Ghost Train Rail Trail 60M, Brookline, New Hampshire 2,2 RESULTS VIMEO October 26, 2013 - Signing up for races well in advance has become a standard for participating in ultra running events, but life has a way of sometimes derailing the best laid ambitions, leaving one questioning why they are even toeing the line when they may be neither prepared nor have the time for such challenging distractions. I was looking forward to rolling through a level hundred miles in New Hampshire and crushing my previous personal best, but knew as the time approached that I was probably foolish in even showing up due to my otherwise "fullish" schedule and insufficient training. Throwing all good sense to the wind, Mike Monyak and I rolled north with a devil-may-care attitude. Let the dice fall where they may. Given the seasonally cool temperatures expected we opted to stay at a warm hotel with a roof and shower and cable TV even (I'm almost embarrassed to confess). What happened to the days when I'd think nothing of shivering in a tent the night before an event? Life's just getting too comfortable. Even the Ghost Train event seemed mild by comparison to many of the other races I had done this year, bragging in advance that it had none of that vertical nonsense of other races. I wonder if I am getting soft!!! Naw. Ghost Train sounded like a fun time and good opportunity to let the legs roll unimpeded by roots and rocks. A part of me was excited to see what I could do on little to no training. The other part of me was terrified at the prospect that immediately following the race: I would have to drive back the nine hours to PA where I would be picking up a moving truck the next day, then pack the truck for two days before driving twelve hours to North Carolina where I would have to unpack for two days, then drive back to PA. Could I really run a hundred miles and do all of that back to back to back??? Insane. But at least, one might say, it was in character! So 0 dark early we toed the line at Camp Tevya next to a little covered bridge and proceeded to follow a crushed limestone rail trail in 25 degree temps. Despite stripping down for the start, I was comfortable. I eased into a good tempo early, sharing the trail once again with my buddy Mike for awhile, just like old times. Mike is always one step short of an ambulance ride, so I give him a lot of credit for fighting to hold onto the dream while bearing the pain of career-ending debility. He fights the good fight, but struggles to hold the line. The route is an out-and-back for 7.5 miles each way, mostly level with some climbing through the woods and a half mile of running along a road each way. It is such a trail that one can build momentum and target a good time. Aid was appropriately spaced and very helpful. The trail was adorned by beaucoup carved pumpkins which were lit up at night and the occasional ghost along the way to keep it light-hearted. A recording of a train echoed within the tunnel we passed through each time - below, making for a nice touch in keeping with the theme of this event. Each turn concluded with a run through the pedestrian covered bridge - below, adding to the character of the day's experience. . I zoomed through the first 15 miles in 2 hours and 29 minutes, exactly on a ten- minute pace. I felt surprisingly good, was in excellent form without nagging injury, and enjoyed the abundant social cameraderie. At this point I was optimistic about my prospects for completing one hundred miles in a sub 24-hour time. The temps and weather were ideal and I wasn't thinking about what awaited me when I got home. Amy Hanlon surprised me on my first return trip; since I didn't see her at the starting line I thought she was a no-show; I had encouraged her to sign up for this, her first one hundred effort, and wanted to be there to support and pace her, but she was already well behind and indicated it was not going to be a great day for her. I told her I would drag my feet a bit so she could catch up. I backed off by a minute per mile in the second go-round to hit 30 miles in 5:16, which I was more than satisfied with. Since my interval with Amy was growing I chose to maintain and run for myself from this point. She expressed doubts about going the distance, so I worked at holding my tempo since my form was good Nonetheless, I slowed by another minute per mile to hit 45 miles in 8:20. I was having a good outing and made the turn for the fourth lap after donning a headlamp and enjoying a beer with Scott Slater, who I had run with quite a bit all day. Early in the fourth lap both knees, especially the right, showed tenderness with the ligaments starting to splay. For some reason I failed to bring my wrap so was left defenseless against the onset of pain. I had no choice but to slow and nurse my knees and concluded the event at 60 miles in 12 hours and 11 minutes, watching those who I had spent the day with continue ahead without me. Even Amy stopped sometime during her fourth lap, her times indicating she was in far worse shape than me - too much racing probably for each of us. Mike trudged onward on pure will power to cover sixty miles and finally caught up to me as I was dozing in the car afterwards. I came to do a hundred, but was not disappointed in the effort I put out to cover the distance that I achieved, enjoying my day and stopping before grinding myself into injury. After a couple hours of rest I was able to drive home the rest of the |