Trail Running, Scott Jurek, the Appalachian Trail, Western States Endurance Run, and So Much More

This weekend, there is so much trail running activity, it’s almost unbelievable. Debbie and I have been around this sport since 1999 and its amazing to see the growth. Last weekend, we were at the Mt. Greylock Trail Races, which was 17 years in a row for Debbie. We met at a trail race (the 1999 Vermont 50 Mile Ride & Run), so trails, running, and the trail running community are very important to me. The sport has been a huge part of my life. Because so much of my trail running experiences involve Debbie, it is as important to me as cycling, which is another one of  my true loves. Writing is another passion, so the collision of this weekend’s events, news, and friends is a joy to share.

This morning, Debbie and our two kids drove back to the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, to intercept and cheer for Scott Jurek on his Appalachian Trail (AT) supported speed record (fastest known time). I had a crazy week at work and had to spend some time at Horst Engineering’s East Hartford plant, so I missed the trip. I was able to help them track and find Jurek from afar. Jennifer Pharr-Davis has the overall AT speed record, 46 days 11 hours and 20 minutes. She set it in June/July 2011 and went from Maine to Georgia. She broke Andrew Thompson’s 2005 record. Karl Meltzer attempted to break Thompson’s record in 2008, but fell short.

Debbie and I took our son to see Karl in New Hampshire/Vermont and cheer him on during his record attempt. Despite his promotion of the trip, sponsorship, and the emergence of social media, there was far less fanfare than today. Thompson broke Pete Palmer’s 1999 record. Palmer broke David Horton’s 1991 record. Trail running has come a long way! The AT record is really more about speed-hiking than trail running, though Jurek, Palmer, Horton, and Meltzer are all known for their ultrarunning prowess. Jurek has his work cut out for him if he is going to beat Pharr-Davis’ time. Debbie and the kids  found him just north of Goose Pond and joined him until he crossed Interstate 90, the Massachusetts Turnpike. The AT crosses the Pike on a footbridge that we have driven under hundreds of times in our lives. I’ve never actually been on the bridge. Debbie was last on it when she was leading trips for the Springfield College Outing Club in the mid-1990’s.

Jurek’s attempt is being followed by many people all over the world. He has had crowds of runners join him on the trails and many other folks coming out to greet him. When my family first saw him today, he was in a group of eight, including Meltzer, who is crewing and pacing. Social media, GPS technology, and real-time tracking have made this attempt an inspirational spectacle to follow. The Maine based mapmaker, Delorme, is helping with the Scott Jurek AT15 tracking website. Horton had a lot less attention in 1991. Ironically, Horton is getting more attention in 2015 because he has been helping out as part of the crew. After seeing Jurek and then running/hiking along with him for 10 minutes or so, they went in search of the crew and found Horton. We packed a goodie bag full of items, including Shenipsit Striders t-shirts, vegan “cheese,” and vegan chocolate with the plan to deliver it to Jurek and crew.

David Horton is a wonderful race director and one of the legends of our sport. We last saw him at the 2013 edition of Hellgate, one of the races he directs. Our son told me that “Mr. Horton” gave them all kinds of energy “junk food” to eat including GU Chomps and other sweets. My daughter must have been thrilled! Debbie and I have been vegetarian for nearly 20 years, and like Jurek, I observe a vegan diet. I stopped eating eggs and dairy in 2008 after failing miserably at 7 Sisters that May. In 2009, with a changed attitude and changed diet, I had my best ever time at 7 Sisters. Debbie gave up her streak of 7 Sisters finishes after 16 years in a row, when she did the Miwok 100K Trail Run last month. Scott Jurek won Miwok three times.

The race director of 7 Sisters is Fred Pilon. When Debbie and the kids were with Horton this morning, Fred showed up to run with Jurek. Fred is an Editor Emeritus of Ultrarunning magazine, and a major influence on the growth of ultrarunning and trail running. Another Editor Emeritus is Tia Bodington. She is the Race Director of Miwok. We saw her last month in Stinson Beach at the finish. When I got home from work today, I fetched the mail and the latest issue of Ultrarunning was in the pile. Amazing. They timed the publication and shipment perfectly! Are you starting to understand more about the trail running community?

We have been following Jurek’s progress since he started on the AT in Georgia, three weeks ago. We were hoping to catch him in Connecticut, but he came through yesterday and the timing didn’t work out. The “cheese” and chocolate that Debbie brought to him and the crew came from Divine Treasures, one of our favorite local businesses, in Manchester. We were inspired to contribute some vegan “treats” when we saw that someone picked up Vegan Treats for the Jurek team when they were in Pennsylvania last week. We have been to Vegan Treats several times over the years including a couple of times on our way home from the Laurel Highlands Ultra.

Jurek is well-known for his ultrarunning exploits. Debbie and I first met him in the early 2000’s when she went west to race in California and Washington, where he used to live. Notably, we saw him in 2007 when he attempted Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc for the first time. Debbie also attempted it, as did Karl Meltzer, and Hal Koerner. Our friend, Nikki Kimball, who traveled with Debbie and also ran her first ultra at the 1999 Vermont 50, won UTMB in 2007, but the others mentioned didn’t finish. It was a tough weekend for all, but we did have a nice meal together in Chamonix. Jurek has amazing palmares, and his race resume is punctuated by his seven consecutive Western States Endurance Run victories.

Western States is happening right now, as I type. So, Jurek, one of the all time WS100 champs is in Massachusetts while Kimball, and several other friends, are at the race in California. Tia Bodington is a member of the Western States Endurance Run board of directors, and she is running today too, as is one of our fellow Shenipsit Striders, Sean Greaney. His crew, Jordan Leigh and Steve LaBranche, are also Shenipsit Striders. A year ago, Debbie was at WS100, pacing and crewing Larisa Dannis to her second place finish.

There was a big trail running relay in Massachusetts yesterday and today. The Ragnar Trail Relay was at Northfield Mountain, just east of the Berkshires and not far from the Appalachian Trail. We had many friends at that event. Has this sport grown or what?

Tomorrow, the Shenipsit Striders are hosting our second major trail race of 2015, the Nipmuck South Trail Race in Mansfield. Last month, Debbie race directed the Soapstone Mountain Trail Race. It is part of the Connecticut Blue-Blazed Trail Running Series that Debbie and I founded, and also part of the New England Grand Tree Trail Running Series. I’m on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association the non-profit organization responsible for the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails. Next month, Debbie and I are headed to Utah so that she can run the Speedgoat 50K. The Race Director is the “Speedgoat,” Karl Meltzer. Another important record on Scott Jurek’s resume is his 2010 24 Hour USA Record. He held that until it was broken.

