2010 Camping Year in Review

Although the DC area "Snowpocalypse" shut down the annual ICE, the year of 2010 still had its share of backpacking and camping adventures, with myself and other familiar NORSA faces.  Just back from my last trip of the year, it is time to recap them all.  NORSA camping is truly an event for all seasons:

Spring - one week solo (Steven S) in the George Washington National Forest, around Trout Run valley plus many side trails.  Highlights included Halfmoon Lookout,  Trout Pond, and Tibbet Knob.  Also a close encounter with a rattlesnake.  Watch out in the high grass on those forest roads!

Summer - canoe camping at Assateague Island (Steven S, Emily P, plus NORSA newcomers Cody & Jessica).  Highlights - all the pretty horses.  More than we bargained for - high winds, sunburn.

Fall - overnight trip to Kennedy Peak (Steven S, Emily P, Matt, Nora, plus NORSA newcomer Michael L).    Unfortunately, the peak itself was preempted by another group, but fun was had by all.  Highlights included fall foliage, seeing three bears, and not starting this forest fire.

Winter - Steven S did another solo trip in the GWNF, this time an 8.5 mile out and back to Halfmoon Lookout on Christmas Eve.  It snowed, but things were going well until a complaining knee turned the last six miles into an agonizing limp back to the parking lot.  Be careful out there and bring plenty of ibuprofen!

That's it for now.  Here's hoping that 2011 is another NORSA-rific year!

Jingle All the Way 10K

Jingle All the Way 10K
December 12, 2010
Washington, DC

Spirits were high at the Capital Running Company’s Jingle All the Way 10K despite a cold and rainy Sunday morning in December. Costumed and serious runners alike toed the line for the 6th annual race held at DC’s West Potomac Park. The flat out and back course allows for attainable PRs but not for a certain NORSA running on this day. Allison ran the race on an injured left calf and was not able to sustain a fast pace due to the volume of runners on the relatively narrow course. Despite running a personal worst for the year, Allison was able to chalk up the race as the “6 miles at marathon pace” run that she was scheduled to complete that day.

The Jingle All the Way 10K is a fun race and provides a good opportunity for runners to stay fit during the winter season. Beware, though, of a lack of bathroom stops along the course (Probably due to park regulations. There’s a public bathroom a mile or two into the race, though.) and large crowds or runners. The race is chip-timed but (at least for 2010) one’s 5K time is recorded based off of one’s gun time. There was plenty of food and drinks at the end of the race (even Christmas cookies!) and as long as one is able to drag him or herself out of bed on a cold December morning, this is a race to do!

Race Results
Net Time – 53:00
Pace – 8:32/m
Over All Place – N/A
Female Place – 395/2,536
Age Group Place – 128/795

Blue Moon Wicked 10K

Blue Moon Wicked 10K
October 30, 2010
Virginia Beach, Virginia

Allison participated in the second annual Blue Moon Wicked 10K held in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She did not miss her starting wave (first wave!!) this time and was able to cruise along the flat, coastal course at a 7:54/m pace and notched herself a new 10K PR.

Allison “beat the train” (a group of employees from a local running store holding up scaffolding as a group making it look as if they were a train) but did not realize that she was to receive a prize for this. The technical socks would have been nothing, though, to the hand carved, tiki head trophy that Allison’s father won after placing third in his age group. The event was well organized and plenty of spectators lined the course to cheer on the (mostly) costumed racers. The registration fee is high for a 10K ($55 plus registration fees) but runners receive aluminum water bottles, tech tees, skull caps and, get this, medals…that double as bottle openers. Absolutely, positively the coolest and most useful medal received to date.

Now for a little downtime from racing (save for a few races scattered here and there) in preparation for the Shamrock Marathon in March!

Race Results

Net Time – 49:00.22
Pace – 7:54
Overall Place – 516/6,128
Female Place – 117/3,913
Age Group Place (25-29) – 26/747

Army 10 Miler

Army 10 Miler
October 24, 2010
Washington, DC

Allison ran 9.95 miles of the Army 10 Miler on October 24, 2010 while skidding the remaining 0.05 miles.

