The Gunks Trails Challenge (Blueberry Loop)

The Gunks Trails Challenge is now my new favorite race.  From June-November there is a challenge of the month.  The challenge is free, you run it on your own time and you can run it as many time in the month as you want and only your best time will count. Once you have completed the loop of the month you just submit your results that you recorded by some type of GPS tracking device and the fastest time that month wins a prize.  There is also the mega challenge which requires that you run 12 loops by the end of November. 

This month is the Blueberry Loop and I went up to New Paltz with two of my friends Joe and Susie to run the loop.  Part if the challenge is not only being able to run trail which can be quite technical at times but also being able to navigate.  Before heading up to New Paltz I always spend some time and mark out the course on my maps, read the description of the course, and create a short list of the turns that I can carry without having to print the entire description.  Navigation has not always been my strong suit in the past but I am getting better at being able to keep my eye on the trail and keep an eye out for the trail blazes. 

We headed up to New Paltz around 1:30 which is late in the day since it is about a 2 hour drive to get to the New Patlz area.  When we arrived we were debating on whether to just carry hand held water bottles or to use a hydration pack.  Both Joe and Susie went with hand held bottles and I went with my Nathan Endurance Hydration Pack.  Growing up in the mountains of Colorado I have learned that you can never be too prepared so I always carry more things than I need when running trails because you never know what can happen and in my opinion it is better to be safe than sorry.  (I don't carry supplies when I race a supported race but his is unsupported).  We walked a short distance up the road from Jenny Lane where we parked to the trail head and after some last minute checks and adjustment hit the start buttons on our watches and were off.

Joe getting ready

 This loop so far was the most technical trail I have run in the New Paltz area. (I am referring to the rocky and root covered terrain when I say technical) and by far my favorite of the challenges (I have only run one other challenge so far).  Jenny lane was a gradual uphill and covered in rocks and roots.  I love this type of terrain because for some reason I am able to move fast over it with little problems.  I did not take splits so I am not sure of the mileage on Jenny Lane Trail but it was a ways.  From there we turned right on Lower Awasting Carriageway for a short time before turning left on Rainbow Falls Trail.  This was an amazing section of the course.  Sections were unrunnable but there were some amazing view.  I wanted to stop and take pictures but this technically is a race so I just quickly took it in and kept on moving.  I really need to go back when I am not in a hurry and check what I missed out.  From the you eventually pop out on the Castle Point Carriageway and head left.  Once again there are some amazing views and if you are not paying close attention it is very easy to miss the left turn to Blueberry Run Footpath (more on that later).  I headed up Blueberry Run which is not blazed very well.  I lost a lot of time on several occasions looking for the path.  Eventually you pop back out mid way on Jenny Lane Trail.  When I hit Jenny Lane Trail it took me a moment to realize it since there was not sign and the blazes just changed color from blue to aqua (green).  I almost went left instead of right which would have been a huge mistake.  Back on Jenny Lane Trail I was really able to pick up the pace and drop my overall average since it is generally all downhill from there.  I popped out onto the road and hit my watch.  Mileage 9.37 in 1:33:33. 

Susie on the trail

Joe is usually not far behind me so I went back to the car got my G Series Pro recovery drink (sorry for the cheesy product placement link but I am now the lead for the New York market for G Series Pro EndurAlliance).  I headed back to the trail and walked up the trail to a clearing and waited, and waited, and waited, and waited....  OK I began to panic a little when some hikers came by and said that they had seen runner back at Rainbow Falls but that was it.  After about 45 minutes I decided it was time to head back out on the trail and try and find them.  After about a mile I ran in to Susie.  I scared her a bit but was so happy to see her but was worried that I had not seen Joe.  Susie was fine and like me had just have a few problems finding the blazes on the trail.  I told her Joe had not made it back yet so she finished up her race and we headed back to the car.  Still no Joe so I worried.

Part of the trail on Jenny Lane Trail

It was getting late in the evening and there was only a little over and hour of daylight left so in true Dennis style I planned for the worst.  (I'm such a drama queen)  I told Susie to load up with her hydration pack and any warm clothes and nutrition she had and we headed back up the trail to search for Joe.  I wasn't long maybe a mile or two before we ran into Joe.  Joe was fine.  A little tired and out of water but fine.  I gave him some water, he took a gel and we were back off to the car.  Joe had been taking in the amazing views (you can't help but look) and missed the turn for the Blueberry Run.  By the time he realized it he had made it about 3.5 miles past the turn so he got in about an extra 7 unplanned miles.  I was just happy no one was hurt.  Needless to say Joe and I plan on heading back up this month and getting some redemption on the course.

Self portrait before the start

The North Face Endurance Challenge 50 miler DC

The North Face Endurance Challenge GoreTex 50 miler Washington DC

TriLife Trail Team I coach right before the start.

I did not go into this race in the best mind set.  On Friday my cat once again decided to get very ill and had to be taken to the vet.  To make a long story short she has renal issues.  So I found myself saying goodbye before I left to DC and Eric would take her to the vet later that day.  On the trip down I got a call from Eric saying that the vet did not think it was her kidney and that they needed to run further tests.  Cha Ching! Vets in NYC are very expensive.  Anyway she did not have to be put down (good news) but just had some type of infection.

