A Running Fool....Ron's Running Adventures

Well, it's been a little over a month now since the "off-season" began with my annual running of The Manchester Road Race. Closing the racing year in a race in which both my Brother-In-Law Mike & I set a PR. As an added bonus we both beat Frank Shorter (the only time in my life I'll be able to say that)!

Since then I've been using the time to "actively" recover. Namely, I've been maintaining my base with my daily hour long runs. Each year I use the month of December to give my body a chance to recover from the previous year by slowing down and shortening my runs. By not racing or doing long runs I feel I let my body get some long term recovery. I also use the time to reflect on the past year with the purpose of planning the next. I eagerly look over race calendars and read race reports as I begin the process of planning my own race schedule for 2008. As I type this, I have a preliminary schedule set. Most race dates are still tentative. However, I am running alot of the same events I did last year so I have a fairly good idea of when they will occur. There is still one other long distance event I am contemplating but since I am still undecided I did not include it on my schedule.

With the New Year finally here and my month of active recovery complete, I can now begin the process of building a higher base for what I hope to be a very ambitious year. If you recall, my goal last year was to become an ultra runner. With that goal accomplished I am now focusing on progressing to the next level. As you'll see by the race schedule listed below I have added a couple more long distance events. In addition you'll notice that I have almost completely eliminated "road races" from my schedule. Currently the only road race I plan on running this year is The Manchester Road Race. For the first time in 3 years I will NOT be entering the New York City Marathon Lottery.

You'll will see on my schedule a couple races that have lotteries that I will be entering. One being a return to the Mt. Washington Road Race, the other being the Vermont 50 miler. Both are bit unique. Most of you are familiar with the Mt. Washington race. The Vermont is unique in that it is both a running and a mtn. Bike race simultaneously, both bikers and runners share the trail during the race. With any luck both JT & I will be entering this race, myself as a runner, JT as a rider.

One new race I have already entered (registration opened on December 31 @ midnight) is The Jay Challenge. A grueling 33 mile race (that now qualifies you for a 100 mile race) that takes place in July. It is sure to be one of, if not the highlight of my racing season and perhaps the most grueling event I've done yet. For example, here is an excerpt from their website describing the race:

Racer Director's Warning: The Marathon, (33.0 miles), is considered by our own participants to be the hardest marathon ever put together for it’s distance; This is a trail marathon, and using the word trail is stretching it. One section is actually a bushwhack from flagging tape to flagging tape, and another section will take you on a deer trail leading to a mountain brook. You will run in the brook for about 3 miles. At mile 20 you will cross a 50-foot wide river in order to reach aid station # 6. Only the adventurous, experienced trail runners and fit athletes should sign up for this race. You will get wet and very muddy, and you are likely to end up with scratches on your legs.

Course description: The Marathon is a 33.0 mile, mostly off-road, run.  The race starts by climbing 4,000 feet over 9 miles to the summit of Jay Peak. Then racers head downhill for4 miles, descending 2,000 feet on Ullr’s Dream ski trail, continue on a series of trails through the woods connecting to Wilderness Village back road, and through Jay Village. Then racers will cross fields and rivers, follow a deer trail, and run in a brook. Yes, in the brook, for about 3 miles. A bushwhack and beaver dam leads to a swim across a 50-foot river, (aided by volunteers and a cable), and then racers will reach aid station # 6. It is advisable to re-fuel and rest at aid station #6, because the worst mud hole in the world is yet to come on the last eight miles of the course!

On top of that I hope to tackle my first back-to-back long trail races by entering The Escarpment Trail Race the day after Jay's Challenge. Just another way for me to keep myself motivated.

For the first time this year I also plan to enter some non-running events. The first of these is The Hockanum River Canoe Race. Some of you are familiar with this local race and know that I have always desired to attempt it. Well, I feel this is the year to do so. I hope to convince someone to attempt it with me, but am also willing to tackle it solo if required. The other non-running event will be later in the year when I try a Mtn. Bike race for the first time. I surely don't expect to be competitive but since JT has recruited me to be on his team (along with Lisa, Todd & Mike) I'm sure I'm in for alot of fun.

All that however, is a long way away. In the meantime I am attempting to get out and enjoy winter as much as possible. In the next couple months I have both a Winter hiking overnight and an ice-climbing trip planned with JT to look forward to. And...in the next couple weeks, I hope to attempt my first snowshoe race (North & South Pond Snowshoe Races - http://www.runwmac.com/snowshoes/north%20pond.htm). As you can see 2008 looks to be a great year....Let the games begin!

Ron's (Preliminary) 2008 Race Schedule

North Pond Snowshoe Race (3.5 Miles) - Sat. - January 12, 2008 - Florida, MA

South Pond Snowshoe Race (4.0 Miles) - Sat. - January 19, 2008 - Florida, MA

Northern Nipmuck Trail Race (16 Miles) - Sat. - April 5, 2008 - Union, CT - *Tentative Date*

Hockanum River Canoe Race (7 Miles) - Sun. - April 6, 2008 - Vernon, CT

7 Sisters Trail Race (12 Miles) - Sun. - May 6, 2008 - Amherst, MA - *Tentative Date*

Soapstone Mountain Trail Run (14.5 Miles) - Sun. - May 18, 2008 - Somers, CT

Nimpmuck Trail Marathon (26.4 Miles) - Sun. - June 1, 2008 - Ashford, CT - *Tentative Date*

Mt Washington Road Race (7.6 Miles) - Sat., June 21, 2008 - N. Conway, NH - *Lottery Entry*

Soapstone Assault (4.8 Miles) - Sun., July 20, 2008 - Somers, CT

Jay's Challenge (33 Miles) - Sat. - July 26, 2008 - Jay, VT

Escarpment Trail Run (18 Miles) - Sun. - July 27, 2008 - Haines Falls, NY - *Tentative Date*

People's Forest Trail (7 Miles) - Sat. - August 2, 2008 - Barkhamsted, CT - *Tentative Date*

Pisgah Mountain Trail Race (31 Miles) - Sun. - September 7, 2008 - Chesterfield, NH - *Tentative Date*

Churn & Burn 24 Hours Mountain Bike Race - Sat./Sun. - Sept. 13/14, 2008 - Ashford, CT

Vermont 50 Miler (50 Miles) - Sun. - September 28, 2008 - Brownsville, VT - *Lottery Entry*

Breakneck 20K (12.4 Miles) - Sat. or Sun. - Sept. 27/28, 2008 - Union, CT - *Tentative Date*

Stone Cat Trail 50 Miler (50 Miles) - Sat. - Nov. 8, 2008 - Ipswich, MA

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