HMRRC Winter Marathon By Vince Juliano

That first 4-mile loop was the most memorable exclaimed Russ Hoyer, a veteran marathoner who has run ultra distance events across the nation. I mean the spectacular sweeping views, the surprising contrasts of scenery around every turn...I’ve run Big Sur before but that was just the Pacific Ocean with 300 foot cliffs.

For Alain Caron who made the 12-hour drive south from Charlo, New Brunswick, it was the second 5.5-mile loop. The inspirational architecture, the cubic buildings that rise from the frozen earth, the varied shapes of steel and glass were like fine art. Where I come from there is just endless boreal forests and salmon streams.

Course marshal and regular volunteer Jim Armenia still recovering from a fine 2:52 marathon several weeks ago had another reason to be there. It’s the birds…Jim marveled, the third loop is right in the spring migratory path of the rare yellow warbler. It is amazing to watch their predictable flight path year after year!

To Junko Leerink, the women’s winner from Greenwich Connecticut, it was the deafening applause on the final loop. The crowd was unbelievable, I was so tired but they got me home. That is something I will always remember!

And so it not surprising that Race Directors Ed Neiles and Ken Klemp chose not to advertise their marathon again this year. Just word of mouth keeps them coming, said Klemp. It really is a special event and we don’t want to go mess with it or have a Lottery.

OK…time for a reality check. While the people above did participate in the 31^st annual HMRRC winter marathon, the quotes above were purely fictional to add humor to this story. Though the facts of this marathon are quite amazing in their own right and certainly worth noting.

Introduced more than 3 decades ago to allow runners one final chance to qualify for the Boston Marathon, some 7-weeks later, the Winter Marathon has endured and attracted a few dozen determined, eccentric, and perhaps desperate (for a time) souls who welcome adversity that winter can bring to upstate NY. The common thread is that they are true marathoners, in mind and spirit, and perhaps as they negotiate the five barren loops of the state campus, they find peace and fulfillment not in their surroundings, but from within.

The 31^st event drew 41 marathoners, and 21 (3-person) relay teams and over 60 volunteers as the sunny calm 40-degree weather made this Winter Marathon held on a leap year, a misnomer. As the ratio of volunteers to marathoners suggests, this is an extremely well organized event, and with perfect spring weather, a unique opportunity presented this year’s participants with a chance to nail a good time.

Adam Seigers, 23, of Slittville NY did just that as he bested 4-time winner Dan Dominie, 39, of Canton NY to win in a very respectable time of 2:40.40, the fastest time since Dominie ran 2:40:05 in 1998. Once assured that he qualified for Boston, he went home with his winning sweatshirt, a loaf of bread, tired legs and a big smile.

John Geesler, a multiple national champion in Ultra distance events, was very surprised by his 2:53:24 time, good for third place. Geesler has not run with a running watch since it stopped working 15 years ago, and did not realize he was going that fast.

Gee, I must be in better shape than I thought. After the race he talked about pebbles in his running shoes, pebbles from Arizona where he competed in a 24-hour race a few weeks ago.

In the 3-person relay event, 5 of the 21 teams broke 3-hours led by Zach Yannone’s team that zipped through the five loops (Initial loop 4 miles, with the remaining loops about 5.55 miles) in a pretty solid 2:45.58 made even more impressive by the fact that this was a coed team. All male teams took the next 3 spots in 2:48:50, 2:53:48, and 2:55:03.

All the runners were treated to a variety of refreshments and could receive a free massage complements of Albany Massage Therapy.

While the HMRRC is better known for it’s signature events like the Corporate Challenge, the Stockade-athon, and the higher profile fall Mohawk Hudson Marathon. Events like this unique Winter Marathon and 3-person relay require a disproportionate amount of work to organize and conduct, so that 100 or so runners can have an opportunity to run a marathon in whole or in parts. Kudos to Ed Neiles, Ken Klemp and their experienced crew of coordinators and volunteers who make this marathon happen year after year.

Next year, try this 5-loop course for yourself, and let your imagination run wild!