Sunday, 12/6/2015 to Saturday, 12/12/2015 - "Winter Trail Festival" 15 Miles

I ran 3 times this week, 29.32 miles.

Sunday, 12/6/2015: 13.1 miles, 1:47:16, 8:11 pace, 30F, 100% RH, calmy, light fog to sunny.

I was up early around 7 AM for my first, yes only the first, run of December. It was very foggy so I waited until 9 AM before I headed out for a really nice and early run. I decided to try out a new route that I knew was close to a half marathon.


I didn't really like the route with its run on sidewalk down Long Pond Rd and a long stretch on Latta Rd facing 2 lanes of oncoming traffic with a kind of narrow shoulder. My splits were: 8:11, 8:08, 8:12, 8:09, 8:03, 8:13, 8:25 8:02, 7:59, 7:59, 8:09, 8:23, 8:36 and 7:38 over the last 0.1 mile.

After a bit (OK, 2 mugs) of required coffee I watched the Bill home game against the Houston Texans. The Bills won their latest "must win game to make the playoffs", 30-21, link here.

Monday, 12/7/2015 through Friday, 12/11/2015: Zero miles.

Another week of overtime ... only 48.5 hours this week. The only day without OT was Thursday. I had to leave early for a drug screen before I am hired by Ricoh. I got home before 4:30 PM for the first time in a couple of weeks. Christine and I made it a date night. We headed out for a dinner (1/4 pounders, fries and large milkshakes) at McDonald's (courtesy of a couple coupons) and then over to Wegmans. Exciting stuff but more exciting than coming home bone tired, eating and then going to bed.

Saturday, 12/12/2015: 2 runs of 1.05 and WTF of 15.17 miles, 43F, 81% RH, calm, overcast.

Today was the second Winter Trail Festival (WTF), a TrailsROC race, down at Wadhams Lodge in Powder Mills Park. It was also my only second(!) run of December. It was a 5 mile loop with races of 5, 10 and 15 miles. I chose the 15 mile version just like I did last year. Last year, the weather was 20F with about 6 inches of snow on the course. This year it was 43F at the start. I chose my CW-X shorts, 1/4 zip Brooks long sleeve top, heavy running gloves and Brooks beanie. Christine chose to stay home so I got down to the venue at 9:10 AM in plenty of time for the 10 AM start. I met up with Prem Kumar, Mike Maynadasy and Andy Ciaio. I met another reader (besides my wife) of this blog, Colin Bailey. He said he had run Sehgahunda this year in 6:15 after running my blogposts. I got out for a 1.05 mile out and back warmup run at 9:37 pace, link here.

I got my warmup run done 5 minutes before the race start and rushed a bit to strip my Brooks jacket, get a bathroom break and a swig of water in. I had my 10 ounce hand bottle of water and 2 HammerGels in an Amphipod pod clipped to my shorts. I lined up next to Andy Ciaio ... who I knew I wouldn't see again.


And ... we were off! I settled in for a long 15 mile trail race. This race was one of loops. Each loop was long enough to have its own character.

The start ... photo courtesy of Alex Tong of the Ascend Collective

Loop 1: I set up a fast but kind of nice and easy trail pace. I jockeyed back and bantered a bit with Mike Meynadasy. First he was ahead and then I was ahead. I said "Hi" to Heather Bailey Ostrander (HBO) as I walked up the hill she was doing TrailsROC volunteering on. I did notice the 12 pack of Miller Lite that she had perched on the top of it. The first time up Hell on Root (a short and steep uphill with a rope to help out) was OK.

Loop 2: Mike left me behind when I stopped for a long swig of water and a bit of walking when I started the second loop. I slowed down a bit as I developed a bit of pain in my left knee. It wasn't too bad so I continued onward. HBO could tell that I didn't feel as well when I came to her hill. I caught up to Tina Pellegrin just as I got to Hell on Root. She was going up for her first time. I had both of my HammerGels before the end of this loop. I thought about stopping but I had signed up for three loops.

My second time up Hell on Root ... photo courtesy of Alex Tong of the Ascend Collective

Loop 3: I soon regretted starting the third loop. I decided to walk it in after mile 12. HBO gave me a dose of Amica that she told me to place under my tongue. She said that it would help without the side effects of NSAIDs while exercising. I took it, thanked her and continued onward. I tried to run or shuffle a bit but my left knee hurt. My right heel started to hurt a bit too so I just walked. I wanted to run but I decided it was best to walk since I didn't want to really injure myself. The last time up Hell on Root hurt a bit but I put one foot in front of the other ... onward. Soon enough I was in the home stretch in sight of the finish line. I saw some people behind me so I managed to get up to something that resembled a slow run. Done in 3:21:21. I was exhausted. I ambled up (OK, limped) to the lodge and ate what they had left ... a bagel, potato chips and a few cookies.

I have done this race twice now. Each time it has beat me up. Last year I managed a 3:34:10 in 20F and 6 inches of snow. This I managed a 3:21:21 with poor nutrition (only 2 HammerGels). Maybe I should rethink my minimalist approach and start to carry more water and nutrition on long trail runs. I did notice that the course only had water at its one aid station. Last year it was better stocked with some delicious donut holes..

Anyway, my splits were: 9:49, 9:34, 10:32, 10:57, 10:21, 11:39, 10:47, 13:04, 13:14, 12:12, 15:14, 12:48, 17:40, 20:21, 20:41 and 19:47 over the last 0.17 miles. I was 39th out of 50, 6th out of 8 in my M50-59 age group, link here. Andy Ciaio finished in 2:33:51, Mike Maynadasy finished in 2:44:42, Prem Kuma finished in 2:45:31 and Colin Bailey finished in 3:03:25. The 10 mile results are here and the 5 mile results are here.

I manged to drive home and get myself in the door. Then I remember just putting myself on the couch and vegging the rest of the day. I ached and it hurt to walk. Climbing the stairs to the bathroom was a slow process. Well ... another race, my 57th of 2015.