Cycle-Smart International Cyclocross, Day 2

I’m so glad to not have mud everywhere. The past two cross races have left me with grit in my teeth and my gears. Yesterday and today (especially today) were a different story. Today felt like summer. It was actually dusty on the course! Day 2 of the Cycle-Smart International Cyclocross was spectacular. The weather conditions in Northampton, Massachusetts couldn’t have been better. I wore a skinsuit for the second day in a row and it was noticeably warmer. The temperature rose to the high-60’s (F) and people were lounging around in shorts thanks to the brilliant sunshine and clear blue skies.

Cyclocross is supposed to be cold, windy, and wet, but no one was complaining today. Once again, I did the 35+ race with teammates Wade Summers and Matt Domnarski. Wade had a fine ride to lead our little group. Matt and I finished close together, but a ways back in the pack. Matt was the victim of a couple of crashes, including one where his tire rolled off the rim. He fought back and caught me on the last lap. I felt a little better today, but was still slow. I neglected to put my heart rate monitor on, so I didn’t get any HR data to compare with yesterday. The top three were a little different. Roger Aspholm took first. Matt Kraus was second and Kevin Hines took third. Yesterday’s winner, Jonny Bold, was fourth.

Unlike yesterday, when we left early to explore Northampton, we stayed to watch the elite races. I got to break out my camera and take some photos. The women’s race was very entertaining with Mary McConneloug taking her second win in a row. Laura Van Gilder was second and Natasha Elliot was third. Mary opened an early gap and was able to hold it by riding all of the toughest obstacles, including the sand pit and the uphill. It was impressive to watch these top women tackle the course. A fair number of spectators stayed to watch, but cyclocross isn’t like the old days when everyone who raced earlier in the day would stay to go nuts for the elites.

The men’s race started out wildly for the second day in a row. There was another crash in the opening 50 meters of the race (on the pavement) that eliminated several top riders from contention. Adam Craig, a top-level mountain biker, was one of the big names that lost time to the crash. It was a shame to see such a big pileup of guys that should know how to handle their bikes. At least one rider was taken away in an ambulance. A touch of a wheel or a rub of the bars is all it takes to go down when you are packed in tight. These guys are so aggressive and they let it all hang out in an effort to get that hole shot. I know that most of these guys are young, but wait till they settle down and have kids…they will probably mellow out.

Jamey Driscoll won today after taking second yesterday. He was followed by Nicholas Weighall and Derrick St. John. Today’s race was faster because there was one less run up and the course was drier. That made the gaps closer, though Driscoll was never really challenged. The speed at which these top guys ride is truly amazing. Their power and form is really top-notch, which is the combination required to excel at cyclocross.

The elite races were fun, but I think the most entertaining event was the kids race. They had a dedicated course set up so that the little guys could challenge themselves at cross. Our guys are a bit too young, but we thoroughly enjoyed watching the other little cyclists attack the cross course.

Look Park was glorious again. Our family took the time to explore the various playgrounds and the zoo. Chanced are that the rain and mud will be back next weekend, but for a day, it dry, sunny, and fabulous.

Day 2 Race Results

Cycle-Smart International Cyclocross, Day 1

Today was day one of the two-day Cycle-Smart International Cyclocross at Look Park in Northampton, Massachusetts. Like The West Hill Shop Cyclocross last week, this is one of New England’s longest running cross races. It is a true classic. The race originated on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus in 1990 and moved to Look Park several years ago. Adam Myerson has been the Race Director since the beginning. He is one of New England’s most passionate cyclists and is quite the character. This course is one of the fastest on the circuit and my race today was no different.

I did the 35+ race again, and it was a large field of about 85 riders. I finished towards the back, but that is fine. I just can’t keep up with these guys anymore. Cross has gotten wicked fast and this isn’t my kind of course anyway. The race started like a criterium and then turned into a time trial. I had several teammates in the field. Matt Domnarski led us with the best team finish. Wade Summers was next, then Gary Aspnes, me, and Craig Kennedy. Paul Nyberg did the 45+ race. As for the top three in the 35+ race, the podium spots went to three of the best masters riders in our region. Jonny Bold took the top spot. Kevin Hines was second and Matt Kraus was third.

Cross is great because you end up having a race within the race and competing against the guys around you. You don’t have to be up front to have fun. One thing I don’t like is guys in 60th place that ride as if the victory is on the line. There isn’t any reason to throw elbows when you are so far back, but some riders are compelled to behave like the sport is roller derby. The other thing that is pointless is sprinting for the finish when you are so far back. I finished unscathed, but there was a big wreck behind me that required the ambulance crew’s presence. Not good.

Since the Cycle-Smart cross is part of the Verge New England Championship Cyclocross Series, we are racing again tomorrow. The Verge races are all double race weekends. The seven events (14 races) in the series are some of the most well attended races in the country. They attract the fastest racers from the Northeast. So, look for another report filed from Northampton tomorrow.

Day 1 Race Results

West Hill Shop (Putney) Cyclocross

Yesterday’s West Hill Shop Cyclocross Race was my 9th race on the classic Putney course. They have held the race 19 times, so the simple math says that I have missed 10 of them. After taking 2008 off from cyclocross, I’m happy to be back at it, even if it is just for fun. The Putney, Vermont race is one that I didn’t want to miss. It isn’t as large as it used to be and it doesn’t attract as many elite riders (because of competition from races outside of New England), but it still has the best vibe.

