Online registration has now closed, as has mail-in registration. We are still taking a few more runners as we try to determine our capacity, and judge accordingly.
Interested runners should sign up at Westchester Road Runners in White Plains at the packet pick-up times:
Shirts can no longer be guaranteed due to higher than expected demand for the race.
We made a last minute change to our 2nd and 3rd water stops (miles 7.5 and 11), in order to speed the re-filling of water bottles. Last year we filled from jugs but, with 4x as many runners this year, we foresee potential congestion (and lost time) as runners come to a halt for water.
This year, therefore, we will fill 16 oz paper cups with water to be placed on tables. These are not the small cups you gulp from during regular races, spilling half down your face.
The objective is for runners to re-fill their bottles on the fly as follows:
Please don’t take cups further down the trail and discard them in the woods.
Our first water stop, at mile 3.8, was only lightly used last year. This will remain a hose. There are no cups at this stop.
Paine to Pain is now around the corner. These are the pre-race instructions that were sent via email today:
1. Start: Gunshot is 9 am sharp on October 4th, rain or shine. Only a severe storm could alter plans. If you don’t pick up your packet beforehand, please leave ample time before the race for parking/packet details.
2. Number pick-up: We encourage runners to pick up race numbers, shirts and packets prior to race day at Westchester Road Runner at 179 E Post Road in White Plains:
Friday: 5-8 pm
Saturday: 10 am-4 pm
The first 50 runners to pick up their packet will also get a free copy of Trail Runner Magazine.
The store will also recycle old running shoes, so bring in the old ones that are stinking up your closet.
3. Parking: is available in four areas. If you are unfamiliar with the start, print out an online map to assist. The High School is next to the twin lakes that appear on some maps:
A. In the New Rochelle High School lot on North Avenue across from Broadview and the start. Space is limited in this lot.
B. Limited street parking on North Avenue.
C. In the High School lot behind the school on Clove Road.
D. Next to the High School track on Flandreau Avenue. This, however, is also our finish area, so if you park here you must exercise extreme caution when leaving due to later finishers coming down the street to the track.
4. Public transportation from NYC:
There is a Metro North train out of Grand Central at 7:37 then pulls in to New Rochelle at 8:08. A taxi from the station should be about $7. We expect about 30 Manhattan/Brooklyn runners, so look for folks to share a taxi with. To find taxis, go up the mid-platform stairs to the bridge over the tracks. There is a taxi stand next to the northbound track and also next to the southbound track after you cross the bridge and go through the station house.
Return trains are at 11:33 and 12:33.
5. Baggage drop: is 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.
6. Course Markings: will be red, white and blue flags at trail intersections and occasional intervals.
7. Toilets: at the start, the 7.5 mile mark (Saxon Woods golf course clubhouse) and the finish.
8. Water: will be available at only three spots during the race, in addition to the start and finish. These stations are designed to re-fill water bottles or hydration packs. Water will be miles 3.8, 7.5 and 11.
9. The course closes: with a sweeper discharging police and volunteers and picking up flags, finishing in three hours. Please stay in front of the sweeper! We estimate that your finishing time will be your regular 1/2 marathon pace plus an extra 15-20 minutes to account for the rough terrain.
10. Post-race: we will have food and fluids, smoothies and massages. We expect an awards ceremony at 11:30 that will also include some raffles.
Feed-Back: We started with 50 people last year, will have 200 this year, and depending on trail capacity and parking, hope to expand to 350 next year. So we encourage feed-back regarding the race.
Sponsors: This race would not be possible without our sponsors. They include:
City of New Rochelle
Town of Mamaroneck
Village of Scarsdale
County of Westchester (Parks and Recreation)
Sound Shore Runners and Multisport Club
The Turkewitz Law Firm (NYC)
Westchester Road Runner (White Plains)
Weichert Realtors, House & Home
Breaking the Tape Productions, LLC (Harrison)
JanMar Trophies (New Rochelle)
Cafe Mozart (Mamaroneck)
Robeks (New Rochelle)
Paine to Pain is rapidly filling up. We have 200 slots available and 70% of those are gone to pre-registrants. While difficult to predict since we are such a new race, it now appears likely that we will sell out in advance of race day.
And my apologies to those that left comments in the past. I’ve never used WordPress before and was unaware the comments had been left.
I was sent a copy of Fun on Foot to review. Why? Because despite the Colonial Greenway being just one year old, it has already entered the literary sphere.
Is it a stretch to call a book on trails literary? Perhaps. But whatever you call it, you should know that it is chock full of great information and maps on trails throughout the New York metro area. The book covers everything you would want to know about the trails, from transportation to them to available nearby services to, of course, the distances and terrain to be covered.
But it isn’t only filled with useful and up-to-date information, it is also laid out well. As anyone who has ever used a guide book knows, having good information is one thing, and finding it is another. Fun on Foot handles both and handles them well.
So if you are looking to run new trails — or to just take the kids on a local hike in the woods — you’ll find this to be a valuable addition to a home library on things to do and places to go.
And on bonus note, author Warwick Ford has sent me several copies to raffle off at the end of Paine to Pain. Gotta love that.
I ran the Paine to Pain loop both this past weekend and the weekend before as part of Boston prep, both times after a good rain. And the verdict? The trails have some drainage issues, but not enough to keep a runner off them so long as you don’t mind getting a little dirty.
All of the trails that are part of the official race course are navigable after a good rain. The Leatherstocking has some drainage issues in the New Rochelle section that need attention, but small side tracks generally take you around them. The Mamaroneck section is good.
Saxon Woods is almost all good, though it has two notable mud holes where we want to run the race this year, but nothing terrible and easy to skip around. Twin Lakes and Nature Study Woods have the same problems.
So if you were worried that rain would make the trails impassible, it is an unfounded worry. When the trails are dry, they are magnificent. When wet, merely good. And a hell of a lot better than training on the roads.
–ET
Registration for Paine to Pain 2009 is now open! As you can see from the main page, we’re starting with a gunshot on October 4th. To say we are excited is an understatement.
Based on the enthusiastic reviews last year when we put this race on with short notice, we think there’s a pretty good chance we will sell out this year. So our suggestion is to register early, which also saves you 10 bucks. Our best case scenario is that we are sold out well in advance and therefore don’t have to spend time with late registration issues when we would rather be marking the trail and getting the race ready.
We will use this blog for periodic updates, so if you have an RSS feed, we suggest you use it. If you don’t have an RSS feed, we suggest you learn, because it is ridiculously easy. You’ll have updated information pushed to your RSS feed without having to actually visit the site looking for updates.
And if you know folks who want to volunteer, either on race day or as part of the organizational effort, please let me know. You can email me at Eric [at] TurkewitzLaw [dot] com.
