2016 SRT Run Hike 70 Mile - Race Report

Preface:
The Shawangunk Ridge Trail, or SRT, is a trail connecting the Appalachian Trail in High Point New Jersey, with the Long Path in Finchville NY, and eventually terminating in near the Rosendale trestle in Rosendale NY, some 70+ miles from it's beginning.  The trail race is an unsupported format event put on by Shawangunk Adventures LLC, held in mid-September.  For those that don't know, a minimalist format race is defined as a race with no aid stations and no supplemental course markings.  Months before the event, I spoke with co-race director Todd Jennings about the race which has several options, the longest of which encompasses the entire length of the trail.  I was concerned about the lack of support, but after a short conversation, he had convinced me to sign up for the 70-mile run.

Markers of the SRT and Long Path near Ferguson Road at Roosa Gap

I made this race a top priority of the year, focusing a lot of my training to minimalist-style running.  I prepared by running excessive miles with just a hydration pack, or just a water bottle, sometimes without drinking to recreate the effects of dehydration I knew I would likely experience.  As the event approached I felt my training had gone well and was prepared to tackle the distance.  Several days before the race, all participants received an email from the other RD, Ken Posner, that due to the severely dry conditions, there would be supplemental water jugs at Checkpoints #4, #5, and #6 (miles 52, 59, and 64, respectively).  It also detailed an alternate route off the SRT near in Sam's Point (~mile 45) due to the wildfires which devastated the area that summer.  It was a frustrating circumstance because I hoped I'd be able to compare times to other years, but I knew it must be a necessity.

My mom enjoying the view at High Point Monument before the start of the race

 Before the Race:
I drove up to High Point, New Jersey with Elizabeth to meet my mom, brother, and sister who were going to watch the start.  Elizabeth would reconnect with me the next day, 70+ miles later at the Rosendale tressle (hopefully).  I was the first runner to arrive at the start, so we admired the view from the High Point Monument while waiting for the other participants.  Eventually they began to flood in, most taking a shuttle from the finish to the start line in order to have a vehicle at the finish line.  After a few encouraging words from Ken and Todd, and brief safety talk with the EMS workers, we made our way down to the trail head, tucked a few steps into the woods where it meets the Appalachian Trail.  All the runners gathered around the first trail marker and at exactly 6:30 PM, Ken shouted 'Go', and we began.

Start - Huckleberry Ridge State Forest (Mile 0 - Mile 6):
After the initial climb to the High Point monument I bounced to an early lead.  It was a nice parting gift to see Elizabeth and my family one last time at the High Point monument before we disappeared back into the trail.  I led a group of 4 or 5 runners through a fast first mile, around 9 minutes.  I was bursting with energy, cracking bad ultrarunning jokes and enjoying the trail.  This section is fairly difficult to navigate with several trails interlaced and others veering off.  Our small front group separated from the rest of the field, and ran the next 4-5 miles together (with a few small wrong turns mixed in) as the last glimpses of sunlight faded.  The pack began to spread out as we approached Greenville Turnpike, and I found myself in 3rd/4th place with Alan Davidson entering our first road section.  After approximately 0.6 miles on the road, we entered Huckleberry Ridge State Forest.  Headlamps on, we proceeded into the woods to the cheers of the race directors and other race supporters who had driven to the intersection to see us one last time (though no one from my party was there).

Huckleberry Ridge State Forest - Railroad (Mile 6 - Mile 11):
Entering the forest, it took a few minutes to become fully accustomed to running with the headlamp.  We were trying to maintain the same pace we'd kept in the previous section, but that proved impossible.  Our pack was beginning to string out again as we crossed a small powerline section, a view of Interstate 84 below us.  I went up the next hill hard, remembering a sharp right turn at the top.  After making the turn, I realized I had separated myself from the group.  Watching the headlamps dance below me, I swept across the summit and down the sharp decent to Old Mountain Road.  I entered the road alone (no cheering section this time), and quickly made my way toward Route 6 and the I-84 underpass.  I passed an elderly couple just before the turn onto Route 6, informing them that there were a few other runners coming through.  The smiled and wished me well.  If only they knew the task I had ahead of me, I thought to myself.  Just after passing underneath the highway, I heard a yell from a passing truck.  "RUN FORREST RUN!"  An expression that used to get on my nerves, I found it surprisingly calming.  I was running at a good pace through this road section before entering back into the woods on the other side of Hawthorne Lake.  I opted not to refill my hydration pack here, knowing there was a hidden stream running under the railroad tracks a few miles later.

I stole a quick glance behind me to evaluate my lead, and to my surprise there was no one in site.  For the first time in the race, I was entering the woods completely alone.  It was very unsettling, and kept me alert of everything around me.  That didn't stop me from taking my first spill of the day.  A soft hands-and-knees fall, I collected myself and pressed on, reminding myself it's a long race and I can take my time.  The full moon was playing tricks with my eyes, and when the moonlight streaked through the branches, it looked like someone's headlamp right behind me.  I turned around several times thinking I was being passed, only to find darkness.  I was relieved to arrive at the railroad tracks just as my water reservoir was running low.  I made my way to the other side to a hidden stream I had discovered on a training run.  Bone.  Dry.

Railroad - Checkpoint #1 (Mile 11 - Mile 18):
A wave of panic came over me as I frantically tried to recall the next water source I encountered on my training run.  I could not think of one before the Bashakill River, some 10 miles away.  Frustrated with myself, I hoped back across the tracks and resumed running.  Soon after, a train screamed by, just a couple feet from me.  I wondered if anyone saw me.  It was comforting to know that I wasn't completely cut off from civilization.  I exited the trail to the right, a tough turn to navigate if unfamiliar with the trail.  Another quick glance revealed two flickering headlamps in the distance.  I estimated they were about 10 minutes behind me.  Wasting no time, I charged through the new double wide section.  I intercepted the Long Path and followed it to the left back into the singletrack.  Shortly after I was lucky enough to find a stream with running water.  I filled my hydration pack quickly and pressed on, not wanted the runners chasing me to spot how close I was.  I continued through the night, seeing several glowing eyes just off the trail I went.  Probably just deer, I thought to myself, but unsettling none-the-less.  I hopped across Guymard Turnpike, where the trail travels along an a/v trail alongside the railroad tracks with a barely noticeable ascent.  The trail remains this way for the next 5-6 miles, traveling through a power line section before eventually emerging at Checkpoint #1 at Route 206.  Throughout this section I kept glancing behind, but there was no sign of the headlamps I saw earlier.  I arrived at the checkpoint hoping to see Ken or Todd, but they were elsewhere.  I checked in with the EMS volunteer workers and trekked on across Route 206 and down Otisville Road.

Checkpoint #1 - Bashakill River (Mile 18 - Mile 22):
Prior to the race, I had reviewed the Strava maps of participants from previous years, including that of course record holder Jason Berry.  During my training, I missed an important right turn off Otisville Road that I only noticed after reviewing those maps (there are old trail markers that continue on the road which meet with the trail further down I had taken).  I arrived around 10:00 PM, and though I knew approximately where the turn would be, it was not obviously under the cloak of darkness.  I took out my cell phone and used the trail app Avenza Maps, recommended by the race directors which tracks your location relative to the trail (no service necessary).  It worked exceptionally well throughout the event and at this particular spot, it turned out I was standing a few steps from the turn.  I climbs the steep but short ascent without another racer in sight.  It was exciting to be covering my first new section of trail of the day (night).  The trail zig-zags up Gobblers Knob before a long gradual descent to the Bashakill River below.  After a few wrong turns I emerged onto the road again along the river.

Bashakill River - Checkpoint #2 (Mile 22 - Mile 28):
I stopped to refill my pack and took a short break to eat.  I left with a baggie of bacon in one hand and a coconut granola mix in the other (shredded coconut, granola, raisins, small semi-sweet morsels), both of which worked wonders in providing me with fast calories.  Because the trail was momentarily out of sight, I thought another runner may have passed me while I stopped.  Invigorated by the possibility of losing my lead, I ran steadily alongside the Wurstboro Lakes toward the next checkpoint, hitting 10-minute miles or faster along the way.  I filled my pack again just before crossing under Route 17, knowing there was a long way until the next stream.  There was plenty of wildlife in this section, seeing and hearing several deer, birds, and beavers (luckily no bears).  The miles along the Wurstboro Lakes are flat and straight, making it easy for me to determine I still had the lead.  Shortly after crossing under Route 17, I exited the path, taking a left on South Road heading toward the town of Wurstboro.  I made my biggest navigational error here, not seeing the blaze indicating the right turn onto the D&H Canal.  I lost roughly 10 minutes trying to find the correct way, before finally spotting a blaze on a telephone pole further along.  Upon arriving on Sullivan Street, I took out my phone and called Elizabeth.  It was comforting to hear her voice and rant about the frustrations of the day.  I was overwhelmingly exhausted and at my lowest point thus far.  She reassuringly reminded me that daylight is coming and that I had plenty of time even if I lose the lead.  Feeling exhausted but slightly better, I wished her a good night's sleep and pressed on.  She has been an amazing support system thoughout many races, and this was no exception.  As I slowly approached the turn near Checkpoint #2 a car flew around the bend, only a few feet from my lifeless body.  Adrenaline kicked in, and I reacted with a few choice words and possibly a middle finger or two as he passed.  I was only 20 or 30 feet away from the checkpoint, where Ken and a volunteer were waiting, when the car suddenly came to a screeching halt in the middle of the road.  I was in no mood to have this lunatic terrorize my race, but the effort to walk over to his car and tell him off was not worth the extra mileage on my legs.  Eventually he went on his way as the three of us stared him down.

