Blue Hills Trail Race Report

After a very restless night I reluctantly crawled out of bed at 5 am to get ready to run my fourth race in four weeks. This week it would be race #2 in the Eastern New England Trail Race Series, the Blue Hills 10 mile trail race in Milton, MA [results].  My goals for the race were simple.  Run faster than last year and run all but the steepest hills. That sounded easy enough but I felt very sluggish during my warmup and was questioning why I ever got out of bed.

The Blue Hills course is a blend of dirt roads, wide trails and some technical single-track.  There are several climbs, some of them steep but also some flat terrain were you can get into a good running rhythm and make up for lost time on the hills.  The total elevation gain per my Garmin was 1,104 feet.  The first and last 1.5 miles cover the same trails but are run in the opposite direction. The trails were well marked and key intersections and turns were marked with chalk or had a volunteer pointing out the proper direction.

Ten miles close to Beantown.

No monsters hills but plenty of climbing.

The race starts uphill on paved road but shortly thereafter turns onto a dirt fire road.  About 1/4 mile into the race I heard someone call my name.  I looked back and it was my friend Betty who I met last year at the MorFun Wapack race.  She had run Boston, and I a 50K a week earlier, so neither one of us were expecting to run 100% today.  We ran together for the next two miles as we worked our way though the field. A little after the two mile split we hit the first real climb of the day and Betty dropped back  and started to walk.  I kept moving and didn't see Betty again until after the race.

My knee started to bother me about four miles into the race. It wasn't as bad as it was during the 50K last weekend where it affected my stride but still painful enough. Except for the knee, I was feeling good and continued to past several runners between miles four and five.  After mile five I was pretty much on my own for the rest of the race.  I think I only saw and passed about five or six runners in the last five miles.  I pushed hard though miles 8-10 which help me to run the last five miles three minutes faster than the first five. I love running negative splits! 

Overall I was pleased with the race. I ran much faster than last year, ran all the hills and finished strong over the final three miles.  My knee is still and issue but I'll continue to stretch and take Motrin for another week (or two) before I make a doctor's appointment.  I hate going the the doctor!

Until next time....

"Slow Runners to the Right!" - Moose on the Loose Race Report

The Moose on the Loose 10 mile race and relay [results] is 2.5 mile loop course in the tranquil Mine Falls State Park in Nashua, NH. It's part of the New Hampshire Gran Prix Race Series so it draws its share of speedy runners and teams looking to grab points and prizes. It's also race #9 in the Eastern New England Trail Race Series and my reason for making the trip. I had no intention of racing 10 miles with my 50K only seven days away. I am in a tight battle in the ENE Series and knew I would have to show up and score some points today if I wanted to stay in contention for a spot in the top three.

This really isn't a trail race in my opinion so I fully expected NOT to see anyone I knew today. The course is more like a cross-country race suited for road runners with speed. It's flat and fast! I was just there for the ride. Much to my surprise I saw a bunch of folks from Wicked Running and a friend I haven't seen in nearly two years. And right before the start, Trail Pixie and Sara showed up. I introduced Pixie and Roz to one another and we discussed how fast, or should I say, how slow we planned on running today.

Roz and I were planning to run the same pace so we started the race together. It was pretty hot by the time race started but fortunately most of the course was shade covered. The only time we were in the sun for any length of time was along the winding canal. The first loop passed quickly as we talked about what we've been up to over the past two years. By the end of the second loop we both needed a bathroom break due to excessive pre-race hydration! Luckily for us the port-a-johns were located right at the start/finish line.

I can't remember exactly when this happened but when one of the top 5 female runners was passing us, yes I was lapped, oh the shame ;-), she started angrily yelling at some runners ahead of us, "Slow runners to the right!" At first I thought, "how rude" but then I just started laughing out loud as Pixie looked back and laughed too. I've heard, "passing on your left/right", or "coming through" and a few other friendly warnings during trail races but never that one. I'm sure she was a road runner! Way to serious.

Well, I ran really slow and finished near the back of the pack but I didn't break anything! I just wanted to score a few points and make it through the Moose unscathed so it was a successful race in that respect. I'll be taking it easy over the next week, doing just a few short runs and should be good to go for my 50K next Sunday.

Ok, I'm moving to the right. No yelling please .....

Boxford Forest 10K Race Report

I was able to get out of work on time so I made a decision to run the North Medford Running Club’s Boxford State Forest 10K. This is race number six in the Eastern New England Trail Race Series. I am currently ranked 3rd overall male in the series and 1st in the 50-59 age group. My quads were still toast from running Northfield Mountain on Saturday so I wanted to use this race as a ENE points bagging opportunity more than an all out race.

Traffic leaving the city was brutal as usual and made worse with the Red Sox having a home game. I kept checking my watch during the drive to Boxford and it wasn’t looking good for an on-time arrival. I still needed time to change from my work clothes into my running stuff and every minute counted. I had visions of the racers running off into the woods as I pulled into the parking lot and me leaping out of my truck, chasing after them in pants and dress shoes. Fortunately, I made it with 8 minutes to spare. Just enough time to change and register. Whew!

Pixie, Trailgrrl and RunninRob were there. I guess I wouldn’t be gaining any ground on Rob who is 1st in the ENE rankings through Trav’s Trail Run. It’s funny, we all had excuses why we may not be there, yet we all made it. Were we all playing mind games with one another? Nah! We got the mandatory instructions from the RD before the start of the race. I was talking to Emily and Michelle and missed every word of it. DOH!

The race was off and I fell to the rear like I almost always do. Rob took off like an Indy race car and quickly vanished from sight. Michelle was more like a train, starting out slowly and building up a head of steam, then moving at breakneck speed for the rest of the run. Emily is another story. She was behind me, most likely chatting it up with whoever was near her. Emily knows a lot of people at these trail races, and the ones she doesn’t, she quickly introduces herself to them. She still managed to pull off a race PR. Nice race Em!

The course was constantly rolling with wide and single-track trails and many wet and muddy sections. The trail had its fair share of rocks and roots but nothing like the trails I train on in Breakheart. Thankfully, there weren’t any prolonged climbs. I had enough uphill running at Northfield. The forest canopy was thick and several times the trail got very dark even though the sun was still out. Scary stuff but I didn’t see any trail monsters out there. Yikes!

