tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69007567897757700742024-03-12T22:11:49.562-04:00So Far From NormalRun Baldy RUN!<br>
Hairodynamically ChallengedJimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.comBlogger231125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-47223412714910837152014-04-20T16:37:00.001-04:002014-04-20T16:37:48.067-04:00The secret of making the perfect breakfast burrito<p> </p> <p>First an injury update. I have taken two weeks off, my foot felt good, so I ran some Friday. Saturday, back to pain. Sunday, no pain so I ran again. So, I think that is the plan – run when it doesn’t hurt because it seems whether I rest or don’t, this plantar fasciitis is not going to heal any quicker.</p> <p>Anyway, enough about that, you didn’t click to read about me.</p> <p>So, here is how you make the perfect breakfast burrito.</p> <p>1. Cook bacon. Feel free to add any other processed pork product you wish. I prefer floppy bacon. (Top ten tip, start cooking the bacon in a little water, it will start rendering while the water is evaporating).</p> <p>2. While bacon is cooking, dice up a potato into 1/4” dices</p> <p>3. Remove bacon, and put aside. <strong>HERE IS THE AMAZING SECRET.</strong> Add about 3/4” inch of water to the pan you cooked the bacon in, and boil the potatoes in this bacon flavored water. You see, as the spuds soften up, they absorb this delicious bacon-y goodness. But, there is more – as the water evaporates, the bacon elixir gets more and more concentrated! YOU ARE MAKING BACON FLAVORED POTATOES!! Keep cooking, and just before the water has all evaporated, add diced onion and sliced mushroom, and the mushroom will also absorb the concentrated bacon soup. Finally, all the water will be absorbed and evaporated and you can crisp us the spuds and caramelize the onion. Now is the time to add jalapenos if you want them.</p> <p>4. Remove potato mix, and cook egg in same pan – just as the egg is starting to solidify, fold in the bacon and the potato mix. Add hot sauce or salsa if you like.</p> <p>5. Add to flour tortilla, grate some sharp cheddar, roll it up and enjoy the most awesome burrito on earth.</p> <p>6. Don’t forget to add a lettuce leaf to the plate so it can be classed as a salad</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-pgHPBslE8e4/U1QwD6yoBnI/AAAAAAAAecg/1I4SmaAmowI/s1600-h/photo%2525202%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="photo 2" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="photo 2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8hGnqqF0k5A/U1QwFRIrknI/AAAAAAAAeco/xagumUMehSw/photo%2525202_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="426" height="426"></a></p> Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-17209351725678430572014-04-08T07:22:00.001-04:002014-04-08T07:38:30.826-04:00How to run 100 miles with plantar fasciitis and no training -Number 2 will inspire you1. You can't run 100 miles with plantar fasciitis and no training. Or at least I can't. Truth of the matter is, it was always going to be a stretch. But LOL and WTF? and all of that stuff, plus an OMFG for good measure<br />
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2. HA HA HA!!!! CLICK BAIT!! You fell for it again! :)<br />
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3. I did get my 50th ultramarathon finish, 5 years to the day after I got my first one. That's very cool.<br />
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4. Umstead, as always is an awesome event.<br />
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5. It was so fantastically awesome to catch up with so many friends. I love living in CA, but I truly miss y'all<br />
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6. I can be such a dumb ass. I lost my laptop on the flight to NC. Duh. So I'm typing this on kindle on a plane on the way home. It's a pain, and does a lot of auto-correcting, I may miss some typos, sorry. Oh well.<br />
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7. It is a blast hanging out at the main aid station through the night.<br />
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8. I had decided to make my 6th Umstead my last one. It seemed fitting, what with being the 50th ultra and all. I changed my mind as soon got there on Friday. So, I will see you next year.<br />
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9. Thank you to all of you fantastic volunteers, you are who make this event so special to me.Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-81867008885277284892014-04-03T18:22:00.001-04:002014-04-03T19:37:51.520-04:00A list about Umstead. Number 7 will amaze and shock you!<p> </p> <ol> <li>I haven’t written a post for ages. Ooops. I blame that on the fact that I don’t spend anywhere near as much time on planes as I used to. I am on a plane now. <li>Umstead was my first ultramarathon, April 5th 2009. 50 miles. <li>5 years later (to the day), it will be my 6th Umstead, my 50th ultra and my 70th of 26.2 or above. I didn’t plan it that way, worked out well though. <li>My record at Umstead is mixed, some successes, some failures as follows: <ol> <li>2009 – went for 50. Got 50 <li>2010 – went for 100. Got 100. <li>2011 – went for 100. Got a cold, and got 50 <li>2012 – went for 100. Got 62.5, a 50 mile PR and strained Achilles <li>2013 – went for 50. Got 50. But slower than I needed to get Western States qualifier.</li></ol> <li>I have been suffering with plantar fasciitis for the last 6 weeks or so. It sucks. I have averaged just about 2 miles a week since then and a daily 1 mile walk with the dogs. I am showing up this time well and truly undertrained. I am going to see how far stubbornness, and the company of good friends at the back will get me. And math. My walks with the dogs take 17 minutes. Do that 99 more times and I will finish under 29 hours. <li>Some of the best people I have ever met will be running, volunteering or just hanging out at Umstead. I didn’t know any of them that day in April 2009 – by the end of that day, I had met many new friends, and learned about the Mangum Track Club. That day changed my life. Thank you Umstead. <li>Really? WTF? LOL!! CLICK BAIT. You fell for it! LOL. (Yeah – I know, I keep falling for it too, it’s getting old isn’t it?) <li>If I finish, I will have 32 tickets in the draw for Western States, giving me an 80% chance of being selected for WS in June 2015 <li>There are still 3 rocks under the tree at the top of Effing Hill (I think), there were 8, I put them there before the race in 2012 – I collected one after each of my 5 loops that year. I still have them, and look forward to collecting the remaining 3 after laps 6, 7 and 8 and bringing them home. <li>Toe Break Ridge, Pee Tree and Two Mile Tree are three places that I named in Umstead State Park, and they never stuck, and I am the only person who probably remembers where those places are. If you run with me, I will point them out to you. And then test you in subsequent years. <li>Almost every year, as soon as I pass the “1 mile” marker, I overhear someone who says “Ha ha, only 99 more to go. HA HA!”