Race to the Top of Vermont - 3rd woman!

Steve and I talked to Catamount Trail volunteers at the Vermont City Marathon and Mt Washington promoting the Race to the Top of Vermont and realized that there would be some good runners showing up after having presence at those venues where they would see the tough competitors in Vermont. Plans were up in the air so I registered late on Friday. We stayed with the Barbour Family in Hinesburg the night before and had a great time catching up with Terry, Tange & the kids. Scrambling in the morning to get registered at the lodge, purchasing a pass for Schuyler and Steve to drive to the top - - I didn't realize they were using chips --- and well, mine went to the top when the race director was reminding everyone about wearing a chip (OH WELL). Just a little embarassed, I approached the race director at the mike and let him know --- he was so helpful and told me that I would need to let them know at the top that I have no chip.

I stretched and checked out the crowd, interesting mix of mountain bikers and mountain runners. A real dedicated group of runners and bikers to attempt the climb -- a proud moment on the line. All uphill with a few little breaks, but nothing level or downhill on this run! :)

The bikers line up on the start .... and hear that a van is headed down the road, so we need to pause.... this van comes flying down the road turning left to quickly get out of the way. Pretty crazy! The owner of FJG - the lead sponsor was riding and that was pretty cool as well.... great to see such active healthy people showing their drive that day. The weather was perfect at the bottom. It is a foggy, cool and cloudy cover at the top, so glad I packed my jacket to get to the top.

After the bikers went up the hill we had 10 minutes to mill around and get in position. I like to be near the front and count how many women ahead of me as I get started. Gives me some added motivation! :) The gun goes off and we head up... I hit the start button on my watch and nothing happened, somehow the setting was off and I had to fumble with my watch for more than a minute with my head down as I was running (DRAG) -- but got it going. Thinking it may matter as I did not have a chip and wanted to be sure to get a time! Oh well --- I headed up and passed a few women and really didn't know where I stood. I ran near Donna for a while, she is such a vision of strength, to watch her was amazing -- her arm muscles flex as she swings and keeps going up... I was psyched to try to stay in step --- but eventually lost site of her right near the top as I found out I was in third.... when I found out it was Donna Smyers I was chasing I was even more proud of myself than before.



MY RESULTS:
39th overall - Nancy Cook Belchertown MA
Number 385
Time: 47:47.8
Behind the number one finisher: 12:17.2



Lesson #1 - Always read everything in the packet about the race even if you have run a race before, you never know what you may miss, and having a chip is pretty important! I had to remember to let them know at the top that I didn't have a chip (and felt pretty foolish!) :)

Lesson #2 - Watch, timing -- test your watch before hand. Mine messed up and at the start I was fumbling with my watch to get it started (especially knowing my chip was missing, this WAS important) -- and finally did, but missed watching my competition head up the hill. UGH. I passed a few woman and only hoped that I was near the top. When Donna passed me I knew I didn't have the master's spot, and then was THRILLED to be third place female!


Top runners I was competing against -- I researched and found this great piece on Kasi -- she was really fast here and now I know why. When I found out that it was Donna -- I was proud of myself for coming that close to this legend athlete in the East.

Kasi Enman - qualified for the Olympic Trials last year.

Donna Smyers - won the Martha's Vineyard Ironman I competed in (early nineties)and she also holds the record for the Lake Placid Ironman. She was 21st woman and 1st place age adjusted masters at the 08 Mt. Washington Road Race (national champtionship)... And was in the 2007 list of All Americans - the best amateur athletes in the country!