I hate when I’m wrong.

There was keen interest in the inaugural running of the Escape to the Palisades Half Marathon in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, mainly because it’s the first half of the marathon leg for Ironman U.S. Championship here in NYC. Many runners either wanted to taste what they’re in for come August, or revel in their choice to avoid the sufferfest.

Unlike Tebow, the race surpassed the hype.

From the get-go, organizers (Palisades Parks Conservancy partnered with EventPower) had their acts together. Check-in and schwag acquisition were easy breezy. A tote bag, gel and local vendor discounts accompanied a technical tee. Not bad. But when I got to the secure bike transition area, I completely stopped sweating the entry fee. Many runners rode across the GWB to the  race start, which organizers not only embraced but accommodated. (Heads up to another local half we recently reviewed… And we certainly don’t get those kinds of extras at NYRR events.)

The atmosphere at the race was what really set this event apart for me. The field was heavily skewed toward serious triathletes chasing an Ironman dream and runners who are dedicated enough to either not flinch at biking 10+ miles to and from the race, or are willing to board a shuttle to get there. In other words, a field of badasses who were beyond ready to tackle some tough terrain. But it was not unfamiliar territory for an inaugural race — rather, that course is like an old nemesis who sits on your wheel then has the audacity to hurdle past, sucking up your mental and physical strength like a triathlete vampire. In spite of knowing what was to come, spirits were high. And at the risk of getting mushy, the general sense of camaraderie among athletes (many of whom had raced and trained together before) was truly palpable. At the gun, sirens blared, the crowd and announcer cheered and I felt like I was running a much bigger race than I actually was.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poBXtE296tw

And then those warm fuzzies got trampled on the steep uphill climb out of Ross Dock to Henry Hudson Drive.

Within the first quarter mile, the course lets you know you’re in for: 1,324 feet of climbing, 1,339 feet of descent. Holy crapsticks. It’s one long out-and-back on one long, beautifully scenic but hilly road along the Hudson River. So in addition to the physical demands of the course, it’s a mental challenge as well. There’s no “escape” from the Palisades – what you see on the way out is exactly what you must tackle on the way back. And no part of it is flat. None of it. It’s a constant grade, up or down, til you cross the finish line.

That being said, the constant change in elevation means it’s very possible to run this course well. Fast, even. There was no shortage of PR’s out there (not course PR’s, overall half marathon personal bests EVER.) For every tough climb, there’s an equally awesome descent. So if you’re smart – if you’re patient on the uphills, let your feet fly on the downhills without burning out your quads, and allow momentum and adrenaline to carry you up the beginning of the next hill (because there IS another hill) – you can have a great race.

Although I personally found the OAB (out-and-back) format a bit monotonous, there is merit to it. It allows you to see friends and teammates along the way (“Great job!… You too!”) AND lets you size up the competition (“SHE’S that close at the turnaround?! Shit!”)

But the aid stations were set up to work in both directions on the course. They didn’t, especially within a couple miles of the turnaround. Runners coming to the tables from both directions is a bad idea. It’s a small nit to pick, but I’m also calling out the thin plastic cups at the aid stations and inexperienced munchkin volunteers. I feel like a jerk knocking the water-delivery methodology of kids, but I wound up grabbing my own water because the volunteers were either too slow or not holding multiple cups. That’s a tiny ding in an otherwise sparkly crown of a well-run event.

The last 1.3 miles on the course is a series of rollers and steady climb from sea level to 135 feet. There, you can hear the crowd below cheering loudly on the water, and the same hill that tried to trip you up at the start catapults you to the finish line at teeth-clenching, barely in control speed. Your reward for crossing? BREAKING THE TAPE. Seriously. Big ups to the folks at Palisades and EventPower for letting as many athletes as possible experience the thrill of being “first.”

We should all feel like we’ve won because we started, but we often let the pressure of PR’s and competition outweigh the fact that we’re out there, pushing ourselves, testing our limits, and spending our weekends in ways most people can’t fathom. Sometimes we forget to pat ourselves on the back, so thanks, Palisades, for doing it for us.

Let me break it down:

Course: A 

It’s tough as balls. But it’s just as rewarding as it is unrelenting if you run smart.