The week that Jurek was in France for his record attempt, I moderated a YPO-WPO Tri Sports Network Global Conference Call that featured him as a resource along with Debbie and fellow ultrarunning champion, Krissy Moehl. We spoke about the impact of the book, Born to Run, on the sport of trail running. Jurek featured prominently in the story. A movie version of the book is in production and due to come out soon, just like the movie version of Bill Bryson’s book, A Walk in the Woods. When that film comes out, we are bound to see a boom in the number of people interested in AT thru-hiking.

So, if Jurek is going to break the AT record, he has more hiking/running to do over the next couple of weeks. The toughest part of the trail is ahead of him. Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine await. Those states are home to some of our favorite trails. Debbie and I spend a lot of time in those mountains and we know how hard it will be for him. Pharr-Davis, like Meltzer, when north to south. They tackled the toughest trails first. Jurek is doing it the other way around and I like his style. I would want to finish on Katahdin too. That mountain is one of the most special places in the world for me. I was last there in 2012.

Once Jurek gets to the White Mountains he will get to see the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) Huts. We have spent many nights in the huts and have done some tough runs in the White’s. Debbie and I are both members of the AMC Board of Advisors. AMC volunteers maintain many miles of the Appalachian Trail in New England, including the stretch through our home state of Connecticut. Before he hits New Hampshire, he has to go through Vermont and the southern Green Mountains. That is where the Appalachian Trail overlaps with the Long Trail (LT). This weekend is also the 10th anniversary of the start of our Long Trail End-to-End Hike. Volunteers from the Green Mountain Club maintain the section of the AT that overlaps with the LT. When Jurek does get to the White’s, he will climb many 4,000 footers, the same hills that Debbie and I have climbed many times before.

For Scott Jurek, there is no question that the trail ahead is tougher than the trail behind. When Debbie was with David Horton earlier today, she sent a text to our longtime trail running friend, Stanley Tiska. His backyard in Hinsdale, is practically on the Appalachian Trail. She told him about Jurek and he ended up running backwards on the trail to intercept him. He got to run four fun miles with him. Tiska was an early mentor for Debbie when she was a 24-year-old rookie trail runner. In those days, all of the “men” on the trail running circuit, referred to her as Pony Tail.

Debbie and I are fortunate to have been part of the trail running community the past 17 years. We have met some awesome friends. We have developed an even deeper appreciation for conservation, education, and outdoor recreation. Our support for many of the organizations I’ve mentioned includes our volunteerism and our philanthropy. Through Horst Engineering, we are members of 1% For The Planet and support many environmental organizations. We love the trails. When Debbie and the kids headed out this morning, I knew I was missing out, but truth be told, I didn’t miss anything at all. Their adventure got me excited and all of these great memories came flooding back. My blog has chronicled this journey, at least over the past eight years since I’ve been publishing it. In this post, I’ve missed as many connections as I’ve remembered, but that is how it goes. I’m sure I’ll remember more later.

Thank you Scott Jurek for continuing to inspire and for unleashing all of these great thoughts for me; your running has brightened my day.

2015 Mt. Greylock Trail Races

Today was  the Mt. Greylock Trail Races, a Father’s Day tradition. Greylock is one of the WMAC Trilogy races and also one of the original New England Grand Tree Trail Running Series races. It was even featured in today’s Hartford Courant, as one of the top ten toughest trail running races in New England. Courant reporter, Lori Riley, gave Debbie and me a call earlier this week to get our thoughts on this list. With the big initial climb straight to the summit of Massachusetts highest peak, and the rugged descending, Greylock is worthy of being on the list.

Debbie ran it for the 17th year in a row. She has run it single, run it married without kids, run it pregnant, run it after having kids, and now run it as a 40 year-old. When you have a streak like this, you use it as a measuring stick. She had another streak broken earlier this year when she skipped 7 Sisters, after 16 in a row, in favor of running the Miwok 100K.

I’m sure she will return to Sisters, but this year, the change was good. Debbie started running the Grand Tree circuit as a 24 year-old and now is one of the veterans of the series. It’s kind of cool to think about the number of friends that we have made in the trail running community. It’s always great to return to Greylock Glen and exchange war stories.

Today, the day dawned chilly with heavy rain, but by afternoon when the runners were finishing, it was warm, and the sun was peeking out of the clouds. We never saw the tower at the summit of Greylock because it remained shrouded in fog and clouds, but we knew the top of the mountain was there.

I opted to hang out in the Glen with our daughter and take photos. My left foot isn’t ready for the pounding of the Grand Tree race courses. I’m nursing it through 2015 with only short races on easy terrain. Our son ran his third Greylock 5K (short course) and had a blast. I think I know where he gets his competitive desire.

First place in the long course went to Mark Rabasco. He was followed by Karl Young and Stanislav Trufanov. First woman was Kehr Davis. She was fourth overall. She was followed by Athena Eyster and then by Debbie.

We hung out after the race and then enjoyed a meal in Northampton on the drive home. Greylock is a tradition, that for now, continues.

Race Results

2015 Kids Who Tri Succeed Triathlon (Farmington)

Today was the Kids Who Tri Succeed Triathlon in Farmington, Connecticut. This was the first time that this race was held at Batterson Park. Our kids have done the sister race in Mansfield several times. Horst Engineering is a long time sponsor of the races. We love supporting these kids events and our kids love them too.

 

Both courses are good, but I think we prefer the Farmington course. We should be back in Mansfield in August. I’m glad they added a second race closer to Hartford. The registration numbers were lower than I expected, but it was the first year and I bet it builds momentum. The weather conditions were perfect and the temperature in Batterson Lake was fine.

 

We saw some of our friends from past races and there were a lot of “rookies” too. The volunteers did their best to organize what is a difficult event. With four age groups, four different courses,  and multiple waves per age group; the logistics are a real challenge. Jerry Turk, Kerry Arsenault, and their team from Rat Race Timing had the unenviable responsibility of doing the results. They timed the Soapstone Mountain Trail Race last month and it was a lot easier.

These races are a sports photographer’s dream. There were so many great smiles and so many great moments. I love seeing the interaction between parents and children. Triathlon has brought a lot of joy to our household. The exercise is pretty good too. In addition to our family business, there were many other great sponsors.

The post-race raffle was well attended and lots of kids/families walked away with prizes. I’ve noted in the past that the volunteers go out of their way to make the kids feel like pros for a day. Our daughter was in the 4-6 year old field. Our son is eight, but opted for the 9-11 year old field so that he could race the longer course. It took him a 22.5 minutes, which is a fantastic workout. Our daughter’s race was just over 12 minutes. On the surface, it may seem like an expensive and time-consuming proposition to race for so little time, but exposing kids to this type of activity is setting them up for a lifetime of athletic enjoyment.

We have a lot of experience with endurance events, but we saw families with no experience and they were having a blast. Try it.

