Northfield Mountain Race

What a beautiful day for a mountain race. Compared to last year's scorching temps (mid-90's, extreme humidity), this year's USATF NE Trail Championships were run in the high 60's. Though the humidity was still at 70%.

For sweaty proof see Scott Mason Photography.
Ken Skier was also snapping photos en route.
More photos taken at the race HERE (by Rose & Denise).

I was battling more than the uphills at Northfield. Early Saturday morning I was sick (I'll spare the details) so I chewed ginger, re-hydrated and hoped for a healthy performance. The cobwebs cleared at about mile 2.5 and after the water stop my turnover improved. Of course that's because at that point the course descends down the mountain!

(Stas, kZ, Trail Pixie, Dan, Bill and Susanne.

Michelle is taking photo.)

Next weekend is the Mount Washington Road Race, which I'll be "running." With this and my upset tummy, I was cautious about my ankles and didn't run all out. It would be a personal disappointment to "rumble-tumble twist & hurl" the weekend prior to MWRR! In the last 1-2 miles the Northfield course rolls along the power lines before turning left sharply to the downhill finish. While the fore runners are specks along this open section, the hills pass more quickly than expected.

This was the first Northfield Mountain Race for some of my running friends: Susanne T, Michelle R and Dan S, and I think also for Bill H. I am so impressed by their resilient running, miles raced and consistently speedy times! Julie O. ran a solid race, too. I watched her ascend the last steep slope working her side-step technique. I tried it and felt excellent going up hill, which might have been a first for me that day. Thanks, Julie.

I missed running with Brian G and Diane L, and of course speedster Paul Y, who introduced me to the course in 2008. Thanks to Donna S for cheering us up one of the steepest hills! I "re-met" and apologized to Chris, whom I clumsily "BUMped" into at The Pack. Thank goodness for a healthy sense of humor!

Accolades to all—green and seasoned—runners. No matter what their places or paces; it's participation that counts. This event proved once again to be seamlessly organized with a well-marked course, accurate timing and bountiful post-race raffle.

Only one furry oversight: VASCO was first canine overall!

Correction: Eric's wonder dog, Vasco, is speedy like a Vespa.

I was calling HER by the wrong name and gender, sorry!

Post-run Fun Feed: A bunch of us headed to The Wagon Wheel Restaurant for some treats. This spot is on Route 2 in Gill, Mass., about five miles from the mountain. Friendly folks serve great food and local libations surrounded by fun kitschy-kollector decor.

Hope to see you at the 6/19 Boxford 10k "mosquito" run!

Local "Lewis & Clark" Discover Dinosaur Bones

Last weekend I met Dan for a long run through Maudslay State Park in Newburyport, Mass. Having recently raced in these woods (Trav's Trail), we explored paths that were new to both of us at a cartographer's pace. The rhododendrons and lady slippers were out and thankfully the mosquitoes were not!

Below is one of my favorite Maudslay views of the Merrimack.

With Dan as a willing adventurer, I was hopeful to discover a runnable link between Maudslay and Moseley Woods. On our way we spotted this momentarily curious deer by Castle Hill.

We followed a "connecting trail" off the back side of Bootlegger's Field before it narrowed and eventually dumped us under a bridge. We agreed that this was not the prettiest section but it was unavoidable; we forged ahead. After 10+ minutes of running in the direction of Moseley, the path forked at a compost barrel by a well-manicured lawn so we turned down the other prong and emerged into more beautifully landscaped grounds with this open-air building (below). I felt like we stumbled from Massachusetts into Tuscany!

What to do now? We "took the cannoli," went back to the compost container and sprinted 150 feet across the grass! Neither one of us turned around. IF WE HAD, we would have noticed this sign alot sooner: "BEWARE, VICIOUS DOGS!" Dogs? What dogs?

Dan and I only discovered this warning when we decided to retrace our steps, after unsuccessful attempts to find an unpaved return route. With no sign of Cujo nor any "Private Property/No Trespassing" markers, the threat humored us to no end— in a mafioso thriller sort of way.

While I am not certain Dan and I mapped the best "runner-friendly" route, we managed to get to Moseley Woods AND discovered these huge dinosaur bones.Luckily we did not run out of gas on this long run.

If we had, we unearthed a few places to refuel.

Pack Monadnock 10 Miler

A humbling 10-mile road race and the 2nd race of 6 in the 2009 NE Mountain Circuit.

"The Pack route climbs 2000 feet and drops 300 feet in 10 miles. The course is mostly paved with a couple of stretches of dirt road from Wilton to the summit of Pack Monadnock. "Pack" means "little" but there's nothing little about the final clamber! The first mile is a tough long rise and the next seven miles are rolling hilly roads. The 8 to the 9-mile mark are a major test with a long climb on route 101, then a brief respite before turning into Miller State Park. The last mile in Miller State park has grades steeper than Mt Washington (11.5% average). The final 200 m has a grade of about 30%."
(Adapted from http://www.usatfne.org/trail/2002mtnevents.html.)

2009 Pack Monadnock RESULTS.
"Back-of-the-Pack" Photos by Ken Skier.

I ran conservatively, took many walk breaks, and kept positive along the highway stretch. Except for that route 101 cambered section, the scenery is awesome, especially the final view from the top of Miller State Park. My favorite aspects of this course are the earthy farm smells, and running past horses, mini-ponies and chickens.


Meeting up with Julie was a delight and we ran together along the highway to the finish. Thank goodness for her, her family cheering squad and seeing Susanne at the top! I was plum-QUAD-tuckered and she taught me a fun side-stepping technique. By changing the angle of the foot on ascent, different muscles in the leg are employed. Pretty straight-forward. My legs felt really good while running this way. Tim informed me that Simon Gutierrez has also used this method during sections of the Mount Washington Road Race. Come June 20th, this cute side-step will surely come in handy.

In the 2008 Pack Monadnock I was faster. But this year I felt better overall during the entire 10 miles, due to proper hydration with Nuun, and a more overall positive & healthy mind-frame. This year my GPS tracked 10.22 total miles, which was probably from all my zig-zagging to check out farm animals. No regrets.

Trail-Pixie's Packs

2008 1:53:18

2009 1:54:53

• Comic Relief: risk-taking chipmunk dodging a runner's footfall.
• Post-Race Tummy Treat: Michael M's raw cookie.
• Cat Walk Moment: feeling organic "kitten-cotton" against skin.
• Introducing Susanne T to the Pack;
• Knyuck-knyuckin' it up with folks;
• kZ's ZipCar shuttle service!