I passed several runners in the first mile even though I was running easily. One guy was breathing like he needed a respirator when I went by him about a ½ mile into the race. I really never understood why someone sprints the first ½ mile of a 10K and then dies shortly thereafter. It has to be a painful death. About 1.5 miles into the race I went by Rob who slowed a bit but still finished close behind me. There’s no way he’s relinquishing his “Top Gun” standing any time soon.

By mile two I had passed a few more runners and got within 20 yards of Michelle. I hung on in that position for another ½ mile but then she was out of sight. I caught another glimpse of her and a male runner between mile 3 and 4 when we had to run a short section of road. Once the two of them tucked back into the woods I never saw them again. I ran the final three miles of the race alone so the miles passed VERY slowly. The bugs started to bother me so with a mile to go I picked up the pace just to get away from them.

The results aren’t posted yet but I ran an 8:48 pace and finished 17th overall. Not sure how many runners were there. I think the faster running at Lynn Woods on Wednesday nights and the shorter races like Trav’s and Northfield have started to improve my leg turnover. The effort extended at Boxford was much less than it was to run the same pace just 3 week ago.

I’ll probably be taking the next three weeks off from racing. I can sense the withdrawal pains already. It will be a good chance for me to work on my ultra training with long runs where I will continue to experiment with the Galloway training method.

Get a move on….

Trav's Trail Run Race Report

This is just the "break" in needed! After 4 consecutive weekend races, and 6 out of the past 8, the thought of another 2 to 6 hour race was not a pleasant one. Then along came Trav's Trail Run to the rescue (race # 5 on the Eastern New England Trail race series). This 3 mile race on wide, tame trails covered with pine needles and wood chips (wood chips, are you serious?) made me want to come back again to explore the trails of Maudslay State Park at a more leisurely pace. This was more of a cross-country race than a trail run but no matter what you call it, it's a FUN race.

RunninRob made the drive with me and we met Pixie and Vivian (one of Pixie's students) in the parking lot before the race. The sun was breaking through the clouds and the temperature climbing as we made our way out onto the course for a 20 minute warm up. By the time we returned the race was about to start. I was standing in back talking with Pixie an neither one of realized the race started without us. We both shouted "Oh, Crap!" and off we ran in pursuit.

The race started on an open field and quickly descended on a sunken, washed out path that had the trickiest footing of the entire course. I worked my way though the field looking for Rob but with my bad start and 260+ runners I couldn't find him. After crossing short bridge the course made it's longest climb up a loose gravel path. It leveled off and then made another short climb onto a sweet, wide cushioned trail. Having to work my way though the field for the first mile really slowed my pace and I went thought the mile in 8:24.

The second mile was nearly flat and I continued to pass runners even as the field thinned out. The running here was the best I have ever seen in a trail race with long stretches of trail covered in pine needles or wood chips. I increased my speed gradually throught the second mile and ran a 7:47 split for mile two. Still no Rob in sight!

I was starting to feel a little hurt coming on after mile 2 and was contemplating slowing down a bit but I told myself this is only a 3 mile race and you're supposed to hurt in a 3 mile race! With all the long slow stuff I've been running lately I forgot what it feels like to run short and quick. Sort of like getting tossed directly into the fire instead of being slowly roasted over the coals!

The last .75 miles of the race was the same as the first except we ran it in the opposite direction. Coming down a long hill I saw Rob crossing over the bridge ahead. He had a good lead on me and I didn't think I had a chance of catching him but I put my head down and motored on. When I crossed the bridge and made the turn up the final climb to the finish I could see Rob had about 50 yards on me. The only way I could catch him is if he really slowed on the climb. He didn't.

Cresting the hill I sprinted to the finish but Rob put it into another gear and pulled away. I crossed the line in 23:23 for a 7:12 split on the final mile. Vivian wasn't too far behind with Pixie about 2 minutes behind Vivian. (Pixie also ran the Wachusett Mt. race the day before). We hung around for the huge post-race raffle but we all struck out there! Oh well, still a great time and a welcomed change of pace from the longer Grand Tree events of the past several weeks.

NO races for me for the next 2 weekends and I'm looking forward to the rest. Well, not exactly rest. Rob and I have already planned a 20 mile training for next Sunday. And to Nipmuck Dave if you're reading this. I'm happy to help fill in any holes in the entrant list for the Nipmuck Marathon on June 7th. You can even charge me double and I'll bring a gallon of water!

Race results HERE

Use it or lose it....

Best Kept Secret – Overlook Trail Race Report

Probably the most overlooked race in the Eastern New England Trail Races Series, the Overlook Trail 7 mile race in Saima Park has much to offer veteran trail racers and rookie runners alike. Single-track trails, rocky paths, stream crossings, mud, pine needle floor trails and a trailside junk art exhibit are just some of the highlights an adventurous group of 42 enjoyed this past Sunday. I almost hate to hype this race too much lest the word get out and hordes of dirt devils descend on the race next year and spoil the charm of this small, low key event hosted by the North Medford Club. And don’t let me forget the hungry mosquitoes. They were out in full force pre-race but not a problem once the race began.


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I made the drive to Fitchburg, MA with trail buddy RunninRob. The time flew by as we discussed the impending race, our injuries, ultra plans and other non-running related topics. I got a little too deep into our conversation and missed a few turns despite the frantic warnings from my GPS. They’re only useful if you listen to them! A couple of detours later we pulled in the parking lot of Saima Park just as I received a call from Trail Pixie giving me instructions on how to find the place. HA, too late!

We got our “numbers” and a very cool long-sleeved shirt at the registration desk. We also saw Sara who I met at the Fells Trail Races back in March. The Fells may have been her first race (way to pick and easy one, right?) and I think this was her first race since then. I tried to recruit her for Soapstone Mt. in a couple of weeks. She didn’t commit but I hope she makes it down there. It will be a good opportunity to test her new Gator-Bait Gaiters under race conditions. Come on Sara. I’ll be looking for you!

