2018 B.U.S. Smart Ass Trail Mix Up "Adventure Run"

On the drive to Forest Park we actually had on again/off again drizzle - not an auspicious start to a race primarily on trails!  But, luckily, it had stopped when we arrived (minutes before the start)!  This race was held in Alley Pond Park last year (in December, actually), so we didn't know what to expect with the terrain/layout.  Needless to add, it turned out to be a beautiful - but challenging (as in hilly) course.  Less than a mile of it was on park roads, the balance of the 5k loop was on trails.

The course was well marked - which does little to explain how I went off course during the first loop!  Not a big deal, 5 minutes, maybe 3/10ths of a mile overall - but definitely not - to repeat myself - an auspicious start to a trail run!  The 50k was 10 loops.  That was my original plan.  But I dropped down to the 30k (6 loops) because I'm registered for the Sri Chimnoy Marathon this Thursday, at Rockland Lake.

That was a smart move because it took me roughly 3:37 to finish the 30K.  That was a solid half hour slower than my 50k split at the Alley Pond version of this race last year (I did 50k there)!  The hills and humidity took a toll. Still it was a great day - and Richie, our fearless leader, can chalk up yet another fantastic BUS event!

Here are the 30k results (as well as 50k finishes) from NY Ultrarunning!

May 2018 Race Schedule

 

May has arrived - and hopefully, with it, Winter impersonating Spring will finally give way to an actual Spring season!  Rumor has it that the 40+ degree start to the day will give way to temperatures in the 70's this afternoon -- let's see!

 

As for the race schedule, it kicks off on Friday with a packet pick-up for the North Face Endurance runs this weekend. I'm volunteering at the White Plains Mall location.  But, instead of the Bear Mountain event, this weekend has the 3rd GNY 100 Miler training run penciled in for Sunday.  It starts at the Unisphere and finishes at the Parachute Jump in Coney Island (roughly 24 miles).  Since I missed the first 2 training runs, making every effort to do this one!

 

The following weekend is the Long Island Greenbelt 50K - the third race in the B.U.S Grand Prix series.  I haven't run this one in a few years, so looking forward to revisiting the tough double out and back course.  In the past, I've always managed to accumulate a few bonus miles over those trails - keeping my fingers crossed that my boy scout navigation skills haven't atrophied :D

 

As for the rest of the month, haven't really settled on a plan.  I had wanted to run the 24 hour race at 3 Days at the Fair.  But since Richie has just added the Ted Corbitt 24 Hour Run to the B.U.S. calendar - a mere two weeks later (6/1-2) - this may be pushing things.  Will see how I feel in a few days (when the soreness from Sybil wears off - haha).

 

Last but not least, the only thing penciled in for Memorial Day weekend - so far - is the Jim Fixx 5 Miler.  Have run it many times, and it's one of my favorite 5 Milers.  Haven't decided about any other races that weekend.

 

Here's how it looks so far:

 

5/6 - GNY 100 Training Run #3

5/12 - Long Island Greenbelt 50K

5/19 - 3 Days at the Fair/24 Hour Run - tentative

5/28 - Jim Fixx 5 Miler

 

As always, if you're at any of these events - say hello!

2018 Sybil Ludington 50K: Race Photos & Results

This morning was the 40th running of the Sybil Ludington 50K!  In the previous 39 editions the course had consisted of one big loop - essentially honoring Sybil Ludington's ride to warn the colonists - the "British were coming!"  Sybil was the female Paul Revere.


Today was the introduction of double loop course - two 25k loops, and the inclusion of a separate 25k race!  Logistically it was an easier layout - especially with the opportunity to use a drop bag (which I did to switch into a dry shirt) at the start/finish.  Also a new addition was the relocation of the start/finish to the Veteran's Memorial Park (from the traditional VFW Hall).


As for my race, it was my 8th Sybil finish!  This race has a special place in my heart because it was my very first ultra - way back in 2006!  At 5:29:44 it was one of my slowest Sybil finishes (if not the slowest - need to check that).  But I had a blast.  To put road ultras in context - even with over 2000 feet of elevation gain - I still finished a solid 2 hours faster than the 50K I ran at the NJ Ultra Festival 2 weeks ago (tough technical trails and lots of elevation gain)!


At the finish we received a great wine glass!  But the most interesting thing I took home was the Canadian $2 coin I found on the course (around mile 13.5 or so)!  I love finding things while running - but this coin was a first (and when I picked it up mistakenly thought it was a EURO, not getting to look at it closely until I stopped to switch into a dry shirt)!


Here are the official results from Taconic Road Runners.

April 2018 Race Schedule

It's hard to believe April (and/or Spring) has arrived with a forecast for snow tomorrow morning (seriously) on the horizon!  Be that as it may, Happy Easter - which is today (as I write this)!


