Panic in the Dark 2015

 
So this race is more of a fun run, and it takes place in Lowell after dark, with some well paced zombies. (This is one of the last race local events of the year) The makeup on the zombies is awesome! The race was not a full 5k, but that did not seem to matter to me, It was still fun even if it fell a little short. This year the venue was moved about a week before hand, we got an email with advance warning so we knew where to park. They bus you from the building to the start, and then from the finish to the festival. They provide your head lamps so you can run in the dark, you can use your own, but you do not need to, and they are bright enough to not have any issues seeing the trail. They have safe words n case you get scared and the zombies will leave you alone, this year it was biceps (a little joke about the FIT challenge owner). I have to say that the story before the race was not as good as last year, last year it was a bit of a story before you get on the bus, then when you get off the bus you had more story, and a person was shot with a paintball/air-soft gun, and then the race was off. Just before you left the "solider" leading you away shot a zombie, so still fun, just different. The festival are had free chicken soup, or chili, free bag check, a band playing, and a bar. One of the cool things about this race is that for the biggest team perks other than the sectioned off area, was the back of the shirt was our (New England Spahtens) logo on the back, instead of the sponsors, really a nice touch! The medals are pretty cool too, the eyes show light from behind the medal, nice touch!

Until next time
Stay active
Stephen

The Baystate Marathon 2015

So last year about this time, I posted to facebook (I have a several friends who run marathons, and therefore know more than I do about the different ones) asking for advice on a first marathon. I was told by several friends, all experienced runners, that Baystate would be perfect. It was a very memorable experience, and I was very happy to have done it! It is pretty flat, especially coming from a trail running/ocr beginning. Now it did not have high hills, but they had a few inclines, my gps is not the most fancy, but it was just under 300 ft gain/loss. So this course was one down and back, one loop around a river and then back to the start. They had a 1/2 marathon option as well, but for the most part they were on separate routes. The left side of the course was the one that had small hills, and then the other side of the river was as flat as can be, great intro to the distance. Also the mileage was marked on the street, water/gatoraide stations all over the place, perfectly placed for the distances, and one of the stations gave out Guus! I saw a wile ago somewhere on facebook, a post that said running is as much a spectator sport as well. I had never given it much thought before the marathon. Now having run a marathon, I could not agree more! All the happy faces were amazing. From the awesome volunteers, (seriously, in costume and having fun, and cheering you on was great!) to the people gathered at good vantage spots, like the bridge where you turn to loop back. I saw pure awesomeness in the form of signs from spectators. One of my favorites was something like at least your not Walkin, with a picture of Christopher Walkins face. There were plenty of other great signs, and great energy around. At one point where you turned back from the farthest point in the race, you run past residential houses, there were people all dressed up, one in a bee suit (and a themed sign) and another in a lobster suit as well (again with a cool sign I think) they had water as well. I have said many times with endurance events, you really need to focus on the smiles, it really helps make everything better! They had signs all other the place with words of encouragement, my favorite though, had to be at mile 20, it was a painted brick wall on the ground and bricks flying and it said push through the wall. Now for those you you that do not now, the wall is when you body just stops running, and everything becomes hard. I chuckled and grinned, as I had not hit the wall...... yet. Then mile 21 came, and man I had to walk! I made great time going up to the half (1:58) and then slowed down each mile after, but man when 21 hit, it was bad. I walked and instantly felt my legs get 3 to 4 times heavier, and dam near impossible to run or keep decent pace. I was able to keep moving, and kept trying to run periodically, which I did not do all that well. I had the energy to randomly run but never more than 1/10 of a mile at a time. So that meant whenever I past volunteers, or spectators I ran, and then walked,I felt defeated, I had a lofty goal of 4 hrs, and a cap of 4 1/2, I got 4:48, I am happy I finished, and happy I learned a lot from this race. I learned that I can carbo load right, and that I do not need nutrition for marathons ( I will still carry some just in case, better to be prepared). I had 3 Guus in the first half, and they never sat right, and then some blocks, again, never sat right. All the training, all the racing it all paid off this year. Now to keep up the hard work and run a charity bib for Boston, and hopefully shave off time from Baystate. Now to figure out how to push that wall back about 5 miles, and work on my distance speed! Another thing about this race the tracking options from ireslutlslive were cool, they offered email or text updates, the texts were behind, but the email were accurate, the text may be off for me because my cell died and got weird reuslts from it, and did not get finish until a wile after I plugged my phone in. The splits were crazy detailed: The timing locations will be located at marathon miles 3, 10K(6.2), 8.5, 13.1, 16.3, 30K(18.6) & 23; and at half marathon miles 3.7 & 9.9.  [The odd looking splits are due to the course loops]. I was bummed that they dropped the unlimited pasta dinner post race but they still had bananas, water, thermal blankets, pbj (on white or wheat) soup (vegan or not) and chips.

