As I drove through the predawn darkness to the start of Manitou’s Revenge, my thoughts drifted and I wondered, could I win this race?
The idea was patently absurd: when it comes to technical trail running, I’ve historically finished in the middle of the pack. But I’ve been getting faster in recent years, even finishing in 3rd place at a 100-mile race earlier this year. Further, Manitou’s Revenge is not a large event. There would be fewer than 100 starters, and for all I knew, the best trail runners might not show up, or they might trip and fall on the rocky paths and drop out. In which case, victory might go to the tortoise, not the hare.
Whether it’s a 5k or a half-marathon, I love to race, which means I’m always looking for ways to run faster. So it was with great interest that I read a copy of Ultimate Speed Secrets by Ross Bentley. To be sure, this book was not written specifically for runners. Rather, it was written for high performance and race car drivers. But no matter what the sport, you’d think speed would depend on the same principles, or at least similar ones.
Credit: allracingcars.com
What is the secret to becoming a winning race car driver? According to Ross Bentley, the secret is to drive consistently “at the limit.” This means fully utilizing the traction of the tires. Or put differently, driving as fast as possible just short of losing control.
Do you ever get the feeling that we’re being secretly manipulated? That we’re trapped in a dream world, with some kind of puppet master jerking our strings, while life slips away, and with it the opportunity to pursue the goals that really matter.
I sometimes get that feeling…. for instance when I’m staring at the computer screen, wondering how I’ve ended up chained to a desk, when I’d rather be outdoors, running through the mountains and exploring life.
That feeling is the hook of the 1999 sci-fi thriller, The Matrix, and it must have resonated because the movie sold a lot of tickets and also won four Academy Awards.
Early in the film, Morpheus (played by Laurence Fishburne) explains that feeling to Neo (Keanu Reeves):
I could hardly wait for the weekend, so excited was I to get back out to the Catskills to run, hike, and explore. When Friday evening finally rolled along, I set the alarm clock for 4:30 AM, determined to get an early start. And I was out the door and on the road in the predawn mist.
But when I finally arrived in the Catskills a few hours later, I was dragging. En route I had picked up a second cup of coffee, but even a double dose of caffeine hadn’t helped.
I dragged myself to the starting point of the day’s adventure, the trail to Giant’s Ledge, and looked up: the path was a tumble of rocks.
In a previous post, I lashed out at critics who cautioned me to “slow down and smell the roses.” My retort: “Speed up and see what you’re missing.”
But that was before the wild roses burst into bloom. Drive into the country in early June and you’ll find the roadside bushes exploding with clusters of white flowers. A sweet fragrance wafts along the breeze. In upstate New York, this is the smell of early summer.
The roadside bushes are Rosa Multiflora or Ramblers Rose, and they grow wild throughout the state. I walked up to one of these bushes and admired the flowers’ tiny white petals and yellow stamens. Then I took a deep sniff.
If you stray off the beaten path, you might encounter a wall of Hobble-bush (viburnum lantanoides). Where the branches touch the ground, they send down roots and grow new stems. Soon there is a thicket eager to hobble the unwary hiker — hence the plant’s popular name. Continue reading “Hobbling Through the Woods”→
2,000 acre forest fire in Shawangunk Ridge and Roosa Gap State Forests. Credit: lohud
The first weekend in May was warm, dry, and breezy. Driving home Sunday afternoon, we saw smoke rising in the valley. Later we learned that a homeowner burning rubbish had accidentally ignited a small fire. Volunteer firefighters and state forest rangers bulldozed lanes through the woods to contain the blaze. But the flames lept over the firebreaks and fanned by dry winds spread rapidly across the ridge. Before it was finally extinguished, the fire had engulfed 2,000 acres in the heart of the Shawangunk Mountains. Continue reading “Fire on the Ridge”→
He traveling with me needs the best blood, thews, endurance
— Walt Whitman, Song of the Open Road
As someone who loves to explore forest trails, I nonetheless spend a fair amount of time at the local track. I’m always trying to run a little bit faster, and I love to make progress.
One of my favorite track workouts is called the Yasso 800. It consists of ten 800-meter (or 1/2 mile) intervals, with 400-meter (1/4 mile) jogs for recovery in between. The name was coined by Runners World editor Amby Burfoot in an 1994 article after he heard his colleague Bart Yasso claim that the drill would predict his marathon time. It’s simple, Bart explained: the average time for the 800-meter intervals in minutes and seconds would predict his marathon time in hours and minutes. For example, an average interval time of 2 minutes 50 seconds would correspond to a marathon finishing time of 2 hours and 50 minutes. The relationship could be thrown off by heat, wind, or hills, but the intervals had proven a reliable indicator, at least in Bart’s own experience.
Rock The Ridge is a 50-mile race with a 24-hour time limit, which makes it possible for a wide range of people to participate, from elite trail runners to walkers and hikers.
No matter who you are, there’s something special about covering 50 miles, especially when you’re running in the Shawangunk mountains.
