Nipmuck trail marathon - June 1, 2008

Thank you, everyone, for your well wishes -- the day was a success except for Rob who had intestinal issues -all 3 of us finished without mishap and to the best of my knowledge, no one on the course got injured! Frank, Rob and I carpooled up to the Nipmuck forest area North of Hartford --while walking to the start, I saw so many friendly faces and it struck me that we have made so many friends through ultras -I bet I knew 20 percent of the field! We had to give our license plate number to get our bibs and the race director gave a big talk over the hazards of the course -first time runners had a sticker on their bbs that said 'high fall risk'!! ince we had all run the course before, we did not get one. Last year, our friend Joe tore his patella tendon and his girlfriend Jill had to stop -this year, she ran the full marathon and Joe ran the half. Anthony was missed as the GAC crew (Chris and Susan) came -they were asking abut him. This was a tough course -not so much ups and downs but sections with rocks and roots and slippery leaves. And mud. I started out in the back, not wanted to be stuck with faster runners in the rocky first-portion of the course...the first 12.4 miles is an out-and-back where you see everyone. Frank was way ahead of me at the first part, and I passed Rob when he stopped to go to the bathroom. I finished in 5:21 (Frank right behind in 5:22 - we finished together)and took 35 minutes off last year's time. Felt so much better than Greenbelt 50K, although the 50 miler did catch up to me, Chris, Frank, susan, and sarah in the end. I started with Lydia, Sarah, Jill and Joe and quickly moved ahead as felt good --it got hot and the trails dried out. The second portion of the course -also out and back was worse, with hills and rocky areas, and long steps to climb up ad down at the turn-around. But we also had a fun section of road to run on! I hooked up with Emma Ricanda from Long island, and jenny and Nathan. Then caught up with rank and another guy I had been running with -the last 3 miles were tough and seemed to go on forever. Finally we popped out of the woods to the sound of cowbells. The finishers' awards are birch-bark tree stumps! Sadly, they ran out of the tree stumps before Rob finished -I should have grabbed one to hold for him. We knew so many people and so the time spent before and after the race socializing was the best -Barbara came down from Albany; Jenny Chow and Nathan came from NJ.
This course is not easy but it is a great confidence-builder for the VT 100!!!!!!!!

Nipmck Trail marathon --2007 photo

tommorrow I will head, with Frank and Rob, first thing in morning, to the Nipmuck Trail marathon in Ashford, CT...I had always wanted to do this race and had looked into it 10 years ago but it seemed too arduous and I hadn't done any long trails runs --so the first time I ran it was last year with Frank. He ran it the day after God's Country marathon! Last year I ran it after VT City marathon and Queens 50K -it was a rainy, soggy day I am mentally tired, having had 3 late nights in a row -hosted my book club, then went to a concert, then helped at a cub scout dinner. I woke up early today for a boy scout hike, which was sadly postponed because of threat of thunderstorms. We hiked locally instead but I would have killed to sleep in but Hank had a good time, and then went swimming and took Ike to baseball practice. Am worried about tomorrow, as it is the week after a 50 miler but my legs are more used to walking -running slowly than to speedwork! Next weekend will be a break with slow, shorter races -it's Kate's birthday on Friday. We'll see:) what the future brings.

Pineland Farms 50 miler

before the race!!!
me and my 'jane deere' award

PIneland Farms 50 mile trail race --May 25, 2008

A quick report on Pineland Farms (will follow up tomm with full race report), as have to get the kids out on this holiday day...I drove up with Frank on Saturday --we had the best time visiting Portland venues (beer tasting --big burger also at 3-dollar dewey's)--we got our race stff at maine running co. and met up with Sarah, Nate, adam, anthon, wayne, meredth and eddie and staci -all friends running the 50 miler (staci the 50K) ---we got up bright and early (I had tossed and turned until midnight) at 4:45 and drove to the Pineland Farms campus where the 50 mile race -3 loops of 15 miles plus 5 -started at 6 a.m. I ran the first 11 miles (beautiful shaded trails, up and down ridges and across open fields)with anthony and wayne. I didn't feel great. I had a tight calf and felt tired and tight, and conceded that I am over-trained from the 3 50Ks and the races I have done since Umstead. Took it vey easy at a 12 minutes pace and walked the hills. Frank was about 20 minutes ahead. They sped up and I hooked up with Diane and chista, 2 women running my pace --we finished the marathon in about 4:45, and I started to feel better. (This was Diane's first foray beyond 26 miles, and she ended up finishing in 10:12!!!). I caught up with Frank at mile 33 --he was walking from dehydration -we stayed together until mile 40, when i realized that I could come in under 10 hours and set a PR. I was feeling good from the walk breaks and didn't need to walk anymore. I cranked out the last 7 miles in an 11 minute pace, and passed all the men and chista, who had passed me. I went by Wayne and Staci at mile 47 and said hello --wayne said anthony was having a great day (he finished in 9:27, setting a big PR)- I ended up finishing in 9:38 --4th woman overall -and a PR by 21 minutes. Wayne followed in 9:45 and Frank in 10:10 --we cheered on meredith and eddie and adam, had burgers and beer.
Everything worked out except for traffic -arghh -on the drvie home.