. Yeah, ha fucking ha. It wasn’t funny the first time. <li>Umstead is an amazing race, I am looking forward to #6, and regardless of how it ends, I am excited to be back and look forward to catching up with some awesome people. <li>Cheers!</li></ol> Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-86153380894923279372013-12-31T13:33:00.001-05:002013-12-31T13:33:24.063-05:00Long, epic, self absorbed year in review post, along with mileage totals and goals for 2014<p> <p>I just know this is the blog that everyone is eager to read. But really it is just some Facebook fun, and an utterly pointless post. <p>My truck passed 200,000 miles yesterday. It has had a good year, well apart from the time I drove into a ditch off of the side of my driveway. <p>The year started well, and ended well. <p>In January, we began our 2,916 mile journey across the country. Took 3.5 days – epic!!!! <p>It also got a new set of tires. And some oil changes. And new brakes. I think we did a tune up too. <p>It needs new ball joints. Spendy. That’s the goal in 2014. New ball joints. <p><img src="https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/971615_10151822912076984_1153593518_n.jpg" width="485" height="364"> <p><img src="https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/1525367_10151870183316984_183290239_n.jpg" width="488" height="366"> Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-64067666915188904442013-12-22T16:04:00.001-05:002013-12-23T01:21:44.695-05:00WTF is going on in Death Valley?<p> </p> <p>The officials at Death Valley National Park have made a rather bizarre decision to suspend sporting events within the park’s boundaries (for some background, read this page <a href="http://www.adventurecorps.com/who/history.html#Anchor-Official-49575" target="_blank">on the AdventureCORPS website.</a>)</p> <p>Instead of shrugging my shoulders and saying WTF? and LOLing to myself, I am going to write letters to my US Senators, Congressman and anyone else I can think of. Badwater is an awesome event, staged in an awesome place, and the thought of not being there as part of a crew this coming July is heartbreaking.</p> <p><strong><u>EDIT –</u></strong> I have added the addresses and names of the people who should receive a letter………..</p> <p>Kathleen Billings, Park Superintendent<br>Death Valley National Park<br>PO Box 579<br>Death Valley, CA 92328</p> <p><br>Senator Diane Feinstein<br>331 Hart Office Building<br>Washington, DC 20510</p> <p><br>Senator Barbara Boxer<br>112 Hart Senate Office Building<br>Washington, DC 20510</p> <p><br>Representative Col. Paul Cook (Ret.)<br>8th Congressional District<br>1222 Longworth House Office Building<br>Washington, DC 20515</p> <p><br>Sally Jewell<br>Secretary of the Interior<br>Department of the Interior<br>1849 C Street, N.W.<br>Washington DC 20240</p> <p><strong><u>EDIT #2</u></strong></p> <p>I am kinda surprised to see that this page is getting several page views – not just the normal 3 per month, but several hundred in just a couple of hours. WTF? So, for all you newbies……. a couple of requests……… </p> <p>There is an online petition here: <a href="https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/overturn-decision-death-valley-national-park-discontinue-issuance-running-and-bicycling-event/MNP3TVG2">https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/overturn-decision-death-valley-national-park-discontinue-issuance-running-and-bicycling-event/MNP3TVG2</a> </p> <p>Feel free to sign the above petition, but I truly urge anyone to who reads this website – yeah, both of you, to also mail a real letter to the addresses above. We CAN make a difference. We really can.</p> <p>Anyone can post to a Facebook group or do some Twittering – but I truly believe that your voice will be heard louder if you use a stamp and an envelope.<strong><u></p> <p><br></u></strong><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zBdmANGDIZU/UrdT3a_HwmI/AAAAAAAAeXk/fqpb8xHG6X0/s1600-h/IMG_0104%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="`" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="`" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-EXCBpiOTpa4/UrdT4uIHCJI/AAAAAAAAeXs/pU2uYoSE22w/IMG_0104_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="416" height="313"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-g9tArN73AGA/UrdT5Y-1lqI/AAAAAAAAeX0/Zd83uNi8WTw/s1600-h/IMG_1781%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_1781" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_1781" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lVdrKb3Ueag/UrdT6d9cbvI/AAAAAAAAeX8/VrkLyLkChHA/IMG_1781_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="415" height="312"></a></p> <hr> <p>Dear __________ <p>I would like to make you aware of the decision by the management of Death Valley National Park to suspend all sporting events within its boundaries. From the Death Valley website: <i>“Effective immediately Death Valley National Park will temporarily discontinue issuance of running and bicycling event permits. Future event permits will not be considered until a thorough safety evaluation of this type of activity has been completed. Activities that already have a fully-executed permit will go on as planned. Our website will be updated once we have completed this safety evaluation.”