But don’t take my word for it. Here are some of the participants’ experiences in their own words:
Joe Alfano
I enlisted a group of family and friends to do the 2014 relay division with me, and it was an amazing experience. As soon as I finished, I was ready to sign up for 2015. As I thought about it, I told myself that I might as well do the whole thing and thought, “to hell with it! I’m doing 50 miles!”
I was so excited at the start that I ended up going too fast on the first leg, which was a big mistake, and I definitely paid for it around mile 22. That was where I hit the wall, and questioned whether or not I could finish.
I came into the Lyons Road aid station pretty exhausted, and was considering stopping. Then I saw my friends and all the volunteers. I decided to take a 15 minute break and ate some food, including a baked potato, which I am convinced saved my life!
About a mile out, I started up the “big hill,” and that’s when something amazing happened – I started feeling great and pushed through the mental and physical wall. Once I reached the top, I had a revelation – I was going to finish this damn thing! My months of training and hard work were going to pay off.
I never dreamed that I would do something like this.
Walt Disney was a dreamer and visionary who had that “can do” spirit. It was only fitting that I wore my Mickey Mouse t-shirt during the race. Mickey Mouse is a state of mind. It’s about staying positive in the face of challenge, keeping your eye on the goal, and pushing through when the going gets tough and not giving up. And that was Rock the Ridge for me.
Joe Alfano
Michelle Delucca
In 2012 I was diagnosed with a swallowing disorder called Achalasia. Over the last few years I have had many failed procedures to “fix” it. In January I was feeling VERY depressed after the last attempt and cried for three days straight, and then decided to “throw” my life into something positive, and that happen to be running Rock the Ridge.
Just driving in, I was amazed with the beauty of the area. Any doubts I had that I could do this were shot down. I knew I could run there, so serene and peaceful. Along my run I met some great people…together we were a great team!
I learned…DON’T EVER DOUBT YOURSELF
I do not let this disease control my life…I control my life. I can do what I put my mind and heart into, no matter how impossible the challenge sounds to others.
Michelle Delucca
David Shepler
The Mohonk Preserve and its many programs are treasures to the Hudson Valley and New York. Beyond the personal benefits I receive from having the Preserve in my back yard, I valued the opportunity this race gave to raise funds to help those who might never have the opportunity to experience the beauty of the outdoors.
Rock the Ridge was an amazing personal experience. Although not without its difficulty, I found that I could continue to run for over 8 hours and actually have some fun in the process!
You will not find anywhere such a combination of enthusiastic volunteers, beautiful setting, supportive fellow runners, and outstanding race organizers….all for a fantastic cause.
David Shepler
Kimberly Alexander
Why did I sign up? To test my limits. To prove to myself that I am stronger than I give myself credit for. To conquer what seems an impossibility.
What happened? I felt empowered! I treasured the spectacular views and the awesome friends I was surrounded by. And toward the end, I learned that fighting for something is hard, really hard, but the end result is SO worth it.
What did this mean? EVERYTHING! I can do absolutely anything I set my heart and mind to!
Credit: Kimberly Alexander
Mike and Lisa Kristofik
I dialed up my daughter, asked if she wanted to join me. No hesitation whatsoever. “Sure,” she said, “if you carry the food!” Seems she was waiting for the invite, and was ready.
We trained through the autumn,trying to cover the Mohonk trails in 10 mile segments..
Winter forced us out onto local roads, where we logged a 20-22 miler each weekend.
Spring found us saying “forget the miles, let’s run/walk for 6 hours or so.”
Then it was May 2 and we followed our plan…run/walk the first half…survive /tough out the second half. Our plan worked pretty well…mile 42 thru 50 found us with pretty sore feet (no blisters, just sore)
At mile 26.2 we celebrated my daughter’s first marathon, at mile fifty, her first ultra. She had never ran more than a half marathon in an event or more than 22 as a training run..
Insanity is a prerequisite it seems, or is it?
We limped our way in quite slowly, under headlight power, to the finish. Great volunteers, great rest stops, great weather….a great experience.
Mike and Lisa Kristofik
Dan Rosenthal
I have a congenital heart defect called a bicuspid aortic valve. The valve has always had a mild amount of leakage. Three years ago. I was informed that my valve had led to a slight aneurysm and the valve now has a mild amount of narrowing (stenosis). I spent a year feeling scared and depressed. I finally dealt with my condition during a solo swim on a cloudy day in Lake Awosting. I decided to do everything I could to fight this disease I have been born with and prevent or delay the day when I will need surgery both through diet and exercise.
I truly feel at home when I’m exercising in the woods surrounded by nature.
The course was special, passing some places I’ve really enjoyed in the past like Sky Top, Castle Point, and Lake Awosting. I also enjoyed seeing some new places like Awosting Falls and seeing climbers above on the Trapps.
I battled leg cramps and knee pain twice, and I could no longer run after about mile 38. I’m proudest that I stretched out and managed to run the last 5 miles to the finish. I was also pleased to experience a faster recovery from this race than after my first marathon.
