October 12, 2014
Wellsboro, PA - Gabriel decided to race The Green Monster Trail Challenge 25K perhaps 12 hours before race day. He packed his car, loaded his family, and headed out to Wellsboro, PA. He felt like racing, he felt like suffering.
Once again, it was not an uneventful morning. Having to register race morning, Gabriel once again left it late and this resulted in a very sluggish opening mile on the road with the familiar pack. It took the first major climb, a two-mile Deer Trail Climb at 10% to wake him from his slumber. And then he took off.
The course was phenomenal, blending beautiful singletrack with some muddier sections that were not expected. He knew there would be 4-5 major climbs, and terminating with the descent of Frankenstein's Face, a scree-filled drop at -32% grade that absolutely blew out the quads. It was beautiful.
Finishing strongly on the road with a final mile in 5:43, Gabriel relished the new course record and prize earnings...
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
DAM RIGHT.
September 14, 2014
MIFFLINBURG, PA - Gabriel decided his training was going well. He had recovered from Pike's Peak and was in need of a long effort. The Dam Full Marathon was on his radar as a strong contender for a great long run and effort. And so, Gabriel and his family made the drive.
Oh, driving two hours on race morning with three girls and a wife is quite the adventure. Let's just say that Gabriel basically missed the start, roaring his way through the field in the opening quarter mile just to get into the lead. Once Gabriel assumed the lead, he felt this was going to be a long comfortable long run on some meandering and surprisingly rocky trails. However, by the second mile, he had been caught and pulled over to concede the lead while tying a shoe lace.
Frustrated at his laces, Gabriel set off in pursuit of the leader, who was actually running quite strongly. Gabriel tried to calm his nerves, understanding there was still over three hours of running left. Finally, Gabriel made contact, engaged, and the two proceeded to battle over the trail. Suddenly, Gabriel burst past into the lead and started a phenomenal climb of 15% grade, which then topped out at 17% grade, and his pursuer was not falling back. It would take Gabriel a dedicated push of no recovery and bypassing the aid station to finally create a gap that would only extend throughout the race.
As the race dragged on, Gabriel began the mantra of "Stairway to Heaven." He was warned of this epic climb, and now Gabriel wanted blood. All he wanted to do was decimate that climb. Arriving at the final aid station, Gabriel prepared himself for the ascent and it was all that it was built-up to be, a great upper-quad burning jaunt up one full mile at 16% grade and rocks.
After descending, Gabriel knew the race was conquered and the victory was his and he enjoyed his final sprint to the finish to rest alongside a great fire and great food with his family.
MIFFLINBURG, PA - Gabriel decided his training was going well. He had recovered from Pike's Peak and was in need of a long effort. The Dam Full Marathon was on his radar as a strong contender for a great long run and effort. And so, Gabriel and his family made the drive.
Oh, driving two hours on race morning with three girls and a wife is quite the adventure. Let's just say that Gabriel basically missed the start, roaring his way through the field in the opening quarter mile just to get into the lead. Once Gabriel assumed the lead, he felt this was going to be a long comfortable long run on some meandering and surprisingly rocky trails. However, by the second mile, he had been caught and pulled over to concede the lead while tying a shoe lace.
Frustrated at his laces, Gabriel set off in pursuit of the leader, who was actually running quite strongly. Gabriel tried to calm his nerves, understanding there was still over three hours of running left. Finally, Gabriel made contact, engaged, and the two proceeded to battle over the trail. Suddenly, Gabriel burst past into the lead and started a phenomenal climb of 15% grade, which then topped out at 17% grade, and his pursuer was not falling back. It would take Gabriel a dedicated push of no recovery and bypassing the aid station to finally create a gap that would only extend throughout the race.
As the race dragged on, Gabriel began the mantra of "Stairway to Heaven." He was warned of this epic climb, and now Gabriel wanted blood. All he wanted to do was decimate that climb. Arriving at the final aid station, Gabriel prepared himself for the ascent and it was all that it was built-up to be, a great upper-quad burning jaunt up one full mile at 16% grade and rocks.
After descending, Gabriel knew the race was conquered and the victory was his and he enjoyed his final sprint to the finish to rest alongside a great fire and great food with his family.
THAT PEAK SUCKED
August 16, 2014
MANITOU SPRINGS, CO - This was not good. Well, it was good until about 10,000 feet of altitude. Gabriel arrived into Colorado, via Denver, two days before the race to give him some time for acclimatization. His first couple of runs at 6500ft were perfectly fine. He did not feel out of breath, nor did he have a massive headache. All seemed well...
And so, race morning arrived uneventfully, and Gabriel jogged the two miles from his hotel to the starting line. He lined up and took off. He was comfortable not to be near the lead pack, but he also felt that he couldn't be up there anyway, his fitness was not there, and this race hosted the WMRA World Long Mountain Challenge. Up and up he went. Barr Trail came and went and he had moved up into the top 30 runners, passing runners every so often. However, as he approached about 9-10,000ft. it was as if a switch shut-off his body and Gabriel resorted to a complete lack of energy and will.
By 11,000 ft. he had been passed by the top woman and by 12,000 ft. he had been passed by the top five elite women. Gabriel was just in survival mode to finish. Never did he dream about running 2:54, but that's what he ran. His goal of 2:30 was a pipe dream.
And he wondered what lessons he learned... probably the most important one is don't invest in an effort that is at altitude. You will not be as prepared as your competition.
MANITOU SPRINGS, CO - This was not good. Well, it was good until about 10,000 feet of altitude. Gabriel arrived into Colorado, via Denver, two days before the race to give him some time for acclimatization. His first couple of runs at 6500ft were perfectly fine. He did not feel out of breath, nor did he have a massive headache. All seemed well...
And so, race morning arrived uneventfully, and Gabriel jogged the two miles from his hotel to the starting line. He lined up and took off. He was comfortable not to be near the lead pack, but he also felt that he couldn't be up there anyway, his fitness was not there, and this race hosted the WMRA World Long Mountain Challenge. Up and up he went. Barr Trail came and went and he had moved up into the top 30 runners, passing runners every so often. However, as he approached about 9-10,000ft. it was as if a switch shut-off his body and Gabriel resorted to a complete lack of energy and will.
By 11,000 ft. he had been passed by the top woman and by 12,000 ft. he had been passed by the top five elite women. Gabriel was just in survival mode to finish. Never did he dream about running 2:54, but that's what he ran. His goal of 2:30 was a pipe dream.
And he wondered what lessons he learned... probably the most important one is don't invest in an effort that is at altitude. You will not be as prepared as your competition.
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