FANFARE FOR THE WARRIORS

(Originally written April 1st, 1999...  so some of this no longer is accurate)

I have participated in each 7 Sisters Race since 1992. I’ve had some excellent finishing times and also some not so excellent times. That doesn’t really matter much. Honestly, it has been the struggles that I recall with the most clarity and detail. Those were the years when the finish line looked best. As "Big Man" Stan recently said about a completed excursion on this course, "…because it was beautiful doesn’t necessarily make it pretty".

I believe that once you experience a little success at 7 Sisters then the difficult times need not be looked upon as "bad ones" but merely steps to regain that magical moment from once or twice before. What I have been taught is that we don’t have to be at our best to enjoy this race year after year. Participating should be plenty, and for knowing this I am thankful.

Other pieces of information I have learned from this event are…

This is the only day of the entire year that Race Director Fred P smiles. That should be a clue to what you are getting into. 

Haven’t run 7 Sisters before? Best of all is knocking this one out for the first time. I believe many trail racing memories I retain tend to be from the first attempt I had at a course. That is the feeling I wish to re-experience each time I show up. Cross the finish complete with that wild-eyed look pouring out of me like Bogart first viewing Bacall in Key Largo. It’s all in the eyes. Each of us may feel it elsewhere, but the truest indication of success will not be told on the scorecard but in the eyes of each finisher. The windows of the soul allow everyone a glance to into your contentment that day. 

Worried about being slow or finishing at all? Take strength in that the more time spent trying to complete the Sisters will be that much more time you will be able to go way inside yourself and explore those emotions that normally scare the shit out of you. 

The possible range of finish times will be almost 4 hours for this 12-mile race. The winner will most likely be < 2:00 and the final participant finishing somewhere between 5 and 6 hours. This is for a twelve-mile race. 

Since 1992 only 23 men and 4 women have dipped under the 2:00/2:30 six pack challenge. If you start to dig into this stuff though, you’ll realize that only 13 different men make up those 23 occasions. Each of the ladies has been different however. These are not good odds. 

Listening to many first time entrants relate their experiences, I believe that those who venture in from a background of hiking tend to enjoy this course more and keep coming back. The "SlugRunner" is a prime example. Those of us who are used to walking and are not obsessed with time seem to be able to accept this style of "running" easier than those who only want to blast through  

If you finish this race, no other course in the Grand Tree circuit will be "intimidating". Some may be too much distance, but for shear difficulty this is as hard as New England gets. You will be loaded with confidence after completing this one. 

I used to try hard at this race and attempt to run as much of the first hill as possible. It would take me about 8 minutes to reach the top of Bare Mountain. A couple years ago I started to walk this section entirely. This took me 12 minutes. When the race starts and you find yourself behind a hundred people who seem to be going too slow, don’t worry so much. If you are trying to win the event you should have been at the very front to start. If winning isn’t the goal, everyone will spread out soon enough and the 4 or 5 extra minutes walking at the start isn’t going to hurt your overall time, chances are it will help it. 

Completely running out of gas and regulating oneself to the side of the trail to sit is more apt to happen for those of us who start too fast. I have never viewed anyone behind me stop to rest, only those who have been in front of me. Take out of this whatever you wish….. 

One of two things is almost certain after this race. Either you’ll be so hungry you’ll sample every bit of food the Notch Visitor Center has to offer (part of your entry fee), or you’ll not be able to eat at all. I haven’t really noticed any "in between" stage. 

Depending on individual goals and aspirations success is decided differently. Regardless of competitive level or lack of, the ticking time clock shouldn’t be the only indication of achievement. It is each of us out there in charge of our own thing. Get out of this what you want to.

{04/01/99}