Buck 50 - An Epic Trail Race is Born

By Bill & Naomi Hoffman

The idea of traversing 32 miles through remote wilderness may seem like a foreign concept to 99% of the population. However, the growing sport of ultra trail running routinely has people doing that and more. Each trail race is a unique adventure, rooted in the idea of sharing an awe-inspiring place with like-minded runners. On October 21, the inaugural Buck 50K united volunteers, runners, forest rangers, and others along the shores of Lake George. The mountain route – from YMCA Camp Chingachgook in Kattskill Bay to Buck, Sleeping Beauty, Black, Erebus, Buck and back – proved to be an excellent challenge. 

The Inspiration – Back in 2014, while training for the Wakely Dam Ultra 55K trail run, Tim Ela, Jake Stookey and Bill, all ultra runners from Clifton Park, were running from Buck Mountain to Sleeping Beauty and back. As they began their run, they noticed a sign at the trailhead reading, “Black Mt Summit 16.0 miles.” A simple sign, but it carried the promise of an extraordinary journey with the hint of the adventure ahead.

In 2017, Tim, Jake, and Bill did a Buck 50 test run: strava.com/activities/983216124. It took approximately nine hours and they knew then it was destined to be a great race. A year later, five runners attempted the same route but only two finished. 

The next challenge was to figure out how to make it happen. Initially, the idea was to convince another race director to host the event, but it soon became apparent that the level of commitment required to give birth to the Buck 50 could only come from the passion of its creators.  

By 2019, talks with the NYS DEC and Camp Chingachgook were going well, and it looked like the race might actually happen. Then the pandemic hit, and Chingachgook had staffing changes. In addition, DEC was concerned about bringing more people into the area since it became an overused part of the Adirondack Park during the pandemic. 

Late summer 2020, we and Tim Ela formed Mountain Dog Running, and the Moreau Half (marathon) was born. It wasn’t the Buck 50, but it was a start and there were few races of its kind in the region due to the pandemic. Two more races were added in spring 2022, the Grafton 15K and 12-hour Death by Staircase at Moreau. 

2023 is the year of Buck 50 – The logistics of Buck 50 are complicated by lack of access to much of the course by car. However, a boat could service an aid station on the shore of Lake George. Finding a boat was resolved one day in July while Bill was trail running the Adirondack Great Range Trail with “Stravaless” Josh Farrell of Albany who offered up a family boat for the aid station! 

The focus returned to getting Chingachgook, DEC, and a host of local fire and rescue folks on board with the race. After much negotiation, volumes of emails, several calls, including an hour long zoom with 20+ people less than one week before the race, a permit was issued – the Monday before the race! 

By Wednesday, 17 runners had signed up along with enough volunteers for three sweeper teams, three aid stations, and a BBQ at the finish. To say the week went by fast would be an understatement. The logistics involved in coordinating multiple people from all over the region to show up and make this race happen are daunting. The main goal is to get all the runners safely from point A over hill and dale, and back in one piece, while providing the best experience possible.

Course marking and table is set – Bill and Tim spent eight hours Friday before race day placing flags and signs over 21 miles of the 32-mile course – with 9,000+ feet of elevation gain. Volunteer James Griffiths placed flags from the start of the course to the summit of Buck. Unfortunately, he ran out of flags about midway through, drove to Lowe’s for more, then returned to finish the job. 

With the course marked and lengthy emails sent out to runners and volunteers, only one sleepless night separated the MDR team from race day! The forecast for the day was rain, and rain it did. It was a dark and rainy morning, when 15 runners were launched onto the course at 6:39am. 

The race winner was Matthias Kirchner of Cohoes. His Strava post described the conditions well: Saying it was wet wouldn’t do the day justice, but IT WAS WET! Most trails were just streams, often ankle deep, sometimes up to the calves. The field was small but mighty, the aid stations rocked, and I am a little bummed I didn’t try the pierogi soup at the boat aid station that everyone was raving about. Yes, there was a boat aid station! The last climb up, back over Buck Mountain felt like a standstill, but overall, I felt pretty good throughout and I could still run decently at the end – so very happy with the effort.

Time slows on race day – As a race director, the first objective is to get everyone checked in and get the race underway. Next, all you can think about is getting everyone back safe and happy. The aid stations along the course are the best way to track runners. In a few short hours all the runners had made it over Buck and past the first aid station, followed by the first two sweepers following behind collecting flags and being available to assist runners.

Only one runner missed the second aid station cut off time and was pulled from the race. At the “pirate boat” aid station on the shore of Lake George and about half way, the remaining runners made it through on time. Once the sweep team made it to the top of Erebus Mountain, they called back to release the boat crew as it was no longer the closest exit for runners.

The first runner, Matthias Kirchner, crossed the finish line after an incredible seven hours and four minutes, and the next not too far behind at 7:25. The first female, Justine Trybendis of Glens Falls, finished in 10:19. Slowly, more runners crossed the finish to be greeted with cheers, a dry pavilion, warm fire pit, and hot food. The MDR crew experienced a joyous moment and big sigh of relief when the final aid station reported that all runners had made it before the cut off! All they had to do was run/walk up and over Buck and run back to camp! The last runner came in at 11:00:26, well under the 12-hour course limit. The remaining sweepers emerged just after dark. As perfect an ending as could have been hoped for.

It takes a village to raise a trail race – The MDR team would like to thank everyone involved with the race. The volunteers were nothing short of amazing (some dragging a full wagon to a remote aid station), others running up mountains and collecting flags. The Chingachgook employees and DEC rangers who were on site the entire day, and the local fire departments folks who high-fived runners at the finish. And finally, kudos to the amazing athletes that completed this beautiful course and made the inaugural Buck 50 a reality. Looking forward to next year!

Bill and Naomi Hoffman (mountaindogrunning@gmail.com) live in Clifton Park, have been married for 33 years, and have two boys ages 19 and 22. Bill has completed the Leadville trail 100 twice, Cascade Crest 100, and 50+ marathon or longer races. He’s the CTO and a founder of scientific software company Kitware. Naomi has completed several 15Ks, half and full marathons. Due to a foot injury she chooses to hike, SUP and support Bill’s races when she can. She serves on the Shenendehowa and Capital Region BOCES boards of education and advisor/coach for Shen’s middle school robotics program.