Popular Post Square Wheels Posted June 19, 2016 Popular Post Share #1 Posted June 19, 2016 So, admittedly I was getting a little freaked out about the weather. The week up to the run temps were I the 20s and 30s, several inches of snow, freezing rain and winds averaging 50 mph with gusts in the 90s. Those are far past the conditions for which they would simply cancel the race. If it were in the 20s or 30s alone the race would go on. I was not prepared for those temps. The day before the run was beautiful. The forecast for Saturday was also perfect, I started to relax a little. Dawn and I went to pick up my number the night before, I also wanted to check the place out. I’ve driven up Mt Washington many times, but this was my first race of any kind ever. It was a pretty big deal. The starting banner was set up the night before. I got my number, not sure how I scored such a low number, but I was happy to have an actual race number. The morning of the race I was again concerned about the weather. Predicted 40s at the top, while not cold, it’s colder than I would run in just shorts and a shirt. I had on a compression shirt (love that thing) a cycling jersey (for those that run and don’t cycle, these are cool as they have pockets), tights and shorts. I was also planning on carrying a sweatshirt tied around my waist. I changed my mind an took off the tights and left the sweatshirt behind. Once Dawn headed up the mountain, no turning back. I walked around for almost 2 hours (cars had to head up very early) and started to get a little chilled. Clearly I need to HTFU. While I was waiting I met George Etzweiler. Really cool guy, his 11th time running it. He’s 96! They are pretty good about giving him a bib with his age. Finally the race was about to start. Again, I’ve never been in anything like this, so it was all really pretty cool to me. They had us all line up at the banner, the people that were expected to win / place well were in the front. A few minutes of talking, some words from our sponsor, a singing of the national anthem, sounding of the cannon and off we went. All 1140 of us. The first mile we all stayed together. Some of the fast people obviously went ahead, but the rest of us lumbered along. By mile 2 I was happy with my decision to leave the clothes, I was soaked with sweat. At this point I was still running. By mile 3 it was a mix of walking running. I took off the compression shirt and stuffed it in one of my jersey pockets. It was soaked. I was trying really hard to drink as much as I could. My breathing and heartrate were too high to sustain. This is when the walking started. It was mostly running until mile 5, then it switched to mostly walking, running when I could. I am also doing the bike ride in August, that is going to be a lot harder. At least with the run I can stop, or walk. There is no comparable option with the bike, it’s go or stop. On a hill like that there is no starting again once you’ve stopped. So the whole run I was saying, this section will be hard, but not too bad. This section will be really hard and about all that I can manage. Uh oh, this section is probably harder than I can handle, what will I do? I had to stop doing that and focus on the run. By mile 6 I knew I still had a long way to go, but I was convinced I’d make it. By mile 7 you could see the top, then you turn a corner and you can see the observatory. I knew I was close, and I knew I had someone who loved me and was cheering me on waiting. I am very lucky. The end is a brutal 22%. I was mostly walking at this point but needed to make a good show of it and tried my best to run that hard part. The crowds cheering you on really helped, but it was more than I could do. I ran most of the 22% hill, walked for a little, than ran across the finish line. 2 hours 17 minutes. 910 out of 1140, clearly no record, but I wasn’t last. Actually the guy in last was pretty special, it was George, he finished! He’s 96. His son and grandson started with him, not sure if they finished. At the top they packed the cars in like sardines, Dawn said it looked like a scene from the Walking Dead. I got my participant trophy. The blanket was nice, I was pretty overheated and the air was cool. Then the best part. I haven’t had a soda in almost a year. I love soda. So there it is, the hardest physical event I have done (to date). Will I do it again? Possibly. At lunch with Dawn yesterday I suggested she do it next year. She didn’t say I was nuts. She’s thinking about it. If she decides to do it I will start training this fall for a run that is next summer. I want to run the whole distance next time. As far as winning, I feel like I won. I have a lot of respect for Mt Washington. I’m saying Man 1: Mountain 0, but suspect it’s more of a draw at this point. Next up is the century around it next month, then the ride up it in August. 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead ★ Posted June 19, 2016 Share #2 Posted June 19, 2016 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airehead Posted June 19, 2016 Share #3 Posted June 19, 2016 You are a winner in my book. The real work is in the training. You did that even when you did not want to do so. I love that you are already thinking about next year but that is also a little nuts. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Road Runner Posted June 19, 2016 Share #4 Posted June 19, 2016 36 minutes ago, Square Wheels said: Then the best part. I haven’t had a soda in almost a year. I love soda. Especially Dr Pepper! Yay! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Posted June 19, 2016 Share #5 Posted June 19, 2016 Congrats! Wonderful accomplishment! But I think I'm just as impressed by whoever coordinated that parking! How the heck did they get the cars out - it's worse than the Hollywood Bowl. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Road Runner Posted June 19, 2016 Share #6 Posted June 19, 2016 2 minutes ago, Kirby said: How the heck did they get the cars out - it's worse than the Hollywood Bowl. Looks like last in, first out. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudge ★ Posted June 19, 2016 Share #7 Posted June 19, 2016 Good Lord , I'm exhausted just thinking about it. A 22% grade at the end?! Ugh. Your training must have been very good; otherwise, you would not be planning for next year already. Congratulations on a job well done!