JFK 50 miler 11-17-12
Chicago Marathon 10-07-12

Prelude:
Yet another attempt to run under 3 hours in the 2010 decade. If so, that would make for a five-decade long streak of sub-3:00! Very few of that breed are out there! The Association of Road Running Statisticians now lists 26 sub-3:00/five-decade members who've done so. It includes three Olympians, two Boston winners and one woman.
Graham will be joining Henry in the windy city and might be the one to watch out for at this one! Contact if you will also be there!
Results:
Graham 2:25 and Henry 3:04
Yet another attempt to run under 3 hours in the 2010 decade. If so, that would make for a five-decade long streak of sub-3:00! Very few of that breed are out there! The Association of Road Running Statisticians now lists 26 sub-3:00/five-decade members who've done so. It includes three Olympians, two Boston winners and one woman.
Graham will be joining Henry in the windy city and might be the one to watch out for at this one! Contact if you will also be there!
Results:
Graham 2:25 and Henry 3:04
Vermont 100 7-22-12

A new buckle and a new broken toe!
Mason Dixon Longest Day - 100k attempt during daylight
Being a Dawg and Getting Intimate with the MDLD!
6-22-12
I was very much looking forward to my first go at the Mason Dixon Longest Day Run, a signature Trail Dawg event. With 62 summer miles on a mix of exposed sunny roads, and escarpment trails, this a bucket list event for runners of my speed. Although no master had made the whole distance in the allocated ~15 daylight hours on the summer equinox, I knew my chances were good. If I just stayed on course, stayed away from the really bad patches, and generally stayed out of the chairs, I could get it done. And, besides being a great challenge, I always look forward to running a Dawg event- the best in free range trail running, where every Dawg is conveniently a preapproved best friend.
I camped at the Susquehanna Campground, one, maybe 2 miles from the start, which I recommend. You may get to meet some other runners there, which I did, which is very appropriate. And, it is a great way to get your head in the game, enjoying comfortable pre run banter. Race day, it is up at 4, to get ready for the 5:34 AM start. On this morning, at about 4:30, seemingly out of the remote wilderness, up the campground drive comes 4 bouncing headlights: these trotters were the 3:34 AM start time runners looking for directions. Seriously? Yep, just wandered off trail a couple of miles,… so far. They are happy like us. Our heads are so far in the game, it’s weird. Our tails are wagging. Welcome to the MDLD.
On to the start- Off we go, and I am going easy, very easy the first mile; it’s a long day, you know? I have coffee in my one water bottle and Gatorade in the other. The first road crossing at the Conowingo Dam is a relatively easy, not so hot yet, 5 miles or so away. Should be water there, no problems. I can be fast, and will trot up and into the group soon enough. I lost sight of the group by maybe 200 yards and am running along, so I pick it up, and pick it up some more. Hmmm, they sure are going after it, they will be suffering later in the heat. Up we go, a couple miles……hmmm, this isn’t right. Uphill, lots of turns, cobwebs in the trail? That can’t be right. Oh, those are bluish green markers, not blue. Wrong trail, very wrong trail. Bad Dawg! I run back about 2 miles, and that was about a 30 minute+ wrong turn. Now I am booking it, trying to get it together. After 90 minutes, in last place (maybe?), out of drink, thirsty, worn down from running harder, I have traveled about 5 miles. So far. Good thing I am a Dawg: no whining, always happy!
On we go. Big trees and power lines are down on the roads, and blocking sections of trails for the first 15 miles. Looks like a tornado went through here last night. No problems. Just don’t pee on the power lines and go around the trees, puppy. There is some nice rural road running to be had in this section, and it is a good place to make up time. I have come up on the earlier starters before reaching mile 20 or so, where we go through Peach Bottom Power Plant. I couldn’t pick up the trail scent at one point, so I stopped, waited for a Dawgie pal to arrive and find the trail for me. At another point, I hauled up to a rather high power line hill top, then ran about a half mile in a couple of wrong directions, gave up, and waited for some of the same pack and we left together in the right direction. Again.
