Spontaneous 50miler at Washington DC tune up run

With my disappointing half marathon at Brooklyn and Kino's redemption run "back" from New Mexico I signed up for the North Face 50 at Washington DC, giving me only this weekend for my training runs and a couple of days for rest.

Syosset Stillwell Trails
1 full loop is about 7 miles

(The most fun leg of the route )

The Half Marathon Club

NYRR Brooklyn Half Marathon
May 22, 2010, 8:00 am


...If you're looking for a awesome half marathon, this is one of my favorite ones. 2 loops around Park Slope then straight on to Ocean Parkway for 7 miles to the Boardwalk.



The race start time was changed to 8am start time....Morning ruckus
















Congrats to Sam, Reintine and Doris on their first half marathon.

"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever." -L. Armstrong

31 is the new 21...

"For what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, start whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people who have a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of, and if you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again. "

...As I start my year as a 31 year old, I started to think about what I have down the last year, I didn't take turning 30 very well last May and had to do something about it...I think I could've done more so I guess I have a alittle more then a year to start...

May 13, 2009 -May 13, 2010

- Health Kidney 10K (6.2 miles)
- Virgil Crest 50 (50 miles)
- Knickerbocker 60K (37.2 miles)
- NYRR Fred Lebrow (5 miles)
- NYRR Manhattan Half marathon (13.1 miles)
- NYRR Staten Island half (13.1 miles)
- Colon Cancer 15K (9.3 miles)
- Xterra Trail run Bethpage 5K (3.1)
- B.U.S Ultra Society Queens 50K (31 miles)
- Norwegian Great Gallop (13.1 miles)
- The Northface Challenge trail run (50 miles) (14K ft elevation change)
- Mt Washington Expedition (6,288 ft elevation)

...not bad for a 31yo. I think the only way to top my 30yo age accomplishments is to do 3 50mile races and 1 100 mile race....

-MC

The North Face Endurance Challenge 50

The North Face Endurance Challenge

Bear Mountain
50 miles
7,038 Elevation Gain
14,074 Elevation Change




...with twice the elevation change compared to my first 50 miler trail
run, I knew it was gonna be a long day.

4:30am ...I don't know why I'm smiling, I only had
about 3hours asleep and about to run for 12hrs
























...these 3 crazy guys and Helen (not shown) had their
relay to run in a few hours as well.





















I got to met Dean Karnazes, one of my inspirations to
do start doing Ultra Marathons. For those who don't know who he
is, check out his wiki.

He also has a great book out
" Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All Night Runner"

















...Mile 10


























Mile 22 (Tallest peak)




















Note the runners in red and green (far left), I almost
lost them when stopping for this picture...









Mile 20-30... not much running


























my boy Alex running with me to the finish...



















...Powered by Dim Sum Ultra runners
(That guy in the yellow is one crazy runner too!)




















TBW... Thompson, Alex, "me", Sam, Helen




















The North Face Challenge matching Jackets...yeah!



















Finish stats;
12hrs 3min
72 place of 141 started

12hours of up hill running and this is what you get....
















...Not as bad as last years 50 miler, Im
getting stronger! (left ankle, 2days)





















Pros: Great Swag and Finishers Medal, Beautiful route,
Crazy terrain = a true Ultra marathon challenge 

Cons: More choices at Aid Stations, Rugged terrain will kill non
trai runners ankles, better trail makers when trails merge with 50k and
marathon runners.

-MC

....Mt Washington Ascent

Mt Washington, NH
Elevation 6,288
April 24, 2010


So originally we planned to climb this in the dead of winter with the sub zero temps, 100mph winds and 40ft snow banks...we all know how much I like a good challenge. Thank the Heavens we didnt, I would rate this trip in my top ten for difficulty, I dont think we would have made it back or up in that case. We hit just about every kind of terrian you can think of...enjoy

(click for full size)

Jonathan and I at the start of the Lions Head Trail


Matt and I (below the Tree line)


(Jonathan and Matt about to cross the Tree Line)






(The climb above the Treeline was not as bad as it looks, as long as you had the proper equipment! (Crampons, axe, boots, etc))



(Bowl of Tuckerman Ravine to the right, Peak 1 of 2))

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMCQQnLxhoA
(almost there!) (Watch it in HD)


(Jonathan and I)



(Standing behind the lip of Tuckerman Bowl)



(Cant get any higher then this!)




6,288ft
Total time 9hr expedition
5 hr, 30 min Ascent
3 hr, 30 min Descent

The Descent felt like we were coming off a different mountain, things change so quick.





...some of you may have noticed my pants looking all ripped up and funny in the pics...here's why;


Damn Bobcats!



(Going back home...)


panoramic view from Top


-MC

Xterra 5K @ Bethpage

...If I knew I could get a medal or money, I would've ran faster!!! FYI: Planning to do the Xterra Stillwell Race #2 now..holla if you wanna run. Stillwell is a really fun trail to run!















Alex, Helen, Sam, Me





























































2nd place in my age group