Rob and I got to the starting line and vowed we would not have a repeat of last week’s Blue Hills flameout. To help keep our promises, we lined up in the middle on the pack. As the race started we settled into a nice comfortable pace. A few runners went by us in the first ¼ mile but then things settled down and we maintained our position. Approaching the first mile, I went around a runner on a rocky descent and got separated from Rob. Shortly after that I heard a horrific scream behind me. I knew someone must have gone down hard on the rocky section I just ran through. I turned around and saw Rob and others had stopped to check on the fallen runner. I thought for sure something must have been broken but thankfully it turned out to be a bad sprain.

Climbing a washed out trail complete with leaf-covered rocks, roots and downed trees branches I passed a few runners and tucked in behind Cynthia from the GBTC. She was running a good pace and I was too lazy to do my own work so I followed her into a twisting section of single-track. I noticed she was a little stronger on the up hills than me (big surprise huh?) and I was quicker on the descents and flats. She noticed this as well and offered to let me past on one of the down hills. I said “Thanks” but declined as I wasn’t quite ready to be lead dog. We passed one or two runners here, and since I was feeling good, decided to go pass Cynthia too.

I set my sights on a runner up ahead and began to work on reeling him in. I was beginning to feel like the Dan of races past, starting out slow, picking off runners one by one and finishing with a strong kick. I was closing in on my prey but when I took a look over my shoulder I saw that I had not completely dropped Cynthia. The hunter was also the hunted! I caught the runner ahead of me after we crested the climb up Flat Rock trail. As I passed he told me to “Hammer it home” so I knew then he was all done. I said “Thanks, nice race” and poured it on down the other side of the hill not wanting to give him time to reconsider his surrender.

After Flat Rock hill there was easy running on a non-technical trail so I maintained a fast pace here. Turning right on a sharp switch-back I looked up hill and saw the runner I just passed had fallen way back and Cynthia was out of sight too. I felt like I was almost home free but there was still about 2 miles to go. Dropping down onto some more single-track I could hear the sound of rushing water. I was getting close to the water crossings, my favorite part of any trail race! Speeding down a short, steep hill I leaped into the stream and kept moving forward. One more hill and I would be nearing the finish line.

My pace slowed a bit on the long, final climb but I kept moving forward. The rest of the way was either downhill or flat and I continued to push the pace thinking there could be another runner around the next corner just waiting to be caught. Sadly not, but I finished strong and feeling good. The thing that pleased me most is that I ran a smart race and passed many runners, but was never passed by anyone after the first ¼ mile. I’m not saying I am back in racing shape but at least there was no repeat of my crash and burn flameout from the week before. Promise kept!

Next up MorFun Wapack. Say a prayer for me, maybe two….

I Hate It When I'm Right - Blue Hills Race Report

Blue Hills Blues

The morning was hot
Dan's race was not
He should have been running
Instead he walked, A LOT
Too many hills for him to climb
They needed a calendar to record his time

The meteorologists forecasted a warm day and they delivered on their prediction. Why did they have to be correct this time? When Kevin and I arrived in the Parking lot at the Blue Hills Trailside Museum around 8 AM you could already feel the heat. The 4th Annual Blue Hills 10 mile Fox Trot Trail Race was going to be a hot one! I'm not a big fan of racing in the heat and this would be my first hot one of the 2009 race season. You expect 80 degree temps for summer races but this way too early in the year as far as I'm concerned.

After picking up our race numbers we headed out on the trail for a quick warmup. Kevin led us to a rocky trail that began an immediate climb. It dumped us onto a narrow, paved road and we continued upward. I'm not sure what the heck we were thinking. Warmups are supposed to be easy. When we realized we were climbing the road to Great Blue Hill, the highest in the reservation at 635 feet, we turned around and ran back to the parking lot. The warmup was enough to work up a good sweat. Gee, thanks Kev!

We saw RunninRob back in the lot and we decided we would start the race together. We made our final preparations and moved to the starting line. When we got to the line Rob was no where in sight. We got some last minute instructions from the RD but I was too far back to hear any of it. I only knew the race had started when the people in front of me began to move.


Start of race on long up hill.

The race started on a paved uphill that climbed for a quarter mile before turning left onto a dirt road. The first 2 miles were easy, running along fairly flat fire roads. Kevin and I were engaged in non-stop conversation and as we passed a woman she asked if we had stopped for coffee before the race. I guess our chatter may have been distracting to her. I couldn’t lie and told her Kevin just had a large Dunkin Donuts!

I felt very good the first two miles. I think the warmup really helped because my legs were feeling fresh with none of the stiffness usually felt at the beginning of a run. I did feel the heat though, as the temp was approaching 80 at this time. I was a little concerned that the 20 oz of water in my handheld would not be enough to get me through the full 10 miles.


Easy running, for a little while!

Around 2 miles we hit our first real climb. Most of the runners ahead began walking so Kevin and I decided to do the same. When we reached the top of the hill the trail narrowed into twisting, rocky single-track. I looked up and saw Rob a short distance ahead. He had gone out a little fast for such a warm day and decided to rein it in a bit when he hit the hill.


One of many hills.

The three of us ran the next 4 or 5 miles together. Kevin took over most of the pacing duties and tried his best to keep me and Rob motivated and moving. I’m not sure were his energy was coming from. He had just finished a grueling 50K in Blue Hills one week ago at the Don’t Run Boston 50K sponsored by the Trail Animals. That race didn’t seem to slow him down, nor the 3-4 hours of sleep he got the night before! Whenever Rob and I would stop to walk a hill, Kevin would get us moving again.


Kevin putting down the hammer.

I ran out of water and was starting to feel the effects of the heat when out of nowhere appeared an aid station stocked with ice cold water. I must have looked like I was in desperate need of water as a volunteer began handing me one cup of water after another. I gulped down two cupfuls and poured two more over my head. This gave me immediate relieve but the feeling wasn’t as long lasting as I would have liked. I thanked the volunteer and began moving again.

