Run Woodstock

Run Woodstock Start/Finish Line



We were in Pinckney, MI this past weekend to celebrate peace, love, and running at the annual Run Woodstock, which is an all weekend affair filled with trail runs ranging from 5k to 100 miles!  There are distances for everyone and runners can take part in as many events as they want.  Nadya, Jerry, and I decided to do the half marathon distance and Nadya's mom went with the 5 miler.  We arrived Friday evening and went to the registration area to pick up our packets and were surprised to receive nice technical long sleeve shirts.  I was expecting a tie-dye cotton t-shirt since I think that's what was given out in past races, but not this year :).  Afterwards we pitched up our tents over at the walk-in camping area as it started to drizzle.  The rain stopped as we cooked some dinner and started back up again as we walked around the event area.  As soon as we retired for the night the rain picked up even more and it ended up pouring all night long.  A muddy trail run would greet us in the morning.  Lucky for us, the rain stopped around 5:30 am, just in time for me to cook some breakfast and make some coffee.  Cooking was actually a pain in the ass in the walk-in campsites as there were no picnic tables.  I had to sit on the cooler and cook on a basketball court, but it worked.

The morning was pretty chilly and the skies were clearing up as we went through our pre-race preparations.  It was going to be an excellent day for running.  As it got closer to the 7:30 am start time, someone who shall not be named, was still stuck in the bathroom line.  We barely made it to the starting line on time and realized upon arrival that they were sending runners off in waves.  That was kind of nice although we got stuck in the back with a bunch of the marathoners.  Oh well.  The run started off through the campground before immediately entering into singletrack where we had to weave past other runners.  After a couple of miles we entered into a wide gravel road where we passed the first aid station at mile 3, continued for another 1.5 miles and doubled back to the same aid station at mile 6 before taking a sharp turn back into singletrack goodness.  This 3 mile section of gravel/loose-dirt road was probably the biggest energy suck for me due to poor traction, uneven terrain, and horse poop dodging.  Things started to flow again back on the singletrack and we fell into a groove for the next couple of miles.  However, out of nowhere, traffic!  And at what seemed like the tightest part of the course.  I was able to make my way through, but Nadya got stuck.  More traffic appeared as runners tip-toed around muddy sections of the trail.  At this point I said screw it and just ran straight through the mud and the runners who were afraid of getting their shoes dirty.  This was a trail run, right?  Aren't we supposed to get dirty?

Soon the 10 mile aid station appeared and I looked down at my watch to check my pace and I was well below the 9 minute pace that I was aiming for (or so I thought...).  Just 3 miles left on a pretty section of pine forest.  After what seemed like the longest 3 miles ever, I began to hear the music at the finish line.  All of a sudden the trail ended and I was back in the campground with the finish just around the corner.

Post race with our finishers' medals

After looking at my finishing time, I calculated that I ran the last 3 miles in over 30 minutes.  What!?  No way!  I definitely felt like I was pushing the pace at the end, which has led me to believe that either the 10 mile aid station is under 10 miles or the last 3.1 miles was a tad longer.  Hmmmm...  If only I had a GPS....  But that's okay.  It doesn't really matter.  It's a trail race and distances are never exact.  We at least have something to aim for next year!

 

What shoes are supposed to look like after a muddy trail race

Nadya ended up 4th in her age group and Jerry was first in his age group.  Good job you guys!  I actually ended up 9th in my age group, which I am very pleased with.  I know it will be tough to be at the top of my age group since I have only been running and training the past few years, and especially since most of my time is dedicated to climbing (sorry running, but climbing is way more important).  But I shall keep running and maybe one day I will be fast enough.  If not, that's alright.  I still enjoy pushing myself.
We definitely plan to be back next year!

One more race this summer (and probably the last one of the year).  Next up...Hocking Hills Indian Run.

Nadya with her top 5 age group award :)