By: Levi Opsatnic
Okay, so it is Friday, and you’re probably expecting five cool products for the fall weather, but this week, we’re gonna take a little break from that. This Sunday, is the Tussey Mountainback Race, and being fans of all things involving the outdoors and running, we decided to sponsor the race and throw together two teams of our own with some help from The North Face. And instead of recapping five products, I like to think that an appropriate substitute are these interviews with some of our racers. Dive in and take a look at how us Apphousers get ready for one of our favorite races of the year.
Keenan Falls
1. Are you nervous/confident?
Nervous.
2. How far are you running and have you been training?
About a month ago, I had a solid week. Monday: 2 miles, Tuesday: 2 miles, Wednesday: 4 or 5 miles, and Thursday: 10 miles.
3. In what shoes are you choosing to run?
Worn down Nike’s.
4. What socks are you choosing?
Smartwool socks. All day. Every day.
5. Are you carrying any hydration packs or bottles?
No. I will only be running 5 miles or so.
6. What type of calories will/do you consume (i.e. Shot Bloks, GUs, etc.)?
I’ll probably have a good breakfast and that’s it.
Paul Lallement
1. Are you nervous/confident?
I’m never nervous.
2. How far are you running and have you been training?
I’m running just over 4 miles, and have been training all summer.
3. In what shoes are you choosing to run?
Some old Nikes that I’ve logged a lot of miles in.
4. What socks are you choosing?
Point 6 socks.
5. Are you carrying any hydration packs or bottles?
No.
6. What type of calories will/do you consume (i.e. Shot Bloks, GUs, etc.)?
I’m only going to consume some fruit and a bagel before I run.
Samantha Goebel
1. Are you nervous/confident?
I am a little nervous because I know that I could run faster if I had trained longer, but I am ready to have fun!
2. How far are you running and have you been training?
I’m running approximately nine miles, and I have been training some. I’ve been running 3-6 miles on a regular basis for the past three weeks.
3. In what shoes are you choosing to run?
My new North Face Ultra Fastpack GORE-TEX shoes, of course! Thank you North Face.
4. What socks are you choosing?
My ankle merino wool Ibex socks! Keep those feet dry and happy!
5. Are you carrying any hydration packs or bottles?
Nope, I’ll hydrate before the race, between my two legs of the race, and after the race. I’m running the third leg of the relay (~ 4 miles) and the eleventh leg of the relay (~5miles). I have plenty time between my two legs to refuel and hydrate.
6. What type of calories will/do you consume (i.e. Shot Bloks, GUs, etc.)?
I will most likely eat a healthy dinner full of good carbohydrates the night before. The day of the race, I will eat oatmeal for breakfast with some fruit, and bring some granola for energy during the day. I will not run with any calories to consume. My plan is to go fast and light, no backpack, no bottles, no food.
Bart Beck
1. Are you nervous/confident?
Neither. I try to stick to the middle road, since being anxious is often a hindrance and being too confident carries its own vices. We’ll just say that I’m comfortable with it.
2. How far are you running and have you been training?
4.3 miles. Since it isn’t a long leg, I have been running the mile or two I normally run a couple times a week.
3. In what shoes are you choosing to run?
The North Face hooked me up with a pair of Ultra TR IIs for the race, so I’ll be using those. I tried them out a few days and they seem to provide a good level of comfort and protection, so thank you, TNF.
4. What socks are you choosing?
I really don’t know, whatever is clean and at the top of my dresser (which reminds me, I should do some laundry before the race). It will most likely be Point 6, Smartwool, or Wigwam. I don’t have a specific go-to but it will be a low, thin wool sock of some sort.
5. Are you carrying any hydration packs or bottles?
No. I should be able to stay hydrated on a 4.3 mile run without taking water with me.
6. What type of calories will/do you consume (i.e. Shot Bloks, GUs, etc.)?
I’ll probably eat my normal breakfast of oatmeal and a smoothie, but I don’t consume any gels or such during a race.
John Hopkins
1. Are you nervous/confident?
I am a mix of both; I would call it anxious, not nervous, though. I love to compete, so I always get a case of the anticipatory butterflies in the days leading up to any competition. I am not exactly looking to win my leg or anything, since I am not typically a distance runner, but I am confident that I will put in a good personal time on my legs.
