RUNNING THE PATRIOTS PATH IN NEW JERSEY

My employer's North American headquarters is in Morristown, New Jersey. This was the site of General George Washington's headquarters during the Revolutionary War. The patriots used a path to transport weapons and supplies to the troops. Today that path, along with some abandoned railroad lines, form the Patriots Path. I run this path each time in NJ and took my blackberry with me yesterday to snap some some photos.

I pick up the trail near what appears to be an old mill and waterfall.


While not exactly the most condusive for my Badwater heat training, the trail was beautiful.



The trail winds along some rivers and streams.


And crosses some old country roads and bridges.



A front with a lot of wind and rain came in last night (beat across my hotel room window all night). The run on the trail today should be fun, muddy and slippery. I'm off now to find out.

-----Postscript:

Well, I did the run. The rain certainly swelled the streams and the waterfall.


At times the streams would overflow their banks turning the woods into swamps:


I was intending to do 10 miles (5 out and back). But came across this at around 3.5 miles and with no way around (and not wanting to do a swim-bike biathlon this morning), ended the morning with 7 miles.

Kind of like this:

ROCKY RACCOON: A TRIAL OF ERRORS AND PAINS

ROCKY RACCOON WORKED ME OVER AND GOT THE BEST OF ME


Well - everybody has a first at everything. This was a first for me. I originally hoped it would be my first sub-24 hour 100 miler (161km). Instead it was my first DNF. I made it 80 miles (around 120km) but was forced to stop due to leg pain (piriformis). In addition, it seemed to be one of the races where nothing seemed to go as planned.


At the pre-race meetings the mood was excited and spirited. The RD's gave a great intro.

The evening before the race, I was packing my drop bags and realized that I left my arm warmers at home. Darn - I was hoping to have those for the early morning and night runs. Oh well, I did have some long sleeve shirts and a jacket so I would manage. I then headed out to town to have my standard pasta and red sauce pre-race dinner. I spent over an hour trying to find a spot in Huntsville that served pasta to no avail. Finally, I went to a supermarket and settled on the closest thing I could feast on:

I got to the race and got everything ready. I was bringing my blackberry so I could send updates and photos. As I got out of my car the last I put my race belt on with my blackberry in the back and camera on the side.


The countdown started and off we went. I was worried about my cold and sinus infection (I won't describe what came out of my nose that morning) but I was feeling pretty good.

About 2 minutes into the run I happened to pat my race belt where my blackberry was....the pocket was open and there was no blackberry! Crap! I knew this would bother me...so I turned around and like a salmon, went against stream back to the start. I looked around my drop bag and the grass nearby. I grabbed my car keys and ran to the car and sure enough it was on the front seat. I grabbed it and headed back to start the race AGAIN. I had given myself a nice 9 minute 20 second handicap, but thought that was OK.


I caught the back runners by mile 2 and slowly worked my way forward. I was feeling nice and easy. The time off due to the cold actually seemed to have helped a lot.
The course is definitely fast - I was cruising at sub 22 hours and feeling absolutely perfect.




However at mile 17 my piriformis started hurting. I came in mile 20 (first loop) and felt like I had just done a 5 mile jog except for my leg pain. I went out again and the leg kept getting worse. I was limping by mile 27. I would stop and do all my stretches but it wasn't really helping. By mile 33 I could no longer lift my left leg and bend the knee - I had to just shuffle it. I was so frustrated. I decided to see if changing shoes would help (I had a second pair in my drop bag). I changed them and actually it felt better. I made it to Mile 40 (loop 2) feeling a lot more confident. I actually felt that the problem was gone. But I didn't even make it to mile 44 when I was back to a hobble.


I saw Catra and we talked about it. She wished me luck but had to leave - I was just sitting on a log.

If this was mile 75 then maybe I could, but this was mile 44 and I couldn't even walk 4 miles an hour. That was a long f'n walk. I started off trying to see what I could do. I kept massaging the leg and stretching and found that I could actually handle downhills with pretty fast runs (the problem was lifting the leg, it was not really necessary to lift very high with downhills). But the limping was not only making my right knee sore, the sideways motion was creating blisters on both feet. Yeah...this was fun. At least the scenery was nice.




