article - Metro Tri Club

TRAIL
TIMES
American Trail Running Association Volume 16, No. 58 winter 2011
Mission: To represent and promote trail and mountain running.
Favorite Trail Races of our ATRA Members
We ask our ATRA members to
list their favorite trail races on
their membership form (not
everyone does, perhaps they want
to keep their favorite race a
secret), and below you will find a
list of their favorites. If you are
looking for a trail race in 2012,
visit our website at:
www.trailrunner.com and click on
our calendar. Enjoy!
24 Hours of Frisco
7 Sisters
8 in the Rough
Angeles Crest 100
Adirondack Trail Cross
11.5m, Keene Valley
Alafia Half-Marathon
American Discovery Trail
1/2 Marathon
Antelope Island Buffalo Run
50k
Aspen Golden Leaf 1/2
Marathon
Backyard Burn
Bald Eagle Mountain
Megatronsect 25M
Baldy, Sun Valley, ID
Bays Mountain 15M,
Kingsport, TN
Blood Sweat and Beers,
Auburn
Blue Hills Reservation
Bouncing Buns 7k, Sunny
Fest Resort
Breck Crest
Buffalo Run, Catalina Island
Bull Run Run 50
Cactus Cha Cha 7 Mile,
White Tank Mtns.
Cactus Rose
Canadian Death Race, 75M
Catalina State Park Trail Run
Chena Hot Springs Run & Soak
Chuckanut 50k
Coastal Trail Runs
Croom 50M, FL
Curley's Marathon, Pittsfield, MA
Dances with Dirt - Gnaw Bone, MI
Davos Alpine Run
Devil Mountain Ultra
Dirt Devil Race Series 5k, 10k, 15k, 1/2
Dirty Secret
Dirty Spokes Trail Race Series
Double Dipsea
Farmdale Trail Run, East Peoria, Il
FingerLakes 25k
Francis Marion Dirt Dash Half Marathon
Front Range Frenzy
GEER
Glacial Trail 50, Greenbush, WI
Glacier Ridge 30k, Moraine State Pk, PA
Golden Gate Canyon Trail Run
GORE-TEX TransRockies Run
Gorilla Thrilla
Greylock
Groundhog 50k
Half Moon Outfitters Moonshiner
Half Voyageur Trail Marathon
HAT RUN 50k, MD
Headlands 100
Hocking Hills, OH, Indian Run 20k
Howl at the Moon 8 Hr; Kennekuk Cover
Hurricane JEM all trail marathon & 16.5M
Imogene Pass
James River Scramble
Jemez Mountain Trail Runs
Jupiter Peak Steeplechase
(continued on page 3)
ATRA
Corporate Members
Acli-Mate® Natural Sport
Drinks
Active at Altitude
Alpine Dentistry
American Adventure
Sports,LLC
Anderson Race Management
Athletes for a Fit Planet, LLC
Boulder Marathon, LLC
CW-X Conditioning Wear
Dirt Devil Trail Race Series
Dreams in Action
Eagle Endurance
Event Marketing Group
Everyone Runs
Fire Tool
Fleet Feet Boulder
FuelBelt, Inc.
GECKO
Generic Events
Go Run Events, LLC
Greenlayer Sports
ICESPIKE
Injinji Footwear, Inc.
Inov-8
International Skyrunning
Federation
iRunFar.com
KINeSYS Performance
Sunscreen
La Sportiva
Marathon Majic, LLC
McMillan Running—
Ultrarunning Coaching
Milt’s Stop & Eat
Oboz Footwear
OrthoLite Insoles
Paris Mountain Trail Run
Series
PikesPeakSportsUS
Project Athena Foundation
Red Muntain Running
Ridgewalk and Run
Rocky Mountain Workshops
Runner’s World
Running Fit
Running Times
Running USA
Salomon Sports
Seriousrunning.com
Skelton Law Racing Series
Snowshoe Magazine
Spectrum Sports, LLC.
stitch'T T-shirt quilts
Tejas Trails
Trail Runner magazine
