A distance-filled weekend: May 4-5

There were two big ultramarathon competitions this weekend upstate: the Rock the Ridge Fifty Mile Challenge at the Mohonk Preserve, and the North Face Endurance Challenge at Bear Mountain. Also of note was the New Jersey Marathon and Long Branch Half-Marathon. Matt Strawn ran his first 50-miler at Bear Mountain, coming in at 12:38:34, about halfway through the pack. PPTC alumna Helen Dole repeated as champion of the Half-Marathon in 1:52:33, besting last year's winning time by over seven minutes. She edged out a friend of PPTC, Jack Rabbit's Laura Coogan, by 12 seconds. Congrats, Matt and Helen!

What did you do with this beautiful weekend? Did you race? Did you get in a final long run before the Brooklyn Half?

Yours truly was at the Mohonk Preserve, helping out to time the finishers. I've long said I would never pass the marathon mark, but a quick run on the route piqued my interest. It's a slippery slope into ultradom.

Plus, who wouldn't want to cross the line at this most beautiful finish?