Monday, June 29, 2009

June 27 -norwalk summer series 5 miler and new balance new canaan 1 miler











I will have to steal Frank's photos from the Norwalk 5 miler as i didn't take any and he got just about everyone!! But here are the photos i did take from the 6 p.m.
1 mile race...i was happy to see so many kids racing. I brought my 11 year old Ike and he almost registered but in the ed was content to just eat pizza. well, maybe some of the running rubbed off on him...

Sunday, June 14, 2009

b-day weekend --5K and 50K!!!


Frank, phil, me and grant at finish

Frank D eating burgers after race


al finishing with his daughter running along

Grant (I ran with him for 10 miles) and Frank




what a whirdwind day today --ran the suffolk county 50K in 4:56...it was a point-to-point course along country roads in Long island and very nice --wished id been able to run it faster. Very proud of me for finishing while tired...on the other hand, made a promise that i'd not run a 50K tired again!!! Since the 100 mile trek, ran Nipmuck and the 50K so now taper time for VT -thank goodness. Frank is running so well -e finished in 4:24 with no walking and some stops to put on jacket:)Check out Frank's suffolk county 50K photos..I am just elated that it is time for a break --2 weekends of shorter races and running...swimmming and general rest days.
On June 13 ran in the summer series 3 miler --a great thing to do on my birthday!! Frank's blog also has photos --his daughter Katie finished in 29:59! on a very hilly course..I finished in 19:59 -Roy said it was a 50s course record by 45 seconds...Don had bagels and cookies for all after -thx Don.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Nipmuck trail marathon --June 7


out of the woods to the finish

me, elaine and barbara -the nifty fifties!

Frank, Dave (race director) and me

Frank and Jim after Nipmuck
wow --can't believe that it is the second week of June. Last weekend, on May 3, I ended up running the Brooklyn half with Frank and Rob...it was a perfect day, and a new fast course...unfortunately i was tired from the 100 mile trek but I had rested that week -no more than 4 miles a day:) and actually felt alot better than thought i would..
the start was so slow, and the park crowded so it was impossible to get going too fast.
So when we did 2 loops of the park, it was flat and fast to the finish at Coney island.
I was able to maintain somewhat of a sub-7:30 pace...we finished at Coney island and found Frank's wife Pat, who had driven us, and friends Pam, Eliot and Ilana. Also ran into Bob from nj who is doing 50 races durng his 50th birthday year...it was a fun morning...probably not the best thing for my old and tired body but got my running in for the weekend.
Nipmuck trail marathon came the day after the taconic North county news 5K, and decided to run the 5K for some speedwork and because it was my club event...I did ed up running sub 7s and won $50 (a surprise -knew there was money but didn't expect to be first master)--my knee was bothering me alittle AND QUADS TIRED but managed to run 21:20..then i drove to mahopac and handed out flyers. A busy day as also drove 4 boys to soccer in darien...
Nipmuck marathon almost didn't happen as we had some confusion about where to meet.
By the time we left Stamford with Frank and Rob it was 6:20 and we had to drive to North of Hartford by 8 a.m. -lol...good thing I am a fast driver (but safe driver-ha)as we made it by 7:40, with time to spare. The race goes out and back along the Nipmuch trail from Ashford to the Ct state line. It is a beautiful but rocky and technical single track trail, and is a cult race--we knew so many of the runners also as only people who ran the race last year were allowed in to keep entrants down to 150 and preserve the trail -more will be allowed next year. We also had to cross a road, and run a mile on a dirt road...so the race has alot of variety...however,one can get injured and my knee had been bothering me so it was rolling the dice to run. But I like this course (except for the first part and the rocks and mud) and wanted to run it slowly...slowly i did!! The first loop --an out and back portion of 12 miles --was 2 1/2 hours, and at a very easy pace. Not hilly, but rocks and roots...I was running with my friend Barbara and her friend Rob, and didn't want to get lost so quickly followed them into the woods for the northern section --but Barbara had to make a bathroom stop and Rb went ahead so i was on my own. I followed the trail the best i could, which was made easier by all the speedy men coming back (like Frank, who ran 4:46!!)...the 4.5 miles until the turnaround seemed to take forever..and they did -it prob. took me an hour. My knee was starting to hurt a little and my quads were stiff and tired. Finally, I was at the road section and at mile 24!! less than 3 miles to go. I stretched out my stride and walked along the mud and rocks; almost fell, but made it to the finish in 5:47 (Frank joked that i was last but i think i was 112th). After i changed my clothes, we had a beer, diet Polar (which is made in that town) and some hot dogs and food ...best of all, we did not need to hurry home and could drive at a normal speed.
I literally did not take a shower but went straight to my friend's son's eagle scout ceremony --I apologized to everyone for my dirty legs:) and tried not to stand too close to anyone.

