Rocky point ultra 2013

    I guess it's fitting that I should rewrite this race report considering I didn't finish the race distance I signed up for. Stupid iPhone application ate my words and i was almost finished with the essay. Anyways, I don't consider it a DNF but rather a PDNF meaning a purposely did not finish. My major reason being I'm going to florida on a real family vacation and didn't want to ruin it by getting hurt beforehand. I was also experiencing some IT band/right knee issues during the run in the beginning. It went away but it was still on the back of my mind. Well enough with my excuses on why I didn't complete the 50 miler. 

       I still managed to run a 50K (30 miles) which is still awesome and I was a lot less beat up than after my road marathons. That's why trails beat roads all day long.  Besides the 50 miler there was also an assortment of other distances with the highlight being the 100 miler that started before sunrise. All runners no matter what distance had a cut off time on Sunday at 12 noon. So it was a whole weekend of epic running.

      I drove to the waldbaums parking lot on the north shore of Long Island early in the A.M. I was extra early as usual so I wondered around I bit and got another cup of coffee until it was time for me to get my drop bag and go to the start/finish.  The race consisted of a 10 mile loop with an aid station at the start/finish and around the 5 mile mark. Loop courses can always be a challenge cause there is the option of stopping anytime. Don't listen, eat something, keep moving. Words I hopefully will remember next year. The race for the 50 milers started at 7:30 in the pleasantly breezy autumn air. I started off with a red underarmor heat gear as my base and a target long sleeve jersey over it which I tied around me at the aid station cause I was getting hot in it. Got to remember to put my race bib on my shorts. As you can see from the above picture that's what the majority of the runners in my group did. 

      The aid stations were awesome and the encouragement was helpful as well. Especially the one near the five mile mark with the typical beer drinking Harley Davidson biker guy with sleeve tattoos. So I had to stop and talk with him for a bit each time. He didn't know if the hammer gels had caffeine but he promised me beer later. I was not really rested or tapered for this race but I did what I could. Note to self : don't get shots before races. The tetanus shot I got Thursday for opening up my foot on the pointy end of a hammer finally hit my right arm. It felt like someone took a hammer to it. I was Surprised I swam on Friday without feeling anything. 

      So needless to say I was not in my best race condition. That's ok cause I consider races as fun and tend (or try to at least) to focus on the journey, or in other-words the training lifestyle. The moment. It's nice to do what you love with others at times and that's the allure of races for me. I love meeting new people and learning new things as much as anyone else. An the encouragement and support you receive from complete strangers is an experience like none other. 

     The best thing about trail ultras is that it lacks a lot of the egotistical and competitive nature of common road marathons. Ultra marathons feel like your more a part of a team than in competition with each other. The whole goal being to help and encourage your teammates to reach the finish. In my case for this race I greatly appreciated the encouragement from a guy doing a 100 and. Girl named Lauren who said one line to get me to do one more lap to make it 30 miles. She said after talking with her the the guy a bit, "we can do it, this guys doing a 100." She then took off so I felt compelled to follow. I'm not quitting if she's not. So I talked to her and a couple other runners in are pack that we formed until I got my energy back when I then of course took off. I reached the finish line feeling like doing another loop but I controlled myself for once. Kind of wish I didn't but I know it was the right decision. 6 hours 17 minutes and 55 seconds was my official time for a total of three loops out of five I completed. Not bad for a pre vacation race. But then again I don't believe in vacations, they are a ghost to me. That's another story. All in all a pretty good event and hopefully more to come in the near future. 

"Aid to aid"

- Barton - 

Hamptons marathon 2013

    

 They say the fourth time is the charm. Actually they say it's the third but who is counting? This was my fourth time running the hamptons marathon and as always an exciting experience. So what have I learned from running this race? 

      Number 1: Don't worry about your time. We are always looking to improve ourselves be it looks, personality, and in the case with runners are speed. I have never gone out too fast and, 'blew up' as they say. I learned from fellow runners advice. I treated the marathon day as a reward for all he training I have done to get there. Of course if I felt good towards the end I, like any runner, push it. 

      Number 2: make friends. It seems no matter where you run if someone is running next to you the conversation should be upbuilding. I usually start by commenting on a piece of my fellow runners attire. Usually the shoes. The conversation jumps to all different topics due to the rapid blood flow streaming to our brains. I try to remember my fellow runners names so I can call them by name after the race is done. Also because I think it's very important to remember and use peoples names. 

      Number 3: "this to shall pass."At some point it's going to get hard and your gonna want to quit. Just go to the next telephone pole and remember the quote, "this to shall pass." It will help you remind yourself that the low point will pass. You can use it as a montra and keep repeating it in your head to your breathing and footsteps. It helps me.

      Number 4... Most important. Have Fun. If your mindset is to have fun and make friends your race will be a success even if you don't reach the finish line in the time you wanted. Learning not to take yourself too seriously will help in all areas of your life and help you to be in the moment, which can often be a challenge in this crazy world. So remember to have fun. 

      There are countless other lessons that I have learned but I'll leave it at these four considering it is my fourth time running the hamptons marathon. This year I came in at 3:54:21 with a 8:59 min\mile pace. I was 96 out of 335 marathoners ----12 out of 30 in my age group----60 out of 183 male participants JOHN INGLESE number 237 age 30 sex M FARMINGVILLE NY 56:18 ---1:58:16 ---3:54:21 ---8:57 ---3:55:07. Not to bad and didn't destroy myself. My mom drove us to the start a little after four thirty in the morning. We stopped for some coffee at 7-11 and I had that and my banana with sunflower butter when we finally parked on a street by the school. I then proceeded to get my race bib and wonder around and prepare myself mentally. My mom, being like me, can't just stand there and do nothing so she volunteered (Doug Peterson!) I wasn't my talkative self this morning, it happens. The race started with me noticing that there were a lot of short runners this year. I chatted up a little bit but not much during the run. Just stayed in my own head. Took in half a cliff bar and three Gu's during the run. Along with water and Gatorade. Especially Gatorade when my stomach was acting up. Really needed the salt! 

      Besides that everything went smoothly. The scenery was beautiful as it always is by the water anywhere you go. I went through the typical ups and downs that the race holds out to all runners whether they like it or not. One more important thing I have learned as a runner and I'll stop it at number five. 

      Number 5 = No matter how much you are struggling always give the illusion of confidence. Running promotes confidence but we all get tired and can lose that confidence in ourselves. If we fake that confidence you can trick yourself into being confident. I call it, "the runners lifehack." 

     I reached the finish line hearing my mom to my right yell out and then hearing the announcer call out my name,"Paul Inglese." So it turned out to be Paul's first marathon I guess. So after I got my metal and my chocolate milk we eventually got settled back at the race vehicle, my old, now my moms Xtrerra. I had really bad right ankle soreness\ strain after the race especially walking around sag harbor. The corner bar was as it always is, amazing. The Reuben and calamari were the perfect post race meal along with some montauk driftwood on tap. Too good!! 

      The day flew by like it always does. Once the race is over, it's over. I was glad my coach decided to come with me this year. I can be a really pain in the butt especially with all the happy/ crazy running chemicals moving around inside me. So four hamptons  marathons down and hopefully another one next year.

"Remember the Mango"

-Barton-