This is my favorite ultrarunning event of the year in a mixed calendar of running that I try to maintain as diverse as possible, i.e. trail races, road races, marathons, adventure treks, fatasses, 50 and 100 milers on the road and trails. The only omission is the mountain races like Mt. Washington that require more luck at the lottery than anything else.
  The Sri Chinmoy Self Transcendence six day has some negatives: each year its start closely dovetails with the recovery week of racing hard at the Boston Marathon so that I feel somewhat disadvantaged with those that have fresh legs. And the weather in recent years has been, in a word, abysmal. This year’s full-fledged Nor’easter that blasted down on us shortly after the word go was of epic proportions, a storm that race director Sahishnu labeled "the worst in my 35 years of race directing."  Suffice of it to say that most of us carried umbrellas that first day and a half, the rest wished they had them, and many were blown inside out whenever the implement did not have the correct sail angle to the raging storm.

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  This is even NUC, since I just ran the 25K one loop race.

  We had a little over 70 starters including the six little loop (5.1 mile) non-finishers. This was about twice our previous high, so I guess word is getting around that this is a fun race. We also had a good weather day, always a gamble at this time of year. As a matter of fact, it was warm enough so that the course actually ran a little slow because the sand didn’t have that firmness that comes with sub-freezing temps.
  As usual, there were all kinds of stories. The pleasure I get out of knowing so many people is that I get to participate with them emotionally in their races as well. I always end up so inspired, especially by the challenged ones. But four-time champion and race winner Greg Stone frequently flatters me by asking for training advice. Then there is the Cape Cod Ultra Society, about 18 of us at the moment, and they all share their races with me.
   And this winter I have had this loveable crew of 10-12 hardy beginner runners who meet me at the Osterville Historical Society two nights a week. We use an open-end boat shed for the ten minute roll call and talk from the ancient coach. And I must say, this is a very, VERY diverse group! BUT TOUGH! Enthusiastic!  Most are beginners but two decided to try the whole 25K – a ten year old boy and a 64 year old man. The little guy, Lukas Janulaitis, flew through the initial little loop, then waited ten minutes for his mom to come in so he could ask her permission to continue. I had stayed out of it, even though I knew how much he was hoping to do it. He has been in my running classes since way back in May, never missing a session; very shy and quiet, a model student. But after all, it was a parent’s call, though I had a hard time not chatting up about other ultra little guys (Gavin Wrublik always comes to mind). A few hours later I had the joy of watching a memorable family portrait as Lukas jogged to a proud finish in the blue and gold day. Smiles and tears. A photo framed by the immense sand dunes and the blue white caps of the Atlantic. His dad had trudged out two and a half miles on the beach to meet him.
  There were so many other great stories, it is just that Lukas had the best of them. My good friend and Volstate finisher Fred Murolo was his usual steely self, completing the 50K for the sixth time in a row to keep his record perfect. Legitimate tough guy Special Services Koa Hasegawa slogged through the deep sand to carve out a finish, and promptly declared it "was the toughest thing I have done lately!" Considering he has been dropped in the middle of the Everglades and other jungles in survival training sessions, that’s saying a mouthful. Colleen Murphy was first woman in the 50K and beat all but eight of the guys.
Jamie Zschau won the 25K in a new course record 2:07, and Molly Alesch was first woman in 2:19. (It is generally estimated that running these dune races are about 40 minutes a half slower for the distance in the deep sand.)  Mountain and Hardrock runners Julian Jamison and Jeff List used the event for bigger and tougher prey (Julian for another try at that elusive finish at the yellow gate in the backwoods of Tennessee).
  There were great mug shots fore and aft, many of them displaying the classic rear view — a bent over position that illustrates just how shapely the distaff anatomy becomes from running all these fatasses. Race director Bob Jensen conducted the whole thing with ever-smiling wife (and head timer & cheerleader) Fiona, replete in his colorful new court jester outfit and top-fashion Tibetan cap fresh from California. The quahog chowder got the triple A review, and we got to use the new bath house as headquarters, a step up from the 8 by 12 camper of previous years.
  My race was one that I’ll remember for a long while. I have been training my ass off this winter in hopes of a decent Boston and Self Tran six day, but a 17 minute p.b. for the course at age 70 was something I would never have predicted. 12th out of the 40 runners in the race, and I managed to edge out a few guys on the beach homestretch (you will never know what it meant to an old gaffer by coming up afterwards so graciously and shaking my hand and calling me "Sir. Oh you machine Sir.")  Everything just clicked, and I kept thinking of Karl King’s advice, "when all else fails, try training." I’ve put in 80 and 90 mile weeks despite a week crowded by opting for opera courses, Big Brothers, ten minute play lectures, and high school basketball games. The key has been yet another diet that has shaved another four pounds off my previous starvation routine. I have yet to discover where losing weight is not cost-effective even when I am now 25 lbs. less than the weight I played football at in high school. Also, reading the National Master’s News and the incredible Earl Fee and his three times a week interval sessions. (amongst other exploits, Fee at age 80 has run 400 meters in 71.24 seconds) His books reflect the intellect of the retired nuclear physicist he is — he does not accept previous perimeters. I love that; we all can tag along and get dragged to new vistas ourselves.
The Fatass was a good start. For direction, for inspiration, I used a ten year old boy and an 80 year old that I have never met.

