Showing posts with label Belleville Pond 10k. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Belleville Pond 10k. Show all posts
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Belleville Pond 10k and Brrr-lingame Race Videos
Fell off the blog train again. Trying to writing a summation of the weeks gone by but until then here are some videos I shot from the recent 4th Season Trail Series. I had a lot of fun shooting these races - trying to figure out where to go to get footage was a interesting challenge. The stabilizing gimbal I purchased now allows me to get some smooth action footage. I'm happy with the end results.
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Belleville Pond 10k 2017
Official time: 53:38 6th overall. Results here.
The third race of Mike Galoob's winter trail series is always a fun one. After a couple 5ks the distance doubles and there are often truly winter conditions to contend with. This year was no exception - after a quiet and (mostly) snowless winter, we got a good half foot the day before and so it would be another snow covered race. This is a good thing as this is what the series is all about.
My training had been spotty over the last few weeks with an sore ankle but I showed up in good spirits and ready to race. It was pretty cold - in the teens and there was a brisk wind whipping over the pond. I had on the Salomon Speedcross and intended to run with just them but after a warm up along the pond I encountered enough ice to justify the microspikes. I threw them on after a half mile and felt they had much more grip on the way back. Probably overkill but they were definitely helpful for the icy spots.
I met up with folks just before the race began. I had on my tights but Crutch, Jonny, Jeff and others represented with just shorts (including one guy in nothing but shorts, yikes!). At the start I quickly found myself in third following Jonny and Brightman along the single broken trail. I was probably working harder than I should have and I slowed after a bit. Soon Gazelle went by me followed by another guy.
The course turns onto some hilly singletrack that runs alongside the pond and I was already feeling worn out. I tried to stay behind the others through this section but had to pass one of 'em on the hills as he was slowing down. Once we reached the rail bed I could see that Walker and company were already well ahead. The footing was better here but I wasn't able to get any closer. Andrew Neil went by and I tried to not let him get too far ahead. I was hopeful that I would be able to make up ground along the Route 4 section where there's usually choppier snow which favors me.
The Route 4 section was indeed choppier but not a sufferfest as in a previous year. Andrew aka the Red Chicken had passed the only guy ahead I wasn't familiar with but I was making any ground on this mystery man. I was now very much in no man's land, well off the others and no one very close behind. As the course turns back turns towards the powerlines I could see Jon Short not too far behind and tried to find another gear. The race now featured another section of park- the relatively newer "Middle trail." This twisty section was slow going and when the course veered back towards the far parking lot I had a sense that this version of the course was going to run long. I could still see Neil and mystery man up ahead and I held out hope that I could catch them during the next singletrack section.
The twisty stuff along this side of the pond was equally slow going and I only occasionally caught a glimpse of one of the other racers up ahead. By the time I returned to the rail trail I could see them way up ahead and knew I had no chance to catch them. I tried to pick up the pace on this somewhat more packed down section of trail but I was running out of steam. There wasn't anyone close to me so I didn't have any motivation to kill myself on the last section of hills and roots.
I came through the finish in 6th place. I was worried that mystery man was running for Rhode Runners but luckily he was unaffiliated and the WTAC men grabbed their first win of the series. After a cooldown with Jon Short and some award presentations I joined a group over at the Oak Hill Tavern. Another great winter race in the books!
The third race of Mike Galoob's winter trail series is always a fun one. After a couple 5ks the distance doubles and there are often truly winter conditions to contend with. This year was no exception - after a quiet and (mostly) snowless winter, we got a good half foot the day before and so it would be another snow covered race. This is a good thing as this is what the series is all about.
My training had been spotty over the last few weeks with an sore ankle but I showed up in good spirits and ready to race. It was pretty cold - in the teens and there was a brisk wind whipping over the pond. I had on the Salomon Speedcross and intended to run with just them but after a warm up along the pond I encountered enough ice to justify the microspikes. I threw them on after a half mile and felt they had much more grip on the way back. Probably overkill but they were definitely helpful for the icy spots.
I met up with folks just before the race began. I had on my tights but Crutch, Jonny, Jeff and others represented with just shorts (including one guy in nothing but shorts, yikes!). At the start I quickly found myself in third following Jonny and Brightman along the single broken trail. I was probably working harder than I should have and I slowed after a bit. Soon Gazelle went by me followed by another guy.