2. How far are you running and have you been training?
I am running two legs, leg 1 and leg 9. Leg 1 is 3.2 miles, I think, and leg 9 is around 3. The first leg will be the toughest for me because it’s all uphill and a steeper grade than Leg 9. I haven’t been training any more than I usually do for my other endeavors; I run twice a week on top of lifting three times a week, and sprint/agility training. I train for my goals, and I’m going out to this race just to have fun and enjoy my first trail race, so I figured what I was already doing was plenty.
3. In what shoes are you choosing to run?
I’ll probably be running in a pair of Adidas Terrex Swifts. They have the best tread (continental rubber with a solid, oblong, cleat-like lug pattern) out of all my runners, both the rubber and the lug pattern, so the choice was pretty easy. They’re also bright blue, so I’ll be extra-fly on the trail with these sweet kicks. Bonus.
4. What socks are you choosing?
Darn Tough hikers, actually. They are the most durable sock I’ve ever owned, and have never worn out on me from wearing them in cleats, hiking boots, running shoes, or XC boots. Bombproof, wool, and breathable. ‘Nuff said.
5. Are you carrying any hydration packs or bottles?
I will not be carrying any liquids with me. We have a team van for the race, and my legs are short, so I’ll rehydrate and eat in between my legs with stuff I’ll have stashed in the van.
6. What type of calories will/do you consume (i.e. Shot Bloks, GUs, etc.)?
Shot Bloks and Clif Shot hydration mix, fruit and maybe a Clif Bar or something. I don’t like wolfing down multiple ClifBar-like snacks during exercise, because they take blood out of my legs that I need to run, in order to digest the fiber and complex carbs in them. Instead, I’ll chow down on basic carbs from fruit, and get some electrolyte replacement from Clif products, with which I’ve had the best luck out of all the hydration mixes I’ve tried. I’ll be making sure to get enough carbohydrates into my system in the couple of days before the race so my glycogen stores are full, so I don’t have to worry about consuming calories come race day.
Anna Schwyer
1. Are you nervous/confident?
Confident. Races are a great social experience to share how much we all love running and getting outside!
2. How far are you running and have you been training?
3.5 miles, and I’ve been training a little. I’ve been busy with work and school, so I’m only running about twice a week between 2-4 miles.
3. In what shoes are you choosing to run?
4. What socks are you choosing?
Darn Tough run/bike.
5. Are you carrying any hydration packs or bottles?
No.
6. What type of calories will/do you consume (i.e. Shot Bloks, GUs, etc.)?
None during the race, but probably a Clif bar before. My leg isn’t really a long enough for supplements to make a difference.
Arin Lewis
1. Are you nervous/confident?
I am feeling fairly anxious going into this race.
2. How far are you running and have you been training?
I am running a total of 9 miles split between two legs.
3. In what shoes are you choosing to run?
I will be wearing The North Face’s Ultra Cardiac.
4. What socks are you choosing?
I will probably wear Point 6 socks.
5. Are you carrying any hydration packs or bottles?
No pack, but might carry a bottle.
6. What type of calories will/do you consume (i.e. Shot Bloks, GUs, etc.)?
A GU shot and maple syrup.
Joscelyne Hauserman
1. Are you nervous/confident?
I am so nervous! I haven’t done a trail race in a while. I somehow always pull through crazy situations, though, so I think I’ll be okay.
2. How far are you running and have you been training?
I’m running 3.7 miles, and have not been training long enough.
3. In what shoes are you choosing to run?
It’s been a toss-up between Merrell’s All Out Peaks, TNF’s Ultra Fastpacks, and my personal favorite: Saucony Kinvara 4s, which have a 4mm heel-toe drop and are what I used to fly in. Honestly, though, I think I’m going to need something with a little more support in my arches and a shoe that is really meant for trail running. It’s looking like it will be the All Out Peaks.
4. What socks are you choosing?
Merrell’s wool blend running socks. Love them!
5. Are you carrying any hydration packs or bottles?
Yes, I will most likely be carrying a Nathan QuickShot Plus.
6. What type of calories will/do you consume (i.e. Shot Bloks, GUs, etc.)?
I plan on eating a light, carby breakfast, then poppin’ a shot block before I start running. I never do too well if I have a lot of food in my stomach.