On we go. The way the race strategy goes (there is a race in there), is I suggest that you want to arrive at Otter Creek Campground, mile 50, before 4:30, or you won’t make the 12+ miles to the 62 mile finish by 8:30, which is dusk. I know that 12 miles in 4 hours is very slow, but on the practice run that I did make for that section, we ran those 12 ornery miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes, and I was running on fresh legs, and I was on the gas some. Today, at mile 25, halfway to 50, I am behind schedule. I will need to reverse split by an hour and a half, maybe 2 hours. Fire ‘em up! I start trotting, no wrong turns any more. It is just hot and I am tired. I get to Otter Creek as the day is cooling and my last 6 miles were covered in about an hour, and I am doing the best running I have done all day. But, alas, it is after 5PM. It is too late, I missed my cutoff to make the dusk finish. Oh, well. I feel great, still puppy happy, and can run 50 more miles, for a beer and if I had the time. It is time to go home, where my family is eagerly waiting for me to finally get over this running day, jump in the truck, and get our week of vacation in, heading on a midnight drive to the beach to play volleyball.
While I am gathering myself at my 50 mile finish at Otter Creek with a couple of beers, in comes occasional fellow Dawgs. One Dawg is gunning down a beer, and heading on down the trail to finish after dusk. I am overwhelmed with the need to pace, join the pack, be a lead Dawg, …... wait…….I should still be running, don’t leave, wait for me!……….I can barely stand it, and won’t forget that. This is my kind of run. Next year, we will do it all! Run like a Dawg, Beer at Otter Creek, and maybe, sub 15 hours. Aaarff, aarff!!
These are my personal extra special MDLD TraIl Dawg shout outs :
Hunt – The Alpha Dawg, Every Dawg’s best friend.
Bridgette – The defining Trail Dawg spirit- in the most important ways, this is what I am talking about!
Mimi- Coming all the way from Tennessee, Mimi, who swims 1000 mile races, graced us with her company and boundless confidence!
Tom – First master to make the daylight challenge- did his homework, a well trained Dawg- You deserve it, Tom!
And, Meg – Meg is the first woman to be the first overall finisher. Her first MDLD, and an incredible feat, there will be a lifetime more to come for Meg.
6-22-12
I was very much looking forward to my first go at the Mason Dixon Longest Day Run, a signature Trail Dawg event. With 62 summer miles on a mix of exposed sunny roads, and escarpment trails, this a bucket list event for runners of my speed. Although no master had made the whole distance in the allocated ~15 daylight hours on the summer equinox, I knew my chances were good. If I just stayed on course, stayed away from the really bad patches, and generally stayed out of the chairs, I could get it done. And, besides being a great challenge, I always look forward to running a Dawg event- the best in free range trail running, where every Dawg is conveniently a preapproved best friend.
I camped at the Susquehanna Campground, one, maybe 2 miles from the start, which I recommend. You may get to meet some other runners there, which I did, which is very appropriate. And, it is a great way to get your head in the game, enjoying comfortable pre run banter. Race day, it is up at 4, to get ready for the 5:34 AM start. On this morning, at about 4:30, seemingly out of the remote wilderness, up the campground drive comes 4 bouncing headlights: these trotters were the 3:34 AM start time runners looking for directions. Seriously? Yep, just wandered off trail a couple of miles,… so far. They are happy like us. Our heads are so far in the game, it’s weird. Our tails are wagging. Welcome to the MDLD.
On to the start- Off we go, and I am going easy, very easy the first mile; it’s a long day, you know? I have coffee in my one water bottle and Gatorade in the other. The first road crossing at the Conowingo Dam is a relatively easy, not so hot yet, 5 miles or so away. Should be water there, no problems. I can be fast, and will trot up and into the group soon enough. I lost sight of the group by maybe 200 yards and am running along, so I pick it up, and pick it up some more. Hmmm, they sure are going after it, they will be suffering later in the heat. Up we go, a couple miles……hmmm, this isn’t right. Uphill, lots of turns, cobwebs in the trail? That can’t be right. Oh, those are bluish green markers, not blue. Wrong trail, very wrong trail. Bad Dawg! I run back about 2 miles, and that was about a 30 minute+ wrong turn. Now I am booking it, trying to get it together. After 90 minutes, in last place (maybe?), out of drink, thirsty, worn down from running harder, I have traveled about 5 miles. So far. Good thing I am a Dawg: no whining, always happy!