Race Results

Hartford Business Journal Op-Ed

If you live in Connecticut, it has been hard to ignore the challenges of this year’s budget process. Many of us in the business community have been critical of the legislative process and the outcome of legislation to raise taxes and other business costs. Pressure from the CBIA and businesses, including several large ones based in Connecticut, has resulted in Governor Dannel Malloy proposing a “roll back” of the legislation and a special legislative session to review the situation.

Two weeks ago, I had an op-ed published in the Hartford Business Journal. I’ve done several other interviews related to this matter and the manufacturing economy. Click here for the HBJ story on their site, but I also pasted in the op-ed.

This is the op-ed as published on 01 June 2015:

Manufacturing matters to Connecticut’s economy. With the right legislative action, we can attract new business, help existing firms expand here, and create good jobs.  We just need to reduce risk.

Horst Engineering, the 69 year-old family business that I lead, recently closed our Mexican operations and is expanding precision machining and forming operations in Connecticut and Massachusetts. We see opportunities here but are keenly aware of the weaknesses and threats that could derail our growth.  We decided to take the risk.

Connecticut needs to do more if it is going to gain from the expansion of the high value aerospace sector. The CBIA reported in the 2014 Survey of Connecticut Manufacturing Workforce Needs that manufacturing is the “single largest contributor to Connecticut’s gross state product.” The survey highlighted that 4,500 firms directly employ more than 161,000 people, which is 10% of all nonfarm jobs. Many of those firms are small businesses that are hiring and increasing wages and benefits. In addition to these human resource investments, many are investing in advanced manufacturing technologies, equipment, and facilities.

A recent Hartford Business Journal story cited a PricewaterhouseCoopers report ranking Connecticut last in “attractiveness for aerospace manufacturing.” These sorts of proclamations grab your attention, but the story points out that the report did not necessarily identify the “best places” for aerospace manufacturing. Statistics aside, Connecticut has a deep base of talented aerospace manufacturing companies, but is saddled with the highest operating costs in the country.

Several additional jobs are needed to support each manufacturing employee, and this beneficial compound effect is stronger during an expansion. Manufacturers in high precision industries rely heavily on an ecosystem of suppliers to produce complete products.  New England is fortunate to have a large cluster of companies in this ecosystem, many along the Connecticut River Valley.

The Aerospace Components Manufacturers (ACM) and Connecticut Tooling & Industry Association (CTMA) are two industry groups that exhibit the strength of our ecosystem. These peer networks are built on collaboration, education, and networking. They should be fostered.

In Mexico, CNC machining and manufacturing engineering are sought after careers. Recently, Mexico has run into the same challenge that has dogged Connecticut for years. There aren’t enough skilled workers in the pipeline to satisfy the current needs of industry. With the right technology and lean enterprise, we can compete with places like Mexico – if we invest in education and training needed by Connecticut companies.

Connecticut’s manufacturing workforce is accustomed to a high value mix of low volume products, but the availability of those skills is tighter than ever. Connecticut faces huge challenges as a result of the high cost of doing business in our state.  Yet the headlines are disheartening. Why would a legislature risk derailing a manufacturing recovery by hiking taxes, increasing mandates, and adding to unsustainable levels of government spending?

Over the next 10 years, Connecticut’s manufacturers will battle an additional drain as another generation of skilled labor moves towards retirement. If Connecticut is to retain the workers it has and capitalize on its strengths, then, it will have to wake up to the fact that industries like aerospace are growing at a rapid rate in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, where these jobs are desired. According to the PwC survey, several of those states are in the top 10 most attractive.

Our legislators and governor should recognize how important manufacturing is to our economy. They should be friendlier to all businesses, reduce the cost of doing business, increase support for technical education, and allow entrepreneurs to innovate. Despite a harsh economic climate, Connecticut’s businesses have persevered, but that resilience is being tested again.

Highlighting the current strength of the aerospace sector, it is worth noting that Connecticut is known worldwide for its supply chain. An unprecedented wave of growth in commercial aviation is creating opportunities for the customers that many Connecticut companies depend on. If you don’t provide water and sunlight to a flower, it won’t grow. Sadly, our politicians are doing the opposite of what is needed. Their harmful bills and policies are like a man-made drought with shade, starving plants of another type, plants which should be a critical engine of our economy.

So if manufacturing is going to continue to matter to a state that has depended on it for a long time, then all stakeholders should revisit the weaknesses and threats that are a disincentive for manufacturers to reinvest in our home state.

Horst Engineering has taken a big risk by closing in Mexico to expand in New England.  Let’s hope our legislature can reduce that risk and increase Connecticut’s desirability so all types of businesses will look to our state as that right place to expand, grow and prosper.

Hans Christian Anderson Montessori School Graduation

Last Friday was our daughter’s last day at Hans Christian Anderson Montessori School (HCAMS). I wrote about the Montessori Method several years ago. I’m not an expert on education. I leave the debate about methods, testing, and other issues to others. I do know that the majority of the property taxes that we pay in East Hartford, South Windsor, and Lynn (MA) (through the business); and in Bolton (where we live) go towards education. A lot of our state income tax payments also fund education. I assume that there are inefficiencies because government and bureaucracy are part of the equation.

We are fortunate that over the last six years, we have been able to pay tuition and send our children to private Montessori school for their pre-kindergarten and kindergarten years. From what I’ve read, and from my own experiences, I know that education in these formative years is an incredible difference maker. We are fortunate that this school is less than a mile from our house, has a strong standing in the community, and a great history. Debbie has served on the board for more than five years. She has been a dedicated member and a wonderful volunteer. She and her fellow board members have done such good work.

At last Friday’s end of year picnic and graduation ceremony, I was feeling emotional about the years that we have been directly involved. As long as we live in Bolton, we will see the school every day, but with our daughter joining our son at Bolton Center School for their remaining elementary and middle-school years, the Montessori experience is now history. I highly recommend this method of teaching and learning. A big thanks goes out to all the teachers and administrators who have made the HCAMS experience so wonderful for our children over the last six years.

Our last day ended with a fun show by Magician Matias, who came all the way from New York to entertain us. Debbie did the research, found him, and booked him. I laughed as much as the children. He was great. I alway thought graduation ceremonies for “little ones” were silly, but I’m a convert. If you saw the smiles on the three children that wrapped up their HCAMS years, you would smile too.

2015 Connecticut Trails Day & Bolton Land Trust Tales and Trails Hike

National Trails Day is one of our favorite “holidays” of the year. Connecticut Trails Day Weekend is our extended and local version of this holiday. Every year, we do something special. For the second year in a row, Debbie hosted one of the 200+ Connecticut Trails Day Events. She worked with her fellow board members from the Bolton Land Trust to put on the Tales and Trails Hike this afternoon.

Tales and Trails was a family focused walk at the Lombardi Ridge Preserve in Bolton, our hometown. We walked the 1.5 mile loop and heard from four entertainers. As we made our way through the woods, there were four specified stops. At each location we stopped to listen.