The trip to Virginia was fine other than the parking lot traffic we encountered as we got closer to out destination.  We went to dinner at the Olive Garden, and this will be the last time I ever eat there.  I will explain later.  Then we headed back to the hotel where 5 of us Robin, Susie, Joe, Herb and I crammed into our room and slept. 

Saturday June 4, 2011 Race Day

The alarm went off way to early at 3 or 3:30 am.  I can’t remember but I was totally exhausted and just wanted to roll back over and go to sleep.  Anyway I got ready and had some oatmeal (thanks Susie) and had some coffee to get things moving.  Everyone loaded into cars and headed to the race start.  I picked up my race number and shortly after headed to the restroom.  I had prepared for warm weather since the week before it has been 97 degrees and high humidity.  However, this weekend we were getting a break from the heat.  It was a cool 53 degrees for the start but it meant that I was shivering in my thin jacket and running clothes.  A few minutes before the start I got rid of the jacket and dropped off my bag.  I headed to the front of the pack to hopefully run with the lead pack like I have the past two years.

5:00 AM  Race Start

At 5 am the race was off.  This year there seemed to be a much larger group in the lead pack of runners and I found myself huffing and puffing to keep up but the lead pack kept pulling further and further away.  I told myself that I needed to slow it down and run my own pace.  Finally when I looked down at my watch I was running a sub 6 minute pace and knew I would never be able to hold that.  I slowed down and settled into about a 6:45 pace and hung on with another guy who was running a similar pace.   I knew I would not be able to hold this pace for the entire race but I also knew from running this race that this first section was fast and an easy place to gain some ground on the main pack of runners.  Soon after settling in with this guy another guy dropped back from the lead pack and ran with us.  Within the next few miles we hit the first hills and there was another person dropping off of the lead pack.  This guy went way too hard and was already paying the price having to walk and we hadn’t even made it 14 miles.  Ouch!  Shortly after we passed this guy I could tell I was developing GI distress.  The worst feeling!  After putting enough distance on the guy walking I had to make a pit stop in the woods.  This would be the first of many pit stops.  I was hesitant of letting the two guys I was running with go since I knew it would probably be the last time a saw them for a while and I would be alone but shortly after I was back on the trails I caught them again. 

Great Falls Aid Station.  Mile 14.8

Arriving at the Great Falls aid station myself and Tim, one of the guys I was running with, began to drop the other guy we were running with.  I quickly found my drop bag and put my head lamp in the bag and then had to head to the port-a-potty.  The GI distress was back and this was putting a kink in my plans.  I lost Tim and the other guy that was behind me was ahead of me as well.  After getting back on the trail my average pace had dropped to a 7:30.

Difficult Run Aid Station Mile 17.5

Getting to this aid station was quick but my pace slowed due to some technical and hilly areas as well as the GI distress coming back within the first mile of being back on the trail.  There was no place with enough coverage to pop off into the woods so I had to hold it until I would make it back to Great Fall (7 miles!).  I was able to see all of the lead runners heading back to Great Falls and was able to figure out I was 8^th place.  The current 2^nd   I refilled my hand help and grabbed some potatoes to settle the hunger pains in my stomach and was off. 

Great Falls Aid Mile 21.7

This is such a beautiful section once you get on the cliffs over the Potomac River and a bit more technical and hard to keep your stride but I was still able to move quickly.  I passed the guy I was running with in the beginning but I kept thinking that on the next two times around I would not be moving as quickly since this was my experience the last two year I ran this race.  In addition I really needed to make a pit stop again.  

Difficult Aid Mile 24.4

Before heading back out to Difficult Run Aid I hit the port-a-potty again.  At this point I was not sure what place I was in.  7^th, 8^th, or 9^th since I did know if anyone passed me while making my pit stop.  I was quickly back on the trail and once again I was able to see the lead runners and determine that I was indeed still in 8^th place however, I was also able to see that there was a runner gaining some ground on me and looking strong.  Once again within the first mile I was in GI distress but had to hold it.  I was so uncomfortable and knew if this kept up I was going to lose a lot of time.  At this point my Average Pace had dropped to an 8:00 pace.

Great Falls Aid Mile 28.6

On my way back to Great Falls I was amazed that I had not yet hit a wall and other than the GI distress I was feeling strong.  This was different from the past two years I had run this race but I was cautious and kept waiting for the big bonk that had not shown its ugly face yet.  On this section there is a set of stairs that you have to go down and then up the other side.  I noticed that there was someone familiar looking walking up the stair.  I was quickly upon him and then passed him.  Sure enough it was the guy who was in second place that had run his tank empty.  I felt bad for him but was happy I was now in 7^th place!

Difficult Run Aid Mile 31.2

Once gain I hit the port-a-potty before heading out to Difficult Run for my last time.  I was still feeling really strong but unsure if I would be able to hold my pace or if anyone passed me.  As I headed back out onto the trail my average pace from all the stops had dropped to about an 8:35 pace.  I was not able to see all the lead runners on this last loop so I was unsure of my placement and again was in GI distress within the first mile. 

