2017 Bolton Road Race

I think today was the coldest Bolton Road Race on record. I don’t know who keeps those records! Our hometown has been gripped by a cold snap as winter refuses to let go. Snow is in the forecast for next week, so we aren’t clear of the cold yet.

Yesterday was actually colder than today. Both days, we had brilliant sunshine, but the stiff breeze made it feel even cooler. The five-mile Bolton course is a classic and ever since Dani Kennedy revived the race, it has grown in popularity. I saw a lot of Shenipsit Striders and Silk City Striders.

There are other bigger local races, but they are driven by a huge marketing budget and the support of a strong following. Bolton is different. It is a true grassroots local road race, and the distance, one that used to be a classic length, intimidates people in a world full of 5K’s. The other thing that intimidates people about running in our town, is the hills. A big deal is made about “the Hill” on the BRR course, but that’s our attempt at marketing.

Heck, if you advertised a big hill in a trail running race, it would create more demand, not less. The fact that the biggest hill on the course comes in the last mile, makes the course even more fun. I don’t want to hear any complaints about hills. OK, for a road race, it’s a pretty big hill, but as trail races go, the Bolton hills are mere bumps. Three weeks ago, Debbie and I ran the St. John Trail Race. That was hilly.

The BRR is a family affair, and not just our family, but lots of running families. We saw many friends today. They all braved the cold with us. Last year, Debbie got her name on the Bruce Ralston trophy, which honors the first female Bolton finisher. I’ve tried many times to be the first male, and I’ve been second on a few occasions, but today, my consolation for missing out on the 40-49 age group win, was that I was the first Bolton finisher for the first time. I saw Thomas Paquette, the fastest Bolton runner around, but he was “jogging” the race.

I had a race long battle with Melissa Stellato, who is one of the fastest runners in the state. She was so smooth. I started out rather conservatively, but moved up on the fist hill. I was five seconds behind her at the top and we were close to ether other for the next four miles.

She would pick up a few seconds on the downhills and I would make them back when we went up. Around the three-mile mark, I actually thought she might pull away, but pulled even with her at the four mile mark. She chatted me up, but I was hurting and just wanted to push the hill to the finish. The first two guys were gone, so it was just the two of us with a few chasers another 20-30 seconds behind us. She said, “You are a beast,” which for me, is high praise! I thanked her and told her she was doing a great job.

The last pitch hit hard and I slowed considerably, but everyone does. Some neighbors were cheering at the top, which was encouraging. It flattens out and then drops a bit and then there is a false flat to the line. I was able to hold off a charging Melissa and took third overall behind Brett Stoeffler and Kevin Vallez. Brett turned 50 this week, so I’m darn proud of him. He and I have battled many times over the years, but he is in a different class on the roads. On the trails, I’m usually a little closer to him, but he is just stronger.

Last fall, Kevin had an incredible Manchester Road Race, and at 49, he has five years on me. It seems that with these two, the older you get, the faster you go. My time was 30:54. I’ve always wanted to break 30, and came within eight seconds in 2013, so I still have a shot at the goal. Following Melissa were Greta Broneill and Michelle Corrigan, though they were more than four minutes back. Melissa is amazing. She finished fourth overall, only nine seconds behind me.

Debbie was third in her age group, but by her standards, today was an off day. Team Horst Sports were also represented by the Ricardi Family. Cole won his age group and Tom wasn’t far behind. I’m sure he was saving his legs for cyclocross season!

Race Director Dani got great support from a cadre of volunteers including Brian Miller, who seemed to be everywhere. He was the race starter, he was at the finish line, and he did the race award announcements. Nothing is better than a hometown race. This event is an important community gathering for us and a great tradition.

Today, we were joined by our son, who did his third Bolton.

Race Results

Patagonia & The Worn Wear College Tour

There are few businesses that I admire more than Patagonia. I’ve been a fan since I purchased my first Synchilla jacket at their Boston store in 1991. In the early 2000’s, Debbie was on the Montrail Patagonia Ultrarunning team, and we have maintained a 15 year affiliation with the company. We have friends who work for the company, and we have provided feedback on clothing and gear. For years (back in my days of shooting slides) I sent images of “Patagoniacs” to them with the hope that one would be published in a catalog. We consider ourselves to be customers and ambassadors for the brand.

My admiration isn’t just for the gear, but for the business. Like Horst Engineering, they are privately held, family owned, driven by their mission, and focused on their core values. Even though they are much larger (around $700 million in annual revenue), they have maintained the long view. I have heard others scoff at the cost of Patagonia’s products. There is no question that they command a premium, but when you learn more about them, you realize that there is value in that price. Like L.L. Bean, another business I admire, they guarantee their products for life, and have invested profits wisely, leading to decades of amazing growth. They focus on durabilty and their products have a long life. Last year, I brought back 15 years and 20 pounds of worn out Patagonia Capilene (much of it smelly!) under garments/base layers. They have partners who recycle the polyester, and turn it back into new fabrics.

Yesterday afternoon, I visited Yale University in New Haven to check out Patagonia’s 2017 Worn Wear College Tour. It was part of Yale Sustainability’s full-day extravaganza focused on extending the life of products to keep items out of the waste stream. I hadn’t heard about this event until Debbie sent a link that came from our friend Richard Treat, a Bolton neighbor, and one of Debbie’s fellow Bolton Land Trust board members.

The Patagonia Worn Wear repair team brought their truck, Delia. It was reported that 1,000 people showed up and the Patagonia team helped attendees make more than 500 “do it yourself” repairs on clothing (not just Patagonia’s). Patagonia has made an effort to repurpose and resell used gear as an alternative to the cost (and impact) of buying new. eBay has a thriving Patagonia pre-owned category. The company previously made a splash when in a full-page New York Times advertisement on Black Friday, they told people to “Don’t Buy This Jacket.”

I wasn’t able to make the Repair, Reuse, Repurpose Fair, but I did make it to the Yale School of Management (Evans Hall) in time for an evening panel discussion featuring Rick Ridgeway Patagonia’s Vice President of Environmental Initiatives, Adam Werbach from Yerdle, a business that helps leading brands develop re-use programs; and Scott Briscoe from the National Outdoor Leadership School. There were about 30 attendees, so we had a nice intimate discussion.

Ridgeway is someone I’ve read a lot about, so it was nice to see him in person. Years ago, I read his books: Seven Summits (1985), The Shadow of Kilimanjaro (1997), Below Another Sky (2002), and The Big Open (2006). He is a legendary mountaineer and a fantastic adventure writer. He is also pretty good behind a camera. In 1978, with John Roskelley, he summited K2, the world’s second highest mountain (8,611 m/28,251 ft). K2 is one of the most dangerous and most difficult mountains to climb. He did the climb without supplemental oxygen, which is an amazing accomplishment. Their teammates, Jim Wickwire and Louis Reichardt reached the summit the day before. This four-man expedition was the first conquest of K2 by an American team. He was also part of the original Seven Summits expedition with Dick Bass and Frank Wells. Both were successful businessmen, and Dick founded Snowbird.

Another great adventure that Ridgeway was part of was in 2002 when he teamed up with three other famous explorers, Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, and the late Galen Rowell, to cross the Chang Tang in Tibet. I read about that adventure in National Geographic Magazine and heard about it on NPR. The Connecticut Forest & Park Association hosted Chin (also at Yale), back in 2010, and I had the chance to meet him. Many of them have been featured in films that were part of past Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tours. Last month, we saw the 2017 tour in Hartford.  They have all done great work on behalf of Mother Earth. I have several of Rowell’s books. He, his wife, Barbara, and two friends perished in a small plane crash in 2002, shortly after the Chang Tang expedition. He was a great photographer. I could go on and on about these adventurers and their exploits.

When you have a love of the outdoors like I do, it’s all connected! Mountains, writing, and photography are three of my passions, but so is responsible business, which brings us back to Patagonia and their mission:

Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.

Patagonia’s founder is Yvon Chouinard. I’ve read his books, Let My People Go Surfing, and The Responsible Company. The recently ordered the latter for Horst Engineering’s Green Team and it is soon to become required reading. Chouinard is also the co-founder of 1% For The Planet, of which we are also a member. Like Patagonia, our family and our businesses supports many not-for-profit environmental organizations.

Manufacturing creates waste and our goal is to minimize that waste. That is why Chouinard and Vincent Stanley, his Responsible Company co-author, suggest that no business is “sustainable,” but every business can strive to be more “responsible.” Last night, Ridgeway walked us through an overview of Patagonia’s history, highlighting many of their business practices. He explained how their mantra has shifted from:

• Reduce
• Repair
• Reuse
• Recycle

to:

• Repair

• Resell

• Recycle

• Reduce

He spoke about “downcycling,” Life Cycle Assesments (LCA), and “dematerialization.” The fashion industry generates a tremendous amount of waste. He spoke about the 2011 advertisement that caused caught the attention of many. I read a good New Yorker story  about Patagonia’s post-Great Recession approach to consumerism. Last year, I listened to the Rich Roll Podcast with Andrew Morgan on the True Cost of Fast Fashion, and it was enlightening. We all have to pay attention where our products, including clothing, comes from.