Race update --Pioneer Memorial Day 100 mile Trek


I have been lazy about updating my blog but am writing a few quick reports (as if I can be quick) for Anton to publish in the Wolfpit newsletter....so here goes!
The Broadway Ultra Society Memorial weekend Trek
This is a 100 mile (total) 3 day stage race that, in it's 15 running, is put on every 2 years. However, Ritchie, the race director, is ready to retire so this was probably the last year. So, in a fit of craziness, I decided to try it...we were to run 33.3 miles each day, in mile loops, (or close to it) in a different Queens park. This meant running almost 100 loops on pavement...a mental and physical challenge, to be sure:)
Day 1 was in Kissena Park, and we ran on a nice shaded loop...Frank and CT's Al Toth were in the 3-day 100, and my friend Rob was in the accompanying 50K....as with all loop courses, you get to run with and see the other runners-plus food and drink are offered every loop (this race had great volunteers as they had to count loops --very tedious)...the race included several elite ultrarunners on both the mens' and womens' side...so I plodded along and finished in 5:44 --3rd female for the day. Fran and I carpooled all 3 days --I dropped him off and stopped at the local Mobil station for 3 ice bags and immediately took -in my running clothes - a half hour ice bath. Torture but it worked --my Ike talked to me and I read...
Day 2 was in Alley Pond park, on a shaded 1 mile loop --we had to circle the park 33 times!! I have all but wiped the day from my mind as this was the toughest day!! I was stiff and quads were tired, and it was hot!!! I walked alot, complained alot -felt like dropping out at mile 15. But music, companionship from other runners, food and drink got me through!! I think my time was 6:03...meanwhile Frank was in second place behind Phil, and elite runner.
Took another 1/2 hour ice bath and tried to stay off my feet --this was a great excuse to order take out dinner, not to do dishes or laundry...
Day 3 was in crocheron park --we had to climb some long steps just to get up to the park! But thankfully this was the last day --some of the slower runners had been allowed an early start so that we all finished together. No guarantees I would finish!!! I felt much better, though, than day 2 until about mile 15 when hit the wall (unusual for me)and felt headachy and lightheaded...my veteran ultra friend Lydia said I needed salt right away...so I had some pretzels and s-caps and drank alot and walked a loop. That helped, and pretty soon, although my quads were aching and i had blisters, i was back running. Frank. Lydia, grant and almost everyone finished when I had 3 laps to go, but finally I felt good. It was going to be over!!! I finished the 34 laps in 5:58 --I had run 100 miles in 17:46...we then relaxed and were treated to a nice award ceremony where all finishers got a trophy and medal from the estate of Ted Corbitt --that was cool.
I was so proud of the 34 runner, mostly B.U.S. members, who finished --it was a big accomplishment, when like a 100 iler, so much cn go wrong. Frank battled horrible blisters on the third day but managed to come in second in 15 hours and change, 2 hours faster than his race 2 years ago!! Would I ever do this again? NO...it definately beat down my body. But i am so happy I did run it one time and prove tha I could do a stage race and am thrilled that I got that special ted Corbitt medal.