2016 Fat Tire Classic

It was a family affair at today’s Fat Tire Classic at Winding Trails in Farmington, Connecticut. FTC was race #2 of the 2016 Root 66 Northeast XC Mountain Bike Series. We missed race #1 at Hop Brook Dam when we were in Utah for the Zion 100.

This was my 9th Fat Tire Classic. I raced the singlespeed for the third year in a row. My race was four laps of the five-mile course. Debbie’s race was two laps. Our son’s race was one lap. Our daughter did the kids race.

We had lots of fun, though the weather was cooler than we would have liked. We had brilliant sunshine, but the air was cool and there was a constant breeze. The course was drier than I’ve ever seen it. There wasn’t a drop of moisture to be found and it was dusty.

I’ve got a serious case of “lung burn” as it was full gas the entire time. There is nowhere to hide on this course. It is constant pedaling with no respite. I was absolutely smashed at the finish. This is a building block race as I work towards fitness, so I pushed hard.

Debbie had a good time and is getting ready to tackle the Winding Trails Summer Tri Series. We heard that there will be modifications to the five-mile MTB course for the weekly off-road triathlon series. That course is different and less technical compared to today’s route.

Our son got his first USA Cycling racing license this week and completed his first ever junior race. He is excited to do more mountain biking and then cyclocross this fall. I didn’t get my first racing license until I was 19, so he is already got a leg up on me.

It was great to see so many Team Horst Sports mates out there on the course. We were joined by Arthur Roti, Paul Nyberg, Anthony Eisley, Mark Hixson, and Mike Wonderly. Zane Wenzel and Erik Emanuele stopped by during their Sunday road ride. In addition to our teammates, we saw a lot of friends for the first time since cross season ended back in December.

Race Results (will be posted when online)

Zion National Park, Day 2

Day 2 in Zion National Park was last Tuesday, and it was way better than Day 1, and Day 1 was pretty spectacular. We drove Kolob Terrace Road to the Wildcat Canyon Trailhead and then did the Northgate Peaks hike.

The day after our canyoneering adventure, we wanted to stay away from crowds and see a more wild section of the park. We chose a great spot. There were hikers on the trail, but like us, they were experienced and seeking more solitude. The kids loved the hike. The out and back trail was soft and fun to walk. It wound through a lovely pine forest before reaching the viewpoint, which was awesome. We sat down had snacks, and mingled with some of the other hikers enjoying the spot.

We topped that view by scrambling up the northern Northgate Peak, where there isn’t a marked trail. That was a blast. The kids loved it, and we lingered on the summit for a while, snapping photos and soaking in the sights. From there, we had incredible views of North Guardian Angel, the Great West Canyon, and clear to Zion Valley. We had fine weather with blue skies and big white puffy clouds. Afternoon showers were forecast, but we were done before the skies darkened and we didn’t see any rain. Our son wanted to run back to the trailhead, so I joined him and we were back at the car in 25 minutes.

Even the drive up and down Kolob was fantastic. Outside of the park, there were several small ranches and the cows were hanging out right at the edge of the road. My only regret is that I didn’t have a road bicycle. I would love to ride the road from the valley all the way to the reservoir and back. There are also many more trailheads to explore. We have to return!

Zion National Park, Day 1

Our “front country” day at Zion National Park was last Sunday…with the crowds. The views were spectacular, but the congestion was not. After a morning “hike” with Debbie and the kids, I was happy to break away for a three-hour run away from the crowds. As a family, we checked out the Emerald Pools.  Debbie also took the kids to the Grotto, to the Human History Museum, and several other spots accessible by the park shuttle. That shuttle is doing a good job at keeping cars out of Zion. It’s hard to believe that it’s a relatively new approach to cutting traffic in the park.

In the valley and on the popular trails, it was very crowded, but above the East Rim headed towards Cable Mountain, I had the trail to myself. Seeing the remnants of the cable system that brought timber and building materials from the East Rim to the valley was cool. The trip down took less than 2.5 minutes, which I find fascinating.

 

Hands down, this is the best of all national parks that we have been to with only one exception: Acadia. It’s not just that Acadia starts with an A, and has to come first; as a native New Englander, we just love that park. So we like both parks that start with A and Z. Utah was spectacular.

Canyoneering: Yankee Doodle Canyon/Dixie National Forest

Yesterday, the Livingston and Thatcher families had an amazing canyoneering adventure in Yankee Doodle slot canyon in Dixie National Forest. The canyon is part of Yankee Doodle Hollow, and just outside Zion National Park north of St. George, Utah.

The kids have done some indoor rock climbing, I have some outdoor rock climbing experience (though it had been years since I last did it), and Debbie has some experience too. She did the NOLS Southwest Outdoor Educator: Backpacking and Rock Climbing program in 2001.

It was a beautiful day. The temperature above the rim was in the low-60’s Fahrenheit and there was intermittent sun and clouds. Naturally, it was colder in the slot canyon. It was much wetter than normal, thanks several preceding days of thunderstorms and rain showers. The extra water meant more “swimming” for the adults. The same rain that affected the Zion 100 ultra marathon, is what left Yankee Doodle wet and wild.

The first rappel into the canyon was beautiful. We all wish it was longer, but at 100 feet, it was a great introduction. We had half a dozen other short rappels over large rocks and overhangs. Several of the wetter spots required some ingenuity to keep the kids as dry as possible, especially in the early part of the trip. We were in the canyon for more than five hours, which is more than double the time it takes in dry conditions, without beginners, and without a six and nine-year old. One of the last “problems” to solve, couldn’t be done dry, without taking more time. So, we all ended up getting wet by the end of our time in the slot.

I kept my camera gear dry by using too dry bags inside my pack. Everything else got wet, muddy, and sandy. That’s the way it is in the bottom of a slot canyon. We could have had better shoes. Debbie and I used our running shoes and they weren’t the best for the task, but they got us through the trip just fine.

The Thatcher’s were super patient and everyone was excited about the “problem solving” required to navigate the canyon safely and smartly. We emerged from the canyon around 3:00 P.M. after a short climb up a moderately steep wall. We were all very happy to have full sunlight shining on us because the water at the bottom was very cold.

The drive out of Dixie to St. George was spectacular with amazing views of Pine Valley Mountain, the national forest, Zion National Park, and a host of other incredible Utah mountains and mesas. It was almost too much to soak in as we wound our way back down towards the city. Utah has some amazing countryside.

2016 Zion 100

We made it west again. The main reason for the trip was so that Debbie could run the Zion 100, a very popular ultra marathon in southwestern Utah. The race came right at the start of our trip, and didn’t give her much time to acclimate. We flew to Las Vegas, Nevada on Thursday, and then drove to St. George, Utah. The race was east of there in Virgin.