My doc says the aneurysm in my ascending aorta has stabilized. He told me to come back in a year instead of every 6 months. I am lucky because many others with my condition have faced serious side effects and/ or surgery at a much younger age than me, because I have no symptoms, and I have no restrictions on endurance events.
Reaching my goals has helped me to be happier, healthier, and have more confidence in other areas of my life.
Dan Rosenthal
Lisa Mackey
I’m turning 50 next month and it seemed only natural to walk a “50 @ 50.” I signed up for Rock The Ridge to challenge myself…
My experience was really good. It was a hard thing to accomplish because of the distance, and the biggest discomfort I had was due to blisters (the blisters were more annoying than anything else).
This event made me realize how strong I actually am
After walking 50 miles, my perspective of what’s difficult has changed. This event marked a milestone for me mentally and physically. There was never a question in my mind if I was going to complete the course: I was concerned about the condition I would be in when I crossed the finish line.
I fared pretty well, and now I know “what I’m made of.”
Turns out, I’m pretty hardy!
Lisa Mackey and Queen Elizabeth (?)
Jim Bixler
Rock the Ridge means a lot to me. This is the event where I actually completed a 50 mile Ultra run. The fact that it’s held on the Shawungunk Ridge only makes it that much more special by being surrounded by the stunning contours of this special place.
This year’s event was one of those special days where everything goes your way. I truly felt like a part of the community, having team members, family, friends and other local runners all at the start. I barely had time for any anxiety to creep in. I set out to better my time from last year (while having a great experience).
Crossing that finish line was an incredible experience that I don’t expect to ever forget.
I beat last year’s time by an hour and forty minutes and came in under ten hours.
Jim Bixler
Steve Greenstein
I half heard something on the radio about “Rock the Ridge” while I was driving. When I got home I checked it out. It seemed like something I might be able to complete; on the other hand it was not something I was sure I could do. I liked that uncertainty. So I started to train, adding more and more time onto the treadmill each week and setting the incline to as high as it went.
My goal was to fully walk it, at about 3MPH, but mostly just to finish within the time allowed. I completed it a bit slower (19:15 instead of my goal of 17:00 hours), but I did finish. As best I can tell I was nearly the oldest person to do the full 50 Miles (I am 64)
The most meaningful thing to me was my coming to understand that while I wanted to quit, often, I never “had” to quit. I always asked myself if I really had to stop and I never did – I only needed to keep putting one foot in front of the next (and not trip).
I plan to remember that distinction between “have to” and “would like to” when I feel like quitting at something.
Steve Greenstein
Evelyn Johansen
Rock The Ridge was something I felt drawn to do since I heard about it the first year. It took me several years to get up the nerve to actually do it. ( I am turning 60 in a few weeks so this year was like now or never.)
I had a great time during the event the event interacting with the other participants and the volunteers. I hike every Wednesday with the Bob Babb Wednesday walkers and some of the people from that group were volunteering at Spring Farm. It was great to see them and get some encouragement from them.
I tried to anticipate problems that I might encounter along the way, but two things that I didn’t foresee were getting blisters on top of my toes, and having no appetite at all which made it difficult to keep up my energy. I started fading fast around mile 25.
Even though I didn’t complete the entire 50 miles I have a sense of accomplishment for going for 35 miles. Some of my friends want me to be a poster child for baby boomer fitness. I am hoping to participate next year as part of a relay team.
Evelyn Johansen
Sara Fitzgerald
I signed up because I was at a time in my life when I needed to go on a journey.
I went into myself and came out 11 some odd hours later a different person. I needed a little metamorphosis and sometimes pushing myself like that is what brings it about. Prior to this the farthest I had gone was 30 miles. This opened a lot of personal doors for me.
During the event…amid IT band agony, smiling faces, boiled potatoes, and incredible views, I realized why I love to run, I got over a horrendous breakup, and decided the direction I want to go with my career…better than any therapist!
What it means to me? It means I can do anything I set my mind too
Three years ago I smoked a pack a day and could barely run a half mile. Now, I can say I completed an Ultra. It changed everything.
I leaped out of bed before dawn and by first light was on the highway racing toward the Catskills. The goal was to summit seventeen peaks within 24 hours. This would be a test to determine whether I was ready to challenge an ultra-distance mountain-bagging record in this rugged region of the Hudson Valley. If things went well, I’d be back in a few weeks for a multi-day adventure, this time to officially break the record and set a new one.
What’s interesting about the Catskills is that many of the peaks have no trails. To reach a pathless summit, the runner “bushwhacks” through the woods. This entails following the lay of the land, staying oriented with map, compass, and GPS, and surmounting the obstacles tossed up by the constant flux of nature.
I was eager not only to challenge records, but also to experience the wilderness. I had been reading the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, the well-regarded 2nd century Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher. Live in harmony with universal nature, he had argued almost two thousand years ago, and you can achieve serenity and tranquility, no matter what obstacles you encounter. And what better strategy for achieving harmony with nature, than to run through mountains and plunge into trackless forest?
The Long Brown Path 