Bear Mtn, DoodleTown, Perkins Peak

Bear Mtn, Perkins Peak via Doodletown
Miles: 7 miles
Elevation peak 1260 ft
Trails taken: Doodletown rd, Bridle Path, Bear Mtn APP trail, Blue blaze

Doodletown rd was the main street that goes thru this abandoned Ghost town, All the houses have been demolished but the cemetery and mines.

2 lost creepy guys... (Doodle Town)

(Bridle Path)

(Bear Mtn Trail, APP)

I said "Gangsta Pose" not the complete opposite!
(Sam, Rich, T)
So besides the Northface race thatran thru all the peaks of Harriman State Park (West side), this is the 5th Peak I hit

Best Picture of the day!

Guest Appearance R.Wong

Hey SlackJaw, Its not everyday you pose, Karate Kid style on a rock, on top of a Mountain. The Mountain has spoken!

We really come here to fight, since it's still illegal in NY.

(We fight Matrix Style)

..back home to catch the Worldcup

Main Bear Mtn Trail (without going thru Doodletown and the Brindle PAth)

Miles: 2.5)
Elevation climb :1100ft +

Pros: Trail head starts at main Bear Mtn Park (with bbq pits, lake and bathrooms), The completion of the giant stones this year makes for a easy 101 hike for a 1100 ft climb, hard to get lost, great views, free parking.

Cons: Easy hike attacts many hikers making it not as adventurous, this side has very few wildlife to explore, Can hit the peak and back down within 2hrs.

...as usual feel free to email me for directions or you would like to join me on the next hike.

-MC

RunAmuck Festival 5K Fun Run

RunAmuck Festival
Sebago Beach
Harriman State Park

By far the most fun I ever had on a run. I highly suggest this for all runners and non runners. I plan to come back and do it again next year. I had orginaly signed up for the single race but Jonathan had a man drop out on his team of 4 race in the afternoon so I ran twice.

Dont ask, I dont know How Jonathan can talk me into ANYTHING!

The muddy Grand Finish...Note the tiny yellow Ducks in the Mud...Yep one followed me home!

Señor "Dirty Sanchez" Jonathan, "Bikini Man" Sam, "Dirty Face" Marco

Señor with the Ladies
"Bikini Man" Sam with gets all the attention
Alex and I after the mud pitt....
Team Race 3rd Place!
hahahaha..best Podium Pic ever!

Team finish Video (Yep, I ran with the camera most of the way)




Alex's Trail run (To the beat of Journey)

Sam's Trail run (To the beat of Huey Lewis and the News)
My new Buddy friend that decided to follow me home...

Pros: Fun run with a surprisingly challenging course, High energy and participants, Great challeneg for prople of all ages, runners and non-runners. Beer and food section available, Free parking.

Cons: No time chip or gun time, No running shwag, Mud pits were sandy (dont drag ur knees), Dont wear clothes or sneakers you plan to keep.

-MC

...so I decided to go for a walk.

Bear Mountain, NY
West Mountain Loop trail
6 miles round trip
1,000 ft elevation x2


Convinced Sam to go for a "short" hike...Yeah part of this loop was on the Appalachian Trail.

Old tree with some kind of Ancient Indian writing....weird?
This Deer was just the start of we saw today...

Water break
The reenactment of my 50mile run...this time I can enjoy the view
That's why its called Bear Mountain!
Babu!!!

Babu started following us...
Peak!
Secret Chinese Passage Time to go home

Review

This hike was well worth the the 1hr drive from the city. Saw alot of wild life, Chipmunks, Deer and my new friend Babu the black Bear. slr owners will love the views on top, very 101 hike if you dont take the full loop with some rocky technically descents.

Pros:

Great views from top, Challeging route but easy enough for all 101 hikers (if you take it 1way), trails are well "cleaned".

Cons:

Will get lost without a trail map, gps, compass and some good sense of direction. Being bug spray on the fall/spring season. Do not feed or go near the bears. 1/4 mile walk from huge parking lot to trail head.

-MC

My first 100 mile Ultra Marathon

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go"
- T.S Elliot

www.virgilcrestultras.com/
Sept 25th-26th
100 miles
Elevation change: 17,400 feet (actually not too bad)

...I ain't gonna lie, running a 100 miles thru the trails scares the #($*#$ out of me...but I was never one to shy away from a good challenge. No better place to run my first 100 then to go back to where I did my first 50. Any runners and friends that would like to pace me (crew me) feel free to email me for details...It be nice to see friends/family on my journey.

...DNF at Washington DC

...This was suppose to be my "easier" 50miler
...Its only "4000" ft elevation change (NY had 14,000ft change)
...The first Ultra Im running with my boys...nothing can go wrong!

Lesson learned?...anything can happen in a Ultra.

With the Northface Challenge at Bear Mtn under my belt only a month ago, I was actually excited to do this race since it was so much less elevation and my boy Kino's first 50...

The day before the race...yep that's Dean Karnazes...

Robert, me, Kino, Michael Wardian (yeah, the one and only Michael!!!)

5am start time....Can you feel the energy!!!


..the first mile...yeah does bright lights are people running behind us.)



Sunrise - about Mile 10..Im still feeling pretty good.

Mile 12....still feeling good...

...obviously I don't have any pictures of my demise...but I started throwing up a mile to the 15Mile Aid Station and was unable to hold anything in my stomach for the rest of the day...So the Race Directors took my bid..my first DNF.....

...with the Boys at the Finish line:
Robert- (First Ultra) blazes to 15th place), Johnny, Kino, ME!!!


...Surprisingly I'm ok with this DNF, It's pumping me up for my 100miler race...

“Success is how high you bounce when you hit the bottom.” G.Patton.

-Marco