The course turns onto some hilly singletrack that runs alongside the pond and I was already feeling worn out. I tried to stay behind the others through this section but had to pass one of 'em on the hills as he was slowing down. Once we reached the rail bed I could see that Walker and company were already well ahead. The footing was better here but I wasn't able to get any closer. Andrew Neil went by and I tried to not let him get too far ahead. I was hopeful that I would be able to make up ground along the Route 4 section where there's usually choppier snow which favors me.
The Route 4 section was indeed choppier but not a sufferfest as in a previous year. Andrew aka the Red Chicken had passed the only guy ahead I wasn't familiar with but I was making any ground on this mystery man. I was now very much in no man's land, well off the others and no one very close behind. As the course turns back turns towards the powerlines I could see Jon Short not too far behind and tried to find another gear. The race now featured another section of park- the relatively newer "Middle trail." This twisty section was slow going and when the course veered back towards the far parking lot I had a sense that this version of the course was going to run long. I could still see Neil and mystery man up ahead and I held out hope that I could catch them during the next singletrack section.
The twisty stuff along this side of the pond was equally slow going and I only occasionally caught a glimpse of one of the other racers up ahead. By the time I returned to the rail trail I could see them way up ahead and knew I had no chance to catch them. I tried to pick up the pace on this somewhat more packed down section of trail but I was running out of steam. There wasn't anyone close to me so I didn't have any motivation to kill myself on the last section of hills and roots.
I came through the finish in 6th place. I was worried that mystery man was running for Rhode Runners but luckily he was unaffiliated and the WTAC men grabbed their first win of the series. After a cooldown with Jon Short and some award presentations I joined a group over at the Oak Hill Tavern. Another great winter race in the books!
Monday, February 9, 2015
Belleville Pond 10k 2015
Official time: 49:58. 10th overall. 5th in Age Group. Results here.
The Belleville Pond 10k is the third race of the South County 4th Season Trail series put on by the majestic Mike Galoob. Last year it was a snowy sufferfest. We had all been hoping that it would be a dryer affair this year but that was not meant to be. I thought that the multiple storms in the prior weeks would have given us an even tougher challenge. But thanks to Jonny and the other park enthusiasts, word was that the course was in much better shape than last year. Except for the stretch along Route 4 which would still be brutal.
I arrived and set out on a solo warm-up on the first part of the course. I'm not sure how slippery the snow was but the Yaktrax made traction no problem. I was pleasantly surprised by just how hardpacked the snow trail was near the beginning. It got a little choppier once it hit that rise over the pond but it was still much better than last year. I made my way back to the start. There, as if to remind us that it still going to be a hard slog, Galoob led us to the start on the basketball course where the snow had barely been broken.
We lined up and were quickly off. The start was a mad dash past boulders and through the icy parking lot to a narrow singletrack in the snow. Everyone went out like a lunatic vying for position and I found myself in about fifth place once the train fully formed. Last year I found myself too far back at the beginning and had to work hard to pass in unbroken snow. I was much happier to let others pass me this year. Eric Lonergan quickly went by and then Jonny and Jeff followed soon after. All of them wasted no time in gapping me before the rise but I was content to ease off a bit. I hadn't been putting in a lot of miles lately and wasn't sure how I'd fare in the later stages of the race.
There was a nasty choppy section at the end of the rise but the surface improved dramatically as we made our way to the railbed section. Here Jonny/Jeff had already put a great deal of distance of me. I heard more approaching footsteps and made way for Chris Fox. He was soon followed by two other fast looking guys. All of them began to gap me. Yikes, who would be coming up behind me next? I made an effort to cling to them and keep up because I knew the going was about to get a lot rougher. I hoped that would work to my advantage.
As soon as we climbed the hill to the powerlines and hit the heavy stuff, those two guys stepped aside and let me pass. This was the hardest section and the GPS breakdown tells the whole story. The going was tough here and I shorted my stride and kept plodding along. I dropped those two guys immediately and way up ahead I could see Chris Fox. Over the course of the next mile I slowly reeled him in and he stepped aside for me just before we cut across the powerlines. I tried to put some distance on him but on any half-decent surface he was much faster. He caught me just before the return to the singletrack.
I was getting pretty tired now and Chris slowly pulled away over the course of this twisty section. When he reached the railbed he dropped the hammer and he was far ahead by the end of it. I looked back and didn't see anyone so I was confident in my place but I'm always paranoid. The hills back towards the pond weren't bad and I ran the root section well, still paranoid about someone coming up from behind. When I got to the last stretch around the ballfield I was glad to see I had closed the gap again on Chris. But this time I would not catch him as the "path" through the field was brutal. It was the least broken up of the entire course and trying to muster any kind of sprint was impossible. We all looked like drunks stumbling towards the finish line.