First we heard from Dorothy Hall, who told us all kinds of interesting facts about hawks and then read a story about two hawks (a romantic couple) that she saw outside her window. She quizzed us about what a group of hawks is. None of us knew that it is called a “kettle.” Dorothy is the Bolton Land Trust’s Artist in Residence. Years, ago, she drew the invitation for a talk that Debbie and I gave about our 2005 Long Trail End-to-End Hike. I’ve got to locate a copy of that sketch! Her artwork appears on every land trust event invitation that we receive in the mail.

Second, we heard from Brian Miller, who read, The Giving Tree, by Shel Silverstein. He read the classic many times to his children and today, shared it for all the children and adults, who paused under the trees of Bolton on a beautiful afternoon.

Third, we heard from Kris Treat, who read a Little Bear story that she often read to her boys when they were young. She joked that it was a “long yarn” and even had a ball of yarn as a prop. She did a great reading as we all sat around on the rocks.

Lastly, we heard from Robbie Whitcomb, a fabulous local entertainer who has performed at land trust events in the past. He didn’t read a thing, but rather, rapped and recited some of his original work, including a poem called, “White Bread.” After Richard Treat, a fellow BLT board member, described Robbie’s accomplishments, he turned it over to our son, who is a fan, to introduce Mr. Robbie. Robbie stood high atop a large rock, which made the presentation more fun.

We wrapped up the hike with a small gathering and enjoyed watermelon.

Trails Day is fantastic. The Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA), of which I’m a board member, does fantastic work in getting people into nature. Horst Engineering has sponsored Trails Day for several years, and the Livingston Family is proud to help such a great effort.

2015 Soapstone Mountain Trail Races

Today was the 31st annual Soapstone Mountain Trail Race. The joy that Soapstone brings never fades. After 16 years total and 12 or so with Debbie as the Race Director, you would think that the race would be tiresome. There is no question that it is a lot of work, and that it impacts our household during the weeks leading up to the race, but we love it so much. We have met so many people through our involvement in the event. We miss many of the names from the past, but we enjoy meeting new people.

Thankfully, our Shenipsit Striders running club is going strong after more than 35 years. We still have some original members in the club, but it is the new members that are important to keeping both the club and the races, including Soapstone and also the NipMuck Trail Marathon, growing. The course is part of what makes the race so special. 138 runners finished the 22 kilometer race and 70 runners finished the 6 kilometer Soapstone Sampler.

We had summer weather after several weeks of warmer than usual temperatures, so the trail was dry. Unlike the past few editions, there was little mud to be found. It was dusty and the heat made it challenging for the runners. After such a long and harsh winter, many of them looked like they were melting in the sun.

There were a few minor injuries, including the usual falls resulting in cuts and bruises; but no one was seriously hurt. There were also a few cases of dehydration. Notably, the overall leader through aid station three (the last one) was left debilitated by his case of dehydration and he did not finish. That left the door open for Samuel Jurek, to take the win in 1:51:00. He was followed by super master runner, Brett Stoeffler, in 1:52:45. Brett is 20 years senior to Sam, and he was hot on his heels. That brought a smile to my face. The first woman, Kehr Davis, had an awesome result, finishing third overall in 2:00:25. Stanislav Trufanov was the third men’s finisher. Kehr, was followed by Stacia Broderick in 2:21:33 and third was Peggy Horgan.

I ran the Sampler with our son, Shepard. He wanted the company and I’m taking it easy, though I still managed to take a hard file after tweaking my ankle. Oh well. If you don’t fall, it isn’t trail running. Our son had a great time, particularly at the quarry/sand pit, where the dry conditions forced the runners to scramble hand over fist up the loose slope. We had a some folks lose their way and go off trail, but by the afternoon, everyone (in both races) was accounted for.

The first finisher in the age/gender graded (handicap start) Sampler was AJ Fournier. He was followed by Jason Dominick and then by last year’s winner, Luke Stoeffler. This is a very family friendly race. We made it that way years ago and we have kept it that way. The evidence is right here in the results with both Stoeffler’s (father and son) on the podium of their respective events. Brett’s Dad, Dick, was standing at the top of the sand pit taking photographs. I gave him a big hug and apologized for beating him in the Sampler in 2003. I’ve always felt guilty about catching him in this Dipsea Trail Race inspired event that was the brainchild of longtime Soapstone Race Director, the late Jerry Stage. Dick told me, “I’m over it,” which made me feel a whole lot better!’

Further evidence of the family friendly environment is our kid’s race. About 20 little ones lined up and ran either a 1/2 mile or full mile loop that included single track, rocks, roots, and a fair amount of horse “poop.” It was exciting to watch and as our son put it, the course was “rugged.” Nothing like a little challenge to introduce the next generation to the thrill of New England trail running.

The core of Shenipsit Strider volunteers, and also many friends, pulled together to help Debbie with the production. Special thanks go to Dominic Wilson who is Debbie’s right hand man. He helped her mark the course yesterday and stayed with us until the last of the items were packed away in our van and we had returned the Reddington Rock Riding Club to its pre-race status. It is also important to thank Barbara Schieffer and Joe King, who have manned the cook shed for years. They are responsible for serving the post-race vegetarian feast. Barbara, my mother-in-law, does a ton of work in support of Debbie. There were about 30 volunteers total, between the three aid stations and the start/finish area. Thankfully, we don’t have to worry as much about timing nowadays. That was handled by Jerry Turk and Kerry Arsenault at RAT Race Timing.

Soapstone was the third race in this year’s Connecticut Blue-Blazed Trail Running Series and the fifth race in this year’s New England Grand Tree Trail Running Series. Historically, Soapstone has benefited the Connecticut Forest & Park Association and supported the wonder work done by CFPA’s trail volunteers. The next race in both series is on 07 June at the Goodwin Forest Trail Run. Soapstone is also the first race in the Blue Dot Trail Race Trilogy, which is the invention of NipMuck Dave Raczkowski, the longtime Race Director of the NipMuck Trail Marathon. Goodwin is the second race and Southern Nipmuck is the third. There is no shortage of great trail races in New England.

We had everything packed up by 3:00 P.M. It will take a few weeks to clean up all the gear and organize everything in our basement, but it won’t be long and we will be making plans for the 32nd edition of the Soapstone Mountain Trail Race.

Race Results

2015 Bobby’s Run

This morning I did Bobby’s Run for the second time. Hosted by one of my favorite running clubs, the Silk City Striders, this eight mile race on a mix of rolling roads (including three miles of dirt). The loop around Snipsic (Shenipsit) Lake is lovely. I last ran this race in 2010, which was a banner sporting year for me. I was in the best shape of my life. That day, I pushed our Chariot CX-2 with both of our kids and finished in 53:30. Today, without the stroller, and five years older, I ran 51:05, which is not that much faster given the handicap I had with the stroller.