30,000 runners registered for the race with 21,669 crossing the finish line in the allotted time. The course takes runners from the Pentagon, across the Arlington Memorial Bridge and circles the Lincoln Memorial before heading up Constitution and Virginia Avenues. The course then heads back down toward the Kennedy Center where runners meet the obstacle course portion of the race as they hurdle jersey walls to avoid the construction equipment blocking the course. Runners are cheered on along Independence Avenue before looping around the Capital and heading back up Independence along side of the Smithsonian (family of) Museum(s). A sharp left onto 14th Street and two miles along I-395 and the 14th Street bridge (bridges can have ‘rolling hills’??) leads the runners back to the Pentagon for the finish.

The race is the largest 10 mile race in America and it shows! Allison was placed in the first wave of runners but was not able to make her way to the starting coral due to the large crowds and narrow starting area. She spent the entire 10 miles weaving in and out of runners (and a crazy amount of walkers) and had a nasty wipe out after her foot fell into a sunken sewer grate on Independence Avenue after trying to make her way around a tired runner (no worries, we’re all good). After falling, hitting the asphalt hard, skidding across the road 10 yards and having the wind knocked out of her, Allison was hoisted up by four or five runners (‘angels’ in her book!) who carried her along until she could start breathing and moving her legs again. If it was not for those runners, Allison would have had to bow out of the race (she has had two other nasty falls in two separate races that stopped her breathing and she was forced to drop out). She opted to stay in the race and, thus, avoided being a pansy a**.

Despite the fall, Allison’s finishing time fell in between what her training program predicted and what she thought was a realistic time.” It was an honor for her to run along side wounded soldiers and those back from fighting overseas. The support teams were great, aid stations were easy to navigate and the medal people were really nice when Allison wanted to switch her finisher's coin with one that was a bit shinnier (pansy). As long as one doesn’t mind the crowds, this race is a wonderful experience for those looking to support the troops and veterans while touring some of the most scenic portions of our nation’s capital.

Results
Allison Tully 11884
Net Time – 1:22:41
Pace – 8:16 (I calculated the course being 10.14 miles long and, thus, an 8:09 pace)
Overall – 4,519/21,669
Sex – 872/9,594
Division – 228/1,944

Army 10 Miler logo from http://www.armytenmiler.com/

Freedom’s Run Half Marathon

Shepherdstown, West Virginia
October 2, 2010

http://www.freedomsrun.org/


Allison participated in the 2nd Annual Freedom’s Run Half Marathon in Shepherdstown, West Virginia on Saturday October 2. Despite two absolutely torturous hills followed up with 6 miles of rolling hills (not as cute and cheery as one may suspect), she was able to clock a 4 ½ minute PR while running through arguably one of the most well-known Civil War battlefields.

The 13.1 (I mapped 13.22) mile course leaves West Virginia shortly after the race’s start on the grounds of Shepherdstown University, crossing over the Potomac River and looping onto the C&O Canal towpath. At about the 3 mile marker, runners make a sharp left onto Millers Sawmill Road for a brutal 1.25 mile climb (0.75 miles at 3% and 0.50 miles at 2%). The climb leads into historic Antietam National Battlefield which is littered with rolling hills and another menacing climb around mile 6 (leaving one runner (not me) violently ill on the side). The course leaves the battlefields around mile 9 and continues along Shepherdstown Pike through the town of Sharpsburg and back to the University campus.

A note on the timing set up: I was not aware that the start of the race was a gun start while the finish was chip-timed. Thinking that both the start and finish was chip timed (crazy, right?) I kept to the back of the pack at the start in order to avoid the mass of runners up at the front. As a result, my finishing time of 1:52:24 was officially recorded as 1:55:30. Dagger. My results are as follows:

Official Results

1:55:30
168/657 overall (male and female)
20/95 (females, ages 20-29)

Actual Results

1:52:24
137/657 overall (male and female)
13/95 (females, ages 20-29)

Freedom’s Run is a (relatively) small yet exceptionally well run event (even with the confusion about the chip timing). I tip my hat to those who ran the full marathon; I have no idea how anyone made it through those climbs after 13 and 16 miles! I highly recommend the Freedom’s Run for anyone looking to really (really, really) challenge him or herself or who may be training for the JFK 50 (a good portion of the race covers the JFK’s course). Civil War buffs, too, will get a kick out of running through Antietam, Bloody Lane, passing the Observation Tower and racing by General Lee’s Antietam headquarters.