Around mile 7 or so the three amigos went their separate ways. Kevin surged ahead on a hill and Rob and I held back. A short time later I moved ahead of Rob. Still, we all finished within a fairly narrow time frame. The last 2 miles of the course were run over some of the same trails as the first 2 miles. The terrain was mostly flat with some gentle slopes and I was able to pick up my pace here. There were two guys running together ahead of me and we traded places back and forth over the final two miles.

A short distance from the finish the two guys I had been running with began to kick. I saw little need for that and just coasted on in. I looked at the finish clock and was pretty amazed with my time. But not in a good way. My prediction of not being able to run anywhere near the time I did 2 years ago came true. But it was even worse than I expected, about 37 minutes slower than before!


Rob bringing it home.

It wasn’t all bad though. I did have a lot of fun running with Kevin and Rob. We shared a lot of laughs and were even able to laugh at ourselves on occasion. Sure, racing to a fast time would have been great, but running with friends at any pace has its own rewards.

Dan, out….

Blue Hills Revisited

This weekend I am returning to the Blue Hills Reservation for the Colonial Road Runners' 4th Annual Fox Trot 10 mile trail race. I did this race back in 2007 finishing 16th overall and 2nd in my age group running 1:07:54. One month later I was injured and developed some medical problems that kept me from running a single step for over 8 months.

I'm running again but I'm not able to train with the same intensity I had pre-injury. I have slowed considerably an will be lucky to come within 30 minutes of my previous time in this Sunday's Race. That doesn't deter me though. I'm happy that I'm still able to plod along at any pace. It's not that I've lowered bar for myself, it's just that I have to be realistic with my training and racing goals given my ongoing health problems.

My goals for the race are simple:

1. Don't get hurt. Not as easy as it sounds. I trip and fall a lot ;-) plus I am still dealing with a weak/injured right ankle.


2. Score some points in the Eastern New England Trail Race Series. The Fox Trot is the 3rd race on the 2009 schedule but it will be my first ENE race this season.


3. Have fun. My pals Kevin and Rob with be running as well. I hope our respective running paces will at least keep us running together for some of the race.


4. Go for pancakes after the race.

Hey, a man's got to eat!

Eastern New England 2008 Trail Race Series - Final Standings

The first season of the Eastern New England Trail Race Series has concluded with the running of the Middlesex Fells 8 mile race on November 29th. The series was a complete success as trail racing’s popularity seems to increase exponentially every year. Over 2,200 dirt dancers entered at least one of the 23 races in the series.

I’d like to send out personal congratulations to some of my trail running friends on their successful 2008 seasons.

To Paul and Emily, male and female ENE Trail Race Champions! I’ve enjoyed running with and chasing after both you in many races this year. I hope we get to do some (easy) training runs together over the winter.

To Kevin, 7th place male. Great effort in only your first year of trail running. We suffered thought Wapack and the Fells but still kept moving. I know we’ll complete our first ultra together in 2009. Have fun on the slopes!

To Ana, 7th place female. Another Wapack warrior that challenged me to stay strong. We seemed to just keep missing one another most of the year. I hope our paths cross again in the near future.

To Carlene, 17th place female. Why do we only meet on the toughest courses? I still think Wapack is the most difficult race I’ve run. What about you?

I am happy with my 11th place finish and already looking forward to the 2009 season.

Complete rankings: Here

Let it snow…NOT!

Busa Bushwack Race Report - Final Taper Week

I ran my last hard workout before the Stone Cat marathon this weekend at the Busa Bushwhack trail race in Framingham MA. This race pays tribute to 79 year-old trail running legend Richard Busa, still going strong after all these years. The race is held at Callahan State Park where Rich does most of his training runs. The Bushwhack is two races in one. There is a 5.3 mile out and back and a 9.3 mile race that follows the 5 mile course with an additional 4 mile loop tacked on. I decided to run the 9 mile race not wanting to miss out on the many hills on the 4 mile loop.

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I saw a few familiar faces at the start of the race. There was Paul and Emily, my friend Kevin and Paul C from the Lynn woods. Emily and Paul were running the 5.3 mile race while Kevin, Paul C and myself would do the 9.3. I never felt good from the very start. I was feeling sluggish and it took about 30 minutes for me to finally warm-up and get into the groove.

Emily, Kevin, Paul C and myself all started off together. Kevin was feeling pretty strong and soon he was pulling away from the three of us. Paul and I stayed with Emily until she took the turn-around to complete 5.3 mile loop. We then stayed together for the remainder of the race until I pulled away from Paul with a couple miles to go.

Paul is one crazy dude and he kept me entertained for most of the race. The miles passed quickly with his constant banter, his joke telling, and his constant harassing of fellow trail runners. At one point in the race we came to an intersection and were unsure which way to go. There was a volunteer telling us to turn left, but for some reason we didn't believe him. We were certain we needed to continue forward. So, ignoring the advice of the volunteer, we continued straight down the trail. It wasn't long before we realized we were wrong and the volunteer was right. We really didn't care that we got lost. In fact we thought it was rather hilarious. We were probably the only two runners in the race that thought we knew the course better than the person that marked it! We did feel badly that one female runner following closely behind us took the wrong turn with us. We lost about three minutes by taking this side trip. Thankfully, this was really just a training run for us. As we started passing runners for the second time, some would comment, "Didn't you two pass us already?" "Yeah, we got lost."

Complete Results Here: 9.3 Miles

Following the Busa race I did two short, easy runs this week. My legs are still feeling heavy and slow. I'm not sure why I've been feeling this way, but I sure hope it passes soon. If I feel this way on Saturday, I certainly won't run the race I think I'm capable of. There's nothing I can do now but rest so no running for me the next two days.

Waiting for Willowdale....

Diamond Hill Race Report

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Saturday was a quintessential autumn day in New England. The sun shone brightly in the cloudless, deep blue sky and there was a distinct chill in the air. By 7:30 AM I was on the road to pick up fellow Wapack warrior Kevin for our next challenge, the Diamond Hill-Birchwold 22.5K Trail race in Cumberland, RI. This was my very first trail race in 2006 and I welcomed the chance to return to the place that got me hooked on trail running.

