Weekly Rundown for September 9, 2020

Weekly Rundown for September 9, 2020

 

This weekend was a blur of race related preparations and getting a review of the Salomon Wildcross live. A model I’ve been anxiously awaiting for the past year. Now with over a 100 varied miles into it, I dig into a review of the materials, design, and whether it all flows together into the model I’ve been waiting for…or not. Check it out: https://trailscollective.com/gear_reviews/review-of-the-salomon-wildcross/

 

Ellie released a TC Interviews weekly with Shan Riggs this past Friday. For those of you not already familiar with Shan and what he’s up to, he’s currently making his way through the beautiful but currently smoky Sierra’s in California headed for Connecticut by foot at roughly 30-40 mile increments. Check out their conversation to catch up on this gentle giant: https://trailscollective.com/2020/09/04/tc-interviews-shan-rigss/

 

Media:

 

Jandy, one of if not the Conestoga Cowboy, skilled on the camera, aficionado of fine Pennsylvania Trail, has finally launched is own YouTube channel titled Conestoga Cowboy. He’s live with Episode #1, the Buzzard Marathon. Check it out. To bring us out this evening we’ll have Jandy tuning us in to what the channel is all about. Hang tight…..

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9DMpDS8LF3-SLkYM1eU6gQ/featured

 

From Runner’s World last week:

A runner, out for a casual trail run on the trails outside her home in Old Forge, found herself between a mama black bear and her cubs. Not a good place to be. It’s a good short read which I won’t spoil..check it out at:

https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a33850667/rachel-smith-spends-night-in-tree-to-escape-bear/?utm_medium=social-media&utm_campaign=socialflowFBRW&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR34Mev96svTl3Lz_HEvJI-_8wkcRb9yqftv2Bfhw0L_rDAGS66EaykHm7w

 

FKT’s:

Literally the quietest, at least by FKT.com submissions, week on the FKT front in our region since I started doing this in the Spring. It is cool to look over the list of the past week though and see friends and familiar places taking down times in the rockies and northwest.

 

CT:

Sarah (Ports) Connor, shaving an hour and 5 minutes off the unsupported women’s mark for the 12.5 mi Bear Mountain Loop

 

ME:

Hot off the press, Finn Malison took down the Hundred Mile Wilderness FKT which consists of a 96.5 mile stretch with over 18,000’ of gain considered the wildest on the AT with a new mark of 29h 16m, shaving an hour off the time set from 2013 (if supported), or 4 hours off the Unsupported mark from only 1 month ago.

 

NY:

Steven Young, shaving 6 minutes off the FKT from only 3 weeks ago with a 1h 10m for the Highland Forest M Loop

 

VA:

Debbie Marcus, completing an unsupported finish of VHTRC’s the Ring. 

 

Results:

 

In Virginia, a growing number of hearty souls are taking on the annual labor day passage of “the Ring”, a 71 mile circumnavigation of the orange-blazed Massanutten Trail in the George Washington National Forest. 

 

(Virtual) 5k / 10k Trail Run for Thorncroft, Malvern, PA. 24 finishers with 5k wins to Colin Kelly from Villanova i 24:21, and Valerie D’Amico in 27:20. 7 in the 10k with the win going to William Harvey in 17:30 with a mile split time of 2:49. Dude, that kid was flying…no doubt supposed to be in the 5k division and Nikki Kemper in 29:31.

 

Back 40 Event’s Last Man Standing at Pineland Farms in ME went down with around 70 people setting off for the challenge. The Last Person Standing, with 32 laps completed, and a run time of 23:43, and winning a golden ticket to the Big Dance, was Jason Bigonia. Jason’s 32 laps equated to 134.4 miles over a 32 hour period. No stranger to the suffering at Pineland Farms, Jason is now a three-time winner in ‘18, ‘19, and ‘20. In looking at the results, it appears he was the first loser in 2017 (if I’m looking at the results correctly). Word has it the winner of 2017 was actually this guy with the win being questionable in hindsight.

 

Black Bear Half Marathon, Waterville Valley, NH. Of 60 finishers the half marathon wins went to Bobby McDonough in 1:27, and Nicole Falcaro in 1:39. In the 5K, the early teens took it with 13 year old Nathaniel Gervez the top male in 21:32, and 14 year old Jamie Reidy for the ladies in 28:00.

 

Salt Springs Field, Forest & Falls Trail Race, Montrose, PA,the 5K win was earned by Jeremy 

Quinnan in 24:44, and Niamh Cody in 34:48 for the women. In the 10k Sarah Briggs took the overall win in 51:27, with her coach Chris “Suicidal” Cowden on her heels in 52:49.

 

The Weekend Ahead:

 

September 12 (a pretty solid day on the trail calendar with a few really fun and inspiring options). Looking over registration numbers for many of these, and jiving them with my notes from prior weeks, I’m very much relating the work and stress that RD’s that have made it this far are still going through. 

