Survival of the Shawangunks 2016
Skytop, the Finish, seen from the Start
Michele Halstead
What do you really need to Survive the Shawangunks? That’s what it comes down to. In the SOS Triathlon athletes cover 50.5 miles in 8 stages, point to point.
After leaving the Ulster County Fairgrounds for the 30 bike, athletes never cover the same ground again. From there it's 20 miles of swimming and running. Preparing for that takes some forethought and training.
After leaving the Ulster County Fairgrounds for the 30 bike, athletes never cover the same ground again. From there it's 20 miles of swimming and running. Preparing for that takes some forethought and training.
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Bike on Springtown Road,
Michele Halstead
Athletes bike around the ridge to end at Minnewaska State Park. The first 25 of the 30-mile bike are fairly flat with some up and downs and a hairy S turn at mile 10. That’s all over when riders turn onto Route 45/55 and climb over 1000 feet for the last 5 miles to Minnewaska Park where their crew awaits them with their transition set-up.
After the 30-mile bike athletes must carry everything they’re going to use to swim through three lakes along the ridge and run from one to the other. It's a combined 2.1 miles swimming and 18.7 total miles of running. Riders got wet a little early this year as it dumped down rain during the ride.
After the 30-mile bike athletes must carry everything they’re going to use to swim through three lakes along the ridge and run from one to the other. It's a combined 2.1 miles swimming and 18.7 total miles of running. Riders got wet a little early this year as it dumped down rain during the ride.
Leaving T-1 swim cap and goggles in hand, Michele Halstead
Planning and managing the 6 swim/run transitions on the fly is a departure from traditional triathlons and is the topic of endless conversations amongst Survivors.
Athletes must plan for running in wet shoes, swimming with their shoes, somehow, and rocks in their shoes as wells as at the water entries and exits and on the gravel carriageways.
There are, of course, as many solutions as there are athletes. Some choose to carry a full wetsuit because the buoyancy and warmth it adds in the swim are worth the extra weight during the runs. Some wear tri shorts with swim cap and goggles shoved down the front, no socks, and there is every variation in between.
Whatever the choice is upon leaving the Awosting bike transition the decision is final and athletes have to carry it all for the next 20.1 miles.
Athletes must plan for running in wet shoes, swimming with their shoes, somehow, and rocks in their shoes as wells as at the water entries and exits and on the gravel carriageways.
There are, of course, as many solutions as there are athletes. Some choose to carry a full wetsuit because the buoyancy and warmth it adds in the swim are worth the extra weight during the runs. Some wear tri shorts with swim cap and goggles shoved down the front, no socks, and there is every variation in between.
Whatever the choice is upon leaving the Awosting bike transition the decision is final and athletes have to carry it all for the next 20.1 miles.
Chatting it up as they shove their shoes into their tri shorts before swimming Awosting Lake,Michele Halstead
The run along Lower Awosting Carriageway is 4.6 miles on a loose gravel trail up Cardiac Hill (aptly named) to Lake Awosting. When entering the lake at the southern end athletes make the first transition choice, swim with shoes on, in a dry bag, or shoved down their shorts.
Some leave their sock on because it’s easier than trying to get wet socks back onto wet feet. Some choose to wear no socks at all.
Pete Skutnik, 41 of Midland Park, NJ and his crew-man Dave, talked about Skutnik’s process.
Skutnik has crewed for the SOS in the past and has friends from the Gunks so he got tips from them. He made his equipment decisions 3 or 4 weeks out.A tri suit, compression socks, “floaty shorts”, an elastic race belt to tie the shorts on while he ran and a pair of old running shoes with holes drilled in them made up his kit.
"Floaty shorts", neoprene shorts, are increasing in popularity. Skutnik said his were designed as a swim training tool to keep hips high,sort of like a pull buoy but you can kick. Skutnik chose to take his off to run, other kept them on and they functioned like compression tights.
Awosting is the longest swim at 1.1 miles down the length of the lake. This year thanks to a very warm summer with hardly any rain the lake was fairly warm about 74 degrees. Entry into the lake is a 3 foot plunge off a rock into 7 feet of water. This is where choosing to swim with shoes on could be beneficial.
The swim stays in the shallow edge and there is kayak support and scuba divers standing at the ready as well.
This swim is the first, the longest, and the coldest from that results the notorious Awosting cramp-clog at the water exit.
The volunteers at the swim exit have been doing this for years so they know to tell athletes to get back in the water and sit, or just get moving.
Some put their shoes back on in the water. Some run for a bit and then put their shoes on. Either way from there it’s off to run five and half miles around Castle Point to Lake Minnewaska.
Some leave their sock on because it’s easier than trying to get wet socks back onto wet feet. Some choose to wear no socks at all.
Pete Skutnik, 41 of Midland Park, NJ and his crew-man Dave, talked about Skutnik’s process.
