Vahalla summer running events
Now that track season is winding down, I wanted to get out our slate of events for the summer. Below is a list of the upcoming dates and below that is an explanation of what those events entail. I get a lot of people that say my emails are too long and I won't argue that point, but it's hard to get out a lot of info without it taking up more than a few words. For those individuals that can't read for more than five minutes straight, email me with any questions. Here it is.
June 11 Full Moon Fever
June 13 Mjolnir mile - downhill!
June 20 Monday Night Grind begins
June 21 Club XC @ Monadnock
June 22 Wednesday Night Valhalla begins
June 23 Thursday Viking runs begin
June 25 Monadnock Region Ekiden relay
July 8 Twilight Track meet
July 12 Club XC @ Hinsdale
Aug 2 Club XC @ Mascenic
Aug 5 Barkley's Baby reveal
Aug 6-7 Barkley's Baby - the finale!
So, here's the explanation of each of these in the order they appear on the calendar.
Full Moon Fever - this is a five mile run that starts and finishes at the parking lot at Boynton middle school that has access to the cafeteria (the second parking lot.) Racers can get going anytime after 8:45pm, with the winner being the first racer to cross the finish line AFTER 10:00:00pm. There is no watches, pacing devices, or any way to cheat allowed. Racers will need to have a head lamp and either reflective, hi viz, or lighted gear for safety.
Mjolnir mile - this is a downhill mile that begins at the intersection of Union street and Route 101 in Peterborough, finishing by the post office in west Peterborough. There is parking at the post office and the nearby Texiera Park. We will leave the parking area at 5:50pm, warming up slowly to the beginning of the course. The race will start once all competitors have arrived at the start line and have caught their breath.
Monday Night Grind - is our weekly summer run up the Grinder, a somewhat famous run up the backside of Bankee nicknamed the Grinder. The high school uses this workout at least once a season to build strength. For our weekly, while we wait for everyone at the bridge to start the Grinder, individuals decide whether they just want to view it as an easy run or to test themselves. These runs begin at 6pm at Mascenic, gathering near the newly designed sitting area where the Mascenic loops sign exists.
Club XC - This is a three race series where participant will race on a cross country course that tends to resemble the way European Club cross is designed. Ranging from just over 2 miles to 3 miles in distance, host teams design a course to best fit in their allotted space, which could mean a course that zig zags to help create distance. "Club" teams will be scored on the first five athletes to cross the line, scoring points for the team regardless of age and gender. These races all begin at 6pm, with the first race scheduled for Monadnock's tortuous Mt. Ceasar course, with the next one taking place on the Hinsdale school grounds. The finale will be at Mascenic, on a circuitous course that is entirely ensconced on the upper fields with as many short hills that can be fit in. This race will also host a finale BBQ at the Smith residence for those that wish to wax nostalgic over some refreshment.
Wednesday Night Valhalla - is intended to be an adult "speed workout" series that happens mostly on the Mascenic track. Based off the same workouts that have tempered many a state champion, these workouts have been adjusted with adults in mind. There will be options for younger athletes as well. These begin at 6pm and we meet at the benches as well.
Thursday Viking runs - like they sound! These are timed, weekly summer runs on the Viking 5K course. Run as hard or easy as you want. These runs begin at 6pm and we meet at the benches.
Monadnock Region Ekiden - the Ekiden is a Japanese styled relay race that is usually point to point where the participants race wearing a team sash that is handed off to relay members much the way messages were sent around the country back some 300 years ago, much like the pony express was for the US. The 50 kilometer (31 mile) course is split into 5 legs (which each can be split into 2 legs each) and runs from Monadnock HS through Swanzey, Troy, Marlborough, Jaffrey, Sharon and eventually finishes at Mascenic HS in New Ipswich. The intent is for teams of five to run 6 miles-ish each, but teams can feel free to determine any number between 20 and 10. Start time is still to be determined, but is likely to be either 9 or 10am.
Twilight Track meet - this will be a throwback, old school meet fashioned after the twilight all comer meets of the past. While the exact event schedule has yet to be determined, there will be a mix of sprints, throws, mid distance and potentially distance events, and of course what these meets have become infamous for, the 2000 meter steeplechase, complete with water pit. This event begins at 6pm at the Mascenic track.
Barkley's Baby- and finally, in its final year, we have Barkley's Baby. Fashioned after Gary Cantrell's Barkley's Marathons, our 10 mile, 5 laps course is complete with checkpoints to be found in the woods, lots of "off piste" running, brambles, bugs, mud, but no corn! this year. The event kicks off with the Reveal, when the checkpoint coordinates, the map and the description of the course becomes available. This will happen at 7pm on August 5th, with check in for the race to begin before that.
Then the next morning at 8am, the alarm will sound and victims will set off in pursuit of the elusive checkpoints ("books hidden in the woods") where each competitor will alleviate a numbered page (the number they've been assigned) from it, collecting them all to show they followed the course, to be presented at the conclusion of their lap. Complete the lap in under six hours, with the correct pages from the series of books, you get to head out for a second loop in the alternate direction. Keep going until you pass out, get foolishly lost or simply throw in the towel. Finish all five laps in under 30 hours, you get to claim yourself a vaunted finisher of Barkley's Baby.
This event coincides with the Valhalla Summer Gathering of the Clans, a club BBQ that begins at 2:01pm, one minute after the cutoff for going out on lap two (as beginning it before would be cruel for the competitors!)
If you have intentions of enjoying Barkley's Baby, please mail me your intentions in advance. Also, Barkley's Baby is the only Valhalla event that has an entry fee, either a 16oz.+ craft beer or a pair of running sock, large, non white.
For all of our other events, they are free and open to the public. And to become a club member the membership process is about as easy as it gets. Show up, indicate you have a desire to be a member, and poof, magic, you're a member. Simple as that.
Again, as I said way up at the top, got questions, email me at msmith@mascenic.org.
—Mike Smith