Saturday was the Race around Briggs in Milan, New York. From the time I first heard about this race, it excited me. It was clear from the description that the race director was holding the race simply to share these roads he loves with the rest of the running community. What could be better?
When I got to the race, the first race person I saw was Wes Mburu. This gives me part of an early race strategy: stay behind Wes. On a hilly course like this, pace is irrelevant, and trying to pace off of someone is pointless. The only thing that matters is to run hard, and survive the hills at the end. Regardless, it's safe to say, I should not be ahead of Wes.
Temperature was in the thirties when I left home, but by race time it had warmed up considerably, under clear skies. I confidently changed into shorts. Had I packed a short sleeved shirt, I may have even stripped down to that.
Forty runners lined up for the start. This is an excellent turn out for a first time event in the rural highlands east of Red Hook. The race director is calling it the second running. Last year he held an invitational run as a trial for the event.
Where to line up was not a problem. Those of us intending to run hard step up to the line, while others step back according to their intentions.
We are sent off. Wes' conservative early pace thwarts my plans. Larry Phillips, on the other hand, is out very strongly. I've never seen this ultra-man run quite like this. While maintaining my pace, I hope to keep Larry within sight. I run this rolling first mile in 6:22. This is faster than expected, but my stride and breathing feel relaxed. Larry continues to pull away on the hills early in the second mile. Midway through this mile, there are a pair of steep down hills On the first, I noticeably close the gap between me and Larry. So much so, that I expect I will catch him on the second, larger descent. I do catch him midway through this second descent, and my pace carries me past him, and away. Intentional or not, I'm leading the field now, and controlling the pace, as we turn off of Woody Row onto Milan Hill Road. I run this mile also in 6:22.
As I pull away from the field in the third mile, I begin thinking about how to run the mostly downhill miles four and five. I need to use what the course offers, and run these miles fast, while leaving enough for a solid effort on the following two up hill miles. There are some big hills in this mile too, as we climb towards the watershed of the Roeliff-Jansen Kill. As we leave Milan Hill Road for the gravel covered Willow Glen Road, I complete the third mile in 6:40. At a water stop I become aware of a runner coming up on me. How quickly I forget; it is of course Wes Mburu. He was thinking of running easily, but found himself in no man's land first between the field and Larry, then between Larry and me.
The course makes one more climb before we descend for nearly two miles. We go through mile four in 5:42. The split surprises Wes, but having previously done this course in training, I knew what to expect. As we continue to descend, I enjoy the combination of speed and control I'm feeling. Wes expects to run the rest of the way with me. Knowing what miles six and seven are like, I know this isn't going to happen. You just can't pace with someone up steep hills. Everyone has to get up those hills as best they can.
We turn onto Academy Hill Road, and start climbing before mile five is finished. As we begin climbing, Wes pulls away. Trying to keep up would be unrealistic. My effort is unquestionable. Even with this slow down, I go through mile five in 5:53.
Mile six is a relentless climb. Wes doesn't matter; I just run. There are some good views down a terrace to my left, and as has been the case for most of the run, views of Briggs "Mountain" to my right. There are some neat views at the six mile mark, but I'm kinda busy. I go through six in 6:58. Mile seven is not as steadily up hill as six, but it has steeper climbs. On straight stretches, I can still see Wes, and feel good about this. Knowing this is the last mile, I push the hills even though I'll have to pick the gravel off my tongue. Knowing that the seven mile mark was just as we turned off this road, I had hoped the race was more than seven miles long. My wishes were granted. There was an extra quarter mile or so. The run finishes back by the registration area. I pass through seven in 6:49. After one more rise, it's a clear shot to the finish. I finish in 46:26. I'm pleased with the effort. It suggests the strong workouts I have been running lately are not illusory. I should be pointing towards a strong run at the Vermont City Marathon.
After drinking some water, Wes and I head out for a cool down. We would not have minded avoiding hills, but it's not going to happen here. We do an out an back to mile six. As we head out, Larry crests the rise, and heads towards the finish. After a gap, the rest of the field trickles in. Given the nature of the course, there is no pack. It's just a bunch runners trying to get up the hills some way, some how.
After we all enjoyed drinks, snacks and conversation, some prizes were awarded. I generally don't understand what race awards are about, but this race gave out lemon tarts from the Luna Cafe near the heart of downtown Red Hook, and pounds of coffee from the roaster in Pine Plains. I was happy to pick up such tasteful awards. The tart was superb, and I expect a visit to Luna to be in my future.
Steven Cangemi
Annandale-on-Hudson, New York