</i> <p>I am particularly concerned about the effect this will have on the Badwater Ultramarathon, one of the world’s most prestigious ultramarathon running events (please refer to www.badwater.com). The reason given for this moratorium is “safety”, and yet the Badwater Ultramarathon has an excellent record of safety. There are mandatory safety briefings for all crews and runners given by race management and CHP and there are medical staff at every check point. In addition, each runner has a crew who are dedicated to ensure their runner’s safety. The safety of everybody involved with the race is the number one priority of the race management. In fact, their unblemished safety record should be used as an example. <p>I personally have been involved with the Badwater Ultramarathon for the last 4 years, and during that time, I have fallen in love with the magnificent scenery and natural beauty of Death Valley. Being within a few hours’ drive of Death Valley National Park is one of the reasons I moved to California from North Carolina earlier in 2013. Over the last 4 years, the teams I have been a part of have spent in the region of $30,000 as a result of their participation – much of this was pumped directly into the local economy and into the coffers of the National Park itself. Consider the effect that there are 90 teams entered into the Badwater Ultramarathon each year – the financial impact alone is significant; approximately a total of $1 million annually as a result of this one event alone. <p>The 90 runners in the 2013 edition of the Badwater Ultramarathon represented twenty-five countries Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Canada, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Portugal, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, and United States of America (and twenty-one America states). <p>With crews, race officials and runners there would be approximately a 1000 individuals, from all corners of the world, and all over the United States who would be a part of the Badwater Ultramarathon in 2014. As a result of this moratorium, these people will now not be able to enjoy one of the crown jewels in the National Park system, and one of California’s finest treasures, and in likelihood, will spend their dollars elsewhere. <p>Please do what you can to reverse this decision. Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-35799611157594890192013-11-17T13:02:00.001-05:002013-11-17T13:25:51.400-05:00Thoughts on the new Western States qualifying standards<p><br>As of Sunday November 17th, 2,761 is the number of applicants for the Western States lottery, up from 2,295 last year. A very rough guess and I imagine that I will have about a 30% chance, first timers around 5%-6%.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sYjEEw_KnRg/UokEmsuzrZI/AAAAAAAAeWQ/WXgBygFlsWc/s1600-h/image%25255B2%25255D.png"><img title="image" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-uxXUs2-suG8/UokEoHX-GDI/AAAAAAAAeWY/bQUVN-gamyU/image_thumb.png?imgmax=800" width="244" height="129"></a></p> <p>This is why they are changing the qualifying standards</p> <p>The summary. 50 mile runs no longer qualify. Only the biggest 100 mile runs – 30 of them. (I guess it is biggest amount of starters.) Some 100km races are qualifiers – not sure what the criteria is – but one of my favorite races (Weymouth Woods) is out. </p> <p>It has taken me a while to consider what to write – so I guess that would mean that the changes neither jump out at me as being good, nor do they jump out at me as being horrendously bad. I don’t think it will harm my chances of qualifying – I am already in one qualifying race (Umstead). It does put pressure on me to finish though!</p> <p>This year, I went to great lengths to get a qualifier – worked with a coach, crossed the country – but mission accomplished, I got my qualifier. So, should Umstead not work out for whatever reason, I am pretty sure I would go to great lengths again, and if I had to travel across the country again, then I would do so.</p> <p>There was some inevitable hand wringing on Facebook and IRunFar. Mainly because of the lack of races local to Auburn, or lack of races on the East Coast. Looks pretty evenly distributed between East and West to me. Perhaps a legitimate gripe if you live in the heartland though. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-it4FruPvOGs/UokEsWvwyoI/AAAAAAAAeWg/FqDUdl5AWpw/s1600-h/image%25255B5%25255D.png"><img title="image" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="image" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-rLJxhBaZNiM/UokEtpOiLQI/AAAAAAAAeWo/D211aJVnQqg/image_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="244" height="113"></a><br><em>(Blue – 100m, green - 100k, purple - ‘other’)</em></p> <p>The other concern I saw expressed was the worry that all qualifying races would fill up too quickly or would need a lottery. Perhaps this is also a legitimate concern – would the amount of WS applicants in other races, ruin it for locals who just want to run their hometown race? Good questions, and time will tell, and maybe some of these races would keep some spots for locals (an example is the way Western States allows each aid station to select a volunteer to enter the race the following year)</p> <p>There are other changes the board could have adopted – tighter qualifying standards (for example, Sub 24 hour 100). Obviously I am glad they didn’t implement that one! I am pretty sure human nature dictates that most people want standards to apply to them, and as few a number of people as possible. <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none" alt="Smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--op9iGrV7dc/UokEuXx6kRI/AAAAAAAAeWw/Q5ymgqxv3XM/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"></p> <p>They could also have made it so that if you win the lottery, you can’t apply the following year, reduce the lottery pool– I like that idea (see above what I said about human nature!)</p> <p>I also think the lottery could be structured in such a way that it favors more heavily the people who have been the most patient. (Again, see above about human nature), about 1/2 the race will be filled with “first lottery entrants”</p> <p>The WSER board opted to make these changes to reduce the number of people entering the lottery. As someone who has a better chance of becoming a 5 time loser than getting into the race on December 7th, I have to applaud the efforts of the board for at least coming up with something. I guess we will find out this time next year when we see how many people throw their hat into the ring to see if it has worked.