I didn’t know much about Patagonia’s new venture, Patagonia Provisions, but Ridgeway explained that the next frontier was food. Food waste is the greatest kind of waste and much bigger than clothing, hence Patagonia’s desire to make an impact. I could relay so many of Patagonia’s accomplishments. Ridgeway covered many, including their 1% contributions, their organic cotton strategy, their work with Wal-Mart on sustainable sourcing, their climate change efforts, and their direct land conservation. The company is often viewed as radical. They make no bones about their advocacy. It is part of their mission. Much has been written about the company, so you can do your own research.

After Ridgeway spoke, we heard from Briscoe, who was part of Expedition Denali, which was organized by the National Outdoor Leadership School. Debbie is a NOLS graduate. She did an outdoor educator course in 2001, the year we were married. In the summer of 2013 brought together a group of climbers who made history as the first team of African-Americans to scale America’s highest mountain. It turns out that Briscoe and I have some connections. Back in January, one of the key organizers at NOLS, Aparna Rajagopal-Durbin (now of The Avarna Group), and her partner Ava Holliday, did Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion training for the Appalachian Mountain Club Board of Directors at our retreat. Some of the statistics that they shared about the lack of diversity in the outdoor community, were startling. Briscoe spoke of breaking down barriers and the need to get more minorities outdoors and enjoying nature. He mentioned that three out of NOLS 600 instructors are black. I found that to be telling. AMC, NOLS, and many conservation oriented .org’s have struggled to recruit a more diverse membership, but we keep trying. The movie, An American Ascent, showcases the Denali expedition, and will be screened by Yale Outdoors on Friday.

Look for the Worn Wear Tour as it continues. Later this week, they will be at UMASS in Amherst, Massachusetts, and then they are headed to MIT in Cambridge.

Patagonia is an inspiration for me ,and when I make decisions on behalf of Horst Engineering, and I think about how they would respond. Aerospace manufacturing and precision machining are different from clothing manufacturing, but as a locally owned family business, we already have a leg up on the competition. Debbie and I often speak with our young children about making good consumer choices and they are already learning how to “vote with their wallets.” Long term thinking is already part of our company culture. Our investments in energy efficiency and our ongoing success contributes to the success of many other organizations, and we strive to do our business the right way, with the least impact possible. We have much work left to do.

St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands Trip

It was 17 years in the making, but Debbie and I made it to St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. We were so happy to be joined by our children and Debbie’s mother, Barbara. Many years ago, Debbie noticed an advertisement at the back of AMC Outdoors magazine. It was for an AMC adventure travel trip to Maho Bay Camps in St. John U.S. Virgin Islands. She was most interested in the fact that 70% of St. John is part of Virgin Island National Park.

Maho Bay Camps shut down before we ever got there, and it took 17 years, but to make this trip better, she got to run the St. John Trail Race! As a bonus, we brought our children with us…and a mother-in-law (Barbara) too. None of that would have been possible in 2001!

Her research led us to Concordia Eco-Resort, where we spent five excellent nights. We stayed in one of their eco-tents. It was a neat experience that I would definitely do again. The location on the southeast corner of St. John was spectacular. We overlooked Drunk Bay and Salt Pond Bay. The tent platforms were literally built into the hillside, so there were lots of steps to negotiate.

Staying at Concordia was an effort, but it was well worth that effort. We flew into St. Thomas and rented a Jeep there because all of the rentals on St. John were sold out. It cost us $50 for a round-trip ferry ride from Red Hook to Cruz Bay (and back) and we all rode along with the Jeep. The vehicle, and particularly a rugged off-road vehicle, is a big advantage when staying on St. John. The roads were nuts.

Most of our time was spent on Centerline Road, North Shore Road, and the route from Coral Bay to the Concordia. All of these roads were insanely steep, windy, and potholed. Factor in the donkeys, goats, chickens, roosters, lizards, deer, cows, and other critters that wander St. John; and you have wild driving conditions. We saw all of these animals in the road at one time or another. The local drivers who know these roads well are another factor. If one gets behind you, they will ride your bumper mercilessly until they have even a slight window of opportunity.

The double line means nothing. They will come zooming past you and then dart in front of you at the last moment in an attempt to avoid their own head on collision. The numerous hairpin turns add to the excitement. Did I mention that St. Johnians drive on the left side of the road, but with American cars? The last time I had a driving experience like this, I was in Japan, and while Debbie was running UTMF, I ended up having  our car towed away on a flat-bed truck. Thankfully, we survived the driving conditions, which I actually enjoyed, but they did cause some white knuckle moments.

We had a great time in St. John. In addition to the race, which was the main event, we spent some time at the beaches at  Maho Bay and Salt Pond Bay. We saw a bit of Cruz Bay and Mongoose Junction. A real highlight was our sailing trip on the Poet’s Lounge. We visited desolate Newfound Bay for some snorkeling and got to see the eastern tip of the island from a totally different vantage point. We sort of stumbled into this opportunity. It was a last-minute decision to seek out a charter, but the folks at the Concordia came through. They called a few of their “go to” captains and none had availability. I’m glad they finally checked with Poet’s Lounge captain, Darin Keech and his first mate, Dawn, who had the time to take us out.

We spent an enjoyable half-day with them. The kids loved the adventure. It was a little “out of comfort zone” experience for us, which is great. I did quite a bit of sailing when I was a kid, with most of that with the Boy Scouts. I sailed at camp and also did a few high adventure trips where we sailed and slept on the boat. This trip brought back some fond memories from those trips.

It turns out that Darin is from Mystic, Connecticut and that the original Poet’s Lounge is moored on Long Island Sound. He has been doing charters in Connecticut for more than 10 years and recently bought this new boat, a Beneteau 41′ Carib, in Grenada. He brought the new boat to the Virgin Islands and has been chartering out of Coral Bay, offering trips around St. John and throughout the Virgin Islands. We weren’t far from Tortola. I hope to get there next time. I read about an ultra that they are hosting in April called the Tortola Torture. Like everywhere else in the world, trail running and ultrarunning are growing with new events coming all of the time. The Torture has been run twice and has quite a sponsor list.

Anyway, the sailing trip was cool. We will have to look up Poet’s Lounge this summer when we are in Old Lyme on the Connecticut shoreline. It would be fun to meet up with Derin and Dawn again and sail with them on their other boat. I’m kind of in a sailing mood. Last weekend after returning from the islands, we attended the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour at the Bushnell in Hartford. One of the featured films was Sea Gypsies: The Far Side of the World, a fantastic documentary about a sailing adventure from New Zealand to Chile with a stop in Antarctica. I’m in a bit of a sailing mood and could see myself doing that. I’ll probably start with another charter in the warm waters of the Caribbean before I sign on to sail to Antarctica!

Staying at the Concordia Eco-Resort was fun and educational. The tent was like a mini cabin and felt like a treehouse. There were two twin beds that we were able to “combine” for Debbie and me. There were two mattresses in a loft. There was a couch that you could sleep on. So, the five of us all had a bed. It was nothing special, but it was functional. We had a little kitchenette with a dorm room sized fridge, a two burner propane range, and a small sink (that couldn’t even fit a plate). There were a few pots, pans, utensils, and dishes. It was nothing special, but we got by. There were no outlets. There were a handful of solar-powered lights. The three solar panels also powered the fridge and the water pump located below the tent platform.

The “bathroom” had a Clivus Multrum composting toilet, which is the same brand that we have at many of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s facilities, including the White Mountain Huts. Our family has a lot of Clivus experience, including this adventure at AMC’s Noble View Outdoor Center. The shower was a single stall with a garden hose and sprayer nozzle. The water was pumped up to a passive solar rain barrel that was mounted on the roof. The black barrel absorbed the sun’s rays throughout the day and provided a warm shower at the end of the day.

We had a little deck and the views of the ocean, of the East End (of the island), and neighboring islands, were spectacular. At night, the views of the stars were also phenomenal, and the sound of the waves crashing in Drunk Bay was beautiful. Salt Pond Bay, and its wonderful beach, was a mile from our tent. We went there several times. Past the bay was the Ram Head, which we hiked once with the kids and ran a few times on our own. Our tent also overlooked Nanny Point, which we explored. All of these trails were within the boundaries of the national park.

We did quite a bit of cooking at the tent. We used some provisions brought from home, and did groceries at a few of the small island stores. Other times, we dined out. It wasn’t easy to get vegan food, but Morgan’s Mango, in Mongoose Junction, was a good spot. That was our best meal, other than the ones we cooked ourselves.

The weather was spectacular. During the day, it warmed up to the high 80’s Fahrenheit and never dipped below 70 degrees, even in the middle of the night. It rained every night, and sometimes, heavily. The rainwater drained into a large cistern located below the tent platform. Most days, the rain had cleared by mid-morning. A few days, it lingered a bit longer, but we never wore a jacket.

The central facilities at Concordia included a bar, restaurant, store, pool, laundry, and a pavilion. In the evening, they showed movies at the pavilion, and the kids watched a few times. One night, the bar/restaurant hosted a fantastic open mic and talented musicians from all over the island came to play. It was very entertaining. That was the only time we ate at the “hotel” restaurant.

