Howdy All!
I ran the Stoudt's Brewing 12k in Adamstown, PA this past Saturday. The course was nice, scenic, challenging, and the weather stayed sunny until the awards ceremony...no rain, but the temps began to fall somewhat. 200 people finished this year's race, what with the sunny conditions probably a few extra showed up to take advantage of the great weather! It was also my inagural race in my Invisible Shoes Contact (6mm). After a few months of training in them, I felt a nice local race was in order.
Since starting 3rd shift work 3 years ago my mileage has dropped considerably, and I don't race as often. Leading up to this race I averaged less than 20 miles per week (throw in 2 weeks vacation in Seattle from 9-12 to 9-24...yep, I got to see the opening of the new Born to Run store across the street from the REI monolith! But, no Barefoot Ted...) so I wasn't sure how I'd do, especially since the course is a bit hillier than my local digs. But I admit it, I love to run hills. Just the huge serving of humility when you look up and get the distinct feeling that the crest of the hill(s) are trying to run away from you just leads you to believe that it is not getting any closer...
So there I am, and there are a few folks in Merrell BF Trails, some in the Vibram KSO Treks...it looks like the paradigm has begun its inexorable shift away from the traditional foot coffins of yore! Even the Vibram folks are a bit taken aback by the exposed toes and thin slip of rubber that is the Invisible Shoe Contact. But I encouraged them to try it, since you can get 2-3 pairs of Invisible Shoes for the price of 1 pair of KSO Treks...and the extra ground feel (witness the several prominent gravel chips I stepped on...) and the lightness are also a bonus.
"Ready, set, GO!!!" the starter yells and all 200 of us begin our meandering through the quiet, yet scenic streets of Adamstown. We start in Stoudtburg Village, which is just off of Route 272 and behind the Black Angus restauraunt, and chase 272 for a short stint before cutting a left to begin our journey. (This is my first and only 12k I've run so surprise, I manage to set a PR this year!!!) The roads turn left and right, rise and fall, and we skirt along small residential streets of some rural areas. Spectators dot the race course and offer encouragement...at least those that are not stunned speechless by the green laces and exposed toes of the Invisible Shoes...I begin to pass the "sprinters" at about two miles (when the hills begin to announce their presence) and gradually work on a few others as well. More uphills, and I finally begin to feel a bit rubber legged at about 6 miles...then ONE MORE HILL!!! Very close to the finish line it is, and it nearly did me in...as it was, I was reduced to a toddler like stumbly plodding but managed to chase the last downhill to the finish line. As a loop course, the race finished in the back entrance to Stoudtburg Village where I and all finishers are rewarded with a fresh loaf of bread!!! I also managed to win a 6 pack of the brewery's finest award winning beer! Finish time, 52:00 for 20th overall and 2nd 40-49. I could run a million more races and NEVER finish one to the exact minute/second like that! I will definitely do this again next year...primarily for the beer...and stunned silence of race onlookers as I stride by in...drumroll...a pair of Luna Sandals after my fiancee and I go to Seattle next year for vacation. If you're in the Lancaster, PA area next October, check it out!!!
Johnny
I ran the Stoudt's Brewing 12k in Adamstown, PA this past Saturday. The course was nice, scenic, challenging, and the weather stayed sunny until the awards ceremony...no rain, but the temps began to fall somewhat. 200 people finished this year's race, what with the sunny conditions probably a few extra showed up to take advantage of the great weather! It was also my inagural race in my Invisible Shoes Contact (6mm). After a few months of training in them, I felt a nice local race was in order.
Since starting 3rd shift work 3 years ago my mileage has dropped considerably, and I don't race as often. Leading up to this race I averaged less than 20 miles per week (throw in 2 weeks vacation in Seattle from 9-12 to 9-24...yep, I got to see the opening of the new Born to Run store across the street from the REI monolith! But, no Barefoot Ted...) so I wasn't sure how I'd do, especially since the course is a bit hillier than my local digs. But I admit it, I love to run hills. Just the huge serving of humility when you look up and get the distinct feeling that the crest of the hill(s) are trying to run away from you just leads you to believe that it is not getting any closer...
So there I am, and there are a few folks in Merrell BF Trails, some in the Vibram KSO Treks...it looks like the paradigm has begun its inexorable shift away from the traditional foot coffins of yore! Even the Vibram folks are a bit taken aback by the exposed toes and thin slip of rubber that is the Invisible Shoe Contact. But I encouraged them to try it, since you can get 2-3 pairs of Invisible Shoes for the price of 1 pair of KSO Treks...and the extra ground feel (witness the several prominent gravel chips I stepped on...) and the lightness are also a bonus.
"Ready, set, GO!!!" the starter yells and all 200 of us begin our meandering through the quiet, yet scenic streets of Adamstown. We start in Stoudtburg Village, which is just off of Route 272 and behind the Black Angus restauraunt, and chase 272 for a short stint before cutting a left to begin our journey. (This is my first and only 12k I've run so surprise, I manage to set a PR this year!!!) The roads turn left and right, rise and fall, and we skirt along small residential streets of some rural areas. Spectators dot the race course and offer encouragement...at least those that are not stunned speechless by the green laces and exposed toes of the Invisible Shoes...I begin to pass the "sprinters" at about two miles (when the hills begin to announce their presence) and gradually work on a few others as well. More uphills, and I finally begin to feel a bit rubber legged at about 6 miles...then ONE MORE HILL!!! Very close to the finish line it is, and it nearly did me in...as it was, I was reduced to a toddler like stumbly plodding but managed to chase the last downhill to the finish line. As a loop course, the race finished in the back entrance to Stoudtburg Village where I and all finishers are rewarded with a fresh loaf of bread!!! I also managed to win a 6 pack of the brewery's finest award winning beer! Finish time, 52:00 for 20th overall and 2nd 40-49. I could run a million more races and NEVER finish one to the exact minute/second like that! I will definitely do this again next year...primarily for the beer...and stunned silence of race onlookers as I stride by in...drumroll...a pair of Luna Sandals after my fiancee and I go to Seattle next year for vacation. If you're in the Lancaster, PA area next October, check it out!!!
Johnny