Bright sun, a moderate wind from the west and temperatures ranging from the mid-30’s to mid-40’s made for a superb day to run the Cape Cod Ultrarunning Society’s 50K/25K at Sandy Neck. Perhaps it was too warm as much of the beach hasn’t seen a good freeze yet making for some tricky footing. Gregg Stone set the tempo with a 4:33 for the 50K with Colleen Murphy the women’s winner of the quahog shell in 5:24, good for 9th overall. In the 25K, Jamie Zschau dispatched all challengers in 2:07 ahead of a perennially goggled John Martin who posted 3rd in 2:17. Molly Alesch led the women over the upper and lower loops one time for a win in 2:19 which placed her 4th overall. Club power walker Bill Dalrymple tackled the beach and walked to a 4:24 in the 25K, followed by a short outing on Sunday at the Chapin’s Grand Prix finale. The crazy entirety was recorded for historical and training purposes by Alan Budney. [Full Results] [Photos]

Fourteen Cape Cod Triathlon Team members represented the team and the club at the 2011 USAT Age Group and Sprint National Championship races on the 20th of August in Burlington, VT. In hot (94F) and humid conditions, our team competed with the best in the country at Sprint and Olympic distance races, with a few claiming spots at Age Group and Sprint Worlds in the process. Congratulations to all who competed! 2012 Nationals will return to Burlington so plan on being there!

[Full Results]

Two new members to the Cape’s fine ultra society, Steve Sullivan and Doug Lavoie, made auspicious debuts Fri/Sat up at Wakefield’s 24 hr. Around the Lake Ultra.
58 year old Steve compiled 115 miles for third place overall despite getting in the strange role of dog umpire in a sudden canine to-do at the halfway point, a chore that landed him on his head and dealt quite a gash to his eye. No matter, lion-hearted Steve showed the stout stuff of men from the land of fishes and cod, and simply picked himself up and continued on his way. Loud cries of sympathy from sisters Laurie and Kelly turned to cheers as he shrugged off medical assistance (both are nurses). What’s a little blood to true gladiators?
  Doug Lavoie of Hyannis, 59, made his return to ultras after about a 30 year absence due to a horrific surf board accident that cost him the best years of his running career, and compiled 83 miles until a poor food choice upset his stomach and ended his race at about 22 hours. Both men acquitted themselves nobly and brought glory to both the CCAC and the fabled CCUS.
  Speaking of glory, Janet Kelly ran the marathon portion of the multi event in a scintillating 3:58, right on the mark which she fearlessly predicted to this reporter despite the nighttime start and hard sidewalk surface to the loop course. Our Ken Lemerise scored a 3:55 time himself, then donned his best cheerleader outfit and coached, crewed, and paced friend Steve on & on for the rest of the night and day. Such emotional support is often the difference in the best ultra efforts.
  Not to be forgotten, our noble president Bob "Ecky" Eckerson notched marathon-or-longer #98 in a time of 5:22 after eight loops of the Lake Quannapowitt course. Right on schedule to make the Cape Cod Marathon his 100th such trek in the fall.

