July 2023 Newsletter

Racing News

JULY IS FOR RACING!!!

July is STUFFED with local races my friends! We had the Red, White, and Blue 6.2 and 5k on the 4th of July, which, by the way, was the Spring Couch to 5k Session’s capstone! Congratulations! Also congratulations to all our UVRC runners at the Greater Derry Run for Freedom 5k & 10k. Upcoming, we have:

• Two races in the Western New Hampshire Trail Series - the All Out Trail Run on the 8th, and the Frenzy in the Forest on the 15th (http://www.wnhtrs.com).
• The UVRS also has a trail race that overlaps with the Western New Hampshire Trail Series, the Hurricane Hill Trail race which will be the 22nd.

Club News

July Runner’s Night Out will be July 11th @ Hanover Ramuntos

Weather permitting on of these days we may try and have Runner’s Night Out be a picnic on the former golf course aka the Upper Valley Cross Country Course. So stay tuned! 

Membership Update

Y’all….we have 340 members in our club as of now! THREE HUNDRED AND FORTY! I don’t know how this happened, but I am pleased beyond words. Given that, if you have joined the club and haven’t been to a workout to meet your fellow club members PLEASE COME!! On a personal level as President I would love to meet all 340 of you and learn your names and faces! I get a certain amount of pride and joy when I'm out and about in the Upper Valley and I see people out running that are part of the club. We are truly a community and I would love for us to be as connected as possible! Also TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND BRING THEM TOO!

Club Announcements

Tuesday Night Track Locations are Changing!

Just a note to keep your eye on your email each week regarding TNT. Our mainstay, Hanover High School, is under construction and we may not always be able to access the Dartmouth Track so always check the TNT email to see the location and if you see another member out in the wild pass on the info! 

Join our Strava Club!

Word on the street is that Strava is rolling out some cool club features that hopefully we can adopt. So get ahead of the curve and hop on the UVRC Strava club train *toot* *toot* https://www.strava.com/clubs/upper-valley-running-club

The UVRC parking crew at the 2023 Mt Washington Road Race: Kristina Siladi, Sean Meissner, Scott King, Dorcas DenHartog.

 A bit soggy and muddy day, but we enjoyed ourselves and got to hear some great stories from the runners. 

Good times.

When I first moved to the Upper Valley, I read a book by Rich Roll titled Finding Ultra, which chronicled his transition from a self-proclaimed overweight and unhappy lawyer to a vegan ultraman athlete. It’s an extreme story, but it catalyzed a shift in my thinking. At one point he was running 5 miles a day, stopping at an arbitrary limit because it seemed to be the norm. Any more would have been too much. Eventually he questioned what would happen if he just kept going. Sure, 35 miles a week can be a lot, but what would happen if that became 40? Ten miles is a good long run, but what about running 15? It’s not like his body would have shut down from continuing on. I began to question my own training. Eight miles was my long run. What would happen if I ran 8 miles on Saturday and did it again on Sunday? It turned out physically not much, but mentally a complete shift in what I thought was possible. Rich taught me that we walk around in our daily lives with a capacity that is so much deeper than we realize. You only need to peer over the edge of where you think your limits are.

Since 2015 I’ve been very slowly peering over the edge with curiosity. Inspired by the endless outdoor access in the Upper Valley and the seemingly endless pool of athletes, I’ve challenged myself with pursuits that were once scary, but are now in my wheelhouse. My runs became longer, more technical, and hillier. I started going alone, then in the winter, and in the dark. I feel more comfortable being a dreamer and setting big goals. But what is the limit?

Two weeks ago, I witnessed an epic feat of physical and mental endurance. A new friend attempted the fastest known time (FKT) on the NH 48, summiting all 48 NH 4000’ers as fast as possible. Imagine all of the longest traverses in the Whites and then stringing them together with short drives and very little sleep (in a car no less) over 4 days straight. He hiked 176 miles and 66,000’ of vert in that time, with zero complaints, 9 total hours of sleep and a smile throughout multiple rainstorms, thunder and lightning. 

I’m so grateful we shared miles on the trail as I paced him over 10 peaks. Seeing his effort firsthand completely blew the door off what I thought was possible. As I filled his flasks from a spring, at 11pm in the pitch dark, in the middle of the Pemi loop, while he ran out and back to West Bond, I was struck by how at home I felt. I never could have been in this position 8 years ago, but creeping over the edge inch by inch led me to this experience. And that was just to pace!

While he did not get the FKT, which was held for almost a full year by our very own Alyssa Godesky and broken again just last week by a 60 year-old badass from NH, he set the goal, trained and dove head first into a mind-bogglingly difficult endeavor. Who would have thought that the 21 year old working in Madison Hut a decade ago could make the leap to contend with the FKT? Steve resetting his limits became an open invitation for me to do the same and I am very grateful for that.