2017 St. John Trail Race

About 17 years ago, Debbie noticed an advertisement at the back of AMC Outdoors magazine. It was for an AMC adventure travel trip to Maho Bay Camps in St. John U.S. Virgin Islands. She was most interested in the fact that 70% of St. John is part of Virgin Island National Park, and she was enthralled with the prospect of sleeping in a tent overlooking the Caribbean. I ended up buying the National Geographic map of Virgin Islands National Park and giving it to her for Christmas. That was probably 2001, the year we got married. She so badly wanted to go to St. John… and happy to have made good on my promise to take her there!

Maho Bay Camps shut down before we ever got there, and it took 17 years, but to make this trip better, she got to run a trail race! As a bonus, we brought our children with us…and a mother-in-law too. None of that would have been possible in 2001!

Monday’s St. John Trail Race was a fantastic event and in many ways, it was like the tough trail races that we run in New England. The fact that I didn’t fall once is a race highlight. It’s been six weeks since cyclocross season ended with a bang at the USA Cyclo-Cross National Championships. I raced three times that week and since then, haven’t ridden any of my bicycles once. I’ve done some skiing and a little bit of running. I used this race to get moving again.

Another highlight was Debbie’s win. The course was tailor made for her, with wicked ups and downs, lots of rough singletrack, and nice transitions in between the hard parts. Who am I kidding! It was all hard. The only flat spots in St. John are ON the water. The win wasn’t a huge deal, but it was a nice way to kick off the 2017 trail running season. I’ll write a separate post about the trip and our other St. John adventures, but this story will focus on the race.

Monday (President’s Day) races are extra special, and who wouldn’t want to run in the Caribbean? Last year, Race Director, Kyle Hart, and his team of volunteers, hosted the inaugural trail race. We were fortunate to stumble across this event when planning this winter family getaway, that coincided with our kids February break. Debbie built the trip itinerary around the race.

From prior research, we knew about St. John’s other famous running race, the 21-year-old 8 Tuff Miles, which is all on the “road.” That race is Saturday, and I gather that some of the local runners from the Virgin Islands and maybe a few others who stuck around, will do it too. If you plan a one week trip, running the double is possible. Sadly, we returned mid-week so the kids could get back to school and so Debbie and I could get back to work. Now that I’ve seen Centerline Road (Rt. 10), I want to come back and run 8 Tuff Miles. It may be on road, but the steep ups and downs, numerous switchbacks, and rough pavement make it more like a mountain running race.

Debbie located the trail race registration on Ultrasignup.com. At first, only she registered, but I wanted to do it too, so we convinced (it didn’t take long) my mother-in-law, Barbara, to join us on the trip. She is happy to spend time with our kids, which gives us the time to both run. The course was fantastic and we got to see several parts of the island that we wouldn’t have seen otherwise. The race was open to 50 people, 43 registered, 41 started, and 40 finished within the cutoff time. By permit, the National Park Service limited the registration to 50, and mandated a four-hour window of time that we could be on the park roads/trails.

This was a low-key event, which we like. In many ways it was like three of our favorite events, the Soapstone Mountain Trail Race, the 7 Sisters Trail Race, and the Mt. Greylock Trail Race, though Sisters isn’t low-key anymore. If you are from New England, then you know these rugged courses. If Debbie and I added up the number of times we have done these three New England classics, it would be more than more than 50!

Half marathon +/- is a perfect trail race distance, especially in February. Debbie mentioned afterward that she would have liked to do it out and back, for a total of 27.4 miles. That sounds like an adventure to me, but the park service would have to lengthen the cutoff time. Also, I wouldn’t want to be deprived of the finishing venue, so you would have to start at Coral Bay, run to Cruz Bay, and then run back. Who is going to be the first one to do the double? After all, I know many runners who have doubled Soapstone, Sisters, and Greylock.

The exact distance of this point to point course from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay, was 13.8 miles, and my GPS reported that there was 3,238 feet of elevation gain which is substantial for a race of this distance. The pre-race info said it was +2,772, but regardless of the exact number, it was hilly. My Strava profile shows that. The trails themselves were gnarly; they were strewn with rocks and roots, and there was a lot of off camber descending.

Part of the race director’s simple ethic was to use limited markings, so you had to study and know the course. Green ribbons signified the correct route. Yellow ribbons indicated a trail junction. Red ribbons signified the wrong way. A few spots had arrows. The course was posted on the Trail Run Project website/iPhone/Android app, and many of us carried our phones. Kyle also promoted a self-supported category, and he gave awards to the top female and male finishers who took no outside aid. The unofficial definition of self-supported in an ultra is that you have no crew or pacers and use the aid stations and your own drop bags. In a short race like this, it isn’t that hard to go on your own, and the only real requirement is that you carry everything you need, including food and water.

There were several water stops, but Debbie and I skipped them for the added challenge. We used our UltrAspire packs (Debbie used her Spry and I used my Alpha) that each carry 40 ounces of water, and have room for a flask (of Tailwind), food (gels), and other gear. I also carried an UltrAspire handheld bottle with another 16 ounces of water. I ran out of water on the last descent, so I timed it well. Judging by how much water I drank at the finish line, I could have used more, but I got by with what I had. By the finish, the temperature was already well into the 80’s (Fahrenheit) and the sun was baking hot.

With the limited markings, and many trail intersections, navigation was tricky. I paused at several trail junctions to think through my next step; often reviewing the map and trail names that I committed to memory. Normally, you could easily tell which trail was the main trail, and the likely trail to take, but with your heart rate jacked up to 165 in the middle of a race, it isn’t easy to figure out. I didn’t make any “wrong turns” per se, but after several intersections, I ran tentatively until I confirmed that I made the right choice. On the final descent to the historic Emmaus Moravian Church in Coral Bay, I stopped at a three-trail fork. I was descending the Jeep road when it split; I saw that the middle trail had red tape across it. I was thinking that I should just continue via the trail I was on, but the far-left trail also seemed inviting. Suddenly, I was confused. I didn’t recall this junction, so I decided to pull out my iPhone and check the Trail Project app.

That proved to be difficult. I was so sweaty that I couldn’t get my Touch ID to work. Then, I couldn’t input my password. After a frustrating couple of minutes standing in the middle of the trail, worried that I would get caught by a chasing runner, and frantically trying to dry my hands (with little success), I got my password in. Then, I couldn’t open the app. Every iPhone function was a struggle as I sweated profusely in the hot sun. I started to shuffle down the trail I was on, though lacking confidence in the direction I was headed. Finally, I was able to open the app, click the “To Do” menu, find the St. John Trail Race, and click the location arrow to find my position. Fortunately, all the struggle was for naught because I was on the right trail and darn close to the finish.

I broke into a sprint again, as the grade steepened sharply. In a ¼ mile, the dirt changed to concrete and I could see the church. After crossing the road, running through an overgrown ball field, hugging the bay, and winding through a maze of old boats, cars, trucks, and other stuff, I finished through the back entrance of the Skinny Legs Bar and Grill. It was one of the most interesting trail race finish lines that I’ve crossed… but I loved it! It was unique and if there ever was a “double” St. John Trail Race, I insist that the finish still be at Skinny Legs. When I got there, the post-race party had already started and soon enough, the beers were being passed around. This was all good fun at 9:30 A.M. on a Monday!

Race Director Kyle Hart got tremendous help from his father and mother, and a host of other island volunteers. The race proceeds benefitted St. John Rescue. Prior to the race, he kept everyone informed via Ultrasignup.com emails and Facebook updates. The afternoon before the race, he held a mandatory pre-race meeting next to the Cruz Bay dock at the National Park Visitors Center. Kyle and his Dad handled registration and talked through the details of the course.

They warned us about the rugged trail conditions, which varied wildly. We started on the dock at the visitor center and then ascended a series of trails that took us to Caneel Hill. The Cruz Bay trails get much traffic, so they were in good shape. They also get the attention of the NPS. We eventually descended to Centerline Road, which is the main feature in 8 Tuff Miles.

A quote from the Trail Bandit’s 2014 St. John Hiking Map says it all, “When walking along the sides of the roads, face oncoming traffic and be ready to jump in the bushes. The roads are narrow and at times there is a lot of traffic. Centerline Road has a lot of heavy trucks and can be unpleasant and dangerous. Remember, we drive on the left.”

Well, most of that was true. The only difference was that we were running, not walking. You could face oncoming traffic some of the time, but there were many switchbacks, which made alternating from side to side the safest technique. We were on Centerline for just under two miles. Unlike 8 Tuff Miles, which draws more than a thousand runners, the road was open to Monday morning traffic. It wasn’t too bad, but the admonition to “be ready” was honored.

I hammered the road stretch, running the 4^th mile in 7:40, but was still happy to return to the trail that ended up being my favorite: L’Esperance. It descended from Centerline all the way to Reef Bay. The requirement was to then take the short spur trail to the beach, before turning back. This was the only part of the course that overlapped, and it was only a few hundred feet. No one was there to check, but who wouldn’t want to check out a beach like that in the middle of a trail race?!