Great Falls Aid Mile 35.4

As I approached this aid station I was really excited.  This is the longest I have ever been able to make it on trail at this pace without walking and was still feeling very strong.  I made a quick decision to only carry one hand held bottle on the way back (this was a mistake I made last year) because this was the longest stretch on the course without aid.   It was much cooler this year than last year and I knew I would not need as much fluids.  I was much more hydrated than the previous years and I was moving much quicker than I ever had at this distance.  I filled my bottle and was off.  I had one last stop at the port-a-potty and was hoping that this would be the last time (which it was).  My average pace had now dropped to about an 8:44 pace. 

Sugarland Aid Mile 45.4 and 47.8

I knew that this section is one of the most mentally challenging sections on the course.  It’s the longest section without aid and this is when it usually begins to get hot and I begin to get tired.  This year was different as I had still not walked and was feeling strong.  Somewhere around mile 40 I was passed.  I thought to myself you can go catch him but then I thought you still have 10 miles and a lot can happen in 10 miles.  Just keep on your pace and don’t push too hard so you don’t bonk.  My average pace at this point was dropping around an 8:38 pace.  Finally I started to hit the hills on this section and this forced me to power hike up the hills.  If I would have tried to run I would have gone slower than I was hiking and would have used much more energy.  All I wanted to do at this point was save as much energy as I could for fear of bonking and to see if the guy who passed me would tire a little.  Little by little I noticed that what lead this guy had put on me was shrinking.  About 1 mile before the Sugarland Aid station I pass this guy back and was beginning to put a lead back on him.  I was still feeling strong and my average pace was still dropping.  I was amazed that after 40 plus miles I was getting faster.  When I came into the aid station I took my time as to not make any mistakes and this guy I was going back and forth with was there shortly behind me.  I filled my water and grabbed several gels even though I know that I probably did not need them.  I took off and knew at this point I needed to push it.  I had no idea what place I was in this point but I did not want to get passed again.

Finish 50 miles

From here there it’s a short loop to run before returning back to the same aid station and then to the finish.  After returning back to the aid station I have gained a significant lead over the guy who had passed me earlier.  As I left the aid station I saw a snake and of course jumped and screamed and then gave it everything I had left to the finish. 

I finished in 7:01:06 for 6^th place overall and 1^st in my age group. An average pace of 8:26.  This was a 47 minute personal best for this distance and the first 50 miles I have run without having to walk other than the power hiking I did on the last few hills.

Getting my prize from Dean Karnazes

Snowshoeing in Central Park

So the extreme cold spell finally broke and we have once again been hit with another snowstorm.  What better way to take advantage of it then to strap on a pair of snowshoes and head for the park. It's not very often that New Yorkers get the opportunity to snowshoe in their backyard!

I met up with Silke and we headed for the northern woods to make some fresh tracks in the snow.  I forgot how exhausting snowshoeing can be but it sure was a lot of fun.

Silke

When all was said and done, according to my garmin, I got a total of 7 miles in. 

Dirt Proof: Race Across The Sky

I never did post my race report for Leadville Trail 100.  It was taking me forever to write, then school started and I just forgot to finish it.  However, I wanted to share a link on my blog of one of my crew and pacers that wrote a report about what she observed at the race. 

Dirt Proof: Race Across The Sky

Ted Corbitt 15k Race Report

           This was my last race of the 2010 season and it will be my first blog entry!  Hurray!  I use these shorter races (under a half-marathon) to test my fitness and track my progression from year to year and I don’t spend any time training for them. My goal coming into this race was just to beat my time from last year of 58:37 a 6:18 minute per mile pace and I succeeded.  I finished in 55:49 a 6:00 minute per mile pace.

            I must admit I was a little bummed when I got the official results because according to my watch and several pace calculators it came out to a 5:59 minute per mile pace, and how cool would that have been to have an under 6 minute mile race under my belt!  I don’t have an official race on record under a 6 minute pace yet, but I can and am sure I will do it.  I was trying figure out why there was a discrepancy and then I discovered that NYRR calculates the pace by miles and not kilometers.  So if you average my pace as 54:49 for 15k and not 9.3 miles it comes to a 5:59 pace.  Oh well hopefully next time I can get it under 6 on the books.

            The conditions today were a little cool but you could not have asked for better running weather since there was very little wind.  I started the morning out by leading a small group warm up with TriLife just in time to get to the corral for the start of the race.  Below are my splits.

Weather:  31 Degrees, 64% Humidity, Wind 3MPH, Fair.

Course Map

Mile 1 - 5:57

Mile 2 - 5:46

Mile 3 - 6:02   Cat hill

Mile 4 - 5:51

Mile 5 - 6:06   Rolling hills on west side

Mile 6 - 5:53

Mile 7 - 6:00

Mile 8 - 6:16  Cat hill

Mile 9 - 6:03   Beginning to fade

Mile .3- 1:51

Finish  54:49 

I ended up placing 32^nd overall out of 3541 and 4^th out of 347in my age group.  Not a bad day.