Photo credits and thanks to http://www.freedomsrun.org/ and http://www.shepherdstownvisitorscenter.com/

Steven L. Completes Diamond in Rough

Hello Norsaites - I did the Diamond in the Rough for the 3rd year in a row. This year it was converted to a Duathlon because the race began in the middle of a brutal thunderstorm, canceling the swim portion. The race began with a 2.7 mile run (replacing the 1-mile swim), and continued with the typical 27-mile bike and 5 mile run. It never stopped raining throughout the entire race, resulting in my hands being thoroughly pruned and my ankles bleeding from chaffing. Fortunately, it was summer and still quite warm outside. Despite the weather, I improved my bike time over last year (which I attribute to finally getting clipless pedals) and also improved my 5-mile run time (which I attribute to the cooling effect of the rain). Few things are more fun than running in the rain; in all, it was an A+ day!

Rockville Twilighter 8k Race

On Saturday, July 17, NORSA runners gathered in Rockville for the annual twilight 8k hosted by the Rotary Club. Several thousand racers toed the line near 9:00 PM on a hot, humid Saturday night. Among those runners were Matt White, Steven Long, Allison and Sean Tully, Emily Paladino, and Tom Saffell. The course takes the runners from downtown Rockville through some neighborhoods of Rte 355 and through Montgomery College's campus before shooting the racers down 355 toward the finish. Although the heat made this race fairly brutal, the runners were refreshed with free Gatorade and Michelob Ultra afterward.

Bib # | Full Name | Age | Location | Gun Time

1174 | Steven Long | 27 | Bethesda MD | 40:18

1862 | Allison Tully | 27 | Falls Church VA | 43:44

1863 | Sean Tully | 26 | Falls Church VA | 48:42

1446 | Emily Paladino | 27 | Washington DC | 55:02

1940 | Matthew White | 27 | Arlington VA | 55:42

1610 | Thomas Saffell | 27 | Silver Spring MD | 64:31

This race has long been a NORSA staple and frequently has numerous NORSA members as participants.

DC Capital Striders 8K

May 29, 2010
6:30 PM

Allison participated in her first 8K with the DC Capital Striders this past Memorial Day Weekend. The race was simple yet well run; no chip timing or elaborate set-ups here, just a $15 entry fee, toe the line and get ready to go! The out and back course began at the start (or end, depending on which way one looks at it) of the Capital Crescent Trail in Georgetown. Finishing times were recorded by handing the bottom half of one’s race bib to the officials after crossing the finish and then having the bib number shouted out to and then manually recorded by the tent official. The start/finish area was no more than a few tents, a “start/finish” banner and 197 runners eager to get out on the path. A small, simple and well run event was enjoyed by all. No one to sing the National Anthem? No sweat! Just ask for a volunteer from the crowd!

Allison had a 7:45 min/mi. pace for the first mile but a cramp in her right calf forced her to slow down considerably. She crossed the finish in 41:06.71 (officially 41:11 due to “delay in race bib number shout out”) which was “good enough” for 71/197 overall (yuck) and 17/86 in the female division. She will not only be back for next year’s 8k in order to post a much better overall finish but also for future races hosted by the DC Capital Striders!

Results
Time: 41:06.71 (41:11)
Pace: 8:16/mi.
Overall: 71/197
Female Division: 17/86
Age Group (20-29): 12/42

That's me...in the green...

Steven Completes 2010 Rumpus in Bumpass Sprint

Steven completed the 2010 Rumpus in Bumpass Sprint on April 18. It was fun. You should join him for a race.

Norsa Ski Trip 2010

Matt, Nora, Steven, Russ, Leo, Jon and a bunch of other people went skiing in the Lake Tahoe area this spring. It was norsa-tastic.