The course is laid out around the bike shop, and through the surrounding woods and fields. The course has a classic run up and classic descent. The tight turns make for a fun and challenging loop. Plus, it is in Putney, VT. What could be better? It was a ho hum race for me. I just don’t have the speed for cross right now. I haven’t trained and I’m a bit worn out from the long season. Putney was my 31st race of the year, and with more cyclocross races, the Manchester Road Race, Santa’s Run, Scrooge Scramble and maybe another running race, I’ll be close to 40 by year-end.

My body is sort of telling me to wind it down, but I’m doing cross just for fun. Manchester’s Thanksgiving Day Road Race is my last big objective, but it really isn’t an objective at all. I run it every year and haven’t trained for it in a long time.

With cyclocross, there is no pressure to perform, though when the starter yells, “Go,” I give it my all. I had two teammates in the race yesterday. Matt Domnarski, my shadow from last week, rode much stronger yesterday on the more technical West Hill Shop course. He was 13th in our field. Paul Nyberg was in the Masters 45+ race, but that didn’t stop him from starting a minute back with his field, and then catching me by the end of the race to finish at the same time.

The owners of the West Hill Shop have done a nice job at upgrading the place while maintaining the charm of the classic store. The shop was packed with cool bike and ski items. If you are ever headed north on Interstate 91, take the time to stop at Exit 4. The shop is right off the exit ramp. You won’t regret the experience.

1989 Connecticut State High School Cross Country Championships

Today was the Connecticut High School Cross Country State Championships at Wickham Park in Manchester. I rode by the course on my bike commute home from work last night and it brought back memories of 1989. 20 years ago, my East Catholic High School cross-country team won the Class MM State Championships on the same course. I was a Senior member of the team and was the 4th runner on the team. With that race, we met the expectations of our coach, Paul Haggerty, and ended a multi-year state championship drought (all sports) for the school.

Six days later, on the same course, in epic conditions (wind, rain, and mud), our team placed third in the State Open, which exceeded expectations. Even more spectacular, was the surprise individual victory by my teammate Christopher Ray (a Junior). Chris was seeded 25th and had shown promise all season long, but didn’t have any comparable results. He won dual meets and placed high in the invitationals, but never first in such a talented field. To go out and beat all of the favorites on a muddy course, proved his potential. We ended up getting tons of well deserved attention for both the team and individual results. Our number two runner, Daniel Feehan, also exceeded expectations with an 11th place finish. Dan Thiery was fourth runner for the team that day. I was third, Sean Valencia was fifth man. Greg Ciaglo and Craig Damaschi rounded out our seven man team.

1989 was the year that I really learned about setting goals. Our coach, Paul Haggerty, was an excellent runner with great discipline. He was credible because he could run with us and often outrun us. He was non-traditional. We did focused track workouts in the fall. We did tons of plyometrics, including bounders, and striders. He also made us run a lot of hills. He was a stickler for stretching. Like any group of teenage boys, we drove him absolutely nuts. The night before the class meets, we even phoned him from a pizza parlor and faked like we had been arrested for causing trouble. Looking back, I actually feel sorry for what we put him through, but it was classic rebelliousness at the time.

Coach Haggerty had a saying, “You peak when the leaves fall.” He also said it was good luck to catch leaves. I still maintain that superstition today. All season, we underwhelmed and underperformed. I remember that tensions were high, especially with some of the parents, because he had us training right through the early and mid-season races. We were going to peak late, which in his book, was right on time. He didn’t care about anything but the last two races. In pre-season, he assessed our talent and set winning the Class Meet and finishing top five in the State Open as the prime objectives. Everything else was training.

We nailed it and a much of the credit goes to his coaching. He molded us the way he wanted and fortunately, we all performed. One week after the Open, we went to the New England Championships and as a team, flopped. Several of us actually got sick. With the exception of Chris Ray, who took third place and was again the top Connecticut runner, the rest of us were cooked. We had peaked at the right time and then we were done.

It is cool to look back on that season and the end result, which was great success. My goal and objective setting in business and sport were permanently influenced by what we accomplished back then. Same for teamwork. Looking back, I now understand what Coach Haggerty’s methods were all about.

Vasque Clinic @ North Cove Outfitters

Two nights ago, Debbie presented at North Cove Outfitters, in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. She represented the Vasque US Trail Running Team and shared her enthusiasm for trail running with a group of fellow outdoor enthusiasts. Several people were new to trail running and looking for more inspiration. Several others had never run trails, but were interested in trying. A few brave souls were particularly interested in hearing about her ultra-marathon trail running adventures. Maybe a 50 kilometer, 50 mile, or 100 mile trail run is on their horizon…

I played the Sherpa Dad role again, which usually consists of multi-tasking with three or more tasks. I manned the audio/video system, took photographs, and watched the kids. I also enjoyed hearing Deb recount some of the awesome adventures that we have had trail running, adventure racing, fast packing, and hiking during the past 10 years. We had fun putting together her presentation because we got to pull out photos from many of our  past adventures.

The folks at North Cove were really helpful and appreciative of her contribution to their weekly seminar series. They have one of the best outdoor gear stores around. No one has more kayaks in stock! We got a chance to chat with the founder/owner, Norm Cavallaro. As a student of business, I know a successful one when I see one. They have a cool culture fueled by employees who love the outdoors. It was a cool night for a cool talk on a cool subject at a cool venue.