The start/finish was on Kolob Terrace Road. We got there in time for registration and the pre-race meeting on Thursday night. Once again, my cousin, Danny Roy, joined our crew for the race. He met us in Las Vegas after driving from San Francisco.

We were fortunate to stay with friends in Washington, a suburb of St. George. The drive to Virgin was about 45 minutes long, so after the meeting, we returned to the house. The Friday morning start was at 6:00 A.M., so I drove Debbie there while Danny stayed with our children. It was cool and dry at the start. The 100 mile and 100 kilometer started at the same time and shared the course until they split at the 47.5 mile mark. 55 kilometer and 1/2 marathon trail runs were on Saturday, so it was a weekend of running in the desert.

The Zion course has a modest amount of climbing, but nothing compared to Debbie’s last big race, ULTRA-TRAIL Mt. FUJI. That was last September, so she had a long layoff in between ultras. I watched her run off in the dark with several hundred other runners, and then returned to Washington to meet up with Danny and the kids.

We returned to Virgin all packed for a day of crewing adventure. Our first aid station was Dalton at the 15 mile mark. We thought we got there in adequate time based on her projections, but we missed her by 15 minutes. She is a self-sufficient runner, but we were bummed to miss her at the first crew permissible aid station of the day. We couldn’t see her again until she returned to Dalton at the 30.5 mile mark, so we drove up the road to Zion National Park. We got our park pass, walked around the Visitor Center, and then stopped for a late breakfast in Springville.

After eating, we returned to Dalton. She came through the 30.5 mile mark in about six hours. I walked up the trail a ways and was joined by our son. We eventually saw her descending a steep and rocky mesa. By noon, the weather had warmed up and it was in the low-70’s Fahrenheit with a strong sun shining between intermittent clouds. For the week prior to the race, rain had been in the forecast for Friday and Saturday.

There was some pre-race discussion about the prospect of rain. We had been told that the soft and dusty trails would turn to mush with any rain. Debbie looked good coming in to Dalton and she was leading the 100 mile women, but as she exited the aid station, she told me that she was feeling a bit low. Still, she seemed to be in good spirits. We weren’t going to be able to see her for another 23 miles, so it was going to be a long afternoon without a crew. She was stocked up after taking a fresh UltraSpire pack from us and she was ready for the challenge.

We knew it was going to be five to six hours before we saw her again, so we returned to Washington so the kids could go swimming in the pool at the house where we were staying. While I hung out with the kids, Danny went for a run. There was no race tracker, so we were left to wonder and worry about Debbie. I’ve spent 17 years following her ultra exploits and I never stop worrying.

We packed up again and then drove over to the St. George Running Center so that Danny could pick up a new headlamp. It’s a neat specialty store. On Monday, we are returning so that Debbie can do an evening talk at the store. After the brief visit, we headed back towards Virgin and then towards the Grafton Mesa Aid Station. On our way up towards the aid station, we got a message from our friend, Melanie Thatcher. She was cheering for runners at the Goosebump Aid Station high on a mesa at the 47.5 mile mark.

Debbie had just arrived, and quite a bit behind schedule. It was nearly 5:00 P.M. and she had been running for 11 hours. Melanie reported via text that Debbie was going to cut her race short and drop down to the 100 kilometer race. Pre-race, they had warned that this was the time to make that decision, otherwise, there was no good option to turn back. She and I have often discussed the ramifications of 100 kilometer options. They often give runners an “out” should they lack the confidence to finish the full 100 miler. We both agree that when you start a race and then drop down to a lower distance, that you are really a DNF. I’m not a fan of races that allow runners to conveniently shorten their race and then get credit in the results.

Regardless, she says that she made the right decision. We had pulled off the side of the road to confirm with Melanie what Debbie decided to do. Thanks to modern technology, we had video proof of her arrival at Goosebump. Then we got a report via text that she changed her mind again and was heading back out on the 100 mile course with our Shenipsit Striders club mate, Steve LaBranche. Steve had been running strong, only a handful of minutes behind Debbie and apparently, had shared some miles with her running into the aid station.

To make sure we understood, and to make sure we were headed for the right aid station, we called Melanie. She reported that Debbie had indeed changed her mind again, and was not continuing on to Grafton Mesa, but rather was in fact cutting the race short and doing the 100 kilometer course instead. This meant that she was heading for Virgin Desert Aid Station and not Grafton Mesa.

Based on her schedule, she had 7.5 miles to go before reaching Virgin Desert at the 55 mile mark. That gave us time to get some dinner, so we went back down the hill to the town of Hurricane and found a place to eat. After dinner, we drove back up the hill and straight to the aid station. It was two miles down a dirt road and hands down, is the most beautiful aid station I’ve ever been to. The setting, high on a plateau had the most amazing views in all directions. The view of Gooseberry Mesa with a building storm on the horizon was simply spectacular. The promised rain was coming.

We had time to set up and then hang out at the aid station. We were the first ones there and saw all the lead runners come through. We even saw the lead 100-miler runner, who was more than an hour ahead of second place. We knew she had slowed, so Danny decided to run backwards on the course and intercept her. The kids and I stayed back and took photos of the storm. It was more than one storm. We could see heavy rain falling to the west and to the northeast. In the east, there was a wonderful rainbow that lasted for more than an hour as the sun was setting behind us in the west. Eventually, the eastern clouds worked their way south and then west. It basically wrapped around the desert plateau and enveloped us.

Debbie arrived, accompanied by Danny, around 6:50 P.M. after being on her feet for more than 12 hours and 45 minutes. Just as she arrived, it was starting to sprinkle, but we knew the storm was coming. We had watch the sky darken gradually. She was feeling really low, but was happy to see us. Danny was a superstar again. He has crewed and paced her at some big races in recent years, including Vermont 100, Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Run 100, and Miwok 100K. A week from Monday, he is running in his second Boston Marathon. Last year, he had a nice debut, and this year, his goal is to crush it with a marathon personal record.

She donned her rain jacket, switched packs, and put on her headlamp. She also donned her new UltraSpire Lumen 600 waist pack light, which is super-bright. She wishes she had that at UTMF where her light setup was woefully inadequate. Just as she and Danny ran off, it started to rain steadily. I gathered the kids and as much gear as I could carry and ran back to the rented truck. I loaded them in and then the sky just opened up. The thunderstorm that we had been watching for two hours had arrived, and with a fury. I had to get more of our stuff back at the aid station and by the time I ran the 200 meters from where we were parked, I was soaked to the bone. The desert had turned into a mud pit.