Even still, I really enjoyed this morning’s run, which was the 12th year for the race. I didn’t remember that the race was today until scrolling through my Facebook feed last night. Race Director, Bekkie Wright, posted about the race and I thought it would be a fun way to get in a workout and improve my running fitness. Bekkie and her partner, Joe Poliquin with help from several volunteers deserve credit for keeping this race going in Bob Bonadies’ memory. The low-key event wouldn’t happen without them and I’m glad they were issuing numbers,  marshaling corners, manning aid stations, and taking photos.

 

Tomorrow is the Soapstone Mountain Trail Races. Soapstone always follows Bobby’s Run. I’m looking forward to a great day with my other favorite running club, the Shenipsit Striders.

Race Results

2015 CCAP Kermis & National Ride Your Bike to Work Day

Today was both National Bike to Work Day and the CCAP Kermis. I rode to and from work, and visited the kermis. I race this criterium/circuit race in 2014, but skipped this year as I’m working my way back in to shape. The Horst Engineering Masters Cycling Team had a great turnout with seven riders in the Men’s 40+ race and one rider in the Men’s 4/5 race.

It was Friday, and it was a great day for cycling in Connecticut, particularly the Hartford area. I participated in a morning rally at the Old State House to celebrate this national holiday (bike to work) and the kermis was held at Rentschler Field in East Hartford. At the race, I had a chance to catch up with J.D. Bilodeau, who is the new director of the New England Bicycle Racing Association. Though cyclocross is strong in New England, and mountain biking is stable, the road cycling continues to decline. Many of the hallmark races are gone, the racing population is dwindling, and the road racing community needs to be strengthened. CCAP and several other efforts to get juniors on bikes, are bright spots. I have high hopes for the future, but it is going to take a big effort to revive New England road cycling.

2015 Alcatraz Swim

This morning, I departed from my usual swim training (laps at the local YMCA), and swam from Alcatraz Island to Aquatic Park Cove in San Francisco. That may not seem exotic if you live and swim regularly in San Francisco, but for guy from Connecticut, it was a lot of fun and very different from my normal open water swimming in the local lakes or Long Island Sound.

The Alcatraz swim is a rite of passage if you swim in the Bay Area. The experience was made possible thanks to my friend Tony, who shares a passion for endurance sports. Debbie, the kids, and I have been fortunate to be hosted by Tony several times in the past few years, including during last summer’s Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Run.

Now I owe Tony again! I’ve taken him mountain biking in his native Connecticut in the past (rocky trails) and I’ll have to take him mountain biking in Vermont or hiking in New Hampshire, or something very New England oriented again. I need to do something to tire him out. We tend to get in trouble when we hook up, like in Truckee last summer, when during a long road bicycle ride, we got pulled over for running a red light.

I was entrusting him with my life, swimming from Alcatraz! He is a member of the venerable South End Rowing Club, where there is an incredible tradition of long-distance swimming. Members, going back more than 140 years have accomplished amazing feats in the water, including English Channel Swims, 100 mile swims, and all kinds of crazy aquatic adventure.

Tony shares my adventure spirit and has multiple Ironman’s under his belt, including the 2010 Ironman Brasil, where we met for the first time. It’s hard to believe that was five years ago this month. The swim in Brasil was twice the distance of Alcatraz and in rough ocean water. We had a blast. Tony has several notable swims on his palmares, but his Crater Lake swim is probably the coolest record he owns. Being first at something like that increases the endorphin rush by multiple factors.

Bay swimmers have many challenging routes, including Alcatraz, which isn’t as extreme as many of the other swims they do, but still has the “cool” factor thanks to the island’s rich history. This weekend, they have a big swim to the Bay Bridge and back. I would stick around for that too, but after nearly 10 days of family fun in Marin and San Francisco, it’s nearly time to get back to work.

Yesterday morning, I ran down to the cove and swam for 25 minutes to get used to the water temperature and make sure my goggles didn’t leak. I had my wetsuit and a neoprene cap, so it was very tolerable. Yesterday afternoon, Debbie, the kids, and I did the tourist version of the Alcatraz cruise and tour. The swim and tour is what I call “training.” My other research consisted of listening to Coach Al Lyman’s podcast with Gary Emich, one of the most experienced Alcatraz swimmers/guides of all time.

Gary literally wrote the book on Alcatraz, which Coach Al brought for me to read when we met up at last weekend’s Miwok 100K . The book is not just about Alcatraz, but is a great overall guide for open water swimmers and triathletes. Both the book and Coach Al’s podcast are highly recommended. Gary’s co-author is Joe Oakes, who has Western States Endurance Run pedigree. A plaque hangs on the wall at the SERC with a list of 100-mile run finishers and Joe’s name is up there for the 1979 WSER. Next door (literally) to the SERC clubhouse is the Dolphin Club, friendly rivals. Their swimmers have also done crazy stuff. I had a blast walking through both clubhouses admiring all the cups, plaques, and certificates that line the walls. The old boats are gorgeous. So, you can see how this ultraswimming/ultrarunning/triathlon/rowing thing all fits. Adventurers tend to stick together.

The plan worked perfectly and Tony’s logistics were spot on. Our pilot was SERC mate, Andy. He took us out to the island, called the swim in to the authorities (I presume Coast Guard or harbor master), snapped photos, and piloted a safety boat next to us as we made the 41 minute swim. The current wasn’t super strong, but it did pull us a bit west in the direction of the Golden Gate, which is clear when you look at the GPS data.

I’m not much of a swimmer, but the sport of open water swimming favors participation over speed, so I fit right in. I can see how once you do a few of these iconic routes, you get the itch to do more. Of course, a true open water swimmer skips the wetsuit and sticks with the Speedo. I’m game.

When I left to run down to the cove this morning, my daughter said, “Daddy, I hope you survive.” I didn’t have doubts, but after her trip to Alcatraz yesterday, I understand why she said it. I’m happy to say that I’m more alive than ever.

2015 Miwok 100K Trail Run

The 20th Miwok 100K Trail Run is what I call a “classic.” It’s one of the iconic American ultramarathons, and has been on Debbie’s “to do” list for many years. She skipped another iconic event, the 7 Sisters Trail Race, in favor of Miwok after running it 15 years in a row. The Sisters course was built for Debbie’s strengths, but it was time for a change. I’m sure that she will return to the Holyoke Range of Massachusetts again, but this time the first weekend in May was all about Miwok.

She last ran in the Marin Headlands in 2002 when she did the Headlands 50K. One look at the results, and it’s evident that it is an all-star list of men and female ultrarunners both past and present. It’s great to see that many of them are going strong into their 40’s and 50’s. She was 27 at the time. It was her first ultra outside of New England after doing the Vermont 50 in 1999, 2000, and 2001. Miwok was her first ultra as a 40+ runner, which is a noble distinction and a very competitive group to join. Ultras favor the wise.