 

Water Gap Trail Runs, Milford, PA, 25k / 50k, we’re headed in with a lean crew of about 75. http://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=72855

 

Breakneck Point Trail Runs, Beacon, NY, 13.1 / 26.2, constant flux of people entering, pushing back, exiting, etc…but should come in around our reduced cap of 325. Oy…I’m going to be really relieved to be through this race season on the RD front as of next week: http://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=71766

 

Rock ‘N The Knob Trail Races at Blue Knob, Claysburg, PA, 10k / 13.1 / 26.2, “PA’s highest trail race” and “most challenging 10k in PA”. Currently around 200 signed up across 3 distances, and registration is still open…but only until today so get on it! https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=71078

 

Pine Creek Challenge, Wellsboro, PA, 26.2 / 50.0 / 100.0. Crosses through the beautiful Grand Canyon of PA along the scenic Pink Creek. Registration closed August 30th. https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=74639

 

Boulder Field 100, Jim Thorpe, PA, 18.0 / 50.0 / 100.0. Race capped out a while ago. https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=73413

 

Mahoosuc Ridge to the River Challenge, Bethel, ME, 10.0 / 13.1 / 26.2: One which was on my radar if I hadn’t had to push back Breakneck Point, offers a 10k, Half, and Marathon, with the half marathon offering over 3,700 feet of vert, and the marathon at 7,400’ of gain, and covering nearly the entire ridgeline of Sunday River. Registration is open until Thursday the 10th so you can still get on it at: https://www.ridge2river.me/

 

Odyssey Trail Running Rampage, Douthat State Park, VA, 6.0 / 13.1 / 26.2 / 40.0, “Racers will run along creeks with waterfalls and through Rhododendron covered tunnels engulfing the trails. A loop will have a total elevation gain of 2700’ over 13 miles, the majority of which will be gained in the first four miles.”. Looks like reg is either capped or closed. On the radar for 2021: https://raceroster.com/events/2020/26661/2020-odyssey-trail-running-rampage-presented-by-the-county-of-bath

 

Tunxis Trail UltraMarathon, Burlington, CT, 8.0 / 30.0 / 60.0, still on to benefit the Burlington Land Trust and with solid COVID modifications. Registration closed on the 4th: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=74600

 

Breaks UltraMarathon 45M Trail Run, Breaks, VA, 45 (https://nextopportunityevents.com/breaks): Another burley one with 12,000 feet of gain over 45 miles, and a course that sounds beautiful. “The Grand Canyon Of The South” is the deepest canyon east of the Mississippi River and reaches craggy depths of over 1,600′. The Breaks Ultra trail race is an extreme challenge for any runner. Starting and finishing within Breaks Interstate Park in Virginia, the race takes runners back and forth across the Kentucky-Virginia border and up and over the ruggedly tough Pine Mountain numerous times. Your breath will be taken away by the beauty of the scenery and the extreme challenge of the terrain at the same time. Currently 162 registrants with reg still open but only through today, Wednesday the 9th at: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=71982: 

 

FAAP Fall Classic 5K, Allison Park, PA, 5.0 / 10.0 / 20.0: http://faap5krace.yolasite.com/register-and-pay-online-here.php

 

Macedonia Trail Race, Kent, CT, 7.3 / 25 / 50, Join me in running this one. “With its unparalleled singletrack and lush forest trails, challenging climbs/descents and two amazing viewpoints on course, the race offers trail runners a one of kind experience in the northwest part of Connecticut”, Registration still open through this Friday the 11th at: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=75945

 

Where the Pavement Ends – a 4.25 mile hybrid – virtual event where you still run a designated course but within a larger window: https://runsignup.com/Race/CT/Ridgefield/WherethePavementEnds

 

NYNJ Trails Conference:

TRAIL-A-THON: 100 MILES FOR 100 YEARS

REGISTER HERE: https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Virtual/100Milesfor100Years

CHALLENGE RUNS SEPT. 14 THROUGH OCT. 31

Trails give us so much: from respite to adventure to a pathway towards physical, mental, and emotional health. Our Trail-A-Thon is a chance to support safe and sustainable trails and healthy parks. Explore a favorite park, try out a new trail, take a lap around your neighborhood, or even hit a treadmill! While ticking off your miles, you’ll also have the opportunity to raise money for the Trail Conference and protect the land you love in the process. This event will help raise awareness and financial support to continue our mission for another 100 years.

Registration to accept the 100-mile challenge opens Aug. 31. This allows each participant time to set up a personal fundraising page, join a virtual team, and share your reason for accepting this challenge in honor of the Trail Conference. The official challenge is 100 miles, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do more–or less! The Trail-A-Thon is about getting outdoors, connecting with nature, and celebrating the Trail Conference’s 100 years of service. Trail-A-Thon participants are encouraged to reach out to family, friends, and colleagues to support your efforts in making an impact.