When I finally got inside the truck, the kids were wild-eyed with excitement. The storm was amazing and the rain came down in torrents. It was reminiscent of the thunderstorm we rode out (also from inside a rental vehicle) at the 2014 Tahoe Rim Trail 100, but this time, there were no trees. It rained non-stop for 30 minutes. After it stopped, there was a brief clearing, and a wonderful sunset as the mesa’s were lit in a golden glow. I was happy that Danny was with Debbie for this final stretch. After the race, she reported that the trail turned in to a stream as the water rushed downhill carving a steep gully.

The kids and I returned to Hurricane, and then drove back up to the start/finish in Virgin. We experience the occasional sprinkle, but for the most part it was dry. Of course, after the rain, the temperature had dropped and it was quite chilly. I bought them some pizza at the finish line and we hung out around the barrel fires to stay warm. Debbie arrived after 14 hours and 31 minutes of running. She had a solid final seven miles, running a 102 minute split. Though it was an unofficial 100 kilometer finish, she was satisfied with her decision and happy that she wouldn’t be hiking another 38 miles overnight.

After getting some food for Debbie and Danny, we made our way back to our vehicle. All five of us piled inside and were thrilled to get back to Washington after the 45 minute drive back to the house. By then, the rain had started again, which further convinced Debbie that she had made the right decision. It had been a long day for all of us. She didn’t reach the goal that she set out to achieve, but she made an adjustment and was happy with that.

In the morning, we got word that Steve LaBranche successfully finished the 100-miler, so we are proud of him. Congratulations to all the runners. I’m sure there were quite a few DNF’s. We also heard that some runners were forced to cut their race short because of the rain and deteriorating trail conditions. It rained all night, which also caused a delay to the start of the 55 kilometer and 1/2 marathon races.

Of course, I’m always proud of Debbie. It’s always tough to watch her suffer, and the waiting can be nerve-wracking. I always want her to perform at a high level. We both realize that after doing this for 17 years, her super-fast days are behind her. Nowadays, the running is more about the adventure, the experiences, the travel, the community, and the views. The Zion 100 had it all, especially the views.

Race Results (100 Miler)

Race Results (100 Kilometer)

2016 TRI-MANIA Summit and Expo

Yesterday, Debbie, the kids, and I attended the TRI-MANIA Summit and Expo in Boston. It had been five years since we attended a version of this annual New England triathlon community pre-season event. Admission to the expo was free, though there were a series of seminars and races that were fee based. Back then, it was called Multisport World. TRI-MANIA was a good event. There were more than 80 exhibitors at the Boston University Fitness & Recreation Center on Commonwealth Avenue.

Walking Comm Ave. brought back some good memories. I attended BU from 1990-1992. I didn’t finish there, but I have good memories of those first two college years. I walked past the registrars office on Comm. Ave. where I “withdrew” in August of 1992. I came home for a couple semesters, worked on a lathe at Horst Engineering, and then returned to Boston College to finish my degree in 1995. That’s a story for a different blog post. My freshman experience at BU was in Warren Towers at 700 Comm. Ave. on the 7th Floor of “C” Tower. It was fun to show the kids the window of my dorm room, which looked straight towards Kenmore Square and had a fantastic view of the iconic Citgo sign. I wish I had some good photos from those days, but alas, it was the days of film and I’m not in the mood to search old albums on a Sunday morning. The Fit Rec Center didn’t exist in this form back in the early 90’s. It’s an awesome complex with an amazing pool, climbing wall, cardio equipment, weights, and gyms. West Campus at BU has been completely redone with multiple new buildings including the Agganis Arena where the hockey and basketball teams play.

The main gym of the Fit Rec Center was the site of the TRI-MANIA event. We saw a lot of friends, including several from our club, the Hartford Extended Area Triathletes (HEAT). Debbie and I know a lot of people in the New England endurance sports community and it was fun to catch up with so many. We drove up in the morning in time to join Coach Al Lyman for his 11:00 A.M. Kettlebell Training for Triathletes class. Coach Al has coached Debbie for many years, so she and fellow Pursuit Athletic Performance athlete, Lisbeth Kenyon (also of TTBikeFit) assisted Al. Debbie signed me up before I had a chance to ask, so I was “forced” to do some exercise on a Saturday morning. Over the last five years, I’ve seen lots of kettlebell activity in our home gym, so it isn’t a foreign concept to me, but admittedly, I never swung one until yesterday. Coach Al still can’t get over the fact that I live with a fitness professional who is dedicated to core strength and stretching; and all I want to do is “ride my bike.” We both chuckle at that. I’ve gone through stretches (pun intended) where I focus on functional strength, stability, mobility, and balance, but when things get busy, I always seem to fall of the wagon.

Regardless, thanks to a push from Debbie, yesterday, for an hour, I jumped back on the wagon and I hope to keep the momentum going. We spent most of the hour focused on the Turkish Get Up, which Al proclaims the single best exercise you can do. It’s going to take a lot more practice for me to figure out the technique. Maybe I’ll start practicing later today. Listening to Al reminded me of my “gluteal amnesia,” one of the phrases I’m most fond of hearing from him. Al was also ably assisted by his girlfriend, Terry Williams, his son A.J., and A.J.’s girlfriend Liz. We have had a blast hanging with the Lyman Clan in recent years and we were last all together last year at the Miwok 100K.

The expo included many exhibitors in a variety of categories, including retailers, coaching services, event directors, health and wellness services, nutritional products, training products, and gear. The keynote speaker was Mike Reilly, the “Voice of IRONMAN.” At the end of the day, they held a “You Make the Call Contest” where attendees were invited to give their best, “You are an IRONMAN!” Mike is famous for belting out that phrase as each athlete crosses the finish line. I was fortunate to have him call my name at the 2010 IRONMAN World Championships. One of the best parts of the day was when our six-year old daughter entered the contest. She surprised us when she changed the script and yelled into the microphone, “Dad, you are an IRONMAN!” I caught it on video and that really made me smile.

She didn’t win, but we were really proud of her for standing in front of a large group and giving it her best shot.

Amongst the old friends I got to catch up with, was Will Kirousis, from Tri-Hard Endurance Sports Coaching. Will was a teammate on Team Horst Sports from our founding in 1997, through 2000. Will is also the person that first introduced us to Coach Al, and he was very helpful when I was training for my first three long distance triathlons in Lake Placid, Brazil, and Kona. It was great to see Will at his booth, and hear about his success. We sort of made a pact that we would return to the Vermont 50 Mile Ride & Run this year. Debbie and I missed the race in 2015, but it’s time for us to return. Registration opens in May!