The L’Esperance descent was followed by the long climb back to Centerline. This was done on the iconic and historic Reef Trail, which was the best maintained trail that we ran on. This is likely because the NPS guides hikes down this trail to the beach. Guests are shuttled by vehicle to the trailhead, and then after their hike down, they are shuttled by boat back to the NPS dock in Cruz Bay. That sounds fun, but I’m still glad we got to run the trail. The trail work was high quality and there were gorgeous stone steps on several sections. I even saw the tools of a trail crew worker (axe and pack) on the side of the trail. However, there was no sign of said trail worker. It must have been a stealth trail crew.

At the top of the Reef Trail, you crossed Centerline, ran 50 feet, and then hooked a sharp left into the woods. The trail was so grown over that I wouldn’t have found it if there wasn’t a volunteer nearby. If Reef was the best maintained trail we were on, then Maria Hope was the worst, but that made it tremendously fun. It was a wicked descent (much of it off camber) down to Maho Bay on North Shore Road (Rt. 20). I was really happy with my new shoes. For more than three years, I’ve been struggling with plantar fasciitis. This stems from calf and ankle tightness, which I’ve been working on, but with only limited success. Debbie is on the Altra Endurance Elite Endurance Team, so she got me to try the Lone Peak 3.0 shoes that she has had so much success with. They are zero drop, have a wide toe box, and have a nice lugged sole; which is what I need to stay in contact with the ground. The trail was so rough, that at the bottom, it looked more like a drainage. It could definitely use some work, but I didn’t twist my ankle, so in my story, I’m glad it was as rough as described. Debbie loved it. She only finished 10 minutes behind me, and I’m certain she was gobbling up time and closing the gap on every descent.

We turned right onto the road and wound our way past lovely Maho Bay. Despite the early hour, there were a few folks on the beach, and they offered cheers. The course wound along the road, rising and falling before meeting back up with the water again on the Old Danish Road. At the Annaberg Sugar Plantation ruins, it turned to dirt, and eventually the trail narrowed again and became the Leinster Bay Trail, which hugged Waterlemon Bay. The Danish Road/Leinster Bay Trail stretch was the “flattest” on the course. It’s too bad my legs were hurting at this point, otherwise, I might have pushed harder. Of course, those fast “road miles” only offset the numerous slow miles I ran on the tougher trails.

The last part of the course just might be the toughest. The Johnny Horn Trail was wicked hard. It climbed sharply from the beach, and continued to climb, stepping several times, before cresting with sweet views of the eastern part of the island. The views of St. John are reason enough to suffer through 13.8 miles. I don’t think I’ve done another race that has better views (mile for mile) than this one. It was beautiful. If you had taken the time to take the numerous short spur trails, the views would have been even better. I met a few runners who did just that. I had Debbie chasing me, so I opted to stick to the main trails.

The Johnny Horn descent was steep and had a lot of loose footing. It was an old Jeep road. I already described my near wrong turn and sweatfest, and I explained the Skinny Legs finish line. Race Director Kyle Hart and the volunteers deserve a big “thank you.” So do Nathan and Jessica DaSilva, “trail friends” from Connecticut, who graciously offered space in their Jeep. They picked us up (with the help of another friend) in Coral Bay and drove us to the start, so we didn’t have to fetch our car after the race.

We arranged for a taxi to pick up Mrs. Schieffer and our kids at the Concordia Eco-Resort, so they were at the finish when I got there. I think they arrived just in time. Skinny Legs was only a 10-minute drive from where we were staying.

It was great to meet people from all over, including others from New England. The post-race mood was festive. Debbie scored first overall woman (2:37:38), first Master woman, and first self-supported woman. They shouldn’t have allowed her to “triple-dip,” but the awards came so fast, that she was a little surprised.  I was first Master male.We have a plaque for every room in our house! The race was scorched by Derik Harrison, a 24-year-old Coloradoan working in Cruz Bay. After the start, I never saw him again…until the finish, which is OK, since I have 20 years on him. When I got to Maho Bay, one of the volunteers cheered for me and yelled out that he was happy to see gray in my beard. That was my favorite moment of the day!

Derik ran 2:07:44, which is fantastic, and 15 minutes faster than the 2016 winner’s time. It would be interesting to see how he would stack against some of the top New England talent on our terrain. He was followed by T.J. Hindes, a native Indianan, in 2:19:18.  I followed T.J. and was chased by Michael Cote-Wurzler, who was followed by Debbie. She bested the 2016 female winner’s time. Second woman was Hannah Allen of Vermont, and third was Sarah Swan, a native St. Johnian.

Lookout for Derik at the 8 Tuff Miles later in the week. If he recovers well, and he should be in contention for the win.

Debbie and I already discussed a return. It may not be in 2018, but if this race keeps running, we will keep it on the list of races that we would love to do again.

Race Results

#outdoorcitizen & Appalachian Mountain Club Summit

This past Saturday, the Appalachian Mountain Club Summit was held in Norwood, Massachusetts. The event coincided with the 141st annual meeting. At the end of 2016, AMC had 91,404 members across our 12 chapters.

I’m a member of the AMC Board of Directors, and both Debbie and I are longtime members of the Board of Advisors.  AMC had a fabulous 2016. Highlights included the opening of the Harriman Outdoor Center in New York, great progress with the club’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) program, the sale of our longtime Boston headquarters, and the purchase of a new headquarters building in Charlestown. An additional 4,358 acres were conserved in Maine as part of the Silver Lake project. This increases AMC’s land in Maine to more than 70,000 acres.

The list of achievements is amazing. Those were just some of the highlights. 2017 promises to be even more momentous. The move from Boston to the expanded and modernized space in Charlestown will take place in the second half of the year. The new Medawisla Lodge will open in June. This is the third Maine lodge to be renovated/built.

Debbie, my brother-in-law Tom, and our kids attended the Summit with me. We participated in some really cool workshop, including:

• Primitive Navigation: The Lost Art of Finding Our Way
• Secrets to Successful Kid-Friendly Adventures
• Griphoist and Highline: Rocks, Ropes, Pulleys and More
• All About Axes
• Show & Tell: What’s in a Leader’s Pack?

During the Summit, AMC launched #outdoorcitizen

I won’t explain it in any more detail than I have. Click through to learn more or search the hashtag on Instagram and Twitter.

2017 will be a big year for AMC. If you aren’t one of our 91,404 members, and you enjoy recreation, education, and conservation; then join! You won’t be disappointed.

Vail, Colorado

It’s no secret that I love mountains. The Appalachians are my favorite mountain range. Within the Appalachians, I love the White Mountains and the Berkshires. When it comes to mountains, especially those in the eastern United States, I don’t discriminate.

Out west, I’ve spent time in various mountain ranges, including the Sierra’s, Santa Monica’s, Cascades, Wasatch, and Santa Rita’s, but until last week, I had never been to the Rockies. I had seen the Rocky Mountains on flights across the country, and I even viewed them from a hotel room in Denver, on my one and only trip to Colorado in 2011, but, I had never explored them.

Given their scale, five days of skiing at Vail could barely be described as “exploring the Rockies,” but at least I can now say I’ve been there. There is so much more to see in Colorado, and then of course, there are other states like Wyoming and Montana that I’ve never seen. This trip wet my appetite for more.

I always thought I would take a few of my bicycles to Colorado and explore the mountain roads and trails that make it a Mecca for cyclists. I never thought that the first significant time spent outdoors would be on a ski slope. I don’t come from a skiing family. My parents don’t ski or snowboard, so I didn’t get exposed to the sport at a young age. I dabbled a bit with both when I was in high school. I skied a bit in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont, but never pursued it. In college, I skied one day in Park City, Utah on a dare, and then didn’t pick it up again for 10 years until I returned to Park City with a group of friends.

I had consciously avoided skiing out of fear of injury. My summer sports are so important to me that I didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize them through the risk of injury. When I met Debbie in 1999, she was a snowboarding instructor at Killington, but she too had been away from Alpine sports for some time.

I have some strong skier friends, and since that trip to Utah, we have been on subsequent trips to Stowe and Jay Peak in Vermont. Despite skiing in terrible conditions, I learned to love the sport. I realized that despite the expense, it can be a fantastic family pastime. Debbie and I talked about doing more of it by introducing our kids to snowboarding. I decided to stick with skiing, and two years ago, I even bought my own downhill gear.

As a family, we have been to Stowe, Jiminy Peak, and Mt. Southington (in Connecticut). Debbie is proficient and the goal was for the kids and I to become good enough to justify a family trip out west in the coming years. So, when this group of guys decided on a ski trip to Vail for our 2017 retreat, I was pumped.

I knew I needed an intense and focused trip a real mountain if I was ever going to make a leap forward with my skills. The unforgiving snow conditions and short trails on New England mountains helped were limiting me.So, the trip to Vail exceeded my expectations in every way possible. I’m 10 times better after three days. We skied for 16 hours (counting our ascent and descent) and covered 58 miles with more than 70,000 feet of descent. It was a crash course in Alpine skiing. I followed my buddies all over Vail. We explored the Front Side, the Back Bowls, and Blue Sky Basin.

We had spectacular conditions. One of my buddies, who has been skiing for 48 years, and just returned from a heli-skiing trip in British Columbia, said that they were three of the best days of skiing he has ever had. We arrived on Saturday. It snowed overnight, and on Sunday, high on the mountain, we had up to 18 inches of fresh powder. Sunday’s weather was great. It was partly sunny with occasional snow shower at the higher elevations. The visibility was fantastic and the snow was light and fluffy. We skied from 8:30 A.M. when the lifts opened, until the last lift at 3:30 P.M. We explored the Back Bowls and laid fresh tracks all over the mountain. People were letting out whoops from all directions. Even the locals reveled in the conditions.

