Finish Line

Happy Running Fat Ass 50: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 06:29

January 10, 2015

This was my first trail run of 2015. My original plan was to run it 2 loops (20 miles) and if I got lucky I might do 3 loops.

A couple of days before the race, we got a good amount of snow. So the whole trail was covered by snow. It was really pretty out there, specially when I ran pass the open marsh. On the other hand, the snow gave me a problem. My 2nd toe of my left toes got frozen. I was using a minimalist shoes, and the snow sipped into my socks. A couple of miles to the end, my toe felt like falling off on every steps, I ended up hobbling on the last 2 miles. And, when I took off my shoes at the end of the loop, I found a deposit of ice inside my sock. My toe was numb and hard as a cold rock. So that was it, I called it a day. Not a good way to start my running season, but at least I still have all my limb intact.

The race was awesome. I really love the course and the trail. There were plenty of hills to entertain my soul, but at the same time it has many section that I could run. The course was also pretty, I wished I took some pictures, I thought I would get them on my second loop.
The race was a fat ass, but it has aid station along the course, and they were awesome.

The winner medal

The course view – Photo from the event RD

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Philadelphia Marathon 2014

November 23, 2014

My original idea when I signed up for this Philadelphia Marathon 2014, was to make it as my 2014 race closure. I hadn’t ran road marathon race since 2011, and I had been going off road for almost 2 years. So I thought it would be intriguing to pounding my feet and joint on the pavement while wearing a buckle.
In reality, I didn’t get my buckle, my injuries got worse. I was really worry the day before the race, since my left calf blew off after The Wagathon X for a few days. I had knee pain on walking downstairs, and when I was walking from my apartment to the expo, my legs had discomfort on every step.
At the pre race dinner, Kino asked me what was my goal. I thought I was just want to finish, tho I would hate myself if I finished over 4 hrs.

I was not dreaming. Yay!

The bday boy and girl at the pre-race dinner

Philly Marathon, bring it on

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Wagathon X: Sun, 9 Nov 2014 07:41:33

November 9, 2014

“The Wagathon is a roughly 29 mile “fat-ass” run that starts at Sam’s Point in Ellenville, New York and runs along the Shawangunk Ridge through some of the most beautiful single track trails (16mi.) and carriage paths (13mi.) you can find, with unmatched views in all directions along the extent of the run. The running has ended at the Mountain Brauhaus in Gardiner and the Gilded Otter in New Paltz in the past, but lately it has been finishing at the Red Brick Tavern in Rosendale. The Wag has gone from a handful of people to several handfuls despite the complete lack of organization, the course changing each year, not really marking the course, and relying on word of mouth to advertise the Wagathon’s existence.”
– Wagathon WordPress –

When I did the Cat’s Tail race trial, I met the race director of Wagathon, Mike Siudy. And he suggested me to run his Fat Ass race, and he assured me that I would love it. Long story short, I was complaining about how the trail in Lake Minewaska – Shawangunks was a little too civilized, most of them are carriage road. And Mike promised me that I would find a lot of hidden gems on his race. And as I remembered, he said it would be a nice and easy run, which turned out far from easy.

This Fat Ass race was pretty unique. We could start whenever would work for us and would finish at a bar, which was awesome. Mike made a turn by turn documentation that was uber detail. Yet he did a pretty good job with the marking on the trail. Oh yeah, the way this race worked, each of us needed to find 5 cards along the course as our check point, then at the finish line, the bar, we needed to show those card to the RD to get the finisher sticker. Pretty entertaining

Yeah I got Hanna Montana!

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Pinhoti 100 2014 – My Race Nemesis

November 1, 2014

“Pinhoti 100 is a Point to Point endurance run starting at Pine Glen Campground in Choccolocco Mgt Area just northeast of Heflin AL. 100.59 miles in length with just over 14,000 ft of climb and descent with a total of 28,000 ft of elevation change. The Pinhoti Trail is some of the most beautiful trail that navigates over rocks, through creeks and over Cheaha Mountain, (2408ft) the highest point in Alabama while traversing the Talladega National Forest. Although not a first timer course many 100 mile virgins come to complete each year. Some succeed and some fail. The course is very doable for the properly trained runner. We and all the awesome volunteers are here to help you reach your goal to the finish line!”
– Pinhoti Trail Series –

I did this race last year, but I did not finish due to my ankle injury on the mile 68. It broke my heart. And this year I came back with a determination to finish this race, despite my pelvis and hamstring injury on my right, but I convinced myself to get a revenge.
Before Pinhoti, I had assured myself that I would be ready. I had done a few races that much harder than Pinhoti trail. Those races that had harsher weather like TDS in the Alps, or crazy technical course like in TNF Bear Mountain and Manitou. I had done more technical trail and hill repeat training. I did many solo run multiple times. Those training gave me confident, but probably over confident.
Also this time I had Dan to crew me, that was really made my mind in peace since Dan was an experienced runner and had done plenty ultra marathon.

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Cat’s Tail 2014 Race Trial

October 12, 2014

After I did the Manitou Revenge, I kept in touch with its Race Director, Charlie Gadol. He was a very knowledgeable person when it came to running or hiking in Catskill and up-state NY area. Then, few months after the Manitou Revenge race, he emailed me if I would be interested to participate in his running event. The run was point to point from Fox Hollow over Panther, Giant Ledge, then Slide, Cornell and Wittenberg, finishing in Woodland Valley. It would be timed and there would be an aid station on the half way point. He also wanted to make this as a real race in the future.