Hartford Cyclocross

The second half of our family fitness double-header was the Hartford Cyclocross at Riverside Park. The race was co-promoted by the Central Connecticut Bicycle Alliance and the Connecticut Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association. These two groups worked together to bring cyclocross back to the Connecticut River waterfront. Riverside Park is a spectacular setting for a cross race, with a great mix of open fields, steep run ups, a treacherous downhill, sand, twisty pavement sections, and fast singletrack.

I donned the cycling gear and planned for a muddy ride. Yesterday’s rain and wind soaked the course. Today’s dry weather was a blessing, but it wasn’t warm enough to dry out the course. That made for a slick tricky loop. There were several category and age group races. I opted for the men’s 35+, as did my teammates Wade Summers, Matt Domnarski, and Art Roti (the co-race director).

I got my Garmin GPS working and it recorded some good data. I didn’t feel that good and the numbers show it. I still had a lot of fun, especially because I spent most of the race riding with Matt. We alternated pulls because he was stronger in some sections and I was stronger in others. I had no snap. Of course, this is only my second cross race in two years. My first was last week at Mansfield Hollow. If I keep at it, I’ll come around. I want to get faster by the end of the season. The 45 minute anaerobic effort takes some getting used to. I’ll give it a go again next Sunday at the classic West Hill Shop Cyclocross in Putney, Vermont. Today’s race was a little longer than the planned 45 minutes. My GPS said 55 minutes at the finish. Matt and I raced a third rider hard for several laps, but we couldn’t shake him and our tactics ultimately didn’t work, and he came around us just before the line. Oh well, like I said, we had a lot of fun.

With the extra mud, we had no problem selling several sets of Horst Spikes. They were in demand, especially after people saw the steep slippery run-up on the dike. I had a fresh set of spikes in my brand new pair of Sidi Dominator shoes. I was product testing in perfect conditions. I would imagine that if the rain keeps coming every couple of days, we might sell out of our stock by mid-November. Hopefully, CCBA and CTNEMBA can collaborate again in 2010 because Hartford deserves to have a cross race every year.

Ray Crothers Memorial 5K Run

Today was the 1st Annual Ray Crothers Memorial 5K Run. We had so many racing options today. The Groton Forest Trail Race was in Massachusetts. The Bimbler’s Bluff 50 Kilometer Trail Race (Connecticut’s only trail ultra) was in Guilford. We decided to stay close to home and take turns racing. Debbie ran and I played the role of Sherpa Dad for the running race. Then, I did the Hartford Cyclocross later in the day, while Deb handled the parenting duties.

Ray Crothers was a legendary Connecticut runner who passed away in 2008. All proceeds from the race benefitted the Central Connecticut State University Ray Crothers Scholarship Fund. Ray was an alumnus.

We carted the whole family over to Wickham Park for a classic cross-country race.  The morning weather was gorgeous, after yesterday’s wash out. The course was wet in spots, but Debbie had fun in her first official comeback race after giving birth five weeks ago. We had beautiful sunshine and the leaves are just past peak. That combination made for some great photographs. It was a wonderful reunion for many of Ray’s old friends. His partner from The Run In, John Vitale, was the honorary race starter. Ray’s wife, Robin, spoke eloquently about Ray’s passion for running, community service, and his devotion to his customers.

Debbie said she felt slow, but I guess that is to be expected. She will improve every time she runs. I once heard someone answer the question, “How do you run 100 miles?” They said, “One step at a time.” Today’s race was only 5 kilometers, but it is part of the process of rebuilding her fitness to pre-pregnancy levels. The race was won by Manchester native, Drew Best. Mark Hixson was second. Ashley Reichelt of Manchester was the women’s winner in 19:34. The race results show 108 adult finishers. The Hartford Courant’s Lori Riley was at the race, and sporting a Soapstone Mountain Trail Race t-shirt. She posted a report on her own blog, “Running Around Connecticut.” Last week, Lori posted an update about Deb’s pregnancy. Earlier this year, she wrote a newspaper article about Deb’s running. From my perspective, the event was a great success. Ray had a lot of friends running in his memory today.

Race Photos

Race Results

Battles with Deb & Her North Cove Outfitters Seminar

I’ve written much about my epic trail running battles with my spouse, Debbie Livingston. She got me into the sport of trail running 10 years ago, and I have hated every minute of it. She would say, “Not true.” Well, truthfully, I have grown to love the sport, but in the beginning, it was painful, and I’ve got the scars to prove it. I tried way too hard to beat her and I ended up paying the price. At one time, we were a good tandem adventure racing team, but the fierce competitiveness between us, often caused strife. Well, it wasn’t that bad, but it is fun to laugh about our bickering now. Mostly we argued over navigation and my wining. When we are battling each other, our true desires come out. I’ve learned that if you intend to match her stride for stride, especially on a steep and rocky descent, then you better be insured. Seriously, I’ve warmed to running trails, my legs are used to the feeling, and now I’m out there in the woods every chance I get.

A week from tomorrow, Debbie is speaking at one of Connecticut’s best known independent outdoor retailers, North Cove Outfitters. I don’t know what she is going to say. I expect she will discuss how she got started trail running, and how that took her to the even more specialized discipline of ultra-marathon trail running. I’ll be honored if she mentions me, because that means I rate in her world! She and I are pretty evenly matched up to marathon distance, but when it goes to 50km, 50 mile, and beyond, I’m dead meat (and that’s coming from a vegetarian). I would rather crew for her at that distance.

