Well it's been twenty one days since the Loon Mt. Race and frankly it's ancient history at this point. However volumes have been written about history so I figure a very late race weekend story isn't that out of character.
The weekend began on Friday July 1 with a trip to Wildcat Mt. Ski Area to acquire a decommissioned triple chair from the Snowcat lift. In the '90's this lift served what was a "free" slope. Show up, get on the chair and make some short runs. It was a great place for kids to learn to ski which is exactly what my daughter did. I always wanted a chair to make a swing for the yard so that just added to the charm of getting this one.
not swinging yetI spent the night in Cntr Conway then got up early Saturday to head over to Loon. I was meeting the course setting crew at 10 and was early enough to get in a run from Lincoln Woods. Next stop was the Loon parking lot where the lads and I started by moving the finish area/water stop gear to the four mile point via the gondola.
the lads - Scott, Paul K, TiVO, Tim M, meMuch like the two previous years I've joined in this exercise it was sunny and hot. Normally it takes a bit over two hours to mark the course. Paul K and Tim M took there dogs down on the gondola after four miles leaving Scott, TiVO, and myself to mark the remainder which included the infamous Upper Walking Boss. We came under a serious mosquito attack half way to the UWB and it didn't relent until the top of the Boss. Three and a half hours plus 100 oz of water from the Camelbak later I got to the gondola for the ride down. Feeling cooked and thinking this sortie was going to haunt me tomorrow, I headed to the campground. A shower, a nap, and supper in town then I was in for the night.
Race day morning it was up early, brew a pot of coffee, break camp and then get over to the mountain. With Dbl D absent and on the DL the morning seemed to lack it's normal enthusiasm. Warm ups were small groups instead of the bunch Dave would usually rally.
I headed out with Tony Park and Tim M for about 3 miles before changing shoes and heading down to the start line. The shoe of the day would again be the X-Talon 190. This has rapidly become my footwear of choice for runs up to 2 hours and most trail/mountain races.
Because it's been so long I don't remember many race details other than I wanted to "run" as far as I could and that ended up being from the start through about 20 steps up the UWB. From there it was about a 1k hike, power walk some like to call it, before running downhill again. Like last year I was caught by Dawn Roberts near the top right around where Scott Mason was set up to shoot the race. Unlike last year she hit the finish line before me. I crossed 2cd M50 with a 62:55, my slowest time in the past four years.
Glad to be done I ran back down to the lodge with a small group. Next came a soak in the icy waters of the Pemi before jumping in the truck for the three hour ride home.
Top 5 M50
33 Richard Morris 1:02:25
36 Paul Bazanchuk 1:02:55
41 John Martin 1:03:52
48 Don Slovenkai 1:06:05
53 Erik Wight 1:06:57
Scott Mason Photos
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