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

With spring easing it's way into summer and the bulk of my scheduled activities soon to be underway, I figured it was time to touch base and update you all on what's been happening and what's to come. What's changed, what hasn't and what may.

Firstly, what has happened. This past weekend I ran my second annual Soapstone Mountain Half-Marathon. They call it a half-marathon but in reality it is a bit more at 14.5 miles and if that isn't enough, some of us decided to make it even longer (more on that later). In any case, it was yet another great event put on by another great running club, The Shenipsit Striders.

For those that do not know, The Shenipsit Striders, are a local trail running club that bases itself out of the Shenipsit/Soapstone area. Each week they have group runs in and around the area. Since I started running trails I wanted to be a part of this group. For the past two years I've run both of their events (Half-Marathon & Soapstone Assault). I even went as far as to attend some of their group runs last summer. Unfortunatley, due to employment and family commitments I haven't been able to attend anymore group runs. But, I did finally take the plung about a month ago and became a member of the club. Even though I can't make the weekly runs, I still wanted to support the group and help out in anyway I can. For more info, check out the site here: http://www.shenipsitstriders.org/

Now, on to the race.

It was a picture perfect day for running a trail race, sunny but cool. Trail conditions were also close to perfect. There trails were drier than last year as evidenced by there being no river to run down but still enough mud to satisfy any trail runner. I've run alot of miles on the trails in the Soapstone area both in races and training and I don't think I've seen better conditions prior, allowing agressive running and passing but also let one settle into a pace and not be in the way of others. Since it is a loop course, there was also no returning runners to worry about. And with150 or so runners on the course, that was a good thing.

The race starts with a section on a dirt road until crossing Gulf Rd and up the steepest climb of the race following the powerlines up Sopastone Mountain. It's a short but tough climb and I was grateful that I was climbing it early in the race as opposed to late (like the Soapstone Assault). As soon as you reach the top it is by the fire tower and down the steepest descent of the race via the Shenipsit Trail. Brimming with confidence from running Seven Sisters, I aggressively descended. Probably the most aggressive I've ever taken that section.

After that intial start I fell into position and was able to glom onto a group of runners to stay near, where I stayed for most of the race. Unfortunatley, when one does this one can take for granted that the runner(s) in front of you know where they are going. During the pre-race instructions we were told that the key intersections of the race were marked with pink surveyor tape. So, when the group of runners I was with saw a bunch of pink surveyors tape marking what appeared to be a key intersection, we followed it. It wasn't until we were well into the "re-route" that was taking us through a bushwacking, no trail section that I began to wonder if we took a wrong turn. I combed my mind but could not remember running this section last year. Fortunatley, we all came back out onto the trail and rejoined the race. Seeing runners that were well behind us before the "re-route" now side by side with us was a bit disheartening but such is life on the trail.

On we would go. Onto parts of the blue-blazed Shenipsit Trail, dodging a growing number of Mtn. Bikers. Off the Shenipsit Trail and onto the white-blazed Strider trails I once again ran very aggressive on the longest downhill of the race. Last year, this part was virtually a river, this year with it being a bit drier I was able to secure better footing and made up a good amount of positions I'd lost from the re-route. As was the case with Seven Sisters, I found myself getting stronger the longer the event went. Runners that had passed me miles back I was now reeling in. Giving me a much needed mental edge.

Before long it was up and across Soapstone Rd and down the Quarry Trail for yet another aggressive descent. Hitting the aspahlt and down to the park's parking lot I found the best surprise of the race waiting for me. To my complete and utter surprise Diane, Ashley & Tommy appeared out of the blue to cheer me on. With thier appearance giving me an unexpected boost  I headed towards the finish, crossing the line just as they arrived to see me come in.