She has done some amazing races in the past 10 years, and I expect that she will reflect on those experiences. From the Arizona desert to the California headlands to the Blue Mountains of Australia to Table Mountain in South Africa to the European Alps; she has run interesting trails. Those trails have given her some great stories to tell and in appreciation, she has given back to the trails. As President of the Shenipsit Striders, and Race Director of the Soapstone Mountain Trail Races, she has returned much to the sport that has given so much to her.

Coming off a year of pregnancy and after the recent birth of our second child, she is primed to regain her form. My days of finishing in front of her are likely to be numbered. I had my chance when she was carrying an extra 20 pounds around her midsection. I’ll be afraid to challenge her on our tricky New England trails when she gets her fitness back to peak strength in 2010 and 2011. We have been compared to the tortoise and the hare. I go out hard and blow up. She paces herself and always gets to the finish first.

She has gotten amazing support from the Vasque US Trail Running Team. I think it is really cool that she stayed involved with the team throughout her phenomenally active pregnancy. In 2009, while her teammates were winning races all over the globe, she was setting a new fitness standard for expectant mothers. She is my inspiration and I know that she inspires others too. If you are in the area, join her at North Cove on Wednesday October 28th for a fun fall discussion about the joy of trail running.

Hartford Cross/Connecticut Riverfront Cyclocross

Several years ago, Horst Engineering was instrumental in bringing the sport of cyclocross to the Connecticut River waterfront, when Team Horst Sports hosted an event at Riverside Park in Hartford. Cyclocross returns to Riverside Park on Sunday October 25th. This time, the event is being promoted by the Central Connecticut Bicycle Alliance and theConnecticut Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association. The venue is managed with help from Riverfront Recapture.

Photos courtesy of Amanda Lawrence

Click here for information about the event, including directions. Cyclocross is the most spectator friendly type of bicycle racing. The discipline requires speed, endurance, and excellent bike handling skillls. Riders negotiate a loop course with both natural and man made obstacles, including steep run ups, mud, sand, and barriers. It has been described as steeplechase on a bike. Horst Engineering is proud to support CCBA, CT-NEMBA, and Riverfront Recapture. Crosstube.net is a great resource for seeing what the sport is all about.

Compared to a decade ago, cyclocross is a much different sport, at least in New England. The entry fees have gone up, the expectations are higher, and the number of quality races on the schedule has increased. Team Horst Sports used to promote the Frank n’ Horst Cyclocross in Keene, New Hampshire, but when we struggled to attract enough riders, we called it quits. Bigger races with bigger prize lists, outside of New England, but in adjacent regions, were scheduled on the same day as our race. It made no sense to compete. The glut of races is good for local riders who don’t want to drive, but last weekend, there were four races in New England on Saturday alone. That is too much to support the sport. This weekend, we have the Hartford race on the same day as a big race in Maine. Regardless, cross is a fun sport for spectators and riders alike.

Cross Spikes Won’t Drive the Bottom Line

So, I finally did a cyclocross race again, and cross spikes are now top of mind. I didn’t encounter the expected mud bog  on Saturday because the Mansfield Hollow course was dry and sandy. However, elsewhere in the Northeast, it was a quagmire, especially yesterday. So, what does one do? They call Horst Engineering for a set of precision machined aerospace quality stainless steel toe spikes for their cyclocross/mountain bike shoes.

 

Horst Engineering is a contract manufacturer, otherwise known as a job shop. The business is high tech, but the design of products are handled by our customers. We produce what they design. Plain and simple, well sort of. At Horst Engineering, the manufacturing processes need to be designed, and they are pretty complicated; but the branding and sales of the product to the end users are handled by our customers.

So, back to cross spikes. This is one of the products that we do sell to consumers. They are called Horst Spikes and they are popular in these parts at this time of year. We made our first batch in 2008 and we are still selling from inventory. We don’t sell direct because we aren’t set up to take credit cards and we don’t offer any other cycling products. We sell to distributors, like www.cyclocrossworld.com. They are good at what they do and we are good at what we do, so it is a good partnership.

We aren’t going to build a new factory with the revenues generated from cross spikes. My rough calculations suggest that we would have to sell 645,161 sets (four in a set) at the wholesale price before we ever consider a plant expansion. That has to be decades of sales, though there hasn’t been a significant market study done by the folks at Harvard, Wharton, or Kellogg. I could be proved wrong by the bean (or spike) counters. I’m just going on a hunch here since we restocked our main distributor with 30 sets last week. That should last him a while, unless this post triggers a rush on the global stock of this product.

I got an e-mail from a New York City crosser this morning who was pleased to discover us on the Internet. He was still cleaning the mud out of his ears after a weekend of crossing in hellish conditions. He went on to surmise that “…cross spikes won’t drive the bottom line at Horst Engineering…” but he thanked us and said that it is cool that we are giving back to the sport. Well, that is pretty cool. Another happy customer! Harry Livingston, our founder invented a lot of stuff in his day, but he was better at making stuff (high quality stuff) for high tech customers. We didn’t invent cross spikes, but we aren’t ashamed to say that ours are the best. Who else makes cross spikes with precision roll formed threads? Did you know that the tensile  and fatigue strength of rolled threads is 30% greater than cut or ground threads? You can learn lots of cool business lessons when you design, market, manufacture, and sell your own products. Do yourself a favor, pick up a set of Horst Spikes, whether you cross or not!

