Pretzel City Sports Dirty Bird 15k Race Report

Well, well, I wasn't the only want who came back for a second Turkey Trot. I met Grant Farrell at the Millersville Turkey Trot 5k. I lined up next to him. He finished the 5k about a minute ahead of me, and we chatted briefly afterward. It was cool to meet another Hempfield High School alum who is still racing. This dude was at the Dirty Bird 15k trail race 3 days later, and collected 2nd place for Male 30-39. He was so fast that he was already dressed up in warm clothes when I came in. #WERQ




So how was my race? I definitely ran better than I did at my first Dirty Bird 5 years ago. I still started out fast and struggled a little bit going up hill from mile 0.5 to mile 1.5. Many guys and and a few gals passed me during this long incline. I started working my way up after mile 1.5. No one else passed me from mile 1.5 to the finish. I ran very well downhill, flats, and even up some small hills and finish in 1 hour and 22 minutes. I was about 13 minutes slower than that dude Grant but I was 6 minutes faster than my previous Dirty Bird run.

Every time I run a trail race, I wonder why I don't run trail races more often. Trail running puts me in a good mood but I don't have easy access to trails living in center city. I do enjoy all the Pretzel City Sports trail runs and hope to do one or two each year.

Urban Exploration

Right off of the Schuylkill River Trail is an abandoned water mill. It's somewhat hidden by trees. You have to go through a muddy trail to get there but it's worth a visit.

2011 Winter and Spring Races

New York City Frontrunners Indoors Masters Track Meet
1 mile and 2 mile races.
Not a lot of expectation for my first time running on a short track.

From Dan Anders Photography

Cherry Blossom 10-Miler
Personal best for this distance in a very hilly course! This was definitely my best race so far this year.

From Dan Anders Photography

From Dan Anders Photography

Garden Spot Village Marathon
I started out slow, and got slower and couldn't keep up with my 3:40 pacer ladies.

From Dan Anders Photography

Dirty Germans 50k Trail
Kind of easy course for a trail run. I had a modest goal of finishing under 6 hours, and I did.

From Dan Anders Photography

JWJ Beach House Memorial 5k
Bethany Beach, DE
I had problems breathing in this race due to the high humidity and my lack of training. I still managed to get 3rd place in my age group!

FFrom Dan Anders Photography

Wissahickon Trail Classic 10k

Wow, I got a personal record at the Wissahickon Trail Classic 10k this weekend. This is the only trail race that I know of within the City of Philadelphia. I ran this race twice before, and it's a pleasant surprise to have a PR while I am not i a top running shape.
I walked a lot going uphill, but I made up during the flat and downhill portions. Threw up a little bit toward the end. Landed on the wrong part of my feet 3 times. Fell once (at the next to last turn going downhill before the finish).

Dirty Bird 15k

Eric and I took a road trip to Birdsboro, Pennsylvania to run the Dirty Bird 15k trail race. We are not experienced trail runners, so we were there more for the joy of trail running.

It was a nice drive to the French Creek State Park. I didn't get lost until I reached the sate park, and couldn't find an entrance to the start/finish area. Luckily we allowed time for this exact issue, and the drive was very scenic.

The temperature was in the high 30's at the start.

I went out way too fast .... I was among the top 25 after 1/2 mile which was went we started going off trail. That was the beginning of a long climb, and my body couldn't handle it. So 15 minutes into the race, I started walking. After 5 minutes, Eric passed me. I saw Eric but couldn't lift my knees up. I walked for a few more minutes until we reached the top of the hill.

I started running again, had a gel pack, and my body recovered. Running on rocks and twisty trails were not too different from running while playing soccer. Thus, my footing was fine. I passed many runners including Eric and another Fins, Ironman Brian. I walked a few more hills but for the most part, I sprinted downhill to make up for the lost time.

My time was 1 hours 28 minutes and 43 seconds. I was 133rd out of 458 finishers.

I felt fine after the race, and started running again the next day. The Dirty Bird 15k trail run the happy ending I was looking for to finish my 2007 racing year!

Half-Wit Half

"For only a fool would do the Halfwit; a 13.1M rustic trail of rocks galore, downed logs, bizarre aide stations, gnats & newts, crazy awards, memorable shirts, urban horrors like the "128 Steps from Hell" and silliness that would make a jester jocular!"
I needed a break from Petty Gay Drama, so a road trip for a trail run was the answer. I drove to Reading, PA this morning for the Half-Wit Half Marathon. It was challenging, but not as bad as the teasing promotion quoted above. I kept a pace of 8 to 9 minute mile when the trail was somewhat flat. When hills came, I walked and moaned! About 10 men passed me during the "128 Steps from Hell" when I moaned the loudest. Once the steps were over, I passed all these men smiling! My last 3 or 4 miles were awesome as I was able to keep up with a strong 20-something girl. We passed everyone in sight, and no one passed us. After the last water stop, with 0.6 mile left I stepped ahead of her and never looked back!
My time was around 2:20. I finished at 183 overall out of about 600 runners. While the time was about 30 minutes higher than what I could do in a half marathon road race, this Half-Wit Half was my second best race this year.

Wissahickon Trail Classic 10k

My first trail run ever (training or race)
101 out of 382 overall finishers
56 minutes 40 seconds