Checkpoint #2 - Roosa Gap Firetower (Mile 28 - Mile 33):
I spoke with Ken for a few minutes and he informed me I had about a 15 minute lead on Jason and a few others, who had just exited the woods.  He also mentioned that if I finished the next section before 5:00 AM I'd be able to rest in his car until he was able to release me into Sam's Point (though I thought at the time I wouldn't be released until 5:30 AM).  Back into the woods I went, dreading the three difficult climbs that awaited.  The singletrack trail switchbacked up the first ascent, which felt surprisingly good.  My hill preparation served me well, and before I knew it, I was over the first hump.  The 2nd climb is shorter but travels straight up the mountain.  I easily power-hiked up, enjoying a fantastic night view when I arrived at the ridge.  As I moved across the ridge toward the descent I glanced back.  Two headlamps were flickering in the distance.  I couldn't tell if they were on the 1st or 2nd mountain, but I didn't take any chances.  I immediately broke into a fast jog, desperately trying to maintain my lead and stay out of sight.  There was a flowing stream at the bottom of the second climb.  I filled up quickly and pressed on, gearing up for the hardest climb of the section into Roosa Gap.  The section up to Ferguson Road is fairly tame, with a steep technical ascent waiting on the other side.  I made my way across the road, and immediately took a wrong turn up the ascent.  Before I knew it I was in the middle of the brush, and had to retrace my steps to find the correct path.  The saving grace was I found a formidable walking stick which, unbeknown to me, was caked in ash from the wildfires that had decimated the area over the summer.  I walked from Ferguson Road until I reached the peak at the fire tower where I took a quick pit stop to eat and change the batteries in my headlamp.  I also attempted to charge my watch only to find out that the portable battery I brought was out of juice, it must have gotten pressed while in my pack.  My watch would still last several more hours so it didn't bother me too much, but I was disappointed I wouldn't get the full distance of the race on Strava.

View during a training run of the 3 "humps" of the Roosa Gap State Forest and Wurstboro Ridge State Forest

Roosa Gap Firetower - Checkpoint #3 (Mile 33 - Mile 40):
After the short break, I entered new territory on the trail.  My longest training run had brought me to the fire tower, where I took Ferguson Road down to the main road (Route 209) where I was picked up.  I had prepared for this section of trail by reviewing topography maps of the area, and determined there would be one more reasonable ascent before a long 3-4 mile descent ending at Route 52.  The terrain was more-or-less what I expected, mild and runnable, with several long flat sections I was able to jog through.  There were no signs of headlamps in the distance, and the only interruptions were several startled deer that were otherwise enjoying the night air.  I thought about the upcoming checkpoint, and realized that if I got there in nine and a half hours (by 4:00 AM), I would be able to steal a quick nap before the next section.

To briefly touch on the mid race stoppage, my understanding is that due to the permit requirements, runners are not allowed into Sam's Point until 5:00 AM.  Because of this, the race directors stop any runners from entering before that time and hold them there until they are allowed to enter, with the time spent waiting taken off the final finishing time.  This meant that if I were to arrive prior to my competitors, I would have a slight edge in the second half of the race.

The possibility of sleep motivated me to run as often as possible.  Other than a few small climbs and technical parts, I was running the entirety of this section.  Eventually I entered Old Stage road, a double-wide dirt path that constitutes the last couple miles.  A few downhill miles later Ken's car was in sight.  I didn't recognize it at first, and thought it may be a local.  A few cheers from Ken drowned my apprehension and I ran strong into the stop.  Ken immediately had me wash/scrub my shoes to prevent any unwanted species from entering Sam's Point during the next section.  I was already shivering as I entered the car.  The clock read 4:07 AM.

Checkpoint #3 STOP - Checkpoint #3 START (Mile 40 - Mile 40):
I spoke with Ken about the race for a few minutes before trying to take a quick nap.  After several restless minutes lying down, I realized sleep would be futile.  I ate as much as possible knowing that I'd be able to get a headstart on my digestion over the next 45 minutes.  I rearranged my bag as well and chatted with Ken about how the race had panned out.  Before I knew it, two headlamps were bouncing toward the van.  Jason and Marc Mrowka (who had also run the race last year) entered the checkpoint.  I was hoping I'd have a larger lead (it was around 25 minutes) but was not complaining.  The two of them soon joined me in the car was we shared some small talk.  Everyone was extremely tired, myself included, so the conversations were short and quiet.  After a short ride to refill Ken's gas-tank, we make our final arrangements and left together when the clock hit 5:00 AM.

View just before sunrise at Sam's Point

Checkpoint #3 - Checkpoint #4 (Mile 40 - Mile 54*):
My legs ached and my body shivered as the three of us trekked across Route 52 toward the hardest ascent on the course.  I overtook the lead, with Jason following close, and Marc falling a bit behind.  After a mile or so warming up, we arrived at a stream with running water.  Jason and I both stopped to resupply, while Marc arrived just as we were leaving.  That was the last we'd see of him for a while.  We continued up the climb, still climbing hard, but neither of us trying to assert the lead or leave the other person.  Even in a competitive race, teamwork is important.  Finally, after a brutal climb, we arrived at Sam's Point Road.  We took a few minutes to admire the view and sunrise before starting toward the course detour.

Stopped for a quick selfie with course record holder Jason Berry.  I didn't realize my face was covered in ash.

Because of wildfires in the area the past summer, part of the trail was inaccessible for runners.  This section took a bit of orienteering which Jason handled, and successfully brought us through the High Point Trail and eventually back onto the SRT.  We continued around Mud Pond, where I remembered the Muave-colors blazes from the Ellenville Mountain Running Festival.  I didn't realize how close we were to Mud Pond or I may have stopped to refill, but at this point we still had plenty of water anyway so we moved on.  We made our way onto the Castle Point Carriage Road around Mile 52 on the GPS (near the end of my watch's battery life) and nearly made a navigational error by continuing down the road instead of making a right off the carriage road back onto the singletrack.  Jason cited that he made the same mistake last year, and remembered the turn.  Back on track, I was thankful to be running this section with Jason, there were many times I would have needed to dig out my phone for direction, but he was extremely comfortable navigating through the terrain.  Based on Jason's watch, we should have arrived at Checkpoint #4 around this area but thought maybe because we were ahead of record pace, we had beaten the volunteers to the location.  The SRT shares the path with the Rainbow Falls Trail, taking us underneath a beautiful waterfall (though it was only a trickle, I'm told it is much more scenic when there is a heavier flow).  There wasn't enough water for us to refill our packs, but the trail jumps up to the top of the ridge, and we thought was may have better luck above the falls.  We didn't.  Somewhere around this time I injured my knee jumping over a fallen tree and hitting it on a tree stump.  There was blood flowing down my leg but the wound did not appear to be deep.  We pressed on.  After a few miles of dips and climbs we arrived at what we thought was the checkpoint #5!

Another view just before sunrise at Sam's Point

*Jason's GPS measured Checkpoint #4 roughly 59 miles from the start

Checkpoint #4 - Checkpoint #5 (Mile 54 - Mile 59):
Elation quickly turned to misery when we were told this was only checkpoint #4.  I was thankful to have an 'aided' checkpoint, though it was only jugs of water.  I sat, drank and filled my pack, still overwhelmed by the mileage ahead.  My legs and back ached, and my focus was dwindling.  How was I going to be able to maintain this for another 18 miles I thought to myself.  12 miles seemed manageable, 18 was almost a marathon.  Relentless forward progress, I echoed my mantra.  There were a large but finite amount of steps separating me from the finish line, and as long as I kept moving, eventually I would finish.  We thanked the checkpoint volunteer and continued on.  We broke into a small job across Route 44 and continued on and off running for the next several miles.  Anytime we'd pass a group of hikers it would get our hopes up that the next road crossing was near.  We were passed by a 50k runner who had an early start about midway through the segment, and went back and forth with her over the next few miles.  Jason was beginning to have some trouble on the rougher ascents whereas I was struggling more on the descents (unusual for me).  The section was fairly runnable, however we were unable to take advantage and most of our time was spent walking.  We got into a great rhythm on the final descent passing an elderly couple who just smiled as we went by.  If only they knew how far we'd come.

Jason and I at Checkpoint #4 soon after we found out we still had 18 miles to go

Checkpoint #5 - Checkpoint #6 (Mile 59 - Mile 64):
We arrived at the 2nd-to-last checkpoint in good spirits.  Knowing there was only a half-marathon left was encouraging.  We quickly filled up our packs again and moved on to the next section.  To be honest I don't remember a good amount of this portion of the race.  I recall being passed by a few 50k runners who cheered us along as they sped by.  We took comfort in realizing we were still under record pace and only a monumental breakdown would stop us from breaking it.  With about 3 miles left in the section, we decided to start jogging.  Jogging turned into running, and before we knew it, we were flying down the steady decline at roughly 10:00 mile pace.  We smelled the barn, so-to-speak, and were unrelenting until we hit the next road, where we expected the next checkpoint.  I was suffering badly, but determined not to break my cadence I pushed my body hard in order to maintain the pace.  We arrived at the next road crossing to find no sign of the checkpoint.  Frustrated again and exhausted, I sat down on the side of the road.  Jason and a 50k runner were trying to figure out where the trail went and I was absolutely no help.  Another low point.  They found the trail across the road to the right of where we exited, and I slowly began to catch up.  It was too late in the race for me to become separated from Jason.  I caught up with him just before the last hill of the section.  It was short and steep and I ended up a little bit in front of him by the end and pressed on, I didn't want to waste any of small burst of energy I had happened upon.  Across a small field and down the next road, we arrived at the last checkpoint.

Checkpoint #6 - Finish (Mile 64 - Mile 70+):
We were in and out of this checkpoint quickly, the finish line calling to us from the distance.  I was beginning to have some stomach problems here as we ascended through several fields before reentering the woods.  The sun was oppressive as we approached the heat of the day.  Once back into the woods I was still having a hard time, and took some GU and a NUUN tablet which helped calm my stomach.  We were passed by a few other 50k runners who marveled at our task and wished us well.  Their energy was welcomed but in my current state of mind was slightly irritating.  Jason mentioned he didn't recall any difficult hills in this section and, like clockwork, one emerged as soon as the words were uttered.  We climbed slowly, many hikers making way for us as we crept along. We continued to walk after reaching the top.  And walk.  And walk.  The distance seemed endless.  Jason's watch had finally died so we had no way of knowing the remaining distance other than his memory.  We passed over several rock sections and were treated to more extraordinary views.  Then, out of nowhere, Marc came charging through, passing us before we could even comprehend what had happened.