2010 Care First Frederick Running Festival

May 1 – 2, 2010

Thank God I Only Ran the Half…

Springtime can be an “iffy at best” deal for many runners and unpredictable heat and humidity can and will destroy one’s goal of a 1:48 half even after she trained oh-so-hard to improve her speed and endurance and made sure to properly hydrate and replenish her electrolytes which a lack of had caused issues with calf strains and pulled Achilles tendons. She was pumped! She was ready to go! She was going to crush this race! She was dripping with sweat 1.5 miles into the race and wondering why she could actually see heat waves on the horizon…

Dagger.

2,627 half-marathoners and 1,038 (728 finishers) marathoners were signed up to participate in the 2010 Frederick Running Festival. Weather reports called for temperatures in the low- to mid-90s on race weekend. The staff of the Frederick Running Festival made sure to have plenty of water and Power Ade at each aid station (wait, wasn’t there supposed to be GU at the stops??). The sky was overcast for the first part of the run but the humidity was brutal. Less than two miles in I realized just how difficult completing this race would be.

I stuck with the 3:40 marathon pace group for the first 3 miles but slowly backed off after realizing that a pace of 8:15 was not in the cards today (note: I realized this before the race began but “just wanted to see what I could do”). I wasn’t able to even stick with an 8:30 pace. Ugh, God, 8:57??

It was a rough going for a majority of the runners; the medical tents had lines forming and quite a few people being carried off of the course on stretchers to waiting ambulances. One runner that I was pacing at mile 11 on Gas House Pike simply collapsed on the course and rolled into a ditch (mind you, I made sure he was OK and not, in fact, well, dead). No less than three ambulances screamed by me as crossed the finish line. A reported eight runners were taken to the Frederick Memorial Hospital for leg cramps and heat exhaustion.

My official time was 1:57:40 due to a pit stop and my actual time was 1:56:42. Honestly, I was glad simply to finish but was disappointed in my time. While I set a PR for myself, I only ran 2 minutes faster than the National Half Marathon where I was nursing a popped Achilles. Therefore, I was not all to impressed with my new record.

I would tell you where I placed but, frankly, I have no idea! I received an email from the race directors with one set of standings while the race website gives me two different sets of standings. I’ll stick with the rankings that make me look the best! Thus (as per the email from the race directors):

1:57:40 (unofficial 1:56:42)

Overall --> 570/2,267
Female 25-29 Age Group --> 37/276
Female Division --> 198/1,451

Aside from the humidity I did enjoy this race. The course is beautiful, the aid stations were well-manned and the people of Frederick were all out rooting us on. I will be back next year and I will get that 1:48 PR.

2010 Kaiser Permanente Pike’s Peek 10K

April 25, 2010

Just a quick recap since I need to spend a good amount of time researching how not to die running a half marathon in 92° heat (Frederick Half Marathon on May 2).

Pike’s Peek is a community run through the heart (The Pike) of Rockville, Maryland. And, may I emphasize “community run” to the gentleman who crossed the finish line with his arms outstretched, middle fingers extended? Yes, you sir, the gentleman who made sure to salute and thank all of the spectators, participants in the “1K Kids’ Run” and the toddlers participating in the 50m “Toddle Trot” right next to the finish cheering you on, ringing cowbells and hootin’ and hollerin’ as you crossed the line. Way to keep it classy.

The run begins at the Shady Grove Metro just off of Redland Road before turning onto everyone’s favorite haunt, Rockville Pike, for 6.2 miles. A net downhill course still includes generous inclines and potholes to keep a watch out for. The early morning rain tempered off just before the race began but the runners had to deal with high humidity (tunnel vision, anyone?). Water and PowerAde stations were well-manned by the support crew and, surprisingly enough, there were lots of spectators along the course cheering the runners on!

The Montgomery County Road Runners Club put on a fine race with a fantastic post-run celebration (although I grew nauseous at the thought of consuming a BBQ pork sandwich after the finish). This was the first time I ran this event and it will not be the last. I was able to notch a fine and dandy new 10K PR (by 5 minutes!) and feel pretty good about my standings in the race!