In 2002, I joined her on the trip and fell in love with the trails north of San Francisco. We’ve been here a few more times over the years and she ran the Way Too Cool 50K in 2007, six months after our first child was born. That race wasn’t in the Headlands, but it was in northern California near Sacramento.

Since then, we have been to California for several other races, including the 2013 and 2014 Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance Runs. Debbie was also here as a crew member and pacer at the 2014 Western States Endurance Run. We have come to love both the trails and the great ultrarunning community.

Miwok’s Race Director is Tia Bodington, who is past editor of Ultrarunning Magazine. I’ve worked with Tia many times in the past as a periodic contributor to the magazine. She told me about the magic of Miwok many years ago and when the opportunity came to register, Debbie jumped on it. She was in the Western States lottery, but had no luck, so jiggered her 2015 plan and made this event a priority.

Despite a long, cold, and snowy winter, she is in very good shape. The race went well for her. The most important results were that the issues that bothered her in 2013 and early 2014 didn’t crop up. She has put her stomach issues behind her and a couple of pesky soft tissue injuries were not aggravated. She ran a “clean” race.

The Miwok course changes from year to year, though many of the trails are the same. The direction and combination of trails changes. This year, the course ran a southern loop first and then a northern loop second. The course is known for its relentless up and down, with more than 22,000 feet of elevation change. In my opinion, nothing is better than the combination of mountains and oceans. The coastal course has amazing views.

Debbie was joined by her longtime coach, Al Lyman. He finally joined her at an ultra as a fellow runner. This was his longest run to date, and he had a gutsy performance. If I can move my body at the age of 55 like Al, then I’ll be pleased. Al’s partner Terry, and his son, A.J. were the core of his crew. Debbie had support from our son, daughter, and our cousin, Dan Roy.

Dan has been a fixture crew member and pacer at several of Debbie’s bigger ultras in recent years. I last saw Dan at the finish line of last month’s Boston Marathon, where he had a fine performance. He hails from Northern Maine, but drove up from Los Angeles, where he currently resides, to help us again.

We flew in to San Francisco last Thursday and set-up our headquarters in Muir Beach, right near the course. We got to check out some of the trails on Friday morning. The weather was spectacular with warmer than usual temperatures, and fog-less blue skies. That changed a bit as the weekend approached. The race day weather was cool and overcast in the morning with low-lying clouds, fog, and mist. However, late in the day, the sun burned off some of the overcast layer and the temperature warmed up. It was perfect running weather.

The start/finish was at the Stinson Beach Community Center about 25 minutes north of Muir Beach on the Pacific Coast Highway. We were on east coast time, so it wasn’t a problem to get up early on Saturday and drop Debbie and Al off at the start. We watched the more than 480 registered runners file up the steep steps on the Dipsea Trail. It was a hilarious bottleneck to observe.

We were able to see them at several aid stations, including Tennessee Valley (miles 13.8 and 26), at Muir Beach (mile 30.3), at the Randall Trailhead (mile 49.2), and at the finish. The first half of the race ran much quicker than the second half, where there was much more climbing. It seemed like after the second time through Muir Beach, the gaps increased and the pace of the runners slowed.

I’m sure Debbie will have a more detailed race report, so I’ll only share highlights. She ran very well through Muir Beach and was in the top three women most of the time. At one point during the race, she dropped back to fifth, but quickly moved back to fourth, where she remained through the finish. She was only five minutes behind third at the end of the day.

She slowed a bit after 40 miles with the big climbs up Cardiac and to the Bolinas Ridge. When we saw her for the final time at Randall, she was in good spirits, but low on energy. Dan joined her with 13 miles to go and I’m sure that his company helped her pick up the pace, particularly after the final ascent and subsequent big plunge downhill to the finish. Apparently, she really wanted to be done because she hammered the last bit of the course.

The kids and I were waiting for her at the finish in Stinson Beach, and we were very happy to see her. Coach Al was a farther behind, so Terry and A.J. had taken their own vehicle to Randall. We left them and A.J. waited for Al and then escorted him a ways back up the hill. We were moderately concerned about the tight cutoff on the Bolinas Ridge and decided to go check on Al. So, after Terry and A.J. met up with us at Stinson Beach, Dan and I decided to run up and intercept Al to see how he was doing.

It took us about an hour and 15 minutes to connect with him when he had four miles to go. He was moving well, though slowly after 58 miles on his feet. Dan and I passed so many runners headed towards the finish. The trail was narrow, so we would step off and cheer them on. Some were thrilled that they had only a handful of miles to go, whereas others were a bit discouraged by our reports of how close the finish was.

The views were amazing with lush green grass and rolling hillsides. We got a chance to see the famous abandoned and rusted out car. The sun was going down, low clouds and fog had rolled in, but the combination made for a visual delight. Dan and I encouraged Al as he picked up the pace when the trail pointed downward. After the race, we were laughing about our repertoire.

Our list of favorite sayings:

“Good job!”

“Nice running.”

“Way to go!”

“Drop the hammer.”

“Keep pushing.”

Dan joked that, “The next thing I say is going to be the best thing you’ve ever heard.” We both agreed that in the future we will try to avoid the usual catchphrases and come up with more proprietary stuff to say. When we finally emerged from the wooded trail on to the street that led to the finish line, we practically ran in to A.J. He and his Dad have a tight bond. The thrill of Al’s finish is something I’ll remember for a long time. A.J. was ecstatic. I ran alongside his Dad for the last 150 meters letting out whoops and screaming “Yeah baby!” at the top of his lungs. It was a fantastic way to end the day.

The volunteers were awesome. Tia and her crew work hard to put on a race that is on protected land and involves major logistics and coordination. I’ve heard that working with the various government agencies, including the park service is challenging. I’m sure the runners appreciate the work that she and her team do to keep this race going on such beautiful lands.

We didn’t get to watch much of the fast men. They seemed to always be ahead of our crewing pace. We did get to see many of the top 10 as they came and left Randall. Miwok doesn’t attract the same depth in the elite fields as it used to, but there were still many strong performances on a difficult course. The first man was Benjamin Stern, a young ultrarunner at age 23, who ran 8:50. He was followed by Galen Burrell and Christopher Wehan. The drama in the women’s race was high with several lead changes.

Last year’s winner, Bree Lambert, ran strong and led much of the way, but was overtaken by a surging Laura Richard, just before Randall Trailhead at 49.2 miles. Laura had moved up steadily throughout the race and looked very strong both descending and climbing. Bree didn’t give up and came out of Randall charging, but eventually lost ground. Laura took the win in 10:54. Bree followed her and then Julie Fingar was third. Debbie wasn’t far behind Julie.

It was great to see old friends and meet new ones too. It was wonderful to see Mary Fagan Churchill. She (and her twin sister Liz) have Connecticut (and Vermont) roots, so I was cheering loudly for her. Mary won that Headlands 50K back in 2002. That’s when we first met her. She and Debbie have stayed in touch all of these years later. They have raced together, run together on her occasional visits to New England, and each raised families. Mary lives in the Bay Area and these are now her trails. It was great to see her smiling on the trails.

