Summer Solstice 14k Trail Run
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Minnewaska photo slideshow
While I was walking the Beacon Hill trails, I had decided to leave my camera behind during the race... but since the weather improved significantly before the run started, I decided to bring it along to take some photos from the various overlooks.
Given that this is the 5th time I've run this course I wasn't too concerned about being able to find my way... but I still found it annoying that the back-of-the-pack runners persisted in gabbing while the RD tried to fill us in regarding the course markings and places to be careful. In any case, he gave his typical pre-race talk, we all waited while they made sure everything was set, and then - off we went!
The first four miles are primarily uphill, which is one of the more challenging aspects of this race... but I think I ran the hills fairly well, only stopping at two points to snap some pictures from the cliff tops. I thought I was making good time to the top, but it took about 4 minutes longer than the last couple of years to reach the first water stop up on Castle Point... not bad considering that I haven't been running enough, but still slightly disappointing given that I ran steadily the whole way.
From there the paths wind along the top of the ridge and then descend fairly rapidly, a welcome change from the almost constant uphill during the first half. I made pretty good time on the downhill, with a brief pause to take some pictures looking out over Lake Awosting. Didn't pass anyone, but the back of the pack seemed very sparse this year, probably because of the weather, and only one fellow passed me as I was stopped to take pictures... I kept him in sight all the way to the end, but didn't quite manage to catch him before the end.
The three mile stretch along the Upper Awosting carriageway was tough... for a variety of reasons. While the general trend is a gradual downhill, there are enough slight rollers to make it a challenge to pound out those miles. The distance is also deceptive... once I reach the 2nd water stop it always seems like the end is just around the corner, but in reality there's still 1/3 of the course to run, and it just seems to go on and on. And this year I had an additional challenge - I definitely started feeling the lack of food (I'd eaten before arriving at the park and really should have carried energy drink in my water bottle instead of plain water) which eventually morphed into periodic GI cramps... it's hard to keep up a challenging pace when your guts are grumbling. But I managed to maintain my forward momentum, and even passed one fellow about a half mile or so from the end... all in all, I think I only added about a minute to my previous time for running the 2nd half, which really isn't too bad, all things considered.
The last hill up to the finish was a killer as always, but I made it to the top just behind the fellow who'd passed me at the Lake Awosting overlook and crossed the finish line in 1 hr 38 min. From there I snagged a bit to munch on, changed into dry clothes, and then visited with the folks from the Albany Running Exchange and the Hudson Mohawk Road Runners Club who were hanging out at their post-race picnic (the majority of the folks who came down in their group were over at the awards.) And then it was time to head out and get on the road back to Albany.
Even though my time was the slowest of the 5 years I've run Summer Solstice, I'm still glad I came down for the race... this is one of the most beautiful courses I've ever run, and no matter how many times I run it it's still breathtakingly gorgeous. Running along trails lined with mountain laurel in full bloom, and along cliffs looking out over mist-shrouded ridges and valleys... awesome. No matter how slow I get... I think I'll still want to be here every June on the Wednesday before the solstice, running the fabulous trails of Minnewaska.
JMH
2008 Event Totals
Run 64.9 mi / 14 hr 24 min
Bike 20 mi / 1 hr 32 min
Snowshoe 45.7 mi / 13 hr 19 min
states visited: MA, NH, NY, VT
