Ripitz
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2020
The 11th annual Shawangunk Ridge Trail Run hosted by Run Wild was on Saturday. It was my fifth time participating as a 30 miler. The weather was cool and cloudy and the course was dry, very dry.
Unfortunately, Freebird couldn’t make it this year which was a real bummer. @powerman rallied at the last minute and somehow powered through his second running.
In the first 3 years my focus was simply to finish. I hung in the back and took photos, moving mostly at a swift hiking pace with some intermittent jogging. My times were a 10:24, 10:51 and 10:38. I couldn’t imagine ever going faster.
Last year I went for speed and developed debilitating cramps only 10 miles in. Hobbling for the next 20, I managed to stumble out of the woods at the end with a 9:02. I was pretty stoked to take 1.5 hours off my original times.
This year with better prep and hydration planning, I decided to try to redeem myself and go for speed again. I took only a couple pics at the start near Sam’s Point and got to work.
All gas, no brakes.
I took off in the back of the first “fast” wave. This put me in a good position on the tight singletrack, with the speed runners out ahead and the second wave far behind. I was mostly alone passing and giving encouragement to a few 70 milers along the way. They had started the night before at High Point in NJ and were now over 40 miles in. Their strength and determination is a true marvel and a testament to the power of the human spirit.
I quickly filled two handheld bottles at Verkeederkill Falls. It had a new feeling being there knowing that Run Wild has used proceeds from the event to secure its ownership. We CAN make a difference and WE ARE.
Verkeederkill Falls, SRT ‘22
I was alone almost all the way to Rainbow Falls. I stopped to rally cry AAYYYOOO!!! from a few ridge tops and got a kick out of the replies from other runners in the distant woods.
Castle Point, SRT ‘21
I moved quickly over the roots and boulders. Got stung in the knee and hurdled a snake. Nothing was slowing me down.
Rainbow was a trickle. A few runners caught up to me while I was filtering. The Jenny Lane Trail was next and it’s chock full of rocks that work like a cheese grater shredding your soles and your soul. The group behind me was keeping up. Every time I looked back there was this woman hot on my heels. After the first checkpoint they leap frogged me as I was filtering water from the Sanderskill. I caught them and passed on the uphill because one of them was getting cramped.
Rainbow Falls Trail, SRT ‘21
I ran pace with them on the High Peterskill section. The sun came out for a few minutes and I quickly got flushed. I crossed the Peterskill and resisted a dunk and fill up since I was carrying enough water. The climb out of there is no joke. It’s straight the f’ up, hands on knees. At this point I lost everyone and took care on the boulder filled downhill near Lost City. I ran passed checkpoint 2 at the Split Rock swimming hole and filled my bottles from the Coxingkill.
Split Rock, SRT ‘22
Now more than halfway, I hit the old Minnewaska Trail and realized I was making good time. I heard someone behind me and it was the same woman from before. I asked if she wanted to pass but she said she was comfortable with me leading. We became fast friends, realizing we’re from the same town and run the same trails. Chatting for a bit broke up the monotony. This was her first time running more than 15 miles and first time on the SRT. I asked what wave she started in and was surprised to hear her say the last. Realizing there were no women ahead of us, I said, “Holy shit! You have a good chance of winning this thing!”
Undivided Lot Trail SRT ‘23
I lost her on the long uphill to Spring Farm and the last checkpoint. I passed a few other runners who had fully entered the pain cave. It’s nearly a 600ft climb from the chapel to Bonticou.
Northeast Trail, SRT ‘24
After running a marathon distance, it’s a real test piece that will suck out any life you have left. I passed a couple other runners barely keeping it together. I looked back and there she was again! Running on fumes, we stuck together, pushing and pulling each other for the last few miles that felt like they would never end. We hit the rail trail and ran across the trestle as fast as we could, sprinting to the finish.
I ran a 7:21 and she ran it in 7:17, winning the women’s division! We were both in shock. I set my new PR, dropping 3.5 hours off my slowest time and she went home with the trophied tomahawk. What a day.
I met up with my family and we went out onto the trestle to cheer on the other runners. Powerman emerged and Peanut ran him in with a cowbell. He didn’t get lost this year and took almost 2 hours off his first time last year.
We hung around the finish until well after dark. It was good to see @Steve A and his daughter who also participated. We cheered on some of the last 30 and 70 milers giving it their best effort. What a great community, it’s a joy to be a part of it.
“Celebrating the spirit of self-reliance in One of Earth’s Last Great Places”
It wasn’t that long ago that I would hike up a mountain and smoke a cigarette on top. 5 miles would be a big day. Now I can run 30 miles at race pace. Whatever you’re going through, no matter the challenge, always look for ways to improve yourself. Never give up, never surrender.
