By popular accounts, the Platte Clove Mountain run is an uphill struggle. The initial one-mile jog down a country road is a deceptive precursor to the pain that will follow. But Wednesday's Platte Clove Mountain run in West Saugerties was more of a celebration than a struggle. It was finally spring. It was finally time for the Catskill Mountain trio-Platte Clove, Olana, and High Rock. It was a time to rejuvenate and revitalize muscles that had been resting all winter.

One person who did not rest much this winter was Leo Burke who followed me into my driveway Wednesday as I got home from work. A runner who loves hills, Leo was ready for the challenge. He had skipped his weekly 8-mile run around Sleepy Hollow Lake to climb the Clove.

I called Barry Hopkins who told me he would sit the race out because he was not feeling too well. Even though he founded the race some 80 years ago and loves it today, Barry told me to skip the 2004 Platte Clove Run. He said this because my wife was due to have a baby soon and advised I should stay at home just in case. I said, "yeah, you're right. I think I'll skip it this year."

I put my running gear on quickly and hopped into Leo's truck.

We arrived just in time after having left late and almost taking a wrong turn on Band Camp Road. We were greeted by this year's race director, Jean Kerr, and trail taskmaster Stewart Dutfield who was on hand to collect the huge entry fee of eight quarters.

It was all the usual suspects as we lined up on the road. I spotted Kevin Lockett pacing back and forth over the starting line and immediately picked him to be the winner.

When the horn blew it was not Lockett out front, however. John McGovern (pictured here in the red shirt, far left) outpaced the pack and strove to make the race his own. It was as if he did not know a two-mile hill was looming in front of him.

The middle pack runners scoffed at the eagerness of the front-runners and dug in for the climb of the year. Dave Boles, who was taking one night away from his usual trail courses, took it easy. Rachel Schabot (wearing her trademark shades) was getting in a workout before the Vermont City Marathon on May 30. Cody Vincent, no stranger to the steep hills of the Catskills, was taking huge strides. Stewart Dutfield then moved to the front of the middle pack.

The temperature was in the high 50s or low 60s, and the mountains were spread against a mostly overcast sky. The trees were glowing green with newly sprouted leaves, and water sprang from the rock cliffs along the road.

Even though we were puffing too loud to talk, someone saw my baseball cap and took a swipe at the Red Sox. It seems you can't go anywhere these days without running into a Yankees fan. It was earlier that day that another one stopped in my driveway and attached a Yankees hat to my windshield wiper. Outspoken Yankees fans are everywhere, but that's no surprise because the Bronx Bombers are the easiest team to root for; they seem to lose less than most teams.

Back to the race. As my Red Sox hat grew heavy with sweat, I noticed Leo was slowing down in his effort to overtake Stewart for the head of the middle pack. He then walked a few steps to catch his breath. "Let's go Leo! Why are you walking?"

Of course he couldn't see that I was behind him and walking every chance I could. It's a strategy used by many at Platte Clove--run for about 5 or 10 steps during the steepest parts of the race; it helps give your legs a quick breather. And since a fast walk is about the same speed as a run on this course, why not try it?

Meanwhile, at the front of the pack no one was walking slow or talking baseball. John, Kevin, and Robert Muller were all business in their quest to be king of the mountain. Kevin, who is preparing for another crack at the Escarpment Trail Run, was running a strong third behind Robert, who was trying to find a way to pass John.

The front-runners made it to the lone water stop underneath a huge rust-colored cliff. Onteora Runners Club president Rich Gromek and running legend Joe Keller were standing with Dixie cups. Everyone who ran by wished they had decided to be a volunteer that day instead.

Robert was now shadowing John. He was like a buzzing insect that could not be swished away. Robert blearily assessed the last few climbs and decided on a plan of attack: he would creep in ever so quietly on the leader and overtake him on the last steep ascent. The stage was set and the clock was ticking in the 21-minute range, but John would have nothing of it. Instead of risking the agony of defeat, he kept pace and then accelerated, gaining at least 10 seconds on Robert.

So John McGovern was first to the Gatorade and took only a few minutes for high fives before he shuffled back down to his car. Kevin took off the other way to run to get in more training at the top of the mountain. (wow!) Robert went for a post-race refreshment after I interviewed him.

The middle pack of runners came hobbling across the finish like a platoon of war-worn soldiers. Leo is pictured clutching his lungs at left. Pete Masullo smiled broadly as he bolted across the tape. Dough Freese was telling jokes and was none the worse for wear. Batting cleanup was John Grant who drew a round of applause as he crossed the finish line.

It was right about then that I remembered my wife was at home and could go into labor at any moment. I asked to borrow someone's cell phone, and sure enough a phone appeared from a fellow runner. Only one problem: no signal in this part of the Boondocks!

"I'll never live this down if I miss this," I told Leo as we boogied down the hill that had seemed so difficult on the way up.

TUNE IN TO NEXT WEEK'S COLUMN TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED. COMPLETE RESULTS AS FOLLOWS:

Platte Clove Mountain Run Results

place--name-----------age--home town--time

1. John McGovern, 40 Kingston 23:34

2. Robert Muller, 38 Olivebridge 24:14

3. Kevin Lockett, 39 Kingston 24:59

4. Stewart Dutfield, 49 Catskill 28:10

5. Dan Marks, 47 Kingston 28:27

6. Ken Gardeski, 39 Saugerties 29:09

7. Barry Henck, 37 Catskill 29:30

8. Steven Cangemi, 43 Red Hook 29:33

9. Leo Burke, 45 Coxsackie 29:39

10. Joe Brown, 43 High Falls 29:47

11. Ross Stephens, Hopewell Junction 30:21

12. John Holt Palenville 30:40

13. Rachel Schabot Kingston 30:43

14. Henry Collins Woodstock 30:58

15. Rich Van Kleeck, 50 Kingston 31:17

16. Doug Freese, 59 Saugerties 31:51

17. Bob Davenport Marbletown 31:58

18. Jean Kerr, 45 Catskill 32:48

19. James Hart, 36 Saugerties 33:25

20. Tom Stellato, 50 Woodstock 33:47

21. Cody Vincent, 13 Catskill 34:08

22. Peter Masullo, 100 New Kingston 34:28

23. Jack Ziwich Tillson 34:42

24. Linda Pettersson Shandaken 35:09

25. David Boles, 57 New Paltz 35:34

26. Jenny Carpenter, 32 Rhinebeck 36:54

27. Rachael Klein, 28 Saugerties 37:30

28. Paul Juliano, 46 Shokan 41:59

29. Karen Pignataro Saugerties 43:46

30. Dick Vincent, 52 Palenville 43:47

31. John Grant, 65 Woodstock 46:03

Pete Masullo smiles with glee as he steps over the finish line.