</p> <p>Good luck on Dec 7th to all who read this.</p> Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-27197051130836699772013-10-26T23:19:00.001-04:002013-10-27T15:55:00.551-04:00Guest Blog–Coach Shannon’s Tussey MountainBack Race Report<p><br><em>I mentioned in my own </em><a href="http://www.sofarfromnormal.com/2013/10/when-pain-is-worth-it.html"><em>Tussey Mountain race report</em></a><em> that I wouldn’t have been able to get my WS qualifying time without the coaching and advice of my good friend Shannon McGinn. <br><br>Shannon and I thought it would be fun to swap and share race reports. Shannon’s blog is called </em><a href="http://shannon-creatingmomentum.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><em>“Creating Momentum!”</em></a><em> <br><br>Newton’s second law explains how the <strong>velocity of an object changes when it is subjected to an external force.</strong> The law defines a force to be equal <strong>to change in momentum </strong>(mass times velocity) per change in time. </em></p> <p><em>In other words, I was an <strong>object </strong>with not too much <strong>velocity</strong>. I needed an <strong>external force</strong>. Shannon was that <strong>external force.</strong> She </em><a href="http://shannon-creatingmomentum.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><strong><em>Created Momentum.</em></strong></a> <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" style="border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none" alt="Smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-V2Xe570-cLs/UmyGNZFOxzI/AAAAAAAAeVs/O6pfKEOTNDY/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"><br><br><em>Please enjoy her write up, and please check her blog out from time time. It is filled with awesomeness.</em></p> <p><em><a href="http://shannon-creatingmomentum.blogspot.com/2013/10/tussey-mountainback-usatf-national-50.html" target="_blank">[Shannon’s original post can be found here]</a></em></p> <p>****************************************************************</p> <h5>Tussey Mountainback, USATF National 50 Mile Road Championship, State College PA. 10/20/13</h5> <p><b>Course Review: </b>As I stood near the finish line I could hear runners sharing a wide variety of opinions about the race as they came through the finish: "<i>The best course ever!</i>" "<i>That just sucked!</i>" "<i>That was the hardest thing I ever did!</i>" "<i>The hills were horrible!!!</i>" "<i>The hills weren't as bad as I thought!</i>" "<i>The views were pretty.</i>" etc...<br><br>I really liked the course. For a <b>ROAD</b> 50 Mile National Championship race it was a great course. (If you want a trail race, you may prefer the USATF 50 miIe Trail Championship that usually takes place in March.) This course seemed to weed out the unprepared and allowed those who worked hard to shine. Unfortunately, I was one of those under-prepared and I felt that this course just ate me up and spit me out.<br><br>The race is one single 50 mile lap that has more downs than it has ups, but the ups are long climbs. For example Leg 6 contains an 3.7 mile stretch of continuous uphill at I believe about a 7% average grade. Leg 11 has a stretch that reached about 11% grade. If you are able to run hills like that, you will get rewarded with an extremely fast time due to the blazing descents on runnable terrain that follow each up. Out of the 12 legs, only 5 are uphill, with the worst being leg 6. Three of those 5 uphill legs are in the first half. Once you get to 25 miles, there are more downhill legs than ups left! But leg 11 has the steepest of the climbs just before the final descent. Once over the last crest, the last 4.2 miles to the finish can be as fast as your heart desires.<br>The terrain is mixture of mostly gravel and asphalt road. I found the gravel roads to have single track-like sections of dirt where car tires pushed away the gravel. It was much easier on my feet than running continuously on thick gravel. At some point the gravel, which was large gravel, could be felt through my shoes.<br><br>The Race Director and his crew did a fabulous job of marking every mile. I wasn't sure if I wanted to know this much information but I found it absolutely motivating to know where I was on the course. There were also markers indicating 1/2 mile to the Aid Station before each of the 12 well-stocked pit stops. My only minor complaint is that they only served HEED as the sports drink. They did have water and Coke (no Mt. Dew) so I basically ran the entire race on Coke, water, 3 gels, a few potatoes and some chips. Each Aid Station supplied Hammer gel, potatoes, sweet and salty snacks, lot of drinks. Runners need to carry very little for this event. If you need anything not supplied, you could use drop bags.<br><br><b>The elevation chart:</b></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXOqxbHIZ3sb7WJhvdnj_6AzPfsx8K0HgrybBnXP07koF05wiIJ64KsvtThJQAUCdH0N6eGOVIfvE6Y668LVjgf1eYqOVEuXRnugoX1ueOyrMEn3t1TdigGnhFi19O03n7IQxYOuk3dGw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-10-21+at+9.49.16+PM.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXOqxbHIZ3sb7WJhvdnj_6AzPfsx8K0HgrybBnXP07koF05wiIJ64KsvtThJQAUCdH0N6eGOVIfvE6Y668LVjgf1eYqOVEuXRnugoX1ueOyrMEn3t1TdigGnhFi19O03n7IQxYOuk3dGw/s640/Screen+Shot+2013-10-21+at+9.49.16+PM.png" width="479" height="187"></a> <p>The night before the race Alanna pulled up the race website on her phone while we waited for a table for dinner. I scribbled on the back of a gas receipt which legs were up (1, 4, 6, 9, 11) and which were down. I put an asterisk next to the hardest legs (1, 6, 11) and then committed the up legs to memory. Sometime between dinner and bedtime I misplaced that receipt.<br><br><b>What to wear?</b><br>I pretty much packed a backpack full of clothing I could wear for any permutation of weather. I checked the weather just before bed and it predicted that the rain would pass over night and leave the morning 37 degrees feeling like 33 with windchill. It was supposed to fell like 33 for a few hours. Wow. I have not run in weather that cold in a long time. The temps were to rise into the mid-40's by the time I should finish. The only thing I was certain of was that I would wear my capri pants. (I could have gotten by with shorts).