There were a lot of neat things to see and try. I was particularly intrigued by energy bits. I like the fact that they only have one ingredient. I got a sample to try. There were a lot of samples at the expo and I think I’ve had enough energy food for one weekend. After we left the expo, Debbie, and kids and I stopped in Watertown. We shopped at Fastachi where they sell amazing gourmet nuts. Then, we dined next door at Red Lentil. We got home in time for the kids’ regular bed time. I’ll be back in Boston on Tuesday for work, but for a day, the travel was all fun.

It’s been tough for me to get motivated for sport in 2016, but attending TRI-MANIA this weekend gave me a little boost. It’s always fun to see the latest gear, fashions, and of course, it’s great to see our longtime friends. Now it is time to stop writing about triathlon and start doing it again.

2016 Bolton Road Race

One of the best races of the year is our hometown race. The Bolton Road Race celebrated its 38th year today. We haven’t done 38, but over the past 16 years since Debbie and I have been together, and over the past 11 that we have lived in Bolton, we have done many. This year’s race was unique in that it is the first time I’ve been to a wedding at a race. I had fun as a freelance wedding photographer.

Faith Raymond and Joseph Strafach got hitched in a civil ceremony in the Bolton High School cafeteria just before the start of the five miler. It was fun and inspiring to witness their running love story culminate with the ceremony. I saw them walk down the aisle and then minutes later, they passed me on the first hill of the course. I shot a little video as proof that they dropped me going past Pesces Farm. I’m sure that this is just the beginning of the journey for them. They probably have lots of roads and trails left to run together.

The race has grown every year since Dani Kennedy took over as Race Director. She did another bang up job, bringing 321 runners to the finish line safely. I always look forward to seeing her cheering at the top of the last hill on the course. She as there again this year, offering encouragement to all the runners who passed. This was one of the bigger Bolton Road Races and overflow parking was required at other venues in town. The weather was glorious as this non-winter delivered another mild day. Shorts and shortsleeves were all you needed. The race drew many volunteers from the Bolton Booster Club, the prime beneficiary of the race proceeds.

Those proceeds were boosted by many great sponsors, including our family business, Horst Engineering, celebrating its 70th year in 2016. Several other notable family businesses also supported the race. Worth mentioning are Munson’s Chocolates, also celebrating its 70th year, Highland Park Market, and Shady Glen. The race was the Road Runners Club of America Connecticut State Five Mile Championships. Debbie went for a long run before the race and met us at the start. I jogged the two miles from our house, and my parents were kind enough to drive the kids and meet me there. Debbie raced hard and earned first place in the 40-49 age group. She had a fun “battle” with our friend, Kathleen Shaw, who wasn’t a fan of the Bolton hills, but finished just behind Debbie in the age group.

I ran with our son, who finished his second Bolton Road Race. Our daughter walked the “two-miler” with my parents, Lynn and Stan. Thank you to them. She wanted a gel, and the family rule is that you only consume energy food when you race. She “earned it,” but I still haven’t figured out how a little body can process so much sugar.

 

The top three men were Alex Norstrom, Jacob Gurzler, and Adam Seften. Alex ran a 27:00 flat, which is a fine time on such a hilly course. Adam was the first Bolton finisher and earned a spot on the 38-year-old trophy honoring that achievement. I came close a few times, but with these young guns, it’s unlikely that I’ll ever get my name on the trophy. Maybe one of our kids will earn that spot down the road. Good news on the gender equality front: after 38 years of men’s names going on the trophy, this year, a new trophy and tradition was started to honor the first female finisher from  Bolton. That honor will go to Debbie, which makes me smile. She was fourth woman behind Melissa Stellato, Sara Belles, and Kelly Labanara. Melissa had a fantastic race, and finished in 10th overall in 31:58. Another notable performance worth mentioning was Brett Stoeffler who ran 29:44 for fourth overall, just days after his 49th birthday. Several other Bolton residents earned age group awards, including Laurie Brooks, Ned Kennedy, and Kevin Glenn.

Five mile races are kind of rare, so if you have never raced the distance, join us in 2017 for the 39th Bolton Road Race. I can’t promise that there will be another wedding, but maybe a trend was started today. You never know.

Race Results

2016 New England Trail Adventure, Part 1

This past weekend, Debbie had a big adventure on the New England Trail (NET). We spend a lot of time on the NET, but we have never done a long continuous run or hike on it. Her eventual goal is to run the entire length of the trail from Long Island Sound in Guilford, Connecticut; to Royalston Falls, Massachusetts on the New Hampshire border.

The total length is 215 miles, but that includes a spur in Connecticut, where most of the NET is on the Mattabesett Trail, and a small section is on the Menunkatuck Trail. In Massachusetts, the NET is on the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail. You could stretch the adventure even farther, and go to the summit of Mt. Monadnock. That would tack on another 25 miles or so. I last wrote about the trail in 2014 after attending the dedication ceremony.

I’m not sure what her eventual goal is. We have to research it a bit more and decide if “running the trail” means doing every mile of it, or just going from Long Island Sound to the MA/NH border. You can’t run that length without scouting the route, so that is what she started.

We know that there have been some “thru-hikers” who have gone “end-to-end” on the trail. Unfortunately, the NET doesn’t have many shelters or rustic trailside accommodations. That makes it more difficult to thru hike compared to the Long Trail.

Saturday, I dropped Debbie off at Chittenden Park in Guilford. In Connecticut the trail is marked by blue blazes, and is part of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association’s Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail System (CFPA). We didn’t make it to Massachusetts this past weekend, but there, the trail is maintained by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) and marked with white blazes.

I’m a big NET supporter, and it is worth noting that I am on the Board of Directors of both CFPA and AMC. The two .org’s collaborated on the NET Map & Guide that we are used. I put the map in Debbie’s stocking at Christmas.

So, last Saturday, she ran from Guilford to Middlefield, stopping at the Rt. 147/Rt. 66 junction. After I dropped her off, I camped out at a Starbucks, and did a bunch of work. Then, I had lunch at the Shoreline Diner in Madison. Eventually, I drove to Middletown and bought her a protein filled smoothie at It’s Only Natural Market. She got additional crewing and support from her coach, Al Lyman, and his partner, Terry Williams. Both of them are great supporters of our family’s adventures. Coach Al ran with Debbie for quite a ways. Unfortunately, I didn’t see Al. We were in touch by phone and text, but he stopped at the Rt. 157 junction.

Late in the day, I drove to the Rt. 147 trailhead/pickup spot and ran backwards on the trail until I intercepted Debbie. I made it about five miles before seeing her. Actually, she spotted me. I was lost and confused (like usual), and if she hadn’t seen me from higher up on the ridge, I would have run right by her. Thankfully, she saw me on a side trail, yelled down to me, and I backtracked to meet up with her.

