Lt. J. C. Stone 50K UltraMarathon

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North Park, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

Home of Hot Harry's North Park Runners and the North Park Roadrunners Clubs

"We Run This Park"

Updated:  July 20, 2008

Mark the Date:  Saturday March 21, 2009 

Lt. J.C. Stone 50K UltraMarathon

2^nd Annual

March 21, 2009

Sponsored by Hampton Township Rotary Club

Registration:  www.active.com  

Contact the Race Director:  LouDAngelo@aol.com. 

We offer on-line registration through www.active.com.

Lt. J.C. Stone 50K began unofficially in 2007.  Our official inaugural event was held in 2008 and brought out some great names in UltraRunning. You can see the results posted at www.smileymiles.com our official timing company for the event. 

 GENERAL RACE and COURSE DESCRIPTION

Every day dozens of runners park their cars in the parking lot of Lt. J.C. Stone Field. The field is used for local sporting events, and was named for Lt. Joseph Charles Stone. Known as J.C. to his friends and family.  J.C. enlisted to serve the USA in the Viet Nam War and gave his life for his country when the small village where he was engaged was overrun by the Viet Cong. His legacy is one of bravery. This run is in memory of J.C. and all the brave soldiers who have fought for our country. The course starts at the North Park Boat House with a short out and back, then proceeds to complete 6 5-mile loops around scenic North Park Lake. About 2.5 miles from the Boat House runners will pass Lt. J.C. Stone Field. This 5-mile loop has been the home to many exciting Ultras in the past. This course is the same course as the former GNC 50K/50Mile/100K race. UltraRunners from all over the country ran this course as for several years it was host to several National Championship Road Races. The course is awesome. Asphalt running trail that follows the shoreline of North Park Lake. It will be very well marked and will have volunteers stationed along the course so that you can focus on running and leave the logistics to us.  Challenging but very runable. We hope you enjoy this race.

SCHEDULE

 All activities listed below will take place at the North Park Boat House (except for early race packet pick-up). 

INSTRUCTIONS For RUNNERS

•  The three rules that I will enforce are, 1) No litter, 2) No pacing by motorized vehicle, and 3) No Aid given from any moving vehicle. You will be disqualified for running afoul of these rules. Please don’t.

• Rules that the North Park/Allegheny County Police will enforce are, 1) Exceeding the speed limits around the park, 2) bicycling in the ‘wrong’ direction. The park is a one way cycling park with marked lanes. Bicycles are permitted on the course. Please observe all signs.

• Parking at the North Park Boat House is for runners, crew, family and friends. I expect we will have plenty of room.  This is a crew-friendly course, but is supported well with two aid stations.  Aid every 2.5 miles.

• Please do not litter. Drop your trash at the aid stations, and we will take care of the rest.

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Registration through active.com will be $45 up until March 5, 2009.  There is no registration by mail. Late registration is $65 and will be accepted up to 6:45am on race day!

• Runners will receive a tech fabric shirt (The shirts are awesome), and some other goodies.  Finishers will receive a finisher's medal (The medal is amazing).

• Top three female and Top three male finishers will receive a unique commemorative award.

• All runners must check in before 6:45 a.m. on Saturday morning to get their number. This is essential so that we can start the race on time. The race will start promptly at 7:30 a.m.

• Runners will have access to indoor bathrooms before, during and after the run.  While we don’t have showers, we do have indoor plumbing.  Runners will also have access to bathrooms and port-a-potties along the course.

• PACERS are allowed from start to finish. But if your pacer is running the whole way, please register them as a runner.

• Every aid station will offer runners food and beverage including sport gel, sport bars, cookies, pretzels, crackers, peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, water, sports drink and soda pop.

• Dropbags may be left ONLY at the Boat House.  In fact you can have your own little area set up near your vehicle. Bring a chair, a cooler and a towel. Make it your own oasis of support if you care to.

• The temperature can vary drastically in March. Be ready for anything from a wet 43^o F. to temperatures in the 80^o's. I am hoping for 48F and partly cloudy, but you just never know!

• Please report to the finish line area if you happen to drop from the race. Don’t just walk off, we will be worried about you and will spend time looking for you.

Some local hotels in case you need to spend the night.

 DIRECTIONS to North Park Boat House

Directions from the PA Turnpike (both eastbound and westbound travelers)

Take Exit #38 (Butler/Pittsburgh), Travel 100 yards north on Rt. 8 towards Butler . Get in the Left Lane to make the first left onto E. Hardies Rd at the red light. Travel approximately 3 miles on winding country road to red light. Make a right at the light onto Wildwood Road (Yellow Belt).  Follow approximately 2 miles to the next redlight. Make a right at the light onto Babcock Blvd. Travel 250 yards and make the first Left onto Lake Shore Drive .  Travel 1 mile to the Boat House Parking lot which will be on your left.  Park here. This is the Start and the Finish for the event.