I ended up catching up with Catra at mile 50. We stayed together a bit and I actually passed her going down one hill - this limp/running sucked but I was moving. Then around mile 51 my left leg hit the ground and I felt a sharp shot of pain around my left knee and fell to the ground. A runner coming from the opposite direcion rushed over to help. I stood up thinking the worse, but it actually felt the same. Catra shouted "Go Alan - you're half-way home". So I continued.

Catra and I walked into mile 56 together. I sat down and an aid station worker tried to help my legs with a massage bar. After 15 minutes I got up and limped on. After about 10 minutes my left leg had gotten so stiff and painful, I could no longer bend at the knee without pain - so no downhill runs, nothing but a shuffle. By now my right leg was getting very sore from overcompensating for the left leg limp and the blisters were getting worse.


I made it into the aid station at 60 after an eternity of walking. I sat down and one of Vinod's friends who had been there at Sunmart (and who had been giving me moral support) came over to help. I went into the medical tent. There another worker tried to use a massage bar on my leg. I can tell you - it hurt like all hell when that bar went over my thigh and calf muscles. But when I stood up I could actually bend my leg.

I changed into my top and put on my Eric Clifton tights. I rested a bit and had some beans and rice. Next thing I knew 45 minutes had passed! I did not have that time cushion.

I stood up and took off. I could actually jog. This was great! I met up with someone else and we made it to mile 64 but my leg was tightening up again. I sat in a chair and using my fingers tried to massage my leg the same places as the massage bar seemed to work. It helped but I was limping and before I hit Mile 67 aid station, it was back to a shuffle. It was a long long walk out to station 70. I sat down and dozed off for about 15 minutes. When I woke up I felt good and my knee wasn't hurting as much.

So off again. I made it to the aid station at 73 and the aid station began working on my knee again. He really tore into the tight parts and when I stood I was able to stand up and bend my leg. I took off ...I was actually able to jog again. I will say this - Rocky Raccoon aid volunteers - ROCK!!!!! They were so supportive and helped so much.

But within a mile, my right leg, which was very sore began to hurt. Soon it was stiff and very painful. I would take a step with my sore left leg and the most I could move my right leg forward was to be even with my left. This was so pathetic. It took me nearly 2 hours to get 4 miles.


There are cut-offs (I had to be on loop 5 by 6:00am) and cut-offs one hour after that continuing at each aid station. I had 4 hours to go 3 miles and make the cut-off. I thought that even at my gait I could do that, but it would be close. After that I would only have around 8 hours to go the final loop. My body felt fresh enough (I was sleepy, but I had the energy) and I certainly had the stamina, I just plain could not walk. I knew then my race was over - by things completely out of my control.

I shuffled in the 80 miles and turned in my timing chip. It really sucked as it was right where finishing runners were being given their belt buckles. I sat down on a chair and one volunteer came over to me - looked at me and said he could see how swollen my right knee was - which was surprising since I didn't mention my right knee and I was wearing the Clifton tights whic seemed capable of hiding almost anything :)

I went back to the hotel and slept for about 20 of the next 24 hours. I then had fun popping my blisters (here are 4 of the 5 on my right foot).


Oh well - next race I will buckle! My left leg is sore and tender, my right leg is sore and stiff. Hopefully they will be better tomorrow. I will be seeing my sports therapist this week! I can not let this happen again.

At least one thing that could have got me didn't:


Oh and as a post-script. My flight out of Houston was delayed so I had to run through Denver airport 30 gates on sore/tired legs to barely catch my connecting flight to SFO. We than sat on the tarmac for almost an hour. Oh...the airline appears to have lost my luggage (including all my race gear). They "think" it is in Denver. What a fun time!

