I was looking for the elusive win to continue my streak
(1979-2014) and this second year trail race looked like a possibility but more
importantly looked like an interesting race. They offered a six-hour run, a
marathon, a marathon relay, and a half-marathon all contested over a 2.6 mile
loop through the woods. The unusual part would be the start time which was 5pm
for the 6-hour, and 6pm for the marathon & half-marathon. That meant that
everyone would be running at least some of the race in the dark. I’ve done a
few night road races, track races, orienteering races, and even snowshoe races
but never a trail race.
I arrived an hour before the start and went out for a warm-up
loop to check out the course. There was a nice mix of dirt path (mostly dirt
road width) and some grass, nothing rough no roots or rocks. They clearly
marked the course with flagging and glow sticks and had each kilometer marked as
well. There was a good fast ½ mile at the start then about a mile of steady
climb before a very tough downhill (maximum of 20% grade) with a tough but very
short bump after that. At that point there was another steady ½ mile of
climbing followed by a gentle descent back to the start/finish. The
start/finish was located INSIDE of the barn at Freestyle farm, which was unique
(and would be hopping during the race). They had tables set up for water and
lap counters for each of the events.
I switched into racing flats, since the surface was dry and
footing was good I passed on trail shoes and went with road flats. Conditions
were just about ideal with clear skies for the full moon and temps in the low
60s. There were a couple of guys who looked fast, one was wearing a singlet
that looked like something an English Fellrunner might wear. I asked him about
the singlet and he turned out to be from Edinburgh Scotland visiting the USA.
Pretty cool! At the start I zipped out the barn door and went into the lead with
footsteps right behind me. The first downhill ½ mile felt comfortable, but was
surprisingly fast at 2:56. I was thinking I’d run close to 7 minute pace based
on the distance and the course. The Scottish fellow (Christopher Busby) and
Ryan Collins went by me at the first kilometer mark and I felt that pushing too
hard this early on the first uphill wouldn’t be prudent. I relaxed and settled
into a pace I hoped I could maintain.
I trailed the leaders by 15 seconds as we made our way back
through the barn after the first lap. It was a lot faster than I expected
(16:50 = 6:28 pace) but I felt pretty good. I like running loops it makes it
much easier to breakdown the distance and manage my effort. I concentrated on
keeping the guys in sight on the second lap but more important was getting
through feeling good, there would be time later to up the pace (if that was
possible). They were 30 seconds ahead at the end of lap two which I covered in
16:52 (6:29 pace). Busby struggled a bit on lap three and I began to close on
him. I didn’t want to push too hard as we were only 5+ miles in, but natural
tendencies are to attack and I closed the gap. About halfway through lap three
I caught him, but now I could not see the leader. Collins had about 45 seconds
on me as I finished the 3rd lap in 16:57 (6:31 pace).
It was getting dark during the third lap as it was now about
7pm and I grabbed a drink and my headlamp as I rolled through the barn with two
laps to go. It was still light enough to see in the open fields but it was
quite dark in the woods. The glow sticks were glowing and the “signal fires”
were lit. The fires were pretty cool, they had four of them scattered around
the course and each one had people hanging out cheering and enjoying
themselves. This was my lap to attack and I thought I did but I slowed a bit
running a 17:10 (6:36) pace. Now it was full dark and every light I saw up ahead
made me think “that’s the leader” but every light wasn’t the leader. I
struggled over the final lap slowing to a 17:40 (6:45 pace) and never got any
closer to the winner. His last two laps were not much faster than mine.
Collins took the win in 1:24:15, I crossed the line in 1:25:20 and Busby was
next in 1:26:55.
I was pretty happy with the race, I gave all I had and ran a
50+ PR (I hadn’t raced a half-marathon at age 50). I still need a win and the clock is ticking.
Pl Name City,
ST Age Time Age group
1 Ryan Collins
30 1:24:15 30-392 Dave Dunham Bradford, MA 51 1:25:20 50-59
3 Christopher Busby Edinburgh 33 1:26:55 30-39
4 Dave Herd Lee, NH 33 1:40:08 30-39
5 Bill Nawn Bedford, NH 50 1:40:39 50-59
35 finisher (5 in the 50-59)
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| Post-race with the |
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