Groundhog Fall 50K, Punxsutawney, PA 3,4
Start Elevation: 1295' Elevation Gain: 4079' Highest Point: 1841'
September 7, 2013 - I have made a habit of not repeating a race in recent years, arguing that there are so many outstanding ultra events and beautiful venues that I would prefer to chase novelty, or arguing that any encore performance would be burdened by expectation of improvement and thereby subject to a risk of disappointment. This race is evidence that things are indeed evolving with my outlook toward the sport. With experience and the accumulating limitation of injury I can no longer reasonably expect to improve on effort from year to year, so disappointment is off the table. Novelty is still a major draw for me, but increasingly the familiarity of a course and the pleasure of spending time with previous acquaintances is very rewarding. So I toed the line for my "hometown" race for the fifth time, certainly a record for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, never once suffering ennui from having "been there, done that", while experiencing my slowest finish time for the route yet. Perhaps I better understand what brings people back perennially to Punxsutawney for the 50K, and for other events too. There is not much to talk about with my effort. With all the racing I have done this year, I felt encumbered most of the event with a deep weariness from inadequate recovery and held back from truly racing by limiting injuries. Despite sensing I was starting too quickly, my split times were way off even my slowest previous attempt. For something like this I chose to sacrifice time and comfort to enjoy the camaraderie of friends and new acquaintances, and just grin and bear it. There will be other stellar performances ahead; today was decidedly just for FUN. I particularly enjoyed running again with Mary Siegel and hope to do more of that yet this year. Finally meeting 65-year-young Scott McCray set up a friendly rivalry to keep my attention on stepping out instead of slacking off. He too is one I hope to reckon with again after he soundly bested me at my own game of upping the tempo the second half of an event to play catch up to the finish. And running with first-timer 16-year-young Paul Brauer made me feel like a kid again, sharing in his enthusiasm as he forged into brave new territory with every step. There are so many people that I love and share a passion for running with at this event; I could write more than a paragraph on each one of them; running here is always like coming home; I would not rule out coming back again for another even slower encore just for the happy reunion. That expectation will surely never meet with disappointment. My finish was still above a 5 mph pace in 5 hours 51 minutes and 5 seconds for 28th place. All things considered that was satisfying. I had planned to do the Presidential Traverse in New Hampshire this day, but opted out after a back injury and weather forecast there. Who wouldn't trade a sunny 70-degree perfect day for 40 degrees, 40 mph winds on Mount Washington, and a chance of an electrical storm? I have always preferred fair weather. I will take on the Presi's another day. This day I belonged in Punxsutawney. |