The weather has been hot and muggy, which makes this week’s FLRC Challenge accomplishments all the more impressive. On Wednesday, when the heat and torrential downpours prevented all but a handful of others from logging Challenge runs, Xander Dawson completed the FLRC 100K Ultra Challenge.
But he didn’t do it alone. His father, Scott Dawson, accompanied him on the first five road courses, adding a Tough Tarmac Challenge completion to his previous Tough Trail Completion. Then Xander’s mother, Amy Dawson, and sister, Elizabeth Dawson, kept him company on the five remaining trail courses, so they got Tough Trail Challenge completions to add to their Tough Tarmac Challenge completions. All in all, once Scott joined the rest of them for the final course, the family completed 26 runs and 160 miles for the day! Don’t miss Scott’s and Amy’s run reports.
Along with the Dawsons, we had four other finishers this week, but several are bittersweet. First, in one of his last runs in Ithaca before returning to Canada, was Gerald McKinley. He got his medal early. Also finishing and leaving Ithaca, but not in such a way that we could get her a medal, was Amanda King. She and Aaron King have moved to New Haven for a job at some little university there. Aaron can run his remaining Sweet 1600 anywhere, but he’ll have to make the pilgrimage back to Ithaca for Lindsay-Parsons and Valley Views if he wants his medal too. Finally, Inger Aaberg completed her first FLRC Challenge after moving to the area last year. Congrats to all!
The other big Challenge news is that we’ve had some late signups from some familiar faces and their kids. Melissa Weiner signed up a few weeks ago, and her 5-year-old twins Asher Weiner and Skylar Weiner are now aiming for two-course Personal Challenges. Then, after reconnecting with FLRC at Forest Frolic, Kuwanna Dyer-Pietras signed up and started making the trek from Vestal for her fourth Challenge. Finally, Bill Hartnett’s 7-year son Archer Hartnett is also going for a four-course Personal Challenge. They bring the total number of participants to 199—surely there’s one more person who thinks they can run ten courses in a month to bring us to 200?
I’ve already shared several of my favorite photos of the week, but Marie Donnelly also gets a nod for her canonical “Selfie with Egg Cairn and Bug.” Deer flies are the penalty for stopping.
For those looking for non-Challenge group run action this weekend, race director Alan Lockett is hosting a preview run for his Forge the Gorge race in Fillmore Glen State Park in Moravia. The trails are lovely, and the evening race is big fun—sign up soon so Alan can order enough pizza for everyone.
Until next week, keep covering the ground!