We had a good run, though I’ve been suffering from a bad cold that won’t seem to go away. I haven’t done much exercise and don’t have my “trail legs.” I proved that point when clumsily, I took a hard fall and smashed my shin on a rock. I’ve been licking my wounds for the last several days.

The section I ran with her was along Beseck Mountain and had many nice views. We even ran across Powder Hill, the top of the Powder Ridge ski area. One lift was running and there were some youth skiers and snowboarders enjoying the slope. It was odd to see the man-made snow (one run) on a relatively mild afternoon. It has been a very warm winter in New England and a tough one for ski areas like Powder Ridge. We got back to our car just before sunset. She was on the trail for just over eight hours, and the map mileage indicated that she covered 34.4 miles. I don’t know the elevation change, but it was significant thanks to all the steep hills. She said it was more rugged than she anticipated.

Some sections of the NET in Connecticut are heavily used. Being so close to civilization and with so many side trails, it’s a Catch 22. One of the beauties of this resource is that it is so close to so many people. Accessibility is a plus. The drawback of the proximity to heavy population, is the impact on the trail and the environment that it crosses.

There are many cross trails, which  makes route finding a real challenge. Many of those trails get heavy ATV use. The NET itself is a mix of single track, double track, dirt roads, and paved roads. It’s a real mish mash of terrain. The trail was covered by lots of leaves, which concealed many sharp and loose rocks. The footing is terrible and presented a real challenge.

Whereas some sections get heavy use, there are other sections of the trail that get light use. Running continuously, you see both the heavily used sections and the lightly used sections. This time of year, any trail in New England is hard to navigate, and the NET was true to form. The leaves and lack of other plant life, made it very hard to spot the trail. The blazes were often sparse and she did a lot of backtracking. Even the short sections I ran, were difficult to follow. The bright sunlight made it nearly impossible to see the blazes on the trees when you were running towards the sun late in the day.

On Sunday, I drove Debbie back to where she left off, in Middlefield. At the Rt. 147 junction, the NET crossed Rt. 66 and returns into the wood behind Guida’s Dairy Bar. Both days, she started running at 9:30 A.M. We used her parents house in Prospect as our base of operations, and our kids spent the weekend there. After dropping her off, I had to return to Prospect and take our son to a birthday party in Newington. I did that, spent a few more hours at a different Starbucks, picked up my son, and returned him to my in-laws. I took a call from her on the drive back to Prospect. She said she was lost. I said I would head in her direction and dig out some maps to see if I could help her locate the trail. Less than 10 minutes later, she called again to say that she found the trail. I reversed course and returned to my in-law’s. After a quick change, I got back in the car and drove to the spot on Edgewood Road in Meriden where she planned to stop.

Her Sunday route required her to tackle Mt. Higby, then continue on to Chauncey Peak, and Lamentation Mountain, before she had a road section. After that, she had to climb Cathole Mountain, South Mountain, and Castle Crag. It was shortly after that section in Hubbard Park on West Peak, where I intercepted her. I ran backwards from the trail crossing on Edgewood Road. The sunshine was brilliant, which made it very difficult to follow the trail. The sun was low on the horizon and I was running west, straight towards it.

I made it three miles before we connected near a large complex of cell phone towers. The views on this section of the NET were spectacular.  I imagined what it must have looked like 200 years ago before civilization and suburban sprawl altered the landscape. This must have been a rugged and remote part of Connecticut. Now, Interstates 91 and 691 are in the shadow of these ridges, and you can’t get away from the hum of the vehicles.

She was in good spirits and moving well. We took photos and then pushed hard on the descent back to the car. She covered another 26.2 miles in just over seven hours. Her total for two days was 60.6 miles in just over 15 hours, though several hours were spent with breaks and route finding. We returned to my in-law’s to collect our kids and head for home after a couple of long days of activity.

Judging the social media reaction from the pictures and comments that we posted from the trail, we already succeeded in stimulating interest in the NET. I predict that more and more trail runners and hikers are going to check it out. That would be good because the trail needs more use. That will drive more trail maintenance and make it easier to follow. The more positive attention that the NET gets, the better.

As always, Debbie is an inspiration, and I love to watch her in action.

Crawford Notch & the AMC Highland Center

Last weekend, we made the journey north to Crawford Notch. The White Mountains of New Hampshire are one of our favorite places to visit. We were planning a couple of days of snowshoe hiking and at least one day of skiing/snowboarding at nearby Bretton Woods. However, health and the weather didn’t cooperate. New England was hit with the biggest Arctic blast of the season and day time highs on Saturday were still nearly 20 degrees Fahrenheit below zero. With the wind chill, it felt like -40F. That’s pretty cold and not good for skiing.

The snowshoe hiking was OK, but I was really under the weather, so Debbie and the kids didn’t wander far. They climbed little Mt. Willard, which is a great family hike from our base at AMC’s Highland Center. The Highland Center has been one of our favorite destinations since it was built a dozen years ago. Situated at the top of the notch, we have access to great trails in all directions. Since we were stuck inside most of the weekend, we took advantage of the entertainment and programs. On Friday night, the kids watched The Lorax. On Saturday night, we were entertained by Islay Mist Ceilidh, a local Scottish roots ensemble. They played for more than an hour in Thayer Hall. On Sunday night, we all watched Frozen, which was the theme of the weekend.

I did a little reading. The library has more than 100 years of Appalachia journal and I enjoyed the December 1972 issue. By Sunday evening, I was moving my body a little and we got outside before dinner for a little walk. The kids enjoyed the playscape even though it was frigid. We look forward to returning in summer when things thaw out, because the sunshine in these photos is very deceiving! It was much colder than it looks.

Appalachia Book Review: Trail Running Western Massachusetts

The Appalachian Mountain Club’s Winter/Spring 2016 issue of Appalachia arrived in mailboxes last week. Appalachia, published continuously since 1876, is America’s oldest mountaineering and conservation journal. It appears twice a year, in June (Summer/Fall) and December (Winter/Spring).

This issue is loaded with great essays and poetry. Like vinyl records and film cameras, Appalachia is a throwback. You have to buy it to read it in hard copy, but like a new record (in an old format), its worth your time and money.

I’ve written for Appalachia in the past, including a story about our 2005 Long Trail End-to-End hike. That essay was published in the June 2006 issue. In the latest issue, I have a book review. The subject of the review is Ben Kimball’s, Trail Running Western Massachusetts.