LOOKING BACK AT 2007 - TRAIL RUNNING BLOG TAG

My friend Peter Lubbers (a hell of an ultramarathoner and blog owner of: http://runlaketahoe.blogspot.com ) "tagged me" with this list of questions. So, I will try to respond below (and then figure out who else to tag):

1. the most memorable moment on the trails was…

That is a difficult one to pick. I have so many, such as my first 100 mile finish, my first hallucinations due to sleep deprivation during a run, the view of Tahoe at midnight from the TRT, the friends I have met and the beauty I have seen in the surroundings. If forced to pick one, I think it would have to be meeting up with Lon Monroe and Mario Jackson in the last 20 miles of the Quicksilver 50 miler. I started the race against all wisdom after coming down sick as a dog that week. I was throwing up early in the race and wanted to stop at the 50km mark (but didn't because I didn't want a DNF and because I am stupid). A few miles later, after I was barely shuffling over the hot dry trails, these two guys came up on me and through their humor, support and quick friendship they helped me finish the 50 miler. They could have left me behind and, in fact, by staying with me I blew their guaranteed chances of a sub-10 50 miler. But they made sure I finished.

2. The best new trail I discovered in 2007 was…

Since all my races in 2007 were on "new trails" (new to me...except the Dipsea and the Lake Merced loop), I won't count those. But "discovered" on my own, I have been running recently on the trails in San Bruno Mountain park. Beautiful! The trails range from wide to single track. They aren't long, but can be combined for some great running with views of the San Francisco Bay Area.

3. My best performance of the year was…

I was very happy with my sub 4 hour 50km at Ruth Anderson, and my win at the Fear and Loathing 50km. But my greatest personal sense of accomplishment was going sub-30 hours at my first ever 100 miler - the Tahoe Rim Trail (which I finished side by side with Peter Lubbers).

4. I do not know how I previously survived without...

....the advice, support and friendship of MY running community. We have formed a group that we dubbed UltraHolics. Consisting of many people such as Rajeev, Chihping, Anil, Vinod, Peter, Michael, Yuki, Mark, and others, we have created a friendly group to support and encourage each other. In addition, the friendship and support I have received from others outside that group such as Lon Monroe, Mario Jackson and Eric Clifton really makes this sport special. But most of all - the support and energy we all get from our crews! They are invaluable whether assisting with drop bag prep, aid station help or keeping a sleep-walking ultrarunner company at 3 a.m.


5. The person I would most like to meet on a trail in 2008...

Wow - that is really a tough one. While running races, I have met all my Ultraholic buddies on the trails and others including some legends such as Eric Clifton. I haven't met Tim Twietmeyer or Scott Jurek so perhaps one of them. Although, seeing my crew at each aid station is still a wonderful boost.


6. The race I am most excited about for 2008...

As of now it would have to be Leadville 100. However, I am going to try and get into the MontBlanc Ultra 100 and, if I make it, it may be that one. However, now I put my name in for Hardrock and will also enter Wasatch Front and possibly Death Valley (well, if I actually enter and am accepted). So, if all those happen....it would either be Leadville or Hardrock. If I get into Death Valley, I will certainly be excited, but I think the fear will negate that thus allowing LV or HR to win the top spot.

OK - I have now tagged 3 other UltraRunners: Rajeev, Anil and Chihping. Looking forward to seeing their responses!

SAN BRUNO MOUNTAIN TRAIL RUNNING

I recently discovered a new location to do some trail running in the bay area. It is San Bruno Mountain State and County Park. The trails aren't very long, but by stringing some together one can put in some very nice distances with good climbs and fantastic views.




My favorite trails are the Summit Loop and the Ridge Trail. The Summit Loop goes from the park entrance up to the summit (creative name - uh?) at 1314 feet elevation.

It offers some fantastic views.




Here, a couple of Red Tail hawks study some ugly guy running by.


From there, one can then run out along the Ridge Trail which, as the equally creative name implies, runs along the ridge of the San Bruno mountains terminating at Oyster Point.