And just like that the race was back on.  Doing a quick calculation, I determined we have at most 5 miles to go, which put him in striking distance of 1st place if I didn't respond (I still had a 25 minute lead on him from the Sam's Point stop, but that would evaporate quickly if I continued my current pace).  I charged forward,  immediately dropping down to a sub-9 minute mile pace chasing him.  I began gaining ground on the next gradual descent.  I didn't let up.  I legs were rejuvenated, and I pushed the pace passing him, and didn't relent until Marc and Jason were no longer in sight.  Then I lost the trail.  I waiting until Marc and another 50k runner caught up and we determined we were still on the correct path.  Marc and I went back and forth at least a dozen times over the next few miles, though at a much calmer pace.  I would open a small lead, then walk, and he would rush past me.  Before he got too far ahead, I'd begin running again, and he would walk.  The pattern persisted over the next 2-3 miles.  At this point there was no sign of Jason, but I was hoping he would come up soon so we could all finish together.  After miles of back-and-forth, Marc mentioned to me that the final footpath to the finish was under a mile away.  Jason had mentioned earlier that once on that final footpath, there was only about a half-mile to the finish line.  Elated, I made my final push, running nonstop until the footpath came into view.  Arriving there felt like being shot out of a cannon.  My stride lengthened, my breathing became smooth and controlled, and my form was fluid.  I soared across the trestle and before I knew it Elizabeth and Crash (my German Shorthaired Pointer) were in sight.  Eyes welling, I began to sprint for the finish line.  I crossed the line in 21:05:00, good enough for 1st place and a new course record.

Post-Race:
Someone kindly lent their chair to me as I collapsed on the ground at the finishing festival.  Soon afterward, Marc arrived, and Jason a few minutes later.  All three of us had bested the previous course record.  It was incredible to speak with them after the race about the high's and low's, and especially the last section, when it was a dogfight to the finish.  I was lucky to claim victory on a day where any one of us could have taken home the famous 1st place Tomahawk.  The race was handled spectacularly but Ken and Todd, who kept the world updated via Facebook of the standings.  It was incredible to share my stories with them as well.  Congratulations to all the 70 mile finishers as well as all those who were in the shorter (relatively speaking) race!

1st Place trophy for the 70-mile division - AWESOME

For those looking to dip their toe in the minimalist format sector, I might suggest starting out with one of their shorter races (as I did at the Ellenville Mountain Running Festival the year before).  For those experienced enough to handle this sort of challenge, and you know who you are, this is a challenging but extremely fun event that will leave you with memories for the rest of your life.  Thank you to Todd, Ken, and all the volunteers who helped put on this incredible event, it was everything I hoped it would be.

70-mile Finisher's Medal

Final Stats:
Distance - Roughly 78 Miles
Time - 21:05:00
Pace - 16:13/mile
Elevation - Roughly 12,500 ft

Other Notable Items:
Shoes - HOKA Stintson 3 ATR
Hydration - 2L reservoir with Sawyer filter attached to hose
Calories Packed - Roughly 6,000

https://www.strava.com/activities/717385815

2016 Call of the Wilds Mountain Marathon - Race Report

The Call of the Wilds marathon is a single loop 30-ish mile course that piggybacks the more popular Eastern States 100, set in mid-August.  Marathoners and 100-milers alike arrived at the pre-race pasta dinner and packet pickup, nervous energy filling the not-so-little Little Pine State Park.  I arrived Friday afternoon and met with friends Eric and Andy, who would be running the 100 miler and crewing, respectively.  I hadn't done much research for this event, and was using it primarily as a training run for the SRT Challenge in September.  After a delicious complimentary pasta buffet at Happy Acres restaurant, I prepared my gear and brought my bivy to the campsite across the street from the start line and .

After a restless night, which included going back to the car half-way through, I awoke to watch the 100-milers prepare for their 5:00 AM departure.  I found Andy and Eric and took a few pictures before Eric vanished into the darkness with the rest of the field.  I found my friend Steve who was also running the marathon, and we shared race strategies over breakfast.  I planned on taking it out hard and trying to stay with the leaders before settling into a comfortable pace, while he was using the race as a training run for the Tahoe 200 later this fall.  The temperature forecast was frightening, with the "real-feel" cracking 100F by mid-day.  Despite the heat, I planned to only carry a single handheld water bottle for the race, with the intention of hydrating primarily at the aid stations scattered every 5-6 miles, and using the water bottle sparingly.

The race started at 7:00 AM sharp and I quickly surged to the front of the pack, only a few steps behind the leader.  We blazed through the 1st (and only) road mile in ~6:45 and made our way into the park, forming a small gap from the rest of the field.  I took the lead near the 2nd mile, opening a gap of my own, and jolted through the technical ridge.  I led through the next 3 miles, feeling fantastic as I made my way alone up the first of five big climbs.  3/4 of the way up I was passed by a runner that absolutely flew up the hill.  I tried to stay with him, but thought it better to try and catch him when the trail leveled off.  I arrived at the 1st aid station with the 3rd place runner right on my heels, took an orange slice and left.  We ran together for the next mile or so until he ran by me during the next technical section.

A few other runners passed me and as I began toward the 2nd ascent, I found a comfortable pace with a runner from Canada, Chris.  We ran through the next few miles together, engorged in a fantastic conversation, chatting about marathons in this area compared to marathons in Canada.  I was beginning to have foot pain on the downhills as we descended from the ridge near mile 10, and Chris went ahead.  I entered the mile 11 aid station alone, somewhere around 12th place.  The volunteers joked that the next 6 miles were pancake-flat, which clued me in that there was some difficult terrain ahead.  I ate some watermelon, refilled my handheld, and made my way across the nearby bridge, the next aid station 6 long miles ahead.

The weather was becoming exceedingly warm, and as I looked down at the river below, I half-wished the trail traveled through water instead.  Shortly after crossing the bridge, the trail made a sharp right and began to climb.  This climb may have been the hardest of the entire course.  After the initial 500-600 ft,  the trail continues to climb another 300 ft until we were exposed to the sun above.  I was trying to portion my water but had drank 3/4 after two miles.  This was the first moment I thought I may not be able to finish.  Then I thought of Eric, who was suffering through the same conditions I was, and had a much farther way to go.  I decided to not worry about my time and just to make sure I completed the race.  After even more climbing, the trail eventually reached it's peak at a small fire road.  Standing there, were several volunteers and spectators with water and ice.  A huge wave of relief came over me as I entered this unofficial aid station.

After refilling my bottle and taking a small cup of ice for the road trail, I thanked the volunteers there and pressed onward.  The course continued flat for a little while before we began the large technical descent.  I stopped a few times in a nearby stream to soak my Buff, as the heat of the day was taking it's toll.  A short while later I emerged from the woods to a small road section before the next aid station around mile 18.  When I arrived, they had a hose running so I was able to soak myself before heading back onto the trail.  In hindsight, I should have stayed a bit longer to take in more calories and hydrate for the next section.

I left the aid station alone, and scurried down the make-shift trail on the other side back to the road.  From there, the marathon runners diverged with the 100 mile athletes, as we remained on the road across the river and continuing on a rail bed.  The flat soft gravel was a nice change of pace from the steep technical ascents and descents, but it was short-lived.  After a few cheers from a few day-hikers, the next difficult ascent began.  The climb was not steep (relatively) and the trail was well groomed, but this was the hill that broke my competitive spirit.  I grinded through switchback upon switchback for well over a mile, my calves and quads begging for mercy.  There were several hikers making there way down the path as well, all of which passed along words of encouragement.  I finally arrived at the "peak" to find an EMS woman cheering us on.

I ran the soft dirt double-wide path until the race turned left to a single track section.  Through the trees, there was an excellent view that illustrated just how high we had climbed.  The trail began to descend, gradually at first, but I soon discovered the worst descent of the day.  Steep switchbacks with wet rocks lay ahead, and I had my share of close calls coming down the mountain.  After an abysmally slow trek down, I arrived on a double-wide trail parallel to a local road.  I assumed the aid station must be close, and mustered a slow jog.  This double-wide was almost entirely flat and easy running, but my tired legs could only run for a few minutes at a time.  Seeing no aid station in sight, I slowed to a walk.  I repeated this cycle 4 or 5 times, my thirst growing with each step.  Finally, after about 3 miles on this path, I heard cheers from the aid station.  I stormed forward and emerged from the woods, greeted by a few young children dousing me with water guns.  It was truly a euphoric moment.  This aid station was my favorite of the day.  There was plenty of food, and I chose to indulge in the enormous ice pops that they had.  I took one for the road, had one last spray down, and set forth up the "other" hardest hill on the course.  I was still five long miles away from the finish.

I've had my fair share of difficult climbs over the years.  I've tackled difficult hills at Run with the Devil, Escarpment, Virgil Crest, Georgia Death Race, etc.  At 25 miles in, this mountain was among the hardest I had run.  ~1,300 feet straight up hill over the about 1.2 miles.  The heat was oppressive and each step was exhausting.  I longed to be back at the aid station, getting soaked by water guns and enjoying suger-ice treats.  About halfway up the climb, I spotted a rock that looked like a perfect break spot.  I rested there, watching three other runners crawling up the hill a few minutes behind me.  I decided to wait until they passed to keep going, and when they arrived, I latched on.  I stayed with one gentleman for the remainder of the climb, cracking jokes and getting my spirits back up.  Eventually, all three runners went on ahead and I was alone once again.  I reached the top of this last mountain to the cheers of two burly men standing beside a pick-up truck with a jug of water.  Another unmarked aid station, and like the last one, was well-timed.  They informed me there were still about 3 technical miles left in the race, and to watch out for rattlesnakes, as the next section of trail traveled directly through a breeding ground.

Unsettled, I began my descent down the other side, which was as technical as they said it would be.  My pace quickened as my eyes darted back and forth looking for snakes, my ears alert for the sound of rattles.  I eventually arrived at the bottom of the mountain without seeing a single rattler, and made a left onto the double-wide.  I could see a runner ahead in the distance and thought I might have a chance catching him.  I began accelerating down to a 9-10 minute mile up the trail, which was gradually ascending.  After a few moments lost in my own thoughts, I looked up and realized the runner had disappeared.  I then noticed a right turn up ahead.  Up I went again, with a view of the other runner just cresting the climb.  Frustrated, I slowly made my way up until I was up on the ridge, the runner ahead firmly out of reach.  The next couple miles were slow and blurry.  There were several large-rock technical sections reminiscent of the Appalachian Trail near the NY/NJ state line.  After what felt like another 2 miles, I finally began to make my final descent, lured in by the faint sounds of the finish line.  Before I knew it, I was emerging from the woods, with the finish line in sight.  A downpour started as I entered the home stretch, and crossed the line to the cheers of the crowd.