I had one scary moment. I was following our group through a wide-open snow field when I hit something under the snow. The collision was abrupt and I ejected from both skis. I tucked and rolled, slamming the back of my head on the ground. The depth of the snow was a blessing and a disguise. It had completely covered a felled tree. The only evidence of the tree was a small dead branch protruding from the snow, but it was more than 15 feet to the left of the section I hit, and I never saw it.

My left ski was wedged under the log, and out of view. My right ski bounced off the log and was buried in the snow. Thankfully I hit the log straight on with my boots, and I released from the bindings. My neck and back were sore, but I was thrilled to be alive. No one saw the incident, but one of my buddies hiked back up to help me out. I had no idea what I hit until we dug out my skis and uncovered the log so that others would see it. I was shaken, and learned a vital lesson. Skiing can be very dangerous. I shook it off and continued on, though even more aware of my surroundings.

By evening, it had started to snow again, and pretty much never stopped. The valley saw on and off snow, and from Sunday night through this morning, it snowed steadily higher up on the mountain, and at times, it came down heavy. The snow just kept coming. Monday’s conditions were just as good as Sunday’s, and there were far fewer people on the mountain. The snow wasn’t as light, so pushing through the powder presented a new challenge, but by the end of the day, I had progressed even more.

Tuesday was our final day, so we stayed on the front side and explored more new trails. Vail is huge. You pay  a premium to ski there, but the level of service was very high. The lifts and other facilities were top-notch. The customer service was fantastic.

I’m interested in an Alpine touring set-up so I can combine hiking with skiing. That would suit my style. I’m also looking forward to a Vail return trip and the idea of exploring other western resorts is appealing too.

Recap: 2017 USA Cyclo-Cross National Championships

It’s been more than two weeks, but I finally had the time to write a recap about the 2017 USA Cyclo-Cross National Championships in Hartford. After the incredible first day of racing (Tuesday), I wrote about the Masters 40-49 Non-Championship race, but that was just the beginning of an amazing week.

Photo Credit: Alan Grant

In addition to all of the racing that the Masters on Team Horst Sports did, we had Junior riders compete in their own races. It was so inspiring to see the kids out there in the same tough conditions. My son’s race was on Saturday. It was so cold, but he toughed it out and will look back and smile.

Photo Credit: Alan Grant

I raced two more times in the Masters 45-49 Championship (Friday) and Singlespeed Championship (Saturday). These were my first ever cyclocross races in January. Since I started racing cross in 1995, and after more than 150 races, I had never gone past Christmas. This season, with “Nats” in Hartford, it was a special year. I raced Nats six times before: Leicester in 1995, Ft. Devens in 1998, Baltimore in 2001, Providence in 2005, and Providence in 2006.

2006 was the last time the championships were in New England, and since then, the annual event was moved from mid-December to early January to coincide with the national championship race calendar in Europe.

Photo Credit: Alan Grant

This made for a long cyclocross season. I did 21 races starting back in late-August. During the season, programmed in a couple of two-week periods without racing, which allowed me to keep my fitness through year-end. Another key with staying fit at this time of year, is to stay healthy and illness free. With young children in the household, this isn’t an easy task. Throughout December, we had small bouts of sickness in our house, but I focused on hydrating, eating well, and getting good quality sleep. Things worked out, I stayed healthy, and this was my best season yet. The capstone for the season was an amazing Nats race week.

As far as results goes, the non-championship race on Tuesday was my highlight, finishing 19th in a competitive field. It was a crazy race, made famous by all of the photos and videos, including Ron Manizza’s viral sensation of the infamous “Slip-n-Slide Hill” at Riverside Park. The heavy rain and muddy conditions were epic.

There is no other word to describe conditions in Hartford. They were Epic pretty much every day, but Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday had the fiercest weather and course conditions. I use the word sparingly and it only describes a handful of runs/rides/races a year, but Nats was packed with epic moments.

So, after all the hype and getting the first race out of the way, I think my form had peaked. I also had some business travel on Wednesday of race week, and a lot going on with Horst Spikes™, including our Open House and Plant Tour on Thursday night. It was a busy week for us. We welcomed more than customers from all over the country and gained many new customers as the week went on. The exposure for our Cross Spikes™ product line was even greater than we anticipated and could hope for. The super-challenging Nats course (which kept changing like a chameleon) was the ultimate proving ground for spikes, with slippery run-ups, steep descents (some unrideable), and numerous off-camber sections.

With everything going on, my legs were tired by the time my championship race at 2:50 P.M. on Friday afternoon. We awoke on Friday to several inches of snow. The muddy course from earlier in the week had hardened as the temperature dropped, creating frozen ruts. The fresh layer of slow covered the ruts and ice. It was very cold (and breezy) by afternoon, but bright sun warmed sections of the course, which turned it into a frozen mud/ice mixture. These were some of the most challenging conditions of the week. Whereas Tuesday was pure (and deep) mud, Friday was a slick mix.

I’m still happy with my result. I had a really good start from the fifth row and was in the high 20’s after the first lap, but the technical conditions muted my fitness/power and I faded throughout the race. Ultimately, I finished 42nd (out of a 100 riders or so), after yielding a few more spots on the final lap. I had one hard fall, and sadly, on a paved path, and it cost me some time. I wasn’t happy about getting passed by so many guys after my good start, but I had taken enough chances and was tentative on some parts of the course. I can’t say enough good things about my gear.

All season, I’ve been racing my five-year old SevenMudhoney Pro. The bike is going to need some post-season work, but the machine has done great. My Campagnolo drivetrain and Zipp 303 wheels held up great. I could have used fresh tires, but with everything going on, didn’t have time to glue them, so I rode the Tufo pair that I had used for most of the season. My gear didn’t hold me back. Ultimately, I didn’t have the legs to repeat the strong ride that I had on Tuesday. Still, at the finish, I was all smiles.

Saturday was the coldest day of the week. Overnight on Friday, the temperature plummeted again, making the course hard, icy, and fast. Many of the Junior races, including the 11-12 year old race that our son competed in, were held in the morning. They enjoyed a precipitation free race, but by noon, the snow was flying again. Debbie and our daughter came to watch, but everyone was cold, so they returned home after the boys raced.

I was registered for the Singlespeed Championship at 2:50 P.M., and the snow was coming down heavy. Since my race on Friday afternoon, I had been hemming and hawing about doing one more race. It would have been easy to bag it. With a banged up knee, sore legs, and cold hands/feet; I decided to skip it. Then, the snow got heavier. I looked around and realized that I would regret not racing. The singlespeed race would likely go down as one of the most epic ever.

I thought about driving to Horst Engineering in East Hartford, only five minutes from the park, but instead decided to drive the 20 minutes home. It took 30 minutes because of terrible road conditions, but I was able to get there with enough time to warm up, change my clothes, and get ready for my last race of the season. I decided to drive in my kit so that I could go from the parking lot to the Team Horst Sports tent and not have to change at all.

When I got back to the park, there were more than four inches of snow on the ground and it was still falling steadily. This was my first ever singlespeed cross race. I converted my 20-year-old Richard Sachs. It’s a great bike, but I haven’t raced it in years and I’m not nearly as comfortable on it as I am on my Seven. I’m not a very good snow rider and it showed. This was the largest race of the week with more than 120 strong riders in the field. I was 74th, but that doesn’t matter at all. I had a blast. Crowds had formed on the dike, and the atmosphere was electric. Just like the mud race on Tuesday, riders were falling all over the place. The big difference was that everything was white and there wasn’t a drop of mud to be found.

I slid my way around the course and amazingly stayed pretty warm. I had dressed right for the occasion. I didn’t linger long after the finish. With more than five inches on the ground, I made my way back home to clean up my gear and store it for winter. I did drive back to Hartford late in the evening to watch the Mechanics Championship at the Black Bear Saloon. The crowd was festive and I saw many friends.

The members of Team Horst Sports also had a great week. Arthur Roti, Wade Summers, Matt Domnarski, Dave Geissert, Paul Nyberg, and Tom Ricardi all raced multiple times. In addition to those guys, it was fun to see so m any friends from the New England cycling community. It was great to battle with so many of my “rivals” and I’m already looking forward to the beginning of the 2017-2018 season in August.

Sunday’s Elite races were the culmination of a fantastic National Championships. My son and I returned to Riverside Park to watch. This was one of the best days the New England cycling community had ever seen. The snow had changed the complexion of the course yet again. The clouds cleared and bright sun shone. This caused quite a bit of melting, so once again, mud returned. This made for both visually appealing, and very challenging racing. Victories by Katie Compton and Stephen Hyde, who were both using their Horst Spikes™, topped off the festivities. Even in the cold, snow, and mud, the fans came out in force. The atmosphere was electric and many of us can’t wait until Nats return to New England. Hopefully, it isn’t another 12 year wait. Next year, the event is in Reno, Nevada.