Mansfield Hollow Cyclocross

Today, I had to shake off the cobwebs at the Mansfield Hollow Cyclocross. It was my first cross race in nearly two years. We packed the van and drove the short distance from Bolton to Mansfield Hollow State Park. I was fortunate that at registration, they had a print-out of the Wikipedia definition for cyclocross. It had been so long since my last cross race, that I had forgotten the rules! To make matters worse, I was so rusty, that I missed the start of my race, the Men’s 35+. When the other riders took off, I was still standing at the van, struggling to take off my knee warmers. By the time I got going, I had conceded a 30 second head-start to the field, and my heart rate was jacked to the maximum from the gun. It was a fine way to ease back into the sport…

It worked out for the best. I haven’t done any intensity in my limited training regimen, and I’ve only had a few bike rides (commuting to work) in the past month. Cyclocross requires good handling skills and I will need more practice before I’m ready to ride with confidence. I picked my way through the small field, eventually moving up to eighth spot, where I ended up at the finish. My time was 49:24, a little less than three minutes back from the winner, Doug Mosher. John Aspinwall finished second. Horst-Benidorm-Property Research Corp. teammate, Wade Summers, had a nice ride to finish third.

Cyclocross is my favorite type of cycling. I love riding in the fall and cross is one of the best ways to get out and hammer during the season when the leaves fall from the trees. The races are only 45+ minutes, so you don’t trash yourself. Compared to trail running and triathlon, they are over in a flash. I’m planning at least five more races between now and the holidays. We were fortunate to race in dry conditions this morning. The Mansfield course really is beautiful, but I might not have gone to the race if it was raining when we awoke this morning. I’m not ready for the mud yet.

One of my favorite cross races of all time was some years ago on this course, when they held the race in December. That race started in dry, but overcast conditions. There was a “snow sky,” and sure enough, 10 minutes into the race, the flakes started to fall. It was epic with the wind driven squall obscuring the course. That day, we finished with huge smiles on our faces. That is what cross is all about. Today, the rain held off and it was worth it to make the family trip to the Hollow, one of Connecticut’s beautiful places.

For those who are unfamiliar with cyclocross, the best way to learn is to check out some of the videos on www.crosstube.net. The final lap of Sunday’s World Cup Race in the Czech Republic was just posted. These are the real crossers!

Monroe Dunbar Brook Trail Race & Autumn in New England

Today was one of those spectacular autumn days in New England. Our family made a pilgrimage to the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts for the Monroe Dunbar Brook Trail Race. There was so much going on this weekend. Yesterday was the Ironman World Championship in Kona and the Hartford Marathon (a bit closer to home) in Connecticut. Both days, there was a huge cyclocross race in Providence, Rhode Island. Today was the Chicago Marathon, the American Zofingen, and the race I did, Monroe. This was the fifth time I ran Monroe, but the first since 2007. We skipped last year so that I could do the American Zofingen. This year, I chose the easier race, but it was just as fun. I won’t mind if I have to miss in 2010 if I can somehow find my way to Kona. Enough about that for now.

We were happy to be back in the Berkshires. The drive up Interstate 91, across Route 2 (the Mohawk Trail), and up River Road; was spectacular. The foliage is at peak and the colors were just awesome. We had great light all day long with intermittent sun, dark blue sky, and beautiful puffy white clouds. Monroe is the third race in the WMAC Trilogy. I did the Mt. Greylock Trail Race earlier in June, but skipped Savoy in August, so this was only the second race of three for me. However, it was my sixth New England Grand Tree Trail Running Series race of the year, so I will once again qualify for the series standings. I can’t envision a year where I don’t run six Grand Tree races. They are so enjoyable, and Monroe is one of my favorites. After reading Buddy Teaster’s Bear 100 Race Report yesterday, I was pumped up to run hard even though Monroe was 1/10th the distance of The Bear. I was also fired up about the folks I know in Kona this weekend and my friends running in Hartford. Race updates were rolling in via Facebook all day yesterday.

Despite a major climb that lasts for half of the race, Monroe is one of the fastest races on the circuit. At 10.5 miles, it is short enough so that you can really blast it. The footing is as tricky as it gets, but it doesn’t seem to slow you down. I would challenge any speedy western states trail runner to test the rocks, roots, and wet leaves of Monroe State Forest. After the race, someone asked me how the footing on the trails was. I replied, “Slippery, but you just can’t worry about it.” You go like heck, put your foot down and hope that you gain purchase. Thanks to yesterday’s rain, some sections of trail were like running on ice.

