2009 Li'l Rhody Runaround

Sunday morning I packed a bag of blaze orange and headed to Burlingame State Park picnic area for my second Li'l Rhody Runaround 8 mile Trail Race (Snerro Results).

The WTAC puts on a nice event that draws the usual trail vets, Sunday Frunners, and a lot of fast road racers. Of course, many of the lead trail racers also perform as speedily on the roads, watch out! The field was packed with 290 runners, 130 of whom were race-day registrants. The RD reminded (scratch that) WARNED the crowd that this Li'l Rhody is a trail race and that means rocks and roots and "Danger, Will Robinson" all over the place! Oh yeah, by the way it's hunting season, so you must wear some orange or no turkey for you! (Above: Alan Bernier with Diana Davis).

As promised, the course was muddy, rocky, rooty and nearly flat-to-rolling gloriously runnable. 'Twas quite tame, actually.
UNLIKE the aggressive and territorial goose who honked up a storm along that last road section before the finish. If you warmed up there, you might've been chased by the feller.

This year the top-four overall finishers crushed last year's winning time of 46:31. Greg Hammett, 2008 winner, shaved 83 seconds off his time this year. Still, Jacob Edwards, held off Hammett with 44:45 for first. Cody Thompson and Alan Bernier must've gone all out in the finishing chute for 3rd and 4th places (45:57 and 46:00).

The top two females also finished closely; Renee Knapp took first (54:06) and Michaela Driscoll was a few ticks behind (54:24). Diana Davis, road and track racer, set down her studies to tear up the trails for a solid 3rd (56:37).

Then there's us...

(Trail Pixie Trespas, Bill H and John P)
The middle-packers who run for a few spare points.

At Li'l Rhody Runaround 2008 it was 2o-below with the wind-chill. I scurried for some last-chance ENETRS points against some talented female runners with whom I was beaver-tooth-to-tail (translation: "neck-in-neck"). In this year's series, I ran more events early on, then shifted my focus to the USATF Mountain Running Circuit for mountain-goat status. After the Stone Cat Trail Marathon, I return to the series, tickled to discover I still lead for the women. Hot Beaver Dam!

While I wore Don't Shoot Me orange, I wanted to REPreSENT so I flashed my pink "Beaver Power" Sock Guy Socks. I think I should also try the white/brown "Got Wood" pair, too, just to see what happens. Sock-ET 2 Em.

Without the competition gnawing my tail, I ran at a fun conversational pace. Thom P and I talked horror films the whole time and created our own Li'l Rhody Trail-Saw Massacre.

It was hot this year (mid-50's) so after the run I soaked my feet with Bill H in the Watchaug Pond. OMG, That was cold. (Pond in November = free & natural ice-bath substitute).

Apparently we weren't the only crazies as several other running-nuts followed suit. Then it was on to the fires.

2008 1:10:58
2009 1:15:39

Overall by slowing down my pace by 30 seconds/mile, I felt awesome for most of the race and had something left for the road sprint and that goose —#42!

Other beavers from our colony were missed, especially, Li'l Roy.
Julie O was at JFK!

2009 Stone Cat Trail Race (Photos)

Below is a selection of photos I took during the 2009 Stone Cat Trail Races. Most are of folks—either running in—or supporting—the 50 miler(s). After I finished the marathon, I ran back into the woods to take some photos before focusing on the finish-line/aid area. Please note the photos are not in sequential order. Scroll down for more photos from 2008 and 2007.

Stone Cat 2009

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Stone Cat Trail Races 2009

Stone Cat 2008

2008 Stone Cat 50 Mile and Marathon Trail Races (Photos by Emily Trespas)

Stone Cat 2007 (Finish Area)

2007 Stone Cat Trail Races (Finish Area) (By. Emily Trespas)

more...Stone Cat 2007 (Woods Photos)

2007 Stone Cat Trail Races (Woods Photos)

Video of Leigh Schmitt setting the Stone Cat 50-mile course record in 2008.

New Stone Cat 50 Mile Trail Race Records

A quick post to share a video of Aliza Lapierre, of Williston, VT, breaking the women's 50-mile course record at the 2009 Stone Cat Trail Race. She finished strongly in 7:19:19, crushing Christine Daly's 2008 course record of 8:06:14.

Aliza (in blue) with her fast-last-loop pacer, Theresa Soracco.

Amy Lane ran an impressive 50 miles for second woman in a time of "F:AS:T!" with a smile and no-worse-for-the-wear.
Her 7:54:40 ALSO broke the previous woman's course record!

RESULTS for 2009 Stone Cat Trail Races

What's in the bag, Gilly?
Gilly presents Brian Rusieki with some special Ipswich Ale hooch.

On the men's side, Brian Rusieki, from Leeds, MA, broke Leigh Schmitt's 2008 50-mile record of 6:30:08 with a close and "comfortable" 6:27:37. Leigh was right behind Brain with 6:32:06. What a full fall of long races and quick paces for these leaders!

Leigh wraps up another Stone Cat 50.

More postings about the race and the Stone Kitten Posse coming soon...

Busa Bushwhack Birthday Bash

The Busa Bushwhack 5.3 and 10 mile trail races were especially amazing this year as Richard Busa turned 80 a few days prior to the races. He is a remarkable man who inspires me well beyond the trails. Barry Ostrow, RD, captured this photo of us. I can't help but beam when I am near Richard.

Happy Birthday, Richard!

This year at the Busa, I ran the longer distance (10 miler) as a nice set-up for the following weekend's Stone Cat Trail Marathon. My pace was even and I felt great. I power-walked the ups, rolled along the trails and followed the birthday-pie-plates. In addition to the 5.3 and 10 mile races, some folks found themselves on a slightly shorter course (9 miles, a.k.a. whoops, you didn't see the water stop in the parking lot followed by a very steep but short incline?) or a slightly longer (10+ mile) tour of Framingham's Callahan State Park. I didn't think much of this until I passed a man at about 2 miles to then pass him again between miles 6-7. That's Funny. I was fortunate to stay on course and on pace. Overall it was a much better day on the trail for me than the previous weekend. I owe it to Richard's positive energy!!!

Insider FYI: Barry's considering separating the two races next year. If it's not too complicated for him and the GFRC, that's a wise idea. Regardless, this was a terrific event with a fast field up front and unique awards, fun shhwag and amazing race namesake!