Since his 2006 Patch Sprint debut, Gittler, 16, has been competing in the very competitive men's open division. After nearly bettering the three hour mark in 2007, Gittler this year moves into the elite 10:00am starting bracket, with his sights set on the front-runners.
A native of Long Island, Gittler is about to enter his final year as a camper at Pok-O-MacCready. An Adirondack Forty Sixer, Gittler is the only child of Pam (Cataldi) and Lou Gittler. He runs high school track and roots for the Yankees.
Well for me, the best part about the Patch Sprint is probably the enthusiasm of the event, as well as seeing everyone again. Things like Chris Bell with half the bones in his body broken still wanting to climb up Pok-O, for me really brings out the spirit of the whole weekend.
What is the hardest part for you?
I would say the hardest part, other than trying to walk the Willsboro golf course the day after the race, would be the stretch between the bottom of Sugarloaf after the bushwhack, to about the midpoint up Pok-O. The mix of horrible pains running throughout the body, and thoughts of just sitting down and never moving again due to extreme exhaustion, I would say that is the toughest area for me to keep moving my legs, as well as keeping a positive attitude.
What are your 2008 goals and how are you training for them?
This year I'm setting my goals fairly high. I would like to say I'm goin' to beat Kobak, Fiegl, and Stanley to capture the Janny, but realistically, I'm looking for a time of about 2 hours, 45 minutes. My training is going to be a bit different from the previous two years, I am no longer running any roads, so 5 days a week is between 5-10 miles of trail running, with one or two speed workouts per week. I also try to fit in one day of rest per week depending on how the school track schedule works out. I do not, however, give any credit to my track coach. Even though he is the one who mainly influences my training, he's just stupid.
You are one of the younger racers. Is that strange for you?
Being one of the younger racers is not at all strange for me, I find it to be very fun in fact. Besides the fact that being young qualifies an earning a can of "Doc's old kinda cookies" (the greatest cookies in the universe), its much easier to take people by surprise, which in my mind is a bit of added motivation to really push it to the max.
What is your advice to people- especially young people- considering their first Patch Sprint?
Absolutely go for it! What's the worst that happens? You don't finish the entire trek, but you still get to participate in a really great weekend at camp! (Oh, and before I forget, don't eat the GU, its pretty terrible; stick with the fig-newtons at the aid stations. And simply enjoy the weekend!