For sixteen years, my wife Debbie Livingston and I have been running on trails all over New England. Many trail running pioneers hail from Connecticut, where we live, but the real epicenter of trail running in our region during the past 25 years is the region this book covers, western Massachusetts.

The long-running New England Grand Tree Trail Running Series predates the recent trail-running boom by many years. ese races launched by the Western Massachusetts Athletic Club (WMAC) spurred growth in the sport. The forests, parks, and trail systems of western Massachusetts make it an ideal place to run.

I have in past years felt skeptical about the idea of a trail-running guide, but Kimball’s book changed my mind. He proves that it does make sense to have a reference book to help runners learn about the best trails. It is a wonderful resource for runners of all ability levels, and it creates a model for future trail-running guides. i’m already imagining a series of these guides built around a standard, just as the Appalachian Mountain Club has done with its many hiking guides.

Debbie and I own lots of guides that were written for hikers, and we have adapted them for trail running. We use the AMC’s White Mountain Guide and Maine Mountain Guide, the Green Mountain Club’s Long Trail Guide, and Connecticut Forest & Park Association’s Connecticut Walk Book, for examples. Even in a digital world, we would be at a loss without these books. We use them extensively when running and fast-packing, covering distances in less than half the average hiking times.

Hiking guides sometimes are too bulky to carry on the trail. Trail Running Western Massachusetts is a compact 6.9 x 4.3 x 0.6 inches. it weighs only 12.6 ounces and easily fits into a hydration backpack or small butt pack designed for running. All of the maps are contained within the pages of the book. Kimball did the writing, photography, and cartography for this book. In New England, there is no precedent for a trail-running guide. A handful of guides from other parts of the country exist, but they don’t appear to establish a standard. I don’t know if Kimball used the AMC’s guides as a model, but I see in influences.

The nine-page introduction is an important section in which Kimball discusses conservation, etiquette, safety, trail access, and then discusses “How to Use is Book.” As an experienced runner, I appreciate Kimball’s brevity. However, if I put myself in the shoes of a neophyte trail runner, I realize that he manages to cover all of the necessary ground. He introduces the reader to trail running, how it differs from road running, and how hiking and trail running coexist. Early in his introduction, he stresses conservation and the environmental impacts of trail use. He gives tips on how to interact with other trail users. I read the safety section through the eyes of a beginner trail runner; and it is a good primer on hydration, insects, wildlife, and common injuries/illnesses.

He explains in his introduction that he offers options for extending or shortening each of the routes he’ll describe. Each route offers “quick referenced data” (distance, difficulty rating, trail style, trail type, and town) followed by a brief description of the route, directions to the trailhead, “turn-by-turn” trail descriptions, and a section dubbed “nearby” that references additional trail running opportunities in the vicinity.

Kimball reminds readers that running routes go over public and private lands as he previews the 51 “site locations” that are the heart of the guide. Each site profile is a chapter that covers a designated trail-running route.

The description for each route is like an advertisement for your run. Kimball often identifies the overall condition of the trail (e.g., “rocky and rooty”), the best time of the week or year to run, notable views, and other fun facts. If you are skimming through the various sites, the quick-referenced data and these opening paragraphs are all you need to decide where to go.

The print maps for each site are detailed enough with the route clearly identified. Trailhead parking, nearby roads, landmarks, and other trails are noted. A mileage scale and key on every map are handy for reference. The maps include contour lines, but with no elevation figures noted. I enjoy the simplicity, but I also like data. With trail running, elevation gained and lost is important information and good for bragging about your adventures. including elevation data on the print maps and in the descriptions would be a welcome update.

Though each route has Kimball’s subjective difficulty rating of “easy, moderate, challenging, or a combination,” I would like to know more about the author’s criteria. Does he have a formula? Difficulty in trail running is usually dictated by a combination of terrain and elevation. (UltraRunning magazine, for example, rates trail races on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most difficult.) obviously, distance is a factor too, but the 51 site locations are all short-to-middle-distance routes. Elevation and surface keys adaptable for New England trails would enhance the guide. On a map at the beginning of the book, the sites for the various routes are marked. It could be expanded to include distance, difficulty rating, and trail type. At a glance, I would like to see all 51 routes the book covers marked specifically on the map. I like tables and think that expanding this section to include one with the extra information would be a welcome addition.

There are many ways to use the guide. As mentioned, it is small enough to carry, though that would not be my approach. If you carry the guide, seal it in a waterproof freezer bag to keep it dry. Rain, sweat, or a hydration pack leak would make a mess of the paper version. Because you are typically doing one route at a time, and each description and map is no more than four pages, I would photocopy the route and carry a couple of pages.

If you are digitally inclined and carry a mobile device on your runs, then you can easily scan or photograph the information in the guide. In the corner of each map is a QR code. I tested this with my iPhone after downloading a free reader. The code gives you access to a PDF version of each map and additional photos of the trail. There is an e-book for Kindle that can also be read on an iPad, but if you own the print version, the only way to access the site descriptions is to have the book. The maps are also available at www.trailrunningsites.com. But remember that you have to have enough battery life to last through your run and that you should be self-sufficient on your run, not relying on a phone signal for access to the internet or the outside world. Debbie suggested that you bookmark the page of your run and leave that on your car dashboard so others know where you went should you not return on time.

One of the great benefits of this guide is that it will spur runners to leave the roads, seek the trails, and explore new routes. It will encourage healthy exercise, inform you, and increase your love of the outdoors.

2015 Appalachian Mountain Club Photo Contest

I took 3rd place in the Recreation Close to Home category of the 21st Appalachian Mountain Club Photo Contest. My photo, Rail Trail Snowshoe, was taken on the Hop River State Park Trail in my hometown of Bolton, Connecticut in February 2015 during our epic winter. The low resolution image in this post doesn’t do it justice.

Debbie, the kids, and I ventured out during a heavy snowfall to explore the trails in Bolton Notch State Park and Freja Town Park. The rail trail is right out our front door. We love where we live.

Congratulations to all of the honorees. We have some amazing photographers in our club.

I had to sit out of the 2014 contest after winning in 2013. I had winning images in 2011 and 2009. At this rate, I sit out every even year! I’m proud to keep my streak of honored images alive, and I’m looking forward to 2017.

2015 Scrooge Scramble

Today was the 25th annual Scrooge Scramble 5 kilometer road race to benefit the Cornerstone Foundation in Rockville, Connecticut.

This race has been a Christmas Day tradition for our family for many years. We have been having record warm temperatures in New England. It was in the low-60’s Fahrenheit, which made for a very runner friendly race.

This race has been a Christmas Day tradition for our family for many years. We have been having record warm temperatures in New England. It was in the low-60’s Fahrenheit, which made for a very runner friendly race.