TrailRunnerSports.com
TrailRunningZone.com
Troy’s California Trail Runs
UltraRunning magazine
USATF Oregon Blog
Vail Recreation District
Vasque
XTERRA Trail Running
Series
Wicked Fast Sports Nutrition
Wilkes Barre Racing
Into the New Year
Adam W. Chase
President
(303) 440-7149
Ellen Miller
Vice President
Lisa Goldsmith
Secretary
Brandy Erholtz
Treasurer
Elliott Henry
Webmaster
Andy Ames
Danelle Ballengee
Eric Black
Katie Blackett
Doug Laufer
Bryon Powell
Tom Sobal
Ian Torrence
Bart Yasso
Advisors
Nancy Hobbs
Executive Director
Contributors to this issue of
Trail Times include:
Fall Back & Mt. Greylock
Laura Clark
Pere Marquette
Mike Meehan
Sundance 50k
Les Mignery
Pocono Mountains
Rich Pais
Transitioning
Stephen Santangelo
Dances with Dirt
Paul Stofko
No part of this publication
may be reproduced without
the written consent of ATRA.
2
It has been a busy year on the trails. There were many exciting races and events in 2011 and
certainly more trail running fun is in store for 2012.
At meetings in early December of USATF’s Mountain Ultra Trail Council in St.
Louis, the 2012 championships schedule was announced as was the 2012 U.S. Mountain
Team selection process (see page 11 for details, and visit ATRA’s website for a complete
report from the meetings). Consider taking part in one or more of the championship events in
2012. With distances from 10 kilometers to 100 miles, there is certainly a race distance for
everyone.
In 2012, you may also consider running one of the races featured in this issue of
Trail Times. Remember, we enjoy receiving your stories, so be sure to send us a recap of
your favorite trail running adventure, race, or share a training tip or two with our readers.
Whether your 2012 includes racing, volunteering, or cheering others from the sidelines, enjoy a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year!
Happy Trails, Nancy
ATRA RACE & CLUB MEMBERS
A Trail Runner’s Blog
Andes Adventures
Aspen Backcountry Marathon
Bay Trail Runners
Bear Chase Trail Race
Blacksmith Endurance Co.
Central Mass Striders (CMS)
Dolphin South End Runners/Double Dipsea
Grand Teton Races
Green Lakes Endurance Runs
Katie Trail 50
Lean Horse Trail Races—50 Mile/100 Mile
Long Island Greenbelt Trail 50K
Loon Mountain Trail Race
Malibu Creek Trail Challenge (Xterra)
Mickelson Trail Marathon and Half
Moose Mountain Trail Races
Mountain Divas
Northern Arizona Trail Runners Assoc.
Northfield Mountain Race
Oklahoma Trail Runners Association
Palo Alto Run Club
Planet Adventures
River, Roots & Ruts Trail Half-Marathon
Run at the Rock
Runuphill Racing
Samuel Fuller School Trail Run
San Clemente Trail Run
Silly Pig Mud Run
Snowmass Village Half and Half 10k
Mountain Challenge
SoCal Trail Headz
Spillway Classic Trail Run
Spokane River Run
Squaw Valley Mountain Run
Taos Ski Valley Up and Over Run
The Endurables
Trail Runner Club, Brea, CA
Trail Runners Club, Pacific Palisades, CA
Trans Rockies
Ultimate XC Moab Edition
GOALS OF ATRA
Send your comments to:
American Trail Running
Association