Kevin was pretty psyched as well. He has run a ton of races this year but all of them on his own. He was happy to have company this time, as was I. Kevin and I met a few months ago at a 10K trail race in Hamilton. We later bumped into one another at the Oxford Dam race in August. Later in the month we met for a third time on the Wapack trail. We were both struggling to finish the race. Kevin was dealing with cramping in his quads and I was just plain out of gas. We pulled each other along and made it to the finish line. Kevin even mustered up enough energy to sprint past me in the final few yards. We became “comrades in arms” that day. There’s nothing like mutual suffering to bring people together.

We arrived at Diamond Hill Park with more than an hour to race time. Many people gathered near the starting line soaking in the bright, warm sunshine. I talked with speedster, Paul Young and his wife Emily before the race. I also met Dominic, a triathlete turned trail runner. He was very enthusiastic about his newfound passion for dancing in dirt. Dominic completed the Jay Mountain ultra in July and said it was the most fun he ever had. He said he felt like “Man vs. Wild” star Bear Grylls when he was running in streams and wading through swamps. I thought, “Man, this course will be a piece of cake for him”.

The race was about to begin. Paul took his rightful place up front while Emily, Kevin and myself took to the rear. With a simple command of “go” we were off. We ran on a very short stretch of pavement and then turned onto a meadow and began a climb up a steep, grassy hill. Soon, I found myself in DFL along with Emily and Kevin. We power hiked the hill while most everyone else ran. I wasn’t worried. I knew they would pay for it later.

At the crest of the hill we turned onto a single-track trail that descended and then started to climb again. Emily and I chatted the entire time. Before long we began climbing up the 460 foot high, Diamond Hill along a very steep, rocky, twisting trail. Again I was back to power hiking most of the hill and running when the slope flatted a bit. In front of me a string of runners when up and over Diamond Hill.

Kevin and I were still together at the top of Diamond Hill but I could not see Emily. She had chosen a more prudent pace and dropped back from us. Kevin and I both picked up the pace on the descent passing a few runners in the process. We continued along more single track and then came out to a street in a quite neighborhood. Once I got on the pavement I pulled away from Kevin. I wouldn’t see him again until the finish. After running about ¼ mile on the street the course again turned into the woods.

There was a long gradual hill dropping down to the Diamond Hill Reservoir. The footing was good here so I cranked it up and caught up to two runners ahead of me. Once we got down to the banks of the reservoir the trail was very muddy and there were several sections that were under water. The two runners were hesitant when approaching the water and this gave me an opportunity to pass them. I took a better line around the water and was able to get past them pretty easily. Once I got around them I was running on my own.

I ran the next mile or more trying to catch a group of 3 runners up ahead of me. I would gain on them on the flats and down hills but they would pull away from me on the up hills. This has been a familiar scene in all my races this year. I knew if I could catch them it would be a lot easier to maintain a faster pace than if I continued to run on my own. I finally worked my way up to the group and settled in at the back of the train.

We ran together for the next two miles at a good pace. The guy in the lead was having navigation problems and kept missing the turns. The woman behind him would yell to him that he missed the turn and we would wait for him to backtrack before the 4 of us would head off together again. Things were going well until we caught up to a solo female runner. I guess the woman in my group didn’t like the idea of another female competitor running with us. She downshifted, accelerated and pulled away from female # 2 and the rest of us. The race was on!

I managed to work my way back to female #1 and so to did the other two fellows in the original group. Female # 2 was not as fast and she was left in the dust and debris. We soon came to a small water crossing, maybe 10 feet wide but only ankle deep. I splashed my way through picking up a shoe full of small stones in the process. After the water crossing we ran along single track that crossed several large open meadows. The meadows were pancake flat and it was a nice break from the roller coaster ride we had been on for the past several miles. We encountered another water crossing and unfortunately, more rocks in my shoes. It seems everyone was having the same issue with their shoes filling with stones. The 3 runners I had been hanging with decided to stop and empty their shoes. I would have done the same if the race was longer but I thought I would take a chance on getting blisters and use this opportunity to pull away from them while they emptied their shoes. It was a good plan but about a minute later I noticed my shoes were untied. I had to stop to lace them up. While I was tightening my laces the “3 amigos” ran past me. Damn it! Catch-up time again.

At the 9-mile mark we turned onto a one mile stretch of paved road. This is where my many years of road racing played to my advantage. I slowly but steadily pulled away from my 3 trail mates. Up ahead I recognized Dominic. He soon became my next victim. We exchanged a few words as I passed and I continued to put the hammer down. I wanted to get a big advantage on the road because I knew the people I had been running with were better trail runners than me and we would soon be in the woods again.

At the end of the road was the second aid station. I knew from running this race in 2006 that there was about 5K of hilly trails remaining in the race from here. I stopped at the aid station to have some water. I had been drinking Succeed during the race but I just wanted some plain, cold water now. It hit the spot. I had another. My thirst became my undoing as everyone I passed on the road was now at the aid station. #$%&!!!!

Female #1 and Dominic took off a few seconds before me. I’m not sure what they drank at the station but whatever it was I need to get me some. The two of them were streaking down the trail like a bullet train. Gone in 60 seconds! That’s the last I saw of them. I, on the other hand, was starting to struggle. I ran the next 2 miles with one of the original “group of four”. He and I exchanged leads and offered encouragement to one another when it seemed one of us needed it.

With about a mile to go I took my eyes off the trail to locate the next ribbon. My toe caught a root and down I went. I was able to get my hands out in front of me so the only damage was a cut on my right hand. A little blood running down my hand was a small price to pay for being able to run on such an incredible day. I think the fall must have knocked the cobwebs out of me and I was able to run strong the last mile. I crossed finish line slightly disappointed in my time but still, it was a great day.

I waited for Kevin to arrive at the finish. I knew from previous races that he couldn’t be very far behind. Minutes pasted and still no Kevin. Soon, across the field came Kevin. He had taken a wrong turn and ran at least an extra half to three-quarters of a mile. I guess he liked the course so much he didn’t want to leave it! We hadn’t even finished our post-race refreshment when we starting planning our next race. It looks like the Middlesex Fells Ultra is a distinct possibility.

