What's not to love about running 1.01 mile loops in North Ponds Park in Webster, New York in 12 hours? I decided to do just that while vacationing in Rochester / Webster on a quick weekend. I found the Mind the Ducks 12 hour ultra distance event on runningintheusa website and found them through ultra distance events in the state of New York. I thought about including a new state into my 50 states marathon quest a week before running additional states in New England the week after MTD, so I signed up obvious to the fact that I would be running 7 states in a span of 7 days. It's quite crazy, yo. With that said, race weekend started the day before at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Webster, NY. The hotel sits just beyond the course, so we got to see it each time we did a lap around North Ponds Park. Packet pick up for the event was at the hotel and it was basically just a table with bibs next to the Hotel check in desk. It was a quick minute to pick up my bib and I was out the door before seeing friends heading in. Race morning started at 5am for many of us getting ready and the main parking lot was nearly full around 6:15am, but thankful I got one of two last spaces in the main lot. This main lot was basically 25 feet from the start/finish line. Very ideal really. The parking lot can hold about 40-45 cars, per my estimation. The overall experience here at Mind the Ducks 12 hour ultra was neat, exhausting, and a day well spent. It was nice to meet friends, make new friends, and just enjoy the blessing that is traveling and running long distances for fun at the drop of a hat. The theory goes you have 12 hours to run, walk, crawl as much miles as you can within 12 hours. My A goal was 50km or 31 laps, but I ended up with 26.2 miles or 42.2 km, or 26 laps. I wasn't feeling it during race day and just called it at the marathon distance, which is what I needed anyhow. It was nice to see most of the field walking and talking, while some serious runners were lapping us altogether for a coveted award. Still, it's your own personal goal to manifest itself here at Mind the Ducks 12 hour ultra. The course itself was a 1.01 mile loop around North Ponds Park, which sports 2 large ponds with various scenery. I did enjoy the scenery while I was making those laps. North Ponds Park has a nice asphalt path, but a wicked uphill at about 0.25 mile in from the parking lot. It started to be annoying after 8 miles, but at least each lap was a pinch over a mile! For the most part though, the 12 hour event was nice, especially the restroom near the start/finish area that was a necessity for many that day, including me. Mind the Ducks 12 hour ultra utilizes a timing system that uses a large screen, so you can track your distance and laps with ease. It helped me count how much I've done and how much more I needed to go for my own personal goal of 50 states marathons / ultras. Thank you Mind the Ducks for the opportunity for this laid back ultra event here in Webster, NY. The aid station was good and stocked with food and drinks. The spectators were friendly and definitely an intimate affair. There was a couple of spots where you can cheer for your friends and family along the course, which made the time pass by faster. Weather wise, it was cool in the morning at around 45 degrees but managed to warm up into the upper 50's in mid March. Mind the Ducks didn't give you a finisher medal like many other races out there, but I got a blue mug with the Mind the Ducks logo on it as a pseudo finisher medal of sorts. At least I can put a string through it and hang it up as one. Thank you Mind the Ducks 12 hour ultra. It was wonderful to see Rochester / Webster during my short stay here. If you want to challenge yourself for distances longer than a marathon, consider Mind the Ducks 12 hour ultra. If you are a 50 state marathoner like me, consider this one for New York. 5.0 stars for the overall experience. Run more! Support local! A+ read more