Afterwards I was exhausted and so glad to be done. Heard the good news that Chris Garvin won the whole thing again and WTAC narrowly took the win over the Rhode Runners. Turns out I had gotten cut up pretty good on the sharp ice/snow of the course. I also had about a minute lead over the next runner so once again my paranoia was misplaced.
Did a cooldown with the guys and then pocketed a couple beers when WTAC won the team award. Afterwards we joined TNT at the Oak Hill Tavern for some well deserved drinks and conversation. I'm really happy with how the race played out and pleased with how I responded to the tougher terrain. Thanks to birthday boy Mike Galoob and Family for another great race. Three down, two to go!
The Belleville Pond 10k is the third race of the South County 4th Season Trail series put on by the majestic Mike Galoob. Last year it was a snowy sufferfest. We had all been hoping that it would be a dryer affair this year but that was not meant to be. I thought that the multiple storms in the prior weeks would have given us an even tougher challenge. But thanks to Jonny and the other park enthusiasts, word was that the course was in much better shape than last year. Except for the stretch along Route 4 which would still be brutal.
I arrived and set out on a solo warm-up on the first part of the course. I'm not sure how slippery the snow was but the Yaktrax made traction no problem. I was pleasantly surprised by just how hardpacked the snow trail was near the beginning. It got a little choppier once it hit that rise over the pond but it was still much better than last year. I made my way back to the start. There, as if to remind us that it still going to be a hard slog, Galoob led us to the start on the basketball course where the snow had barely been broken.
 |
| It's a mad dash for the single snow track - Photo by Jana Walker |
We lined up and were quickly off. The start was a mad dash past boulders and through the icy parking lot to a narrow singletrack in the snow. Everyone went out like a lunatic vying for position and I found myself in about fifth place once the train fully formed. Last year I found myself too far back at the beginning and had to work hard to pass in unbroken snow. I was much happier to let others pass me this year. Eric Lonergan quickly went by and then Jonny and Jeff followed soon after. All of them wasted no time in gapping me before the rise but I was content to ease off a bit. I hadn't been putting in a lot of miles lately and wasn't sure how I'd fare in the later stages of the race.
There was a nasty choppy section at the end of the rise but the surface improved dramatically as we made our way to the railbed section. Here Jonny/Jeff had already put a great deal of distance of me. I heard more approaching footsteps and made way for Chris Fox. He was soon followed by two other fast looking guys. All of them began to gap me. Yikes, who would be coming up behind me next? I made an effort to cling to them and keep up because I knew the going was about to get a lot rougher. I hoped that would work to my advantage.
 |
| Mile Three was a whole different beast |
As soon as we climbed the hill to the powerlines and hit the heavy stuff, those two guys stepped aside and let me pass. This was the hardest section and the GPS breakdown tells the whole story. The going was tough here and I shorted my stride and kept plodding along. I dropped those two guys immediately and way up ahead I could see Chris Fox. Over the course of the next mile I slowly reeled him in and he stepped aside for me just before we cut across the powerlines. I tried to put some distance on him but on any half-decent surface he was much faster. He caught me just before the return to the singletrack.
I was getting pretty tired now and Chris slowly pulled away over the course of this twisty section. When he reached the railbed he dropped the hammer and he was far ahead by the end of it. I looked back and didn't see anyone so I was confident in my place but I'm always paranoid. The hills back towards the pond weren't bad and I ran the root section well, still paranoid about someone coming up from behind. When I got to the last stretch around the ballfield I was glad to see I had closed the gap again on Chris. But this time I would not catch him as the "path" through the field was brutal. It was the least broken up of the entire course and trying to muster any kind of sprint was impossible. We all looked like drunks stumbling towards the finish line.
 |
| Trying to finish - Photo by Jana Walker |
Afterwards I was exhausted and so glad to be done. Heard the good news that Chris Garvin won the whole thing again and WTAC narrowly took the win over the Rhode Runners. Turns out I had gotten cut up pretty good on the sharp ice/snow of the course. I also had about a minute lead over the next runner so once again my paranoia was misplaced.
 |
| Probably about 20 tiny cuts on this shin - Photo by Mike Crutchley |
Did a cooldown with the guys and then pocketed a couple beers when WTAC won the team award. Afterwards we joined TNT at the Oak Hill Tavern for some well deserved drinks and conversation. I'm really happy with how the race played out and pleased with how I responded to the tougher terrain. Thanks to birthday boy Mike Galoob and Family for another great race. Three down, two to go!
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