It is fitting that I ended up doing a loop course race following the recent discussion of whether or not loop courses are defined as trail races.  I can tell now that the Mt. Tammany 10 is definitely a trail race, and despite the 10 loops, you could not even call it monotonous.  I was wishing for a little more monotony towards the end of the day (day, for a 40 mile race?).

Photos by MPF's Joe Azze of the 2015 Mount Tammany 10. Location: DWG

This was day 2 of Evan's 2015 cycling training camp. We took our mountain bikes to the MPF Spring Classic Route to check on some of the road conditions.

When Ryan Welts from New Hampshire joined the MPF RNR trail running team I immediately thought it would be great if he led the next team adventure. I messaged him and he graciously accepted the task!  We came up with a date, gear requirements, etc. and soon the trip became a reality and we were off to adventure on the 16 mile traverse of the Franconia Ridge.

Long considered of the toughest races in the country, the Mount Mitchell Challenge presents runners with obstacles before even reaching the starting line--and I'm not referring to the September entry lottery, which fills the race to capacity on the day it opens. The unpredictable and ever-changing course conditions tend to destroy the best laid pre-race plans.

Earlier in the winter, or should I say the extended fall, I was thinking that this run on the Breakneck Point race course might be relatively snow free, or at least have somewhat fast conditions. How things change!  I can easily say that that was my slowest, uh, attempt at forward motion, ever!

Everyone has their bucket list and it's an ever changing list. It changes with age and what’s going on in your life and yet some places or events never change. About five years ago when I really started getting into the outdoors and trail running, I learned of all these amazing places: New Zealand, Patagonia, the dolomites, the PCT, AT, etc. How long would it take for me to travel to all these places while still trying to race, work and spend time with friends or even find friends who would want to go with you!? 

Today we scouted out the Breakneck Point Trail Marathon and 25k course in the Hudson Highlands State Park, NY.  Julian and I wanted to see if it would be feasible for the MPF RNR Trail Team to do the marathon course this weekend but we knew that the conditions were going to be tough and slow going.

As we embarked on our 4th annual winter adventure in the Catskills of New York, the trail conditions were relatively unknown. Each year the Slide Mountain Wilderness area has offered us something different, some years the trails have been covered in thick sheets of ice, other years snow but never deep enough to warrant snowshoes 100% of the time. This year was a whole different story…. 

Today, conditions were good for snowshoeing in the Harriman State Park area of New York. Some of us opted for the no snowshoe approach, but had to raise the effort quite a bit just to keep pace. Hiking poles & microspikes definitely helped but still were no match for the efficiency of proper snowshoeing.

We finally made our way back to Schunemunk Mountain State Park in New York! This is a very visible mountain from around the region. Its summit reaches close to 1,700 feet above sea level.  For roughly three miles of the 25+ miles of trails in the park, there are two ridges running parallel to each other, separated by the valley of Baby Brook. It's a great training ground to work on your climbing and technical running.

We would like to welcome Red Newt Racing, Run On Hudson Valley Running Store and the Finger Lakes Running Company as sponsors for our 2015 Trail Running Team! We are looking forward to showcasing the epic races organized by Red Newt Racing and the great gear sold by the Run On Hudson Valley Running Store and Finger Lakes Running Company.

I was looking for a medium range glove that would keep my hands warm enough in the five minute jog to the gym during the coldest months, and also warm enough during my first few Spring races when the snow was still falling, but the temperatures were not in the single digits.

We had a great hike in Harriman State Park (NY-NJ Trail Map 118) after a little more snow fall hit our area! We covered about 9 miles and broke trail for about 8 of those. Couldn't have asked for better working conditions!  We finished the hike with a little water crossing over Stony Brook where the bridge is out (orange to white trail). 

In 2011 we are tried out the MSR Lightning Axis Snowshoes and we still use them today. From breaking trail in 2+ feet of snow, to cruising around on hard packed trails, and climbing up and over mountain tops, the MSR’s design is a step above the rest.

We enjoyed a great trail run on the snow in the Palisades Interstate Park, using microspikes the entire way. We covered about 12 miles running along the western shores of the Hudson River. It was great running with my MPF / RNR teammates, Jen & James!

We covered just over 8 miles of trails in Sterling Forest, most of it was covered in ice. The rocks and trees were even wrapped with a thick layer of ice. With the weather we had today, it is especially important to be prepared and carry some emergency gear.

Red Newt Racing is excited to bring one heck of marathon to the Hudson Valley of New York! The Breakneck Point Trail Marathon & 25k will take place Saturday, April 18th, 2015. This is an incredible course and the stories you will get to share when you have finished will last a life time!

Congratulations to Ben Nephew on the 12th fastest 50 miler in North America! He did so on a course that had roughly 6,700 feet of elevation gain! Here are some pictures and video of Ben during the Rock The Ridge 50 where he finished in 5:58:29! You will also find his race report as well.