This was my first race since the Coastal Challenge and I woke at 4:30am that morning feeling like a schoolgirl going on a field trip. Following a light breakfast, I packed my bags and headed upstate.
It was a gorgeous NY spring morning. I passed my hometown of Suffern on my hour and half drive from NYC to the tiny Catskill town of Wurtsboro (on Rt. 17, near Ellenville), for the Wurtsburo 30K Mountain Run Road Race. Seeing exit 14B brought back long-ago memories of running cross country at Suffern Jr. High school. Back then, I didn’t know the meaning of ITB, PowerGel or Coolmax, for that matter.
Despite a leisurely drive up, my eager departure got me to the race start at Emma elementary school an hour and a half early. When I checked in and picked up my race number, #340, the “early starters” were warming up. The 30-kilometer race course began on a grueling 3.5 mile steep climb, so participants had the option of beginning an hour before the 9:00am official start.
Sixty-four of us spread across the service road in front of the school. The ages ranged from 20-something to 60-something and about a third of the field was women. I shivered in the morning chill and like a cat, searched out pockets of sunshine peering through the bare tree branches.
One of the Sullivan Strider race staff shouted “go!” and we were off. Mike and Stephan, two sinewy runner-type dudes strode effortlessly –high stepping up the long ascent. I was in third. With no chance of hanging onto their hot pace, I steadied my breathing and stride and settled into a rhythm. The harsh winter left the dull grey asphalt uneven and sandy. I warmed up quickly in my tights and longsleev Coolmax top and wished I’d worn shorts like most everyone else. Too late.
About half way up, a blonde guy in his 30s huffed and puffed up to me. We plodded together to top. He stopped at the 5K water station and I didn’t see him again until the finish. I wasn’t alone for long.
Running down a quad-pound 7% grade that swept along a rushing river, I felt someone on me. It was a local runner Jim, 50, who was moving smoothly and swiftly. He passed by with a friendly “hi” and I tagged onto his heels. We ran together, trading off pulls. The pace was a little too fast for comfort and several times I thought it was going to be “adios amigo.”
The course continued winding through the country hillside; the last 10K packed with short power climbs and steep descents. By about mile 14, my mega-miles from Costa Rica kicked in; while Jim’s knee surgery from last summer dampened his get-up and go. The hills took their toll and Jim back off with 5K left. I was alone again, but knew George, Jim’s local racing nemesis, had been chasing us all morning. Determined to keep my placing, but feeling leg-heavy, I struggled to keep up the pace. Exhausted and elated, I crossed the finish line nailing 3rd place. George motored in a mere 40 seconds later.
Race Article: http://www.sc-democrat.com/sports/04April/12/30k.htm
Next up:
- Grand Canyon Double Rim Run: May 15, 2005. Eight of us - friends from around the U.S. and Canada -- will run from the top of the South Rim, across inner basin to top of North Rim, back down and across inner basin to the top of South Rim. Approximately 48 miles, nonstop.
- Western States 100 - No, not racing it! But will pace Bev Anderson Abs for the last portion of this county's most grueling 100 Trail Running Race for the last 20 miles: June 25th 2005. Goal: Get Bev her belt buckle for finishing the grueling trail run in less than 24-hours www.ws100.com