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| 25th Applefest Half Marathon - Saturday 10/6 (Read 526 times) |
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posted: 10/8/2007 at 4:07 AM
modified: 10/8/2007 at 4:10 AM |
I’d already run it twice, so I knew the Applefest HM is an HTFU sanctioned course. There are few level stretches, most of the course is “New England rollers” that serve as warm-ups for the ridonculous killer hills lurking just beyond mile nine. I met trentman359 and we headed North for Hollis, NH.
The forecast called for unseasonably warm temps and it was certainly accurate. At the 10:00am start it was 72 degrees with 76% humidity and nary a cloud to be seen. About 1000 individual runners and 100 relay teams headed down the high school driveway and turned onto the roads of Hollis.
Aerial shot of ½ mile mark taken during 2005 race
I felt pretty good, and thought I had gone out at a good pace. I was pretty horrified to find that I walked past the first mile marker at 7:00. Knowing that this was too fast under the best of conditions, it was way too fast for this course on a hot and humid day.
 Warning! Warning!
I knew I needed to slow my pace, but it remained too fast. My recent races have all been 5K, and it seems my cruise control was stuck on 5K pace. I knew I was in deep trouble when my watch showed just over 49 minutes at the seven mile mark. To make matters worse, the temperature had climbed to 76 degrees.
To describe the second half of the race as a fade wouldn’t do it justice. In keeping with the weather it was more of a meltdown. It took me 60 minutes to slog through the last six miles, stumbling up the dreaded hills as best I could. By the time I wobbled across the line at 1:50:45 the temperature was up to 79 degrees and I was completely wiped out.
But what of trentman359? Glad you asked. It seems I was not the only one holding onto 5K habits. We run a 5K series in Lowell, MA and head for seats on the host bar’s patio after finishing. Finding that there is no patio at Applefest’s three mile mark, Trenton took the only seat he could find. He entered the porta potty as mild-mannered Trentman359, but it was HTFU Man that flung the door open and rejoined the race. Rejuvenated, revitalized, (and relieved) he ran a disciplined steady pace and reduced his PR by 7:16 when he crossed the line at 1:55:08. In the official results I finished ahead of him, but Trent definitely won the day’s bragging rights with a truly impressive PR. And just as importantly, the secret of his success gave me a great post-race laugh when I really needed one. 
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Ed
Tuesday Good Times 5K series in Lowell, MA (So sad it's over)
2008: HTFU and BQ at BayState Marathon
Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy |
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posted: 10/8/2007 at 5:16 AM |
| Congrats to you and Trent, and great report and pics |
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away...(unkown)
Unus Dies Procul A Vicis
• Go With The Flow
• Thyroid Support Group |
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| view log Jazz, happy dog |
posted: 10/8/2007 at 7:31 AM |
| Very nice Dawg and Trent. We have an Applefest race too but it's a 5k. |
| Just 'cause you can, doesn't mean you should
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| view log Can't run? Go play. |
posted: 10/8/2007 at 2:22 PM |
| Way to go, guys! On a brutal day, nonetheless! |
Rick
"The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare." - Juma Ikangaa
"I wanna go fast." Ricky Bobby
runningforcassy.blogspot.com
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posted: 10/8/2007 at 2:23 PM |
| Nice job you guys! Thanks for the report with the pictures - you always get bonus points for that. |
Your monkey gives me the creeps. - andahuff
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posted: 10/8/2007 at 2:33 PM |
| Nice job! |
upcoming races:
Greater Derry Track Club Turket Trot, Derry, NH 11/27
Amherst NH Turkey Trot 11/28 |
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| view log Runs With Snowplows |
posted: 10/8/2007 at 4:01 PM |
Good job, boys! How did Trentman do so well even after a potty stop? I've never had to go to the john mid-race. I live in fear of that...I know it would slow me down and likely make my legs lock-up.
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Kirsten
• Ladies Locker Room •
.: 2008 Goals :.