After the race, I spoke with Chris, who had come from behind and crossed the finish line in 1st place!  It was great to catch up with him and talk about about how the race played out for each of us. Overall, I hoped to finish a bit faster but was happy with the experience in the new trails non-the-less.  The sheer difficulty of the race makes it hard to commit to coming back, but I'm sure I'll be there eventually.  It was an incredible event and one that I will not soon forget.  Thank you for the support from all the race organizers and volunteers.  I highly recommend this race for anyone looking for a challenging trail marathon in the northeast, or anyone who want to dip their toe into the Eastern States course.

Race Stats:
Finish Time - 7:24:20
Finish Place - 17th
Total Mileage - 30.4 Miles

2016 Pass It Along Triathlon - Race Report

My first Tri in almost a year, the Pass It Along Triathlon is a Sprint-Distance race (750m swim, 17k bike, 5k run) which takes place in and around Lake Mohawk in Sparta, New Jersey.  I had only signed up the day before, thanks to an allowance by the race director (the formal registration had already ended).  The day before the race, I took my Cannondale Slice 5 on a short but brisk 5-mile shake-out ride, well aware that it had been almost exactly one year since the Orange County Triathlon, the last time I rode it.  The ride felt good, and even with a few traffic stops I was able to average about 17.5 MPH, only somewhat winded.   I proceeded to run a hard mile immediately afterward, finishing it in 5:49.  This lone workout the day before the race was the workout which even resembled triathlon training.  Despite my unpreparedness, I went into the race confident that I could improve on my 1:07:35 PR, which was set at the since-discontinued 2013 Born to Tri event in Asbury Park.

The temperature was perfect as we migrated to the boardwalk for the start of wave 1.  Not starting until wave 3, I paid close attention to how the 1st two waves started and if the lake was drawing the competitors off track.  The swim was triangular, with two large red buoys signifying the turns.  The race started off well and I established a good rhythm as I made my way to the front of our pack.  Not half-way to the first turn, I felt my goggles filling up with water on the left side.  I tried to continue but fearing my contact lens would come out I quickly moved my goggles to my forehead and swam the rest of the way without them.  I emerged out of the water in what I felt was good position and entered the transition zone (almost falling down the stairs on the way).

My transition was slower than I would have liked, but having not raced a tri in almost a year, I was lucky I wasn't even more rusty.  I had forgotten to pack my racing belt so I needed to wear a shirt for the bike and run and during this transition, it was difficult to put the shirt over my wet skin.  This was the only logistical snag and I trotted my bike onto the course.

The bike course started with a few big climbs and then settled down as we moved into the western section around the lake.  I was in a group of about 5 people which were all trading places through the 2nd half of the course as we traveled away from the lake and toward Rt. 181.  I am a novice biker at best, so I have trouble at high speeds and tucking in, among other things.  Even so, I was able to get down on my aerobars for a decent amount of the race and hit a maximum speed of 36.5 MPH.

I pulled into the 2nd transition feeling tired but overall pretty confident that I would be able to make up some time on the race.  I chugged a Gatorade during the transition and switched into my running shoes.  This transition was better than the first but I know I can cut time down here in the future.

My legs felt heavy and my stomach was sloshing from the Gatorade as I began the 5k run.  In hindsight, I should have taken a bit less fluid at the transition, and saved the chugging for after the race.  I couldn't figure out exactly how fast I was moving but it felt extremely slow.  I managed to pick off a few runners coming into the first mile, clocking off a 5:53.  I was a little disappointed but kept trying to run strong and get to the turnaround so that I could begin my final push.  After a few small rolling hills I veered around the midway point and began to pick up the pace.  My 2nd mile was 6:15, far too slow.  I surged and passed another group of three or four runners.  Before I knew it, the finish line was in sight.  My third mile clicked off as I began my sprint, 6:05.  I knew if I hurried I would dip under 19:00.  Sprinting Struggling, I crossed the finish line just seconds under the 19:00 threshold, the race was over.

All in all, I can't complain about the race.  Great course and great volunteers, and though triathlon isn't my sport, it was fun to get my feet wet, so-to-speak.  I finished 16th overall of 174 finishers, and was 3rd in my age group (not counting the winner, who was my age but graded in the overall category).  This was a great course and very well organized, I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a great starter triathlon or tune-up for an Olympic or 70.3 race.

Splits:
Swim: 15:17 (43 overall)
T1: 1:29 (63 overall)
Bike: 34:22 (35 overall)
T2: 1:01 (82 overall)
Run: 18:53 (6 overall)

Total:  1:11:02 (16th overall, 3rd age group)

XC Summer Series 5k - 07/20/16 Race Report

I decided I won't be picking favorites with the write-ups and just do one for every race I run.  Going into the race, I thought running a 5k would be a nice change of pace for me, especially considering I would have my first triathlon of the year only a few days later.  I felt fresh going into the race, and thought I had a shot to break 18:00.  I spiked up and got to the line about 30 seconds before the start.  The race director gave us a count down and just like that, 100+ runners exploded off the line.  I surged to the front and was sharing the lead with a college-aged runner who soon pushed the pace. I tucked myself into the back of the front group of 6 runners, all looking college age or younger, with me being the outlier.  The pack strung out slightly as the trail turns 180-degrees around 3/4-mile through.  I came through the first mile in 5:28, a bit faster than I expected but I felt strong.  The front-runners had built up a small lead entering the first hill and I dropped back to 6th place.  I remained there as we headed back to the start line to begin our 2nd of 2 loops.  

I could feel the pace of the 4th and 5th runners beginning to break down.  After a few well timed surges, I found myself neck and neck with the 4th place runner as we passed through 2 miles.  My 2nd mile was 5:37 which was faster than I expected as well.  I grabbed 4th place as we made our the 180-degree turn for the 2nd time, though I could feel both runners right on my tail.  I could tell my pace was slipping I just hoped I had enough to hold these two off.  Sure enough, I came through the 3rd mile in 5:53, which I was hoping was a little bit faster but can't complain.  I knew if I held a strong pace to the line I would be under 18:00.  Sure enough, I crossed the line in 4th place with a time of 17:47.1 officially.  Not to shabby for someone who hasn't run a sub-6:00 mile since last year.  Happy with the finish, I'm looking forward to the triathlon this weekend.

Cheers!

2016 Summer Solstice 5 Mile - Race Recap

Though not quite the distance I'm used to, I was excited to take a break from the ultrarunning and see what kind of speed my legs had.  The Summer Solstice is trail race held at Kittatinny State Park in Andover NJ, with all proceeds benefit the Sussex County Women's Forum (for more infomation, click here).  The organization works closely alongside my trail running group, the Salt Shakers .  At the starting line, we took a moment of silence to remember local running legend Andy Latincsics, who recently passed away.  I competed against Andy numerous times in local races and he beat me almost every time.  The race director decided that we would forgo the traditional "GO" to commence the race and instead say "ANDY", certainly a fitting tribute.  Moments later, "ANDY" was yelled and we were on our way.

I was the first one into the woods' bottleneck 50 meters from the start line.  As the front group zipped through the trail and onto the railbed, I discerned a few familiar faces.  Justin Scheid made himself apparent by quickly taking the lead and pushing our pace down to around 5:00-5:20 per mile.  I recognized last year's winner, Hunter Jackman follow closely behind him.  Another young runner (I later found out was named Blake Digiaimo) and I settled in for 3rd and 4th, respectively, as we merged off the railbed to the first section of singletrack.  Before long, Justin and Hunter were no longer in sight, as Blake and I scurried up the first hill nearing the 1-mile mark.  I hit one mile on my GPS in 6:42 and I was ecstatic, because I knew this would be one of the tougher sections of the course.  After a steep descent we meandered through the twisting singletrack, unable to pick up much speed.  I was sitting relatively comfortably in 4th at this point, with Blake still only a few strides ahead.  We emerged back onto the railbed to begin the ~2 mile out and back section, and I quickly surged ahead of Blake.  We were both moving well and our pace dropped down to around a 5:45/mile.  I hit my 2nd mile split in 7:01, surprisingly slow considering a decent chunk of it was on the railbed.  I tried to ignore it, but I picked up the pace in frustration, trying to make some time back up.

When I reached the turnaround, I saw that I had built a decent 10 second lead or so on Blake.  I was still far behind Justin but I could see Hunter only about 30 seconds ahead.  I was feeling strong and decided to work on slowly catching him.  I was beginning to slow as I clocked my 3rd mile split in 6:07.  I wasn't displeased, but I knew with more speed training I could have run that in 5:40 or faster.  I entered the final, and hardest, section of the run alone.  The trail loops back so you can see how close the next runners are, which confirmed that as long as I ran the tower hill well, I'd cross the line in 3rd.  I ran the flat singletrack section controlled before coasting up the hills.  I did not feel like I was moving well up the hills, but was surprised at my 4th mile split of 7:13, considering it was almost entirely on singletrack.  I bolted up the final two ascents without seeing anyone ahead or behind me, and began making my way down to the finish.  When I reached the fire road I was able to open my stride and dropped my pace down to about 5:45/mile.  I was still roughly a quarter-mile away when I hit my 5th mile split of 7:24.  Realizing I would be well under my time from last year, I began to push hard and sprinted across the finish line with a few 5k runners.

I finished the race in 35:45, good enough for 3rd place, and a 1:28 faster than last year.  I felt great overall despite having raced a 70.5-mile ultra less than two weeks prior.  Justin ended up winning the race in 32:05, with Hunter coming in 2nd in 35:02.  Blake finished 4th in 36:41 and fellow Salt Shaker John Montgomery rounded out the top 5 in 37:47.  Thanks to all the volunteers and race organizers for putting on a fantastic event, I'm sure I'll be back next year.

Cheers!

https://www.strava.com/activities/622550094

http://www.racingnj.com/files/2016_summer_solstice_overall_finish.htm

Laurel Highlands Ultra 2016 - Race Report

The Laurel Highlands ultramarathon is a 70.5-mile trail race in Pennsylvania which encompasses the entirety of the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (LHHT) starting in Ohiopyle and ending to Johnstown Pennsylvania.  The race is one of 46 races domestic races which (along with 37 international) qualify participants for the lottery of the Western States Endurance Challenge held in June.  At Laurel Highlands, the individuals must finish in under 20 hours to secure their lottery spot for Western States.  After not being selected in last year's Western States lottery, I was determined to earn my 2nd ticket and double my chances.