If you have additional questions about the Lt. J.C. Stone 50K,

Contact Lou D’Angelo, Race Director

By email at LouDAngelo@aol.com

Phone: 412-366-8740

"When you see someone putting on his running shoes,
you can be pretty sure that an adventure is about to happen."

                                                -  Winnie the Pooh

General Information on running at North Park

Are you looking to run with a group of fun runners in North Park in the North Hills of Pittsburgh? Are you in town for a visit and need a place to train with a serious runner? A recreational runner? Are you training for a Marathon? Would you like to join a great group of people for a fun run? Hot Harry's North Park Runners may be the answer for you.  Fast or slow, short or long, at out weekend runs you are likely to find someone to go the distance with you.  Hot Harry's North Park Runners meet EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY MORNING, rain or shine, sleet or snow, come hail or high waters you will find a group ready to go for a run. You really should join us.

Schedule of Runs:  Typically (subject to change on a weekly basis)

Saturday 600am	10 to 20 miles at a 8:00 to 9:00 pace. Depends on who shows to run. Typically up to 15 runners will show for this group.
Saturday 800am	This is the main group of Hot Harry's Runners. Distances range from 7 to 20 miles depending upon who is training for what race at the time. This group will get up to 40 runners on a nice day.
Sunday 700am	10 miles is the standard run. 8:00 to 9:00 pace. Sometimes this group will go faster.  Coffee at Panera Breadworks or Starbucks is always an option after this run.
Sunday 800am	Not quite the showing of a Saturday morning, but still a good group will gather for the Sunday run.  Local races may keep the numbers low on some weekends.

Directions:  The gathering and starting point is Lt. Stone Field parking lot in North Park, Allegheny County. From the city of Pittsburgh, take Rt 279North 3 miles to the McKnight Road Exit. Follow McKnight Road North approx. 6 miles. Take the exit for the Yellow Belt/North Park. This exit is Ingomar Road. Follow Ingomar to the 2nd stoplight. Turn left at the stoplight. You are in the park. Bear Right and travel 200 yards to the parking lot. 

Visitors to the Pittsburgh area come on and join us!!! Pittsburgh is a friendly place and new runners always have stories that make the run more enjoyable.  You can tell your favorite stories because we haven't heard them yet.  Harry always brings a couple gallons of bug juice or other sport drink for the finish.  When you get to Stone Field, be sure to ask for Hot Harry and in no time you will feel like part of the group. He will set you up with someone of your distance and speed to get you started for the day.  Sure hope you can join us.

"Hot Harry" Kirsch Monument On Permanent Display at Stone Field in Allegheny County's North Park

On Saturday, November 15, 1997 a group of runners known as Hot Harry's North Park Runners got together to celebrate the unveiling of a permanent marker as a tribute to a special friend and fellow runner. He is known as Hot Harry to us. Harry is the type of man you meet, and you can't help but like him. He is genuine, funny, and really into his running....all around nice guy. The monument project took approximately two years to navigate the government red tape of Allegheny County Pennsylvania. Good friends and fellow runners, Jack and Mary Jo Neff, handled the details associated with the project. The dedication ceremony was a lot of fun, with over 100 runners and friends in attendance. Many had come out as usual for the normal Saturday morning run. Many more came out to see Harry on this special day. Hot Harry has been the inspiration to many people over the years. He has encouraged runners of all abilities to attempt the ultimate running challenge, the Marathon.  At age 86, he has run dozens of the 26.2 mile events.

Fun Fact:  The monument consists of a large stone with an imbedded bronze plaque, a courtyard area paved with cobblestones from a street in Pittsburgh where Hot Harry used to drive trolleys and later busses for the PAT Transit System, and a water fountain. 