As for races, this month is mostly about trails - with the Urban Environmental Challenge 10K kicking things off next weekend.  I love this event - and the Van Cortlandt Track Club really makes it fun (with carrot cake AG awards as well).  This year it conflicts with the second TGNY 100 training run, which is also tough to pass up.  Since I've already registered for the 10K... looks like the conflict has been resolved :D


The following week is a return to 50 miles!  I haven't done a stand alone 50 mile race in a while, so really looking forward to this one!  It's a multiple loop set-up, with runners covering various distances up to 100 miles.  I had originally thought about entering the 100 miler, but think it's too early in the season for that distance :O


After recovering from the NJ trails, the following weekend I'll head up to Wards Pound Ridge for the Leatherman's Loop!  That's easily in my top 5 favorite trail races (only Escarpment and NipMuck ahead of it) :D


Finally,  the month ends with the Sybil Ludington 50K, a joint Taconic RR and Broadway Ultra Society event (in fact, race #2 in the 2018 B.U.S. Grand Prix).  This will be year one of the redesigned course - now a double 25K loop, instead of the original one loop configuration.  Hopefully the reconfigured course will eliminate a few of the hills ;D


Here's how it looks so far:


4/8 - VCTC Urban Environmental Challenge 10K
4/14 - NJ Ultra Festival 50 Miler
4/22 - Leatherman's Loop 10K
4/28 - Sybil Ludington 50K


As always, if you're at any of them - say hello!

2018 Broadway Ultra Society 4 Hour Run & Awards Lunch

This morning was the B.U.S. 4 Hour Run followed by the Annual Awards Presentation (Lunch), where the 2017 Grand Prix awards were presented to the winners!  This year, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Broadway Ultra Society, the run was extended 1 hour (from its typical 3 hours)!  The run and post-run celebration are high points on the B.U.S. calendar!


The last time I was at this venue (the 2015 edition), I managed to squeak in just over 20 miles in 3 hours - of some serious sub-zero wind chills!  This time around the 1.453 mile loop I managed 20 miles in just over 3 hours (14 loops) and ran a full 16 loops for 23.248 miles.  I stopped with just over 10 minutes left on the clock.  Given that I ran the Savin Rock Marathon in West Haven yesterday, I was more than pleased with that outcome!


After the running came the food (something very close to my heart)!  There was plenty of pizza and salad - among other things.  And, what anniversary would be complete without cake?!


The next B.U.S. event (2nd on the 2018 Grand Prix schedule) is the reconfigured Sybil Lundington 50K in Carmel in April.  For the first time in its long history the Sybil course will consist of two 25k loops instead of the one 50K loop set-up.  It will also feature a new start/finish location. 


I'll add link to the 4 Hour Race results once they've been posted.

March 2018 Race Schedule

March is here!  While I'm not sorry to see February recede into history, it may have been one of the warmest Februarys in recent history (albeit a very wet one).  As I write this post (Friday morning), the rain is coming down in buckets, with a chance it switches over to snow(!), as it washes over the Northeast!  A somewhat fickle start to the month :D


As for races, despite today's weather, this weekend should be dry (and maybe a little sun) for the Caumsett Park 50K on Sunday.  I haven't run this one in a while (maybe 8 years?!) and when I looked at the course map it seems as if the direction of the loop has been reversed.  Maybe that's just my imagination - haha. One reason I haven't run it lately, it conflicts with the Boston Buildup 25K - perhaps my favorite of the 4 race series.  This year I'll miss it in exchange for the longer distance.


Keeping with the longer distance motif, the following weekend is the first training run for The Great New York Running Exposition (TGNY) 100 miler this June.  I thought it would be 20-25 miles - but turns out it's 35!  A bit of an eye opener for me (to put it mildly).  I'm planning for the entire distance, yet 50K of it will make me happy :D


Mid-month will be something of a breather, with Taconic's St. Patrick's Day races.  I'm not sure if about running or volunteering for this one.  I'm leaning toward volunteering.


The following weekend is the Broadway Ultra Society 4 Hour Run - to precede the Annual Awards Brunch.  Saturday, the day before, is Savin Rock Marathon in New Haven.  I'm tempted to run that because it would be a new race for me.  Looking at the course map (a double loop), it seems to include a good portion of the New Haven 20K route.  Maybe it's time to squeeze in a weekend double?


But the real open question for March is the last day.  I'm very tempted (aside from what comes to pass the weekend before), to sign up for the Naked Prussian 50 Miler.  I haven't run a stand alone 50 Mile race in a while, so this is under serious consideration.  Will decide mid-month (probably right after the TGNY training run).


Here's how it looks so far:


3/4 - Caumsett Park 50K
3/11 - TGNY Training Run #1, 35M
3/18 - Taconic St. Patrick Day Races (volunteer?)
3/24 - Savin Rock Marathon?
3/25 - B.U.S. 4 Hour Run
3/25 - B.U.S. Awards Brunch
3/31 - Naked Prussian 50M?


As always, if you're at any of these great events, say Hello!

2017 B.U.S. Trail Mix-Up 50K: Race Photos & Results

Today's Broadway Ultra Society's Trail Mix-Up 50K in Alley Pond Park was challenging - and probably my last "long" run of the year (it is December, after all)!  What made this one especially tough is the 30K option - which is the siren song of cutting it short if ever there was one!  In fact, a few years ago, I exercised that option and bailed out of the 50K in favor of the 30K (and nice warm park house).