Net Time: 49:33

Pace: 7:59

Place (F 25-29): 23/205

Place (overall): 131/1,244

2010 CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield National Half Marathon

2010 CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield National Half Marathon
I Beat Michael Wardian


No big deal, but I spent my Saturday morning out on a run through our Nation’s Capital with four-time winner of the Boston and New York Marathon Bill Rodgers and Joan Benoit Samuelson, winner of the first women's Olympic Marathon. No need to mention that I paid $85 for the privilege of rising at 4:30 AM and began my run with 38° temperatures and 9,197 other racers.

But most importantly, I beat this guy:

That, folks, is Michael Wardian; an Arlington, Virginia runner whose accomplishments are too numerous to list here (this entry will be long enough as is), but go ahead and Google him; it will only show how big my accomplishment truly was. More to come on that.

The March 20, 2010 marked the 5th running (no pun intended) of the SunTrust National Marathon, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield National Half Marathon and Team Relay (whew! Say THAT five-times fast!) here in our Nation’s Capital. Forecasts called for a pleasantly sunny and breezy afternoon, but not before chilly temperatures greeted runners at the 7 AM start (and a 4:30 AM wake-up call for me).

While the course touts itself as “the fastest looped course in the country,” in no way is it free of challenging climbs. Even Benoit Samuelson, no slouch runner herself, said, “It was a good solid run. It’s an Honest Abe course, it’s not flat.” From mile 4 through mile 7, one effectively runs at a 3% grade. Sharp inclines scattered about the route did not allow for easy coasting. This runner realized that she should have run the hilly section after running 3 to 4 miles rather than beginning her practice runs at the foot of Constitution and 18th.

I began training for this race at the end of December and was able to knock out 272.8 miles despite the blizzard and countless fights with my right leg that is plagued with issues (popped Achilles, ‘tweaked’ quad, ankle tendonitis, patellar tendonitis, need I go on?). My Achilles flared up immediately after crossing the starting line (of all the rotten luck…) and I spent the first three miles trying figure out if dropping out of a race due to injury (a ruptured Achilles) was “bad ass” or not. My pace at this point was pretty fast so I slowed down considerably (the hills helped me to slow down, too…) and focused on favoring my left foot in order to take pressure off of my right. While this helped a bit, six hours of ice and an elevated leg after the completed run helped even more!

I completed the race in 1:57:58 (9:00/m…dagger) (2615/6239 overall, 315/1025 age group) and, yes, did a little fist pump at the finish line when I saw that I completed the run in under two hours as hoped. Although the leg cramps commenced on queue after crossing the finishing line, I was able to hobble my way over to “The nice medal guy,” stick my arm out and as politely as I possible could, said/commanded/demanded, “Gimme.” After wrapping myself in one of those "warming capes" (the runner dressed as Batman did not receive a cape) and walked off of the course with my head held high. No Top 5 finish for me, but I did place and had a cash “pay out” next to my name.

2010 CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield National Half Marathon
6,239 finishers
Overall Women (clock time)
1. Laura Farley, 25, Bloomington IN - 1:18:38 ($1,000)
2. Phebe Ko, 27, Bethesda MD - 1:19:03 ($500)
3. Dani Prince, 24, Bloomington IN - 1:19:37 ($250)
4. Kristin Andrews, 28, Bethesda MD - 1:21:00 ($200)
5. Kathryn Neeper, 26, Washington DC -1:21:06 ($100)
2615. Allison Tully, 27, Falls Church, VA 1:57:59 (-$85)


But wait! I beat Michael Wardian, right!? Indeed, I did. Let me explain.

I spent a bit of time walking around, stretching and refueling (banana, water, not losing my guts when offered a banana-flavored Muscle Milk) while watching and cheering on the rest of the runners crossing the finish line. As the race announcer began to broadcast that the leader of the marathon, Michael Wardian, was nearing the finish, something utterly amazing occurred to me: Holy crap, I beat him! Yes, the four out of five time winner of the National Marathon who just crossed the line for yet another tally mark on his win list and, low and behold, guess who beat him? Me. That’s who.

Wait, you say. But how? I’ll explain.