It would be awesome to see the Headlands unspoiled when the Miwok’s lived here and ruled the land. Their name lives on and the tradition of tramping on foot is alive.

Speaking on behalf of all the Livingston’s and our crew, we had a great time at the Miwok 100K.

Race Results (ultralive.net)

Race Results (final)

Note: apologies for the awful watermarks on these images. I’ll fix when I get back to “my” Mac. Working from the road has its drawbacks. I’ve have many more (and better) pictures to share too. 

2015 Fat Tire Classic

I got a great workout at today’s Fat Tire Classic at Winding Trails in Farmington, Connecticut. This is a race I’ve done many times, so it is a great benchmark. It was the second race in this year’s Root 66 Northeast XC Mountain Bike Series. The weather was cooler than normal, but the trails were dry, but still grippy.

I was happy with my ride. I was able to maintain my pace without slowing too much in the second half of the 20 mile/four lap race. I felt like my last lap was pretty strong. I rode my single speed Seven Sola and cleared a tough hill on the last lap that I had run the previous three. It was a great way to finish strongly.

Despite the lack of any spring warmth, there were a lot of people at today’s race. The fields seemed larger than at Hop Brook two weeks ago. We got to see many friends. Debbie, our kids, and our niece and nephew hung out and played while I rode. We will be back at Winding Trails in June for the Summer Tri Series. Three other Horst Engineering Cycling Team riders tackled today’s race. Mike Wonderly had a strong ride, as did Paul Nyberg, and Art Roti.

I was worried that my four-minute effort at yesterday’s Fight For Air Climb would tire me out, but alas, I didn’t have much to worry about. I rallied and despite still hacking from the stairwell dust, I got in another good effort as I work my way back to full strength.

Race Results (will be posted when available)

2015 Fight for Air Climb (Hartford)

When I registered for today’s American Lung Association Fight For Air Climb, I had two goals in mind:

1) Support the Horst Engineering Health & Wellness Committee (HAWC) Team.

2) Don’t get hurt.

I think I succeeded in both. I know that support for the HAWC Team was strong. I got to spend part of the morning with six colleagues from our Connecticut operations and together, we have raised more than $1,300 to date. Thank you to our donors. A lot of the support came from our other Horst Engineering colleagues, vendors, and friends. At our quarterly all-hands meeting earlier this week, we raffled off a bunch of New England Patriots, New York Giants, BostonRed Sox, and New York Yankees regalia with all proceeds going to the cause.

I didn’t fully appreciate the connection between stair climbing and the Lung Association until I reached the 38th floor of City Place I, Hartford’s tallest building. More than 320 people climbed the last 34 of those floors in the stairwell, and it was brutal. I led off our team and they rest of them followed at 20 second intervals. With chip timing (you wore the chip band on your wrist), they were able to send people off 20 seconds apart, all morning long.

When I burst on to the 38th floor, I was gasping for air and my heart rate was jacked. I might have gone faster if I could have gotten my heart rate above 182 where it maxed out. I averaged 176, which is pretty good for a four minute burst. Before the race, I was worried about my calves and my pesky plantar fasciitis (left foot), but they seem to be fine and its my lungs that got worked over. I guess that’s the point. Between the nasty warm stairwell air (dust and particulate) and the out of control breathing, I singed my lungs. So, when it comes to taking care of your lungs, I have even more appreciation.

This was my first ever stair climb. I trained for the event by jogging over to City Place from Horst Engineering’s Cedar Street plant. I ran across the Founder’s Bridge on a cold, but beautiful morning. My cool down took me down Main Street, past the music theatre, into Riverside Park, up on the dike, and across the Connecticut Southern Railroad Train Bridge, which is like 500 feet from Horst. The Connecticut River has flooded a little, but that is normal for spring.

It is worth noting that their was a normal amount of water flooding Riverside Park for April. The 2017 USA Cyclocross National Championships are scheduled to take place in that park on a course that will have elements taken from the early cyclocross races that Team Horst Sports promoted there in 2002 and 2003. It’s a great venue, and will be even better if there is no flooding in January 2017. We did our races in October and December, and January should be OK, but you never know.

I might give this stair climb thing a go again in the future. I’ve always wanted to do the granddaddy of stair climbs, the Empire State Building Run-Up. It’s on the to-do list now.

Whenever I’m in City Place, I think of 1980’s Hartford when the Russian Lady was going strong (in its first incarnation), the Whalers were still in town, and business was vibrant in the city. The building now has a 30% vacancy rate and last fall, was sold for the second time in three years. Hartford is far from what it used to be and the lack of tenants in this building is just one sign.

Of course, if I worked in that building on a daily basis, I would take the stairs.

Race Results

2015 Boston Marathon

On Monday, the Boston Marathon was run from Hopkinton to Boston for the 119th year. I’ve been a spectator at several “Boston’s,” but never quite as actively as the one I watched this week. I went to college in Boston between 1990 and 1995 and then spent time each spring in the city between 2002 and 2004, but hadn’t been at the race on Marathon Monday for more than 10 years. I’ve never run Boston, thought Debbie ran it in 1998, the year before I met her. I periodically get asked about running it and the simple answer I give is that I’ve never wanted to. I’m not a fan of big crowds and I don’t enjoy running on roads. Boston has both big crowds and lots of road.

I swore off-road marathons years ago after running the Walt Disney World Marathon and thoroughly disliking the experience. I’ve made four exceptions since then, but only because each of the four Ironman triathlon’s I’ve completed included a 26.2 mile road run. I’ve run several marathon distance and ultra distance races on trails and will do that again, but I still have no desire to run a pure road marathon. I don’t usually make exceptions to my own rules, but after experiencing Boston again, it would likely be the only race for which I would break my rule. Of course, even on a rainy day, there were big unavoidable crowds that I’m not fond of.

This year, I had a great reason to return and watch. My first cousin, Daniel Roy, qualified for Boston last year by running an excellent time at the San Diego Rock n’Roll Marathon. He hails from Upper Frenchville, Maine, where my mother and her siblings grew up, but now he lives in Los Angeles. He is the youngest grandchild and I am the oldest. The two of us have a bond. Since getting into distance running more than four years ago, he has crewed for Debbie at several ultras including the 2012 Vermont 100 and the 2014 Tahoe Rim Trail Endurance 100. He has been at several other ultras with us, including the Traprock 50K, which was last Saturday. He has run a few ultras on his own, but the road marathon has been his main distance focus in recent years.