May Craziness

Hard to believe it is the Friday of Memorial day weekend...it will begin like almost every afternoon of mine: with a trip to the Orthodontist and then to the baseball field. Ike is getting braces and so we have been going to the dentist once a week. His rubber bands fell out so this afternoon we must go -and then he plays baseball at 5...baseball or soccer almost every night. Today also my high school senior is giving blood. He is working (during his Senior internship) at the Red Cross. They told him that he is big enough to give a double dose..he is nervous but s proud of himself for giving -I would but can't before this weekend! In fact, am probably very low in iron and need a big hamburger today or tommorrow. I would like to go for a bike ride today but too much to do and don't want to introduce new muscle groups before a long run. So, rest today:( on this beautiful day. Going to volunteer at the high school.
Have been tired all week and think I am sinking into over-training mode. well, on to Pineland Farms 50K/50 miler. Will drive to Portland, ME tomorrow ---the course, which is in the Pinelands area of Maine --has enough twists and turns in it just to make one dizzy --it looks like a sausage. Have no clue what is in store but we have a big group of friends going!!! This should be fun. Anthony P., Meri, eddie, Wayne, Staci, Adam, Jim (from Greenbelt),Frank and many others to talk to on course.
John Gibbons will be doing the relay in VT City --Myriam and Todd J. will run the Marathon --I would give anything to do both:) --I regret leaving my kids at home on sat and sun. but they will go swimming at our club and eat at the snack bar -they do not want to spend 10-plus hours in car and 12 hours at a race!!
I have so much to do for the 4th of July race!! Will publish our t-shir desisgn later...

2 races --BSA 5K (5/15) and Healthy Kidney 10K (5/17)

well --I have had enough of this speedwork for now, on tired legs. All and all,knock on wood, my weight is 3-5 pounds above racing weight and I have no injuries but just fatigue from Umstead, Lake Waramug, Bear Mtn,Sybil, Brooklyn 1/2 and Greenbelt...
I lined up at the 5/15 Thursday night Boy scout 5K and, with aching quads, was just going to run it at a 9 minute pace. But my breathing was good, and the first woman was right ahead of me so Frank pushed the pace for me so we could catch up to her...(here I am racing a girl 25 years younger than me) -she fell back, but I was able to maintain a 7 min pace. Frank finished right behind. I did this low-key race as it is a contribution to Boy scouts and I am a boy scout mother,but don't think I'd do it again as it gets to be a late night. Although I do like nght running and everything is good training for a 50-100 miler, which is run that time of night .I did have a nice time in the city before the race walking up to NYRRC and the Met museum, and count those 5 miles walking as cross training! Then, on Friday realized I had overdone it (as one really doesn't need speedwork for ultras) and a rainy, depressing day ensued. Took the day off...decided to run the Healthy Kidney 10K as my masters team (Taconic RR) needed me -we had Karen Davis and 3 50s ladies...it was just a matter of a tempo run. Was awake all last night with sore chest and couldn't decide whether to go or not...but did. And as I was putting my chip on found Frank.
Then saw Susan and all the taconic team members. My first mile was 7:30s and felt tough --I could not breathe, because of the sore chest, asthma and allergies -arghh
By mile 3 (after a few 7 minute miles) I felt miserable --had to slow down and walk some --picked it up the last mile and finished with Karen in 44:43. So our team came in 6th -but better than not having one. This was a race where I could have set a PR and not placed so to run a 7:12 pace was good enough. Susan ran 43:?? to take the 50s!!! Congrats Susan! Frank followed, having run 4 minutes faster than his mother' day 10K. I think no more NYRRC races for me until Sept., when I focus on just shorter races. It is too much of a disadvantage to have to line up tired..the other shorter races will be modified speedwork...and to think that as I write this those Massanutten people are not even at the 1/2 way point yet -wow.

NY Botanical Garden -Darwin's Garden

This week was a busy week -emotional in some ways ..I did pay a visit on Wed. to the NY Botanical Garden --aside from the wonderful Henry Moore sculptures around the grounds, the Conservatory featured 'Darwin's Garden' -it displayed some of the species that he found and loved (black poppies), his notebooks and artifacts -in a makeshift office -and so many wonderful flowers. On Thursday for a long art class, this gave me inspiration. We painted azaleas...then ran in a night 5K, took a rainy day off, and ran in healthy kidney 10K --tired! from 50K still.