Race hosts, the Connecticut Cycling Advancement Program, and their cadre of volunteers (many from our team) put on a good show. Come spring, Riverside Park will require some repairs, but that’s OK. This was a great event for Riverfront Recapture. They want to see people using and enjoying the parks that they manage. The Internet is full of great images and stories from this amazing week of racing. Hartford has always been on the map, but many people were skeptical about the idea of Nats at Riverside Park.

When Team Horst Sports put on the first cyclocross race there in 2003, we knew that the venue had the right characteristics and was a championship course candidate. We organized the first ever Connecticut Riverfront Cyclocross at Riverside Park. We weren’t directly involved with bringing Nats to Hartford in 2017, but I have no doubt that we sowed the seeds for what was an awesome event.

I’m so proud that the race was in Hartford.

Race Results

2017 USA Cyclo-Cross Nationals 40-49 Non-Championship

Wow. Wow. Wow. What a race. I left my iPhone back at Horst Engineering by mistake, so I don’t have any of my own photos from the race. I capture a few images of the “aftermath.”

That’s OK, I needed both hands to hold on to the handlebars! The 2017 USA Cyclo-Cross National Championships kicked off in a big way today. I’m feeling a bit sad for the Riverside Park course. It’s already taken a beating and there are five days of racing to go.

I love cyclocross and the environment, so I’ll be there (with the crews) in the spring to fix the course up. Cross does do damage when conditions are as wet as they were today. Riverside Park isn’t pristine anyway. It is in the Connecticut River flood plain, which made the mud so, well…muddy.

The rain came down heavily and turned the course into a quagmire. I pre-rode yesterday when it was 34 degrees Fahrenheit, firm, and a bit icy. Today, it was 40 degrees and pouring. Many of the rideable sections became unrideable as the race went on.

The downhill off the dike was treacherous. I opted for caution, which may have cost me some time, but saved me in the long run. I’ll be able to go to work tomorrow! I had a really good start, lost some ground, made up a little ground, made a few mistakes, and then pretty much survived until the finish.

I was able to get three laps done, but only cover 5.8 miles in 44:36. That was good for 19th out of about a 100 riders. I would love to break the top-15 in the 45-49 Championship Race on Friday. There will be a little more top competition, but filter out the “younger” guys, and it’s possible.

Adam Myerson, who is one of our sponsored Horst Spikes athletes, rode marvelously for the win. I’m pretty sure he was using Ice & Snow Cross Spikes, just like me. Horst Spikes have been popular this week. We are letting athletes pick-up at our 36 Cedar St. plant, which is only five minutes from the park. Toe spikes were critical for maintaining any grip on the uphill sections.

The entire Team Horst Sports 40-49 year-old squad did well. I was followed by Wade Summers, Art Roti, Andris Skulte, and Randall Dutton. Our 50-59 riders were on the course when I packed up and headed for a warmer environment. I shouted loudly for Matt Domnarski, Tom Ricardi, and Dave Geissert. I had a lot of friends in the race too, and they weren’t all local. Aaron Ofsiany was in town from San Francisco. I’ll see him again later in the week.

I started on Row 2, along with my long time friend, Jon Gallagher. Jon and I spent the summer of 1994 together and we have had some great adventures over the years. This was another one to add to the list. I chased him for the first part of the race before he pulled away to finish 13th. His timing services business is handling all of the official results for the race this week.

Judging by some of the Facebook and Instagram footage, anyone who raced today deserves monster kudos.

Race Results

Preview: 2017 USA Cyclo-Cross Nationals

I helped with the Horst Spikes marketing related to next week’s USA Cyclo-Cross National Championships. Here is the basic info. Be sure to check out the Horst Spikes News, in case you haven’t seen it already!

Next week, Hartford, Connecticut is welcoming the 2017 USA Cyclo-Cross National Championships.

 

Today, we launched a special edition of Horst Spikes News that is chock full of resources for athletes, volunteers, and spectators. It’s a comprehensive guide to everything happening next week. Check it out.

The cyclocross season is winding down, but it will go out with a bang! The 2017 USA National Cyclocross Championships are a week away. This will be the biggest cross race that Connecticut has ever seen. The KMC Cross-Fest in October was a fantastic success and we look forward to 2017, New England has hosted the national championships on several occasions, but this is the first time the event has come to our home state.

Horst Engineering is heavily invested in the success of this event. We were founded in Hartford and our headquarters is on the Connecticut River in East Hartford, a stone’s throw from the Riverside Park venue. We are longtime supporters of hosts: The Connecticut Cycling Advancement Program (CCAP) and Riverfront Recapture.

Team Horst Sports members will be competing in several races, including the Masters Championship and Juniors Championship events. Many team members, including those who don’t race cyclocross, will be volunteering to help.

We organized the first ever Connecticut Riverfront Cyclocross at Riverside Park in 2003. Our lineup of Horst Spikes™ cyclocross toe spikes were tested and developed on our hometown course. Cross Spikes™ have brought us back into the bicycling industry in a big way. Our roots are in bikes and we couldn’t be more proud of Hartford to host such a cool event.

2016 Scrooge Scramble

Today, we did the 26th Scrooge Scramble 5K in Rockville, Connecticut. The annual Christmas Day race benefits the Cornerstone Foundation

It was great to see so many friends. Both the Shenipsit Striders and Silk City Striders were well represented.

The course was slightly different from past years. We took a left into the driveway for Cabin Hill Greenhouses. We did a loop in front of their building, and then returned to the regular course.

Debbie ran with our daughter. My son and I ran hard and we both pushed it a bit, but our main event is in 10 days when we race the 2017 USA National Cyclocross Championships at Riverside Park in Hartford. We had great weather with bright sunshine, a mild temperature in the low-40’s Fahrenheit. This fun run is a nice tradition.

Race Results

2016 Elm City Cyclocross

Wow, what a race! Today, we had true New England cyclocross conditions at the Elm City CX in New Haven’s Edgewood Park. After yesterday’s white out, we the temperature warmed overnight, and we were rewarded with an absolute mud and slushfest at today’s race.

It was snowy. It was icy. It was wet. It was slippery. It was dirty. It was challenging. It was so much fun!

I know I have good legs, but I wasn’t able to use them to the best of my ability because of the technical nature of the course. The snow turned to mush and it went from white to brown after the first few races of the day.

The Team Horst Sports Cub Juniors were out in force today. Cole, Shepard and Sean, who both raced yesterday at March Farms, were joined by Lars and Nate. They started a bit late, around 10:00 A.M. By then, the Category 4/5 Men had turned the course to mush. As the temperature continued to climb, peaking around 53 degrees Fahrenheit, the course got softer and muddier as deep ruts were worn into the ground.

Several parts of the course had hot pockets of air. Other sections, there were cold pockets. It was weird. You would ride into the woods and hit a wall of warmth, which would instantly fog your glasses. Speaking of fog, it was hanging low over all of New Haven as the moisture from the cold ground evaporated.

After the deep freeze two days ago, then the snow, and now the unseasonably warmth today, we are headed for more arctic cold tonight. By the early afternoon, the weather was changing again. The wind started to blow and the temperature, which had risen so rapidly, was already starting to drop.

This sort of changeable weather is sort of normal for Connecticut, and it made for awesome cyclocross conditions. So, the Cub Juniors did really well. Sean scored 4th place again, securing a high-ranking in the CT Series of CX, since this was the final race.

We have a three-week break from cross. This was the last regular season race, and in any other year, it would be the last race of the season, at least in our region. Technically, it is the last race of the year, but not the last race of the season. In three weeks, we will welcome nearly 2,000 racers to compete in the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships at Riverside Park in Hartford.

There was a lot more riding today. Yesterday, the snow was dry and deep. Running in it was like running in sand. Today, the snow was like mashed potatoes. It stuck to your pedals, your wheels, and especially to your shoes.

I had a solid race, but couldn’t open it up as much as I would have liked. I’ve gotten better at these technical races, but I’m still not the best when the traction is as poor as it was today. I feel like I had something left when I finished, but I couldn’t go any faster.

For the first few laps, I was alone chasing the three leaders (Garth Schwellenbach, Brian Girard, and Joe Kubisek), but then I was joined by several other riders. Stan Lezon, who is one of my Bolton neighbors, has quickly become my new “nemesis.” We have been battling all season long. He has gotten stronger and we have had some good tactical races, trading positions on several occasions. Yesterday, he finished second, and I was third.

He was in the group that bridged up to me. My teammates, Wade Summers and Art Roti, were also at the tail end of the group. Karel Citroen and John Meyerle were also in the mix. I kept the pressure on and eventually the group blew apart. I know that several of those guys went down, a few of them multiple times. I was able to stay upright. Maybe I wasn’t pushing hard enough? Either way, I had my share of close calls. I slammed my right shoulder on a tree when I slid out in a corner, but I didn’t crash.

As the race went on, the course got even more slippery. Some sections, including the tricky descent were pretty dangerous. It was the kind of exciting riding that we love. The only drawback to a race like this is the damage it does to your gear. It takes time to clean all of your stuff, including your bikes, shoes, and clothing.

