Cayuga Trails Marathon - July 21, 2018

[A combination blogspot/computer/human error lost most of the report that I had laboriously written. 😢 I'm not rewriting all of it, but I've included some of what was saved and brief versions of parts of the original draft. And all the pictures, which are the better stuff anyway. ]

Rather that write a linear report, I've simply included vignetes from the day at Cayuga Trails Marathon.

Ithica?

Spelling Does Not Count
Even though the race is held in Ithaca, the home of race organizer Red Newt Racing (which holds three other races in the town at the end of Cayuga Lake), the bib says the race is in "Ithica, NY." Doesn't anyone proof read any more? BTW, the spell check for this blog flagged the misspelling. Fortunately, Red Newt Racing gets the important stuff right, and the course is well marked, and the aid stations well-stocked.

No Little Blue Pills were Involved
The volunteer offers a "Keep it up," and I respond with my usual, "If it lasts longer than three hours, contact your doctor." Another runner smartly adds, "Or get a new girlfriend."

Tracks and Streams
About a half mile after leaving the Underpass aid station (so named because the trail passes under Route 13 there) at about mile 7.5, the trail crosses a single track rail road line and then immediately crosses Lick Creek.

Lick Creek with Railroad Bridge in background.

Don't take selfies on railroad tracks!

Gorges Are Gorgeous
The course takes runners through, over and into three gorges: Enfield Gorge in Robert Treman State Park at the start and end of the race, Lick Brook Gorge after (and then before) the Underpass aid station, and Buttermilk Falls Gorge at the far end.

Falls in Enfield Gorge

Enfield Gorge Above the Falls

Mouth of Lick Creek Gorge

Flowers
There were not many flowers in the woods or on the ridges, but there were some on the flat past the Underpass aid station.

Cutleaf Coneflowers

Daisies

Cardinal Flowers

What's in a Name
(Outbound near King Road, mile 9)"Is your name Kent?" the woman runner asks me. ""Close," I say, "I'm Ken." "Oh," she says, "You look like a Kent."

In a short while the women says to the volunteer at the road crossing, "You're Andy," . "No, I'm Justin," he replies. "Oh, she says,"you look like a Andy."

On the way back (mile 16) I come upon the same volunteer, "Hi, Andy. You look like a Justin," I say. (It seemed witty at the time.)

The first set of steps.

Steps and Cramps
The course has anywhere from 3980 feet of climb (according to my Runkeeper track file) to 4500 (according to the race website) or more, according to other GPS tracking, but it certainly has at least four steep climbs, some of 500-600 feet over a mile or so. Ithaca is Gorges, indeed. In some places there are steps to make life easier for walkers and hikers, but they are tough for runners. The steps are generally made with 4 by 4 timbers, so the rise is less than on normal stairs, and the width of the tread varies from step to step. It does not take much on a hot and humid day, especially if one delays the first salt capsule of the day, for those steps to induce repeated cramps.

You Think You Are Good for Your Age?
I feel smug about being the oldest finisher in the marathon event, but two older runners finish the 50 miler, including 70-year old Gene Dykes, for whom this is a cool down run, as he did a 24 hour and a 100 mile race earlier this year, and ran the Triple Crown of 200s last year - two 200s and a 238 mile race over three months.

Finished!

 By the Numbers
I finished in 7:40:10, good for 138 of 153 overall, 91 of 96 males, and 4 of 5 in the 60-69 AG. And oldest marathoner.

Swag: Singlet, Finisher's Cup, Buff, "Ithica" bib.