<br><br>I never use drop bags in races but I packed one for this one. One lap ultras scare the crap out of me. I actually have self-diagnosed myself as having some sort of revere claustrophobia. I can feel perfectly comfortable inside an MRI (and get some of the best sleep of my life in them) but put me on a trail that is too long and the moment I realize that I wont be able to get out for hours and I start to feel trapped.<br><br>My main concern was actually <b>what shoes to wear?</b> My last 50 miler in April started with me in racing flats. I had assumed I would do that again. But I was concerned I would feel the gravel through the thin light T7's and need to swap. But when? 25? 40? Oh boy. So I planned to leave a pair of Launch's in a drop bag somewhere between mile 30-35. Then I decided to add a bottle of Gatorade. Then I added extra socks. Then a zip lock of gels.<br><br>Then I realized this is stupid. I know I am not going to stop for this stuff. So I decided to just start in the Launch, forego the Gatorade, use the gels on the course but carry a few just in case they run out, and drink water and soda. I grabbed my old Nathan's race vest and a 10 oz Nathan's quick shot bottle, to be filled with gatorade at the start, and put it in the pocket of my vest. I grabbed 5 gels and dropped them in the other pocket. That was it. Done.<br><br><b>The Race:</b><br>Jim, Alanna, and I arrived early enough for me to decide that I did not need the hat and gloves I had on. I wore a singlet under a long sleeve tech shirt and added my racing vest over the top. Capris and my Brooks Launch completed the outfit and I was ready to run. At 6:55 am, I got out of the car and headed to the starting line. Just about 7 am we were running.<br><br>I ran the first 12-13 mile with a guy who was running his first 50. He was moving well. We had the required conversations that runners have when the end up running together in ultras... races, paces, goals, Born to Run, Vibrams, how many races per year is too many, etc.. By leg 4 my stomach started to get upset and I decided I needed to walk the uphill on that section. I let my running partner go, wondering if I would see him again or not. I make a quit pit stop at the Aid Station just around 15 miles and just as I started heading back out I saw <b>Christian</b>. He told me to hurry up and I took off with him.<br><br>Christian and I have run into each other at several races over the years, but never really spent much time running together. I was just starting to get into a negative place in my head when my stomach acted up, but seeing a familiar face perked me up. We ran, we talked, and I started to have fun again.<br><br>I was having trouble with the climbs. I was simply just not prepared for those types in hills. I am a very busy flatlander and simply do not have time travel to hills to train. My heart was pounding in my ears and I decided that I needed to walk more than I originally intended too. We paced ourselves up the hills and ran hard on the downhills making up a lot of time.<br><br>When we go to the top of leg 6, the worst leg and hit mile 25 just under 4 hours we knew we had an outside shot at sub-8. In theory, it wasn't an unrealistic thought to think we could even split this race. After all there were more uphills in the first half than the second. I declared that we should count how many people we can pass in the second half. At Mile 25 I felt like a super hero!<br>But by the time we hit Mile 32, I was starting to fall apart. LOL! I was tired. My fueling was less than ideal. Since I cant drink Heed I was winging it. <b>I did carry that small 10 oz bottle of Gatorade for way too many miles before I started topping it off with water. I would down cups of Coke and water at each stop. I did take 3 gels while I was out there. I ate a few chunks of potatoes, about 5 potato chips, and two pretzel sticks. </b>I don't eat or drink much of anything when training long slow distance runs of up to 20 milers and have found this very helpful in preparing me for long races. The problem is sometimes I forget to fuel when racing but I have learned to recognize earlier than I used to when I need to take in some calories.<br><b>While quickly drinking a soda at the aid station, I glanced down at my shins and noticed both were swollen.</b> It wasn't terrible but it was obvious and odd. I have never experienced this before during a race that I noticed and especially not one as a short as 32 miles. I still had 18 more miles to go and now I was worried that something was going wrong.<br><br>At the 35 mile aid station, as I grabbed another coke, I noticed a <b>small bruise</b> starting to form on my left leg, just above the ankle. Oh Great! I pressed around my leg and found that nothing actually hurt. It made no sense at all? Why am I swollen and bruising but nothing hurts? It distracted and concerned me, but we just kept moving. I whined to Christian about it and we both agreed that I would have been much better off if I had not noticed it at all. I am sure this was just some odd reaction to all the pounding on the down hills.<br><br>Even though the course had less climbing in the first half, I was starting to run out of steam. Christian and I continued onward together and although our pace faded we were still managing to pick off runners as we moved forward. Some of them got us back. We reeled back in a few who blew past us early on. But for a good part of the many many miles we ran together, it was as if Christian and I were just out together on some well-stocked extra long training run. We simply ended up running miles and miles without another runner in sight. Almost 180 ultra runners in this race and 110 relay teams and for large parts of this race we were simply alone out there for large chunks of mileage with maybe at most up to 4 others in sight. It was peaceful and quite fun, especially when spotting beautiful views as we ran across the top of the ridge.