I have been trying to hammer out this year’s race schedule since December, but nothing quite fits. There is a dearth of longer trail runs in Michigan, and Marquette, Woodstock, and North Country are all late in the season. Something needs to be done about this, but since I’m currently writing my dissertation, I’m going to wait another year before trying my hand as a race director. In the meantime, the empty calendar has led my eyes to wander farther afield. Looking at the race calendar on ultrarunning.com, I noticed the Finger Lakes Fifties will, once again, be held over the 4th of July weekend (July 2nd to be exact). Just then something clicked in my brain: “isn’t that the weekend Phish is playing in Watkins Glen?”
It may be indeed!
A quick search of the web produced this article, confirming a rumor that’s been circulating for a couple of months. It says that “sources close to the situation” report that Phish will be hosting a festival at the Watkins Glen International racetrack over the 4th of July weekend. That’s just 10 miles from the Finger Lakes National Forest and the Finger Lakes Fifties.
If the rumor turns out to be true, it will mean that 250 ultrarunners will have about 70,000 friendly phish fans for company. So pass the salt potatoes because this may be shaping up into a great time for running and music in upstate New York!
