Sloppy Cuckoo

Short Verison:  13.1 miles=1:51.22

17^th Overall, 5^th Age Group AGAIN!

http://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=16106

Last year I did this race as well and finished 11^th overall in 1:53.53.  This year I was over 2.5-minutes faster, lost 6 places in the overall standings  and got “chicked” by two awesome lady trail runners.  My ego is not that big, so having a better athlete pass me, lady or man, is OK with me.

The race was Sunday 9/23 and as luck would have it it rained on 9/22 during the night.  Perfect pre-race conditions for a trail run named the Sloppy Cuckoo.  The race was a mere 10 minute car ride from my house, so I left at 8:15am for a 9am start, much better than getting up at 4am for a triathlon. 

Once at the race start, I found an old friend, Jim Trexler and his buddy Ken.  We had planned to do this race as Jim is getting ready for the Steamtown Marathon in a few weeks.  We had a chance to talk before the race got started and after.  While waiting at the start line, the race director Stephen Weiss, told us about the optional “shoe washing station” at mile 2.8 or so.  If you took the shoe wash trail, you saved about ¼ of a mile total.  If you skipped it, you added about ¼ mile by running over a bridge to get back to the trail.  It wound up being a creek crossing of 2 ½ feet deep water.  Nice for a trail run, but heavy on the feet for 9 miles or so.  Needless to say, I took the “shoe wash” both times around the course.

Trail running is so different than road racing.  Trail runners tend to be more laid back and just go with the flow.  No corrals at the start line, no elbowing for position,  just a simple spread out wide and go until the turn.  Stephen gives a simple “Ready..set…go” to start.  Don’t get me wrong, on the single track its tight, but all you need to do is say something like “coming through” and the runner ahead will usually move over when it is safe for them to do so.  I came upon many runners that said something similar when I was behind them…”just let me know when you want to pass.” 

The trail is not overly technical, but is more challenging than most people think.  I keep thinking I should run in this part of the city more, especially for long runs since it is shaded, but seem to always forget about it until fall.  The run is nice with some wide sections along the Pennypack Creek, and the technical single track sections.  You essentially make a 6.55 mile loop and do it twice for the 13.1 miles.  The best part was the “alternative” beverage station around mile 3 and 9…although Milwaukees Best was not what I had in mind!  I only fell onto my hands one time, on the second loop crossing the “shoe” station coming up the bank from the creek bed.  I did see many people with the marks of having fallen.  Even Jimmy’s buddy Ken said he took two falls, and he is an Ultra runner.

Overall it was  a great day…finished 5^th in my Age Group, 17^th overall.  After the race I hung out with Jimmy for a little while then headed to meet my family for my mother’s birthday brunch.  I got changed in the car along the way, but still had mud and dirt all over my legs and hands…the old guys face in the bathroom was awesome when we saw me getting clean from the sink.  Priceless!!

Atlantic City here I come!

Short version:

44 out of 435 Top 9.8%

8^th in Age Group

1 Mile Swim, 20 mile bike, & 6.2 mile run

Swim:  28:07

T1:  3:34

Bike:  54:05 (22.19 MPH)

T2:  3:30

Run:  37:27 (6:22 pace)

TOTAL:  2:08.43

The Atlantic City Triathlon is quickly becoming one of my favorite races.  It is at the perfect time of year, late summer.  Temps are usually dropping, the water is still warm, and humidity is low….perfect conditions.  Delmo Sports runs this race, as well as the Tri the Wildwoods Sprint Triahtlon, and they do an awesome job!

Cathy, the kids and I arrived in AC on Friday afternoon to pick up my race gear and check-in at the registration area.  The first thing I noticed was that it was a much better venue than last year.  Last year was cool to have T1 inside Boardwalk Hall, but it was tough logistically.  Bader Field was super easy to navigate with plenty of FREE parking.  We got in and out so fast we had time to meet my parents in Cape May Court House for dinner.

After eating, we went to their house and let the kid’s burn off some steam and let me get everything ready for Saturday morning.  The alarm would go off at 4:15AM, so I wanted to get to sleep by 10PM if possible.  It is a 40 minute ride to AC from their house, so I wanted to hit the road by 4:30.  I got up to AC by 5:30AM and cruised right into the parking lot.  I was in transition and set up by 6AM.  Now I just had to relax.

My swim wave was first, so I would be in the water early.  The race was delayed starting by 12 minutes, as the State Police cleared to Atlantic City Expressway(ACE).  Once the race director received the OK, my wave headed into the water for the in-water start.  The swim would be in the back bay, protected from the waves of the ocean that almost killed me last year (the swim was cancelled last year AFTER I went into the water).  The swim was a nice easy rectangle, nice current with a little push it seemed like in both directions.  The best part about Delmo Sports is their concern for the athletes.  Once again, plenty of lifeguards in the water and along the shoreline at the exit.  The run to T1 was rough on the feet, since Bader Filed is an old airfield and the rumble strips on the ground made the run in from the water more like a fast walk.

Once I changed and ready for the bike I headed towards Albany Ave.  It seemed like a long run from T1, but it probably wasn’t that long, I just wanted to hop on the bike with my new helmut and test it out.  This year the bike course was different from last year.  We exited Bader Field and Rt 40/322 Albany Ave and headed West towards the ACE.  We entered the ACE at exit 2.  It is awesome to ride on the ACE with hardly any cars on it since the right lanes are closed and we ride in the right lane and shoulder.  We exit at #4, cross over the ACE, and re-enter at exit 4 heading east directly into Atlantic City. 

front view

       

left side

       

right side

Once into AC, we make a short loop on the exit ramp and turn around heading Westbound again towards exit 4.  The wind was tough going this direction.  I could feel my bike move a few times during a side wind gust.  What you pay for in the wind coming across the bay, you make up for in flatness.  Once you get to exit 4 you just loop around the off ramp and exit the ACE at #2 and return to Bader Field.  A nice easy 20-miler on the bike in and out of AC.  Heading into Bader Field was a little tough.  Along the road we had the right lane, but some drivers were impatient, and cut into the lanes.  What jerks!  There were plenty of signs and police in the area.  I overheard quite a few exchanges of police officers and drivers.  Once into Bader Field it was a tough run to T2, since I took my feet out of my bike shoes in an attempt to save time and run barefoot.  In reality, I probably cost myself time.

Once I got to my rack, I put my bike up and got dressed for the run.  I was moving OK, but my feet were sweaty and I had a hard time getting on my Zoot racing flats because the grip of my wet feet.  I also tried a new hydration belt at this race, Nathan Hydration, in preparation for Pocono 70.3 in a few weeks.  I just wanted to test it and see how I would like it compared to my old belt, a single 20oz. water bottle holder.  It worked fine.

Once I got done dorking around in T2, I hit the run.  The run course was almost the same as last year, a nice run along the boardwalk.  Running to the boardwalk was a little crazy.  Some of the roads were opened to traffic, but with police controlling to flow.  Sometimes the drivers paid no attention to the police and it was like playing Frogger for some runners.  I had no issues, but I could see quite a few in front of me.  Again, this was because of impatient people disobeying the police officers direction, not a problem with the race director.  I felt great running and noticed many people with their Philadelphia Triathlon Club race kits on.  It great to hear “Go Philly” along the course.

Overall I felt really good with my results, especially since I have had not much motivation to train lately.  Mentally I am still trying to get over IMLP and physically I am still 10lbs too heavy.  Same thing happened last year after IMLP, low motivation.  I still get most of my sessions in, just without much focus it seems.  Oh well, its back to school in our house and that is good.  Half Marathon this weekend so I'll post that report next week.