Compile & publish a comprehensive listing of nationwide trail running events

Educate and provide information about our sport to the rest of the outdoor
community, to the media and to non-running entities that have similar goals and
objectives
P.O. Box 9454

Organize ATRA sponsored & supported events
Colorado Springs, CO 80932 
Be sensitive to the environment.
(719) 573-4133 phone

Provide a forum whereby the business of the sport can be discussed and organized
(719) 573-4408 fax

Create & nurture alliances with other associations
[email protected]

Develop recreational participation and provide opportunities for families to enjoy our
sport through events and clinics
www.trailrunner.com
Favorite Trail Races

 Knobstone 13.1M Morgan/Monroe State Forest

 La Luz

 Land Between the Lakes, Grand Rivers, KY

 Laurel 50k, Chiopyle, PA

 Lead King Loop

 Leadville 100

 Long Leaf Horse trail

 Loon Mountain

 Lovin'in the Hills 50k

 Manford Toe Stumpin, Keystone Lake, OK

 McKenzie River Trail Run 50k

 Medoc Mountain Marathon, Hollister, NC

 Megatransect 25, Lockhaven, PA

 Mind over Mountain 15k

 Moab Trail Marathon

 Mohican and the Buckeye Trail 50k

 Mountain Mist 50k, Huntsville, AL

 Mt. Ashland Hill Climb

 Mt. Diablo Trail Challenge 50k

 Mt. Mitchell Challenge 40M

 Mt. Washington

 Mt. Werner Classic, Steamboat, CO

 Mud Muck Moose 5 Miler, Bartlett NH

 Muddy Sneaker 20k

 North Face Challenge Bear Mountain, NY

 North Face, Alyeska Resort

 Northern Nipmuck

 Nueces

 Ohlone, Fremont, CA, 50k

 Oil Creek 50k

 Okland Hills Stream Trail
To join ATRA,
or to renew your
Membership...visit:
www.trailrunner.com
(continued from front cover)
Old Pueblo 50-mile
Oregon PCT 50
Pere Marquette Endurance Trail Run
Pineland Farms Trail Running Festival
Pisgah 50k
Pikes Peak Ascent
Pikes Peak Marathon
Psycho Wyco
Quicksilver 50M
Real FL 5k, Wekiva Sprgs State Pk, FL
Red Top Rumble
Rio Del Lago
River Run 50k, Spokane, WA
Rock Cut Trail Series
Rockin' K
Rocky Raccoon
Rothrock Challenge
Run at the Rock
Run The Caldera, Jemez Springs, NM
Sacred Mountain Prayer Run
San Clemente Trail Run
SC Ultra Trail Series
Scenic City Trail Marathon - Chattanooga
Seabrook Lucky
SkyMarathons
Sombrero Trail Run
Soulstice Mountain Trail Race, 11.5 mile
Squaw Peak 50M, Provo, UT
Stump Jump
Summer Roundup
Taos Ski Valley Up and Over 10k
Tecumseh Trail Marathon, Bloomington, IN
Teva Stoaked, Hanover, NH 14k
TrailDawgs Triple Crown
TransRockies
TRT in Tahoe
Uwharrie Mountain Run, Troy NC
Virgil Crest 100
Wabash Heritage Trail Marathon
Wapack
Wasatch 100, Layton, UT
Western NH Trail Running Series
White River 50 Miler, Crystal Mtn., WA
Wissahickon Trail Classic
Woodstock
Wyoming Marathon
XTERRA
3
Transitioning from Trail Running to Snowshoeing
Trail runners who have logged miles of long runs in the wilderness
find that by season’s end, much of their strength has been lost in
favor of long aerobic workouts. Mid to late fall is the time to restore the body, rest the central nervous system ,and rebuild muscular
strength — muscular strength as it applies to endurance athletes, not
gym goers.
For trail runners who live in the colder and snowier climes,
their frequented trails might also require a transition from trail running shoes to snowshoes. During this transition time, consider taking a 4-6 week hiatus from aerobic training in favor of short-term
strength training.
Dry training with snowshoes will not only provide restoration, it will begin to build the needed strength for snowshoe racing.
Snowshoe racing demands more quad and hip flexor activation than
trail running. Dry training is done with snowshoes. I highly suggest
using an inexpensive pair of general purpose snowshoes. As seen in
picture below, I am walking up a grassy hill with a back pack which
by Stephen R. Santangelo
4
ties such as basketball, swimming, pushups, yoga, or any activity
which is “just for fun” while still working up a sweat. Remember,
this is all about restoration, regaining your strength and preparing
yourself for the upcoming snowshoe competitions.
Go Run Events, LLC
www.goruntrails.com
is half my body weight; 82 pounds. I suggest beginning with 20%
body weight and increase poundage as strength increases. Find a
steep hill and power walk as fast as possible; do not run. Attack the
hill. Do as many repetitions as needed to feel the muscles exerting
force.
A second exercise to perform on dry land is to walk, forcefully, while maintaining an extreme dorsi-flexion of the feet the
entire time while emphasizing knee lift. You must maintain this
position. It will become an isometric exercise while moving the
body forward. You will feel the front of your shin burn. When racing in snow, deeper than four inches, knee lift and hip flexion become extreme. Notice the picture to the right which illustrates dorsiflexion, the placement of the foot in the shoe. The foot is moved
forward enough so the shoe always remains parallel to the ground.
This is very important. The action is similar to marching as fast as
possible.
Both exercises should not last more than 60 seconds for
each repetition. Total workout time, excluding warm up and cool
down, needs to only be about 20 minutes, 2-3 times per week. The
other days, incorporate lots of stretching and other physical activi-
Dances with Dirt 50 Miler
by Paul Stofko
Dances with Dirt 50 Miler is held every September in Hell, MI. The
2012 race date is September 22.
General DWD course information: The footing is rocky, muddy (a
few river crossings), and loose in places. You will get wet and
