Cramming for Cranmore

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Much work needed to be done to get my butt up to this race.  Saturdays workload at the store presented me with a 10 hour work schedule. Not to mention a 2 hour lawn mowing job for my neighbor afterwards. But somehow with the thought of someone I know running a 100 miler I managed to suck up to the physical labor.  By midnight I was eventually off and driving for the next four hours until I had to rest. I pulled over at the lake at the base of Mt. Chocoura and napped in the parking lot for a little while. Did I mention I know someone running all night so why not stay up and drive all night? By 6:00 a.m. it was time to find breakfast. I went up to Jackson for hot coffee and a sandwich. Then up the road to Pinkham Notch to check it out. They’re redoing the parking lot for the A.M.C. camp there. The clouds were low and it was raining. I was re energized by now and was getting psyched up for the race. So off to the race venue. The rain stopped as soon as I left the Notch.

By the time I arrived at the base lodge the parking lot was filling up fast so I didn’t hesitate to get my bib # and t-shirt. I went back to the car to change into running clothes and did a small warm up run around the parking lot. The race atmosphere was more formal than others since this was a Championship event. Elite mountain runners from all over North America. The M.C. was great and he had a loud sound system that could be heard all the way up the mountain. The music they played was cool and loud. The racers were much more competitive than I have seen. Real fast looking and determined to tackle the hill climb at full speed. This was my first running of this race so I was really excited. There were three national anthems played. One for Mexico and one for Canada and of course the U.S.A . Its two times up and down the mountain. The loop was well marked and very steep going up. One section was a 25% grade up. Another was 20 % up. Don’t lean backwards to much! Once on top there was the only water station then its all downhill for 1.5 miles. It was full bore all the way to the bottom on this wide trail ( ski slope).

So off and running at 9 a.m. to another bottleneck start getting onto the trail. I managed to politely pass without knocking anyone over. The coarse is on ski trails with some single track crossovers and glade runs. Uphill for over a mile and a half. Just another strong cardio workout like the week before at Greylock. There were a lot of volunteers and spectators and photographers scattered along the loop. The first time I got to the top of the mountain I stopped at the water station and climbed the boulder across the way to claim the summit. This cost some precious race time but I had to do it because I used to climb this mountain a lot when I was a little kid ( via the old skimobile lift). So I had to do it for fun. A Sudsy moment. The next 1.5 miles is a cruise downhill full throttle. The whole time down I thinking to myself that I’ve got to go back up and over this hill one more time. I floored it as best I could passing the few runners that were able to pass me on the climb up. I came through the first lap at little over 43 minutes. A third of the way back up I could hear the m.c. announcing the first place runner coming through the finish line. I turned and looked way down the grassy soggy ski slope and could see him running to the finish. Most of the runners that I passed on the way down are trying to pass me two thirds the way up to the top. Once over the top the second time I stopped for some water and dashed off to catch up to those few runners that were able to pass me on the ascent. I caught up and passed most of them as I flew down the trail. The last tenth of a mile is at the base lodge along this nice green lawn. Well this kid from Maine that I just passed decided to floor it on this flat spot to the finish . He passed me right near the finish. Whatever! I was very satisfied with my finish time of 1:30:05. I hung around for the awards ceremony which the USA Men’s and Women’s teams both won. The first place winners get to go to Italy for the World Championship Mountain Running Race. After the race event was over I went to see the Mayor at the Café he is working at. He had some good news and some really awesome chocolate to eat. After that it was a drive home. I had a great time!

These mountain running challenges have been fun. It has been a great intro to what it may be like to run up the auto road on Mt. Washington 2010. My mountain running excursions and races should continue through the summer. This makes for an excellent source of training for any Ultras I’ll be doing this Fall. Hint hint – Suds

Conditions Summary
Cranmore Hill Climb 11k : Cranmore Mtn. Resort North Conway, N.H.
Sunday June 29th 2009 @ 9:00 a.m.
Weather: Cool 65 degrees f, Cloudy with a chance of showers.
Trail Conditions: Not dry, spongy ground with some muddy and wet spots.