Monday, September 15, 2014

2014 Sasquatch 5K Trail Run

 
Kathy Derr is checking Daniel's equipment and helping Daniel with his head cold. The day before this she was supervising the Tulloch's move into their new house. As I said many times before, I always keep "Good German Stock" around because they can help with the pushing and pulling. Kathy had to step in and help lift a large freezer and put it in a truck. If I would have had her sister Linda Derr with me, Linda would have put this freezer in the truck by herself.   


On Sept. 13, 2014,  Daniel is back at the scenic Snyder Family Farm for his 4th Annual Sasquatch Preservation Trail Run. This is an entirely off-road cross-country and trail run. This property is permanently preserved by the Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County, runners enjoy the mixed terrain and elevation, through the woods, near the Codorus Creek and along mixed crops on some of York County’s best farmland. You have to keep an eye out for native birds, deer, turkeys, snakes and sasquatches (lol), all sharing this beautiful property.

The Sasquatch 5K is chip timed by "York Road Runners." This is NOT a race to miss, as the Sasquatch Preservation Trail Run has been featured in Runner’s World magazine’s list of America’s Top Trail Races! This is a very hard trail, even for experienced adult runners and is the hardest race on Daniel's schedule.  I asked an attorney who ran against Daniel in last week's race about the trail. It was his first time running it and found that it is one of the hardest trails he ever ran on.  

This is PRIVATE property, so no trespassing ahead of time for practice runs was permitted. Since this is an active farm, no animals were permitted. Due to the terrain, no strollers were allowed on the course.

 

LOVE THE LAND? SO DO WE!


The Sasquatch Preservation Trail Run benefits Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County, a land preservation organization dedicated to conservation of our prime agricultural and sensitive environmental landscapes.


Founded in 1990, FNLT holds over 100 conservation easements totaling over 8,000 acres of beautiful land permanently preserved. Please pay a visit at www.farmtrust.org to learn more and see photos of the preserved lands, become a member, and more. Check the Events tab in their link for pictures and results from prior Sasquatch Preservation Trail Runs, as well as our other exciting fundraising events.

 

Training for this event!

 

 
This is the town of Hershey in Derry Twp. Pa.  This is a 1/4 Mile Hill that Daniel must run up and down continuously at full speed 5 times in one practice.

 
Here is Daniel at the completion of the second run up the hill.
 
 
This is Daniel going back down the hill. Before you get the idea that he is being abused, Stephanie his mother and her running friends including Olympic Silver Medalist Hyleas Fountain had to do the same thing when they were young.   
 
Above are pictures of Daniel training on the quarter mile hill in Hershey Pennsylvania.  Here is where he will train until after the USATF Cross Country Meet in Philadelphia in November.

The 2014 Event

 
 
Darnell giving Daniel his last minute instructions and gave him his number to run in the race.
 




This is the first 7 finishers in the "17 and Under" group as well as other age groups that came across the finish line by 9:29 AM Saturday morning. Many more still have not finished by this time.


Nine year old Daniel ran this 5K in 27 Minutes, 03.59 Seconds, coming in 5th in the "17 and under" group. Last year, Daniel ran this same course in 25 Minutes, 43.04 Seconds.  Last year, the course was dry. This year, the course was wet and slippery in spots.  

 
As you can see, Daniel is running with an eleven year old instead of competing with him.
 
Updated Finishes for the entire race
 
 
Here is the final times for this completed race at 9/13/2014 11:38:47 AM.


Look at 2014 Results



  • Daniel finished in the 17 and Under Age Group, 5th out of 20 runners.
  • Daniel Finished over all in this race, 90th out of 312 runners.    

 Kathy Derr waiting at home for the final results!

The Problems that must be worked out

 

Yes, we had problems. Most children cannot do what Daniel is doing, running a 5K (3.1 Miles), up and down a mountain. He came in 5th in his group and was beaten in this order by a 14,10,15, and 11 year olds.
You can hear me tell Daniel to pick up his pace on the video. Here is the first problem, he made friends with James Herman, an 11 year old. James came in 2 seconds ahead of Daniel. Why? because instead of competing with James, Daniel decided to take his friendship with him on the course. At the end, James sprinted to the finish line surprising Daniel. Daniel could not recover.
In any given race, you cannot let your opponent hang around like that no matter what sport you are in.

 

Adam Fodness, a 15 year old had a time of 25 Minutes, 27.25 Seconds, coming in 3rd. This is the time I thought Daniel should have had.

 

How to solve this problem!

 

I or anyone in Daniel's family cannot solve this problem. Daniel is going to have to learn what it is to compete. Kathy asked Daniel if  he still wants to run in these types of  events. He claims that he still wants to go to the Olympics and run in cross country.
 He has to learn that if he is not willing to compete, then he will not be able to go to the Olympics in the year 2028.       

  

 

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