Our bodies are capable of so much. I fully acknowledge there is a point of too much, in terms of intensity, what you’re trained for and how it impacts your emotional wellbeing or health. That being said, dreaming is free, and we are all capable of more. It’s truly empowering to question and test our capacity. It feels like a secret experiment, tests we can run day after day. 

Where are your limits drawn and can you begin to erase them? What would happen if you suspended disbelief? Could you go longer or faster or try a new sport entirely? Peer over the edge and see. 

Name: Sean Meissner

Town: Perkinsville, VT

Where are you from originally and what brought you to this area? Born & raised in Spokane, WA, lived most of the last 10 years in Colorado (Durango & Fruita). I moved to the Upper Valley to be a bit closer to my wife’s family, leave the drought-stricken west, and live somewhere a bit more affordable.

What do you do professionally? Running Coach

How long have you been running? 40 years! My first race was Bloomsday 12k in Spokane on May 1, 1983.

How long have you been running competitively? 36 years, when I joined my high school XC team in the Fall of 1987.

Why do you run? I love getting out and not having to think about anything, although sometimes running can definitely help me think through issues without me realizing it at the time. I love the simplicity of running: shoes and shorts - everything else is optional. I appreciate the places running has taken me all over the world.

Recent memorable moment while running? Audibly hearing and painfully feeling my knotty calf “pop” a half-mile from the finish of Ascutney Mtn Run. It was very painful.

Best athletic accomplishment and why? From May 9 - June 9, 2022, I biked from Pacific City, OR to Lewes, DE, fulfilling a 35-years-in-the-making dream of cycling across the country. It was pretty cool. The activity that trained me best for it was being a lifelong runner.

If you like to race, favorite race distance? Why? Half Marathon; it’s the perfect blend of needing decent leg speed and good endurance to run well. Also, training for one doesn’t require the same time commitment as marathons and longer, and on race day, you’re done pretty quickly so you have the rest of the day to play without being exhausted. And, half marathons are excellent long tempo runs for ultrarunners.

If you like to race, notable race moment? OR most memorable race? Kennebec Mtn Run, July, 2016 in Durango, CO. I got engaged mid-race when Kristina was volunteering as a course marshal at the midpoint and I surprised her with a ring!

Training partners? Mostly solo runner; I love adventure runs with Kristina and our dogs Ardy and Juniper.

Cross training activities? Cycling, Nordic skiing, Snowshoeing, TRX, Strength training (specifically, deadlifts)

Favorite local running route? I love biking to Ludlow then running up and down Okemo Mtn.

Favorite post run treat? After long races or adventure runs, I love salty cheese fries, and if they’re loaded with bacon, onions, etc, even better.

Any notable streaks or other unusual running events? Not really a streak, but in 2021, I reached a long-term running goal of running 200 ultras in 20 years.

What made you start running? Growing up in Spokane, WA, which has a very strong running tradition, got me to run my first race. My sister encouraged me to join the cross country team in high school; I had no idea what that was, but once I joined, I immediately knew I’d found my sport and people.

Are your reasons for running now the same or different than the reason you first started? Different; I didn’t really know what I was getting into 40 years ago, and now I have no desire or plans to stop running.

Why did you join UVRC? It’s the coolest local running club in the Upper Valley! Joining running clubs when I move to a new town has always been a great way to make new friends with other like-minded people.

Ever run in a costume? Many times! Some of my favorites: Richard Simmons, Superman, Wonder Woman, Papa Smurf, Sparkle Skirt Guy, Big-Turkey-Hat-and-Velour-Turkey-Tights Turkey Trot Guy, Stars & Stripes Guy for any number of patriotic holiday races.

The only running shoe for me is… I’m a shoe-whore - one pair just doesn’t cut it. 

Ever been injured? How did it happen? Surprisingly very rarely over my 40 years of running; currently nursing knotty calves that started with a back issue that caused me to change my running gait.

Hot or cold weather runner? Hot

Morning or evening runner? Midday (I love my schedule)

What is your motivation? Exploring new places and getting fit for races.

I run therefore I… get to explore.

How did you become interested in running? Growing up in Spokane, WA it was just part of the culture, especially prep running.                                                                                                                                                                                                 

What is your favorite race? Peterson Ridge Rumble 20 & 40 mi

Favorite running book/film? Running with the Buffaloes and Win At All Costs - Inside Nike Running and Its Culture of Deception

What does your daily workout consist of? Anything from an easy 5, to hilly 13, to long marathon-specific tempo run, to TNT, to big adventure days in the mountains.

How about favorite workout? There’s a great 7-mi hill w/ 2200’ vert in Durango, where I used to live; I created this workout and love it so much that my Durango friends and clients know it well:

• 2 mi w/u
• then for the next 5 miles, 5 min Tempo at the start of each mile, then easy the rest of that mile
• this gets you to the top of the climb at Animas Overlook. jog the Overlook trail (easy ¾ mile trail at the top of the hill)
• then for the 7 downhill miles: 2 mi Tempo, 1 mi Easy, 2 mi Tempo, 1 mi Easy, 1 mi Hard
• finish with an easy 10 min c/d jog along the CT, and 10 min soak in Junction Creek

What is your diet like? Mostly healthy with lots of whole foods, veggies, etc, and I also am not afraid of a good cinnamon roll and ice cream.

