Durlacher, 26, stormed onto the Patch Sprint scene with an impressive time of 2:40:52 and a fourth place overall finish in 2002. Since then, his finish times have consistently gotten slower, although he attained the top-10 two other times. He's expecting to reverse that trend this year.
The Boston based real estate developer lives out side the city with partner and veteran trekker Nora Elton. Together, the Durlacher and Elton families have paid approximately $148,000 in tuition to Pok-O-MacCready camps. With that said, Nora and Chris still found it in their heart to make a generous contribution to the Adirondack Scholarship Foundation for this year's event.
The best part of the Sprint, clearly, is the run between Rattlesnake and Sugarloaf. It's a great time to concentrate on getting your heart-rate back to normal, work on your jogging form, enjoy the scenic rural beauty of Reber Road, wave to the Herbert House, and of course, realize how close you are to finished as you get a nice view of the fire tower on Pok-O. Only 2/3 of the race to go!
What is the hardest part of the PS for you?
The hardest part every year is the hanging out at the top of Pok-O after the race, especially if the weather is nice. All those people really grate on me. And I'm always so thirsty with nothing to drink.
How do you train for the Patch Sprint?
I do a weekly rotation starting on March 1 that allows for a good balance between structure (to stay motivated) and creativity (to keep things interesting). I make sure I train 5 out of every 7 days. Of those 5, there's usually one long slow jog, one run of a given time (which gets longer as the race nears), one "speed workout" like Fartleks, one weight-training or hills day, and one "Wild-Card" day which can be anything active, like a hike, a game of Ultimate, or even 18 holes. I'm so committed that I actually don't even take work that I'm offered between March 1 and the end of May if it conflicts with training.
After finishing 4th (overall) in your first race, your times had progressively gotten slower. Is there a comeback in the works in 2008?
I've also noticed that my times have gotten slower. Can't explain it. It's a mystery. I'd say yes, there is a comeback in the works for 2008. No doubt.
What is your advice to people considering their first Patch Sprint?
People know themselves, and they know what the best way for them is to approach something like the Sprint. But each person should rail against the instinct to approach it the way that will give the the most enjoyment. You should just run it as fast as possible without dying, even if that sounds miserable. The organizers have done a great job over the years of allowing for different approaches - but I think it should just be as super-competitive as possible. That way it'll have wide appeal.
(as of 4/22)
TREKKER – 17
OPEN MALE – 12
FRIEND /DONOR - 9
VOLUNTEER – 8
OPEN FEMALE –8
MEN’S MASTERS – 6
CLYDESDALE - 4
KINDERSPRINT - 3
WOMEN’S MASTERS – 1
Oldest Finisher: Ike Mercado (75) - 2007
Oldest Female Finisher: Carol Kobak (61) - 2006
Youngest Finisher: Ben Resnick (11) - 2004
Youngest Girl Finisher: Emily Lounsbury (13) - 2007
Largest Margin of Victory: 16:30 (2004)