Organization: A -

Well done, first-timers. Props for using social media in a way that benefits athletes as well as calls attention to your event: early registrants got 5 bucks back each time they shared their link and got someone else to sign up. Kind of a brilliant win-win and deruffles feathers a bit over the entry fee.

Only beef I have is sorting out the aid stations and training volunteers to hand out multiple cups quickly. When it’s above 60 degrees, most runners want 2 waters — one goes in the mouth (unless aforementioned crappy cup spills or falls to the ground), one goes on the head.

Hells yeah for the secure bike transition area, medal, and appropriately-sized tech tee! Speaking for the hoards of female athletes who pay just as much as dudes to enter races, THANKS for offering shirts in size XS and S.  I do not need any more huge race tees to wear as pajamas. Ever. Thank you, and my BF thanks you, too.

Atmosphere: A

It was like 6 degrees of (fill in favorite triathlete coach’s name here.) Basically a giant lovefest reunion of triathlete and running teams from NYC and Ironmen-in-training, checking out their competition before August. Fast, strong, fiercely competitive yet simultaneously supportive.

Logistics: A

With shuttle service from the city and easy access via bike, PLUS a secure transition area complete with racks, Palisades eludes any snark about accessibility of the start line.

Overall: Friggin A

Felt like I got my money’s worth. Very challenging with big potential for personal payoff, beautifully scenic and small enough for athletes to feel like they’re out for a tough run among friends. As the event inevitably grows, I hope that sense of solidarity and fun vibe can be maintained.

So the big question is, which is better? Hook Mountain or Palisades?

Depends on what you’re looking for – and willing to pay.

I’m not copping out, that’s the bottom line. Hook is a challenging, well-organized, local no-frills race. You race it because it’s tough, keep going back because you want to race it better, and the allure of the epic BRick, riding to and from Rockland, will always be there. The organizers and volunteers are proud of their race, welcoming and staunchly supportive regardless of weather. But you’re not going to get a medal or a band or hoopla. Palisades has a tougher overall course profile in a flashier package (finisher medal, schwag, announcer, sirens, etc.) plus some great amenities like the bike transition and shuttle. Because you paid for them with a $65 early reg fee vs $25 for Hook. The course atmosphere at Palisades came from the athletes; there were very few supporters on that OAB and no “local flavor” to speak of. But there’s no question that race organizers put on a solid event that most athletes I know enjoyed and will return to.

Did you race both? What’d you think?

-Julie

While training for Ironman, I once spent 4 hours on my indoor trainer. I watched two pretty terrible movies that starred a combination of Cher, Christina Aguilera and Gwyneth Paltrow singing country music (you can guess which movies, I’m admitting to nothing). It was an awful experience and I swore I would never ride the trainer again unless I absolutely had to. And when I moved to SoCal, I thought I would never have to, but alas there are reasons to ride the trainer in paradise, so I went ahead and downloaded the whole Sufferfest series to see what the hype was about.

The Sufferfest is a series of 10 videos designed to make the most out of your trainer time. There are 8 full workouts ranging from 45 minutes to 85 minutes, plus two “extra shots” that let you extend any workout. The videos have names like Downward Spiral and the Hunted… but also names like Angels (which is only called that because you spend most of your time simulating climbing to the heavens). The videos are engaging and entertaining, and accomplish the number one thing you want out of a trainer workout…they make it go by fast.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNKD276Ft5c

Don’t get me wrong, these workouts are HARD, but as with any trainer program only as hard as you push yourself. They start with a warm-up and from there the workout depends on which video you choose. There are hill intervals, short high intensity intervals, time trial pyramids, race simulations and more. The videos are licensed real life race footage from everyone’s favorite races including Paris-Rubaix, Road World Championship, Tour de Suisse, Paris-Nice, Tour of Flanders and a few others. The “on” intervals make you feel like you are racing the pros and the “off” intervals give you nice scenic tours of picturesque country sides. The music ranges from rock, to techno to electronic, and is motivating without being distracting. If I had one criticism of the video footage, it’s that there are parts where you really get sick of staring at the rear-end of the “racer” in front of you and there is some repeat footage within workouts.

