, which if you could muster up the strength, you could use it in your favor and catch up to a few people who were walking themselves. I joined in with a few other guys that way as we trekked up to the top, which seemed a lot further for some reason this time. The race photographer found us looking really sharp in this section too. Why can't they ever get my finishing kick?

We crest the top again at mile 20 and come into the aid station where I filled my bottle and ate some orange slices. While eating there, one of the runners from the trek up the hill notes that he is having a "squarely mediocre day" to one of the volunteers. I wanted no part of his shitty day. I grabbed a slice of watermelon and took off down the trail.

The next few miles provided some much needed relief from the up hill. Cruising down the backside of the mountain while listen to a banging DJ mix put me right back into it. There were even some cooler breezes blowing through the woods at that point. Things were alright!

I came into the next aid station, which had quite the crowd of cheering spectators. I filled my bottle again, had their fine chia fresca shot, and took another watermelon slice for the road. 6 more miles to go.

It became clear that focusing on nutrition was going to be key to success. While I was putting down a GU every half hour, it seemed I was feeling worn before it was time for the next one and the hole I would find myself in would happen quickly. The second I found myself getting low I ate another GU and within minutes was back in the game.

As the day was getting hotter, I was pushing more fluids. The hand held bottle I had was draining faster than at any other point in the day. I finally reached into my vest pocked for the small flask I brought with me for such and occasion, and dumped that into my main bottle. Just a few more miles. Let's do this.

Running back in the cow pasture section, the miles seemed to take forever. Sections of the course that I remembered from my first pass through, which I was sure were just around the next bend, were nowhere to be seen and it wasn't getting any cooler out there.

Finally I find myself turning onto the dirt road that brings me into the finish. I quickly find a tune on my ipod that will get me there in no time, and start hauling ass into the finish.

Its funny how the visual of the finish makes every issue your body has completely disappear. My toes, which had been slamming into the front of my shoes for the past 10 miles (nails will be lost), suddenly were fine in my dash for the finish. I cross in 5:14, good for 20th place. The pint glass finisher's award and complimentary Trapp Lodge Brewing beer fill topped off one solid day of running!

Green Flash 30th St. Pale Ale

Its almost game time, and any injury, or possibility of one, has long since disappeared. And it's probably a good thing too considering I'm now less than 24 hours from the Catamount 50k. So while I try to figure out just how prepared I am for this race, you can enjoy this fine beer review...

Green Flash - Road Warrior Rye Imperial IPA

I've been rather lacking in the beer review department as I've been running a lot more and filming less, but I did shoot a few reviews last week while trying to pretend I'm not injured for my upcoming 50k on the 28th. C'mon leg let's do this!