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Square Wheels Posted June 19, 2016 Author Share #8 Posted June 19, 2016 11 minutes ago, Kirby said: Congrats! Wonderful accomplishment! But I think I'm just as impressed by whoever coordinated that parking! How the heck did they get the cars out - it's worse than the Hollywood Bowl. Surprisingly it went very well. This was a superbly organized event, lots of people directing traffic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Road Runner Posted June 19, 2016 Share #9 Posted June 19, 2016 1 hour ago, Square Wheels said: I am also doing the bike ride in August, that is going to be a lot harder. At least with the run I can stop, or walk. There is no comparable option with the bike, it’s go or stop. On a hill like that there is no starting again once you’ve stopped. I agree. If I could run (bad knees), I would much rather run it than ride it. Do you have somewhere with steep hills that you can train for such a daunting task? I would think the training would help prepare you both mentally and physically. The mental part will probably be as important as the physical. I would have no idea how to manage steep inclines since I've never actually ridden on any real hills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Randomguy Posted June 19, 2016 Popular Post Share #10 Posted June 19, 2016 34 minutes ago, Road Runner said: Do you have somewhere with steep hills that you can train for such a daunting task? You know as well as I do that the only thing you need to train for any Mt. Washington event is either a stationary trainer or a treadmill and a wattage meter. You don't even have to sniff outside air at all! SW's, there is so much win here just for getting to the top, lots of 'yay' in this thread. Nice job, I think you will do even better in the bike ride! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrentonMakes Posted June 19, 2016 Share #11 Posted June 19, 2016 Congratulations on a great showing. I'm very impressed. Thanks for the detailed writeup. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddmaxx ★ Posted June 19, 2016 Share #12 Posted June 19, 2016 You're a better man than I Gunga Wheels. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead ★ Posted June 19, 2016 Share #13 Posted June 19, 2016 This thread needs more attention. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead ★ Posted June 19, 2016 Share #14 Posted June 19, 2016 It's great stuff SW. Good work. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petitepedal ★ Posted June 19, 2016 Share #15 Posted June 19, 2016 Yay What everyone else said!!! Cheers on the Dr. Pepper too. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Square Wheels Posted June 19, 2016 Author Share #16 Posted June 19, 2016 1 hour ago, dotman17 said: This thread needs more attention. I typed it on vacation from my tablet, just for you folks. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zealot Posted June 19, 2016 Share #17 Posted June 19, 2016 Congratulations on an awesome event, SW!!! My hat's off to you. Great write up on a great showing. You'll do very well on the bike. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zephyr Posted June 20, 2016 Share #18 Posted June 20, 2016 Super SW. I salute you, loved the pics and ride report. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudge ★ Posted June 20, 2016 Share #19 Posted June 20, 2016 3 hours ago, Square Wheels said: I typed it on vacation from my tablet, just for you folks. It's good you took the time to make the report. Cool that you and Samuel Clemens have something in common: reports of your demise... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AirwickWithCheese Posted June 20, 2016 Share #20 Posted June 20, 2016 Congratulations you're beginning to look like Phil Collins 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralphie ★ Posted June 20, 2016 Share #21 Posted June 20, 2016 Congrats eville forum commander! Living through it is a tremendous achievement! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Road Runner Posted June 20, 2016 Share #22 Posted June 20, 2016 1 minute ago, Ralph T. Mooseknuckle said: Congrats eville forum commander! Living through it is a tremendous achievement! I agree, although I don't think I would test the karma gods by saying things like, "Man 1, Mountain 0." He still has the bike ride. The mountain might get pissed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralphie ★ Posted June 20, 2016 Share #23 Posted June 20, 2016 5 minutes ago, Road Runner said: I agree, although I don't think I would test the karma gods by saying things like, "Man 1, Mountain 0." He still has the bike ride. The mountain might get pissed. Yup! One does NOT fuck with mt Washington. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Square Wheels Posted June 20, 2016 Author Share #24 Posted June 20, 2016 1 hour ago, Road Runner said: I agree, although I don't think I would test the karma gods by saying things like, "Man 1, Mountain 0." He still has the bike ride. The mountain might get pissed. Not sure I believein that, but I did say it was more of a draw. I have a lot of respect for the mountain. I had a great day yesterday, it really was a blast. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pokey Posted June 20, 2016 Share #25 Posted June 20, 2016 Well done and congratulations!!!!!!!!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kzoo Posted June 20, 2016 Share #26 Posted June 20, 2016 Congratulation O' Square One. Max kudos to you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirtyhip Posted June 20, 2016 Share #27 Posted June 20, 2016 Great job. I know I could not do this grueling race. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsnip Totin Jack ★ Posted June 20, 2016 Share #28 Posted June 20, 2016 Congrats on the run o square one! Kudos for the effort and achievement. Get on your bike and ride! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoseySusan Posted June 24, 2016 Share #29 Posted June 24, 2016 Excellent! Looking forward to the century ride report. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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