2024 Race Director’s Recap and Prize
Rain! Mud! Fun!
Well, that was fun, wasn't it? The weather report was good all week and then we got rain for two days. My rain dance worked! You're welcome!
Today a little race recap, a discussion of a Saxon Woods oopsie that had some running 14-plus miles, the Race Director's Prize, and a link for your free photos.
Top Finishers
First up, despite the slick conditions, P2P newcomer Mark Feigen of Pelham absolutely crushed the course, roaring home in an astonishing 1:18:10. Don't bother getting out your calculator—that was 5:58 per mile. On those trails. In those conditions.
He was followed to the tape by two of the great trail runners of Westchester County, Eamonn Sullivan (1:22:39) and James Boeding (1:22:56), who together have won the last three iterations of the famous Leatherman's Loop.
On the women's side, Tracy Rogers of Great Britain (!) flew in to take top honors here on her birthday in 1:32:21. She was followed to the tape by our 2022 champ, Jeanne Mack (1:34:20), and Martha McDonald (1:35:09)
All crossed the line sufficiently muddy to make me happy. And all received engraved copper tankards (because you can't drink from traditional trophies), and gifts from Nathan. For our age group podium finishers (if we had an actual podium), engraved glass tankards.
A Flagging Oopsie?
Now on to Saxon Woods where I was told that some missed a turn before the golf course. A T-intersection should have taken them right but they went left and ran an extra little loop of 1.5 miles. Can you believe that? They paid for 13 miles but got over 14! What a deal!
Since that turn was missed by some both near the front of the pack as well as elsewhere, the flagging might have been ambiguous. And I'll concede that, perhaps, a few weren't as chipper about the extra mileage that I made light of above. And so, I make this modest offer: email me a screenshot from any tracking device or app of you running more than 14 miles during the race and I'll discount next year's race by $5. That means if you register for the Stupid-Cheap Rate next week, which will again be a ridiculous $45, you'll get a Double-Stupid-Cheap Rate of $40.
Thank You, Sponsors!
Now before getting to the annual Race Director's Prize, I want to thank, yet again, some of the sponsors who help to make this race so affordable:
Westchester Road Runner, a sponsor for all 16 years of this race and where 50% of the bibs were claimed;
Montefiore New Rochelle Medical Center for finish line first aid;
Empress with EMTs at our aid stations;
Finish Line Physical Therapy to get the kinks out post-race;
The Vital Stretch, for doing what they do best at the finish;
NeverStopMoving365 for keeping the kids active while you ran, because that is what they do best;
Nathan Sports for contributing prizes;
AJ's Burgers for his vegan food—that's right, AJ makes much more than great burgers;Fresh Market for all those sandwiches;
Polpettina for pasta;
Athletic Brewing for the NA beer;
Pepsi for the water;
Fox Pest Control for financial support; and
Artie Tobia for the great live music.
As I sit here and type this review—I'll sleep when I'm dead—results are being finalized (if you see an error let us know) and reviews are starting to pour in (which I will publish if they're any damn good). So, keep your eye on the website!
And the RD Prize Goes To…
And on to the Race Director's Prize! I give this out annually on a whim, based on my absolute and all-powerful role as Grand Poobah. I like to give it to someone that inspires me somewhere and somehow, whether it's by turning a cartwheel down the home stretch, volunteers stopping wayward cars with their bodies, or sacrificing their own race to help an injured runner.
This year it goes to 79-year-old Ed Lynch, who has run countless marathons and triathlons, and who continues to show up to Paine to Pain. Each year when he signs up, he always writes of himself, "old as dirt." He was one of the runners that earned a shoutout from me at the start.
As I feel my own wheels slowing with age (stop sending me Medicare mailings!) I now better appreciate how tough it is to keep on chugging. In this regard, Ed is a model for others to emulate.
For his 80th birthday, Ed comes back next year to run as my guest, because one day I want to be like him.
Join Us in 2025
And save this date for next year's race: October 12, 2025! We hope to return to the Sunday of Columbus Day (a.k.a. Indigenous Persons Day) after this one-year hiatus.
Keep your eyes open for an email next week when we open (very briefly) for next year's race at the Stupid-Cheap Rate of $45!
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