muddy, but you won’t get swept downstream in any whitewater.
There are some big hills, but no supplemental oxygen is needed. All
in all, a great run in a beautiful environment. Stofko’s account is an
aid station-by-aid station report.
ReAwakening 5.30 miles - I told
my friends Misty, Frank, Keith,
Jose, and Tony that I was here to
race, so I would not be staying with
them. We headed into the darkness;
the cool morning air was perfect for
an ultra. At the beginning of any
ultra, I am usually very tight so I use
the first few miles is to find my
rhythm. This section had a clear trail
with just a few hills and I had to
resist the temptation to start off too
fast, because it was going to be a
long day. At the aid station I
dropped my headlamp and was off
to the next section.
5
tion to the turns, or I would be off on my own adventure. I had a
bagel, chips, and I refilled my bottles; one with water; one with
Gatorade. I get tired of Gatorade after a while and plain water
tastes so good.
Styx, River of Death 3.15 miles - Some two-way traffic in this
section then off to the water. My legs were starting to get a little
sore so the cold water felt great. The water was waist high in parts
and did not smell that great. I hoped this was not where the town's
wastewater went. After getting out of the river, there was an aid
station with our drop bags. I do not like changing shoes and socks;
I think it is a waste of time. I figure since I am a trail runner, I
might as well stay muddy and wet. I took a gel shot, which tasted
horrible as usual, and I was off.
Bad Out of Hell 2.9 miles - Uphill on a road to start and more
uphill on trail. My shorts, shoes, and
legs were drying off during this section
after the water crossing, so I remained
nice and cool. I felt OK at this point,
albeit a little tired, and I had a few small
cuts on my legs from the spiny plants on
the trail.
Potto 6.0 miles - This part of the trail
was a mix of hills, rocks, and roots. I
remember thinking about the miles I
had left and wondering what the course
would bring. I was playing the AC/DC
song, “It’s a Long Way to the Top,”
over and over in my head. We headed to
The early morning start
the 50k finish, crossed the line and continued on with the other 50 milers for
Limbo 4.95 miles - Runners followed different flag colors dependanother 19 miles of fun. I had a gel shot and refilled my bottles at
ing on whether they were in the relay, 50k, or 50 miler. We 50 milthe aid station. I took some Fig Newtons with me and I walked
ers followed white flags to start, then blue, and finally pink. We
about 1/4 mile to eat and drink. My shoulders were sore and tight
needed to pay attention to flags because we were not always on a
after carrying my hand-held bottles for 31 miles.
nice defined trail. On ultra courses which are on well-traveled trails,
Abyss 2.55 miles - Early in this section, there was black, shoeI tend to “zone out.” But if I did that on this course, I would be lost.
I tripped a few times, but this is normal for me. I figured that I might sucking mud. I tried to pull my legs up hard to get out of the mud,
only to feel my shoe start to come off. I started a new method;
as well get the trips out now, rather than at the end. At the aid stawalking lightly and not pulling my legs up too hard. This method
tion, I filled my hand-held bottles and ate some Fig Newtons.
(continued on next page)
This Sucks, Less? 4.75 miles - This section began with twoway traffic, which sometimes made me question if I was going the right way. After we make a hard left, we began to run
on some horse trails. Horse trails provide a different type of
terrain, and I was not breaking any speed records. About this
time in the race I assess myself: “How am I feeling?” “What
hurts?” “How is my aid?” and “Why I am I doing this?” I was
constantly looking for the next flags that were tied to the trees.
There was about five or six runners with me at this time so we
were able to move pretty smoothly through the course. I arrived at the aid station to refill my bottles and had a PB&J
sandwich, and I was off.
Stripper Pole 3.95 miles - Early in the wicked hill section are
the Stripper Pole Slide and Dirt Ladder hands-assisted climbs.
I tried to take it easy on the downhills to maintain control so I
would not run into a tree, or something. I needed to pay atten-
Dances with Dirt 50 Miler
6
(continued from page 5)
worked much better and I still had my shoes on
after this section. At this point, I was by myself
so I had to really keep my eyes peeled for the
next pink flag. I lost the trail a few times, but
quickly recovered. I pushed myself on the
downhills and flats trying to maintain a 9minute 30-second per mile pace when possible.
This happened rarely on this course.
The Stupid Lake 3.65 miles - Running on this part felt
pretty good as I was in a zone. All of sudden the trail
stopped and went into a lake. I stopped; thinking I
missed a turn. I looked to my left and saw pink flags tied
to the trees along the shore, and some on plants in the
water. I guess this was the “lake” section and so I entered the water. This water section had a few deeper
parts than the earlier water crossing. The water was a
welcome relief, but I was slow moving through it. This
aid station had our drop bags to change shoes and sock,
etc., but you now know my thoughts on changing. I am
out of here.
Vertigo 5.8 miles - This section felt like it was
20 miles long. My mind was getting fatigued
as was my body. My saving grace in this section was passing people who were tired out.