Dan was thrilled to qualify for Boston and as soon as he committed to the race, I told him that I would be there to support him. His ambitious goal was to run 2:45. At 25 years old, he has gotten faster in each of his road marathons. His goal was achievable, though running isn’t his sole focus. He works, travels, and has a busy social life. Yet, from what I’ve observed of his training, when he sets his mind to something, he makes it happen. It’s been great to see him succeed in running like Debbie and I do, while doing something that is healthy and fun. Dan was only one of many (possibly a few hundred) runners that I knew in the more than 30,000 strong field. Boston is huge and I know a lot of runners. They came from all over the world to run. I enjoyed seeing so many posts on my Facebook feed. They were all about the special nature of the Boston Marathon.

I wasn’t the only spectator who came to Boston to cheer on Dan. His father, Phil Roy, is a great athlete. He was a total stud at every sport he played. When I was a kid, 35 years ago, he was my idol. I loved visiting him in Maine. He made me my first hockey stick from one of his broken sticks. Phil came to Boston to watch Dan, and he was full of pride. My mother, Lynn, and father, Stan, also spent the day in Boston with us; as did my Aunt Terry, Phil’s younger sister. We were hosted by another first cousin, Monique Roy, and her friend Julia. Several other friends rounded out the fan club. Monique and Julia live on Beacon Street a few blocks west of Kenmore Square. Their apartment is about 100 meters west of the 40 kilometer mark on the course. It was a perfect spot to watch from.

I drove to the Wonderland parking garage in Revere early in the morning, and took the T to State Street. Rather than making an Orange line connection, and then a Green line connection, I walked from State Street Station all the way to Monique’s apartment. I wound my way through Boston Common, through the Public Garden, up Boylston Street, past the finish line, up Commonwealth Avenue, and through Kenmore Square. It was a great way to soak in the sights and sounds of the day. I met up with the rest of our crew just after the start of the race. Dan had ridden a shuttle bus to the start. The elite women runners started at 9:30 A.M., shortly after the wheelchair division start. The elite men and first wave started at 10:00 A.M., and were followed by several other waves of amateur runners.

We watched the wheelchairs fly by first. That was an amazing sight. The chairs are built with cutting edge materials and technology, much like the bicycles I race. They were followed by the lead women, who were putting on quite a show. With 2 kilometers to go, the top three passed by where I was watching and they were running on each others’ heels. It wasn’t until the final 200 meters that they separated, with the ultimate winner, Caroline Rotich, surging ahead to win by four seconds over Mare Dibiba. Buzunesh Deba was third a further 10 seconds back. It was quite a race. American Desiree Linden ran a strong race to finish fourth.

About 10 minutes after the women ran by, the elite men came through. Lelisa Desisa took the win for the second time. He also won in 2013, the year of the tragic bombings. This year, his victory was much more joyful. He had a short lead when I saw him at 40 kilometers, which he held to the finish. Second place was Yemane Adhane Tsegay, and third was Wilson Chebet. Two Americans cracked the top 10, including last year’s winner, Meb Keflezighi, and Dathan Ritzenhein. Ritzenhein was one of the race’s animators, which was great to see. I watched many of the elites and then the top amateurs run by, including several people I know. Then, it was Dan’s turn. By the time he reached us, the rain had really picked up in intensity. The wind was blowing and it was raw. It was a tough day to run, but the kind of day I enjoy. I was thrilled to spot Dan and got several decent photos. We had tracked Dan on the Internet and he went out exactly at the pace he needed to in order to reach his goal. He went through the half in 1:20 and faded a bit, but finished in an awesome 2:46:17, which was very close to his target time.

 

After he ran by, Phil and I weaved our way down Beacon Street, through several security checkpoints, back through Kenmore Square, and eventually down Boylston Street. The finishing stretch was a madhouse, and not my kind of crowd, but I managed to navigate us through the mass of bodies. We found him in the lobby of the old John Hancock building. He had called us from his phone, which was delivered by a couple of his friends, who also came out to see him run. He was standing over a grate blowing warm air, and was very happy. It was awesome to see him so stoked by his own performance. He fell just shy of his goal, but lowered his personal best by more than nine minutes. That’s super. He is registered for the San Diego marathon again and in less than six weeks, will try to lower his time further. I would love to be 25 again, and have that kind of energy!

Once he was warmed up, we walked back to the apartment on Beacon Street, winding our way back through the crowds. I saw several friends in the crowd and on the course. It was an amazing day. People were cold, but in good spirits. We regrouped at the apartment and swapped war stories about past races. As the number of runners remaining on the course, thinned, I made my way back to the T and back to Wonderland where I was parked. Sterling Machine is in Lynn, only 10 miles north of Boston, so I camped at my favorite Hampton Inn in Peabody, and went to work at the shop on Tuesday.

 

Congratulations to all of the runners. Watching the race brought back good memories of my years living in Boston. I travel through the city at least once a week and love it. I was a bicycle messenger back in 1991 and that is how I got to know my way around the streets. I enjoyed my walk across town, but despite enthusiastically cheering for the runners, I’m in no rush to run. For now, I’m going to leave the longer distances to Debbie. She runs enough for both of us.

Race Results

2015 Hop Brook Mountain Bike Race & Bimbler’s Bash

Yesterday, the better weather that spring is known for was finally felt throughout southern New England. While winter weather still grips the north country, Connecticut, has seen most of the snow melt in the past two weeks. Two important race series kicked off on Sunday with their first races of the year.

The Livingston’s had to split up in order to take part in the fun. Debbie headed to the Bimbler’s Bash 10Kish Trail Race in Guilford, Connecticut. It was the kickoff race for the 2015 Connecticut Blue-Blazed Trail Running Series. Both of us raced the Bash in 2014, but I’m on the slow road (rather trail) back to fitness, and am avoiding any technical trail running while my left foot slowly heals from the battering it took in early 2014. I’m also easing my way back from the fractured scapula and related injuries that pretty much shut down my 2014 season completely in late-August. Debbie had a fine race, one of her better Bash’s in recent years.

She said the trails were in good shape and that the runners were in good spirits. The bright sunshine and milder temperatures really helped.

Bimbler’s Bash Results

I went to the Hop Brook Mountain Bike Race for the third time. I love the venue and again, it was the kickoff for the Root 66 Northeast XC Mountain Bike Series. I raced my rigid single-speed Seven Cycles Sola on the undulating course. There were several muddy sections, but largely, the trails were in better shape than I expected. The only difference from 2014 was that they cut our race from four laps (5.2 miles per lap) to three, which was OK with me considering that yesterday was my first mountain bike ride of the year. I just changed the tires on my bike last weekend and hadn’t even ridden it yet. A warmup lap plus three laps and a cool-down was enough for one day.

Hop Brook Results

Both races have wonderful organizers and volunteers that make them possible. Next up for the Blue-Blazed Trail Running Series is Traprock 50K on Saturday in Bloomfield, Connecticut. Next up for the Root 66 Series is Fat Tire Classic in Farmington, Connecticut on 26 April. Join in the fun!