If you could run with anyone, who would be the person? Kristina, my wife. She’s battled injuries for many years and I’ve hated losing my adventure buddy. She’s back!

What else should the club know about you? I’m a race director! I founded a trail race in 2003 in Sisters, OR, and am still race directing it 20 years later. This successful event is the major fundraiser for the high school cross country team where I got my coaching start as a volunteer in 2002. I’m now trying to create some new races in the Perkinsville area where I live. Please come run them! www.runlikeardy.com

Aside from running, what are your hobbies? Playing with my dogs, cycling, canoeing, standup paddle boarding (learning) camping, figuring out our tractor

If you like to race, what is your favorite type of race? Stage Races because what you do today directly affects tomorrow, so you have to take care of yourself for the whole stage and the whole rest of the day. Also, you get to be really good friends with the other runners.

It’s been 7 years since I first toed the start line for the Vermont 100 Endurance Race in 2016. I wanted to write a quick article to give a summary of my journey back to the Upper Valley, discuss lessons learned training for hundred-milers, and ask for your support.

A lot has happened since 2016! I married my wonderful wife Vanessa and finished my PhD at Dartmouth, sneaking in the Rio del Lago 100 with Vanessa in between these major events. We moved to California, and became proud parents to a rambunctious little girl named Pippa. We all weathered the covid-19 pandemic and decided to move back to the Upper Valley. It has been amazing reconnecting with everyone! We returned in August of last year and — other than some improvements like free pizza at Runner’s Night Out — it feels like we never left. We have also met a lot of wonderful new Upper Valley residents, both in the running club and through other parts of our lives. If you know me from the before-times and we haven’t had a chance to reconnect please reach out! I will try to make it to more Ramunto’s nights this Summer.

This year’s race is right around the corner and I’m feeling excited! No sprained wrist this time and I will have Vanessa to pace me through the final stretch instead of running solo. I promise to recap the race in another report for next month’s newsletter, but I’ve grown a lot as a runner and as a person since my last attempt and I’d like to enumerate some life lessons that I hope will help me on race day.

1. Taking care of an infant, who has grown into a speedy and unpredictable toddler is great training for ultramarathons.
2. It’s helpful to actually run some hilly dirt roads when training for a race with 17,000 feet of vertical gain.
3. “Don’t go out too fast” applies to the first 50 miles (at least) for this distance.
4. Living in a place you love in community of inspiring people can put you at ease and motivate you to reach for big goals.
5. Gratitude is great fuel for ultramarathon racing.

I’m so happy to be back in the Upper Valley and grateful to have members of the UVRC and Northwoods Athletics as training partners and friends. One change from 2016 is that, this year, I joined Team Run2Empower to raise funds for Vermont Adaptive, a charity that provides opportunities for youths and adults with disabilities to gain a measure of self-confidence and independence by participating in adaptive sports programs and activities. This organization was founded in 1993 by Laura Farrell, who also started the Vermont 100 and Vermont 50 run and mountain bike race. It is the only charity associated with the race, which is a huge fundraising event every year. If you’d like to learn more about them, please check out this link and watch some of their great videos: https://www.vermontadaptive.org/. If you’d like to learn more about the race, please visit https://vermont100.com/race-details/.

I would deeply appreciate it if you could be part of my race through your support of Vermont Adaptive and Team Run2Empower! Like I said, gratitude is great fuel for ultra running and I would be very grateful for your support. 

To donate through my fundraising page, please visit https://www.pledgereg.com/360380. Any contribution helps! Even $10.

Even if you aren’t able to make a donation, please think positive thoughts for me and all the runners — including the UVRC’s Cara Baskin, Emily Cousens, and Sean Meissner — on July 15th and keep an eye on Strava or next month’s newsletter to see how it goes!

The Upper Valley Running Series had a busy June, with two races!

Skip’s Run (Results here!)

Shaker Seven (Results here!)

In July, it’s time for something different. We’re overlapping with the Western New Hampshire Trail Running Series, with the Hurricane Hill 5K/10K. We’ll be on trails, but hopefully the woods will give us some shade and cool things down a bit. Registrations options are on-line at PinnacleStrive.com through July 21st, or in person on race day.

Don’t know what the UVRS is? Check it out: http://bit.ly/2023uvrs

You need to run 6 of 9 races to get the coveted “Finisher” status. If you’ve run even one of the races so far this year, you’ve still got time!

In June we had our first ever UVRC Field Day! Which included 7 grueling challenges of creativity and skill. Many teams competed but only one prevailed! The Red Revenants took home the highly coveted Trophy and earned the rights to call themselves Field Day Champions! Don’t worry, there’s always next year!!