Also a few other points, picking up your bib before the race is key, Lowell  shuts down around the route, so getting your bib is harder, and makes it easier, plus get there early because it will take a lot of time to park and use the bathroom, and bag check if you want it. Also Pro tip (not that I am a pro by any stretch of the imagination) take the next day off from everything you will not want to leave your bed, legs did not want to work wile I was at work.

Course map

So now to take what I have learned, improve, and apply it all to my next marathon, hopefully Boston, I know I will be hunting for a charity bib, I have looked at a few places, just waiting to hear back, fingers crossed.

So until next time
Stay active
Stephen

The Boston Marathon

So, a wile back, after doing carry the fallen I decided I HAD to do the Boston Marathon! I had played with the idea in my head for a few years, but never decided because it was only in 2015 that I started to take the long distance/endurance stuff appealing, and more importantly, doable.

Now I have tried a couple of ultras, I have dnf'd my first 2, but had a world of fun, and am determined to complete one, and then continue to do at least one a year, it is a great environment, great people, and shows you what you can do. So, seeing as how ultra marathons are very different from marathons, they require different running styles, unless you are just that good, I am not, at least not yet. I say this to emphasize the fact that my only fear going into the Boston marathon has been raising the money. I have on more than one occasion done a marathon distance in a day, but by no means at a fast pace, but the distance got done. To prepare for Boston, I am doing the regular training thing (by no means by the books training with schedules and such, but getting in runs each week, and increasing my long runs when the weather agrees. Hoping that with my training for the ultra beast in killington, and as many miles in the racelocal competition and regular training runs I will be ready for Baystate, and then gain speed over the winter for Boston. 

So now my thought goes to bibs. I do not believe that I will qualify on my first marathon, that is not my goal, qualifying times are ridiculously fast, I wish I was fast enough. So that means charity bib (unless any of my awesome readers have an entry kicking around they want to give away, doubtful, but some things you just have to say) and they can be hard to get, and cost a bunch. Luckily if you live in a town that the marathon goes through then you can request one at your town selectman's office. The BAA gives out bibs to other organizations that you can get in other ways, not fully versed in how it all works, still really new to this concept. I know of some charities that I may get try to get a bib from. One thing is that they are just starting to come out, most organizations do a lottery style to dole out bibs. 

So now, I start looking into what charity has bibs, and start applying for them. I really want in, and now to hope I luck out and get a doable number to raise. I was told of one charity that I could apply to, and the minimum they ask for is $7,500. That number is waaaaay out of my comfort zone the thought of not meeting the goal, and the money coming out of my pocket is really scary, luckily I have a few ideas, but not a lot of faith in my ability to raise that much.

So keep me in mind when I get the bib, if you have any extra money, or fund raising ideas will be more than appreciated.

Until next time
Stay active
Stephen

O2X at Loon mountain

Course map

So this race is truly unique, in that I have never seen anything like this before. This is a race to the top of a mountain, and the course is not a trail, it is off trail. You go over some trails, but much of the course has been searched for. There are no man made obstacles like you would find at ocrs, but instead you get giant boulders you have to scale. No tools needed, just the right clothes for the temps, and water if you need it, and you probably will. The race is up the mountain most of the way, a few sideways points, barely any down, mostly up, and several places that you have to crawl up. It is that steep, and so much fun! There were fallen tress, and really rugged slopes you ran (or hiked) up. This race is all about the elevation gain, they show it on the map, they mark it by increments of 500 ft, and on course they had 3 markers for you . They also had a few water stops, I believe three, and had some electrolyte water as well, which was great! This company is seriously the best around at marking, this is their second race I have done (I did Sugar bush last year, and was amazed that it was their first race) there was one spot I took exactly 2 steps and dd not see markings and turned back and knew where to go. Close to the end where you get to go through the boulders was awesome! One of the cool touches on the course this year, they had a person in a Sasquatch suit on course, and he scared a few people, and a few other people in full costume suits, as well as the founders, all of them were giving out high 5's and words of encouragement, it was one of those cool things you do not often see on a race course, and makes it that much more memorable! And once you finished at the top of the mountain, you got a gondola ride down, really cool, and the views at the top were great!

