Sleepy Hollow
I’d raced at Sleepy Hollow twice before (2012 & 2014)
and was a bit nervous about doing it this year. Downhill running is not good
for my arthritic ankles, but the Mountain series beckons and I find it hard to
resist the Sirens song.
A few of the CMS guys were hanging out in the parking lot
so we all headed out for an easy 2 miles to check out the final part of the
course. We went out 1 mile, I noted the spot, and then we returned over the
last mile of the 6.4 mile race. This was the first year they’d modified the
course (now in its fifth year). We’d have a tough 1 mile climb to the highest
point on the course followed by a mile downhill (the steepest roughest downhill
of the race). After that we’d climb back to the high point via a new longer
trail. Once over the top we’d be running the same final 2.5 miles that we’d
done in the past.
After the short warm-up, I switched into my Inov-8 trail
shoes and headed out for another easy mile. Conditions were really good,
probably as good as you can get. No rain, but heavy clouds and a sprinkle
now-and-again along with temps in the upper 40’s. Awesome for racing on the
trails! Nearly 250 runners took to the starting line and it seemed like most of
them sprinted out in front of me over the first ¼ mile.
The first ½ mile climbed 300’ which took some of the oomph
out of the quick starters. I steadily moved through and by the ½ mile turn onto
single-track found myself just outside of the top 25. We continued up for
another ¼ mile and topped out at the appropriately named “Adirondack View” some
400’ above the starting line. I was very cautious on the big downhill (1 mile
dropping 463’). I was passed by at least 5 guys and about ½ way down I caught
teammate Erik Vandendries (he is a very strong climber, both on foot and on
bike). The mile was reached in 8:08 and 2 miles in 14:40. Just before 2 miles
we started the long climb. This had been my strongest part in years past, but I
was not “feeling it” today. I caught up to Brian Ruhm (GCS 50+) and Eli Enman
(GMAA) and kept my head up looking for more 50+ age group runners ahead of me.
Enman pulled away as I slowly got away from Ruhm.
I spotted Ed Sheldon (50+) a bit ahead and slowly reeled
him in. After I passed him Erik V caught and passed me. This long tough 1.5
mile section climbed over 500’ and by 3.5 miles we were back on top of the
Adirondack View. There was a new part leading up to the top that featured a
bunch of switchbacks. I’m better at long steady grinding climbs, not so much
these type of climbs where you have to shift gears a lot. I enjoyed being able
to see the line of guys not too far in front of me (and didn’t enjoy quite as
much seeing the line of guys not too far BEHIND me). I reached the 3 mile mark
in 22:51 (8:11) and was looking forward to the second big downhill.
I passed Erik V again as we started the downhill on
single-track, it then opened up onto some very fast grass road. The 300’ drop
was quick and I don’t have that extra gear. I felt I ran pretty well but the
guys in front of me steadily disappeared from sight. This was the first time in
the race that I was running alone. I was pretty sure there was at least one 50+
runner ahead of me and I knew the other guys I’d passed earlier were not that
far behind. I passed through the finishing field with 2 miles to go and a
couple of guys just in sight in front of me. I’d moved up to 21st
place and was thinking “If I can stay ahead of Erik through the last climb I
should be able to beat him”.
The ½ mile of climb had 255’ of climb and it really hurt.
I closed on the two guys in front of me and got to within 5 seconds of Jeff
Walker (Dirigo 50+) at the top of the climb (5 miles in 38:35). The final part
of the race was almost all on wide grassy road with 240’ of drop over ¾ mile. I
just couldn’t get my legs turning over, I was flat-out and running out of
steam. Teammate Jim Pawlicki came flying by with another guy with just over a
half-mile to go. Jim gave me a pat on the back as he went by but I had no
response. I took a glance back and could see Erik was closing the gap. The 30’
hill with a ¼ mile to go almost brought me to a standstill but I managed to hang
on finishing in 23rd place (2nd in the 50+) in 50:03. Our
team had a good day, placing four in the top 7 overall and the top two in the
40+ along with 2nd and 3rd in the 50+. We swept the team
categories winning the open, 40+, and 50+.
Next up in the USATF NE Mountain series = Wachusett
Mountain on 05-28.
1 43:03 Brandon Newbould M34
Open Nottingham, NH WRT
2 44:08 Matthew
Veiga M29 Open Lynn, MA CMS
3 44:35 Tristan Williams M30
Open Jackson, NH
4 44:39 Tim Van
orden M48 40-49 Bennington, VT CMS
5 45:22 Christopher Mateer M25
Open Center Valley, PA
6 45:46 Todd
Callaghan M46 40-49 Beverly, MA CMS
7 46:23 Andy
McCarron M33 Open Keene, NH CMS
8 46:40 Matthew Zanchi M26
Open Somerville, MA
9 47:03 Kurt Hackler
M39 Open Alstead, NH
10 47:49 Brett
Mustrangelo M24 Open Keene, NH
11 48:26 Bryce Murdick M19
U20 Falmouth, ME
12 48:28 Binney Mitchell M47
40-49 Burlington, VT GMAA
13 48:40 Eli Enman
M39 Open Huntington, VT GMAA
14 48:44 Emlyn Jones M28
Open Craftsbury Common, VT
15 48:47 Vincent Lyon M27
Open Dover, NH
16 48:50 Eric Darling
M43 40-49 Shelburne, VT GMAA
17 48:59 Steve Brightman M47
40-49 Providence, RI
18 49:24 Chris Chromczak M31
Open Delmar, NY
19 49:42 Sean Gavaghan M29
Open Albany, NY
20 49:46 Adam St Germain
M32 Open Burlington, VT GMAA
21 49:48 Jeff Walker
M50 50-59 Falmouth, ME Dirigo
22 49:52 James
Pawlicki M41 40-49 Lynn, MA CMS
23 50:03 Dave
Dunham M52 50-59 Bradford, MA CMS
24 50:07 Erik
Vandendries M51 50-59 Chestnut Hill, MA CMS
25 50:12 Adam Bulakowski
M38 Open Essex, VT
43 54:28 Leslie O'Dell
F40 40-49 Albany, NH CMS
58 57:42 David Lapierre M52
50-59 Chelmsford, MA CMS
80 1:01:57 Robert Thomas M56
50-59 Charlton, MA CMS
138 1:10:23 Mary Sharkey F66
60-69 Grosvenordale,CT CMS
180 1:20:05 Walter Kuklinski M67
60-69 Princeton, MA CMS
202 1:23:59 Annie Ryan F59
50-59 Florence MA CMS
Teams
1 CMS Mopen
467.14
2 aR Mopen 348.74
3 NMC Mopen 326.25
1 CMS M40+
276.78
2 GMAA M40+ 236.23
3 aR M40+ 225.15
4 NMC M40+ 213.29
5 GCS M40+ 180.02
1 CMS M50+
246.53
2 NMC M50+ 213.29
3 aR M50+ 199.89
4 GCS M50+ 180.02
No comments:
Post a Comment