• Run 1500 miles
• October 5 - 1st marathon - Milwaukee Lakefront - in my home state of WI
• PRs: 5k ~ 15k ~ 25k
• 1st trail race |
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posted: 10/8/2007 at 11:59 PM |
WTG! great race!  looks like a beautiful course. |
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posted: 10/9/2007 at 12:04 AM |
| Great job guys!! Great report!! |
Your toughness is made up of equal parts persistence and experience. You don't so much outrun your opponents as outlast and outsmart them, and the toughest opponent of all is the one inside your head." - Joe Henderson
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posted: 10/9/2007 at 12:21 AM
modified: 10/9/2007 at 12:22 AM |
Well on my most recent long run I was struck with that sinking feeling in my stomach. I was on mile 9 and still 3 away from my house. I ended up walking/shuffling back to my house. You could say I'm still worried about this happening again.
Which brings us to Applefest.
We arrived at the race a good hour before the start, plenty of time for my breakfast and 2 Power Bars to digest . With a half hour before the race we started to warm up. "I think I might have to go to the bathroom," I told Ed. The lines were too long and I thought that maybe I was just scared about a repeat of my last long run.
The race starts. I start shuffling along and then I know. There is no way that I am going to be able to run 13 miles like this. At pass the 2 mile marker close to 17 minutes. Closing in on the three mile mark I see a lone porta potty (the only one I saw on the entire course.) I went into overdrive and sprinted to the potty. With my luck someone it was occupied. As I'm standing there waiting a girl pops out from behind some cars, "Just go over there it's way easier," she tells me. "Its not that kind of thing," I replied. Well I eventually got in and evacuated my bowels.
As Superman comes out of the phone booth, I came out of the porta potty completely rejuvenated and with a new sense of purpose. I start flying threw the packs. "It must be nice to be fast," I hear from a lady behind me. I must have made up a ton of ground because I pass mile 10 at about 1 hour and 29 minutes. It was then that I realized, to my surprise, that I had a chance at a PR. "HTFU," I told myself.
At mile 11 and 12 I started passing people that I had started the race with. These were the same people that were passing me when I was doing the poor man's shuffle at miles 1 and 2. I finished the race with my trademark kick and crossed the line at 1:55:08 beating my old time of 2:02:24.
After Ed gave me my water I said, "You know I actually did have to go to the bathroom." We had a good laugh and enjoyed some well earned apple crisp.
The law of averages says that I will beat Ed one of these days. 
Overall another fun race (despite the lack of free beer.)
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posted: 10/9/2007 at 1:42 AM
modified: 10/9/2007 at 1:43 AM |
| Quote from zoom-zoom on 10/8/2007 at 4:01 PM: How did Trentman do so well even after a potty stop?
He cheats. Actually, his legs are only 22 years old which means they are still covered under the manufacturer's warranty.
Quote from trentman359 on 10/9/2007 at 12:21 AM:The law of averages says that I will beat Ed one of these days.
I'm sure Grasshopper never let the old blind guy forget it when he finally snatched the pebble from his hand, and I have no doubt that you will be IMPOSSIBLE to deal with. Someday soon you'll kick my ass and you'll know you've earned it, cuz I aint givin' up without a fight.
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Ed
Tuesday Good Times 5K series in Lowell, MA (So sad it's over)
2008: HTFU and BQ at BayState Marathon
Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy |
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posted: 10/9/2007 at 2:06 PM |
| What is HTFU? |
upcoming races:
Greater Derry Track Club Turket Trot, Derry, NH 11/27
Amherst NH Turkey Trot 11/28 |
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posted: 10/9/2007 at 2:24 PM |
| HTFU. May not be safe for work without earphones. |
Your monkey gives me the creeps. - andahuff
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posted: 10/9/2007 at 5:31 PM |
| Got it! |
upcoming races:
Greater Derry Track Club Turket Trot, Derry, NH 11/27
Amherst NH Turkey Trot 11/28 |
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