Vermont Rise Up Runners

Carey, Lange, and Kate, aka "The Beetches" as they call themselves, celebrating post-run of the Vermont 50Mile Trail Run.
The Rise Up Runners, Vermont Crew: Robin, Michael, Katherine, Rob (Jellybean), Michael, and Carita pose for a post event smile.

It was an awesome time in Vermont for the Rise Up Runners crew. Katherine and the two Michaels formed the RUR relay team. We completed the hilly course in just under 9 hours. More to follow. Sorry about my foul camera lens. Stay tuned.

Team Players

Most of the 2008 crew of the 1901 log canoe, Island Lark holding various perpetual trophies at the Miles River Yacht Club on September 14th. This is the Lark's first time to win High Point in at least 90 years, if ever.

As the sailing season comes to a close the running season seems to be just cranking up. Two weekends ago saw a successful log canoe season culminate in Island Lark winning the Wilson High Point trophy for the season. With over 20 races counted it came down to a close tie with our toughest competition, the Island Blossom. But, even though we were to be in the throws of heavy sailing competition, that Sunday I dragged myself out of bed at 4:30 and went for a 16 mile training run before the culminating races on the Miles River.

I am training ffor one leg of a 50 mile mountain trail race on September 28th in New England. The Vermont 50 Mile Trail Race caught my eye last spring as a good event that Mike Valliant and I could do. Since neither of us was interested in running another 50 miler solo this year, all we had to do was find another runner and enter as a relay team. Katherine Binder came to the rescue as (1) a woman who would put us in the co-ed relay team category, (2) a professional who has a incredible wealth of knowledge about the body, running form, and health, and (3) someone (along with her husband Rob) whom I had met only a few times, but whom I simply connected with on such topics as sailing, running, and health. So, before I knew it, we had a relay team; at least digitally.

Then news came last weekend that the distances for the relay have changed. I now am running an 18 mile portion; 2 more miles than trained for. I know it doesn't seem like a big deal, and hopefully, it won't, but I truly did only train for 16. Now, I have to add 2 more miles plus the inclines. One of the ways to compensate for no hills to train on around the Bay Hundred is to do speed work. So, for the past 4 weeks I've been meeting team mate, Katherine, at the St. Michaels track for a series of 800 repeats. This past Thursday we were treated to an appearance by Pierre Bernasse, a running friend from last year. Pierre ran the Baltimore Marathon last October with Mike Valliant, Jim Richardson, and myself. This year Pierre is training for the NCT (Northern Central Trail) Marathon in November.

Rise Up Runners (standing) Derek, Pierre, Dominic, Joel, (kneeling) Katherine, Wood Frog, and Tuckerman posing for the geese on the "Dam" at Tuckahoe on Sunday, September 21st. Photo by Charlie Bandura.

This past Sunday we had a bumper crop of Rise Up Runners gather for a 10 mile Tuckahoe loop. It was a gorgeously cool morning as the 7 of us started shuffling up the Tuckahoe Valley Trail. The runners included Michael Valliant, Derek Hills, Dominic Szwaja, Joel Shilliday, Pierre, Katherine, and myself. Everyone got to run their own pace at times. We'd always gather/condense at the trail changes, and everyone got to spend a little time with each person. At the end of our run we gathered at the dam where we seduced a wildlife photographer into taking our group photo. Charlie Bandura took, what might be, the most complimentary Rise Up Runner photo to date.

It was a kick running with everyone. So, in summary, I have spent the past two weekends with two different groups of people doing really cool stuff. Next weekend in Vermont will be the same, with yet, another group; Mike and Robin Valliant, Rob and Katherine, and Carita and me. I feel blessed to have opportunity to get to know friends whether on a log canoe, on the trail, or during a race/vacation weekend. It's these occasions that stitch a little more into the fabric of our lives. Next report will be from the Vermont 50 Trail Race. Cheers!

Cape Henlopen Swim and Bike

The Bike Course for the Cape Henlopen Triathlon which Dan Bieber will do on September 28th.

What started out as a late-going (noon departure), overcast day turned into a brilliant day at the beach in Cape Henlopen State Park for Dan Bieber and me. We weren't on the beach a minute when we had a heavily pierced lady ask us about our form fitting tri shorts. She thought them to be some sort of warmth protection. She couldn't understand why we were wearing them under our wetsuits. I explained that we wear them for an entire triathlon, and normally wouldn't wear anything under our wetsuits, but because of the 100's of people on the beach we had to be decent. She seemed satisfied with the explaination. I think she just wanted to talk to Dan.

Donned in our wetsuits and wading through the throngs of beach families (my bad for not having a photo of us at this point) we entered the water and swam south along the shore, just outside of the break. Dan tended to pull right, taking him into the break at times, but that didn't matter for him as his speed and comfort-level has greatly increased since his Tri-debut last year.