Going in, you do have to have some awareness of your own physical fitness, as the guidance that’s provided tells you that you should be at a certain perceived effort on a scale of 1 – 10. Cadence guidance is also provided, which I found to be very helpful, and all the prompts are clear and easy to follow and even accompanied by audio prompts (helpful when you’ve got your eyes closed and are just trying to make it through the pain to the end of the interval). If you couldn’t tell by now, there is no doubt that you will finish this workout drenched with sweat and properly exhausted.

You can download each of the videos individually for $12.99, or buy the whole package at a discounted rate. If you choose the former and want to test drive one of the workouts before you make the plunge, here are a couple of my favorites:

Angels

This was my first time. It is just over 60 minutes and the majority of time is spent climbing. You start out with some over/under intervals set to the 2009 Paris-Nice (for all you Alberto Contador fans) then head into 3 eight-minute climbs. They are TOUGH. You spend them chasing Andy Schleck uphill during the 2009 Liege-Bastone, climbing up the Col d’Eze in Paris-Nice and finally culminating with trying to keep up with Contador on Alpe d’Huez. Your effort level for the entire eight minutes is at a minimum of 7/10 and maxing out at 9/10. Music is a bit eclectic ranging from funky to rock to dance/techno. As with many of the Sufferfest workouts, the cool down is a little strange….It isn’t really for me, but after that workout I welcomed the 4 minutes of easy spinning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsiUXRDKCXE

A Very Dark Place

It is a fitting title. It is 54 minutes, so on the shorter side of the ‘fest workouts, but it is a grueling 54 minutes. This workout is a hodge-podge of intervals (something for everyone if you will), some short 30 second sprints followed by a series of longer sprints. You’ll race various members of the cycling community (Gilbert, Schleck, Cacellera, Wiggins) in varying events (Paris-Nice, Paris-Roubaix, Fleche-Wallone, etc) and by the fifth four-minute interval, you will find yourself very ready for the cool-down.

The Downward Spiral

This one might have been my favorite. A series of descending intervals starting at 2 minutes and decreasing down to 15 seconds…multiplied by 2. This workout will test your limits, as long as you are true to the prescribed effort levels. The first set of intervals is set to the Paris-Roubaix and the second is set Fleche-Wallone. The soundtrack is primarily alternative rock. This one is a doozy and you will earn your lunch (or your dinner or your beer or whatever strikes your fancy).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGrUdPCT3bA

And as previously mentioned, once you’ve finished one of these great workouts and just don’t think you’ve gotten enough, there are two extra shot videos. One is 20 minutes and the other is 34 minutes. These are extended time trials or race simulations for those of you that are a glutton for punishment.

So, the final verdict? I give The Sufferfest two big thumbs up. Let’s face it, the trainer sucks no matter how you slice it, so anything that makes it more bearable is good for me. My criticisms (which are the weird cool-down footage, the tendency to repeat footage and the sometimes less than stellar video quality) are outweighed by the fact that these workouts are engaging and will leave you feeling like you really busted your own ass. Something that’s always tough to do when you’re in your living room by yourself.

Grade: A-

-Tracy

As a newly dedicated zombie fan, I couldn’t resist the lure of Run For Your Lives – “a zombie infested 5k obstacle course race.” After a little bit of exploring on the website, I chose to register myself as a runner (as opposed to a zombie), made a quick stop at myzombieinsurance.com, and made my way to Amesbury, Massachusetts for the Cinco de Mayo weekend.

Run For Your Lives is centered around the Zombie Apocalypse. Runners have to make their way through 3.1 miles of obstacles, much like many of the other adventure races out there today. The big difference is this course is littered with zombies trying to prevent you from finishing “alive”. Runners wear a belt with three flags, and when the flags are gone, you officially become a zombie. Only runners who cross the finish line as living, breathing human beings are eligible for time prizes. There are two ways to register for this race: either as a runner or as a zombie. Zombies are provided with makeup artists and all the fake blood they can handle to get them through a day of trying to eat runners’ brains. I have to admit I was skeptical going in as I knew this race was going to hinge on the zombies’ ability to make things unique and exciting, and sure enough…they did.

These zombies are committed...and it made all the difference.