I much prefer the first half of Monroe when you run up and up. The second half is treacherous because of all the descending. My Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS was on the fritz for most of the summer, so I sent it back to Garmin for repair, and for $79, got a brand new one shipped back to me last week. Today, it worked better than the old one ever did. The link to Garmin Connect shows today’s data and the elevation profile. My heart rate profile is particularly interesting because it shows that I was feeling strong today. Anytime I can hold my HR high and then get it to go up even higher with the maximum towards the finish, then I know that I am having a good day. My 173 average was good and my 189 max came right at the finish line. Ironically, my heart rate just kept climbing in the second half of the race, which is mostly downhill. There was a reason for that…

The first half was fun. I prefer the uphill because I can control my footing and my cycling strength works for me. My muscles are made for going up, but not down. Just ask Debbie. I hate downhills. They scare me. I was in fourth at the top of Spruce Peak. Stanislav Trufanov, who finished one spot behind me last week at Breakneck, was chasing me the whole way up the climb. I had a decent gap that I knew he would close on the tricky descent off the backside of the mountain. Sure enough, he caught up to me and promptly surged ahead. I was able to keep him within 10 seconds until we got to the dirt road. I never let him out of my sight. This was good because I knew that downhill speedsters like Rob Higley, Jay Kolodzinski, and Jim Preite weren’t far behind. I closed in on Stanislav by the first stream crossing. He led me into mile seven, before the trail went up again. I passed him and took the lead until the next downhill. It went this way, back and forth, for the remainder of the race.

Every time it went up, I got in front. When it went down, he passed me. I was having so much fun and it was evident that he was too. We traded blows like a pair of punch drunk boxers in trail running shoes. Stanislav led me through the second brook crossing. Along the final stretch of trail by the side of the brook, we exchanged positions twice. As we approached the dam, the trail climbed again before the road crossing and the final descent towards the finish. I sensed that my experience would help me, so I surged up the final hill and gave it my all to hold a lead across the pavement and onto the final narrow section of trail. I turned into the tree lined finish chute where tall pines are spaced only three feet apart. You just can’t pass anyone there, so it pays to be in front. If you attempt a pass, you could end up kissing a tree, and in an all out sprint, that would really hurt.

I swung my arms wide and kicked it hard. The official results show him one second behind, but he was only one step behind. We crossed the line with huge smiles on our faces. We gave each other a huge bear hug, knowing that it doesn’t get any better than that. I shaved five minutes and 30 seconds off of my previous best Monroe time, which feels great because I have only run four times in the past month. Each of the runs were at races, starting with Wapack, then the Vermont 50km, then Breakneck last week, and now Monroe. My minimalist training regimen is efficiently paying off. I swam three times this week, though Wednesday’s session ended abruptly after 15 minutes when the sound of thunder forced us out of the pool.

My time was 1:25:08. Ben Nephew smoked the course and the rest of the field in 1:15:20. He started the race in a dead out sprint and never looked back. Second was Brian Rusiecki in 1:22:05. Third was Donald Pacher in 1:24:23. I was fourth and Stanislav was fifth. The first female was Hilary Greene in 1:42:35. Second was Chelynn Tetreault in 1:48:58. Elaine Allen was third in 1:51:44. I will post the full results when they are available. WMAC put on another fine post race feast. I hung out with our kids while Debbie got in her first real trail run in a couple of months. She felt good. When she returned, we played on the swing set at the park and hung out with friends. There is a chance that my Grand Tree trail running is done for 2009. It isn’t definitive, but if it ended today, then I have nothing to complain about.

The drive home was just as beautiful as the drive there. Kayakers and canoeists paddled on the Deerfield River. We paused to watch some of them come through Zoar Gap, a wonderful spot on the river. Route 2 had a fair amount of leaf peeper traffic. We stopped a few times for various calls of nature. One stop was at one of those schlocky souvenir shops that plays off of the Native American theme of the Mohawk Trail. I would never go to a tourist trap like that, but there was a port-o-pottie on the side of the building and our three year old needed to go. At least I got to take some photos..

Race Results

2009 Breakneck Trail Race

“I once was lost, but now am found.” So go the lyrics to the song. After six tries, I finally finished the 20 kilometer Breakneck Trail Race without getting lost or injured. The first time I did the race, I ended up (after DNF’ing) at the emergency department of Rockville General Hospital with eight stitches in a severely damaged knee that grew to the size of a pumpkin. That was the year that I renamed the race Breakknee. The next four times, I ended up hopelessly lost in the woods, on a course, that is notorious for claiming directionally challenged victims. The sixth time, today, was a charm. One reason why I stayed on course: Race Director Karl Molitoris took the unprecedented step (he was under pressure) to mark the course. It was the 13th time that Karl has put on Breakneck at Bigelow Hollow State Park, in Union, Connecticut, and one of the only times that he has used ribbons to mark the way.

In past years, this race has been run under spartan conditions with no course markings (other than the hard to see blazes on the trees), no aid, and no numbers. Today, we had no aid and no numbers, but there were lots of blue ribbons; if you are a believer, they must have been sent from heaven. The competition came down to who was fastest, though some folks still got lost. If you are one of those folks who somehow wandered off trail, my sympathies are with you. I can’t see how you did it, but I still feel for you. The race started with many of us in a somber mood. RD Karl made a passionate speech at the start line. He reflected on 13 years of Breakneck, before launching into a rant against the State of Connection Department of Environmental Protection. The DEP manages the state park system and they are suffering a budget crunch like never before. Thus, one of the reactions, at the behest of our governor and our state legislature, has been to jack up the fees charged to park users. In addition to the fees, there are more rules, more restrictions, less indemnity, and contracts with more legalese.

Karl said that he had enough and that this year would be the last year that he is the race director of Breakneck. It is always sad to witness the demise of a good race, but he said that after 13 good years, he was done. I immediately started worrying about the Soapstone Mountain Trail race and all of the other events that depend on the support of the state park system. Time will tell if the State’s new approach will hurt the trail running scene. One thing that is for sure, is that the runners appreciate what Karl and all of the other race directors do. They don’t get thanked enough. After the finish, I filled in Debbie. She missed the speech, but got the gist of it. She is going to start planning for Soapstone soon and let’s hope that the new rules can be dealt with.