Keep your eyes on the trail…

Wrentham Forest Challenge - Race Report

This was a planned rest week for me so I dropped my long run and total miles down this week. The schedule called for a 12 mile long run so I decided to run it at the Wrentham 20K Forest Challenge. I had no intention of racing. I just wanted to have some company. It turned out I had some great company. I meet a very nice runner named Streph who is a high school math teacher. We ran together for about 7 or 8 miles of the race. We also meet a couple of younger guys from Rhode Island. The four of us, along with a fifth runner, formed a tight group and settled into a good pace. We ran all the flat, downhill and small uphill sections of the course but walked the long, steep hills. Unfortunately, there were many of them.

The Wrentham course was very challenging with a lot of hills. Hills were the last thing I wanted to see after running 4.5 hours over the mountains of the Wapack trail. I got lost twice during the race due to my poor powers of observation. I also have several near falls on the rock outcrops along the course. My Merrell Overdrives did not give me any traction in the wet conditions. Even walking did not prevent slipping on the many rocks.

The extreme humidity brought here by topical storm Hana really wore me down. I also did not carry enough calories with me and I crashed major league around 9 - 10 miles. During the last 2 miles I had to resort to a mix of walking and slow jogging but I still managed to run under 2.5 hours.


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Until next time...

Wapack Trail Race Report

Run approximately nine miles on rock and root covered trails over four mountains, each one nearly 2,000 feet high, scramble up and down grades as steep as 40%, stop, turn around and repeat. That, in a nutshell, is the Wapack Trail Race. Oh, did I mention 4200 feet of calf cramping elevation gain and the same amount of quad busting elevation loss? Why would anyone want to subject themselves to this torture on a beautiful Sunday morning? I pondered this and many other unanswerable questions as I plodded my way from New Hampshire to Massachusetts and back again.

Wapack Race Elevation Profile
Excellent Topo map of the course: HERE

I had no idea what I was getting myself into making the 90 minute drive to New Ipswich, New Hampshire for the start of the race. I read and heard that the Wapack trail was difficult, but I really didn’t expect it to be ridiculous. Crossing the MA/NH border along RT 119 offered a clue of what was to come. Level road on the MA side turned into a three mile stretch of roller coaster hills once I crossed into NH, all the while gaining in elevation. I had to downshift on the steeper hills to maintain momentum. Hmm, this can’t be good.

I arrived at the Windblown XC Ski area surprised to see many cars already in the parking lot. I guess I’m not the only fool, I mean adventurer. I quickly got my race number and went back to my truck to get my gear together. Although there were two aid stations on the course I wanted to be as self-sufficient as possible. I didn’t want to eat or drink anything in the race that I hadn’t already tried on my training runs. I estimated it would take about 4 hours to complete the race. Being out on the course this length of time would require a lot of calories and fluids. I decided to use my Camelbak hydration pack instead of my usual two bottle waist pack. The Camelbak could hold 70 oz of water vs. 40 oz in the two water bottles. I also stuffed 4 GU gel packets, 2 packages of shot bloks, a small baggie of pretzels and 4 electrolyte capsules into the side pouches of the Camelbak. I think that should do it!

The race was about to start so I hurried down to the starting line. I met my friend Eric who was already waiting there. The RD explained what to expect on the course, where the aid stations were located etc. He indicated the course had very little supplemental markings and that we would have to follow the yellow triangles blazed on the trees and rocks. I wanted to run the race with Eric if I could. He ran here in 2006 and I thought it wise to run with someone with knowledge of the course. No need to be taking any unexpected detours.

This race started like most other trail races I have run before, uphill! Why is that? Is a flat start too much to ask for? I mean, I’m getting older and I need some time to loosen up. And I’m not about to run a warm-up knowing I have four hours of running ahead of me. Anyway, off we went. I immediately settled in near the back of the pack. I wanted to run the first half very conservatively. If I still felt ok at the turn around point, I would try to pick up the pace. That was my plan for the day. A simple but great plan I thought to myself. Unfortunately, Wapack had its own plan for me on this unforgettable day.

On the first long climb I saw a runner leaning against a tree trying to stretch out a tight calf muscle. I immediately recognized him from his backwards facing ball cap. It was “Sherpa” John. John is a talented, young ultra-runner from New Hampshire. He’s been the youngest finisher in several major 50 and 100 mile races, the Vermont 50, the Grand Teton 100 (WY) and the Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 (VA) just to name a few. John is also a gifted writer whose ultra-running blog, “Sherpa John”, offers advice, insight and inspiration to runners of all abilities. I introduced myself to John. We shook hands and exchanged greetings but we didn’t linger. We had a race to run so off we went together, up the side of Barrett Mountain.

Up, down and over Barrett Mountain I went, following Eric and a long line of runners along the narrow, single track trail. Even though I was feeling fine at this time I was already thinking about all the uphill running. I am a very bad climber and I knew all the elevation gains and steep inclines would eventually wear me down and slow my pace to glacial speed. I didn’t dwell on the negative for long though. Eric was a great trail guide and he would point out great views and vistas when we got to any high points on the course. He also had a remarkable recollection of the course considering he only ran it once before and it was two years ago. I found this knowledge to be very helpful.

God's Country

(More Wapack Trail photos courtesy of UltraSteveP: HERE)

The next two miles over New Ipswich and Pratt Mountains were very similar to the first two. More single track, more rocks and roots, more ups and downs and more great views. When we got to the top of Pratt we came upon a small group of runners that appeared to be lost. Three or four women were standing around and shouting (how typical) to a male runner coming up the mountain from a different trail. He had run down the trail then decided it was the wrong way and turned back. They were definitely lost! Eric and I stopped to talk to them. Three of the women were from Arlington, MA and running the race together for the first time. Ana, wearing her Garmin GPS, told us we were at four miles and 57 minutes. Holy crap, 14 minute pace!! I didn’t need to know that. Did I ask you for a progress report? I’m just kidding. Ana was very sweet and she had a wonderful accent. I was clueless where to go but Eric got all of us going in the right direction very quickly.