Though I wasn’t racing until Sunday morning, I showed up early Saturday evening with a friend to enjoy the Apocalypse Party featuring multiple bands playing until midnight. The Apocalypse Party was our first real sign that this wasn’t your average 5k mud run. I’ve never seen such an eclectic group of people at a race party. Once the sun started to set, the realization hit that it was still only early May in New England, and we headed to warm up back at the campground – tent city with port-a-potties and diesel powered area lights. We had been told that above-ground fire pits were welcome, but found out on site that all fires were prohibited. Food and beverages also weren’t allowed in the campground, but luckily enforcement of that rule was lax or it would have been a long night.

Sunday morning we headed back to the Sports Park for our early wave on a windy, overcast, 50-degree morning. It didn’t take long to warm up on the course though – the very first obstacle was a run up what appeared to be a ski hill – and zombies were right there at the top to start grabbing flags and set the tone for the day.

 The atmosphere was very well done. Marines were strategically placed along the course to direct traffic, man water stations and generally help manage the chaos, which added to that “apocalyptic” feel. And zombies were everywhere, stumbling, moaning, groaning, reaching and grabbing for flags, always keeping runners guessing as to where to go next. Just as you’d get past one zombie, you’d immediately find yourself dodging another before you even had a chance to plot out your next step. I seriously underestimated the fitness test this race brought with it. With so many zombies, I found myself sprinting for extended periods through a mine field of flag snatching fingers, one after the other.

The physical course itself wasn’t too exciting – a handful of small obstacles in an open field were followed by about a mile of heavy mud and a river crossing. Though the final obstacle, a giant slip and slide down a hill into a muddy water pit, was a bit of a game-changer. Racers picked up so much speed there was no way to control yourself and runners were flipping, spinning and tumbling their way down the slide.

Though obstacles like that can be found at other similar events, it was the participants that gave Run For Your Lives a unique place in the ever-expanding field of mud-runs and adventure races. An enormous amount of credit goes to the zombies themselves, they were what made this race the experience that it was. Throughout the course I encountered a clown zombie, an Elvis zombie and a football player zombie (among others) and all stayed in character even when you had lost all your flags. Together, they managed to keep things competitive and challenging, but not overly so. Even when cornered, you almost always felt like you still had a chance to get through.

Now, I can’t tell you how many “survivors” made it across the finish “alive,” but I can tell you that you’d better protect your brains if you happen to meet me.

Course: B-

Nothing overly creative. The entire first mile is a zigzag across a large open field with mud and a few small obstacles. My favorite was a maze where I led a handful of others into a dead-end and we were met with a zombie who scared the bejeesus out of us. The rest of the course was primarily mud in the woods, but the slide at the end was a fun touch despite the cool weather.

Organization: C

There seemed to be communication issues from the get go. After finding out we couldn’t have a fire at the campground, we were pretty disappointed – especially at $20 per person.  When we arrived Sunday morning for our 9 a.m. race wave, we were informed that the 8 a.m., 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. waves had all been combined and would run at 10 a.m. Supposedly an email had been sent, but neither of us received it. Since the organizers advised racers to show up two hours in advance, anyone arriving at 6am was probably pretty upset to learn they had four hours to sit around on a chilly morning. To make things just a little worse, the race organizers didn’t have our packets even though we were both pre-registered. Not a big deal, but the guy in charge of getting us new packets treated us as if we’d done something wrong. Other than the guy putting packets together, everyone else was very friendly and helpful.

Atmosphere: B

The crowd was an interesting mix, but people weren’t really that energetic after racing. The Saturday night party wasn’t overly exciting either, especially considering it was Cinco de Mayo. Still, I can’t say enough about the zombies. Whether it’s just attracting the right people or training them well (or probably a bit of both), the zombies get a lot of credit for making this race great.

Logistics: A

The layout for this race was tough for organizers to deal with. From camping to parking to racing, nothing was close to anything else and the primary parking lot was 10 minutes away in New Hampshire, but the race organizers had ample shuttle buses running constantly during the day to ensure things ran as smoothly as can be expected.

Overall: B

This is a pretty expensive 5K ($87), but understandably so. If you’re a zombie lover, it’s definitely worth the money.

-Stacey

Unfortunately since I’ve returned from the glorious network of Alpine trails in around Reinischkogel in Austria, I find myself with the following three choices:

1. Sidewalks & roads
2. A nice, smooth, flat, straight rails-to-trails route 3 miles from my house
3. Driving for 30 minutes to the nearest sizable park.

