Today is the Mount Washington Road Race. Oddly enough, it is a beautiful day for the event, both here at the base as well as up on the summit, which we all know is not always the case on this mountain! Today however, the top is mostly in the clear with sunny skies, temperatures of 51 degrees (does anyone know where the ‘degree’ symbol is on a computer?); visibility is 30 miles and the wind speed is currently 30 mph. Unbelievable! Participants are warned on the official race website that the weather can be extremely dangerous, even in June, and are told to be prepared with warm clothing such as mittens, hats and winter jackets. These items are usually a necessity, except when there is a heat wave like today. The runners I spoke to at breakfast this morning would prefer it cooler … but Mount Washington weather is the luck of the draw, and today’s certainly beats a blizzard!
Running the Mount Washington Road race would be a milestone in anyone’s book, but for long-time Lodge guest Walter Kuklinski, this is his 25th consecutive run!! Walter trains at various other races throughout the year, such as in the Rocky Mountains, where the elevation gives his lungs a good workout to prepare for this grueling race up Mount Washington, the stats of which are listed below:
Distance: 7.6 miles
Summit: 6288 feet above sea level
Altitude gain in the race: 4650 feet
Gradient: 12 percent average, 18 percent steepest long grade, 30 percent at finish
We wish Walter and ALL our runners (we typically fill to overflowing with runners for this race) – the best of luck. Regardless of the outcome, you are all winners for doing this!
Dana and our son Joshua will be volunteering again this year to help Larry Baima of the Thompson House Eatery, serve a great meal for about 1200 runners, post race in the base tent. T.H.E. uses paper goods and disposables that are all eco-friendly and biodegradable, and this year their catered menu consists of Tuscan Bean and Vegetable Soup (vegan), BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders with a maple chipotle BBQ sauce; Coleslaw; Whole wheat rolls, brownies, orange wedges, bananas, mini-candy bars, soda, water and Tuckerman’s Beer. Mmmmmm! I bet it will taste even more delicious than it sounds to those folks who just burned a zillion calories!
A little History on the Race, for those not familiar:
The first timed run up Mount Washington took place in 1904 by a young medical student named George Foster, who did it to impress his friends. His time was 1 hour, 42 minutes – faster than any automobile had ever made the trip! In 1936 some of Dr. Foster's friends organized a Mt. Washington road race in his honor. Twelve runners finished. The race was held again in 1937 and 1938, with larger fields each time. During the war years the race was forgotten, but it was held again in 1961 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Mt. Washington Carriage Road. Boston Marathon champion John J. Kelley won that year, beating 78 other runners. In 1962, 40- year-old former coal miner Fred Norris won in the stunning time of 1:04:57, which stood for 40 years as the masters' record. After a 3-year hiatus the race resumed in 1966 and has been run annually since. In 2002, for the first time in its history the Mt. Washington Road Race was shortened on account of the weather. Pounded by wind and freezing rain on the upper slopes, volunteers setting up what was supposed to be the finish area could hardly maneuver, and Auto Road staff determined that too many people's safety would be in jeopardy if the race went to the summit. The finish line was moved to just below the halfway mark, so that the field ran 3.8 miles.
Does the prospect of running up Mount Washington, the tallest peak in the east (known for the ‘World’s Worst Weather’) intimidate you? Relax … there's Only One Hill!
Running the Mount Washington Road race would be a milestone in anyone’s book, but for long-time Lodge guest Walter Kuklinski, this is his 25th consecutive run!! Walter trains at various other races throughout the year, such as in the Rocky Mountains, where the elevation gives his lungs a good workout to prepare for this grueling race up Mount Washington, the stats of which are listed below:
Distance: 7.6 miles
Summit: 6288 feet above sea level
Altitude gain in the race: 4650 feet
Gradient: 12 percent average, 18 percent steepest long grade, 30 percent at finish
We wish Walter and ALL our runners (we typically fill to overflowing with runners for this race) – the best of luck. Regardless of the outcome, you are all winners for doing this!
Dana and our son Joshua will be volunteering again this year to help Larry Baima of the Thompson House Eatery, serve a great meal for about 1200 runners, post race in the base tent. T.H.E. uses paper goods and disposables that are all eco-friendly and biodegradable, and this year their catered menu consists of Tuscan Bean and Vegetable Soup (vegan), BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders with a maple chipotle BBQ sauce; Coleslaw; Whole wheat rolls, brownies, orange wedges, bananas, mini-candy bars, soda, water and Tuckerman’s Beer. Mmmmmm! I bet it will taste even more delicious than it sounds to those folks who just burned a zillion calories!
A little History on the Race, for those not familiar:
The first timed run up Mount Washington took place in 1904 by a young medical student named George Foster, who did it to impress his friends. His time was 1 hour, 42 minutes – faster than any automobile had ever made the trip! In 1936 some of Dr. Foster's friends organized a Mt. Washington road race in his honor. Twelve runners finished. The race was held again in 1937 and 1938, with larger fields each time. During the war years the race was forgotten, but it was held again in 1961 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Mt. Washington Carriage Road. Boston Marathon champion John J. Kelley won that year, beating 78 other runners. In 1962, 40- year-old former coal miner Fred Norris won in the stunning time of 1:04:57, which stood for 40 years as the masters' record. After a 3-year hiatus the race resumed in 1966 and has been run annually since. In 2002, for the first time in its history the Mt. Washington Road Race was shortened on account of the weather. Pounded by wind and freezing rain on the upper slopes, volunteers setting up what was supposed to be the finish area could hardly maneuver, and Auto Road staff determined that too many people's safety would be in jeopardy if the race went to the summit. The finish line was moved to just below the halfway mark, so that the field ran 3.8 miles.
Does the prospect of running up Mount Washington, the tallest peak in the east (known for the ‘World’s Worst Weather’) intimidate you? Relax … there's Only One Hill!
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