We descended the mountain on a very steep trail complete with loose rocks and a few downed limbs. The footing was pretty bad making running nearly impossible. A careful walk down the mountain was the best I could manage. These long, treacherous downhills added a lot of minutes to my finishing time. In most races I can make up time on the down hill sections. At Wapack there was little advantage in running down hill. After this long descent the terrain leveled out and we made our way to the first aid station at 5 miles. Once again Ana announced the time. “One hour and 12 minutes”. That meant it took us 15 minutes to run the last mile and most of it was down hill! See what I mean. We all lingered a little too long at the aid station. Every one of us enjoyed a fresh home-made cookie and a cold drink of water or Gatorade.

After a few minutes we were running again. The next two miles were on a dirt fire road. The running here was easier than the past four miles of single track. Notice I said “easier” not “easy”. The road was a mine field of rocks of all sizes and shapes. Erosion had cut deep gouges into the road. On top of that, it was all uphill. Luckily, it wasn’t steep but a long, gradual climb instead. Eric and I picked up the pace on this fire road section. It actually felt good to run a little faster than we had for the past 5 miles. I was able to open up my stride and loosen up a bit. We put some distance between us and our new found female friends from Arlington. Alas, all good things must come to an end and so too did our fire road. Looming ahead of us was Mt. Watatic.

We were climbing to the top of Mt. Watatic when Ana caught Eric and me. I welcomed her back and told her I knew we would be seeing her again. She said she was slow on the flats but good on the hills. Then she made her most shocking statement. “I really thought this race would be harder than this”. Say what? Did I hear you correctly? Eric and I looked at one another and grinned. To her credit, Ana was VERY good on the hills. I think she was just staying with us because she didn’t want to get lost again and Eric knew the course. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Going down Watatic to the half way point was difficult. It was very long and very steep. Even worse was knowing that once you finally made it to the bottom you would have to turn around and come back up!

At the bottom of Watatic we ran a short distance to the aid station located at the turn around point. I checked my watch for the first time. Two hours and two minutes. I was on pace for a 4 hour finish IF I could maintain this pace on the return trip. A helpful volunteer offered to refill my hydration pack while I took a bathroom break in the bushes. Soon Ana’s two friends and Sherpa John and his friend were at the station too. I checked my watch. It was now at two hours and five minutes. Again we had stayed too long at the aid station. Was it because we really didn’t want to go back the way we came? Soon enough we refueled and began our journey back to the finish line nearly 9 miles away.


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Heading up the side of Mt. Watatic it was obvious I was in trouble. I immediately started falling behind Eric and Ana. Ana was moving extremely fast and it wasn’t long before she was out of sight. I didn’t see her again until after the race. Eric pulled away slowly but he was close enough when I crested the mountain to catch up again. We both caught up to another one of the Arlington women whose name escapes me now. The three of us stuck together for the next few miles. Strength in numbers.

Back again on the long dirt fire road the running became easier. The long, gradual downhill offered a little respite for weary legs. We stopped at the aid station for a drink and a little rest. Five miles to the finish. I purposely avoided looking at my watch. As we snacked at the station Sherpa John and his friend arrived. John is running the Vermont 50 in September and he was trying to convince me to run. I told him I was not ready for that distance so he said. “Just run the 50K then”. JUST the 50K! I’m wondering how the heck I am going to run the next 5 miles!

John and his running mate left the aid station with Eric and me soon to follow. We were now faced with the long and extremely steep (as in 40% incline) ascent to the top of Pratt Mountain. This is where I totally lost it. I did my best to maintain pace with Eric but he was much stronger than me. He was soon out of sight. I took several short breaks on the way up. In the meantime I was getting passed by several runners that were good climber. I lost six places on this hill alone. Not that I cared at this point. I just wanted to be done with this damn thing. My only concern now was not making a wrong turn and getting lost. That would be very demoralizing at this point in the race. Eventually I made it to the top of Pratt. I was thinking, just one more mountain Dan, just one more.

Through the trees I got a glimpse of Eric up ahead. I tried to keep an eye on him and the trail at the same time. I didn’t want to lose sight of him but I didn’t want to take a tumble either. I worked my way back to Eric once again and also caught up to a runner named Kevin. I met Kevin at two races I ran earlier this year. He was having a major problem with cramping in his quads. The three of us worked together over the final three miles. We kept thinking the finish was over the next hill. Wishful thinking on our part. There were several more hills to climb and descend before we made it to an opening in the woods. There was the dirt road that would take up back to Windblown. We’re almost there!

Once Eric hit the road he was off like a cannon shot pulling away from me and Kevin. I picked up my pace a little as well with Kevin right behind me. It wasn’t long before I came to a top of a long downhill with the finish line in sight. I couldn’t run very fast because my quads were sore and my hamstrings tight as the strings on a violin. So there I was taking baby steps to the finish line. I looked at the official clock as I crossed the line, 4:24:04. That is the longest time I have ever run. Yeah baby, a new PR! Hey, I’m trying to be positive. I don’t want to think about the 14:50 per mile pace I ran.

This race was difficult for me. Would I do it again knowing what I know now? I don’t think I would. But I AM happy that I did it. I learned a few things about myself that I wouldn’t have on an easy run. I learned that even though I’m older and slower than I once was, I still have the inner strength and determination to accomplish what I set out to do. I can remain positive when the going gets tough and things are looking grim. Most important, learned that trail runners are a special group of people, friendly, encouraging, helpful with a camaraderie not found in other sports.

Yes, I may not be the hare I once was, but a tortoise can finish the race too. To all you Mr. and Ms. Slowskies out there, keep on plodding along. It’s all about the journey, not the destination.

Peace…..

Race Report - Oxford Dam Run

We’re halfway through the 2008 Grand Tree Trail Race Series but I finally made it to a race this past weekend. The Dam Run in Oxford, MA is race #13 in the 25 race Grand Tree schedule and race # 7 on the newly formed Eastern New England Trail Race Series. This would be my first time running the 10.5+/- mile course (10.73 on my Garmin 205 GPS) and I was looking forward to traversing some new trails.