Each person I passed provided me with a little
Don't Get No Better 2.85 miles - Overgrown grass, tree
mental boost to keep pushing. I was able to
limbs, and plants with sharp spikes; is this over yet? I
catch up to a group of runners and decided to
was tired of the course by now and I was starting to trip
ease back a little. I was following one runner
and fall. “Just 7 miles left, an easy run during the week,”
when we lost the trail. No pink flags in sight.
I told myself over and over again.
So one runner went one way, and another runner went another way. One runner found a pink
Dirt's Revenge 4.15 miles - Hilly and some sharp turns,
flag on the ground, but saw none on the trees.
but the end is near, right? I had a few relay runners pass
Stofko on course me going the speed of sound. I felt pretty strong, but
We decided to stay on this path and after about
1/2 mile, we saw pink flags on the trees. The
slow. Out of the woods, I headed toward the finish pushrunner that was leading me was so upset about the (lack of ) marking with all I had to finish in nine hours and two minutes. DONE!
ings that he took off. I stay with him for a little while but realized
he was going to burn out. He was using his anger to fuel his pace
Paul "Crazy Legs" Stofko is a Fitness Specialist and an RRCA
which would wear off soon. I just hung back and waited for that
certified Running Coach. This event was Paul’s first experience at
moment and passed him on the hill never to see him again. I was
a Dances with Dirt-type race and also his first 50 miler in seven
glad to see the aid station and ate some cookies and then I was off.
years. Visit the author at www.paulstofko.com. Learn more about
Dances with Dirt at www.danceswithdirt.com.
The Spirit of the Season
by Mike Meehan
Runners are a tight-knit group. We push each other through the
tough times, motivate each other when we don’t think we can run
another mile, and help each other get back up when we stumble or
fall short of our goals.
This year, the Metro Tri Club, organizers of the Pere Marquette Endurance Trail Run, exemplified the camaraderie that exists
in the running community and the spirit of helping one another
when it is needed most.
This year on July 2, Dr. Jennifer Wray Cole and two
friends were on a 50-mile bike ride in rural Jersey County, IL. During their ride, as Jennifer was making a left-hand turn, she was
struck from behind and killed by a motorist who was also making a
left turn.
The 52-year-old wife and mother of four, was a runner,
cyclist, and triathlete. Also an avid trail runner, she had participated
in the Pere Marquette Endurance Trail Run many times. “She had
run our race 8 times and was a top finisher in her age group 4-5
times,” explained Mike Wever, president of the Metro Tri Club.
Headquartered in the St. Louis suburb of Edwardsville, the
Metro Tri Club (http://teamgodzilla.org) organized the first Pere
Marquette Endurance Trail Run in 1989 and has held the race at
Pere Marquette State Park for the last 23 years.
Known as the “toughest and most grueling race in the Midwest,” participating in the Pere Marquette Endurance Trail Run is a
badge of honor for runners such as Jennifer and many more like her,
who proudly add it to their list of athletic accomplishments. The
race is so popular that this year it sold out in a few hours after
registration opened, filling all of its 650 slots in 6 hours and 49
minutes.
The steep elevation changes of the 7.5 mile course have
earned the race its reputation as one of the toughest. As one runner
put it, “We were either going up or coming down (hills) the whole
race.”
If the hilly terrain isn’t enough of a challenge, the unpredictable winter weather can also wreak havoc. When explaining
how the weather conditions can affect the race, Metro Tri Club
vice president Robin Rongey proclaimed, “(the race) Has been run
in freezing temperatures (5 degrees once), rain, ice, snow wind
and mud…In some years, conditions have been so brutal that mud
(was) so deep it sucked off shoes, so slick that runners slid down
the descents on their butts.”
This year’s race held special meaning as the club honored
Jennifer Cole. Race organizers raised $1,355 in her memory that
was given to the Friends of Pere Marquette State Park Foundation
to support the park. The funds were used to erect permanent mile
markers along the course in Jennifer’s honor and for maintaining
the park’s trails. “She loved Pere Marquette…she was always up
here running,” her daughter Frances Cole explained.
Located 45 minutes north of St. Louis, Pere Marquette
State Park has been the home of the Pere Marquette Endurance
(continued on page 7)
Trail Racing in the Pocono Mountains
by Rich Pais
The Wendy’s Pocono XTERRA Trail Running Series celebrates its second year with
the first race to be held on May 5, 2012,
atop Camelback Mountain in Big Pocono
State Park.
The series offers five trail runs
varying in distance from 3 miles to 13.1
miles. In addition to the 5k on May 5, there
will be a 5k on May 19, a 10k+ on June 2,
a half marathon on June 16, and an 8k on
June 30.
“We have located the races in
state and local parks with easy access to
interstates and major highways, so anybody from the New York, New Jersey, or
Philadelphia region can get here in about
90-minutes,” said Race Director Rich Pais.
“We have some of the most beautiful and
challenging terrain in the east, and this
year we are offering two chances to get
free airfare to the XTERRA National Trail
Running Championships in Utah.”
The Spirit of the Season
7
Runners who compete in all five
