| October 2002 Newsletter |
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Mad Dog in the Forest
[Assistant editor's note: as the person responsible for tagging Tim Ingall with the infamous sobriquet of "Mad Dog" in a previous issue, I disclaim all responsibility for his subsequent actions as he lives up to his new nickname on the local running scene…]
Forest monsters, monstrous mountains, terrific trails, great friends and good food, who could ask for anything more? Yes, I know what you're thinking, another boring story of how someone ran a race and didn't get eaten by the forest monsters. Hey, NOBODY, not even I, could ever write a boring report about 'The Monster' even if it was only about 'just the half'. How someone (and I'm sure that someone had to be Joe D) could devise such an insane and monstrous event as part of the FLRC trail runners series - and pull it off year after year - I have no idea. But he did, and still does, and now it's a legend. Anyone who has ever run it has to be at least partly nuts, and anyone who goes up that Virgil mountain twice in the same day is TOTALLY NUTS!
It was a gorgeous morning, cool with low humidity. The 'out and back twice' marathoners start leaving early depending on their age and sex. About an hour later the half marathoners take off in the same fashion. I arrived about 8 and was due to leave at 8:55 having a 5 minute advantage over the youngsters. I was surprised to find out that a couple of the fast ladies had big "handicaps" (for lack of a better word) that seemed too ridiculous to be true. This age/sex handicap thing doesn't take into account that someone could be a world champion at age 50 and still get a really early start. But, like I sometimes tell my boys, that's the way it is!
Last year was the first year I ran it, I'm still not sure why I did, maybe it was Paul B. telling me he was doing the full course and that made me think that I could possibly do the half. One quickly learns that this is a "good sportsmanship" event. Non-stop the entire time you are meeting, passing, encouraging, being passed, and running into (sorry Tom M.) other runners going in both directions. It seems like everyone cheers on and is happy to greet everyone else, maybe it's just because you then think you're not lost? I spend the race trying to figure out whether the person I just passed was in 'my race' or the 'other race'. Wow --this is fun.
Going up THAT HILL is like trying to get up the final ascent of Everest with 50 climbers taking the same route when the weather finally breaks (I think it's just about as steep too). Approaching the turn-around rock pile I finally caught up with Jim M. who was having a great race and is always hard to keep up with on the downhill sections. As I moved ahead he told me who was still ahead of us in the 1/2. Joe Dabes was next in line to be 'picked off' and then I met Gillian S. already on her way back. We exchanged the customary "keep it going" and "great job" (I think I heard her say "uh oh, there he is", and believe me there's no better encouragement than that!).
Then came Audrey B. on the last killer uphill to the rock pile and looking at my watch I thought that I'd just about cut Gillian's lead in half by the mid point. Not for one second until that moment did I ever think I could possibly catch her. I was much more concerned that the young studs behind me would be right on my tail by the halfway mark.
I passed Diane S. on my return route and she informed me that Gillian was 2 minutes ahead. I then passed the rescue post people that told me she was 4 minutes ahead! Talk about confusing-- I didn't think I was slowing down THAT much. A couple of miles later I approached the top of Virgil mountain and then there she was going down the power lines. We headed back into the woods and down the mountain. She heard me coming and turned and made a comment that I didn't quite catch. I yelled out, "mad dogs" and "you're mine", and I thought I heard her laughing up ahead! We then continually met marathon maniacs heading back up the hill and I said it before: maybe I just missed something along the way?
The course was mud free, the markers numerous and well placed, the food excellent and the camaraderie the whole way was fantastic. This might be the most ridiculous race I do all year but WOW what a lot of fun. A big thanks to the race director John M. and all his merry volunteers. Thanks also to the rescue squad that come to so many of the trail races and help keep us safe out there. Not the least of thanks go to the fast individuals who chose to run the full marathon and also to Scott Weeks for putting on the Groton 5k the next day to keep the rabbits away. I think this was my first win in 4 years and what a thrill it was.
Congratulations to Gillian Sharp for a great run and pulling me along. And to Tom Meyer, thanks for the push all the way - and just think, next year I'll have an even bigger lead at the start! If you missed this event this year then I'm sorry - but try not to make the same mistake next time it comes around.
-- Tim "Mad Dog" Ingall
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