Me: Holy cow, I beat Michael Wardian!
Sean (husband): Umm, no sweetie. He ran the full marathon; you only ran the half.
Me: Yes...but I crossed the finish line first.

Sean said that he didn’t respond because his head hurt from my logic; I chalked his silence up to me being correct. So I stood there, banana, water, medal, shinny cape and all reveling in the fact that all of the hoopla for Michael Wardian was misdirected: I, in fact, beat the 2008 and 2009 ultra-marathoner of the year. I should be interviewed by NBC 4, Runners World, Running Times and so on. Next time. Next time...

Nevertheless, this is a great course and event for beginners and veterans alike (even fellow NORSAites who either failed to man-up for this run. *cough* Tom, Matt and Steve. *cough*). The entire event, from sign up, to expo, to pre-race, race and post-race was run with the utmost of efficiency. Those in charge of this race have set the bar pretty high for those hosting future half-marathons that I have entered (I’m talking to you, Frederick Running Festival). I still have much to do to improve my time but I will be entering this race again next year with two goals: finish with an 8:30/m pace (baby steps) and beat Michael Wardian. Again.

Yeah, Michael Wardian, you may be crossing the line now, but guess who already has her medal?

St. Patty's Run Green 2010

On March 7th, 2010, NORSA member Adam, along with newcomers Amanda and Nam, strapped on their running shoes to participate in downtown Raleigh's St. Patty's Day Run Green 8K. Sponsored by local Irish Pub Tir Na Nog (which is getting quite involved in the Raleigh running scene - sponsoring many races and hosting its Monday night Nog Run Club), this road race featured approximately 2,500 competitors and a mildly rolly course which took the runners through the residential neighborhoods immediately east of downtown.

Starting and finishing in front of Tir Na Nog in Moore Square, the runners were treated to bag pipes, green race shirts, an Irish rock band, and free pints and glasses - the usual post-race shenanigans that follow most road-running races sponsored by Irish Pubs that take place around St. Patrick's Day. The temperatures warmed up to the 60's with sunny skies, striking a wonderful balance between cool running and warm post-race shenanigizing.

Here are the results:

Name     Age_Group_Place     Time 
Nam      18                  37:55
Adam     33                  42:03
Amanda   20                  46:12

Full results can be found here

Mt. Isabel de Torres

NORSA members Alan and Adam, while taking a short leave of absence from regular scheduled NORSA events, took the opportunity to re-invigorate themselves in the NORSA lifestyle in the most proper way possible: by climbing a mountain.



Currently based in Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, Alan and Adam began the day with their sights set on the nearby 2700 ft summit of Isabel de Torres. The mountain features a tram to the top, botanical gardens, and a Rio-esque statue of Jesus Christ. Armed with only their rudimentary spanish, stereotypical tourist costumes, and NORSA wilderness sense, the duo set off in the morning for the base of the mountain.

Knowing only that a trailhead existed somewhere near the base of the tram, and that the tram was located somewhere near downtown, Adam and Alan hopped onto a local 'wah-wah' taxi/shuttle/jitney for a ride into the city. Taking bearings off the mountain, they hopped off their ride at the nearest spot to the tram. Taking a trip up a side road, they made it up to the base of the tram, only to be bombarded (swarm-style) by a flurry of locals seeking to serve as guides. Various allegations were made about the hike (it was dangerous; the locals living in the woods will ambush you; hiking up alone is strongly discouraged), however, NORSA-wits prevailed (along with prior information that none of this was true). Eventually negotiating a contract with a different local, this individual provided what the team was seeking: instructions on how to get to the trailhead along a map drawn out in sticks on the ground about which turns to take on the way up.

The two confusing turns on the trail occurred in the first half mile, while the rest of the climb was extraordinarily pleasant. No knife-welding tree people were sitting in waiting. The trail itself, although not marked, was very well built and easy to follow.

The top of the mountain provided an epic view of the city and the northern Caribbean sea. The team enjoyed the view along with a hearty lunch of sardines on crackers. Accosted once more by a local trying to scalp tickets for the tram ride down, the duo parted with the summit and re-traced their steps back to the base. A successful outing, and a reassuring test of the blood-borne, NORSA spirit that lives within all NORSA members.