Dan is training to "rock" this year's Cape Henlopen Sprint Triathlon, and this was our chance to help him get familiarized with the course and attain a certain level of comfort in the water, especially the ocean. The park is on a sand dune at the confluence of the Atlantic Ocean and Delaware Bay. Riddled with asphalt trails, pines, World War II embattlements, bunkers, and towers, the park spanned several hundred acres and seemed to be a popular peaceful destination for vacationers, cyclists, and runners. The ocean was calmish, but the water was pretty cool. Our wetsuits proved to be perfect for the conditions.

Wild dolphin, like the ones who were trying to attack me yesterday. Bad, Flipper, bad.

On our last round (we did 3 southerly laps of about 1/4 mile each) I unitentionally swam out to sea too far. When I looked for Dan, he was standing on the beach. So, I headed for shore. As I exited the water and turned around to look, there we about 50 dolphin swimming out near where I had just been. That could have been my closest dolphin encounter in the wild for both of us, man and beast. They stayed for a long time, sometimes jumping high out of the water, but mostly rolling as they were feeding on the evening baitfish.

Dan and I did the longest transition ever into our bike garb, then first hit the bike trails at the park, then out into to wilds of Lewes following the 15 mile race course Dan will do in 4 weeks. Dan's got good legs for the bike and hopes to improve his placement in the overall standings by 20 spots. He feels greatly more prepared than last year and a good bit faster on the bike and in the water.

After clean up and a change we hit town and had dinner (it was 6pm by now) and ice cream, got gas, and turned Dan's Jeep toward home. It was a great day, great adventuring, and great gains in training.

Hiking, running, boat builders, and letting go

The Keene and Meyerfoff gang atop Mt. Washington on August 11th.

Eight of us conquered Mt. Washington in variable weather of sun and rain over the weekend of August 9th and 10th. My two daughters, my wife, and our four friends hiked Tuckerman Ravine Trail to Lakes of the Clouds Hut in the White Mountains. The next day we summitted Mt. Washington in the driving rain and descended via the Lion Head trail and Tuckerman.

We had oodles of GORP, many breaks (or photo opps, as we called them), and a ton of laughs along the way. All did extremely well on the Tuckerman trail, the most traversed trail to the summit, and one of the most challenging. In bunk room 3 the 8 of us did impersonations from movies during the rain and thunderstorms Sunday night.

We found the "CROO" of Lakes Hut to be in rare form complete with a Star Wars themed skit for us after breakfast. Lets just say that Princess Leigha needed a shave, and she/he was a little too fond of young Luke's light saber. The skit taught us all to fold our blankets, fluff our pillows, pick up our trash, and, of course, tip the CROO.

My girls ahead of me on the Lion Head Trail descent from Mt. Washinton in the rain.


My two daughters and I were on our own for the descent. It was 3 and a half hours of rain and pure joy as we scibbled down the wet trails. I'm convinced that either of them could run a guiding service on their own in the White Mountains. They are quite accomplished hikers.





Later that evening my family and I found Karl Meltzer's RV at a trail head in Maine about an hour from the Whites. I ran up trail, found Karl and his friend, Matt Hart, and ran the last mile of his day with him. Karl is an ultra runner who is attempting to break the Appalachian Trail speed record of 47 days. I met up with him on his 7th day of his quest. It was quite something to meet him. I have an entry on my encounter with him on the RUR blog here: http://riseuprunners.blogspot.com/2008/08/wheres-karl.html .

Karl Meltzer and I after coming off the trail; he 30 plus miles, me only one mile.


The first week we were home from the North, sad news came when word that boatbuilder Maynard Lowery was killed in an automobile accident. I've since been to his funeral and have seen or talked to all of my customers who own his boats. My heart is full of joy with hearing from these people who knew Maynard through his boats. If you had a boat build by Maynard, you came to love the man. He will be missed immensely, but his life will live on in the boats he created. Here's a piece I did on his last boat: http://runnersontrails.blogspot.com/2008/05/marathon-maynard.html

Moondance and Spray in all their glory this summer on the Chester River.

Lastly, I must say goodbye to a boat. We've found a wonderful new buyer for our family boat, Moondance. Moondance first came into my life when my father bought her in 1979 (I was 14). I was standing on the dock at Rumbley, Maryland when I first saw "My Desire" drift up to the wharf with my father at the helm. She spent several years with us until my father sold her in the mid 80's. I later re-purchased her in 1995, restored her and relaunched in 1998, and raised my girls aboard during our various adventures around the Bay. I received an email from my daughter's best friend yesterday. It reads like this:



HOW DARITH THOU SELL THY MOONDANCE
this means no more:
flank steak on Moondance
watching the fireworks on Moondance
first jump of the year into the Bay
no fun on Moondance
I am Excrushatingly disapointed in you Smichael!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
u cut me deep you cut me real deep
Masssive amounts of ears flat I GROWL in your general dirrection
MADLY,
oft
): GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
I need to go cry all by my self in my room before I start foaming at the mouth



Carita and I renamed her Moondance after our Van Morrison wedding first dance song. She'll be missed and it's a bit hard to let go.