2016 Breakneck Point Trail Runs (Half Marathon Edition)

Official results here:  Breakneck Point Half Marathon - 43rd overall in 3:41.  166 finishers.  Only 18 runners under 3 hours, and some up to nearly 9 hours.  Sick!  This is one Hell of a race, and I've done some good ones.  Not for the faint of heart!  Oh, and there's a Full Marathon available for the truly insane...

Redemption!  After having two terrible mountain race performances in a row back in the Fall, I needed to redeem myself.  I have been training on almost all trails, all hilly and almost all technical, and I was thinking that it would pay off at the 2nd Annual Breakneck Point Trail Runs.  I believe that it did.  Got it right this time!

I drove out to Beacon on Friday afternoon, checked into my hotel and grabbed a bite to eat at a diner next door.  I was early for packet pickup, but I scoped out the Settlement Camp, the start/finish for the race, and decided to drive down the road to check out Breakneck Ridge, the signature climb of the race.  It did not disappoint.  I went a short ways up the "trail" and realized that this was gonna be rough going...

My short recon of the Ridge

That's the trail, doesn't look so bad, right?  Right???

Okay!  Take your time on this section.  Went and picked up my race packet.  Bib #321!  And a nifty tech shirt.

You better finish! Thanks, Atayne!

Cruised through Beacon and checked out the local scene.  Lots of hip shops and restaurants, and a very quaint little village.  Made me wish I'd opted for a B&B, and not the first hotel off I-84 in Fishkill, but that's for another time.  I grabbed a couple slices of pizza at a local joint, washed down with a couple of beers, and got to bed early for a 5 a.m. wakeup call.

The morning dawned crisp and cool.  40 degrees, no wind, and not a cloud in the sky.  Perfect racing weather.  I geared up, opting for shorts, tech shirt and pullover, light gloves (my hands always get cold) and my trusty handheld.  I was really happy when the RD announced that Tailwind would be supplying drinks at the aid stations, as I switched to it about a year ago and love it.  That meant no sloshy CamelBak to deal with!

First light, looking toward the pavilion and start/finish

Did a short warmup, and then with RD Ian Golden starting the race with a sounding of the Ram's Horn, we were off!  I actually lined up correctly this time!  After an en masse sprint across a short field, we were into the woods and immediately climbing, with marathoners/half marathoners all running together.  A long climb up a jeep trail was the first sign that there would be some serious vert.  My watch screen goes black and shows real-time elevation gain whenever there's a significant climb...let's just say that it was black a lot.

The half marathon follows a lollipop design, with a climb to Sugarloaf Mountain, followed by a descent to Route 9,  I knew that I was planning on power-hiking the climbs, and making up time on the technical descents, as that's my strong suit (if there is one).  Once we hit the short roadside section, I steadied myself for Breakneck Ridge.  Holy Shit.  That was the most insane climb I've ever done in a race or anywhere else.  The 1-mile climb took me 38 minutes, and included sections with a 60-70% grade.  Free climbers would have a field day here, but runners?  Well...if you're afraid of heights, this is not the race for you...and after multiple false summits, we heard the sound of bagpipes!  This must be the summit!  Sure enough, a lone bagpiper playing for us!

Runners reaching the top

Mr. Bagpipes, a welcome sight!

Glorious. So glad I stopped for this one...

Views everywhere

And shortly after the summit, as we're all thanking the trail gods that we reached the summit in one piece, a voice calls out "Free Beer Over Here!" Wait, what???  Sure enough, the Hash House Harriers, a local running group, had schlepped a table and beer up to the top, and were handing out samples in small Dixie cups.  Awesome!  Best cold shot of beer ever, so big kudos to their group!

Now for the back end of the race, on tired legs, with a short descent followed by an ascent back up Sugarloaf involving multiple false summits.  Other runners asking me "Is this the last climb?" to which I'd reply "I think?" and it wouldn't be.  Once we reached the firetower, I figured I'd climb it and take a quick picture, and almost wiped out on the missing stairs I didn't notice.  Not smart!

Firetower shadow selfie

Once we hit the jeep trail, I knew the end was near!  I cranked up the pace in spite of my screaming legs, and banged out my fastest pace of the race, finishing well.  The post-race atmosphere was awesome!  There was beer, wraps, smoothies, and runners lounging on the lawn and cheering all the arriving runners.  I stayed for a while, chatting with other HM finishers and got to see Ben Nephew win his second Breakneck Point Marathon in 5:04.  Great race!  I don't know how the Marathon runners did the 26.2, my legs were toast after half of that.  Guess I'll find out next year though, 'cause I'm gonna do the full...

Ben wins in 5:04!

Big props to Ian, Ben, the crew at Red Newt Racing, the sponsors, and especially all of the volunteers that make the suffering in a race like this easier!  (And to the lady making the fruit smoothies after the race?  That was a highlight of my day, that cup full of liquid gold...you rock!)  I was able to muster a smile and a thank you for every single person helping out that I came across, and yes I stopped to take a few pictures.  Yes, it's a race and I cost myself a few minutes by stopping.  And yes, I got a fantastic shot at the top of Breakneck Ridge and some other good pics, which I wouldn't trade for anything.  I ran well, had a great day suffering on the trails, and met some really cool people along the way!  I'm not super fast, but I guarantee I'm having a blast out there, and I'll enjoy every minute of it along the way.  If you like trail running, this is a bucket-list race.  You have to, dammit!  13.1 miles and 5000' of elevation, with a soul-searching climb of 1000' in mile 7???  There's nothing like it that I know of.  If there is, let me know and I'll probably be crazy enough to sign up for it!

Next stop, 7 Sisters in May!  You're mine, ladies!