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August 22, 2009

Green Lakes Endurance Fun

The last weekend in August I'll head to Fayetteville, New York for the Green Lakes Endurance Run 50k.

READ MY RACE REPORT HERE.

Recently I met some terrific running folks who talked me
out of racing in Western Massachusetts and instead, into joining them in upstate New York for the GLER! This was not a hard sell because I am eager to run long (and slowly) in new places with ultra-friendly folks. What great fall marathon training, too! Plus I haven't been back to that area since the 1990s.

I'll play with Galloway's run:walk technique and aim to go the four (7.75-mile) laps, which is how I completed my first 50k with a smile. Still I must be cautious of my big toe I smashed a few weeks ago!

Way back in the age of "baggy-demin and over-sized fleece hats" I lived in Ithaca, New York, while in graduate school. (See my photo above, circa 1994, at Taughannock Falls State Park, Trumansburg, NY.) Not only did I not run then, I had no notion of running, trail running nor the Finger Lakes ultra-fanatics who scoured surrounding state parks.

Coincidence?
Earlier this month at a gym, I ran into someone with whom I lived while at Cornell but with whom I hadn't
communicated in over 12 years! I reminisced about the paths I'd chosen since leaving Ithaca and the wealth of health and happiness running has contributed to my life since I started in the early 2000s. Full circle.

I decided to return to up state New York—a land of
marathon printmaking-sessions, Saranac beer, Wegmans chocolate-covered espresso-bean coffee ice-cream, the Finger Lakes state parks and abundant memories—and take my path less traveled by. Time to make up for some "missed miles" and what miles to go before I sleep...

+++++++++++++++
Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

—Robert Frost

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Pixie! I love the picture of you at Taughannock. My daughter went for a swim not far from where your picture was taken. I had no idea you spent time in the Finger Lakes. My wife and daughter and I are usually there for about a week every year. I love the other gorges in the area, too. Robert Treman and Buttermilk Falls are favorites of mine. I can't wait to hear about your experience of Green Lakes.

Streph

Unknown said...

Wow, good luck on the endurance run. Are you ready?

Trail Pixie Trespas said...

Streph- small GORGEous world! I want to go back and explore the area more now that I am a trail runner! We could someday coorinate when you family is there, too.

Meg- I hope I am ready! It will be a fun slow day. I can't wait to see the area and the trails and the lakes and the other runners.