races will be entered into a lottery where
one female and one male runner get the
chance to win two round trip tickets. The
male and female winners of the Earth Conservancy Half Marathon will also get free
airfare.
The series is sponsored by
Wendy’s and conducted by Wilkes Barre
Racing, Inc., a nonprofit organization who
uses proceeds from races to support foster
care and adoption in Northeast and Central
Pennsylvania.
Visit www.wilkesbarreracing.com
for full details and race registration.
(continued from page 6)
Trail Run since the race’s inception in 1989.
Located on the banks of the Illinois River near
Grafton, IL, the park is the state’s largest, covering 8,000 acres.
At the runners’ pre-race meeting, Frances Cole thanked the Metro Tri Club for keeping the spirit of her mother alive. She offered
participants words of encouragement prior to
the race. “She (Jennifer) is up there cheering
you on,” Frances proclaimed, before runners
headed to the start line.
In addition to showing their support
for the Cole family by making donations to the
Friends of Pere Marquette State Park Foundation, many runners also wore race shirts in her
honor bearing her name.
As a rookie in this year’s race, I experienced first-hand why runners, such as Jennifer, relish the challenge of the Pere Marquette
Endurance Trail Run. The 7.5-mile course included single-track trails of dirt, rocks and roots
that rose up and down majestic limestone
bluffs, through thick forests of trees and brush,
and descended into dry creek beds. Although
the steep, rocky hills were a struggle at times, the breath-taking
views of the Illinois River and valley below made the pain of getting to the top worthwhile.
With six miles behind me, I came to the pinnacle of the
race that cemented it in my mind as the toughest trail race in the
Midwest. A series of stone stairs that rose sharply to one of the
highest points of the course posed the toughest obstacle to finishing
the race. The course fully lived up to its reputation as the toughest
trail race in the Midwest.
With clear skies, temperatures in
the low-20s and great trail conditions, new
course records were established and a number of firsts highlighted the race.
Race winner, Dan Rooney set a
new course record, 53:52, in the 50-54 age
group. Judy Dorpinghaus set a new record,
1:00:22 in the women’s 40-44 age group.
Susan Turner, 71, established a
new record for the oldest female finisher in
2:25:13. Arnold “Arnie” Mueller, 80, became the oldest person to complete the race,
timed in 1:53:57. Mueller was welcomed to
the finish line with a standing ovation – the
first time anyone had received such an
honor in the 23-year history of the race.
Photos by: Russ Darbon,
Metro Tri Club
On this
special day of firsts
for the Pere Marquette Endurance
Trail Run, fellow
runners did what
they always do for
friends in need. They helped the family of a fallen friend and established a fitting tribute to her memory.
Falling Back at the Fall Back 5
8
by Laura Clark
The “time change” is an artificial fact of modern life, but this year it
was easier to take with the return of the Fall Back 5 Trail Race at
the Saratoga Spa State Park.
Two weeks before, I had finally scuttled my early morning
runs in the woods. We are not talking Park Woods with its ambient
civilization glow but Deep Woods lanterned with yellow unblinking
eyes. My headlamp worked fine and I knew the way, but eavesdropping on owl conversations
definitely unnerved me. With
a scant mile to go the songbirds finally woke up, leaving
me hollering somewhat resentfully, “You slackers!”
Now that we have
officially fallen back we are
granted a brief grace period.
It was deliciously sinful to fall
back into bed for an extra hour on race morning and depart in broad
daylight to pick up Lee Czajkowski for our stint at the registration
table. When I pulled up in front of Lee’s apartment, I busied myself
with Annie’s owner’s manual, trying in vain to locate the section
that would tell me how to reset her clock to proper fall back mode.
Lee was amused. She firmly shut the booklet and proceeded to
push various buttons, figuring out the entire process by trial and
error. I was totally in awe. Pressing random computer keys is one
thing, but manipulating dials on a moving vehicle requires an enormous amount of self-confidence. Thanks to Lee, Annie was in
proper “fall back” mode well before race time.
We were granted perfect fall weather, so park officials
decided to seize the day by holding registration outdoors underneath
the portico. Except that it happened to be twenty degrees. I learned
one thing: wearing New Balance minimalist shoes does nothing to
insulate your feet from cold marble flooring. Lee, however, handled
Fall Back expertly, dressing in her
snowshoe registration gear. The only thing I had going for me was a
pair of hand warmers salvaged from the bottom of my duffle.
With registration duties completed, I took a red caboose
tour as sweep (broom not chimney) while Lee moved on to refreshment table and then to finish line. The view from the back of the
pack was amazingly liberating. I did not have to worry about being
late to the start. No stretching. No jockeying for position. After
all, wasn’t I supposed to be last? Yet I was the one runner every
course marshal eagerly anticipated: the signal to pack it up and
head for the chow line.
I soon discovered, however, that there was a competition
of sorts for last place. As I headed out, I hooked up with Jamie
Howard, a Western Mass Club friend, who had completed Ipswich’s Stone Cat Ale Marathon the previous day. Stone
