A Little Behind

It has been pointed out to me by several family members that I am a little behind on my blog.  Two months behind to be exact.  It has been busy, school started, soccer season started, I have had races and it is cross-country season.  The last thing I want to do in my free time is sit at the computer.  Since it is supposed to be a rainy week; I thought I might get back in the groove.  To start with, I guess I should cover the last two months for all those people who wonder if we have dropped off the face of the earth.

My two months of absences on the blog scene started with my annual race up Mt. Mansfield.  4.3 miles up the auto road, and I managed to complete one of my tasks for this year (beat last year's time).  I also managed to convince Andy and his brother to do the bike race!

During the time of the race we also managed to get in some family time.  Andy's family came to Vermont, and we did the tourist thing for the week leading up to the race. 

Little Man started first grade, and loves his teacher this year.

 We have managed to squeeze in some family time.  Fair with Papa.

 Pumpkin Chunkin with grandma.

 I have done a lot of traveling with my cross-country team around the Northeast.  My favorite race so far was Van Courtland Park in the Bronx.  We even had our own little homeless shelter that the moms crafted out of shower curtains for us since it was pouring that day. That on top of the fact that everyone was wearing trash bags (parents included) made for quite the sight.

 Little Man played soccer all fall and starts hockey in a week.

 He has also been inserting his own sense of style into the traditional fall pictures.  Soccer outfit and sunglasses for apple picking. 

 Moose Vest for the corn maze.  Andy later pointed out that I took him into a corn maze wearing a moose outfit during hunting season. 

As always trying new foods.  Sugar shack poutine with cheese curds, maple syrup and bacon.  They were amazing. 

 Feeding the starving children.

 Trying to enjoy every minute of a simply beautiful fall.

Task 18: 100 on 100 Heart of Vermont

Because of the email frenzy created by my running friends on race day last year, I developed a strong desire to run 100 on 100 Heart of Vermont Relay this year. What is 100 on 100 you might ask. It is a 100 mile relay divided amongst 6 people each of whom run 3 legs during the course of the day.  The shortest total distance run is a little over 12 miles and the longest (my leg) ended up being a little over 19 (it was advertised as 18.9---that was not the case). Each team starts at different times, based on their projected pace and the ideal is that everyone ends around the same time (you track your friends on other teams by their Facebook posts).  When you get to the last legs of the race, the ultras (those who habitually run ultra-marathons) come screaming past you like this is just a training run for them.  It is not a perfect science as there could be a million reasons your time was not as planned or a group of friends you expect to catch you never do.  Our group was in the second wave to exit the starting line at 5:45am as the sun was just coming up.  We have all determined to get faster for next year so we can start a little later in the day (the fastest group left at 10:00).   

Once the groups were off and running, decorated vans full of runners took off after their runners leap frogging through the transition zones. Some of the vans have done this before and are completely decked out for the day.  My favorites was the "Kingpins", with LED lights and the group with the drum on top that they pounded as they came upon runners.  Every pull off along Route 100 in Vermont was crowded with runners who were there to cheer each other on, and pass water off to their runner.  It is pretty much an all day running party.  You could gauge the difficulty level of the leg based on distance.  Your long legs (for me 8.8) tended to be easier in regards to terrain.  The shorter legs consisted of major climbs or screaming(terrifyingly so) down hills.  My hardest was a 4 mile costume leg up the side of a mountain.  I passed a whole group of people who had stopped to walk and a few others who were struggling with their costumes of choice.  Amazingly enough the lobster ahead of me cruised up the hill with ease.  

It was getting dark as our last two runners completed their legs.  The team finishes together by running as a group through a tunnel of tiki torches.  It is an awesome day, and worth every mile logged. Our team already has the day planned out right down to who is going to run which leg next year and what we are going to pack for food.

Task 17: Backpacking

Task 16 should have happened last year, but to be honest a small amount of fear got in the way of this one.  I grew up backpacking and have been waiting for Little Man to be the right age to bring him.  I had originally planned on going last year, but fear of the weather, him being ready and being on our own kept us away.  After dragging my feet all summer: we finally did it, and it was wonderful.  Little Man was amazing and only once on the way down did he complain, or look like I was going to have to drag him.  I can't say I blame him, at that point the journey was almost over and I was also board with the trail that we hiked out on.  I actually wish we had done it earlier in the summer because I would take him again if cross-country season hadn't started right after our trip.   We had a blast and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

The lodge we stayed in for the night. Notice who does not have the large backpack with all the gear.  

Sunset from the hut.

Yes, this was in fact part of the trail.  If you look closely at the top you can see the blue blaze marking the way.  Little Man did awesome; I thought I was going to have a heart attack. 

View from the top.  

Notice the width of the trail.  My pack almost did not make it. Just another reason to pack light.