Going into the race, I had my eyes set on a sub-16 hour finish.  It was a relatively arbitrary goal, I needed something to shoot for beyond the Western States qualifying time, which I considered somewhat pedestrian for my current fitness.  Though I was in decent shape, there were a multitude of problems in the weeks leading up to the race.  I was having lingering problems with Plantar Fasciitis in my right foot which had limited my weekly mileage through the spring.  I also had the brilliant idea of running the New Jersey section of the Appalachian Trail in full 3 weeks prior to the race (~75 miles, talked about in detail here).

As for the race, I was lucky enough to have my girlfriend, Elizabeth, and her parents crew me for the event, as well as drive to and from the race in their RV.  My friend Scott and his girlfriend Rachel were there to support me as well (Scott to pace, Rachel to crew).  Thank you everyone for your incredible support, I truly would not have been able to finish without your help.  We were off to a late start the day before the race and ended up barely making it to the race briefing to pick up my bib (ok, we missed the briefing, and the dinner.  But we did get the bib).  I was bib #123.  It may seem trivial, but I took that bib # as a good sign, it's nice to have a number that's easy to remember when coming into the aid stations when you are completely exhausted.  I slept as much as I could as Elizabeth's parents drove to the campsite we were staying at, which was about 3 miles away from the starting line.

I woke up about 45 minutes before the alarms started to ring and couldn't fall back asleep so I changed into my race-day attire and tried to set up as much as I could without waking anyone up.  At 4:30, the alarms went off and by 4:45 we were leaving the campsite.  We arrived around 5:00 AM with plenty of time before the 5:30 start to check-in and use the bathroom (I was lucky to have the bathroom in the RV, I do not know where the nearest one was).  After taking a few pictures near the waterfalls we were toeing the starting line.  I was able to find my friend Jon Wilson just before the start and we were able to chat for a few minutes about our races strategies.  My plan was to run the first few legs relatively hard and put as much distance in as I was comfortable with while the weather was still cool.  The forecast for the day was a high of 88F with a 30% chance of thunderstorms in the late afternoon.

Gorgeous view of the waterfalls minutes before the start

Looking back now, I made my two biggest mistakes of the day before the race had even begun.  The first was my plan to run with a single 20 oz. water bottle instead of my hydration pack for the first section.  Using two handheld bottles who have probably been adequate, but the decision to carry one left me dehydrated early.  The other critical mistake was that I had completely forgotten to apply Bodyglide anywhere on my body.  It was a rookie mistake that could have quite easily led to the dreaded DNF.  After a short prayer from the race director, our adventure begun.

Start to Checkpoint #1 - 19.3 Miles
After about a half-mile of road running, we entered the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail.  When reading previous race reports I learned that around 30% of the climbing happens in the first 8 miles and many runners fall victim to overexerting themselves here, then completely breaking down in the later stages of the race.  Despite my ambitious race strategy, I was cautious not to follow that trend.  The trail is somewhat technical during the mile or two before the hills, but becomes quite nice as the elevation reveals itself.  The first climb is a true grind, about 600 ft of straight uphill without much interruption, with a downhill on the other side to match.  It was around this time I was passed by eventual women's winner and course record holder Robin Watkins (awesome job!).  We chatted for a minute or two before she absolutely crushed a decent, leaving me in awe at how effortlessly she was able to navigate the steep incline.  The second hill was more manageable (not to say it was easy) with several breaks in between the climbing sections, with about 500 ft of total gain.  Around this time I spoke with another runner Tyler who was also running this race for the first time.  Tyler and I stayed together through the last two difficult climbs before separating.  The last climb was easily the most difficult climb on the entire course, climbing up 1,200 ft onto the ridge.  It was reminiscent of Run With the Devil which takes runners up to the top of a ski slope and back down for 3, 6, or 12 hours.  Upon reaching the summit, there was a group of roughly 8 of us weaving through the trail and into the first aid station at mile 11.6.  Just before I arrived at the aid station, I heard a shout of encouragement.  My friend Amos Desjardins was taking pictures before the aid station.  For those who don't know, Amos finished 2nd at Laurel Highlands in 2014, and graciously had shared his insight of the course beforehand to help me plan my race strategy.  After a quick bathroom break and a kale smoothie I was back on the trail.  I opted to use two handheld 20 oz. bottles for the next section.

Amos spotted me just before the first aid station

The next leg was extremely runnable and I was feeling fresh even after the difficult ascents.  I was working toward catching Tyler and a few other runners I'd come into the aid station with but had left before me.  Using two handheld bottles worked well for me in this section, even though I had done zero training run with two (I always like to have one hand free if possible).  We coasted through a nice descent in a logging area and around a small pond where I was able to wet my headband.  My only qualm in this section were the several horseflies that would not leave me alone for a good 4 miles.  Eventually I came upon another runner, Beth, who I chatted with as we were beginning the final ascent to the 1st Checkpoint.  I offered some words of encouragement as I passed and made my way into the aid station

Segment Time - 3:53:00
Total Time - 3:53:00
Total Distance - 19.3 Miles

Checkpoint #1 to Checkpoint #2 - 13.0 Miles (2:51:00)
Arriving at the first checkpoint, Elizabeth and Co. were waiting in the woods with the other crews.  I had more kale smoothie and switched into my Ultimate Direction AK 2.0 hydration vest.  As I left the aid station, I saw Amos again.  He mentioned that his friend Rob was running pretty close behind me, and that he was be pacing him for the final 23 miles, just as Scott was for me.  I also spotted Beth with her crew looking a bit worn down, I offered a bit of encouragement again as I continued into the next segment.

The next section had a few rocky areas but overall was very runnable.  Around mile 21 there are two fantastic lookouts.  A mile later, the trail weaved between several large rocks, similar to the Lemon Squeezer on the Appalachian Trail near Bear Mountain.  I was moving well through this section though I could feel my pace slipping a bit.  I caught a few runners as we traveled through the gun range around mile 24.  I didn't feel unsafe, but it was unnerving to hear the gunfire so close.  After approaching mile 26 there was a small 2-person aid station.  I expected to see my crew here, but the volunteers said they were still two miles away.  I quickly refilled my bottle and grabbed some ice and was back on the trail through Seven Springs Resort.

The 2nd of two lookouts around mile 21

One of several awesome rock formations on the LHHT

This was one of my favorite sections of the trail.  We transversed through several meadows and across some of the ski areas.  I was feeling great even in the direct sunlight and picked up the pace on the downhills, dropping below 9:00/mile at a few points.  The trail wandered in and out of the woods and eventually up to a small pond where several geese were blocking the trail, hissing loudly as I passed, annoyed but otherwise uninterested in me.  I saw Amos again who relayed to me that his runner was about 10 minutes behind me and I had a mile until the crew station.  The mile passed quickly and I finally came upon the next aid station.  I downed more kale smoothie, had some PB&J and rolled out.  In hindsight, I should have switched back to the handhelds here, because the section was short enough to allow for it without my arms getting tired.  As I was leaving they mentioned that this next section was supposedly pretty easy, and I would see them again in 4 miles.

Great course marking through the Seven Springs Resort

Small pond at Seven Springs Resort around mile 27

They were half-right, I did see them again in 4 miles.  However, the next section seemed like a constant climb, and my legs began increasingly drained every mile.  The temperature had really begun to climb now as well.  This was my first low point of the day.  With about a mile to go, the trail evened out and I passed the turn-off for the 50K runners.  I was excited that none of the 50K runners had passed me (my 50K split was roughly 6:25).  With my spirit rejunvinated, I ran into the aid station around mile 32.

I was wishing I had signed up for the 50k here

Segment Time - 2:47:51
Total Time - 6:40:51
Total Distance - 32.3 Miles

Checkpoint #2 to Checkpoint #3 - 13.3 Miles (2:51:00)
As I trotted into the station, there was a giant board with each runner's place as they arrived.  I was surprised to learn I was in 25th (I was thinking somewhere closer to 40th).  With half the race done, I mentioned to my crew that the last section had been incredibly difficult and my legs were feeling weak.  I stayed at the aid station longer than I should have, and by the time I left I had lost a few places.  The 7 miles until the next aid station were a bit of a blur.  The one notable point was the beautiful newly constructed bridge around mile 36 or 37 which crosses the Pennsylvania Turnpike,  I almost dropped my phone over the fence trying to get a picture of it.

Realizing it's going to be a very long day at Checkpoint #2

Newly-constructed bridge over the Pennsylvania Turnpike

At this point the race was starting to get away from me.  After a few miles of grinding I was coming up to the 39 mile aid station.  My energy levels were low as we were now in the heat of the day, and my pace had dropped from 11:00-12:00/mile to 13:00-14:00/mile.  As I arrived at the 39 mile aid station I collapsed onto the ground while Elizabeth and Scott changed out my water bottles and gels.  I ate some more PB&J and bacon with a strawberry smoothie before setting back out on the trail.  As I left, they reminded me this would be my last solo section before Scott began pacing me at mile 46.

The next 7 miles were slow but I found a rhythm playing ultra running leapfrog with a runner who had on the North Face 50-mile shirt from DC last year.  We chatted every now and then but I don't think I ever got his name.  Eventually I pulled ahead for good as the LHHT connects with the Summit Trail and travels through a slightly overgrown section of the course.  This section was more difficult to navigate and I almost lost the trail more than once.  A few miles later, I was at the next checkpoint, feeling exhausted but excited to have made it almost 50 miles.

Looking Southbound at the mirrored divergence of the LHHT and Summit Trail

Segment Time - 3:58:09
Total Time - 10:39:00
Total Distance - 46.4 Miles

Checkpoint #3 to Checkpoint #4 - 10.9 Miles (2:51:00)
Scott was already in his running gear as I entered the aid station and again collapsed into a nearby chair my crew had set up.  Amos was there as well and mentioned that he would be pacing his runner, who was expected to be coming in shortly and they would be trying to catch us!  A nice dose of friendly competition is appreciated especially in the later stages of an event like this.  I noticed on the leader-board that I had somehow climbed into 21st place.  Apparently the heat was leading to several DNF's, even in the front of the pack.  After a quick bite to eat, Scott and I began the longest section of the run without aid since the start - 10.9 miles (or so I thought).

