the Way of the Turtle

50K, 50K, 50K...
Friday, July 3, 2009

So no Finger Lakes 50k for me this year... stupid knee. It's particularly annoying because, based on my performance at NIPMUCK and my extended trek at Mt Greylock, I think I was in reasonable shape to complete it in a decent (for me) amount of time... oh, well, maybe next year.

So looking at other options for later in the year... two seem doable.

The first is the Green Lakes 50k at the end of August. Pluses include a course which isn't a killer (well, other than being 31 miles long...) and it's in an area I'm very familiar with. Minuses include August weather, 4 loops, and potentially a fair number of non-runners on the trail, since the park remains open.

The second is the Bimbler's Bluff 50k at the end of October. Pluses include possibly cool fall weather, the excitement of running somewhere I've never been before, and only having other runners on the trail. Minuses include what is probably a much more technical and challenging course than Green Lakes (I don't know, I've never run there!), more difficult logistics (southern CT during the school year vs central NY during my summer vacation), and a conflict with the 5th Annual Hairy Gorilla Half Marathon. (Actually, that may end up being a plus, since the first few miles of HGH have gotten more and more crowded each year I've run it, and it's reaching the point where I will probably not run it every year...)

Of course, what my knee does over the next few weeks could play a major role in any decision I end up making... though I have to admit, I'm considering signing up for both...

JMH