Here the Ridge Trail runs to the horizon with Mt. Diablo (elev. 3849) being faintly visible through the fog on the other side of the San Francisco bay.


Great views of the south bay, east bay and downtown San Francisco.

DOUBLE DOWN IN TEXAS - The Sunmart 50 Miler plus the Dallas Marathon

PART 1: SATURDAY DECEMBER 8, 2007 - THE SUNMART 50 MILE ENDURANCE RUN

I had to be in Texas for work this past week and it coincided with the Sunmart Endurance Runs - 50km and 50 miler. I decided to run the 50 mile race and see if I could get a new p.r. for that distance (needed to break 8 hours 31 minutes). The course was out in Huntsville State Park in Texas, site of the Rocky Raccoon 100 which I will run in February.

At SFO while waiting for my plane, a guy looks at me and asked if I ran the Ruth Anderson races. I mentioned I did and it turned out that he and I ran some of the race together. His name was Thomas Reiss and he won the Ruth Anderson 50 miler (sub 6 hours). He also won the Tahoe Rim Trail 50 miler (8:10:13) and the Quicksilver 50k (4:04:37) and was a past winner of the Tahoe Triple where he ran a sub 3 hour marathon each day for 3 straight days. He is a German national living in California and was selected to represent Germany at the Sunmart 50's international ultramarathon 50 mile trail championship. Needless to say, I wasn't exactly going to threaten him for the win at Sunmart :) Here is an advertisement in UltraRunning magazine profiling him:



It just so happened that the race headquarters was at the exact same hotel where I stay on all my Houston business trips. So Tom and I went there. The next morning I ran a nice 4 mile run on a nearby trail. Then I checked in. The amount of scwag that Sunmart 50 gives is amazing. You get a gym bag and then proceed down two tables to fill it with shirts, hats, pens, water bottles, stuffed bears, etc.

That night we met back at the hotel (I had to work that day) and there had a fantastic dinner put on by the race. I sat with Tom and his German team mate and coach.


Then the pre-race meeting started with guest speaker Peter Snell, the Olympic gold medal mile runner from Australia speaking to the runners (look closely, he's in this dark photo). We were informed that the next day was expected to be hot, very humid and generally miserable.

The next morning when I went out to get my car it was hot, very humid and threatened to be miserable. The first 3 seconds outside the hotel, my glasses fogged up and my shirt started sticking to my skin. At 6:00 am it was already 75 degrees with 90% humidity. Fun times ahead!

It was about an hour drive to the race. I had my rental car, but there were shuttle buses too. The international teams were in their own shuttle.


Once at the Huntsville state park, I started to get ready. In addition to hidden roots, loose rocks, heat and humidity....certain signs warned of a possible new risk to the ultramarathoner who ventured off the path:


As I approached the start line I saw Vinod Viswanath who had paced Raj and Anil at Tahoe Rim trail and who had just completed the Cactus Rose 100 miler. He was helping pace a friend through his first 50km. With him was a group of Asha runners.

Then all the 50 mile runners got ready and lined up at the start line (the 50km runners were to start 30 minutes later).

Then we were off. 50 miles of trails, heat and humidity ahead.




The run started with some fun paths that would vary from nearly single track to wide open, often they were covered in leaves which hid roots quite well. In the first mile I saw 3 runners go down from the roots.



My goal at Sunmart was to break my previous 50 mile best time (8 hours 31 minutes) which was also coincidentally my first ever Ultra. I also wanted to go below 8 hours. However, as I approached the end of lap 1 the effects if the heat and humidity were telling me that my goals might be tough ones. According to weather sites, temps broke 84 degrees and humidity broke 95%. I was constantly pouring water on my head trying to stay cool (there was no ice at the aid stations as they did not expect the weather). Unfortunately, the water was soak my clothes and shoes. By the end of the race, I had 5 blisters on my left foot and 6 on my right. Chafing was horrible too...especially under my arms/sides of my torso and along my groin due to the wet liner of my shorts. Ouch.



