 posted Jun-18-2007 09:03 PM
  
Well, it was a terrific race and experience beginning by meeting Grambo(another running board internet connection) and his family at the Moat Mt. Pub -which is really more family oriented than it sounds. He was exactly as I'd imagined-an articulate, soft spoken, laid-back, family man who looks every bit like a runner/racer (as he later proved to be). His wife and kids are great. Back to the self built (by Jim and his dad) Grambo house, which sits in the middle of the woods and faces the spectaculiar mountains, and more discussion about the upcoming race. Strategies and weather were big topics and even though it was late, Grambo was very patient with all my questions. After I'd heard all the advice I needed, it was time to hit the hay. I'm told that Jim's kids stayed awake quite a bit longer than he had hoped, but all's well that ends well. I slept quite soundly. Who'd believe that 5 hours in a car can cause such fatigue? Coffee, shower and a light breakfast and we are off in the early am to meet KTilton and MGirouard at race central for bag dropoff. We arrived at 7:30 and get a primo parking spot awarded for early arrival. 
view of Mt Washington from the Grambo house This gives us plenty of time to kill. Jim points out various people associated with the race-from the director to people selling t-shirts and
many people from his old running club-which he started 20years earlier and is still going strong. I've heard plenty of weather advice and had been told that conditions were 'perfect' with no wind (which is good at a place that set the record for highest windspeed ever) or rain. As we get out of the truck, Grambo says
"It's warm". Profound understatement, IMO. I abandoned all thoughts of tying a long sleeve shirt around my waist for the chillier second half of the race and start drinking gatorade and water prerace. Soon we spy Kevin, Jess (his SO) and MikeyG--more people that I've never met, but was pleased to get to know... We get some guy to take our picture, but I'm sorry to say he messed it up and it did not come out. Jess heads up the mountain and Kevin is off doing whatever real/elite runners do. Jim heads out and back checking on us and checking in often.
We talk about training and running by effort. He has come back a long way very quickly and the best is yet to be for him for sure. We do a 1/4mile jog warmup over the beginning of the course getting a taste of what is to come. Oh boy. It gets close to start time and we set off toward the banner stopping off at a crossing stream to cool off with some chilly water on our heads, arms and legs.  We line up near the front, about 10 rows back. 
At the start, the mountain looks very big... KTilton is out in front of the starting line talking with other elite/fast runners while we wait. As we are wishing each other good luck, the cannon sounds and wer are begin. We take off quickly and sadistically go downhill for several hundred feet before beginning to ascend the 'hill'. People are passing me continuously. I try to run by effort and HR, clearly looking more like a tourist than a runner-with my watch/GPS/HR monitor/fanny pack and camera. By 1/4 mile, we are climbing hard and my HR surges up to 160 which is my equivalent 5K race pace HR. Yikes! Grambo is next to me looking strong and Mike is out in front. I tell Jim that I am going to need to slow down knowing the heat is taking it's toll already. I have not gone 1/2 mile and I take my first (of dozens) of walk break. I walk for 10 breaths or so to get my HR down below 160. This run/walk pattern would continue the entire race. It may be 'only one hill' but it is relentless. We climb. Up, up. I try to stay in what little shade there is on the road. It seems many, if not most people are taking walk breaks around me also. ' Mile 1' is really 0.9 miles and I pass at 10:36-ave HR=156. I have been warned that the second mile is difficult and I will have to slow down some. I did--a lot. Up, up. It is very hot and there is no wind at all and very little shade. Grambo predicted it would be hot for at least 3 miles so I'm ready for it and try to keep my pace. MikeG and Grambo are ahead of me and out of sight. Run (well sort of), run, walk. Repeat. Mile 2 (1.9) in 13:29 with my HR averaging 160.
I see lots of runners ahead of me...and I thought there was more sun in the beginning, but the air certainly wasn't moving very much
A runer offers to take my picture so I jogged back a bit and pose.
Pretty sweaty, pretty early... I feel that I will definitely crash if I keep up this HR. The next two miles are smooth and steady. Up, up. I feel pretty strong. It's hot but I'm able to maintain my pace so far. I walk through all aid stations and take a full cup of water now. I'm trying to take a picture every mile marker and haven't missed any yet. All you see during this section is a steep road, runners and trees to either side. * We turn and twist our way up the mountain. Mile 3=11:51 (HR=159) 
See-It's sunnier in this one and mile 4=11:49 (HR=158).
Past the 1/2 way point in ~46:30.  Not so bad, but not anywhere near what I wanted. I had to make concessions due to the weather, so it is what it is. We soon get above the trees and there is a good wind. Light and conforting but I'm still hot. Up, up, up. Walk the water stop. Drink. Photo. Mile 5=13:47 (HR ave 159).
We are getting closer to the clouds. I start to get a little cramping in my right calf and then my right hammy. I eat 1/2 pack of a salt packet that Jim had given me prerace. Yuck! Effective but not very tasty. Up, up, up. I stop several times to take a picture of the magnificent view of the other mountains-simply breathtaking!
the runners above me...
and another of where I used to be--with the runners below me
My right quad cramps. Run/walk/walk. Repeat. What is this? Up ahead I spy the blue Nike racing flats of MikeG-sans socks. He is a victim of the heat and hill just like all of us. (This guy is a 1:18 1/2 Marathoner...) I walk, I run and try to run some more. I am simply mesmerized by the breathtaking sights above the clouds. Mile 6=14:12 (HR only 155-crashing)
Up, up, up. We get to mile 7 in 13:29. (HR still 155). Another runner sees me take a picture of my Garmin and the mile marker and offers to take my picture. Time to push it home, ha. As we approach the finish, the road slopes cruelly even higher (22%!). I try to keep my legs moving but have serious cramps going on. I jog over the finish line only to avoid the embarassment of walking across the line. Last 0.7 in 10:40. Total time=1:39:49. MikeG comes in right behind me and we high 5 as Grambo cheers us on. We climb another clump of rocks to make it to the 'summit' and touch the wood post marking it. Nice. Very nice. Very tough race. I will never complain about hills in any local race again. Page 4
47th Mount Washington Road Race
Presented By Primary Sponsor - NORTHEAST DELTA DENTAL
June 16, 2007 7.6 Miles - Base to Summit Pinkham Notch, Gorham, NH
Directed By: Granite State Race Services www.MountWashingtonRoadRace.com
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**** MEN'S RESULTS ****
Place Div/Tot Div Name Graded Time Pace Ag S City St Team Race# 189 25/94 M4549 Dale Toce 1:31:57 1:39:49 13:08 45 M South Windsor CT 745 [This message has been edited by dtoce (edited Jun-20-2007).]
IP: Logged |
Great RR. Tough, tough run.
