Self-Transcendence 10 Day Race 2012 Update – Day 3

Originally posted on the Ultralist:

Yesterday (Saturday), 70 miles or so north of New York City, one of the USA’s older and most historic ultras happened on the super-steep hills of Carmel where Sybil Ludington rode her horse all night warning locals that “The British are Coming!” (sound familiar?)

Back in the Big Apple, world class women runners emulated Sybil’s all-night ride with some fast late night laps, done in everything from mild, balmy conditions to torrential, sideways, wind-driven rain. Meadow Lake is over 1 mile long, and winds tend to come howling up from the south to the north end, where the 10 Day and 6 Day runners circle a 1+ mile long bike path loop.

Kaneenika Janakova (one of the more overlooked ultrarunners in North America, for what my opinion is worth) and Australia’s legendary Sarah Barnett threw in 11-12 minute miles (try this after you have already run 265+ miles in 3.5 days …) cruised around the course, sometimes joined by “Smilin’ Yuri T.,” a world class Ukrainian runner who has won this race outright with 696 miles. While he speaks little English, Yuri always has time to slow, smile, wave and give a thumb’s up to every runner he passes. For shoe enthusiasts out there, I noted that Kaneenika wore minimalist, zero/ limited-drop shoes from Altra and Saucony, Sarah had on heavier and more cushy Nike Vomero/ Pegasus (with toe box totally cut out), and Yuri wore a weatherbeaten, chewed up pair of Mizuno Wave Riders. In other words, anything goes and to each their own!

There was at least one confirmed skunk sighting on the course (the race borders the Queens Botanical Gardens and thick woods). Reports of a tall WOLF running along the path have not been confirmed by reliable reporters.

As I am working the graveyard shift and also helping out during the day between naps and a few miles of my own, there may be slight errors in some of the above. For updated scoreboard standings, please refer to the Self-Trans website (see link below).

The FOOD at the race is the best I have ever tasted at this or any other race, and I aplogize for forgetting the name of the charming professional New Zealand chef who is in charge. I am told she has appeared on the Food Network’s International edition.

Congratulations to the USA 100Km Team in Italy, the 50Km runners at the Sybil Ludington, and all the multiday runners in Flushing Meadows, Queens.

Best wishes to all ultrarunners around the globe/

Mark D (typing this with cold, damp fingers)