Sunday, 5/4/2014 - Medved Madness 15 mile Trail Race

Sunday, 5/4/2014, 2 runs of 0.8 and 14.9 miles, 45F, 70% RH, 17 mph W wind, wind chill 37F, partly cloudy

Another weekend, another big race worthy of its own post ... the Medved Madness 15 mile Trail Race. This race is three loops with each loop beginning and ending at Hopkinton Point. This was my fifth time running this race.

I didn't sleep well the night before a race as usual. I didn't get to sleep until just before midnight and woke up a couple of times during the night. But I was up at 6AM, woke up Christine, packed up my usual stuff and a complete change of clothes. We were out the door at 7:04AM and down to Hopkinton Point at Mendon Park Park, map here, by 7:25AM. Soon I had my bib and was ready to go. My bib number was 1975, the year that I graduated from high school (wow, almost 40 years ago).

The weather was a bit chilly and windy. I wore my Salomon Speedcross 3 trail shoes, Darn Tough socks, Brooks shorts, heavy long sleeve tech, Fleet Feet orange hat and Brooks jacket when I went out for a short warmup run of 0.8 mile at 8:16 pace, link here.

I thought I would be too hot so I took out my Brooks jacket and layered a short sleeve tech. I also changed to my Brooks beanie and heavy gloves. I kissed Christine for good luck and headed to the start. I said "Hi" to Prem Kumar and Bill Beyerbach as I got ready to go.

And we were off!

I took it out a bit fast on Loop 1. I found lots of mud and roots. The mud splashed all over and inside my shoes (the first of many, many times). I passed Bill Beyerbach of the RFP Trailblazers around mile 3. Bill was doing the first leg of the relay. Mark Monachino passed me too. Just before Loop 1 we went out into the Hundred Acre Pond for about 50 feet. It helped clean some of the mud off. Loop 1 was done in 5.4 miles, 47:45, 8:51 pace. Christine wasn't there when I passed through the timing loop to start Loop 2. My splits for miles 1-5 were: 8:29, 8:49, 8:52, 8:09 and 9:44.

Early in Loop 1 - photo courtesy of Michael Lesher

Along the beach (with Hundred Acre Pond on the left) in Loop 1 - photo courtesy of Michael Lesher

Taking a dip in Hundred Acre Pond just before the end of Loop 1 - photo courtesy of Michael Lesher

Loop 2 was more of a grassy, level loop with not as much mud. I took off my short sleeve tech early in the loop because I was getting too hot. I was glad that I had pinned my bib to my shorts. My right knee started to hurt around mile 8. I slowed and walked for a bit while I tried to figure out what to do. Steve Levitsky and Wilt Alston soon passed me. I shortened my stride and ran slower. This seemed to help so I continued onward. I had a Hammer Gel just before Loop 2 ended. Loop 2 was done in 4.1 miles, 43:46, 10:41 pace; 9.5 miles, 1:31:31 total, 9:38 pace. Christine was there at the timing loop to greet me. I gave her my used gel, had another Hammer Gel, filled my water bottle, gave Christine my short sleeve tech, kissed her and headed back out for Loop 3. My splits for miles 6-10 were: 9:58, 9:20, 10:16, 10:27, 12:26 (includes stop for Gel and water).

Loop 3 was by far the muddiest loop. I headed out ahead of Diana Knyazeva of the RFP Trailblazers for a bit before she passed me. I followed her right into a long section of mud and water. She went straight through ... with over the ankle mud and water. I followed her ... splash, splash! Feet drenched again ... check! It was onward ... up and down hills, through mud ... onward seemingly forever. My legs were tired. I was just running the flats, mostly walking the uphills and gingerly running the downs ... onward. Finally, it was up Cardiac hill (again) and down into the finish. I was done with loop 3, 5.4 miles, 1:00:59, 11:18 pace; 14.9 miles (by my Garmin), 2:32:30 total, 10:14 pace. My last 5 splits for miles 11-15 were: 11:37, 10:45, 9:47, 11:19 and 10:36 over the last 0.9 mile.

The solo results are posted here. I was 66th out of 111, 13th out of 20 in my wide M50-59 age group, 8th out of 10 in my narrow M55-59 age group. Mark Monachino finished in 2:16:06, Wilt Alston in 2:22:01, Steve Levitsky in 2:29:28 and Prem Kumar in 2:36:28 ... strong running, guys! The relay results are posted here, some of the names were interesting. The relay team RFP Trailblazers of Bill, Peter and Diana finished in 2:30:32.

I had some potato chips immediately at the finish line. The catered chicken lunch that the Medved Madness is known for was excellent as always. Medved always puts on a nice race!

Post race - taken by Christine

Mud selfies, front ...

... and back

I hobbled down toward the Hundred Acre Pond and found a water pump. I washed off  some of the mud off my trail shoes and changed into dry socks, road shoes and a sweatshirt. Afterward I was chilled to the bone and my fingertips were white. Luckily Christine had packed a package of Hot Hands ... useful even in May in Rochester don't you know. I used them to warm my hands inside a pair of gloves while I went back into the lodge to hang with some of the Relentless Forward Progress crowd for a while. They chuckled about my new haircut. Most of the guys had short hair so they seemed to like it, lol. We were home by 1PM ... a great way to spend a morning!

Soon we were home. I promptly went to the couch for some well deserved "feet up, drinking coffee and lounging" time. Soon ....zzzzzz.