Finish Line

Whiteface Vertical Weekend 2015 From The Sideline

June 27, 2015

Whiteface Vertical Weekend is party of 2015 US Skyrunner Series usskyrunning.com
Saturday runners will see a glute and lung crushing ascents and quad threshold descents, both tapered by epic vistas. Sunday race will provide beautiful rolling trail interspersed with two of the sharpest vertical ascents and descents that you’ll find on any trail course, anywhere. Whiteface sits on more true vertical gain than all but 14 other ski resorts in North America and more than any resort east of the Rockies. From its sharp and exposed form to an entrance lined with the rings and flags of the world telling of its place in past and current Olympic activity, Whiteface is iconic. The resort and the town of Wilmington will provide the pitch perfect venue for what should be an amazing weekend of hard efforts, epic experiences, and the wonderful community which defines the best of trail running.

Smart Over Ego
Both distance of Whiteface Vertical Weekend was part of my main race in my 2015 calendar. I was really excited about these races, mainly, because I have never done any vertical race or sky running. Unfortunately, due to my health issue a week before from the Manitou Revenge, I forced myself to be a smart and pulled myself from the starting lines. Although I went out there to volunteer, I wanted to be in the mountain and witnessed the brave soul to challenge the mountain’s steep climb.

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Manitou’s Revenge 2015 – 54 Miles+ of Rocky Highway

June 20, 2015 2 Comments

Manitou’s Revenge is a 54 mile ultramarathon through the Catskills beginning in Windham, N.Y. on the northern Black Dome Trail and then mostly following the Long Path from Acra Point all the way to downtown Phoenicia, N.Y.
This was my 2nd year of this annual madness mountain race. I still believe that this is the hardest 50 mile race in the North East, probably in US. Even though, this time, I came back with more experiences over the course and in ultra races, but I still struggled with injuries, especially from my nasty fall in Cayuga 3 weeks before.

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Cayuga 50 2015 – My Hard Rock Buttock

May 31, 2015

Steep climbs, runnable fast downs, waterfalls, beautiful gorges, creek crossings, and a mix of single and double track trail provide the foundation for what Trail Runner named the most scenic race in the East. It’s drawn some of the fastest UltraRunners in the world, has/is serving as the USATF 50 Mile Trail Championship for 2014/2015, but it’s not reserved for the speedy alone. The Cayuga Trails 50 is a tough, beautiful trail run set in the wonderful small city of Ithaca, NY. With solid aid stations, amazing volunteers, gracious sponsors, delicious apple pie, and an international trail running festival pre-race, it’s a pretty amazing weekend in an amazing corner of the world.

The Staging Area
Robert H. Treman State Park, 105 Enfield Falls Rd, Ithaca, NY is a perfect staging ground. The Park itself, just outside of downtown Ithaca is carved by a central gorge, a steady stream of waterfalls culminating in a beautiful swimming, and beautiful single and double track trails and historic stone staircases flanking both. Camping and cabins are available for those who get on reservations early and a great playground sits adjacent to the start shelter for families making a day out of crewing.

The Course
The course doubles up on a 12.5 mile out – 12.5 mile back format, starting in Lower Robert H. Treman State Park, running out to a turnaround in Lower Buttermilk Falls State Park. Aid stations average 4 mile intervals, roughly 9,000 feet of elevation gain (w/ corresponding loss), and there’s a 15 hour cutoff.

Cut-Offs and Dropping Out
The event, per useable trail light, and park policy, will start at 06:00 and have a 15-hour cutoff at 21:00. Individual AS cutoff times have been set to ensure that entrants are moving through at or under 15 hours. No runner however, if of good physical and mental condition, and where safety is not of concern, will be cut prior to the established 13:00 (1:00 PM) cut off at mile 25.0, AS6, North Shelter. Runners may fall behind guideline cuts prior to that point but no runner checking out of AS6 after 13:00 will be permitted to continue. Individual AS Cut-Offs will be enforced beyond AS6.

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TNF ECS Bear Mountain 50 miles – Smile the only thing was left in me

May 2, 2015

COURSE DESCRIPTION
A hardy test for trail runners of any level, The North Face Endurance Challenge New York winds along the western shores of the Hudson River and through the craggy foothills of the Catskill Mountains. Expect enough rocks and challenging terrain along the course to keep you engaged, but not enough to prevent you from running the majority of the race.
Runners can expect terrain changes from packed dirt to loose rocks, from tree roots to leaf-covered trails. The Bear Mountain Endurance Challenge course cuts to the chase, with some trails heading steeply uphill rather than zig-zagging at a gentler grade. Descents end in wooded hollows before the next rapid climb ending with breathtaking views. Make no mistake: this will be a tough test of off-road endurance.

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Breakneck Ridge Trail Marathon 2015

April 18, 2015

“Climbing around on such terrain makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop.”
– Ian Golden, the Race Director –

The Race
Expansive vistas overlooking the rugged Hudson Valley, beautiful singletrack, creek crossings, historic ruins, a cumulative elevation gain on par with SkyRun marathons, and a few of the steepest ascents and descents of any trail race in the country. The Breakneck Point Trail Runs will offer entrants a pretty epic day of adventure on beautiful trails surrounded and supported by a great community.

The Course (Breakneck Point Trail Marathon: Elevation gain ~10,000ft, Cutoff: 10 hr)
Both distances start together and overlap for 25k. The course configuration makes somewhat of a counter-clockwise figure 8 formation in Hudson Highlands State Park for the opening 25k, with an added counterclockwise lollipop loop in the Mount Beacon / Fishkill Ridge areas for the 42k.

Maps and turn by turn directions below. We encourage you to purchase the NY/NJ Trail Conference’s East Hudson Trail Map # 102. Jive that map w/ these directions and you’ll have a pretty good sense of the course and can use the map if you happen to get lost. Not to mention that it supports the organization that makes these trails and this event possible.