The Race

Paine to Pain Logo

9/1/10 Update:

General registration is sold out.

But if you are an elite runner that can race ahead of the mid-pack bulge — and that means a documented 1/2 marathon of 1:40 or full marathon of 3:30 since October 3, 2009 — we have a limited number of spots you can apply for  by sending a link to that result to Matt Lewis.

This is an explanation of why we have to close registration. And this is an explanation of why we have to have a No Refund / No Transfer policy.

There is no registration on the day of the race (as it would be unfair to all those we have turned away.)

Sponsors contact: Eric Turkewitz

Volunteers contact: Greg Stern

Third Annual Paine to Pain 1/2 Marathon Trail Race

THE LONGEST TRAIL RACE IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY

Paine to Pain is a giant single loop that winds its way through the woods and trails of several lower Westchester parks. You never run the same trail twice and will spend 90% of your time on dirt (and rocks and roots) in the shade of the woods. Many of the trails are completely hidden from public view and host a wide variety of wildlife including deer, fox, coyote, hawks, owls, heron, wild turkey, rabbit and other critters.

Finish Line - 2008

Finish Line - 2008

When:

October 3, 2010

Gunshot at 9 a.m.

Where:

Start at Thomas Paine Cottage, New Rochelle New York. (map)

End at New Rochelle High School. (Both are at the intersection of North Avenue and Broadview Avenue.)

Distance:

13.1 miles (of which 12 miles are dirt trails)

Click on map to enlarge for printer-friendly version:

paine2paineracetrack1

Cost

$45.00 on or after September 1st. $10.00 discount on entry fees for paid Sound Shore members.  Free smoothies from Robeks at the finish area!

Twin Lakes Park, Eastchester

Twin Lakes Park, Eastchester

Registration:

General registration is now sold out.

If you are an elite runner that can race ahead of the mid-pack bulge — and that means a documented 1/2 marathon of 1:40 or full marathon of 3:30 — please send a link to that result to Matt Lewis at:   MattLewis [at] optonline [dot] net.  If  approved, fill out a late-entry form (PDF or Word) to register by mail. Print, sign and mail page 2 of the waiver to: Matt Lewis 10 Regent St.  Apt. 707  Jersey City, NJ 07302. Make checks payable to Sound Shore Runners Club.

Minimum Age:

You must be at least 16 years old on race day. Those under 18 need written parental permission. (And frankly, you should also check with your high school athletic coach.)

Risks:

This trail has plenty of rocks, roots, stumps and other tripping hazards. There are two stream crossings with stepping stones. The trail is narrow at times and could be crowded as faster runners overtake slower ones. There might be poison ivy, tics, bugs and other woodsy things you find in the great outdoors. Weather conditions may add mud, downed trees and slippery wooden catwalks. We consider these elements to be features of the trail.

Awards:

Awards are three-deep in the following categories, for men and women

  • Overall
  • 16-29
  • 30-39
  • 40-49
  • 50-59
  • 60+

Bib/Packet Pick-up:

If you register in advance you can pick up your race packet at Westchester Road Runner at 129 E. Post Rd. in White Plains, NY on Friday, October 1 from 5-8 pm or Saturday, October 2 from 10 am-4 pm. Packets will also be available race day from 7:30-8:30 am at Paine Cottage (race start area).  Baggage drop will be available at the start. Bags will be brought to the finish line. Please don’t leave valuables in the bags as we are not responsible for them.

Water / Support:

Bring a water bottle or hydration pack. There will be no paper cups on the trail. Three re-filling stations will be available, at 3.8M, 7.5M (Saxon Woods Golf Course) and 11M. the Saxon Woods station will also have toilets, medical and telephones.  Post-race massages will be available at the finish line area.

Time Limit / Street Closings

Security will be posted at street crossings geared for a three hour finishing time. After that, the race closes. Runners/walkers may, of course, finish the course on their own. Estimated finish times: Approximately one minute per mile slower than a half marathon road race.

Trash:

Please hold used gel packs and energy bar wrappers for one of the trash cans at the water stops. We do not have a clean-up squad to pick stuff up afterwards.

Banned!

  • No baby joggers. The trail is often rocky and narrow and cannot accommodate anything resembling a jogger.
  • No dogs: Sorry, but they are a tripping hazard on narrow trails.
  • No headphones: Sorry, but people must be keenly attuned to those around them that might need to pass on a narrow trail.

