Green Lakes Endurance 50K

I found another 50K to run, it's in Syracuse/ Fayetteville New York. August 24, 2008 it's about 5-6 hour drive. I talked Mr. Rucci to go with me ( I need someone to make fun of on the way up) we're going to head up Sat. Aug. 23 the day before the race. I pulled this description from their website.

The Course
The 12.5 km course has a varied trail surface. Two ascents and one long descent traverse the upland forest. These steep shaded trails have some roots, ruts, and stones. The trails in the upper meadows are mostly grassy, rolling, and unshaded. The meadows are referred to as the Serengeti. Each lap's 4 miles of running in the Serengeti can make for a challenging summer ultra if Mother Nature offers a warm sunny day. The lake trails are shaded, have a few roots and are generally flat. Overall, the course lends itself to quick running without technical hikes.
Race start is the only time the runners will pass by the right side of the building. The runners will enter the main aid station and run around the left side of the building on each subsequent lap.

TRAILS

BURNING RIVER 100 TRAINING RUN

Micheal George Planned a BR100 night run from Happy Days to River Falls Plaza (BR100 Finish Line.) After several e-mail, planning and changes; we were able to get on our way with two groups. The first group starting at 3:30pm from Happy Days and the second starting at 7:00pm from the covered bridge. I ran with group one so I could finish up at the finish and run home.

The original message post said the run would be 35 miles, but after recalculating the mileage ended up being 31. I was looking forward to the 35 miles, because that would give me the most I've ever ran. I've ran 2 50k's, so I want to see how I'd do with a 35 mile run. I parked my car at Merrimen Rd. & Portage Path to serve as an aid station. I drove down then ran 5 miles back home to give me extra miles for the day.

Brian, Cortney, & Nick Climbing the Sound Of Music Hill near Pine Hollow.

Hale Farm

Hale farm cow

Group one started with Jim, Rich, Cortney, Brian, Nick. Brian & Cortney split from the group and ran back to Happy Days. Jim was also filming sections of the course for the BR100 website. Jim had a plan of 14 minute mile pace so he could document the course and meet the second group on time. We met up with Group Two here. Mike, Brandon, Melissa 1, Melissa 2, Kurt, Jerry,Susan, Connie, and a few others. (Nick took a group picture I'll post later). Nick wasn't feeling up to par and started walking more and more of the course. I stayed back with him to make sure he was ok.

Nick's Blog RUNNING THE RACE STE BEFORE ME has more pictures and his story about the run.

Corn will be good this year..."Knee high by the fourth of July."

We beat the train across the tracks.

Cortney lost her shoe in the mud.

Once we got to Merrimen Towpath it started to get dark. Once on the tow path I was running very slow, last one in the pack. We walked up Uler Street then made our way to Signal Tree trail head. I caught up the Nick and he was back to walking. I told Jim to take the group and not to wait, I was on familiar grounds to make it back to the finish. We made it out of Signal Tree & Highbridge trail. We opted out of running Glens trail and made our way back to the finish running up Front Street. Nick made his was to his car and I headed back home with 36 miles for the day and 31 miles in 7:01.

Thursday Run 4/3/2008

I didn't plan to run to far on Thursday, so I ran down to Glen's & Gorge Trail. The last leg of the Burning River 100.

Looks like a nice run in these pictures, and it was...but it rained the whole time I was running.

Me running towards the Gorge trailhead.
I didn't get a picture of the falls this time. There was a Major down pour and didn't want my camera to get wet.

This is a smaller waterfall. inside the gorge. Ran 6 miles, I'm getting ready to run 30+ Sat. evening. I think I found a 50K to run, August 24 in New York. I'll blog about it later.

Happy Independence Day!!!

Water Stop

It's hot out there, are you staying hydrated? I thought I'd take this picture of all the hydration equipment I have for running. Last summer I ventured out on a mid-day run. It was hot...I remember sucking down over 100 oz. of water in two hours.
I see so many people running around without water or sports drink. I can't (and won't) do it. I've ran to many miles on empty I'll stick to my "Sherpa Pack". My new pack is the 50 oz. Camelbak.
Need info on staying hydrated? http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/features/hydration-key-to-exercise-success

FIVE-THIRTY AM HUDSON SPRINGS

We're on a roll...Nick V. & I have been meeting regularly early a.m. to get in our weekday runs. It's working, knowing I have to meet someone helps me get up. Just get my butt out of bed at 4:45am, paint some paste on my teeth, stumble through the dark rooms to find all my gear and out the door by 5:10 AM.

We met at Vertical Runner in Hudson and ran a six mile loop through town & Hudson Springs Park.
The park consists of two miles of trail around a 50 acre lake. Wildlife, including ducks, geese, fox, deer, heron, owls and hawks.

This morning we met with Dr. Steve, who is a cardiologist at one of the area hospitals. If your going to run with a doctor run with a heart doctor....Just in case...Right?

Thanks Guys, See you next Wednesday AM. If you find yourself up a 4am with nothing to do, come join us for a run.

Call Farm Run

Stow Township

Most of us only get a small glimpse of Stow OH when we travel Rt. 59. I met Nick V. at his house in Stow for our 5am run. Nick lives in a neighborhood that was once farmed corn, rye and wheat. Call farm was one of the earliest homesteads in Stow, Ohio. Its history goes back nearly 200 years. The land has been primarily under the sole ownership of the Call family.

We headed out on a 6 mile run through Nick's Neighborhood. Once we ran out of Call Farm Development, we traveled back in time to the scene (& smells)of farmlands. Although it was was broken up from time to time with an apartment building or a car buzzing passed us. For the most part the scene was beautiful. The temperature was in the 50's, the sun was on the rise, the cool air created a foggy mist over the grassy field.

We even came across a rooster waking up a farm. I said to Nick this morning, "The hardest part about running in the early mornings is putting your shoes on."