Stan and I changed places a few times with two to go. Then, we came into some lapped traffic. The 50+ riders had started a minute or two behind us. Stan got held up around a hairpin turn, so I dismounted, cut it hard on the inside, and ran past, taking the position. I didn’t hold it for long. He caught me and dropped the hammer. I closed the gap one more time, but then he was gone. He might have taken a few more risks and the gap grew.

The last time up the hill, Karel surged past me and we rubbed shoulders a bit, but I couldn’t hold his wheel and he got away. I was able to hold my spot and ended up 6th. Team Horst was also represented in the 50+ field with Matt Domnarski, Dave Geissert, Tom Ricardi, and Paul Nyberg all finishing in the top 15. It’s been a great season racing with all of these guys.

It’s sad for the Connecticut series to end, but we have Nats to look forward to. After that, there will be a long break from cross. Over the next few months, we will turn our attention to watching the big European elite races. There were two this weekend in Belgium. Yesterday, the top riders were at the Scheldecross, and today, at the UCI World Cup in Namur. It would be fun to see those top racers ride a course like Elm City. It would be fun to see how fast they really go. The crew from Amity Bike and the Laurel Bike Club did a great job with the race and deserve extra credit for putting on an event in such foul weather. Last year, the weather was spectacular. Today, it was spectacular in its own way. I heard several other riders proclaim that they are sad to see the season come to an end.

Race Results (will be posted when online)

2016 March Farms CycloMadness

I’ve got soreness in muscles that I didn’t even know I had! Today’s March Farms Cyclocross was insane. We awoke to three inches of snow on the ground and by the end of my race at 11:15 A.M. there was more than six inches. It snowed steadily all morning and made for a treacherous drive to the Litchfield Hills. We took our time and got there well before the 9:30 A.M. Cub Juniors race.

It snowed heavily during the kids race and for the first half of the Men’s Masters race, but by the end, freezing rain and rain were falling. Shepard, Sean, Cole, and the other Juniors who braved the elements deserve serious “cred” for their grit. It was cold, windy, and wet. This was the race to test Horst Spikes Ice & Snow Cross Spikes.

The funniest moment of the day came in the Cub Juniors race when one not-so-happy cross racer promptly stopped his forward momentum and called out, “That’s it, I’m done,” and heaved his bicycle into the snow. His Mom, who was shadowing him on foot, said, “Oh no you don’t,” and prodded him to remount his steed. I couldn’t stop laughing. He finished.

There was less riding in this “bicycle race” than any bicycle race in my career. I was forced to shoulder or push my Seven Mudhoney PRO for 90% of the 2.7 mile race. Can you believe that? In 34 minutes, I only averaged 4.8 mph “with a bicycle.” My heart rate averaged 174 and peaked at 184, so it was an all out effort.

I was joined in the Masters race by Arthur Roti, Tom Ricardi, Paul Nyberg, and Matt Domnarski. We looked shell-shocked after the finish. Our pit bikes were covered in a layer of frozen ice. It was nearly impossible to clip into your pedals. The pedals springs were frozen shut and giant snowballs collected on the bottom of our feet. We had to repeatedly bang them against our pedals to knock off the snow and ice.

On several of the descents, I was able to get enough connection with my pedals to ride for 20 or 30 seconds at a time before being forced to run again. March Farm is the most hilly race in the CT Series of CX, but conditions were much different compared with last year’s race. Last year, I wore shorts.

I ended up third in the 40+ field, but it didn’t matter. Everyone who raced was a champion today. Stan Lezon got the best of me. I guess you could say that I got “dropped on the last lap.” Of course, there were only two laps. A third would have been a death march. We gained nearly 500 feet on the undulating course, and the climbing was ALL on foot. The downhills were hair-raising. A few times, I wasn’t clipped in at all and was just hanging on for dear life as I coasted to the bottom before getting off to run again.

Today, the best strategy was to make sure you were dressed warm enough and to have a lightweight bike. The running was awkward. The footing was difficult, uneven, and slippery. Cyclocross is run in all conditions, and deep snow is no exception. I’m hoping for some wild weather at next month’s USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championship at Riverside Park in Hartford, but not this wild.

The crew at March Farms did a great job despite the challenging conditions. The volunteers and officials also had to brave the conditions. They had a great bonfire, a warming tent, and even a mobile “pub.” Sadly, I wasn’t in the mood for a beer, but we did stop at the farm store before heading home. We showed our support by doing some Christmas shopping.

We have to do it all over again tomorrow. The gear is drying. The bikes are still in the trailer. The temperature is supposed to rise overnight and the Elm City Cyclocross in New Haven is going to be a messy affair.

Race Results (will be posted when online)

2016 Hellgate 100K++

This weekend, Debbie returned to run Hellgate for the second time. She first ran it in 2013. My prior blog post covers some Hellgate history, has some good photos, explains the Beast Series, and links to several other great races that she has done. In 2013 we had some snow, but it wasn’t as cold. Check it out.

This year’s report isn’t as expansive because I’m still thawing out. This was the coldest ultra we have ever been to, and we have been to many. Mercifully, it was dry. For Hellgate, I was the crew chief and the chauffeur. Our kids stayed home. It would have been super-challenging to have them along for this one. Between working in Lynn and Boston last Wednesday and Thursday, traveling back to Connecticut late Thursday, driving to Fincastle, Virginia on Friday, driving all over Jefferson National Forest on Saturday, and driving home yesterday, I’ve added another 1,600 miles to my Subaru’s odometer. Thankfully I do a lot of bicycle commuting, partially in an effort to offset the impact of driving to the races.

Last Friday, we broke up the drive with a detour to Front Royal and Shenandoah National Park. We drove up to the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center. I brought my mountain bike, and rode for 65 minutes out and back on Skyline Drive, and then down to Front Royal where Debbie was waiting for me. It was a welcome break and I got to stretch my legs, take in some nice views, and come up close with a few deer grazing on the side of the road.

We got back in the car and finished the drive, arriving at Camp Bethel at 5:35 P.M. in time for dinner and the pre-race meeting. Race Director, Dave Horton, has his fingerprints all over this race. He gets ample support from a cadre of dedicated volunteers. Many of those volunteers are from Liberty University, where Horton has been a long time professor. Long distance running has become a big deal at LU and he even offers a course on running, which includes a requirement to run an ultramarathon. Many students used Hellgate to complete that requirement.

Debbie likes Hellgate. The point to point 66.6 mile course is a mix of singletrack and forest roads with more than 13,500 feet of elevation gain and loss. The climbs are tough and the terrain is rugged with lots of rocks and roots covered by leaves. The course criss-crosses the Blue Ridge Parkway and crests 3,000 feet several times, climbing as high as 3,600 feet.

The first half of the race has more climbing, but the hills are relentless the entire way, with the last big hill a mere 3.5 miles from the finish. There were 140 starter and 117 finishers. 111 made it below the 18 hour mark. That’s a 79% finish rate for those below the official cutoff and 82% overall, which is remarkable given the harsh weather conditions. Last year, the race was run in ideal (unseasonably warm) conditions and was dubbed, “Sissygate.”

This year couldn’t have been more different. The relatively high finisher rate is attributable to the fact that there are no rookies at Hellgate. Horton vets and selects runners who have pedigree. I have a hard time watching, and wanted to be out there in those crazy conditions doing it myself. It was about 21ºF at the 12:01 A.M. start on Saturday morning, and the temperature plummeted to 8ºF at the higher elevations, with the coldest time of day around 5:00 A.M. The wind was howling and brought the effective temperature well below zero. By noon, the temperature had warmed to 30ºF in the valleys, but it was below freezing all day.

Every Hellgate race report is going to cite the weather conditions, so I won’t belabor it. It was challenging for the crews, the volunteers, and especially the runners. However, we all know that ultrarunners are a tough breed, and most relished the opportunity to run in such interesting conditions.

After driving from Camp Bethel to the start, I saw Debbie at Aid Stations 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, and the finish. Fellow Connecticut friends, Scott and Sarah Slater, rode to the start with us. Both Slaters tackled Hellgate and finished together. Six crew accessible aid stations and the finish is a lot for a 66 mile race. There was no overlap due to the point to point course, so if you want to get to every aid station, you have to hustle.

There were two early stream crossings, which spelled disaster for some runners. Debbie had several sets of gloves and after dipping one into a stream, it turned to a block of ice. I had a spare set for her at Aid Station 2, so she wisely changed them. Her Altra shoes were also frozen, but she opted to keep going.

Aid Station 4 Headforemost Mountain around mile 25 at one of the various Blue Ridge Parkway crossings was  the coldest part of the race for crews and volunteers. Debbie got there around 5:30 A.M. It was 1oºF and the wind was whipping. There was a huge patch of ice right in front of the Christmas tree festooned aid station. I was wearing lots of layers. At first, the car was parked a long way from the aid station, and I didn’t know when she would arrive, so I had her spare socks tucked in my pants. I was wearing her UltrAspire hydration pack under my jacket to keep the bladder and hose from freezing. I had all of her other spare clothes stuffed inside my jacket too. She opted not to change her shoes, which was a good thing because I didn’t want her to stop. I helped several other runners who didn’t have crews as they fumbled with their drop bags. I got one pair of shoes off of a runner using a borrowed screwdriver.

