Canadian Montrail athlete and world mountain runner Syl Corbett reports here with an update from a recent race:
Whiteface Mountain lived up to its name last weekend. I ran the Whiteface Mountain Uphill Foot Race in NY. Rumor has it the top provides a panoramic view of the Adirondacks, New England and Canada. The race climbs 3,500 ft in 8 miles with a steady 8 % grade for the duration.
I was so tough I did my warm up inside a diner near the start. Actually, I’m not as tough as a runner I saw eating a stack of blueberry pancakes just 30 minutes before the start. It was pouring cats, dogs + a few other things as we waited for the gun to go off. The course wound its way up to an elevation of 4,867 ft. This race is very popular competitive event and serves as a great race leading up to the Mt Washington Road Race two weeks later. There were a few guys ahead of me, but I couldn’t really see them in the fog.
We were pummeled with hail on the last few switchbacks up the mountain. It was one of those races that makes you love your sport and warm strangers alike. Running straight through the finish line you end up in an amazing old castle-like tower the tourist bureau has converted into gift and coffee shop.
5 men finished ahead of me. Zack Rivers, a fellow international mountain runner, won on the men’s side. We were all smiles + whitefaces at the finish!
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Congrats Syl. Look forward to meeting you, at Run for the Toad if not before. What’s next up for you?