I left my house early to begin the 80 minute drive to the race. It was a cool morning, the sky gray and threatening to rain. As I continued my drive west along the Mass Pike the clouds began to break. By the time I arrived at the Hodges Village Dam parking lot the sun was shinning. Unlike the past few days, it looked like we would have a nice, sunny dry day. The week preceding the race saw heavy rainfall in the area. In nearby Worcester, streets were flooded and many basements filled with several feet of water. I expected the trails would still be wet and muddy in low lying areas.

A little before 9AM we lined up for the start of the race. The RD thanked us all for coming and said this year had a record number of entrants. He usually has about 60-70 registered runners but this year it was over 100. That made me feel good since the proceeds from the race goes to a good cause, the French River Connection. I noticed a runner by the name of Kevin standing nearby. I met Kevin at the Essex County Greenbelt 10K trial race a few weeks earlier. We were both thankful it was much cooler today than when we last raced. At the 10K, the temperature was in the mid- eighties with very high humidity. Whew!

The race started with the usual “GO” and off we went. After a short downhill from the parking area we ran along a flat dirt road through an open grass field. I settled in near the back of the pack and tried to get into a comfortable rhythm. I was using the race as my long training run for the week. I didn’t want to start out too fast. After a half mile or so we turned into the woods.

The next few miles were made up of twisty single track. The trail really snaked it’s way through the trees with very few straight sections. It was very cool! The were no monster hills but constant small ups and down along the way. The trail was in very good condition, still tacky from all the recent rain, but not too wet. Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of puddles on the course but you could find a way around most of them if you wanted. I took it easy for the first few miles running with small groups of runners and then passing them when the trail allowed it. I continued with the strategy for the rest of the race.

At 4 miles there was an ankle deep water crossing about 10 feet wide and thick with mud on both sides. I ran through the water with a quick, high knee lift hoping to keep my feet from getting bogged down in the mud. It worked! I then came to a large open field. A wide path had been cut through the tall grass, wildflowers and weeds. When I looked ahead I could see a long steep climb up to the power lines. When I got to the base of the hill I realized it was even steeper than it looked from a distance. I tried to run it but with the loose dirt and stone, and the difficulty of the incline itself, it made more sense to power hike it. Everyone ahead of me was walking so I didn’t feel bad about joining in. Much to my surprise I passed several people on the climb.

Elevation Profile

After the climb it was back into the woods for some more twisty single track. It was here were I noticed I was being tailed by another runner. Whenever I past a slower pack of runners he would follow. When I settled into a group, he settled in to. Now I know this was supposed to be a training run but this guy was starting to bug me. After a few climbs and descents over some rougher terrain I noted he was slower than me on the hills. I decided I would make a move to gap him on the next downhill. I soon got my chance and accelerated down a rock and root strewed hill. When I looked back he was far behind and I never saw or heard him again.

Flying down the hill took the bounce out of my legs. I hooked onto the back of three runners and slowed down a bit to get the life back into my legs. We ran together for a short time before we came to a small river around mile 7. We were directed by a volunteer to make a water crossing. The three runners I was with didn’t look all that excited to get wet but I charged head long into the river. The river was approximately 40-50 feet wide and nearly waist deep in the middle. The cool water felt very good on my weary legs and seemed to revive them. I was out of the river and moving easily once again.

I spend the last 3 miles picking off runners one by one although they were few and far between at this point in the race. Finally, I could hear cheering up ahead and knew I was getting close to the finish line. Up one last short, steep hill and I was back to the parking lot where the race began. I finished 4th in the 50-59 age group, less than 3 minutes behind the 3rd place finisher. Not bad considering this was just a training run. It felt good to get a longer race under my belt even if I didn’t run it all out. Next stop, the Wapack trail race in three weeks. That one will be so much harder!

Happy Trails...

Merrimack River Trail Race

The 17th Annual Merrimack River 10 mile trail race is the inaugural race in the 2008 Eastern New England Trail race series and the second race in the Western Mass Athletic Club’s Grand Tree Race Series. It is also part of the EXTERRA New England Trail Series. To say the least, this event is very popular and draws close to 200 runners. The course is a 5 mile out and back that runs along the banks of the Merrimack River in Andover, MA. The first and last 3 miles are flat with few obstacles like rock and roots. The middle 4 miles are very hilly. Although there are no major climbs, there are several short steep ones that reduce many runners to a power-hike. With the snowy winter of 2007-2008, and rain forecasted for Friday and Saturday, you can expect a lot of mud and standing water on the course. There should also be several small water crossings from run-off from the hills along the banks of the river.

Click here for course map and elevation profile.

Eastern New England Trail Race Series

The series is inspired by the popular and successful Grand Tree Trail Race Series run by the Western Massachusetts Athletic Club. The Grand Tree series includes races located in the western portion of Massachusetts as well as New York State. Trail runners in the Eastern and Central parts of Massachusetts were looking for a similar challenge that would extend throughout the calendar year but was within easy driving distance. A small number of trail race directors began communicating with each other and with the encouragement and guidance of the directors of the Grand Tree Series contacts were made with many established trail races and a schedule of twenty trail races was compiled for the inaugural running of the Eastern New England Trail Race Series.
Distances range from 3 miles (Trav’s Trail Run) to 17.5 miles (Wapack 17.5M Trail Race). While most races are located in Massachusetts there is one being run in Rhode Island, the Lil’ Rhody Runaround 8M Trail Race. The title of the series leaves room in the future for additional races being added from throughout New England. Scoring for the series will be a calculated percentage of the winner’s time. A yet to be determined number of races to qualify will be an accumulation of series points from each participant’s best finishes of those races. Results of each race as well as the series standings will be posted on the series website and recorded by the North Medford Club. Awards will be presented to several age and gender groups at the conclusion of the series. Applications for each race can be accessed on the series website. Some online registration will be available.

The average trail runner is unique among the running community in that the environment that they run in is as important as the activity itself. The series hopes to provide new venues for our fellow trail runners as well as an opportunity to participate in a structured race format. The first race of the series is the Merrimack River 10 mile trail race to be held this Saturday in Andover, MA at 9 AM.

Race Schedule and Applications.