<p>Here is my race report. The race was not too big, not too small - about 500 marathoners and 1200 halvers. It was run on two beautif, paved trails forming 2 in and out loops. Very well organized: we started 20 min before the half, and while we were running on the longer loop, the halvers were directed to the shorter loop, so for quite a while the trail was free of congestion. The weather was simply perfect: upper 50s with light drizzle, but as soon as we enterted the forest, the trees shielded us. I planned my outfit well, and it paid off, because I did not feel any discomfort. I wore my Lulu TaTa top and my favorite prison- striped shorts, Anita bra and the lightweight Injinji toe socks (not a single blister on my toes - yay!). I chose my trusted Brooks Pure Cadence shoes, and it was a smart move, too, since they were comfortable even after getting soaking wet. The trail was mosy dry with just a few puddles here and there, and at first we all tried to avoid the shallow puddles, but by the end of the race everyone was plowing straight through them! Whoever said that the course was flat was probably a mountain runner - there were some steep hills, and both trails were going uphill until the turn around point, which meant the second half was downhill, and I was really happy that it was not the other way around. Especially during the second loop! Later in the evening Mr B and I went walking on the trail, and he commented that he really felt the incline. He also laughed at the last hill! :)</p>
<p>MOfWC, I think I must have seen your race “buddy” on the trail - this time, she did a marathon walk in her track briefs. :eek: LOL! There was one marathon walker dude dressed in a devil costume, complete with horns and pointy tail. I wonder what his bib number was - I could not see it , but I guess he was the runner number 666?! :)</p>
<p>Great report, BB, and congrats again. The Marathon Maniacs seem to like to do the costume-thing. I am not interested in having a bunch of devil’s tails or ears hanging off of me, frankly! And the tutus- no thanks!</p>
<p>I looked up the Gros Morne mountain trail hike. Yikes. It has one section, up a rock gully that climbs 1600 feet in 5/8th of a mile. That’s a serious grind! The rest of the hike looks very pleasant with spectacular views!</p>
<p>The rocky trail looks like very similar footing to what I deal with hear in NH. No big surprise as it’s all compliments of the same retreating glaciers.</p>
<p>I started out trying to hike in North Face trail runners (aka [the</a> world’s ugliest shoes](<a href=“http://s.stpost.com/eccstorefront/product_images/2527u/f_2527u_1.1.jpg]the”>http://s.stpost.com/eccstorefront/product_images/2527u/f_2527u_1.1.jpg)), but they were getting ripped to shreds on the rocks. Likewise, my toes were taking a beating from stubbing them into rocks and roots and my ankles were black and blue from scraping and banging against the sides of rocks. Plus, the efficient way to hike on these trails is often to step from rock to rock like stepping stones, so you want a stiff sole.</p>
<p>I would say most of the adult hikers on the rocky trails in NH wear something in the range of what I wear or the lighter and more flexible Keen or Merrill style hikers:</p>
<p>These are basically heavy duty sneakers with stiffer hiking soles and more protection. If I were an occasional hiker and wanted something for around town in wet or slushy weather, these would be a fantastic choice. That’s the absolute minimum level of protection I would wear on these rocky mountain trails. I came “this close” to breaking a toe against a root or rock every time out in the trail runners.</p>
<p>A lot of people do hike these rocky mountain trails in sneakers, but you don’t see many veterans doing that. It’s mostly young limber-backs…</p>
<p>Sandals on a hike like that would be like the stages of hell. Dirt and little bits of gravel grinding underfoot is not pleasant. I don’t wear the my lo-cuts that much because I’m always picking up gravel and stones. Plus, hot though they may be, good hiking socks prevent blisters. I don’t think you want bare skin on leather. Not to mention scraping bare feet against the rocks all day long…</p>
<p>Idad, you should have seen the footwear of the hikers we saw on the Kalalau trail! :eek: But the “grand prize winner” was a hippy dude walking it barefoot. </p>
<p>MOfWC, yeah, there were some ladies in tutus. Mr B’s reaction was, “They are not going to run in those, aren’t they?!” Lol, he was wrong. I can not even imagine dragging a water-soaked tutu with me for 26 miles!</p>