<br><br>As we got closer to end of the race, Christian and I somehow managed to pass a few more people on the steepest incline. How that happened I cant explain. <b>He was having some knee pain. I was very worried about my cankles. </b>We were kind of a moving train wreck, but we were moving pretty fast on those descents! I told Christian I don't know what place I am in but I want to try to hold it if possible. As we crested the last hill I wanted to run hard to ensure I didnt just give my position away. We really worked hard on that last descent. At one point, I noticed my Garmin reading 7:17 pace! We settled down and logged an 8 minute mile and settled in a little more for an 8:30. We continued to run and there was no one else in sight.<br><br>As we came around the final bend with less than a half mile to go, I notice a female runner ahead of a male runner. I started to pick up the pace and Christian called out, that's a chick go get her! I started to pick up my pace and responded back to him that I think she is Relayer, but I kept pushing my pace trying to catch her, still not sure. As we approached the finish area, I pushed with all I had but there were cars in the road that I had to weave around a bit. I just did not have enough time to catch her anyway. She was an ultra runner and I was just too late. She finished about 10 seconds ahead of me.<br><br>Although I know I ran as hard I could at this race, I am pretty sure if I train specifically for the hills I will be able to improve my time significantly. I am a little disappointed that I needed to walk as much of those uphills as I did. But I understand that happened because I was simply under-prepared. Now I know what to expect.<br><br>At the award ceremony I was very pleased to learn that despite my race being a lot slower than I had hoped to run, I still managed to place 5th Open USATF Female... which was good enough for prize money :)<br><br><b>Jimbo! </b><br>Almost two months ago I got a message from my friend Jim P. asking if I have room on my roster for a new client. I had just completed training two runners and I had room. He asked if I could help him train for a Western States qualifier. The window closes in November and he was running out of time. He is living out in California now and had a few races planned out there, but when I looked at the results it seemed like Tussey was the best bet for a WSQ than any other option still available.<br><br>Jim wasn't even sure he was truly "coachable", reporting that his work life is too hectic, he can't plan regularly scheduled training weeks, sometimes he is on the road for days at a time, he likes to do his favorite run and that was important to him, he likes to makes decisions about his run while on the run based upon how he felt, etc...etc... So he was going make things tough. We only had 8 weeks!!! So rather than give him a rigid day by day plan that he could not deviate from that would surely fail him, I instead devised a series of training RULES and EXCEPTIONS that he had to follow. I sent him weekly plans that he could alter as long as he followed those rules. The rules were complicated and devised to meet a criteria I needed him to meet and allowed him to move the less critical mileage around as needed. Jim loved this method and managed to complete every single thing I asked of him despite his unpredictable crazy schedule. He was committed, dedicated and never once sent me a daily feedback email saying he skipped a workout. He even did the obnoxiously horrific hill climbing treadmill workout I devised to mimic that ridiculously long climb (er...ahem...um... more often than I actually did it... LOL).<br><br>After I finished I was a little panicked. I knew there was a high percentage of WSQing finishers at this race, but as I stood at the finish line started to reflect on the fact that this course has a 12 hour cut-off. This means that most who finish WILL WSQ, but many will get pulled and simply DNF. The race results did not indicate how many starters DNFd so I had no idea what percentage of starters actually made the 11 hour cut-off. I started to fear I may have misinterpreted the data and my mistake was going to fail him and there was nothing I could do about this now.<br><br>The awards ceremony was announced at 5 pm (at 10 hours into the race) and Jim wasn't in yet. I was jumping out of my skin. I was watching the finish area from the bottom of the hill where the pavilion was while also trying to listen for my name. 6 pm would be the 11 hour cut off, so at 5:45 I started walking up the hill to wait for Jim and Alanna. I was hoping they would be together.<br><br>But as I walked towards the finish area, I saw him... walking down the hill towards me... exhausted! He did it!!! He got his WSQ and a new PR! I was so happy for him! He worked so hard and he did it! Shortly, thereafter Alanna was done too.<br><br><b>Stats:</b><br>Time: 8:21<br>Gender : 8th Overall Female<br>Open Women 5th (for prize money that paid for the trip).</p> Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-2048179250743457752013-10-21T17:43:00.001-04:002013-10-21T18:17:47.811-04:00When the pain is worth it…..<p> </p> <p>Tussey MountainBack 50 mile race report.</p> <p>I am sitting on a plane going back home to California from my former home state of Pennsylvania, my legs are totally trashed, I am sore from the neck down, but feeling smugly satisfied with the reward for my efforts over the weekend.</p> <p>You see I qualified for the 5th year running for Western States 100. As a bonus, there was a 12 minute or so PR for 50 miles. YAY!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-x56P2eYZudQ/UmWn8HiEdTI/AAAAAAAAeVQ/D9b0ArxMovk/s1600-h/elevation_profile%25255B3%25255D.png"><img title="elevation_profile" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="elevation_profile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nTpFPGFzr5M/UmWoAnJUh9I/AAAAAAAAeVY/lo67z2zP71E/elevation_profile_thumb%25255B1%25255D.png?imgmax=800" width="504" height="189"></a></p> <p><u>But wait, there is more….</u> </p> <p>Let’s go back in time. This year in general hasn’t been the best for running, and getting the WS qualifier was becoming elusive. Plan A was to run a sub 11 for 50 at Umstead in April. I did great until I fell apart at mile 42 – after which I just strolled it in.</p> <p>Plan B was to finish 100 miles at the Tahoe Rim Trail. Nope, fell apart at mile 40 (again).