Cats, concocted by Mercury
Brewery, are tough contenders, delighting in hidden
rocks, deep, you-can’t-go
around-them puddles and lots
of hearty celebration afterwards. Jamie was more than
ready for sweep position.
Imagine! A pair of serious
last place contenders.
So we decided to tour the course together, trading off and
on for the coveted final spot. Jamie shoots all year long even when
it is not hunting season, and it was fun to view the route from a
photographer’s perspective. And even more fun to do what Chief
Snowshoer Edward Alibozek is always urging us to do: stop and
enjoy the scenery. The new Fall Back 5 showcased previously
undiscovered nooks and crannies carefully researched by Park
Educator Allison Schweitzer and heretofore known only to the
resident deer population. It was amazing to see how sections of
the cross country course, previous Mudslinger versions and Allison’s newly marked trails all pulled together, meshing into a
smoothly flowing experience. There is a certain
knack required to design a
proper route that works with
the landscape rather than
aimlessly meandering
around seeking to fulfill the
five mile mission.
The most unique
segment took us alongside
the rain-swollen brook past
Geyser Spouter, the East’s
answer to Old Faithful, over
the limestone-slicked rock
(continued on next page)
ATRA members at the $35 level receive a
one-year subscription to Trail Runner
magazine.
www.trailrunnermag.com
Falling Back at the Fall Back 5 (continued from page 8)
cemented with dark captured leaves and up and up a thirty foot tall
wooden staircase. In case you were wondering, there are exactly
sixty steps. Now how many of you can run and count at the same
time?
The journey also took us through the marsh lookout area,
where Jamie and I, still contending for last position, naturally took
the opportunity to mount the observation deck and search vainly for
turtles who had long since fallen back into hibernation mode. We
noted that the hares were already well in the lead, leaving us alone
to tuff it out in the Hound of the Baskerville’s prime territory. This
is the section where I normally warn my companions, mainly Jen
Ferriss, to tippy toe and observe radio silence. After roughly a year
of humoring me, Jen was convinced that The Hound was a figment
of my imagination.
On this day, however, I was vindicated. Jen, Kim Scott,
Jane Mastaitis, Pam Delsignore and Maureen Roberts, travelling
companionably in a Stryder Sisterhood pack, bought into the safety
in numbers theory. They learned that The Hound, bared teeth and
all, likes nothing better than a careless group of mostly vegetarians.
The first time Jeff and I encountered The Hound, I meekly suggested that we about face and take an alternate route. But Jeff
9
grabbed a stick and rose to the challenge saying, “I survived two
tours in Vietnam. I am not going to be defeated by a dog.” We
made it, but barely. Over the years, Park officials have dispatched
legions of animal control officers to the scene, but to no avail.
Apparently they are just as scared as we are.
Spectators are not exactly a major attraction of any trail
race, but Fall Back was the exception. Mike Greenslade, in Race
the Train mode, commandeered a
van to drive a personalized cheering section to each road intersection, picking up any remaining
course marshals once Jamie and I
headed though.
And on this picture perfect day, Jamie and I were never
once tempted to fall back into the
comfy van, eager to see where else
the trail would lead us.
Photos by Jamie Howard
Trail Running Camp
Estes Park, CO
April 26-29, 2012
Led by Nancy Hobbs, Executive Director, ATRA, and Terry Chiplin,
Director at Active at Altitude.
Join us to learn about trail running in the majestic Rocky Mountains this spring. This
camp is for the novice, as well as the more experienced trail
runner. Workshops include trail techniques, drills, gear,
training, etc. Camp includes accommodation, runs, workshops, and all meals.
Details at www.activealtitude.com, or contact Terry by email
at: [email protected], or by phone: 303-304-9159.
ATRA is a proud member of:
ATRA members receive Running Times
as part of their annual membership
www.runningtimes.com
Going Home to the Sundance 50k
by Les Mignery
The Sundance Trail Run 50k is a grassroots trail running event held
in my hometown in the Bearlodge Mountains of the North East
Wyoming Black Hills. The Bearlodge has a mix of conifers and
hardwoods which provided amazing shades of red, yellow, and
green, as well as panoramic views of mountains, valleys and rimrock canyons. The beauty, scenery, and variety of terrain of the Sundance Trail System in the Bearlodge Mountains are factors that
led the Race Director Paul Anderson and his wife Katie to organize
this event.
Anderson has put a tough course together that has it all:
long technical climbs, smooth climbs, long technical descents and
some fast cruising downs. The terrain requires gear changes
throughout the course.
This year the race celebrated its second running on September 24. Temperatures were in the 50s for the 7:00 a.m. start time
with highs reaching into the mid 80s by the afternoon making the
final miles a tough slog. The course includes a 1000-foot climb
early on, followed by a 2000-foot descent on buffed single and double track trails. Throw in the Ogden Ridge climb, which is about
1500 feet of open trail, turning to single track, and then two more
1000-foot climbs, and three 1000-foot descents to the finish.
There were five well-stocked aid stations on course with
