1812 Challenge & Half Marathon

IMG_1170-crop-small.JPG
1812 Challenge and Half Marathon
By Tristan-OH


This past weekend I traveled up to northern NYS to visit family, and run in a race for the first time in New York since I was in high school (that'd be about 20 years ago). I was really thinking about cancelling, or dropping to the half since my training had not really prepared me to race 18+ miles this year. I had a good base, and a couple good races earlier this year, and with such a long drive to go there I figured I might as well just attempt the whole thing even if I had to go easy. I missed my last long run 2 weeks out, and also the last week prior to the race I ended up only running a single day (5 miles) so I was definitely on the under-prepared side of things. On top of that my schedule has been hectic flip flopping from nights and day shifts, and I was coming off my last night shift Friday so my system was a bit out of whack as well.​

The course was relatively flat from Watertown to the historic 1812 battlefield on the shore at Sackets Harbor. It was not a loop, and actually had a slight net loss of elevation with just a few smaller hills. Roads were all paved, and I raced this one barefoot like usual. For the first time since my days in cross country my parents were able to spectate, and also grabbed some great photos for me so I have a few to share! And no watermarks or outrageous prices!​
A medium sized race for me, about 350 in the full 18.12 challenge and I think they estimated about 800 people signed up total for both distances. I got there with plenty of time to get a warm up in and some stretching, then make my way to the starting line somewhat up front. Also bumped in to someone I went to high school with, who is now an excellent runner and took 4th place overall in the women's division and won her age group. Also one of my best friends from HS was spectating and his wife was racing the half marathon.​
1812start.JPG
The race started out smoothly and I ran together with my friend Jenna for a bit. She's beside me in the blue shirt above. Wasn't too long we came to the first downhill and I forgot to warn her I let loose on the downhills and we got separated. I figured she'd catch me later, but somehow I was running especially fast. Its like I kept up my downhill speed once I hit the bottom and just kept going. Perhaps the lack of much recent running had my system really charged up with energy, but I was running around 7 minute pace and feeling good! I knew that was way too fast, but figured I'd just ride it out while I could. Plenty of miles left to slow down later if I need to!​
Weather was great, mostly sunny, 60's, just a gentle breeze off the lake, modest humidity IMO. Just a wonderful day for a race. Plenty of aid stations, music, and entertainment along the way and just nice views of the countryside.​
The miles ticked away slowly, but I didn't run into any major issues. I was going to check my time at 13.1 but missed it and caught it when I hit 13.25 miles... at 1hr 38 min and 39 seconds. What? With the extra tenth or so (and my Garmin had been right on every mile thus far) I had just beat my fastest half marathon and I wasn't even straining or out of breath! At that point I became determined to keep it up and finish strong. Still a long way to go but the majority of it is over. I did slow a bit but still maintained times in the 7's for most of the race. My folks were near the end in Sackets Harbor and caught a few pics of me...​
DSC01455-crop-small.JPG
Making my move approaching the finish line. Just passed the fella in white.
IMG_1146-crop-small.JPG
My dad didn't even realize it but got my mom in the pic, there on the right in black. She is running over to the finish line after I passed where she was at (which is why her hair is all up in the air lol).
IMG_1149-crop-small.JPG
Passed the other fella.
IMG_1153-crop-small.JPG
There is my mom again!
IMG_1157-crop-small.JPG
Showing off the bottom of some well worn soles.
DSC01457-crop-small.JPG
My son and I after the race.
1812results2015.jpg
Unfortunately, I missed out on even an age group placing... missed it by almost 3 minutes. Maybe next year! 17th overall (out of 349) I am very happy with!​
1812results overall 2015.jpg
They didn't list the pace anywhere but I that is 7:28 min/mi which bests my fastest half time too.​
IMG_1168-crop.JPG
Soles held up fine!
That afternoon my dad and I went into the Sackets Harbor Brewing Co and had ourselves their 1812 amber for the occasion. Well actually I got a flight of all their brews too :)
sackets-harbor-brewing.jpg
Brought home a sixer of 1812 and one of their Thousand Islands Pale Ale and also bought me an 1812 glass at the packet pickup and expo, and the two combined made a great addition to the home made ribs and home made beans dad made for our celebratory dinner.​
IMG_20150830_174552-small.jpg
Had a fantastic time. And it was a good race, great course mostly closed off to traffic, plenty of aid stations, some music and entertainment along the way, great volunteers and organizers. I will try to make this a yearly event. Especially considering how hard it is for me to get training mileage in, this is a better long race option than a full marathon for me. Seems that races between 13 and 26 miles are practically non-existent, but I thought this distance was perfect!​
Some more history on Sackets Harbor from Wiki:​