After she came through, I headed to Aid Station 5 Jennings Creek. A volunteer asked if I could shuttle another runner who DNF’d. His name was Lanier Greenshaw, a veteran ultrarunner from Alabama. He made it to Headforemost, but was frozen and exhausted after slipping in one of the water crossings. He was groggy, but in good spirits. He is proof that even the most experienced runners can have troubles and he was confident in his decision to call it a day.

I was happy to have company for several hours, though he dazed in and out of sleep as we made our way to Jennings Creek. It was a perilous drive off of the ridge on a series of rough forest roads. There was nowhere warm to leave Lanier, so he stayed in the car while I waited for Debbie. She came through around 6:50 A.M. She dropped her waist lamp, but kept her headlamp, even though the sun was rising in the east. It was still dark in the trees.

She was feeling good, but needed some food. Every time I saw her, I gave her a stocked UltrAspire pack. She would swap the one she was wearing for the one I had and then get moving again. Lanier and I drove to Aid Station 7 Bearwallow Gap, stopping a few times on the parkway to take in the incredible sunrise from various overlooks. It was perfect timing for us. We went from having a fantastically bright moon before it set, to having amazing starts set against a deep black sky, and then we got this cool sunrise. I love races that are out there in the woods!

As soon as we got to the aid station, a van load of dropped runners were getting shuttled back to Camp Bethel. This was good for Lanier, so we parted ways. I hope to see him at a future race so we can continue our conversation.

I got there before the top runners came through, so it was fun to see everyone come by over the three hours that I was there. I cheered for them, took some photos, and eventually walked down the trail to meet Debbie. She was hungry when she arrived and finally wanted to change to fresh shoes and socks. Someone suggested that I use hot water to melt her laces. I got some boiling water in a cup from a volunteer and voila, it was easy to get her frozen shoes off. The food and shoe change gave her a boost and she was off running again.

When I saw her at Aid Station 8 Bobblet’s Gap, she was dragging a bit. She had a major sidehill traverse and then a big climb up to the gap. I rode a mile and a half down the jeep road on my mountain bike and cheered for her. She arrived at the aid station, but didn’t stay long. She crossed under the parkway and headed for Day Creek, the last aid station before the finish.

I had a long drive to get to Day Creek, so I stopped for fuel and still had time to get to the aid station, hang out, and watch many other runners pass through. Her pace had slowed considerably when she arrived but she was positive. She dropped her heavy gloves, swapped packs and kept moving. Her original goal to finish in the top five wasn’t attainable (she ended up 8th) but she still wanted to break 16 hours and beat her 2013 time of 16:03:29.

The drive to the finish was also long because we had to go all the way around the mountains. I got to Camp Bethel, and then rode back on the course (dirt road) until I intercepted her. She was flying down the hill as only she can do. I was proud of her regardless of whether she broke 16 or not, but she wasn’t giving in. I encouraged her and then rode back to the finish and waited. I kept glancing at the clock. She passed several runners in the last mile, including Shuhei Yamashita, a Japan native living in New York, and Marcello Arias, from Chile. She blitzed those final miles, but came up short, finishing in 16:00:29.

Still, she was very happy. Horton gave her a big hug and she was relieved to finish this one. I was proud of her fortitude. She ran a smart race, dressed well for the conditions, and avoided any stomach issues. She sustained her energy most of the day and did the best she could. I know that she will recover quickly and will be thinking about 2017. Two weeks ago, she sort of got lucky in the Hardrock Endurance Run lottery. She is 7th on the “Never” wait list. Who knows if she gets in to Hardrock? We will see. Right now, the plan is to train for it and go visit Colorado anyway. She plans to register for another Hardrock qualifier just in case. ULTRA-TRAIL Mt. FUJI only qualified her for two years. It’s time to run Hardrock…or another qualifier.

At Hellgate, there were many fine performances. Brian Rusiecki did all New England runners proud by taking the win in 11:01:26. He ran a smart pace and surged to the front after 25 miles or so, and eventually put 35 minutes into Matt Thompson, his nearest competition. Third through fifth were Jason Lantz, Luke Bosek, and Jordan Chang. Jordan boldly led in the early going, and hung in there for a strong finish. He was one of the crazy runners wearing shorts!

On the women’s side, Sarah Schubert led the way in 13:04:16, a stellar time. She was 12th overall, and at 28 years old, probably has many strong races ahead. Second place went to 21-year-old Hannah Bright, who represents that next generation of ultrarunning talent. Debbie didn’t run her first ultra until at 24 (the 1999 Vermont 50) and that was 17 years ago! Bright overcame a bout of “Hellgate Eyes” which struck her around the 30 mile mark. I saw her at the Aid Station 7 Bearwallow Gap, and she was struggling to follow the trail. The cold dry area causes a type of snow blindness that has to be very uncomfortable. Thankfully, she got warmed up, and the situation appeared to clear itself. She is one tough cookie! Third through fourth were Kathleen Cusick, Alexis Thomas, and Alissa Keith.

I love the community attracted to these Beast Series races. Debbie and I saw many old friends and met new ones. Amy Rusiecki was there to crew for Brian, so it was fun catching up with her. Unfortunately, Ian Golden hurt his ankle very early in the race, but it was fun to catch up with him as he tagged along with Amy throughout the day.

I had a chance to catch up with fellow Connecticut mate, Dan Broom, who was doing a super job crewing for our mutual friend, Jerry Turk. Turk finished his 14th consecutive Hellgate, which is a remarkable accomplishment. I love watching Jerry (aka Mr. Bimble) run because he is so steady and so strong. 14:47:02 for a 58-year-old is magnificent. Experience will help you every time!  I hope I’m going full tilt like that in 14 years when I’m his age.

Both Debbie and I will be on a Hellgate high for a while. We had a blast…a cold blast!

Race Results

2016 NECX BAR Finals Cyclocross

Shepard and I closed out the long Thanksgiving Weekend with one more race, the NECX BAR Finals Cyclocross in Fitchburg, MA. This is probably my least favorite course, but I’ve now done the race three years in a row because with cross season waning, you can’t race too much!

I’ve actually got the next few weekends off from racing, so I also wanted to race hard one more time before a period of rest. My legs were pretty hammered from Thursday’s Manchester Road Race, which went well for both Shepard and me.

I also made a tactical error before the race even started. I missed pre-registration on Friday night by an hour and was forced to register this morning at the race. That cost me a front row start. Instead, I was in the last row behind 35 other guys. That hurt my chances. I fought way through the field on a flat and fast course that wasn’t good for passing.

It was cold and windy, which made for group racing. You had to work together in small groups to stay out of the wind. Drafting was a huge factor. I was in a good group that included rival Keith Burgoyne, but I kept  getting gapped off the back, and ultimately, when that group blew apart on the last lap, I couldn’t hang on.

Jeremy Brazeal worked very hard to bridge up to me, so during the last lap, we exchanged spots a few times, which made the racing fun. It was better than being hung out in the wind. I was able to make a move on him before the technical final section of the course, and hold my spot.

I was joined in the Masters 40+ field by teammates Wade Summers and Eric Fleming. It was great to see Eric on the cross bike. He is one of my original Team Horst Sports mates from the late-1990’s. We spent a lot of time together and drove to a lot of  road races and criteriums as a duo. I was even present when first connected with Julie, his spouse.

Randall Dutton was our lone teammate in the Masters 4/5 race. Will Kirousis, another original Horst Engineering Cycling Team mate, visiting to watch the race with his two kids. It was great to see Will. Fitchburg isn’t far from his home. Will is a successful coach and helped me with training for my first few Ironman triathlons.

The race schedule was a bit jumbled, with the Masters 50+ and 60+ races starting earlier. We were represented in the 50+ by Matt Domanarski and Tom Ricardi. Matt rode a valiant race to stay in the front group of five, but couldn’t stick it on the last lap, and finished 4th in the sprint. He has had a fine season.

Shepard was joined in the 8:00 A.M. (first race of the day) Cub Juniors 9-14 year old field by Sean Rourke and Gabrielle Fleming. They all had fun. It’s been awesome to see the kids competing, getting better, and enjoying this cool sport.

Race Results

2016 Bolton Land Trust Walk of Thanksgiving

Today, I got some nice images at the annual Bolton Land Trust Walk of Thanksgiving. We love this tradition of gathering and exploring a different property in our hometown.

This year, we were hosted by the Richard and Paula Morra at Morra Farm on Tinker Pond Road, which is on Birch Mountain. From the Morra Farm, we also explored part of the Fiano Property, part of the Albasi Property, and A Villa Louisa.

The Fiano property dates back to 1923. Mr. Fiano showed up on his 1948 Farmall tractor to share some history. He explained how Italian immigrants settled in this part of Bolton because it looked like where they were from in Italy. The hilly land was good for growing grapes. The Morra Farm is more modern, and their family hails from Aoste, Italy. They grow blueberries and vegetables.

 

The Villa dates back to the late 18th century and continues to operate as a banquet hall. The current owner is a Romanian immigrant, who spoke eloquently about his career as a restauranteur. He pridefully shared stories about the history of the Villa. During Prohibition, it was a well-known speakeasy owned by an Italian family with Chicago routes.

When the walk concluded, we enjoyed apples, apple cider, and donuts. Like I said, it’s a fine tradition for a wonderful land trust.