View from the top, epic selfie

Now for some of the other things that make this company great. They are committed to the planet, they put it best on their web page:


As a member of 1% for the Planet, we are committed to promoting sustainable living and environmental awareness in everything we do, both on the mountain and around the world.
You will see these practices put into place in every event. For example, we reduce or recycle municipal solid waste and selected industrial wastes, and we donate at least 1 percent of sales to nonprofit partners among the 1% for the Planet network. Other ways we put our environmental commitment into action include:

• Recycle cardboard, metals, paper and plastic through a single-stream collection method
• Offer compostable or recyclable dinnerware, paper goods and napkins.
• Compost all food scraps and coffee grinds
• Encourage carpool and public transportation for our event
• Work with local suppliers, business partners, and customers to reduce environmental impact of activity
• Donate salvageable foods to a local food bank or community outreach program
• Provide bulk servings of typical single-serve packages (such as coffee, creamers, sugar, etc.)
• Set benchmarks to limit municipal solid waste and recycling
• Collect, organize and create a simple report on municipal solid waste and recycling
• Strive for zero waste

Swag!

That is pretty cool, and is apparent at the venue. Some of the other really cool things about this race, the encourage you to camp out on the mountain, really close to the base camp (festival) and hang out the night before with the owners and have a fireside chat, and enjoy the atmosphere before the race! They know how to get the right kind of sponsors as well. They are sponsored by lululemon, so the finishers shirts were great! when I read that they were using lululemon shirts I thought awesome, and I wondered if it would be plastered with logos for other sponsors, but no, just a small O2X logo on the sleeve, nice touch! (now it looks like I paid for a super awesome shirt that I got for signing up1)



But that's not all! they also just got sponsored by Guinness, so on friday, before the race, from 4pm to 10pm, after you registered, you pick up a metal cup (that you got to keep) and all you can drink begins. You could get Guinness (reg or blonde) They also had 2 wines to choose from, hot choc (and Baileys if you wanted) apple cider, or hard cider (they added rum to it). So you could enjoy your day, and they also had the post beer the day after the race. Also a cool sponsor to have you may ask? Dunkin Donuts!!! so you could buy egg sandwiches, or all day on race day they had free bagels and cream cheese, I think 3 or 4 different kinds of bagels. They also had other food on friday and saturday, you could choose pizza, burgers, lobster roll, and so on.

Base camp also had solar charging stations, recovery area with a sponsor that was letting you test out muscle stimulating technology to speed up recovery. Also some games to play in the base camp, like corn hole, and over sized inflated bowling and Frisbees. there were several fires the night before (as well as the race morning) and blankets and fire towers to warm up the area, and that was nice as it was in the 40's when the sun set!

The medals were titanium sporks with a bottle opener on the end! you also got a draw string bag O2X branded, candy bar, a juti bar, and a Kill cliff bar.

So like I said, they care about the planet, they give back to the communities they race in, have the best trail marking I have seen, and the best swag around! also, the price may seem high, as it tends to be around 100, but keep in mind a few things. They do not charge you for: parking, bag check or processing fees, and seriously, THE BEST SWAG AROUND!!! so this race is well worth it, and to keep the environment the same, which is awesome, they are capping registrants so it  can still be a small race, and wonderful atmosphere, and I love the idea, so sign up early, Loon mountain was wonderful, as will there next races.

Honestly, my only complaint is that they only have one race in the north east, and that says something!

Next year they will be back at Loon, and so will I, if you want to check them out and have not heard about them their page is here

So until next time
Stay active
Stephen