The bar has been set incredibly low so I hope someone will come in and dominate my time. (I am not even sure what it is) lots of driving and total start at Frolic- end at Danby was ~17 hours. I headed out after a prior commitment at 1900 and got to Trail Head for a 2115 start Overall conditions- great weather in the night portion. Mid 60s with some moisture in the air. Trails are relatively dry.
Day Time started out ok at Stewart Park and BD but once the heat set in it turned into a 🧟♂️death March.
@heathercobb3 and my friend Nick G. met up at Danby, that pulled me out of the funk and with some cold tea and good conversation I was able to finish it off making “runner like moves”
in order of completion.
Forest Frolic-
Despite having run the course multiple times including two weeks ago during an aborted first attempt I some how managed to miss the high line turn and the turn off the FLT while chatting with Friend who came out to get a night run in. Basically Free Miles
https://strava.app.link/Yxy7aj0Srgb
Thom B. (Didn’t have cell service so this didn’t get into web scorers, tried to load it once I was back in the grid, not sure if it worked)
Thank you to motivated and ahead of schedule Thom B course markers. It was awesome to have race day marking and confidence flags during the night. I had not run the course previously so Kudos to whoever you are Course Marking Persons.
https://strava.app.link/NgM1sxxTrgb
Puesdo Skunk-Night time is not the right time for this course. The road is under construction and is missing all lines save for some temporary reflectors. I was adorned with various reflectors and lights of my own to stay seen but I would not run that at night again based on vehicles and their rates of speed
https://strava.app.link/h2FRvzlUrgb
East Hill- quick ( by comparison)
There was enough Moon light so I ran it no headlamp.
https://strava.app.link/zbZQIwrUrgb
Botanical Gardens- it was nice to be back at enjoying this space. Haven’t been up in iTown much during Covid. I was catching the sunrise so it was a shot in the Arm.
https://strava.app.link/Nnd4wMHZrgb
Waterfront 5k.- I like Stewart Park so this was cool. Minus the aggressive Geese who saw my weakened state and clearly saw an opening.
https://strava.app.link/CBFrnpe1rgb
Black Diamond-I like BD 10 milers. Your turnaround is next to the tree I know by heart as 5 mile point. It was tough going up but always nice to have that 5 mile gradual downhill.
https://strava.app.link/owLgglr1rgb
Tortoise and Hare- I was feeling good after BD. Then T&H happened. Heat started to rise and the climbing kicked me in the teeth
I was mad at the falls for being so pretty when I felt so crappy
https://strava.app.link/ysF8BvK1rgb
South Hill-
Pain cave/furnace
https://strava.app.link/uFbgfJCKsgb
Danby D&D-
After a quick stop at the gas station to get some ice cold unsweetened tea I met up with Heather and Nick, my spirits buoyed, so I slapped on some lube and we shuffled down the road doing some talking and run/walking.
I could smell the barn and suddenly my climbing and descending came back .
D&D course is lots of that. We took a break at the overlook and then I proceeded to run most of the remaining hills going “weeeeeeee” in my head.
https://strava.app.link/ety1ixdLsgb
Conclusion-
The diversity of the terrain and distance provides a challenge but also a great experience. You get a whole lot of different stuff for one low low price
Resources
Course tracks from Footpath
Group of trailhead pins from Apple Maps for driving