Anything is possible.
Unfortunately, Freebird couldn’t make it this year which was a real bummer. @powerman rallied at the last minute and somehow powered through his second running.
In the first 3 years my focus was simply to finish. I hung in the back and took photos, moving mostly at a swift hiking pace with some intermittent jogging. My times were a 10:24, 10:51 and 10:38. I couldn’t imagine ever going faster.
Last year I went for speed and developed debilitating cramps only 10 miles in. Hobbling for the next 20, I managed to stumble out of the woods at the end with a 9:02. I was pretty stoked to take 1.5 hours off my original times.
This year with better prep and hydration planning, I decided to try to redeem myself and go for speed again. I took only a couple pics at the start near Sam’s Point and got to work.
All gas, no brakes.
I took off in the back of the first “fast” wave. This put me in a good position on the tight singletrack, with the speed runners out ahead and the second wave far behind. I was mostly alone passing and giving encouragement to a few 70 milers along the way. They had started the night before at High Point in NJ and were now over 40 miles in. Their strength and determination is a true marvel and a testament to the power of the human spirit.
I quickly filled two handheld bottles at Verkeederkill Falls. It had a new feeling being there knowing that Run Wild has used proceeds from the event to secure its ownership. We CAN make a difference and WE ARE.
Verkeederkill Falls, SRT ‘22
I was alone almost all the way to Rainbow Falls. I stopped to rally cry AAYYYOOO!!! from a few ridge tops and got a kick out of the replies from other runners in the distant woods.
Castle Point, SRT ‘21
I moved quickly over the roots and boulders. Got stung in the knee and hurdled a snake. Nothing was slowing me down.
Rainbow was a trickle. A few runners caught up to me while I was filtering. The Jenny Lane Trail was next and it’s chock full of rocks that work like a cheese grater shredding your soles and your soul. The group behind me was keeping up. Every time I looked back there was this woman hot on my heels. After the first checkpoint they leap frogged me as I was filtering water from the Sanderskill. I caught them and passed on the uphill because one of them was getting cramped.
Rainbow Falls Trail, SRT ‘21
I ran pace with them on the High Peterskill section. The sun came out for a few minutes and I quickly got flushed. I crossed the Peterskill and resisted a dunk and fill up since I was carrying enough water. The climb out of there is no joke. It’s straight the f’ up, hands on knees. At this point I lost everyone and took care on the boulder filled downhill near Lost City. I ran passed checkpoint 2 at the Split Rock swimming hole and filled my bottles from the Coxingkill.
Split Rock, SRT ‘22
Now more than halfway, I hit the old Minnewaska Trail and realized I was making good time. I heard someone behind me and it was the same woman from before. I asked if she wanted to pass but she said she was comfortable with me leading. We became fast friends, realizing we’re from the same town and run the same trails. Chatting for a bit broke up the monotony. This was her first time running more than 15 miles and first time on the SRT. I asked what wave she started in and was surprised to hear her say the last. Realizing there were no women ahead of us, I said, “Holy shit! You have a good chance of winning this thing!”
Undivided Lot Trail SRT ‘23
I lost her on the long uphill to Spring Farm and the last checkpoint. I passed a few other runners who had fully entered the pain cave. It’s nearly a 600ft climb from the chapel to Bonticou.
Northeast Trail, SRT ‘24
After running a marathon distance, it’s a real test piece that will suck out any life you have left. I passed a couple other runners barely keeping it together. I looked back and there she was again! Running on fumes, we stuck together, pushing and pulling each other for the last few miles that felt like they would never end. We hit the rail trail and ran across the trestle as fast as we could, sprinting to the finish.
I ran a 7:21 and she ran it in 7:17, winning the women’s division! We were both in shock. I set my new PR, dropping 3.5 hours off my slowest time and she went home with the trophied tomahawk. What a day.
I met up with my family and we went out onto the trestle to cheer on the other runners. Powerman emerged and Peanut ran him in with a cowbell. He didn’t get lost this year and took almost 2 hours off his first time last year.
We hung around the finish until well after dark. It was good to see @Steve A and his daughter who also participated. We cheered on some of the last 30 and 70 milers giving it their best effort. What a great community, it’s a joy to be a part of it.
“Celebrating the spirit of self-reliance in One of Earth’s Last Great Places”
It wasn’t that long ago that I would hike up a mountain and smoke a cigarette on top. 5 miles would be a big day. Now I can run 30 miles at race pace. Whatever you’re going through, no matter the challenge, always look for ways to improve yourself. Never give up, never surrender.
Anything is possible.
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