Excited to be picking up Scott at mile 46

We crossed the road immediately after the aid station and started a steady climb.  I mentioned to Scott that my legs were completely destroyed and I was not running any uphill sections at this point.  I felt bad for Scott because I knew it was going to be a long slow day for him.  Earlier this year, he had run his first 100 mile at the C&O Canal 100, in which I paced him the last 40 miles.  The C&O canal course is straight and flat and Scott is an extremely strong ultrarunner, so we were still able to maintain a pace in between 10-12 minute miles.  At Laurel Highlands, that was not possible for me.  I tried to bear down and grind through what seemed like a never-ending uphill, but our pace suffered as we dropped to the 18-20 minute mile range on this difficult ascent.  My greatest concern on this section was water.  I had only brought two 20 oz. bottles in my hydration pack which with all the climbing, I was going through quickly.

Despite my low point, I marveled at the beautiful trail in this section.  We ran/walked through endless fields with scattered trees that provided just enough shade to shield us from the oppressive sunlight. We were just past the hottest part of the day and the temperature would be comfortable from here on out.  As we made our way up to the peak of one of the hills, we heard cheering in the distance.  Knowing we were only 5 miles into the section at this point, I was confused and thought maybe a few fans were able to hike in to cheer.  To my grateful surprise, we spotted a pickup truck on a fire road just ahead with two enormous NFL-size jugs of water and gatorade.  Two volunteers had driven up a fire road to provide an unmarked aid station to the runners, and it couldn't have come at a more crucial time.  I collapsed in a chair while the volunteers filled my bottles and felt the relief melt over me (along with a few pieces of ice).  We thanked them about 10 times before moving onto the welcomed descent awaiting us.

Runnable trail and lots of shade

I was still not moving fluidly, and I had still not overcome my mental low.  I had become quite grouchy this section, and I'm sure it was showing as I noticed myself snapping at Scott unprovoked (sorry Scott!).  With about 3 miles left, I told him I did not want to talk anymore.  I was frustrated and annoyed that I could not seem to run for more than 100 meters at a time.  Then everything changed.  Ultrarunning is funny in that one minute you could be at the end of your rope, questioning dropping out, and the next moment you feel like you could run forever.  With about 3 miles left, I decided I had had enough walking.  My frustration was fueling my legs and I began running fast, not worrying about the 15 or so miles that remained.  We ran through technical sections, hills, and anything else the trail revealed.  We dropped our pace down to under 10 minute mile for close to three miles into the aid station, not saying more than 5 words until we arrived.

Segment Time - 2:56:00
Total Time - 13:35:00
Total Distance - 57.1 Miles

Checkpoint #4 to Finish - 13.4 Miles (2:51:00)
I was informed by Elizabeth and her dad that there had just been a torrential rainstorm as they were walking from the RV to the aid station.  It surprised me because Scott and I hadn't gotten anything more than a light drizzle in the few miles prior.  I was exhausted from the surge at the end of the previous section but ecstatic that there was only a half marathon left.  I didn't eat as much as I should have in this section but I was able to change my shirt and packed two headlamps with me.  This would be the last time I would see my crew before the finish line.

Scott and I departed the aid station without noticing what place I was in.  Within 2 minutes of leaving, the downpour started again.  I had locked back into my aggressive pace, and only slowed when the rain began to die down.  The rain was keeping the bugs away and cooling us off, but our shoes were completely drenched and I could feel my soles beginning to move out of place.  I did my best to ignore it.  I don't remember too much of the next few miles other than the trail being impossible to trek through without getting wet.  There was one point shortly after the the downpour when it got incredibly dark.  Scott and I turned on our headlamps thinking that this would be the beginning of our night-running segment, only to find the trail brighten back up a few moments later.  I can't recall exactly, but I don't think we were passed at all during this section.

There were a few cool rock formations in this section too

Around mile 61, the trail emerges onto a gravel road.  I had forgotten all about this section but knew from reading previous race reports that we would follow this road until we hit the next aid station at mile 62.  We were surprised to find several runners coming up behind us on the gravel road, with Beth and her pacer leading the charge!  Honestly, I did not connect that it was her at first, it had been 40 miles since I had last seen her.  We exchanged a few words but they were moving at a fast pace and soon passed us.  I had a low moment as we ran down the road and needed to walk the majority of the way.  However, once we started uphill, about a half mile from the aid station, I felt the energy return to my legs and was able to run again.  "Walk the flats, run the hills, that's my motto" I joked to Scott, my mood beginning to lighten again.  We were greeted at the aid station by a group of wonderful volunteers who refilled my bottles and offered us some warm food.  I took a cup of chicken soup, sat down to drink half of it, and took the other half on my way.  While at this aid station, we saw a maybe 7 or 8 other runners, many who arrived after and left before us.  Though ultrarunning generally is more of a personal challenge, it is usually helpful for me to be chasing someone, so I was grateful that there would be runners to catch.

I began the final section with a good mix of walking and running, as the last rays of sunlight were shining.  Scott urged me to try and get another mile or two in before we needed to switch on our headlamps, reminding me that our pace would certainly slow down during the night.  I don't remember exactly how far we got, but I believe we were passed mile 63 when we finally turned them on.  I have done a lot of training at night, though only a few runs in the woods, and I was glad to have Scott there during this last section.  We picked off a few runners that had jumped in front of us at the aid station over the course of the next 2 miles, but Beth was still somewhere in the distance.

As we clicked off mile 65, I thought back to the many 5 mile races Scott and I had run together as part of the Manhattan College cross-country team.  There was one particular morning where Scott and I were warming up together for an 8x400m repeat workout and we concocted the idea of trying to break the unofficial team record on local Tibbett's Trail for the furthest distance traveled out and back (the current record was 20 miles round trip).  When the next morning arrived we both showed up at the gym ready to run, only to soon discover we were both hoping the other one had decided not to participate.  We departed from the gym without water, money, identification, or anything else and ran about 13.5 miles out and 13.5 miles back as our first "marathon", securing the record (which still stands).  Looking back on that, it's no surprise we had both ventured into the sport of ultrarunning.

Scott and I running from something...not sure exactly when this was

Back to the race, we were inching closer to the last 4 miles, which I remember noting were almost entirely downhill as the trail descends from the ridge.  Though it was dark, we got into one of our best rhythms and were able to steadily run all but the longer hill sections.  Once we were in the final 3-mile desent, we were running almost not stop, and it was looking like a sub-17 hour finish would happen.  With about 2 miles to go, we finally passed Beth and her pacer for the last time, shouting encouragement as we passed but careful not to break our rhythm.  We saw a spectator as we crossed the power lines, indicating that we were getting extremely close.  After a few moderately technical descents and a VERY short final mile (Scott recorded it as 0.60 miles), we saw the lights of the finish line.  Moments later we burst out of the woods where Elizabeth and Co., along with the rest of the crowd, cheered us in.  We made it!

Segment Time - 3:14:00
Total Time - 16:49:00
Total Distance - 70.5 Miles

Recap
Overall I was thrilled with my the, and felt that, though there are still things to work on, it was one of my best ultra's to date.  I finished in 19th place, far better than I had planned, and qualified for Western States by finishing within the 20-hour time limit.  Thank you so much to Elizabeth, her parents, Scott, and Rachel for all the amazing support.  It was truly a team effort getting me across the finish line.  Laurel Highlands itself is a phenomenal race with fantastic volunteers, easy to follow markings, and all around great people.  If I do not get selected in the Western States lottery, I have a feeling I may be trying to improve my time here in 2017.

https://www.strava.com/activities/607545788

Finishers trophy in hand, in front of the crew mobile

Appalachian Trail - New Jersey FKT Report

On May 21st, 2016, I attempted a supported thru-run of the New Jersey section of the Appalachian Trail and set the unofficial fastest know time (FKT).  Below is a write up of the how the day unfolded.  The GPS file from my Fenix 2 uploaded to Garmin Connect find, but had some problems transferring over to Strava (I don't know why or how) so I have included both links at the bottom of the report

As far as I know, my first substantial exposure to the Appalachian Trail came when I was 6 years old in the form of a 7-mile hike to my aunt's house.  I don't remember many details, but I do remember the overwhelming satisfaction of seeing her driveway and realizing we had reached our destination.  Approaching 20 years later, that same feeling has been abundant on the trails over and over again.

In preparing for trail marathons last year (Vermont 50, Virgil Crest, Nipmuck), I had been running more and more often on the Appalachian Trail, until I realized that I had almost completed the entire New Jersey section (and quite a bit of New York as well).  Last year, I had the honor of running part of this section with ultrarunning legend Scott Jurek during his record setting thru-hike/run of the Appalachian Trail.  As I began to research Fastest Known Times (FKT's), it appeared that no one had set any formal time for the New Jersey section of the trail.  From that moment on, I devoted my training towards the completion of a single-day finish and FKT of the NJ section of the Appalachian Trail.

Training run on the State Line Trail and Appalachian Trail a few days prior to the FKT attempt

I will refrain from delving into the training leading up to the race, with the exception of mentioning I was dealing with a case of Plantar Fasciitis leading into race day.  I will lucky enough to somehow convince my wonderful girlfriend Elizabeth and her parents to crew me for the entire event using their RV (thanks guys!).  My good friend and training partner Andy was gracious enough to accompany me the first ~32 miles from the Delaware Water Gap Bridge to Sunrise Mountain as well.

The day before the run was hectic, as Elizabeth and I desperately tried to determine the logistics of the pacers; there would be 7 people joining me throughout the event.  I cannot stress enough how helpful it was to have each single person there lending their time and energy, the support was truly overwhelming and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Ready to head to the PA/NJ State Line

Andy and I met drove to Sunrise Mountain the day before the run to drop off his car, then rendezvous with Elizabeth and her family who were loading the RV.  After packing and a delicious meal at Olive Garden (somewhat of a pre-race tradition), we headed west to the bridge and slept in the RV at the Kittany Point Visitor Center.  The weather was reported to be on and off showers all day, with a high temperature around 60F.  As always before any big run, it was a restless night's sleep before our alarms simultaneously went off at 3:30 AM and we prepared for our 4:00 AM start time.  Two oatmeal packets, a bottle of water, and a few peanut butter balls later, Elizabeth, her dad, Andy, and I walked the bridge to where the official Pennsylvania/New Jersey state line was painted on.  After a few troubling minutes trying to locate satellites, we were officially on our way at 4:05 AM.