While I hate the idea of driving the car to be a prerequisite to going for a run, spurred by the challenge of earning the promotion from marathoner to trail marathoner, I spent every Sunday doing just that from last October until this April to prepare for the simply-named, Trail Marathon.

In its 26th year, the Trail Marathon was held again this year on the last weekend of April at the Pinckney State Recreational Park, 30 minutes north of Ann Arbor, Michigan. This is the same park that hosts Dances With Dirt, Hell and Run Woodstock. Whereas DWD takes pride in routing runners through bogs, upstream in shallow rivers, up hills called the “dirt ladder” and back down hills called “stripper pole,” the Trail Marathon sticks to the relatively wide and uneventful Potawatami Trail. Known to locals lovingly as “Potto” the trail winds and rolls through prime Michigan wilderness. It gets heavy use from mountain bikers and most stretches of the trail are wide enough to pass without risking a twisted ankle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F1ACj_o6NI

For the first time, the Trail Marathon is billed as one of four races in a 2-day Trail Weekend. Saturday offers a half marathon – one loop around Potto. Sunday offers the two loop full marathon, as well as an alternate 5 mile route which is also used for runners who aren’t satisfied with simpling logging a marathon to add an extra 5 miles to bring the day’s tally to 31 miles, a.k.a. a 50k ultra. Not enough running for you? Or you can’t decide? Complete the half-mary on Saturday and either full or ultra on Sunday and earn a special 3rd “No Wimps Challenge” finishers medal & t-shirt.

Sunday’s races featured a relaxed atmosphere typical of the trail running crowd. About 175 marathoners and 150 ultras lined up side-by-side at Silver Lake and started in waves. As this was my first trail marathon, I tried not to go out too agressively and joined a late wave. That had the advantage of keeping me conservative in the early miles, but had the disadvantage, and my only complaint about the whole event, of running into two centipedes formed from the slower members of waves that left before me.

In the end, I felt great. Not great enough to join the ultra who paced me for my final 4 miles on his additional 5, but still great. The constant roll of the hills had sapped my quads and calves, and the mixed terrain had tenderized my feet. Unlike my previous road marathons, I did not hit the point where I berated myself for signing up for this masochistic endeavor and forbade myself for ever doing so again. I just rolled with the trails, enjoyed the sun working its way down from the newly green canopy, smiled to myself and thought, “I like doing this.”

It felt natural.

Course: B+

A beautiful place for a trail run. Through the woods and around the lakes. A great time of year to see spring in Michigan finally shaking off the last vestiges of winter. Finishing at the lake is perfect for a cold soak for the achy muscles.

Organization: A

Randy Step & his team know what they are doing. There are plenty of emails to prep you on what you need to know about the event, so when you show up, all you need to do is run. There were 6 aid stations per loop, all well stocked and a generous finisher’s buffet. Most runners came equipped with their own packs/belts/hand-helds, and the double loop offered the advantage of hitting the bag drop to refuel, retape, and change gear.

Atmosphere: B+

A fun, relaxed group of runners and great volunteers. I’m mostly a quiet, solitary runner but I had some nice conversations with fellow runners when we shared the same pace. By nature, there are limited cheering sections along the route, but a warm welcome on the beach of Silver Lake at the start/halfway/finish line.

Logistics: C

C isn’t bad, it’s average. The park is about an hour away from Detroit Metro Airport and a half hour from Ann Arbor. There are several options for accomodations including camping at the park, but there is no public transportation to get you there.

Overall: A-

If the park were closer to my house, I’d be there every weekend. But I’ll happily return to Pinckney for the Trail Marathon, Dances with Dirt, and Run Woodstock races just to see how well I do with a bib pinned to my shirt and chat it up with other runners.

-Mike

For the past 23 years, the Rockland Road Runners have been hosting this popular local event in Rockland Lake State Park. In short: it’s scenic, well-supported and no joke.

The pre-race vibe was relaxed and casual but when runners headed toward the start line (rather oddly located in the parking lot), the intensity picked up a bit.

