Pisgah Mountain 23k Trail Race!

Oops, I did it again...went North and ran another hilly as Hell Half Marathon.  The Pisgah race is right in my WTAC cohorts' backyard, so to speak, and I was looking forward to running in New Hampshire for the first time ever.  Yes, that's right, I've never ever (like, ever) run in New Hampshire, much to the horror of a few folks I mentioned this to (like Jonny, Jeff, and everyone else I talked to)!  But I digress...

Jonny and Jeff met me at my house on Saturday afternoon, and after our first stop at DD, we made the 2+ hour drive to Keene, NH, to the Elm City Brewing Co. (starting things off right!).  We met Greg, Jen and Boj and had an awesome pub dinner, complete with sampler flights of beer and my requisite purchase of a growler, in this case the "Armageddon Black IPA"...look out!

Sippy cups!

Grrrowler of Armageddon...BOOM

After dinner, Jonny, Jeff and I made our way to the Hammett house (during which we completely lost cell service, utterly...Jonny said at one point "Say goodnight to whoever you want now, because over this hill here and you have no service", and he was right!), where we being graciously hosted by Pard and "Mammy Hammy," (Muddy's words, from a thank-you note tacked on the fridge!), and chatted until bedtime.  9:30?  Well, I'm usually up til midnight so ya'll are doing me a favor.  After chatting in the living room for a while, we all said goodnight and I flipped a coin with Jeff for the basement beds.  I won...it turned out to be a cave, black as sackcloth with the lights out, and I slept great...

Early up and at 'em.  I gathered my gear and we headed up to Chesterfield.  It was warmer than originally predicted, about 60 degrees and very sticky out, and as we stopped on the way at a DD for breakfast food and coffees, I was thinking about the humidity.  We arrived at the school and got checked in, Jen working the post-reg table for the slackers (Jeff & Jonny, etc.), while I had a seamless check-in at the pre-reg and was all set.  Ran into friend and TNT'er Pat Q., who rode up solo and was ready to "Unleash Hell" (his words, not mine!).  We parked next to super distance runners Ryan and Kristina (and Jack Puppy!), who were splitting 23k and 50k races, Kristina the shorter of the two.  It was nice to get to talk to her for a few minutes as we all walked over to the start.  She ran a good, relaxed race, and I later saw her for the first 1/4 mile of the race, at which time her pigtails disappeared into the mist.  But I digress...yet again...

At Jonny's prompt, we drove the first and last two miles of the course for recon:

"This is where you run, fools..."

The nerves are on the inside...and hey, I look sort of fit here!  Look at those calf muscles, dammit!

Jonny, trying to stay calm amid the Gazelle's caged fury...

Chesterfield, N.H. Town Hall, next door to the race start...

We ran our respective warmups, where Greg H. saved my ass (literally) and told me about a secret Port-a-Potty, where I took care of my "nerves" and was ready to go.  I did almost a mile, and was already sweaty from the humidity...Talked to Pat and decided to go with the singlet, but tie the long-sleeve tech around my waist as a backup (never needed it!).

After a casual start (trail races! they just yell GO!), we headed out.  I was worried about keeping to my plan of watching my heart monitor, listening to my body, and running as if I weren't racing.  Less than a mile in, I saw Will from the WMAC!  I met him on the Greylock ascent, and ran with him at the Nipmuck South.  We got caught up, and chatted until the big split two miles in (he was the 50k, me the 23k).  He told me he had a 3+ hour drive to get there, and he always tries to run longer than he drives, so it had to be the 50K.  I like that logic.

After that, I was with the same 5 or 6 people for pretty much the rest of the race.  The hills were kicking my ass, and I opted to hike those and bomb down the descents.  I love descents...as in, I get a rush out of flying out of control down technical sections, and hitting the bottom relieved that I didn't trip.  The course was a good mix:  short road run to the trailhead, then single-track and double-track mix with long, relentless climbs and super fun descents, then a short road run to the finish.

The climbs were sapping my will though.  I kept my mind occupied by checking out the scenery, especially the foliage that was already turning near the ponds and streams that are scattered throughout the course.  As I was running with the HRM (heart rate monitor) and not the time/distance, I was working hard, but felt slow!  At 11 miles, my pace was faster, and when we reached the gate (2 miles from the finish), I knew where I was and picked it up big time.  I finished well.  Overall results?  I was a 2:37?  Here's what I saw:

Greg wins!  And WTAC #3 and #7???  Interlopers!!!

...and me :)

The cookout afterward was fantastic.  The volunteers put in a full race day, for which they should be thanked many times over!  I'd just crossed the finish line and changed my shirt, when J+J ran by and yelled "Crutch! Cooldown!" I started to follow, and 1/10 mile later I came to my senses and went for a burger instead.  Was able to chat with a number of runners, volunteers and the RD, who genuinely wanted to know what I thought of the course.  He was pretty proud when I told him that the course was awesome, super well-marked, and that they put on a great event (which they did)!

2 of your top 7, ladies and gents!

After chillin' for a bit, we ventured around the corner to Greg and Jen's place for a short tailgating session, and were able to see the 50K winner, Brian Rusiecki, cruising past on his way to victory and looking speedy.  30+ miles in and cruisin'...

Brian, 1/2 mile from the finish

After a beer and some chatting, we loaded into the car and headed out.  I had a great time at this race, and would totally run it again next year!  Will made a point of saying that I was becoming a regular on the Grand Tree series, and I really like the events they put on, so I'll have to study their schedule.  This is 3 of 4 scheduled GT series events for me...might have to raise that in 2015!  Good race, with great people!!!