Andy and I at the NJ/PA State Line 2 minutes before the start

DWG Bridge to Mohican Outdoor Center - 9.8 Miles
The adventure started with a quick first mile across the bridge and past the DWG visitor center, shortly followed by the ascent toward sunfish pond.  I felt fresh through this 3-mile climb, which we mostly walked, though my stomach was having a difficult time digesting breakfast.  I was very thankful to have Andy there with me, I do not like to run in the woods by myself in the dark.  We arrived at Sunfish Pond in 59 minutes and enjoyed the first rays of sunlight peaking over the mountains in the distance.  A few minutes later, we happened upon Pile of Rocks as the sun was cresting over the mountains and Andy was able to capture this awesome moment (see below).  I have been to Pile of Rocks several times, and this was the only instance where it was completely clear in all directions.  The weather reports appeared to be wrong which was a great sign.

Spectacular view of Sunfish Pond at dawn

Arriving at Pile Of Rocks just as the sun rose

Andy's awesome shot of me at Pile Of Rocks at sunrise

Still 4 miles away from our 1st crew stop, we proceeded along the ridge.  I took my first fall somewhere around here, but other than a small knee scrape, continued on unharmed.  My stomach was still heavy and was beginning to cause some anxiety.  I normally do not have any issues with my stomach, so this was a bit challenging for me.  After talking it over with Andy, he convinced me to keep taking energy gels as scheduled (every 40 minutes) and make a determination when we were a bit further along.  The trail in this section is a bit less technical, with moderate rolling hills along the ridge line.  We were ahead of pace by about 15 minutes as we made our way down the final technical descent to the 1st crew station at mile 9.8.

Mohican Outdoor Center to Long Pond Road - 7.2 Miles
We were in and out in about 5 minutes as I chugged down a kale smoothie and some fruit, as well as resupplied on gels and fluids.  The next section is about 7.5 miles, the 1st half has some considerable climbs and descents, while the latter half takes you along a fire road with a gentle decent into the next checkpoint at Long Pond Road.  Andy and I were feeling comfortable and decided to bank more time on this section, dropping our pace to about 9:00/mile for the final 3 miles or so leading into the 2nd aid station around mile 17.  Almost the entirety of this section is non-technical, so we were able to find a nice rhythm which allowed my stomach woes to subside.  We flew into the 2nd aid stop in about 3:39:00, putting us ahead of goal pace by about 32 minutes.  After a quick bathroom break, I gulped down more kale smoothie and tried to eat a few peanut butter balls (PB, honey, mini morsels, chia, flack seeds, dry milk = DELICIOUS) we had concocted a few days prior.  In hindsight, I should have forced myself to eat more at this station.  The next section would be one of the most challenging of the day: 9.9 miles through technical mountainous terrain.

Long Pond Road to Culver's Gap (Rt 206) - 9.9 Miles
The first mile or so of this section is technical but opens up to another fire road with rolling hills.  At one point early in this section, Andy had me take the lead so he could see how well I was moving, and he happily reported that I was looking strong.  A mile or two down on the fire road is the side trail to Buttermilk Falls, which I have never been down but am hoping to explore sometime soon.  Eventually the trail reverts back to single track beginning with a comfortable though somewhat technical descent.  I remember hitting my first low point in the run as we began the next climb.  Andy had moved just out of sight and my legs were beginning to feel a bit worn and my breathing was labored.  I did my best to focus on catching back up to Andy, and eventually found him at the bottom of Rattlesnake Mountain.  We chatted through the remainder of the section and with about 4 miles to go I began to feel better.  I lost him again about a mile and half before the 206 road crossing and, shortly after the overlook, took my 2nd hard fall of the day.  I paused for a moment and reevaluated myself from head to toe, and reminded myself that we were still only a third of the way into the run.  I eased off the gas a bit and comfortably ran the rest of the descent down to Rt. 206 where Andy was waiting for me.  After another 0.4 miles we would reconnect with Elizabeth & co. at the 3rd aid station, approximately mile 27.

View of the Delaware River Valley from Rattlesnake Mountain (or thereabouts)

Upon our arrival, we were greeted by the excited barking of our German-Shorthaired Pointer, Crash, one of my favorite training partners.  Crash is about 18 months old, with never-ending energy.  Elizabeth had picked him up in between aid stations 2 and 3.  Another training partner, Kristina, surprised me there as well as part of the crew team.  She would be pacing me a little later in the day.  After chugging more kale smoothie, I requested some more solid food for the next station.  The next station was at Deckertown Turnpike, 8.7 miles away, though Andy would be stopping at the peak of Sunrise Mountain, where we had stashed his car and some water the day before.  We arrived at this aid station in about 6:04:00, putting us ahead of our pace by 37 minutes.

Culver's Gap (Rt 206) to Deckerstown Turnpike - 8.7 Miles
The next section began with one of more more difficult ascents on the route, about 500 ft of technical climbing.  My legs were feeling fatigued during this section, but it was comforting to be back on familiar terrain; I had run this section numerous times over the last couple months.  Around mile 29, there is a fantastic overlook of the western river valley.  Sometime during this section, Andy's knee started bothering him, which kept us a bit closer together and I actually was riding his heels a bit toward the end.  We finally reached the pavilion and stopped for water and a quick bathroom break.  I was planning on meeting another friend, Travis, here but there was no sign of him.  After spending a few moments thanking Andy for his incredible support, I decided to push on solo.

The best picture we got at the Sunrise Mountain pavilion

The next 2 miles after the Sunrise Mountain overlook were the only 2 miles of the trail I had never run previously (not counting the bridge at the beginning).  I expected these miles to be technical, as the area surrounding High Point is undoubtedly the most technical of the entire route, with the only  possible exception being Stairway to Heaven.  Fortunately, these two miles were about as runnable as you could get, and I was able to gain a bit more time by dropping a few 10:30-ish miles on the soft dirt trail.

New (to me) section of trail between Sunrise Mountain and Deckerstown Turnpike

About a mile before Deckertown Turnpike I heard a shout from behind.  I turned around to see Travis FLYING down the trail to find me.  I was thankful to have the company, I needed something to take my mind off of the section ahead and he was the perfect person to do it.  He informed me he had been following Andy and I all the way from Rt. 206!  Chatting together we passed Mashipacong Shelter and made the final half-mile descent to the next aid station.  We arrived at Deckertown Turnpike in 8:12:00, putting us ahead of our goal pace by 41 minutes.  This is unofficially the halfway point in the day, and I was hoping to have an hour in the bank at this point. Nonetheless, we were in high spirits as we saw Elizabeth and her parents had prepared bacon and more smoothies, both of which tasted incredible.  At this point, we may have converted to strawberry banana smoothies but I truly cannot remember.  Kristina and Andy were both there assisting with the crew duties, while my other friend and training partner Stat was there ready to start his segment.  I wanted to get in and out of this station quickly because I knew the next 5 miles would be some of the most technical of the route.  As we left, it was reassuring the know that from this point forward, the longest distance between aid stations was under 6 miles.

Deckerstown Turnpike to High Point (Rt 23) - 5.1 Miles
I remembered the next section to be technical and hilly, and it did not disappoint.  Stat, Travis, and I weaved and wandered through the first 2 miles mostly half-walking half-running.  At this point, Travis turned around and ran backed to his car which he stashed at Sunrise Mountain as well (roughly a 17 mile day for him through technical terrain!).  Stat and I continued on with about 3 miles to go.  I was hitting another low point here, and had two miles on the trail that were about 20 minutes each.  I'm sure I wasn't very good company here, I can't remember talking about anything other than how horrible this section of trail was.  I do remember telling Stat there would be a nice lookout toward the end of the trail, but we never found the one I had in mind.  I had only run this section once before and my memory was a bit hazy.  I was feeling hungry and knew I hadn't eaten enough at the previous aid station; not a good sign half-way through a 70+ mile run.  Eventually I recognized a steep, rocky descent as being close to the end of the section.  After a last quick mile on a more runnable section of trail, we emerged from the woods to the High Point offices, where we found the RV set up.  We arrived at the High Point aid stop (Aid #5) in about 9:42:00, and although it was the first time we lost time toward the goal pace, we were still 28 minutes ahead and feeling optimistic that the hardest section of trail was behind us.  I made sure to take more food at this stop, eating PB&J, bacon, smoothie, chips, and anything else I felt I could stomach.  Kristina was beginning at this point, and if everything went well the plan was to accompany me to the end.  Kristina, Stat, and I left the station confident that the next section was runnable and we would be able to make up some of the time that we had lost.

High Point (Rt 23) to Mount Salem Road - 4.6 Miles
We began running across Rt 23 and through an open field before diving back into the singletrack.  I had only run this next section once before, but it was one of my best training runs and I knew the majority was flat and non-technical.  All that said, I must have blocked the first 2 miles out of my memory because it was the exact opposite of what I envisioned (and what I had relayed to Stat and Kristina about 5 times).  Several steep technical ascents later, we stopped for a quick photo at a bird watching deck.

The view was well worth the 30-stair detour

After travelling a bit further through harsh technical terrain, we came to the crossing where the Shawangunk Ridge Trail (SRT) and the Appalachian Trial diverge.  This was notable because in September, I will be running the STR Challenge, a 74-mile unsupported race spanning from High Point NJ to Rosendale NY.  The remainder of this section is a bit of a blur, but I do remember getting into a pretty good rhythm after we arrived at the flat singletrack which carried us through a few miles of rolling hills and fields.  With about a half mile to go, I got my first (and thankfully only) nosebleed of the day.  Covered in blood, I ran into the aid station yelling to Elizabeth "Don't freak out!".  We reached Mount Salem Road in 10:58:00, barely ahead of the goal time by 21 minutes, but ended with a nice final section.  It was at this point I was starting to realize 18 hours may not be in the cards today.  I reassured myself that there were still several flat sections ahead and we would be able to bank some time in those sections.  It was becoming apparent that my mental state was beginning to collapse and the aid stops were becoming longer and longer.  "Less than a marathon left" became the mantra as we headed into the next section.

I'll be attempting the SRT Challenge this September, better get used to looking for those blue markers

Mount Salem Road to Carnegie Road - 5.5 Miles
This next section was similar to the previous, and after the first mile or two, it was a section I knew quite well.  After a few steady miles, we crossed Lott Road and I was back in familiar territory.  We traveled down what may have been an old rail-bed and were really picking up speed, at one point even dropping to around a 9:20 pace.  Stat, Kristina, and I were having a great conversation about god-knows-what when I realized I hadn't seen a white blaze in awhile... Kristina was kind enough to sprint back to the last point we saw one while Stat sprinted ahead to see if any were further along.  I heard shouts from Kristina in the distance, apparently we had missed a turn.  Frustrated with myself, I turned around and backtracked until we found the turn.  Looking back on it, the turn couldn't have been more obvious as long as we were looking at the ground.

