Adirondack Distance Marathon Festival 2007

by Bob Kopac

(This article appeared in the November/December 2007 issue of New England Runner magazine.)

Hard Half, Easy Half. That is how volunteer Peter Johnson described the picturesque Hyde-and-Jekyll Adirondack Marathon. Hmm, the Hard Half must be for hard-headed runners.

The September 15-16, 2007 Adirondack Distance Marathon Festival consisted of  5K and 10K races on Saturday at Chestertown, NY, and a marathon and half marathon on Sunday at Schroon Lake, NY. Marathoners circled the lake; half marathoners were bussed to the start of the (somewhat) Easy Half at Adirondack, NY.

After leaving town, the marathoners turned right onto a scenic farmland road. Around mile 5, the marathoners went up through bucolic woods. And up. And up. Around each bend was another uphill, until the runners finally descended to the lake where the Easy Half began.

Who would want to run a marathon with a Hard Half? The answer is 192 finishers, including winner David Herr (42) of Canaan, VT, who finished in 2:36:55 and broke James Garrett’s 2:37:21 course record set at the inaugural 1997 race. David said, “It is the kind of course I like, and I do well on… I really liked the first part where we were up in the woods. But I liked running around the lake. Basically the whole course is nice.”

David Severance (49) of Melvin Village, NH finished 2nd in 2:51:24, and Dan Dominie (43) of Canton, NY finished 3rd in 2:52:49. Kitty Earl-Torniainen (40) of St. Paul, MN was the top female marathoner in 3:24:16, followed by Brett Harris (22) of Albany, NY in 3:26:42 and Melanie Flack (33) of Lisbon, NY in 3:30:22. Handcycle racer Patrick Standen (43) of Burlington, VT won in 2:01:13.

The first 3 male and female winners in each race received chainsaw-carved Adirondack bears. Age group winners received maple syrup tapped from trees at the finish area.

There were 416 half-marathon finishers, including one carrying her shoes. She said, “Don’t wear new shoes for a race!”

Annette Acuff (35) of Binghamton, NY had an easy time with the Easy Half, finishing in 1:23:13 and 2nd overall, breaking Kathrine Danner’s year-old female record of 1:23:55. Annette, the women’s and men’s cross-country coach at Binghamton University, said, “I won the Lake Placid Half Marathon the last 2 years, so I was curious to see what this course was like. I love it up here because of the trees, and it is a beautiful environment. I tend to do better in pretty, natural environments.”

Ashley Brown (26) of Rensselaer, NY was the 2nd female and 5th overall in 1:28:38. Nancy Briskie (50) of Schenectady, NY was the 3rd female and 8th overall in 1:32:57. On the men’s side, Adam Kuklinski (43) of Kew Gardens, NY won the Easy Half in 1:19:56, followed by Larry Reyes (55) of Rome, NY in 1:24:32 and Joseph Wagnis (34) of Steep Falls, ME in 1:26:17.

Ultramarathoner Dot Helling (57) of Montpelier, VT won her age group by over 27 minutes in 1:45:44, more amazing considering the previous week she had finished running 10 miles a day for 95 days around the world. The purpose was to raise awareness for the need for safe drinking water. See the www.blueplanetrun.org web site for more information.

How can half marathoners experience the Hard Half? Good news: race director Bill Tribou said he will add a 2-person relay in 2008, limited to 50 teams. One person will run the Hard Half, and the other will run the Easy Half. Each team’s problem will be deciding who gets the pleasure of running the Hard Half. Follow the www.adirondackmarathon.org web site for upcoming details. Regardless of which race you choose, you are guaranteed fantastic scenery.

Mid-Hudson Valley runners in the marathon:

Jeffery Ruiz                age 55  New Paltz, NY                          3:52:31 (3rd in age group)

 David Daniels             age 49  Pawling, NY                           3:59:29

Mid-Hudson Valley runners in the half marathon:

Kristoffer Walker        age 29  Poughkeepsie, NY                    1:48:07

 Pete Ludlow               age 65  Hopewell Junction, NY            1:58:02 (3rd in age group)

 Ellen Roush                 age 47  Poughkeepsie, NY                  2:08:37

 Jacqueline McAdams  age 33  Fishkill, NY                             2:22:33

 Lynne Kopac              age 54  Poughkeepsie, NY                   2:26:42

 Jocelyn Walker            age 27  Poughkeepsie, NY                 2:27:58

Peter Barden               age 36  Rhinecliff, NY                          3:00:44

Jennifer Carlson          age 37  Rhinecliff, NY                          3:00:44

 Erica Petersen             age 29  Hyde Park, NY                        3:09:03