For a local race, the awards are respectable, which adds a competitive punch to the atmosphere. 100 bones to the top male and female overall finishers, and awards for the top 3 dudes and ladies in each age group. Meaning many runners go balls out. (The guy that won put down a 1:13:09. That’s a 5:35 pace. Not too shabby.) For the many athletes who travel from NYC to run Hook (and frequently train in Rockland prior to race day), this is the official kick-off of race season and the impending training volume increase. They’re after a PR on this particular course. For the hoards of locals who come out… some are there to prove this is their turf, and others just want to prove that this year, they’re RUNNING all the way up that HILL…

Our suggestion on how to conquer these hills? Make peace with the pain...and smile!

The gun sounds for the group start and everyone takes off. Fast. There’s a 5K that starts simultaneously as the Half, and since the terrain is flat, it’s hard not to get caught up in the frenzy. The race starts with an easy (flat) loop around Rockland lake, then doubles back along the park’s roadway, which throws some rollers in the mix. Once runners get to the Firehouse, they head down “Hook Mountain” — a quad-punishing, feet-flying, adrenaline-inducing awesome kind of holy-crap-do-I-have-to-go-back-up-this kind of DOWN.

The answer is yes, yes you do.

But not before you run south along the Hudson River to the Nyack toll both, up a nasty little kick of a turnaround, and back along the same river path. Sounds easy enough. Now factor in the awesome tailwind that shoves you south turns its back and nearly holds you hostage as you struggle back toward the Hook. Your reward for finally ditching the wind? The ascent back to Hook Mountain, which marks mile 10 on the course. Also known as Suicide Hill, it’s one of those beasts that makes you suck it up, focus 20 feet ahead and NOT on the top (because you can’t see it anyway), and just pick up those feet. If you do that, you’ll pass countless walkers and be rewarded with cheers from the spectators at the top. From there, you cruise back over the rollers (which seem easier on the way back), enjoy a rolling, speedy downhill back to the lake, and loop back to the North Pavillion where it all began.

There’s not much post-race hoopla, but the crowd at the finish line is enthusiastic. Most runners head straight to the results to see where they ranked. Like I said, there are awards at stake! And even if you’re not in contention, Hook has a way of making you test yourself against your biggest competition. You.

Here are the deets:

Course: B+ 

It’s both scenic and challenging in terms of terrain, weather conditions/wind and atmosphere. It’s a course that makes you think and evaluate how you’re running it, which is part of the fun. And even though it’s not an easy course by any stretch, it can be run hard and fast.

Organization: A -

Rockland Road Runners are pros at putting on this race. Check-in was a breeze even with day-of registration, the course was accurate, well-marked and well supported. Water and Gatorade were readily available. (Race organizers, please just make sure you mix the Gatorade like you mean it if you use the powder… chalk doesn’t go down very well.) Plenty of volunteers and aid stations along the way. Plan ahead and register early; the entry fee goes up considerably on race day and you’re not guaranteed a technical tee for running — the only schwag offered.

Atmosphere: B

Spirits were high in spite of chilly temps. Fellow racers handed out encouragement on the course while keeping things competitive. The weather probably affected the number of spectators; the volunteers and hearty souls who watched from the top of Hook Mountain doled out enthusiasm, though.

Logistics: B

Plenty of parking and space, for cars and bikes. I’ve arrived at Hook by both modes of transportation, but have only traveled from NYC (about 35 miles) so I can’t speak for those coming in from other areas.  Riding to and from the race makes for one hell of a BRick if you’re into that kind of thing.

Overall: B+

Hook is a challenging, competitive, “fun” local race. If you live in and around NYC, it’s right in your backyard and shouldn’t be missed.

Note:

I was curious who the heck George Wodicka was, anyway…

A long time Rockland Road Runner, retired NYPD and veteran marathoner, George Wodicka lost his battle with cancer on November 2, 1996, the night before his favorite race, the NYC Marathon.

So in 1997, the Hook Mountain Half was renamed in his honor.

Apparently he was not only a running guru who got a thrill from converting newbies into runners, but quite a well-loved character. He was known for cutting bagels from the local shop in half, then eating one while storing the other, wrapped in a napkin, in his armpit to keep it warm. He got a kick out of offering the “warm” half to fellow runners. Sounds like something some of my running buddies would do… Guess we’re all part of the same wacky tribe.

-Julie