I expected this race to be flat....after all it was in Texas. Well, it certainly wasn't the Tahoe Rim Trail, but I wouldn't call it flat. In fact, it was constant rolling hills. The trail went around the lake and was very pretty in most parts.


The trail also had these "bridges" that were fun to run on, often on the lake's edge.


At one point, the 50 mile runners converged with the 50km runners. It was here that I saw Vinod and a bunch of his friends.


By the third lap, I knew my goals were shot. But, I was still on pace to finish around 8:45 or so. But during the 4th lap my piriformis started acting up again. This has bothered me off and on during certain races. But this was the first time in a while. It was hobbling me and slowed my pace considerably. Oh well, during my last lap and a half, I met this runner named Larry from Texas. Like me, he will be back at Huntsville in February for the Rocky Raccoon 100 miler.

Soon, I finished the final climb and headed back down to the finish line. I saw Vinod and his friends (and Larry who finished ahead of me) cheering me on. I crossed in 9:06 and promptly fell to the ground. Ouch - that really hurt. My splits are below:

46 Alan Geraldi #82 M/43 AG finish 4 Time: 9:06:04.90 10:55
Lap 1 1:47:44.00 8:37/M 12.500
Lap 2 1:56:59.35 9:22/M 25.000
Lap 3 2:26:42.20 11:44/M 37.500
Lap 4 2:54:39.35 13:58/M 50.000 miles

After the race, I joined Vinod and his family and friends. They shared some awesome Indian food including the best lentil soup I have ever had. We cheered on his friends as they finished their 50km.



PART 2: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2007 - THE DALLAS WHITE ROCK MARATHON


Since I had to be in Texas over the weekend and had meetings in Dallas on Monday, a friend of mine with whom I work suggested as a joke that I join him for the Dallas Marathon the day after my 50 miler. I laughed at first, but then thought "what the hell" - it would be good training for my 100 miler. So I agreed.

I drove up to Dallas from Huntsville after the race. It was a tough drive....I was very tired and the scenery got a bit boring. Finally I got to my friend John Beach's house around 8:30. There we carbo-loaded (beer and pasta). My plan was to hang with John as long as possible (he wanted to go sub-4 hours). But the next morning my piriformis was still aching. I stretched and stretched it and hoped for the best.

The day before I was dealing with 80's and high humidity. The morning of the marathon was 45 degrees and cold, windy and rainy. We hooked up with a couple of John's friends and drove to the start. I actually went back and grabbed some gloves and long sleeves. Then we waited for the start.


The first mile went by OK, my legs were stiff and sore. I stopped and stretched the piriformis and caught back up to Beach and snapped a blurry picture of him running.

I ended up stopping and stretching at least once or twice every mile. By mile 5, Beach was just a dot in the distance. I met up with one of his friends, but by mile 7 he too was gone. The run went through some nice neighborhoods and then out around a lake.

I was feeling OK at mile 9 and thought maybe I could try and catch Beach again, but by mile 10 I knew that was not going to happen. My leg was just hurting too much. I thought about dropping out at the half marathon. In fact, for the first time ever I decided to DNF a race. But, when I hit the half-marathon mark I decided to keep going.

Soon I was approaching mile 14 and there was Vinod and his friends! I stopped and chatted with them and they shared this great potato pancake with me. Yum! They always have such great food, I think I should hire them to crew for me in all my races. :)




After leaving Vinod and friends, I continued along the lake. Boy was it cold. The temperature had actually dropped since the race start and fell as low as 39 degrees.

Soon we exited the lake and the wind died down a bit.


At around mile 18 or so, there was an aid station sponsored by Hooters and run by Hooters girls. Shortly after that was another aid station - with beer. Since I wasn't really "running" this marathon, I decided to grab one.

At mile 23 there was another beer station - and Vinod was helping out there. So he gave me a couple of brews before I headed on. Soon I approached the downtown area.
I crossed the finish line around 5 hours and 15 minutes.

I met Beach and found out he finished well under his goal of 4 hours.

Two days, two races, two very tired legs, 76.2 miles.