On we go. Big trees and power lines are down on the roads, and blocking sections of trails for the first 15 miles. Looks like a tornado went through here last night. No problems. Just don’t pee on the power lines and go around the trees, puppy. There is some nice rural road running to be had in this section, and it is a good place to make up time. I have come up on the earlier starters before reaching mile 20 or so, where we go through Peach Bottom Power Plant. I couldn’t pick up the trail scent at one point, so I stopped, waited for a Dawgie pal to arrive and find the trail for me. At another point, I hauled up to a rather high power line hill top, then ran about a half mile in a couple of wrong directions, gave up, and waited for some of the same pack and we left together in the right direction. Again.
On we go. The way the race strategy goes (there is a race in there), is I suggest that you want to arrive at Otter Creek Campground, mile 50, before 4:30, or you won’t make the 12+ miles to the 62 mile finish by 8:30, which is dusk. I know that 12 miles in 4 hours is very slow, but on the practice run that I did make for that section, we ran those 12 ornery miles in 3 hours and 15 minutes, and I was running on fresh legs, and I was on the gas some. Today, at mile 25, halfway to 50, I am behind schedule. I will need to reverse split by an hour and a half, maybe 2 hours. Fire ‘em up! I start trotting, no wrong turns any more. It is just hot and I am tired. I get to Otter Creek as the day is cooling and my last 6 miles were covered in about an hour, and I am doing the best running I have done all day. But, alas, it is after 5PM. It is too late, I missed my cutoff to make the dusk finish. Oh, well. I feel great, still puppy happy, and can run 50 more miles, for a beer and if I had the time. It is time to go home, where my family is eagerly waiting for me to finally get over this running day, jump in the truck, and get our week of vacation in, heading on a midnight drive to the beach to play volleyball.
While I am gathering myself at my 50 mile finish at Otter Creek with a couple of beers, in comes occasional fellow Dawgs. One Dawg is gunning down a beer, and heading on down the trail to finish after dusk. I am overwhelmed with the need to pace, join the pack, be a lead Dawg, …... wait…….I should still be running, don’t leave, wait for me!……….I can barely stand it, and won’t forget that. This is my kind of run. Next year, we will do it all! Run like a Dawg, Beer at Otter Creek, and maybe, sub 15 hours. Aaarff, aarff!!
These are my personal extra special MDLD TraIl Dawg shout outs :
Hunt – The Alpha Dawg, Every Dawg’s best friend.
Bridgette – The defining Trail Dawg spirit- in the most important ways, this is what I am talking about!
Mimi- Coming all the way from Tennessee, Mimi, who swims 1000 mile races, graced us with her company and boundless confidence!
Tom – First master to make the daylight challenge- did his homework, a well trained Dawg- You deserve it, Tom!
And, Meg – Meg is the first woman to be the first overall finisher. Her first MDLD, and an incredible feat, there will be a lifetime more to come for Meg.
North Face 50 mile and 50k

06/02/12 A gnarly day in the mud. This is post face plants and showers!
Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 Mile Run - May, 2012

Up and down and up and down. Check and done! Another fun buckle!
ALS Research - Fiesta 5k, May 2012

TeamBeAChamp - "Always Looking Sexy" with good friend, Bill Beauchamp!
Check out Bill's Chilidog Race!
Check out Bill's Chilidog Race!
Henry and friends at Tim Kennard 10 Mile River Run

Missed, but never forgotten! This run/walk is in Tim's honor, with proceeds going, as Tim requested, to help children and animals. This year the proceeds will help: Coastal Hospice, specifically for pediatric cases and programs for grieving children who have lost a sibling or a parent to cancer; the Salisbury Horizons Student Enrichment Program, which provides support, education and hope to children from economically disadvantaged families; also, Coalition of Caring, a fund for our animal friends in need.
Started in 2004 and continually growing each year because of the many volunteers, sponsers and friends! See you again for next year!
http://www.timkennard.org/
Started in 2004 and continually growing each year because of the many volunteers, sponsers and friends! See you again for next year!
http://www.timkennard.org/