The heart of the village, with a Main Street and well-preserved 19th century buildings, has been recognized as the Sackets Harbor Village Historic District and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[1]
To support the War of 1812, the US Navy built a major shipyard and its headquarters for the Great Lakes at the village. Within a short period, more than 3,000 men worked at the shipyard. The Army constructed earthworks, forts, barracks and supporting infrastructure to defend the village and navy shipyard, and its troops also camped in the village. The thousands of military personnel made it seem like a city. By the fall of 1814, this was the third-largest population center in the entire state, after Albany and New York City.[2] With its strategic protected harbor on Lake Ontario and military installations, the village had national importance through the 19th century.
As tensions increased with Great Britain, the US began to build up its military forces at Sackets Harbor, including creating a major shipyard at what became Navy Point. The scale of buildup was such that the citizens were outnumbered on a scale of about 8:1 by thousands of sailors and soldiers, camp followers and traders. Limited sanitary facilities and medical knowledge made dense troop encampments breeding grounds for infectious diseases, such as typhus, which quickly spread to villagers, too. By February of 1813, Sackets Harbor was the largest community north of the Mohawk River.[3]
The village was the site of two battles during the War of 1812. In the first battle in 1812, the brig USS Oneida and shore batteries repulsed an attacking force of five British ships. The village became a major base of operations for both the Navy (including US Marine Corps) and Army for the duration of the war. The Army built defensive earthworks around much of the village, and Fort Tompkins with barracks near Navy Point. Local militia built Fort Volunteer north of the village main streets.[4] Thousands of troops gathered to defend the shipyard and village, and to attack Canada.
The numbers of troops so exceeded what could be built to shelter them that in 1813 troops were housed with residents, in stores, in barns and in tents. Village women counted themselves lucky if they were only cooking for officers. By the spring of 1813 the Army had gathered approximately 5200 men in the village.[5]
Most importantly, by 1813 the village became the US Naval Headquarters on the Great Lakes. Working at the Navy Point shipyard were 3,000 highly skilled men, including hundreds of shipbuilders and carpenters brought from New York City because of a lack of locally skilled craftsmen. The yard was constructed and supervised during the war by New York City naval architect and shipbuilder Henry Eckford. They rapidly built eleven warships to establish control over the Great Lakes.
Soon after the war, the Army strengthened its defenses on the northern frontier by constructing Madison Barracks. The village also developed a commercial shipyard and many business connections to communities around the Great Lakes. Its businessmen were also connected to bases in the major markets of Louisville, Kentucky and New Orleans. In 1817 a consortium of local businessmen supported construction of the 240-ton Ontario, the first US steamboat on the Great Lakes. In July 1834, the commercial schooner Illinois from Sackets Harbor was the first to enter the harbor of the new settlement of Chicago. Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site commemorates a battle during the War of 1812 and the contribution of the area to the United States defense.
 
[SIZE=5][I][COLOR=#000000][U]Barefoot[/U][/COLOR][/I] PR's:[/SIZE] [B][SIZE=5][/SIZE][/B] [SIZE=5][B][B][COLOR=rgb(0, 0, 0)]1mi -[/COLOR][/B][/B][COLOR=rgb(153, 51, 0)][B][B] 05:38 [/B][/B](2018) [COLOR=rgb(0, 0, 0)][B]5k -[/B][/COLOR][B] 18:50...
View all 21 featured items
Representing well as usual!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tristan-OH
Dude, that's so awesome, especially with upstate getting some exposure. Everyone thinks NY is just the city (as in NYC, no offense Chris). We do exist up here (with lots to see and do)! I was just talking to my wife about doing the race and now l know what to expect. Congrats again on the great finish! Hope you enjoyed the Thousand Islands Pale Ale (well deserved)!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tristan-OH
Dude, that's so awesome, especially with upstate getting some exposure. Everyone thinks NY is just the city (as in NYC, no offense Chris). We do exist up here (with lots to see and do)! I was just talking to my wife about doing the race and now l know what to expect. Congrats again on the great finish! Hope you enjoyed the Thousand Islands Pale Ale (well deserved)!

Thanks! Yeah I am going to start considering more races up in that area, as I can make a trip up that way to also visit family. I've really wanted to do the Wakely Dam Ultra in the Adirondacks but I'm just not getting myself up to those distances sadly. Some day. Hey maybe I'll see you at the 1812 next year then?
And I do love the north country! Folks in the city wonder what there is to even do in the country but honestly there is just about anything I would really want to do there and not so much in the city. Just depends on what your interests are of course! Actually contemplating looking at some property in the somewhat near future.


Nice race and report Tristan. That's smoking fast! I had a feeling you wouldn't take it easy. Photo caption passing the Altra One guy. "maybe I should try barefoot, I thought these shoes were minimal enough"

Thanks! Well I did pass him, but I'm sure my form wasn't at its finest when I did. In fact all the pics where from the last 1/4 mile where I was very fatigued yet straining to sprint as hard as I could. I was wondering what those shoes were though... after seeing in the pics they did look to me like a minimalist type shoe. I didn't see any other barefooters, wearers of huaraches, or VFFs. However most normalish-looking minimalist shoes I would probably not even notice since I'm really not familiar with them.