</p> <p>Pretty soon, August was about half way through, and I was running out of time, (the qualifying period ends in early November).</p> <p>I was signed up for Dick Collins Firetrails 50, but anecdotal evidence from friends and reading previous results gave me the impression that this would be close to impossible for me to get in under 11 hours.</p> <p>It came to a head sometime during the Run On The Sly 20 mile race on August 18th – it was toward the end of that race that I decided that I needed help. I had already downgraded myself from the 50k to the 20, so was feeling bad about that, and then there was my minor melt down at about 15 miles or so into that run. I finished that run averaging a totally unspectacular 13:38 pace. Ugh. To get the WS qualifier, I would need to average 30 seconds per mile faster for 30 more miles. Impossible the way I was feeling at that point.</p> <p>Ultimately, I decided to reach out to my friend Shannon <a href="http://www.sofarfromnormal.com/2012/12/ever-thought-of-hiring-running-coach.html">(here is something I wrote about her several months ago)</a> – she agreed to take me on and started putting a training plan together for me. She did however acknowledge that it was going to be a challenge to get ready for a sub 11 hour 50 mile run in just a couple of months. For my part, I promised that I would do everything in my power to complete the workouts that she prescribed, and in the manner that she prescribed.</p> <p>Of the few WS qualifying runs that were practical that remained – we soon figured out that Tussey Mountain would be my best shot. Right time of year, a non technical running surface – and looking at the previous results, a huge percentage of runners came in under 11 hours.</p> <p><u>Hills are my friend. Really.</u></p> <p>Over the weeks – I mostly stayed off of the wonderful trails I have so close to me in favor of running the roads in my ‘hood. I really needed just about every mile to be better than 12 minute pace. There was simply no time to “build a base of long slow runs”. In my immediate vicinity, there are some nice hills – a couple of them, about 2 miles long. I became intimately familiar with them. Running hard down, power hiking up – eventually jogging up, and then finally running up them. The efforts were almost always medium to hard.</p> <p>Test #1 a month or so into the training, was the Sierra Nevada Endurance runs, a Marathon that starts at No Hands Bridge in the Auburn State Recreation Area. The goal – under 13 minute pace. I struggled the last few miles – but had enough energy left in me to throw down a 10:30 mile at the end. I succeeded – 12:51. I was a little hard on myself, and slightly disappointed with my run, as I struggled to hold it between miles 16-22. But Shannon was happy.</p> <p>The training continues, my legs were feeling the punishment – just a recovery ruin or two and then it was back to business. Pounding the hills of Camino, and reporting to Shannon daily.</p> <p>The next weekend was a return to <a href="http://www.sofarfromnormal.com/2013/10/the-awesomeness-of-hinson-lake.html">Hinson Lake</a> for the 5th time– unlike previous years where I showed up and had no idea how my run was going to go – whether I was just going to run and have fun, or hang out with friends; no this year, I had been set specific goals. 35 continuous miles, sub 13 minute pace. 50 miles total over the whole 24 hours. I didn’t spend much time socializing for the first 7.5 hours. I had a mission, and ultimately succeeded, (barely), average pace was 12:58. Through the night, I did 10 easy miles, and then Sunday morning, did a hard 5 on tired legs at 11 minute pace. Both Shannon and I were happy.</p> <p>My final test the following weekend was a pretty tough 21 mile trail race. Knowing the terrain on this course (there are two really steep climbs both over 1000’, one of them in less than a mile), I knew this would be tough to get in under 13 minute pace, but gave it a shot. 13:06 min/mile average. I was happy.</p> <p>The last 3 weeks had been pretty high mileage, with some pretty hard efforts. Taper time. I was looking forward to tapering. My legs had felt almost continually heavy for the last 3 weeks.</p> <p>Final test was one of my favorite trail runs near home. I had used this 7.1 mile loop as a guide to “monitor” my progress. I would go maximum effort and see where I was. Week 1 of my training – 12:14 pace. 2 weeks later, 11:36. And finally, the last week of training, 10:37 pace. There was no doubt Shannon’s medicine had worked. </p> <p><u>Race day execution.</u></p> <p>I am a geek, so using the amazing amount of data on the Tussey Mountain website, I came up with a plan, it involved spreadsheets, some calculations taking into account fade, and elevation gain and descent. My plan was to finish in 10:43. This would be a PR. I pinned my race day plan to my water bottle and ending up referring to it often.</p> <p>An uneventful journey to PA and early Sunday morning, I found myself lining up at the start line, it looked like the weather was going to be perfect; cool and sunny. Other friends were there too, as well as Shannon, Alanna, Jessi, and Joey were also there ready to go.</p> <p>The first 3 miles or so, pretty much all up hill felt good, the long hill training was showing benefit. I came in to the first aid station a couple of minutes under plan. Next was a long downhill section – again, the long hills paid off, I gained a couple more minutes against the plan. I was liking the course, the surface was great, and the hills so far weren’t bad</p> <p>And so it went – some climbs, some descents, some flat. Follow the plan. I passed Joey at around 16 miles. He was also aiming for a WS qualifier. He was injured and nursing a bad hamstring – he was running smart and just aiming for sub 11. (He succeeded, 10:47)</p> <p>The biggest climb was 3 miles long at mile 20. Again, I didn’t find it too bad, I power hiked most of it, jogged some of it, and still came in under plan for that section.</p> <p>Half way, I was under still 12 minute pace average, and I was starting to believe that I was going to pull this off.