So, it has been a couple weeks since I posted anything. Partly because I have been busy, partly because I didn't have a lot to post, and also because I just don't know if anyone is actually reading my blog...
Last weekend my oldest and best friend/big brother Don Gidusko and I ran the Double Trouble 15K/30K trail race in French Creek State Park (
Double Trouble Trail Run - Results
15K 30K). I had signed up a few weeks ago and asked Don if he wanted to meet me there and run it, he drove over from his NJ vacation and we ran together. The race is a 15K (9.3 mile) loop around a lake and up some LONG climbs and decents, over lots of rocks and it is nearly 100% single track; in short, great trail race conditions! The race involves running one loop with an option of a second, you can decide mid race if you want to stop at one or double down for a second loop (18.6 total miles).
At the start of the race Don and I didn't discuss wether we were doing one or two. I assumed we would just do one because Don hasn't run more than twelve miles at a shot since starting trail running six months ago. My beautiful wife Angela was there cheering me on so I was just going to to one lap and spend the rest of the day with her at the park. When Ron Horn, the race director, gave us the go ahead, we took off. I stayed close to Don for the first half mile or so and then I just had to take off. I turned back to tell Don and away I went! I was passing people left and right along the single track trail, often times dodging trees and trying my best not to break my ankle on a rock hidden under the leaves. I LOVE doing this. People freak out when you just fly by them commando style in the woods. I think a lot of people think you have to stay on the little trail, not me!
I ran my race and dealt with the long assents and decents as best I could and pushed myself pretty hard to finish at 1:28:23. Here is the GPS info:
Double Trouble Trail Run 15K. When I was approaching the finish line, my wonderful wife was there cheering for me and greeted me with a kiss. THAT'S the best!
I knew Don would be close behind me so Angela and I waited and watched for El Donyo to come cruising in. It only took a few minutes and I saw him approaching the finish line. I said, "Finish strong buddy!" He pointed at me, saluted, and said, "I'm going again!" I was floored. Don has
never run that far in his life, and certainly not on trails, something that is significantly more difficult than running on the road.
It was at that point that Angela and I realized we had some time to kill. I knew he would take longer for the second lap than the first. We walked around, I got a quick shower, fresh clothes on and we sat on our blanket near the finish line to wait for Don and cheer everyone else as they came in. It took a couple hours, but I saw Don round the trail. He had shed his shirt, but even at a hundred yards, through the woods, I could tell it was him by the way he runs. I was so excited!
In classic form, when I asked Don what got into him - why he ran 18.6 miles out of nowhere, he replied, "Matt, at mile eight I felt a cool breeze and said to myself, you got this." THAT my friends is classic Don Gidusko.
It was a great day and Don and I both had great races. I finished 59th out of 302 people in the 15K. That is great for me! In my next blog post, the
Labor Pain Ultra - 12 hour Trail Run. As many miles as you can log in 12 hours on the five mile course. I am shooting for ten laps...50 MILES!