As for today’s race, I was thrilled to take nearly 17 minutes off of my personal best time. Part of that was staying on course, but I was also on. I felt great, despite still feeling stiffness from last Sunday’s 50km race in my legs. I took the counterclockwise option (you choose which way that you want to circumnavigate Breakneck Pond) again this year and used part of the old dirt road in an effort to make up ground. I only twisted my perpetually damaged right ankle once, and I only fell once. My fall was more of a cart-wheel, but I still got nicked up. I also slammed my shin into a log during the extremely wet beaver dam bog traverse. I’ve missed the traverse the past few years (note my comments about getting lost), but this year, I nailed it. It saves a few seconds, but it gets your feet very wet. I passed a woman on the return leg who was inquiring as to whether or not she had to go back through the bog to return to the finish. Poor girl, she was whimpering. I said, “Yeah, of course.”

The wet section of trail on the west side of the pond was thigh deep (for me) thanks to last night’s heavy rain. I would have paid to seen “Miss I don’t want to go through the Beaver Bog again’s” reaction to that watering hole! All of the trails were wet and slippery, but they were still very runable. Most of the runners that I saw took the counterclockwise direction too. I think it saves a minute or two and it is preferable to me, though I’ve gone both ways in the past. The overcast and muggy weather cleared by the end of the race and the warm sun made the post-race festivities so much more fun. Everyone lounged around the finish, enjoying the spectacular feast that Karl, his Mom, and the other volunteers had prepared for us.

First place went to Brian Rusiecki in 1:41:08, who was fresh off his Vermont 50 Mile Run win and apparently not feeling much ill effects after last week’s muddy epic. He was cautious about staying on trail, so he didn’t trounce the rest of us by the usual margin. I had an all time Grand Tree Series personal best second place finish in 1:47:51. Stanislav Trufanov was third in 1:48:58. For women, Amy Lane continued her Grand Tree Series dominance, winning in 2:08:31, despite a beaver dam bog injury to her hand that looked like she had been attacked by a slasher. Second place went to Grace Jensen in a fine 2:14:21. Third place was Michelle Hammond in 2:17:14. Click here for full results.

Judging from the smiles, everyone was enjoying themselves during the first trail race of October. It look like 75 people came out for the race, which is around 25 more than normal. We saw a lot of friends and got to introduce them to our daughter for the first time. Some folks expected to see Debbie running on the trails. She is feeling good, but it is still too soon. This morning, she reminded me that she has the rest of her life to run. She did get in a good hike with one kid on the front and one kid on the back, so clearly, she isn’t slacking. We both love Bigelow Hollow. I think it is the jewel of the Connecticut State Park system. It is the one park that makes me feel like I am in Vermont or New Hampshire. The trails are as rugged as anything in the north country and the forest is thick.

The season is winding down. Next week is the classic finale of the WMAC Trilogy, Monroe/Dunbar Brook. I hope to keep the good forming rolling right through fall. I had considered a fall Ironman, but I’m not that fit. I’m also not getting the rest that I would need, thanks to the new addition to our family. Work has also been very demanding, so a second IM will have to wait until 2010. I’m going to have to think of a new challenge to get me through winter. In the meantime, I’ll do a few more trail races and then I will break out the cyclocross bike for some short but intense efforts.

As a note, we stopped off at the Coventry Regional Farmers’ Market on the way home from the race. It was Squashtober Fest. We made one loop of the market before it closed and scored some fresh salad fixin’s. It was the right way to conclude a fine October weekend.

Breakneck Race Results

Coda: Vermont 50–Where are the (Accurate) Results?

It is three days after the Vermont 50 Mile Ride & Run, and I’m sure that the riders are still picking grit out of their eyes and ears. It was a muddy day on the trails of southern Vermont. The runners, unless they hit the deck, probably didn’t get coated as bad, but judging from the looks of my shoes, everyone needed to wash their gear with some powerful detergent.

I hope we didn’t do too much damage to the trails. One of the beautiful things about the VT50 is that the awesome trails are all on private land. It is the landowners who come together to help make this event possible. The landowners and the volunteers are the keys to the race. The volunteers were excellent, manning the aid stations, monitoring the course, and taking care of things at the finish line. All of my interaction with them was very good. The poor weather made for a challenging day if you were a volunteer standing in the rain, so I’m sure that all of the competitors appreciate the effort.

One thing that I find inexcusable, is the poor timing/results. This race has a $95 entry fee (for individuals) and every year, the results take days to produce. When they are finally posted, they are usually wrong and the formatting is impossible to read. How come I can go to a local 5K, pay $15, and get accurate results before everyone has crossed the finish line? Then, by the time you are home, the results are uploaded to the Internet. Many of the trail races in the New England Grand Tree Trail Running Series are low budget/all volunteer affairs and it takes a day to get the results up. That is OK because it is part of the culture. Most New England mountain bike races provide accurate and prompt results. Clearly, there is a need to do some benchmarking.