March, 1994 - Runner's World Magazine

Harry Kirsch wins this month's Bob Rodale Golden Shoe Award for helping new runners train for the Marine Corps Marathon.
Every year at the Marine Corps Marathon, the field is dotted with runners wearing "Hot Harry's Running Club" T-shirts. The namesake of those T-shirts is 70-year-old "Hot" Harry Kirsch, Kirsch, a former Marine who started the club in 1980, has made the annual trek to Washington, D.C., with a busload of Pittsburgh runners for the past 12 years. Krisch's running record would make the Marines proud. Since he started running at age 57, the retired bus driver has finished 27 marathons, with a sizzling 3:15 PR (thus the nickname). Other PRs include a 1:32 half-marathon and a 41-minute 10-K. In addition to running 50 miles a week, Kirsch logs 250 miles on his stationary bike. "Harry's determination is contagious," says Richard Stuempges, one of the club members. "He makes us feel that we can do it." Every day except Friday (Kirsch's rest day), 50 to 100 runners run with him in Pittsburgh's North Park. "When you're a newcomer, the marathon is intimidating," says Kirsch, who finished his first marathon a year after he started running. "But I manage to convince them that they can finish the race."

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See ya Later Hot Harry

by:  Lou D'Angelo

North Park Fat Ass 50k
March 24, 2007
Race Report

UltraRunners who have ever run in the GNC 50K/50Mile/100Km at North Park near Pittsburgh will be happy to learn that UltraRunning back to the shores of North Park Lake, Allegheny County. The first Fat Ass 50k run was a lot of fun. Here is a quick recap of the day. The rains which had been threatening all night held off. It was cool enough for long sleeves and it was a good day to run at North Park. At 600am, after a rousing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner led by our very own baritone, Jim Crist, 25 runners departed for the first 5 mile loop around the lake. It was great to see the runner pack take off around the corner and into the history books of North Park UltraMarathon running.This loop course is an historic ultra-racing course. For many years this course had been the site for 50k, 50 Mile and 100K national championship races. But this year was a bit different. It was a good old fashioned 'Fat Ass' with all the charm, support and excitement that only ultra marathoners can bring to a local event. North Park hadn't held an Ultra in several years. That is now past history. The Ultra-Marathon Event is back. Of the 25 starters, 8 completed the Ultra Distance, but everyone finished a good run. It was all about the individual event.
Highlights of the day: The winners were Val Kunkle and Jeff Gleason! Finishing within one second of each other, Val was the event overall winner! Val and Jeff were rewarded for their effort with a gigantic pair of "fat ass" undies and a bottle of "Fat Bastard" Cabernet. Val's 4:30 is a fantastic time for a first-time Ultra Runner. Val had a plan and stuck to it, she even had the split umbers written in ink on her hand. She also had seasoned veteran Ultra Runner Jeff Gleason to accompany her along the way! Jeff doesn't do many 50k's because he prefers the longer runs, but this 4:30 effort shows he can still motor the "short" Ultras. Congratulations to Jeff and Val. Over the span of 10 minutes, three more Ultra-Runners came across the finish line. Tom Neff had been right with Jeff and Val for 26 miles, and pushed hard to keep them in sight, finishing just 3 minutes off their time. Scott Finnell, coming off of an impressive 3:27 Marathon just six days prior, came across the line looking very strong at 4:39. After a blistering 2:45 start for his first 20 miles, Dave Syiek managed through a few leg cramps to run a very good 4:42 for the course. Steve Miller (who was flying like an eagle through the day) ran a steady pace, using this race as yet another training run for his date with destiny at Western States later this year. His 5:05 finish got him a pair of the coveted 'fat ass' briefs. John Edleman and Andy K ran together for the entire day, opting for a variation of the basic course that added approximately 3 extra miles of uphill to their effort. The Ultra Runners of North Park came out to play hard, and a good time was had by all. The 50k runners finished as follows: Val Kunkle 4:30, Jeff Gleason 4:30, Tom Neff 4:33, Scott Finnell 4:39, Dave Syiek 4:42, Steve Miller 5:05, John Edleman 5:10, Andy K 5:10.  The other runners went various distances: Dan Ruble 25 - 3:55, Jason DeChicchis 25 - 5:05, LuAnn Holt 22 - 3:24, Michelle Ellery 22 - 3:24, Dena Schmid 22 - 3:24, Val McNelis 22 - 3:24, Mike Bowman 22 - 3:24, Pete Gianaros 20 - 2:46, Tony Mauro 20 - 3:03, Tim End 20 - 3:15, Christen Kastas 20 - 3:22, Chuck Lenns 20 - 3:42, Barbie DeRenzo 15 - 2:27, Jim Crist 15 - 2:27, Bob Bucciarelli 13 - 2:07, Chris Petit 10 - 1:30, and Carol Madia 10 - 1:40.

Mark your calendars for 2008. UltraRunning has returned to North Park and it looks like it is here to stay!!!

My personal congratulations to all Ultra Runners! You were awesome!

Lou D'Angelo, Race Director 2007