Going the extra mile(s)
WORTH TWP — It's a chilly Saturday morning and Scott English is limbering up before the 2019 Glacier Ridge Trail Race at Moraine State Park.
The race will be a grueling one — 50 miles over hills and winding paths through the dense woods of the state park.
He's in for a long run — a very long run.
A little more than eight hours later, he finishes, smiling widely — not just because he survived, but because he was the first one to finish.
The 33-year-old Manlius, N.Y., native is an “ultra.” He lives to challenge his body over a 50-mile race.
It's not for the faint of heart.
And it hasn't always gone his way.
He's attempted the grueling ultramarathon three times, but only finished twice.
But on this Saturday, he triumphed.
“(Saturday the trail conditions) couldn't get any better,” English said. “I've never won. I've never even podiumed. That makes it extra special.”
English finished in 8 hours, 23 minutes and 47.26 seconds. He completed a mile in an average time of 10 minutes, 5 seconds.
English finished the race 30 minutes before Patrick Moran, 43, of Rochester, Pa.
Gwendolyn Musser, 33, of Butler was the highest local finisher, coming in fifth at 9:17:03.49.
An ultramarathon is any race that exceeds 26.2 miles — the length of a traditional marathon.
The Glacier Ridge Trail Race also featured shorter races, such as a 50K (31 miles) and a 30K (18.6 miles).There was also a 50-mile relay, which was won the team called the Bedraggles Gypsies of NPTR from Gibsonia. They finished in 7:31:53.37.Does This Look Infected, a team from Cranberry Twp., was third, 50 minutes off the winning pace.Richard Koubek of Hummelstown won the 50K, finishing in 4:14:14.69.Robert Edman of Pittsburgh placed first in the 30K (3:08:49.48).David Murray of Portersville and Tammy McGaughey of Chicora were race directors. Murray estimated the 2019 Glacier Ridge Trail Race raised $12,000.Murray said the funds will be distributed to the Moraine Preservation Fund, the Moraine, McConnells Mill and Jennings Commission and to Moraine State Park for trail construction, maintenance and the purchase of a new automated external defibrillator for use by the rangers, as well as to the Jennings Environmental Center for their National Public Lands Day trail maintenance efforts.Eagle staff photographer Seb Foltz contributed to this story.