The VT50 needs chip timing. It is a big budget race. Everything about the race is 1st class, including the organic cotton t-shirts, the volunteers, the aid stations, and the post race spread…but the results process is broken. Chip timing is available everywhere now. There are chip systems that are low impact on the environment (reusable), and they are accurate. It isn’t free; you often have to hire a service, but they are readily available and they are reliable. You have someone to hold accountable should things not go as planned. There are so many opportunities to cheat in the VT50 because the course doubles back on itself in several spots. Chip timing with intermediate checkpoints won’t eliminate this potential problem, but it would mitigate the risk and provide data that you could go back to, should you need to investigate. Providing split times would be an added value for the customers/competitors.

I have shared my feedback with the race director in the past. He is a friend, and I know that others have complained. The VT50 webmaster wouldn’t have to put so many apologies on the site if the results were right. I wouldn’t criticise if it wasn’t a legitimate gripe. The races that I volunteer at, including the Soapstone Mountain Trail Races, have had results issues in the past, and Debbie (the RD) and I  have taken heat for it, but we have stepped up our investment (money and time) to improve the process. I think that the VT50 owes it to the repeat participants to explain how they will improve this for 2010. When a rider or runner dedicates training time, travel time, and race time, then they deserve to get instant results, especially for a big entry fee. The entry fee is substantial because this is a popular race. It would sell out at an even higher number, but you still have to keep it fair. Ironman Triathlons sell out at $500+ with four times as many competitors. That is big budget! Let’s hope it doesn’t go there.

The VT50 is a community service event. The proceeds benefit Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, which is a nonprofit organization doing amazing work, so it often feels wrong to complain. Nevertheless, without feedback change won’t occur. Let’s hope that the VT50 committee gets the message.

This year, the 50 Mile Run, was part of the Montrail Ultra Cup, a nationwide series of events. The big deal here is that the top two finishers for men and women, qualified for the Western States Endurance Run(100 miles), the country’s most prestigious ultramarathon. With a WS100 slot at stake, improved timing is a must. This is just one more reason to get it right next time.

2009 Vermont 50 Mile Ride & Run

Today’s Vermont 50 Mile Ride & Run was a muddy affair. Steady rain made the course a greasy mess. This was the Livingston Family’s 10th anniversary VT50. Debbie and I weren’t a family when we first met in the parking lot at the Ascutney Mountain Resort in 1999. She was a trail runner and I was a mountain biker. That chance meeting and the courtship that followed has yielded nine more VT50’s (seven for Deb because she missed during her pregnancy years), a marriage, a house, and two kids. Despite the craziness of the past week and the newly expanded family, we were thrilled to make the trip to Brownsville for Sunday’s race.

Of my 10 VT50’s, I have ridden nine on the mountain bike (with one notable exception in 2007 when I broke my chain at mile 17 and ran the 33 miles to the finish) and run one. That one official run was today, though it came in the 50 kilometer race. I wasn’t ready for the big one, so I opted for the baby, but it still hurt to run 31 miles. It is too bad the race wasn’t a marathon because I had a really strong first 26 before cracking and fading a bit in the last five.

Debbie was a saint for hanging out on a miserable rainy day. Not riding turned out to be fortuitous because the mountain bikers got the short end of the stick today. The conditions were fine for running, but they were appalling (though not as bad as 2003) for riding. It was a shame because yesterday’s weather was spectacular. There wasn’t much hanging around after the finish. Folks headed for the showers, cleaned up, grabbed some grub, and hit the road. Travel for us isn’t as easy as it used to be. We made four stops on the drive home to accommodate various kids’ needs.

I enjoyed running the first three miles with Leigh Schmitt. Leigh and I chatted amiably about our families, his impressive 7th place finish at the Western States 100, swimming for training, and our plans for the rest of the season. We ran together on the opening flat section of dirt road, but as soon as we hit the first dirt road climb, I let Leigh, Kevin Sullivan, and another runner go up the road. I settled into 4th place and that is where I stayed for another 23 miles.

I didn’t have much running company, but when the 50K and 50M courses intersected, I had a chance to run along with the mountain bikers. It felt weird to not be riding, but I think I was better off. The bikers all looked to be suffering with all of the mud. There were a lot of mechanical failures and DNF’s. When the riders had to dismount and walk up the steep hills, I would put distance on them, then, they would come blasting past on the next descent. I actually spent several miles with my teammate A.Z Wenzel, who had a fine ride and avenged his Josh Billings debacle with a top 40 finish.

With five to go, I really started to hurt and my pace slowed. I don’t think I was fueled properly, I was a bit chilly, and my legs were just plain tired. I lost a few spots and would have lost more if it wasn’t for Molly Housman. She was leading all of the 50K women when she caught me with a little less than three miles to go. She was kind enough to let me latch on. We talked about kids, running, the mud, and blogs. I was able to stick with her until the finish and it made the last couple of miles a little less painful. She maintained a nice pace until the end, when she decided to drop the hammer on me and gap me in the last 200 meters. No big deal. I owe her one. She had a fine run.

Leigh won the race in 4:01. Kevin Sullivan was 2nd or 3rd in 4:12. I finished around 4:44. The results weren’t complete, but I will post them when they are available along with some comments. I’m curious to see who won the mountain bike race and who won the 50 mile run.

It was a messy day, but it was still the Vermont 50. Since our little girl was born on her due date, she made this possible. It was touch and go as to whether or not we would make it this year. In the end, it all worked out. We are already looking forward to 2010 when Debbie makes her comeback. Maybe I will ride again next year. Bring it on.

Race Results