<p>Deborah, I just saw your race report - WOW! Great run! Congrats!!!</p>
<p>For some reason, I always see men in tutus. Not quite sure why. I don’t know how anyone can run in any costume in a marathon, it’s hard enough as it is!</p>
<p>Seems like around here, teenage/college girls, half running to keep up with their oblivious boyfriends out ahead, are the most likely to be hiking in sneakers. But hiking shoes/boots are such a ubiquitous New England fashion statement (even with a coat and tie!) that the majority of folk wear hiking footwear of some kind.</p>
<p>Once in a blue moon, I see someone in Vibram 5-fingers, but not very often in the White Mountains. I think one good solid toe stub on a tree root or rock would take away a lot of the glamor …</p>
<hr>
<p>I can just imagine some of the crazy “styles” you see on marathoners. The people watching probably helps take your mind off it!</p>
<p>The one that gets me on the hikes is the heavy cotton hoody. I’m sweatin’ like a pig on the climbs. I can’t imagine wanting to wear something that heavy, especially something that soaks up water like a sponge.</p>
<p>"It took me a long time to come to grips with - if you stop and walk for a minute midway through and then pick back up, you haven’t “failed.”</p>
<p>Pizzagirl, I went back and read all of the posts I missed while I was getting ready for the race. I actually ended up - gasp! - walking for a couple of minutes up the ginormous hill at the end of my marathon. So even the fast ones, if you consider me fast, walk a bit.</p>
<p>I took a peek at the results, and there were quite a few BQ times. The most amazing one… the lady who qualified for Boston in the 80+ age group :eek:</p>
<p>Core/stretch/strength. Mile walk. 2 x mile repeats @ 6 minute pace on the trail. Mile walk. Knee feels good. Haven’t been on a track in over 3 weeks. Think it’s time to go back.</p>
<p>I don’t know if I’m ready for reverse lunges using ValSlides. It throws me off enough when as part of my post-run stretches I do a couple of reverse lunges and unexpectedly hit a slippery patch of moss with the rear foot. These days I inspect the area more closely specifically to avoid having that happen!</p>
<p>^i think hops made those look deceptively easy :)</p>
<p>Thanks, idad, for the gros more info. Love my gf’s but sometimes they go off half cocked on these adventures :)</p>
<p>Speaking of which, last nights adventure bordered on becoming a Monty python skit. Ostensibly we were to help a puffin rescue group collect confused baby puffins attracted erroneously to shore lights instead of the moon at a place aptly called Witless Bay.</p>
<p>Sadly after three hours of roving in the gorgeous moonlight, we found only a dead puffling in the middle of a road. Which, after collection and barreling alon in the jeep with our cargo on board for scientific inquiry, begat the whole “It’s not dead, its pining for the fjords!” Routine.</p>
<p>Lets just say I knew I should have put wine in my camelback.</p>
<p>The Frenchwoman, btw, went MIA yesterday at the fish and chip pub and in the face of my favorite childhood chocolate bar that isn’t available in the states (the dreaded coffee crisp).</p>
<p>I will have no one but myself to blame ths fall during my redoubled health and wellness efforts Remind me lest I forget!</p>
<p>Don’t worry, kmc, we’ll be around to kick your rear this fall. Enjoy! I used to be fond of the Macintosh toffee bar…do they even make those anymore? If they do, bring one home for me!</p>
The race was not too big, not too small - about 500 marathoners and 1200 halvers. It was run on two beautif, paved trails forming 2 in and out loops. Very well organized: we started 20 min before the half, and while we were running on the longer loop, the halvers were directed to the shorter loop, so for quite a while the trail was free of congestion. The weather was simply perfect: upper 50s with light drizzle, but as soon as we enterted the forest, the trees shielded us. I planned my outfit well, and it paid off, because I did not feel any discomfort. I wore my Lulu TaTa top and my favorite prison- striped shorts, Anita bra and the lightweight Injinji toe socks (not a single blister on my toes - yay!). I chose my trusted Brooks Pure Cadence shoes, and it was a smart move, too, since they were comfortable even after getting soaking wet. The trail was mosy dry with just a few puddles here and there, and at first we all tried to avoid the shallow puddles, but by the end of the race everyone was plowing straight through them! 
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