~ Pete Stringer, stealth ultra reporter

I am not sure what modifying table I might use to fit this one into a marathon comparative equation chart, but overall, I feel my race Sunday might score well on some sort of "difficulty quotient graph.” This was the inaugural running of the Mad Marathon in Waitsfield, Vermont.  "Mad" purportedly used because it was held in the scenic Mad River Valley, and professedly not  limited to the insane.
  It was hot. Very hot. Well, what would one expect for the middle of July?
  And it was hilly, or mountainous, take your pick of adjectives. If you were not going up, you were going down, and I was thinking at one point that given a comparison, the second half of the Cape Cod Marathon would be described as flat. Of 600 entries in the marathon, only four finished under three hours, so that gives you an idea.
  But it was green & gold gorgeous, living up to its promotion ads as America’s Most Beautiful Marathon. (Well, Cape Cod or Big Sur might contest that). Corn fields and sun flowers and cows and horses and green pastures everywhere. A quaint little New England village much resembling Woodstock, with nary a MacDonald’s or Burger King to be found. And for a first-time event, newbie management glitches were at a minimum, nobody ran off course, and water stations seemed to show up whenever you needed them. Best of all, Vermonters lived up to their reputation as friendly folk. Hoses were everywhere. Kids, especially, love the license to squirt adults full in the face.
  A room with a view at a ski chalet set us back a very reasonable sum of $54, and there were museums and galleries scattered throughout the town for those wanting a little diversion. I would recommend this little race next year for those not necessarily looking for a fast course to qualify on, but perhaps filling in their 50-state race card or Marathon Maniac status. Or a HARD training run for an ultra race!
  Which, if that is what I was after, I got my money’s worth! I think my time of 4:45 might have been worth 4:10 on a more normal course  and perhaps with temps 30 degrees cooler.

~ Pete Stringer, nearing 200

I thought I had run everything….

Back in February I got a tip about this crazy race. So I googled it and signed up. I showed up June 27 Sunday at a community college parking lot in Amesbury MA. I donned my Pirate of Cape Cod costume & joined the migration to the front of the campus. Yellow school buses shuttled people upon people, in groups and alone to the “starting“ line. Upon arriving at the Amesbury Sports Center, I said to the woman next to me, “Is this a soccer field?”

“I think my oldest son played travel soccer here.”  She had no idea.

I had less than 30 minutes to get my number & check in my gear bag… lots of people bumbled around. Got my number, passed in the gear bag, making sure I had everything I needed on my person for a good race. When I signed up I thought, “Hmmm, a Mud run & 12 obstacles: Lots of 20’s & 30’s for runners”. I stood in my bandana “hat”, home made “Pirate of Cape Cod” shirt, black gaiters (more for costume than use). I said to the 3some beside me, “It is good to see more people beyond their 30’s”… these folks had about 8 years on me.

The gun shot off for the first heat of 350 runners which would start every 30 minutes of 350 participant starting at 10am and last group would start at 3pm. At the gun, two breaths of dragon fire went into the air from the overhead starting banner. Music blasted loudly up the muddy slope we traipsed. Most people were not mountain slope ready so they were well out of air by the top of this slight hill. We turned left into a downward slope of deeper mud sprinkled with roots.  Careful footing here. I ran near a gal dressed like Daisey Duke, my Pirate self, arrgh. Our first obstacle was under some wires close to the 5 inch deep mud floor… several steps under I touched the ground.

Now my hands were covered in mud, remember not to wipe sweat off the brow with muddy hand… Up and down a zig zag of trail deep in mud, it had rained over night & 6 hours of runners ran this yesterday. The course was a well worn beaten trail and MUD beyond your wildest imagination, deep & dark brown in color. The mud for this part of the course was of sandy consistency, yet I could identify the middle of the trail that once had grassy center. Our next obstacle was up a 4 ½ foot wall, jump into the mud on the other side, go under a wall of wires, repeat 3 times, over, under, over, under. Run more mud of varying depths 2 to 6 inches. Scattered with roots & /or rocks. Next wall had slats to put your toes in, climbing 12 feet high, over the top, climb slats down, scarey. More mud trail, lost Daisey Duke. A greater zig zag to see other runners ahead & behind deeper darker mud. Hanging tires swinging to go between with deep mud for footing. A 12 foot wall to climb, use the muddy rope to help you get up, over, and rope to help get down.

A more fun obstacle faced us: a jungle gym of spider-web to traverse which covered 20 yards of area. I passed several less flexible men on this challenge. A slope upward, of mud of course. Another wall of 12 feet to climb covered in rope like a pirate climbs the mast of a ship, up, over and down… A man stood at the top of a hill shooting a fire hose down the muddy steep slope. This is a mud slide indeed, no running it, you sit down and slide. Got a good bit of air for at least one of the bumps, dirt up the pants for sure. At the bottom, you finish the last 50 yards in deep manure color, smelling mud.

I crossed the finish with people saying I was first woman of the day. Every person finished covered in mud toes to waist at very least. I gathered my gear bag after replenishing my water loss. Took out the camera to snap some dirty people in the frames. Under a tent of certain Viking warrior hat shape I watched the results tally. Each consecutive “heat” was added in…. I may not have been first woman all day, I was first in my 40- 44 category for the day.

Absolutely a day of playing in the mud. This was a first for me, a sure fun run.

If you ever happen upon a Warrior Dash or Spartan Race, this indeed is fun,

BUT you have to be open to getting VERY dirty.

Keep running, and running, and running, and biking (when in recovery).

~ Kate Naples