But this time around I managed to do all 10 of the 5K loops (the loop was roughly evenly split between trail and pavement sections).  Mile for mile, this was probably tougher than running the Knickerbocker 60K two weeks ago (if only because we could stop after 6 loops/30K).  However, given that we share a portion of the course with a dog run (and some decidedly unfriendly dog owners and their equally snarling pets) - this was hands down the most dangerous course I've run all year.  This is no creative exaggeration because I was right behind Grant when some obnoxious dog (thankfully on a leash) leapt at him during the 2 loop - forcing him off the path!

Aside from that adrenaline moment, the rest of the day was like any other ultra.  As for my race, I got thru the first 6 loops in under a 10 minute pace.  After that point I mostly ran, jogged, walked the remaining 4 loops.  Given how tough - mentally - the last 4 loops were I was more than happy with my 5:51:33 finish (11:19 pace)!  The best part of the day was the post-race food - which, just from memory, included, ravioli, eggplant parm., lasagna, veggie pasta, chicken marsala!, and, no ultra would be complete without - pizza! Not a bad way to recoup the 3,700+ calories burned getting the 50k done :D

As always, thanks Richie (and all the volunteers) for putting on another great B.U.S. event!

Here are the official results from New York Ultrarunning.

 

December 2017 Race Scheddule

Year end has arrived!  Still hard to believe the entire year has flown by so quickly.  In arddition to holiday related stuff, this month will be tough because I have finals exams and grades to deal with before bring the Fall semester to an official close.


While I probably won't get in that many races, I will put in some decent race mileage.  December kicks off this weekend with the BUS Trail Mix-up 50K in Alley Pond Park.  While I plan on doing the full 50K, this event lets you drop down to the 30K without penalty (to which I availed myself to one yea


The following weekend is the Ted Corbitt 15K - my final NYRR race of the year.  As has become a tradition, following the race we'll have our annual Taconic post-race get together at the Rambling House!  And, in keeping with the Club themed weekend, will join the Van Cortandt Track Club for their annual Santa Run the next morning!


I'll try out a new (for me) holiday race on the 23rd, the New Canaan Santa Run - to work up a Christmas appetite :D


Here's how it looks so far:


12/3 - BUS Trail Mix-up 50K
12/9 - NYRR Ted Corbitt 15K
12/10 - VCTC Santa Run
12/23 - New Canaan Santa Run 5K


As always, if you're at any of these races - say hello!


MERRY CHRISTMAS

2017 NYRR NYC ("Knickerbocker") 60K Packet Pickup

Yesterday I picked up my bid and shirt for the NYRR NYC 60K (f/k/a Knickerbocker 60K). It's been a long time since I did this race - going back to 2009, if memory serves me correctly! Back then it was called the Knickerbocker 60K and was put on by the Broadway Ultra Society.

Given the forecast for rain, I have serious qualms about lining up for it. But a more practical matter may sidetrack me because I've been trying to recover from a sore throat that morphed into a head cold, then blossomed into a chest cold - argh! While the physical grief is behind me at this point, I've missed a few running days (to put it mildly).

Be that as it may, I'll line up and see how many loops of the park I can get in :D

As always, if you're at this one - say hello!

Long Island 6 Hour 60th Birthday Run: Race Photos & Results

This morning was a tough day to run (90+ humidity with on again off again drizzle) but weather aside, I had a great time at the Long Island 6 Hour Run (officially, "Fred von der Heydt Memorial 6 Hour 60th Birthday Run")!  It was my first ultra of the year, and after the Sri Chinmoy Marathon in August, longest distance of the year as well :O

I'll write up a short race report tomorrow, but it seemed like old times because I ran a 5K in Central Park yesterday, and followed up with a 50K (32.6 miles, officially) today!  I can't remember the last time I ran a pair of back to back races in recent memory - haha!

Not only was the event first rate - but the post-race party was incredible (subs, pasta, and beer - to mention a few of the things available).  Also, lest I forget, the aid station selection of food and drink was pretty awesome on its own (I have NEVER seen a PB and M&Ms sandwich before today - haha (PBJ and raisons - yes indeed, but not M&Ms).

Here are the race results from GLIRC.

2015 B.U.S. Brookville 6-Hour Run: Race Photos & Results

I was a little surprised to find myself lined up for the B.U.S. 6-Hour Run in Brookville Park this morning!  But I am very glad that I switched from my plan to run the Fall Frolic 30k on Sunday.  Aside from the unbearable humidity during the first couple of hours - it was a great day.  I not only reached my main goal (20 miles) and second (marathon), but also managed to eek out my third (50k)! 

It was also great to see so many friends from the ultra community.  This was my first B.U.S. event since the 3-Hour Run way back in January!  This was my first ultra distance since the Sybil Ludington 50k in 2014! :O

I'll write up a short race report in the next day or so.

Here is link to the preliminary results posted by B.U.S.

The rest of my photos are posted on Facebook.