I have been wanting to put on an ultra distance style vent for a long time. I have been thinking and noodling about ideas for years and years. I once mapped out how far it would be to run around the entire finger lakes region.

I have been involved in just about every aspect of racing over the years. Runner, photographer, course set up and take down, aid stations, cheering, registration, packet pick up. you name it and I have probably done it. But I have never been the one to developed the idea from top to bottom and put on the event. Dream it up and make it a reality. And I am so thankful to have been given that opportunity by the Southern Tier Running Club.

Putting pin this event was one of the most anxiety inducing but worth it things I have done. I wanted this event to go well more than you can imagine. I wanted to have an event that was approachable for entry level participants, but not too entry level. If that makes any sense. I did not want it to be easy, but I wanted it to be attainable. And I wanted there to be a way to make it tougher if. You were up for it.

And that is what I love about loop course racing. Anyone can do one loop. Then you get to choose how much harder it gets from there. Sign up for the 3, 6, or 12 hour option and then push yourself as much as you want. Set yourself some goals and chase them.

I know a lot of people think that they cannot do something, like complete and ultra marathon. But what they really need is a safe place to put themselves out there and take a chance. And that is what I hope this event can be fore people. A way to take chances and see what you can do.

Once upon a time, my wife would have been one of those people to tell you she could never complete an ultra marathon. This year she completed more ultra marathons than I did. And one of them was at this event. I am so proud of her and all the runners that take on these challenges.

It makes me feel like I can make a difference in peoples lives by giving them a shot to go out and see what they can do.

When you hand someone an overall winner award and see how they react to wining an event they never thought they could that is what really brings joy to my life. this is what running is about. This is what community is about. This is trail running.

Is the course here easy? No. There is over 500 ft of elevation gain and the trails cover lol kinds of terrain from wide open jeep trails, sweet sweet single track, to steep rocky decent, and some hills to climb, punctuated by some mud as well.

It took a couple of tries to figure out this course and I owe it to my other trail friends that I worked out this route. I would love to put on more events here someday. But the planning and preparation for this event was really stressful on me. As a first year Race Director learning the ropes and having high hopes is tough.

I think we had a good first year with room to grow. I am looking forward to learning more as a Race Director. Getting better at doing my job. Learning how best to collaborate with all the other entities that make events like this possible. I hope I can also learn to not procrastinate and note be so anxiety ridden.

In a season of my life when running has not been everything I have wanted it to be I am exited about this new part of my life. The life of a Race Director. It is fun and exciting in a new and different way. Challenging and stressful, but it doesn’t land me on the couch with an injured leg….. I am really trying to laugh at my own joke here.

I am so happy that we had such a fun group of athletes join us for this event this year. I hope to see them back again next year with some new folks as well. I will hopefully have some new and improved aspects of the event as I learn my way around this role as RD. And hopefully I won’t have to endure a major thunderstorm while camped out trying to get the event set up in 2027.

See you all on the trails.

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