the 15.5 mile aid station providing a place for runners to send drop
bags. Runners were welcomed to the top of their longest climb with
the music of a bagpiper.
Great prizes
awaited the runners
and, along with
being a Trail Runner Trophy Series
points race, the
Sundance Trail Run
was a points race
for the Black Hills
Trail Running Series which consists
of 10 trail races
around the Black Hills area. For more information on this series,
visit www.bhrctrails.com. The 2012 Sundance 50k will be held on
September 22. For details, visit: www.sundancetrailrun.com.
Registration is scheduled to open January 1.
What Goes Up, Must Come Down: Greylock Uphill Road Race
While climbing up a mountain necessarily involves plummeting
back down, the Mt. Greylock Uphill Road Race offers a choose
your own adventure option. For unlike Lake Placid’s Whiteface
Mountain or New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington, downhill decisions are arranged casually, often with no prior planning.
At the big deal events, folks pair up and arrive hours
ahead in order to tandem two vehicles to the top, leaving one in
place and driving the other back down. By that time they already
have had a workout of sorts. At Greylock I suppose some cars
head out early because they always seem to be there to greet us,
but you never actually see them making the journey. Race Director Bob Dion explains, “Greylock has been going uphill for 36
years now and we’ve never discovered a leftover runner the following year.” Greylock is an exercise in trust and confident living.
Still there are decisions to be made. You know where I
am going. With no pressing need to secure a ride early-on, runners are faced with the all too familiar multi-loop dilemma:
whether to stop while the getting is good or to turn about. Run up
10
by Laura Clark
and ride down? Run up and down? Or sample both options with a
run up, a halfway there run down and a thumb out hitchhike.
It is a fact of life that despite statistics indicating that runners are highly motivated and intelligent individuals, the longer/
harder you run, the stupider you become. Caution is thrown to the
winds and what is truly a bad idea becomes the gold ring carousel
prize. Once upon a
time and ago I purposefully did the
Greylock about face
to snag a race and a
long training run all
in the same day.
Pretty clever of me,
right?
(continued on next
page)
Going Home to the Sundance 50k
(continued from page 10)
11
I learned two things. Thing 1: more uphill occurs in the Greylock
downhill than should be legally allowed. Thing 2: mentally it
takes surprising longer to slant downwards than one might imagine.
The preceding week I had “rested” my sore knee by hiking up Buck Mountain, playing disc (Frisbee) golf and logging a
few supplementary miles. Eight miles would have been perfect.
But after I had learned that Barbara Sorrell and Sue Snyder had
planned to run down, the farther along I got, the better that idea
seemed.
With the rainy weather, there was no incentive to pause for a scenic monument tour or to wait for the hang gliders to materialize.
When I summitted, someone told me Sue was waiting for
me so I immediately thought, “Oh, I guess I’m supposed to run
down too,” Fueled by a handful of potato chips and a spurt of
adrenaline, I initially did OK but began to lag after a few miles. I
figured I could always hitch a ride in the snowshoe van, but Bob
careened downhill with Stan Tiska shouting something about
“cookies waiting at the bottom,” so I figured I would not deserve
any extra cookies if I didn’t forge onwards.
Two mistakes down and one more to go. I waved good
bye to the speedier Sue and shortly after slid down the rain-slicked
hairpin turn, landing solidly on my butt, but thankfully not on my
knee. After that, I was too freaked out to do little more than to
tiptoe cautiously on the steeper sections.
Once the road leveled out somewhat, I thought I was
pretty much home free. But I was wrong. Thing 3 was waiting. I
discovered that a surprisingly large stretch of real estate lies between the trailhead parking lot and the reservoir where we had
positioned our cars. Most of the scenery, at that point in time,
seems unfamiliar, especially the houses. Just as you crest yet another rise and expect that surely this time you will encounter your
snug, warm car, you will discover that it has packed up and moved
further down the line.
Will I downhill again next year? Will I have learned my
lesson? What do you think?!
Finish Line: Moby Dick's
Lighthouse in the mist
USATF Mountain and Trail Championships 2012
Open and Masters’ Championship Competition
USA 100km Trail — January 7, Bandera, TX
USA 50 Mile Trail — March 3, Rocksprings, TX
USA Half Marathon—June 10, Bend, OR
USA Mountain — June 16, Gorham, NH * the 2012 U.S. Men’s Mountain Running Team (the top six
U.S. finishers with current USATF memberships) will be selected at this event
USA Women’s Team Selection Race — July 8, Loon Mountain, NH *the 2012 U.S. Women’s Mountain Running
Team (the top four U.S. finishes with current USATF memberships) will be selected at this event
USA 100 Mile Trail — July 28, Burning River, OH
USA 10km Trail — August 25, Laurel Springs, NC
USA 50km Trail — September 22, Bend, OR
USA Marathon Trail — November 3, Moab, UT
The 2012 USATF Trail Championship Sub-Ultra Series will include the Half Marathon, 10km, and Marathon,
with points awarded at each event. The top male and female point getters will receive an award at year end. The
2011 trail series winners were Tim Van Orden and Megan Lund-Lizotte.