The crowd that showed up was certainly a record, and that is a good thing. The donations to the shelter/soup kitchen are likely to be a record too. We have run this race in frigid temperatures and snow, so today was a welcome reprieve from winter.

I chose to run hard for the first time in a long time and I’ll pay  the price the next few days. My quadriceps are shot. Debbie ran with our kids. She got her workout in when we dropped her off at the tunnel in Vernon so she could run the rail trail to the start. I brought my bicycle and road the same rail trail home. It was such a beautiful day, we wanted to spend as much time outside as possible.

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

Merry Christmas!

Race Results

2015 Bear Mountain Hike

Today, we had a wonderful family hike on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in northwestern Connecticut. We did the Bear Mountain loop, which is really a “lollipop.” We started on Rt. 41 in Salisbury at the Undermountain Trail parking lot. We hiked up to the AT, then north on the AT over the summit of Bear Mountain and down to Sage’s Ravine. There, we picked up the Paradise Trail and took it back to the Undermountain Trail junction, and then back to the parking lot.

I’ve done this six-mile loop several times before, but today was the first time with our kids. Debbie and I could have run it in a little more than an hour, but it ended up taking us four hours, which is just fine. It was cold, right around the freezing mark, but the sunshine was very nice and the wind wasn’t bad. There was some treacherous black ice in spots, particularly headed down in to Sage’s Ravine where the sun wasn’t hitting the trail. It was a beautiful day.

The Undermountain Trail is part of the Connecticut Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail system and is maintained by volunteers from the Connecticut Forest & Park Association. The AT in Connecticut is maintained by the Connecticut Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club.

Bear Mountain is the highest summit in the state, but it isn’t the high point. That is on the flanks of Mt. Frissell, which peaks out in Massachusetts just north of the border. The views from Bear are the finest of any Connecticut ridge, and today, they are fabulous.

2015 Elm City Cross

This evening, it was bittersweet for me to put away all of my cyclocross gear. The season came to a satisfying end at today’s Elm City Cross in New Haven, Connecticut. This was the final race in the CT Series of Cross. I’ve seen social media posts from many of my friends from the New England cyclocross community, and they share my sentiment about the season coming to a close. There are a couple more races (late additions to the calendar) and some folks are heading south in January for the USA National Championships, but I’m going to end this sporting year on a high note.

I did seven of the eight CT Series races. This is the best little race series around, so thank you to all of the individual Race Directors, organizers, officials, sponsors, and volunteers. Thank you to all my fellow racers, particularly in the super-competitive 40+ field. Hats off to each of you for the battles during the four race weekends spread out over the last four months. The unseasonably warm fall weather was a big factor in making this season even more fun. I don’t mind mud, and we had a little, but we didn’t do any races in extreme cold or moisture. Conditions were just fine with me. Like the weather for yesterday’s March Farm CycloMadness, today was a very warm day. The venue at Edgewood Park in urban New Haven was really good. I had never been there, and it is a hidden gem. A real highlight was that it was super kid friendly (like March Farm), but in a totally different way. The skate park was really cool and the course went straight through it. It provided my son and his friends with hours of enjoyment. We went from the rural Litchfield Hills yesterday to the City of New Haven today.

After missing all of the 2014 cyclocross season with a broken shoulder (fractured scapula) suffered in a road crash on Labor Day Weekend last year, I was pumped to race a full season in 2015. Throughout the fall, I was knocking on the door of an age group podium in the smaller races, but came up short on several occasions. I blew several sprints, but was happy to be racing near the front, and my form was building. This weekend, I peaked and it felt good. I wasn’t first yesterday or today, but in my little groups, I was able to cover every attack, and it seemed like I could close any gap. I proved that today, when late in the race, my group of three got into lapped traffic. I was able to bide my time, get around the slower riders, and then bridge back up. Today, those riders were my Team Horst Sports mate, Wade Summers, and Robert Marcinko. We had a fierce battle in the last two laps. Wade and I worked together the entire race. He is coming on strong after being sidelined for a month with his own shoulder injury. Coming in to today’s race, I was third in the series points, trailing Chris Peck and Laurence Merling of the rival Expo Wheelman. Chris moved to California mid-season and fell short of the mandatory five races to qualify for the overall points. Right behind me was Joe Kubisek, yesterday’s winner. He was today’s favorite, and he lived up to the billing, beating Tim Ratta in a sprint, which nailed down the win for the series.

I had to pick up three spots on Laurence, which wasn’t easy. By the end of the first lap, Joe and Tim had separated themselves from the rest of us. Wade, Laurence, and I were chasing, with Laurence applying most of the pressure in the early going. I had a good start, but it took me a few laps to warm up. When I did, I took my turn applying the pressure. Wade pitched in, and we eventually gapped Laurence. We were hammering up the gravel climb in our little rings, and then bombing the descent. Wade and I rode very clean races. I skidded through several corners thanks to the abundant acorns and the loose gravel on parts of the course, but I was in control the whole time.

With 1.5 laps to go, Wade and I were slowed by several riders from the 50+ and 60+ fields. They started two and four minutes behind us respectively, so we were lapping them. When we got stuck behind them on some single track, Robert was able to close the gap, which surprised us a bit. We stayed together until the last lap, when Robert was very aggressive. He drove the pace from the front and attacked us on several occasions. Wade chased him hard and I followed. I didn’t plan to wait for a sprint, but I had no choice. I couldn’t close the gap. Robert was riding on the hairy edge, and I was banking on him making a mistake. That mistake came with three turns to go, and in the finish line in sight. He cut hard left, slid on the acorns, and clipped a tree with his shoulder and face. That sent him to the ground. I didn’t quite see if he came completely off of his bike. Wade was right behind him and I was about three seconds back. I seized the opportunity and jumped to get to Wade’s wheel. We took the last two turns off the grass and on to the asphalt finishing stretch. Robert was back on his bike quickly, but we had the advantage and it was a fast sprint to the finish. I ended up first in our group and third on the day. Wade followed, and then came Robert. Laurence came in next. The three spot spread gave me the points I needed to tie him for the series with today’s final the tiebreaker. It was good clean racing right until the end, and it was a satisfying conclusion to the season.

