Race Report - Chenango Forks XV 2012

[caption id="attachment_1372" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Chris (runner) and Rebecca (photographer) before the race"][/caption]

Last year, I had planned on doing the Forks 15k, but it was during one of my many pulled muscle incidents... (Oh, and I wasn't anywhere near capable of running 15k at the time - but I'm not going to mention that part.. Totally going to blame the pulled muscle and pretend I could have done it otherwise.)  The big difference between this year and last year - is I have been very careful to NOT pull a muscle. (I also feel its worth mentioning that I have been training this year as well...)  Now I hadn't done 9 miles this year, but I had done a couple of 7 and 8 mile runs, so I knew I had this. 

For Reference, the only other 15k I have done is the Utica Boilermaker last year in 1:30:20.

Yesterday was looking to be a bit chilly - 40's to low 50s, beautiful running weather!  I headed up to Chenango Forks Highschool to register and was faced with my first quandary of the day.

[caption id="attachment_1371" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="See the orange? No thank you."][/caption]

Do I need to start with the "early" starters - that get to go 15 minutes early?  I know I am not the speediest runner - but how slow am I?  Well, after seeing the Orange things the early starters had to wear, I decided not too, as orange clashes with my complexion.

All joking aside - I figured I was probably going to be ok with not doing the early start.  There were around 225 people at the starting line when they yelled "Go" (followed by the beeping of countless GPS watches/phones starting.) 

Time Crunch, so just a quick 3.5!

Well last night, I ran the wrong way.  Seriously. Now one might ask what the wrong way was - I will explain with a story.

When I was a kid, I remember hearing the stories of "walking to school in the snow, up hill both ways.."  - I want to know - why didn't you just go the other way so that it was down hill both ways?  Now some would say that it being up hill both ways is impossible. But I think all runners/cyclists have ended up on a run/cycle trip that somehow - seemed to be uphill the entire way.

Well last night I headed out to do a quick loop, and got hit in the face with a strong wind.  Just before hitting the first mile marker, I made a 90 degree turn - and got a huge gust of wind in my face...Then right before my second mile, turned another 90 degrees or so.. and got a huge gust of wind in my face.   Guess what happened on my last leg of my square I ran? 

Race Report - Utica Boilermaker 15K - 2011

[caption id="attachment_478" align="alignright" width="150" caption="You can see the port-a-pottie lines in the background!"][/caption]

What a fantastic day for a race!  It was a gorgeous 58 degrees as the cannon went off! (I think it was still 58 degrees, 11 minutes later when I actually reached the start line as well!)  Can I say that 11,000 runners make for a very large crowd (and VERY large lines at the port-a-potties?) 

We showed up VERY early (I was not going to drive 2 hours just to get to "packet pickup" and drive home the day before - when I could show up 2 hours before the race and get it!), with one of my friends that was running riding along, and my wonderful wife there to root us on.  As we arrived (getting a parking spot less than 1000 feet to the starting line,) I realized that I had forgotten my license, a requirement to pick up the race packet.  As we got to the table,I was quite  lucky - the packet pickup lady was not a stickler for the rules - so after much begging, pleading and groveling (or I MIGHT have just explained the situation and she was quite reasonable.)  So luckily, I didn't get up at 3AM just to watch other people run - That was a good start.  Then I got to use a port-a-pottie that no one had used yet - they smell surprisingly "Fresh" when that is true.  Definitely another new experience!

Utica Boilermaker 15K!

So, two days from now I will be doing the climb that starts the Utica Boilermaker 15k!  It seems that whatever nit-wit designed the course thought that the first four miles should be up hill.  Can I tell you how not-amused I am by this?  I mean SERIOUSLY!!!! Don't they realize that there are those of us that spent more time thinking about training - then actually training?  SHEESH!

Ok, so really - I'm not that worried about it.  I expect to finish it really tired, and to really enjoy my free beer - but my bigger concern at this point - is where do I park?  I managed to find one article on-line regarding parking, but mostly it seemed to be about the road closures - and assumes you know the area when it discusses parking.   The actual boilermaker website has the helpful sentence of: Participants are encouraged to park at locations near the start line.   umm.. Ya think?  I had been planning on parking about 10 miles away and running to the starting line, but I guess I will take their advice and park close.  (To any race planners out there, if you are hosting an event that might have out-of-town people coming in - PLEASE give addresses for some parking areas.. it's a big help)

This will be the longest run I have done yet, and should give me an idea of what it is like to run within a huge crowd (though significantly smaller than the MCM's 30,000.)  With the help of my KT Tape (seriously, this stuff is a god-send) I am not worried about my calves - so all I should suffer from is severe muscle exertion and over use! WOOT!! Now if THAT isn't a good time, what is?

[caption id="attachment_461" align="alignright" width="640" caption="Boilermaker 2010 - Picture Stolen from a Facebook Friend that was there last year. I think the girl in the red shorts in the bottom right corner just realized she needs to use the potty...."][/caption]

Some neat things - Time Warner Cable will air live coverage of the 2011 Boilermaker 15K starting a 7:30 am on July 10, 2011. Set your DVR's! Time Warner Cable Sports Channel 23, 813 (HD), or 577 for on demand if you miss it.  You can also sign up to receive updates via text message as to where your runner is.