It makes you wonder how we missed it in the first place

All in all, we had added about a 1/2 mile total, so we lost about 5 minutes.  We spoke about how difficult it is in the later stages of a race to overcome something like that, and overall I didn't dwell on it too much.  The next 2 miles or so were a bit of a grind but we finally found Aid #8 and arrived to somewhat of an applause.  Our crew had expanded, my younger brother Kevin as well as my good friend Chelsea were starting at this section.  My mom was there along with Andy and the rest of the crew taking care of everything we needed.  Andy informed me this would be his last stop before he headed home.  It was incredible to have him out there for as long he was, and he put me in the perfect position to execute my plan for the day.  We arrived at the aid station at 12:33:00, only 9 minutes ahead of pace, so we made sure not to spend too much time at the aid station, the next section was fairly short anyway.

Carnegie Road to Liberty Corners Road - "3.7 Miles" (2.2 Miles)
Because this was a short, flat, fast section, I decided to forgo the Ultimate Direction pack and run with a handheld for this segment.  At this point there were 5 of us running, Chelsea, Kevin, Stat, Kristina, and myself.  The trail remains on the road for about a mile, first on Carnegie, then on Oil City Road. At this point the trail jumps back into a bird sanctuary near the Walkill River (I meant to take a picture but did not).  This section is not updated on Google Maps or any of the running website, so there was a bit of guesswork in determining the exact distance until the next aid station.  This is where we caught our biggest break of the day.  What we presumed was 3.7 miles ended up only being about 2.2, and we made sure to take full advantage, hitting miles in the 9:30 range.  We arrived at the Liberty Corners aid station at 13:05:00, almost beating the RV!  The put us back ahead of schedule by 37 minutes!  After a very quick stop our caravan of 5 continued on.

Liberty Corners Road to Route 565 - 2.7 Miles
The next section started with what I would call the 2nd or 3rd hardest climb in the route - Pochuck Mountain.  The ascent is fairly gracious in the sense that it switchbacks up the mountain, however, it is not so gracious in the fact that it climbs 500 ft in approximately 0.6 miles.  The climb is not technical but at this stage in the race I was mentally exhausted.  This is where I made my most crucial mental error.  I had already started to doubt whether 18 hours was possible, and it didn't occur to me how much time we had banked in the previous section.  I was still in the mental state that we were only ahead by 9 minutes, which made it seem almost impossible to finish within that time frame.  After reaching Pochuck Shelter, there is a small downhill section before the 2nd stage of the climb, another 200 ft ascent spanning a quarter-mile (if not less).  Chelsea and I were amazed as Kevin decided to show his older brother who was boss by flying up this super-technical climb, it was incredible to watch.

View from the top of Pochuck Mountain, High Point is visible in the distance

After the climb the trail rolls over the mountain and descends as it makes it's way past a small camp road, over a few streams, and ends with a brief but steep uphill as it arrives at Route 565 about a quarter-mile away from my parents house.  I was hitting another low patch for the day, as we took this section extremely slow.  We arrived at 14:21:00 feeling completely wiped out, and had lost our entire bank time.  We stayed at this aid station much longer than we should have, and even in my exhausted state, was eating a decent amount of food.  My mom joined us at this station and we were at our biggest group yet, 6 people all running(walking) north toward New York.

Route 565 to Route 94 - 3.6 Miles
With the group at its biggest, we headed into New Jersey's busiest section.  After a brief mile through rolling, moderately technical trail, we arrived at Glenwood-McAfee Road and the Boardwalk.  The boardwalk is incredibly well-built and spans about 1.5 miles through some of the New Jersey marshlands.  It was only a few years prior that I was training on this section for my 1st marathon.  We were moving at a decent pace, though not as strong as I had envisioned, and I was fading.  The best part about this section was we were somehow able to capture some incredible pictures while on the move which was a nice trophy at the end of the day.  Kristina was doing a great job motivating me to move through the section and run when I could, and we were starting to find a rhythm as we moved through the now-singletrack on the other side of the boardwalk.

Feeling strong on familiar territory at the boardwalk 

With about a half-mile to the aid station, disaster struck!  I heard a scream and looked back to see Chelsea on the ground.  At first I though she had just tripped, but it turned out to be a terrible ankle sprain on the rocks.  She yelled for us to go ahead but I was looking for an excuse to take a break anyway so Kristina, my mom, Kevin, and I waited on the nearby train tracks while Stat helped Chelsea back to her feet.  It just goes to show, the trail can collect its dues at any moment.

Kristina and I taking a much-needed break on the train tracks

When it seemed like they would be able to walk in to the aid station, the rest of us forged ahead.  We arrived at Route 94 at 15:23:00, 10 minutes behind pace.  The weather had shifted and more ominous clouds were beginning to roll in.  This was another long aid station, I was completely spent and knew this next section would take us into the dark.  Leaving this aid station meant leaving most of our group behind.  My mom decided to tag along until the next station so after I grabbed my headlamp, her, Kristina, and I headed north once again.

Route 94 to Barrett Road - 2.8 Miles
I was more familiar with this section than any other, I knew every slight turn, every rock, every hidden blaze like the back of my hand.  Unfortunately, I knew this because I have run stairway to heaven more than any other section of the AT due to its incredible ruggedness, unrelenting elevation, and unbelievable beauty once at the (almost) crest.  This is the most difficult climb in the New Jersey section but even at this stage of the run, the familiarity was comforting.  After the initial half mile of easy running, it seems as though 50,000 rocks were dropped at the top of the mountain and found their way down the best they could.  There is barely any actual trail which is fantastic if you have fresh legs, however, that was not the case.  This was my lowest point in the entire race, the mountain seemed never ending as the three of us climbed ever so slowly, still chatting as we had been all afternoon.  When we did finally reach the overlook split where we stopped over for a quick photo before continuing on.

Overlook at Stairway to Heaven

I put my headlamp on once we hit the actual peak of Waywayanda Mountain though I didn't need to turn it on right away.  My mom informed me that she hadn't brought a headlamp with her but luckily Kristina had an extra.  We ventured across the creek and up the second climb, feeling the exhaustion in my legs with every step.  It had begun raining at this point and the temperature was dropping.  After several small slippery rock patches and a few easy descents, we heard the sounds of the road, and found the next checkpoint shortly thereafter.  We entered the aid station at 16:55:00, having taken an unbelievable 1:32 to cover those 2.8 miles.  We were behind pace by almost an hour, putting 18 hours well out of reach and even 19 hours was looking bleak.  I remember trying to move out of this station quickly, so we grabbed some food inside the RV, thanked my mom for her support, and Kristina and I entered the final ~8 miles.

Barrett Road to Longhouse Drive - 3.7 Miles
Truthfully, I don't remember very much of this section.  I know from running it previously that the first one or two miles are fairly runnable.  Beyond that, I recall chatting with Kristina as we meandered through the dark, though I have no idea what we talked about.  We saw a family of deer gazing eerily at us in the darkness, and were hearing gunshots in the not-so-far distance.  This whole section was very unsettling and the rain was only making things worse.  It was relieving to see headlights from the road, we arrived just as the RV was pulling up after dropping my mom off at home.  We arrived at this final aid station at 18:17:00, 1:25 behind pace.  I was sure to be quick during this last aid stop.  I quickly changed into my Warwick Valley cross-country singlet which I planned on finishing in, and put my jacket in my pack and we headed back out.

About to leave the RV for our final segment

Longhouse Drive to State Line to Greenwood Lake Marina - 3.7 Miles
From the Longhouse Drive aid station, it was roughly 2.5 miles to the state line.  Kristina and I left at a blistering pace, dropping down to around a 9:00/mile pace.  I was somewhat unfamiliar with this section, I'd only run it twice previously.  It was pouring as we soared through the darkness, only slowing to navigate the more technical parts.  Every movement felt fluid, the muscle fatigue in my legs had been replaced by adrenaline.  After what felt like about 2 miles we graced the ridge and the trail became too technical to run.  We were close to dipping underneath the 19:00 mark, but I didn't know exactly how much trail was left.  As Kristina and I climbed up another rock cluster, everything went dark.  My headlamp had died!  We decided it was too dark and technical to try to navigate without it even though I was fairly certain we were close, so we paused and fished the batteries out of my pack, only to realize I only had 3 when my headlamp required 4.  Luckily, I had put on the waist-headlamp at the last stop which only required three batteries.  Kristina and I set up a make-shift tent under my jacket to swap out the batteries and arrange the secondary headlamp.  When all was said and done, we had spent about 10 minutes, and the time was over 19:00.  Frustrated and cold, we ventured on.  Roughly a quarter mile later, we found the S/L state line trail markings, signifying the state line was only about 0.1 miles away.  Several steps later the state line was in site.  I will never forget the jubilation of the first step into New York, WE DID IT.

I have never been happier to be leaving New Jersey

I hugged Kristina and just about collapsed on the ground and kissed the Appalachian Trail emblem next to the state line.  The unofficial finishing time was 19:08:25, which I was very pleased with.  We snapped a few pictures and slowly backtracked to the State Line Trail we had seen a few miles earlier.  The last mile from the AT to the Greenwood Lake Marina parking lot is a steep ~700 ft descent, and treacherous in the rain.  Kristina and I took our time, carefully traversing the wet rocks as we laughed and talked about the last ~35 miles spent together.  Eventually we began to see house lights and the parking lot followed soon after.  We made it to the RV in 19:45:33, greeted with applause from Stat, Chelsea, Elizabeth, her parents, and Crash.

Kissing the Appalachian Trail emblem after crossing into New York

Thank you to everyone, you all made this such an incredible day.  Looking back on it, I can honestly say this was the most fun I have had in any race/run/adventure/etc.  The support from everyone in the Salt Shakers Running Club and everyone else who was virtually following the run was overwhelming and I look forward to the journeys ahead.

Gear:
Ultimate Direction AK 2.0 Hydration Pack
Brooks Cascadia 10 Trail Shoes

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1182157252

https://www.strava.com/activities/586370904