Overall, I feel I ran a strong race, though not as strong as last year. Finishing with a time of 2:41:07. Good for 81st place and another placing in the Grand Tree Series. This was a good 15 minutes behind last year, but I attribute most of that to the "re-route". Overall results are here: http://www.runwmac.com/gt2008/soapstone2008.html

Photos of the race by Scott Livingston available at: http://www.printroom.com/pro/scottlivingston/default.asp (one of me on Page 10)

Despite all the fun and good things to come out of the race, I did notice an alarming trend. So far, I've run three races this year, Northern Nipmuck, Seven Sisters and now Soapstone. As I look back over all three, I've noticed that in each one it has taken me much longer to get into my pace. At Soapstone it was a good hour until I fully got into my pace, both legs & lungs. At first I was a bit perplexed about this, but after fully analyzing it, I've come to the conclusion that I am just going out to fast. For some reason, I am just having a tougher time dialing it back in the early going. Although it hasn't drastically affected my overall race results, I am sure it has in someway. So, it is with a renewed focus on pacing that I head into the summer portion of my schedule. And with the race distances only getting longer, I had best focus on it.

Speaking of the summer schedule, it is offically kicks off for me on June 1 with the Nipmuck Trail Marathon. I ran this event last year for the first time and am enthusiastic about returning to "The Big Girlie Man Race" to give it another go, this time sans the "High Fall Risk" rookie sticker. On top of that it is the first race JT and I will be running together since last year's event. For those that don't know, this is JT's big return to long distance trail races since he sustaineda stress fracture last year (probably in this same event). So, it will be great to welcome JT back and add another peice of wood to the trophy case.

Immediately after Nipmuck (the day after) I was slated to begin the "Rest-Of-My-Life Section Hike" of the Appalachian Trail. All year I had planned to begin a North-South Section Hike, starting at the Northern Terminus, Mt. Katahdin. Well, as is usually the case, the one thing you can't plan for has thrown a wrench into my plans. Yes, the weather, in this case, last winter's weather by piling up record amounts of snow in Northern Maine (80" remained as of Mid-April). Long story short, the summit of Katahdin, the Northern Terminus of the AT, will be closed on June 2nd, the day I was slated to begin my hike. Even though trail conditions here are good, they still have a ways to go up North. So, my options were either to: a.) postpone the hike until next year. b.) start a South-North hike in Georgia. c.) hike a different section of the AT. d.) hike a different long distance trail.

Considering the options I knew that I did not want to postpone the trip. I wanted to do some long distance hiking. Starting in Georgia wasn't logistically possible either. And I know it maybe me being a bit OCD, but I want this "Rest-Of-My-Life Section Hike" to follow the trail sections in succession, rather than jump around from section to section. So, in my mind I was left with option D.

One trail that has always appealed to me has been the Long Trail. The Nation's oldest long distance trail (and the inspiration for the AT). At first I was disappointed. Disappointed that I had to postpone my AT trip but also that I was section hiking the LT. With this trail running 275 miles from the MA/VT border to Canada I always thought this was the one long distance trail I could thru-hike and still fit it into my current lifestyle. But the more I thought about it, the more excited I got. After all how could a week out hiking be bad. To further my excitement I stumbled across this great trail report (http://www.jamiecompos.com/longtrail.html ) that I spent a whole night reading. If you have time, check it out as you can read about some ofthe places Jen & I will be hiking through. It may put off me begining the AT for a couple years, but with the LT being the inspiration for the AT, I think it is kind of fitting that we tackle this one first.

I close out a busy June heading back to the White Mountains for my 2nd annual attempt at The Mt. Washington Road Race. One of only two road races I am running this year (Manchester being the other), I am looking forward to returning to NH and can only hope we get weather as good as last year. JT will also be joining me for his first attempt at this event so that will make it even more fun.

From there, the distances only get longer. One of my premier events for this year looms later this summer as I am slated to attempt The Jay Challenge in July. Preparing me I hope for a busy fall when I'll attempt one 50k (Pisgah) and two 50 milers (Vermont & Stone Cat) within two months. But as they say, that is along way and alot of miles away from now.....it will be less though without anymore "re-routes"....

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