Skutnik has crewed for the SOS in the past and has friends from the Gunks so he got tips from them. He made his equipment decisions 3 or 4 weeks out.A tri suit, compression socks, “floaty shorts”, an elastic race belt to tie the shorts on while he ran and a pair of old running shoes with holes drilled in them made up his kit.
"Floaty shorts", neoprene shorts, are increasing in popularity. Skutnik said his were designed as a swim training tool to keep hips high,sort of like a pull buoy but you can kick. Skutnik chose to take his off to run, other kept them on and they functioned like compression tights.
Awosting is the longest swim at 1.1 miles down the length of the lake. This year thanks to a very warm summer with hardly any rain the lake was fairly warm about 74 degrees. Entry into the lake is a 3 foot plunge off a rock into 7 feet of water. This is where choosing to swim with shoes on could be beneficial.
The swim stays in the shallow edge and there is kayak support and scuba divers standing at the ready as well.
This swim is the first, the longest, and the coldest from that results the notorious Awosting cramp-clog at the water exit.
The volunteers at the swim exit have been doing this for years so they know to tell athletes to get back in the water and sit, or just get moving.
Some put their shoes back on in the water. Some run for a bit and then put their shoes on. Either way from there it’s off to run five and half miles around Castle Point to Lake Minnewaska.
Photo Slideshows~ keep scrolling
The entrance to Minnewaska is more gradual and there is a yellow rope attached to buoys for the whole half mile so sighting is very easy…just swim along the cable.
The cliff line above the Minnewaska exit has become a popular place for spectators to watch and cheer as swimmers exit the water.
One swimmer exited in a neoprene swim cap underneath the yellow SOS cap. It’s crucial for athletes to know their own requirements. If they're sensitive to cold they must make the necessary accommodations.
The cliff line above the Minnewaska exit has become a popular place for spectators to watch and cheer as swimmers exit the water.
One swimmer exited in a neoprene swim cap underneath the yellow SOS cap. It’s crucial for athletes to know their own requirements. If they're sensitive to cold they must make the necessary accommodations.
Swam in shoes
The next run is a grueling 8 mile loose gravel carriage road run to Lake Mohonk and the majestic Mohonk Mountain House. It's mostly flat until mile 6 where athletes hit Godzilla hill, then when that finally flattens out quickly son of Godzilla comes up . There is plenty support with aide stations every 2 miles and that is the best way to breakdown the 8 mile run. The last quarter mile is gorgeous single track that opens up to Lake Mohonk.
Out of the lake is a 5 foot rock scramble and the 7/10 of a mile and a 400 feet of elevation to the end at Smiley Memorial Tower.
Out of the lake is a 5 foot rock scramble and the 7/10 of a mile and a 400 feet of elevation to the end at Smiley Memorial Tower.
Swam shoes in-hand
Chris Marino and his crewman, David, talked about Chris’ process in planning for his first SOS.
“All summer I tried all the different things,” Marino said. “Two-piece tri-suit, no socks, I tried pull buoys…I tried a few different races, all the nonsense. I had someone design shorts with Velcro in them, but they didn’t work”.
So Marino trained for the conditions. He ran with no socks all summer long, he explained. He ran on the beach and deliberately got sand and stones in his shoes. He went barefoot except at work and church.
In the end the simplest was the best. He raced sock-less in just tri shorts.
“There were no slip-ups,” Marino said about his minimalist kit.
“All summer I tried all the different things,” Marino said. “Two-piece tri-suit, no socks, I tried pull buoys…I tried a few different races, all the nonsense. I had someone design shorts with Velcro in them, but they didn’t work”.
So Marino trained for the conditions. He ran with no socks all summer long, he explained. He ran on the beach and deliberately got sand and stones in his shoes. He went barefoot except at work and church.
In the end the simplest was the best. He raced sock-less in just tri shorts.
“There were no slip-ups,” Marino said about his minimalist kit.
At least two athletes crossed the finish-line wearing sunglasses. "I put them in my shoe and put my shoe in my shorts when swimming," one man explained.
Plan, train, and still it's the Shawangunks that must be Survived. This year 147 athletes did just that.
But then maybe surviving just takes a little help from your friends.
Congratulations to all the Survivors.
Plan, train, and still it's the Shawangunks that must be Survived. This year 147 athletes did just that.
But then maybe surviving just takes a little help from your friends.
Congratulations to all the Survivors.
Slideshows
Bike-Ulster County Fairgrounds to Awosting, Minnewaska State Park
Photos- Michele Halstead
Transition 1 Awosting
Photos- Michele Halstead
Lake Minnewaska and Finish
Photos- Michele Halstead
Minnewaska Lake
Photos- Kellie McGuire
Lake Mohonk and Finish
Photos- Kellie McGuire
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