Parking:

  • There is one High School lot directly across from the start, behind the tennis courts.
  • On North Avenue. (But not on Broadview! That’s where the race starts.)
  • In the High School lot behind the school, off Clove Road
  • Next to the High School on Flandreau. But since this is also part of the finish to the race, please back in so that you have a clear view of late-finishing runners when you pull out at the end.

Public Transit:

The start is 1.5 miles north of the New Rochelle Metro North train station and bus depot.

Runners coming from Manhattan can get to the start easily on the train. Take the 7:37 train out of Grand Central (New Haven line) to New Rochelle, which will arrive at 8:08. From there you can catch a taxi to the start for about $7. (Destination: North Avenue and Broadview) Look for other runners to share a cab with, as we had a healthy contingent last year from Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens coming in by train.

To find the taxi stands at the station: Go up the stairs to the bridge in the middle of the platform. One taxi stand will be to your left. You can find a second one if you cross the bridge, go down the stairs and through the station house.

The awards ceremony will start about 11:30. Return trains are at 11:33 and 12:33.

Kids:

We don’t have kid races yet. But, if kids are hanging out waiting for mom or dad to finish, there is a terrific new (handicapped accessible) playground 1/4 mile south of the start on North Avenue next to the Huguenot Children’s Library – Jack’s Friendship Garden.

Refunds / Exchanges

We’re sorry that we can’t offer refunds to runners that signed up but then can’t run, or exchanges between runners. The explanation for the No Refund / No Exchange policy is here.

Patrick Reagan on a section of the Leatherstocking Trail

Patrick Reagan on a section of the Leatherstocking Trail

Detailed Course Description:

  • The race starts at Paine Cottage in New Rochelle and runs east up Broadview, starting with a 1/2 mile climb at a 3.6% grade (almost 100 feet in elevation). This is the biggest hill on the course and will spread the pack out before the first trail is entered.
  • Our first wooded area is the Leatherstocking Trail, a challenging 2.7 mile linear park that is often rocky and hilly. This trail brings us past Larchmont and into Mamaroneck.
  • A short, steep uphill road (8% grade) connection brings you to Saxon Woods at the 4 mile mark, entered via Old White Plains Road.
  • After looping around the southern part of Saxon Woods, we will head north past a lake along the park’s eastern border.
  • A tunnel under the Hutchinson River Parkway brings us to the northern section of the park.
  • After emerging from the tunnel we will follow a trail that briefly skirts the parking lot of the Saxon Woods pool. (This is an easy viewpoint for family/spectators.) We then turn west toward the Saxon Woods golf course, in the Scarsdale part of the park, emerging along the 18th fairway heading toward Mamaroneck Road and the golf club house.
  • Just past the 18th hole at the 7.5M mark is Saxon Woods Golf Clubhouse. This area will be used for water, toilets and medical assistance. (In total, we will run for 3.5M in this deeply wooded park without a single major road crossing.)
  • The race then heads west on the Hutchinson River Trail (these are the woods next to the southbound Hutch) through Scarsdale.
  • The trail turns southwest in Twin Lakes Park in Eastchester, running in the woods between the Hutch and California Road.
  • The third water stop is at the 11M mark, where the trail comes right next to California Road at its intersection with Highland Avenue.
  • After passing through a second tunnel under the Hutch, at the Eastchester/New Rochelle border, we emerge into Nature Study Woods, our last park.
  • After a mile and a half run in these woods we exit at Webster Avenue and Flandreau Road. The race finishes with a 1/4 mile run down Flandreau to New Rochelle High School and a finish on the track.

History:

The race starts at Paine Cottage, a national landmark that sits on Thomas Paine’s former farm, given to him by the State of New York for his activism in the Revolution. The house and adjacent park sit at the bottom of Broadview Avenue.

Ragtime author E.L. Doctorow also lived on Broadview, until 1999, and he immortalized the street in the opening of his now-famous book:

In 1902, father built a house at the crest of the Broadview Avenue hill in New Rochelle, New York.

This hill is the start of our race.

As of 4/19/10 this race has the following sponsors:

Municipal:

Private:

Please check the blog for updates! Results for 2009 are here.  There are some photos on the newly created FacebookPaine to Pain Group site.


  • Share/Bookmark