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FLRC Newsletter - Oct 2003 |
| Monster report 8/31/03 | |
I slept fitfully as the ghost of the old French monster trappper's daughter, Justine de Ouette, haunted my dreams. I rose early to assemble my provisions.
At 7:30, I set out from my abode in Fall Creek, on my bicycle, bound for a 9 am half marathon start at The Rafters. The sun shone on the fog and the fog obscured the cows. For the first time in months, I had to wear a jacket to ward off the morning chill. I admit to hoping I would be irretreivably late when I made the turn in Virgil, but I showed up at 8:57 anyway. Derek was clerking and made sure I was able to offer at least a liver and a kidney to the trail spirits.
My transition from bike to run got me started a mere 53 seconds late, and so I chased to scratch pack down the road. About half a mile in, Boris sprinted past me. He had been delayed. The first ascent was really beautiful. I had never run that section of trail before, and I enjoyed its sylvan softness, in contrast to the stony descent which opens the Forest Frolic.
The surprise came on the descent just past the first manned aid station. Just before the turn across the creek, I overtook Boris. And so we ran within 50 meters of each other for the next several miles as he leaned on me to show him the course, up to the turnaround, and back down, missing one creek crossing and hesitating at another. Then Boris took off. I saw him later, about 100 meters ahead on a road, looking back at me, and shrugging his shoulders. If only the NAVAC people had parked out of sight! I lost sight of Boris crossing the orange spur trail, as I later learned, bound for the Rafters and not destined to be monster fodder.
The handicap format and the different starting times of the short and long races meant I got to see everybody, and I'd seen most by the time got to the top of Virgil Mountain the second time. Now I was ready to scamper down to Tone Road.
There was a monster on my tail on the descent. I passed a lot of people, but my shadow remained. The knolls and off camber sections didn't shake him. We emerged onto Tone Road together, and I picked up the pace. As we turned toward the Rafters, I saw him right behind me as I checked for traffic.
He stayed put right through the finish. And I was astonished to have run 1:55 and tenth place after the prerace adventure. Thanks John and all the volunteers for an enjoyable time.
After the race, I met Chris Shaffer, a (dare I write) Cornell triathlete, who brought a gaggle of his fit frat brothers to the race. I stayed for few slices of pizza, and Becky Harman's incomparable marathon finish. Then I took a half hour cool down on the bike and Nick, one of the brothers gave me a lift the rest of the way to Ithaca.
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