I never got my much training in this year, and all of my races have been short, but all of those races were intense interval sessions, which is very effective for me. This fall, I did get in some efficient workouts. Debbie’s Coach, Al Lyman, tailored a Pursuit Athletic Performance plan with a cross-specific version for me, and it was effective. I had a goal of racing 15 cyclocross races, and ended up doing 16. The eight Winding Trails Triathlon Series races that I did in July and August were perfect training because they were all 48-52 minutes long, which is the same as a cross race. I’ll probably run a couple of road races before the year is out, but all of my cyclocross, triathlon, trail running, road running, and mountain bike races have totaled 40 for the year to date. That’s awesome coming off a year when I had both a broken foot and a broken shoulder. I couldn’t ask for more given all of my family, work, and non-profit commitments. I also spend a lot of energy and time supporting Debbie with her trail running, ultrarunning, and triathlon; and we had some amazing race adventures together. She “shut it down” after September’s ULTRA-TRAIL Mt. FUJI, which gave me the opportunity to do a full cross campaign.

The Horst Engineering Cycling Team has had a fantastic cyclocross season, and our Horst Spikes have been a real hit. The successful sales have made cross even more fun. Pat Cunningham, my podium partner from yesterday’s race, closed out his CT Series with a second place finish today, which netted him the overall title. My colleague and teammate, Arthur Roti, crashed out of today’s race, but reports are that it was in dramatic fashion, which even brought a smile to Art’s face. Andris Skulte and Randall Dutton both raced the 4/5 race today. We were even visited by our roadie friends, Max Accaputo, Erik Emanuel, Trent Sullivan, and A. Zane Wenzel; who rode down to watch some of the races.

Today, there was another huge Juniors race. I’m already looking forward to the 2016 cyclocross season when our son, Shepard, is ready to graduate from the kid’s race to Juniors. Connecticut has one of the best kids cyclocross communities in the country. The CCAP deserves a lot of credit for that.  Now, I just need to carry this form through the winter.

Race Results (will be posted when online)

2015 March Farm CycloMadness

It had been a few weeks since I raced cyclocross, and I was happy to be back at it at the March Farm CycloMadness in beautiful Bethlehem, Connecticut. I was supposed to race last weekend in RI, but didn’t feel up to it. I had travel earlier this week (Sun-Wed) in Southern California and couldn’t afford to be tired for the trip. Today, this multi-purpose farm (including Christmas Trees), had a holiday vibe in so many ways, but one… it was 60 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of our race, which is unseasonably warm for the 12th day of December. It felt more like mid-October, which if it wasn’t such a bad sign that our climate is warming, would be awesome. Well, for a day, it was pretty awesome to race in shorts and hang out after the race in shirtsleeves.

The Masters Men had their usual CT Series of Cross early morning start. We took the back roads to Litchfield County, and departed Bolton at 6:00 A.M. to make the 8:30 A.M. race. When Shepard and I pre-rode the course, he said, “This is nothing like Fitchburg,” referring to the NECXBAR Finals two weeks ago on a dead flat and fast track. Today’s course was the opposite of that. My Garmin results show how hilly the course is. In 10 miles, we gained 700 feet and descended 700, which is a lot for a cross race, and I loved it. I had a good start and charged up the big climb on the first lap in the big ring, but every lap after that, I used the little ring.

The climb snaked its way up through the apple orchard. It was wise to stay off of the rotting apples at the end of the worn path. They were like ice. The top of the course had a great view of the valley below. The descent was fast and technical as you went down, leveled out, went down again, and then leveled, and then down to the bottom of the course. Those drops were steep with the last one a treacherous affair with no clean line. Whether you went left, right, or center, you were greeted with a muddy hollow filled with sharp rocks. Half of our field flatted. Some punctured on these rocks in the mud. Others in the corn maze that followed.

 

The corn stalks were sharp and there were some hidden rocks in this swampy section. I took it in the little ring. There were several hairpin turns in inside the maze that required concentration as you road over the matted down stalks. The fields were slow with the grass high and lush from the warm autumn the two have had. There was one set of barriers on a rare flat stretch. One of the steep uphills required a dismount after hairpin turn. I used my Mini Standard Horst Spikes and they worked great. I absolutely love these rough courses with lots of elevation change. So many of this year’s races have been on super-fast tracks. The good weather has kept the mud to a minimum. Only the SuperCross Cup in New York rivaled today’s course. I’m sure there were a lot of complaints. Not everyone likes the climbing and rough descents coupled with slow fields grass. I had a blast. I also do better when the race is longer. Today’s race was just shy of 51 minutes. By contrast, on a fast course, Fitchburg was 40 minutes and I was hoping for another lap.

After that good start, I settled in to fourth place. By the end of the first lap, I moved up to third and then on the second lap, got up to second. My teammate Wade Summers was in my group, but he punctured and was a ways from the pit. My other teammate, Pat Cunningham, who normally races 50+, but opted for 40+ and some different competition, moved up to join me. The two of us applied some pressure as we chased the leader, Joe Kubisek. Joe got a gap that we never closed. For six laps, Pat and I worked together. He was gracious and stuck with me. We traded pulls and alternated taking the front. With 1.5 laps to go after we crested the high point on the course, I detected some softness in my front tire. On the big descent as we took a fast right-hand turn, my front wheel started to wash out. I hung on but ended up in the edge of the woods. Pat was trailing me and came by. I told him that I flatted.

It came in the perfect spot because we were within 100 meters of the pit. I was able to ride the deflating tire all the way. I dropped my Seven Cycles Mudhoney and picked up my Seven Cycles Tsunami. I hated to leave my Mudhoney because it handles much better, has disc brakes, and is one of my favorite bikes, but the Tsunami isn’t a bad pit bike. The gap to Joe was around 20 seconds and I felt we had a chance to close it, but after I lost about 20 seconds with the bike change, the goal was to hold on to second and third. Pat was very gracious. He waited for me to catch up and we continued to work together during the last lap. He got the workout he wanted and he let me have the points for second place. It was the good teamwork that nailed down the two podium spots for Team Horst Sports. Joe rode a strong race to take the win.

It was a bittersweet day. After a tough work week, I rallied to make it to today’s race. With such an early start, I still had a chance to have a full Saturday. I stopped at the shop on the way back to do a few work related tasks. Then, Debbie, the kids and I went to the Connecticut Science Center for Scouts Robotics Day. After that, we even had time to pick out and cut down a Christmas Tree at a local farm in Andover.

It was great to go to the cross race with my son. He had a blast on the playground and tricycle track that surrounds it. The farm store was stocked with apples and pastries, thanks to race sponsor, Ovens of France. The sadness I feel is that cyclocross season is coming to an end. I originally planned to go to the USA National Cyclocross Championships in Asheville, North Carolina next month, but the race schedule, 16 hour drive, and our work volume at Horst Engineering is going to keep me closer to home. I’m fine with it, but I still would love to keep racing cross this season, especially if the weather is going to remain mild. The last race is going to be tomorrow, the CT Series finals at the Elm City Cross in New Haven. I can’t wait.

Race Results