</p> <p>I passed Alanna about mile 28, she was struggling unfortunately with stomach issues. It was great to get some encouragement from a friend. (She finished very respectably also under 11 hours)</p> <p>At 30 miles, the belief kicked in – I was 20 minutes ahead of my plan – this was significant in that I could do every mile one minute slower than plan and still make my qualifier with a PR.</p> <p>35 – I was still on a 12 minute average pace. Now it became a case of just keep moving and I would make it. It would take a complete and utter disaster for me to fail. At this point, my legs were beat up, I was tired and sore, but happy with how the day was progressing. I now made a conscious decision to start ‘withdrawing’ the time I had deposited in the ‘bank’. My mantra was “Relax Jimbo, you’ve got this, relax”. And I did. I took the foot off the gas and started visualizing the finish. Relax.</p> <p>One climb left somewhere around 43 miles, sure I was slow going up it, but by this point I didn’t care, my mission was all but accomplished. Relax Jimbo, relax.</p> <p>The last 4.2 miles are a gentle descent to the finish. This was fabulous because if time was tight, and if I had needed to, I would be able to haul ass down the hill to make sure I got the time I needed. But I didn’t need to. I just relaxed, jogged some and walked some to the finish. At one point, I thought I could go for it, and shoot for a sub 10:30 finish. But I just LOL’d and said WTF? to myself, I didn’t care, I was going to get what I came for. </p> <p>10:36 – a 12 minute PR and 7 minutes under “The Plan”</p> <p><u>Summary</u></p> <p>Tussey is an awesome race, really awesome. The level of detail on their website is incredible and also extremely accurate (distances between aid stations etc.), and the course is amazingly well marked, every mile has a mile marker, which really inspires confidence (it would have been no fun to think I was at 48 miles and then realize that there were 4 miles left, especially when chasing a time – distance is no guarantee at some trail races.) The relay runners and their crews give tons of support – cow bells and “WooHoo’s” may seem cheesy, but it helps!</p> <p>I had no interest in the scenery or the views, this race for me was all business. I was happy though that once I relaxed a bit, that I could take in the views and enjoy my surroundings. The leaves were at their peak for color and some of the mountain vistas were spectacular.</p> <p>Post race, my legs totally seized up, it took everything I had just to move one step! I wanted to lie down, but knew I wouldn’t be able to get up without help, I wanted to sit, I wanted to cry, I wanted a beer, I wanted water, I wanted coffee, I wanted a cheeseburger; I didn’t quite know what I wanted to do. </p> <p>I DID IT!</p> <p>I caught up with Shannon soon after I was done (who had finished several hours earlier – fast enough to win prize money; AWESOME!) It was then I got a little emotional. The last two months have been hard, really hard, and Shannon has been an amazing mentor along the whole journey, we hugged and I got a bit of a lump in my throat and a tear or two in my eye. I DID IT! I DID IT! I DID IT! YEAH!!! I know it was me who put in the miles and the effort, but I couldn’t have, wouldn’t have got there without her plan, guidance and motivation. Thank you! Thank you! What an amazing journey it has been!</p> <p>So, now my name goes into the lottery for Western States 100 – My name will be on 5 separate lottery tickets, one for each year I have qualified and not been successful in getting in to the race. Maybe this year will be the year.</p> Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-75724126450864099042013-10-01T18:51:00.001-04:002013-10-03T16:27:40.588-04:00The awesomeness of Hinson Lake<p>I <3 Hinson Lake Ultra Classic.</p> <p>I am not going to talk about my run at Hinson Lake – other than to say I had some very specific training goals and I met them.</p> <p>What I am going to talk about is why Hinson Lake is not only the best value in ultrarunning, but it is the best in ultrarunning.Yep, I mean it, it is the best race out there. This is why I travelled from California back to North Carolina.</p> <p>Tom Gabell started this monster 8 years ago, as he would explain it, as a gathering of his friends who want to run 24 hours. Or less. Tom always celebrated achievements, all achievements, whether it was someone’s first 5k, or Mike Morton’s 163.9 near American 24 hour record.</p> <p>This year, (2013), Tom passed the torch along to his friend Jerry Lindstrand. The race didn’t skip a beat. It is still filled with awesomeness.</p> <p>“….but 1.52 mile loops? For 24 hours? Are you nuts? I would get bored out of my mind”. Probably most people who enjoy small loop ultras have heard this kind of thing before. The thing I have found, is that the one thing that people who say this have in common, is that they probably haven’t participated in a small loop ultra, and certainly not Hinson Lake!</p> <p>But here is what makes this kind of race special – where else can you set yourself targets – as hard or as easy as you like? </p> <p>What other ultras can you get to watch the races at the front unfold? </p> <p>Where else can you get to see elite runners triumph (or not triumph sometimes) time after time, loop after loop.</p> <p>Where else could you get to hang out with friends both faster and slower than you – at the same time sometimes?</p> <p>What about seeing 10 year old Drew running 50 miles?</p> <p>And then there is this … <a href="http://www.yourdailyjournal.com/news/opinion/2567288/A-triumph-of-the-human-spirit">http://www.yourdailyjournal.com/news/opinion/2567288/A-triumph-of-the-human-spirit</a> [I truly hope that someone writes this story and sends it to Ultrarunning Magazine.]</p> <p>A 24 hour all-you-can-eat-buffet, with burgers, pizza, soup, grilled cheese, cake, cupcakes,gummi bears, etc. etc.</p> <p>Schwag – t-shirts, pint glasses, foot soap (Thanks Rachel – <a href="http://www.moondancesoaps.com">www.moondancesoaps.com</a>), car stickers.</p> <p>Volunteers that will do anything to help you reach your goal.</p> <p>Tons of people smiling. Some still smiling at 2 am.</p> <p>The atmosphere of a family reunion.</p> <p>The joy of seeing goals being met and often surpassed.</p> <p>Bellowing out “We all live in a yellow submarine” in the middle of the night while hanging out with Ray K</p> <p>An opportunity to donate to the local no-kill-animal-shelter.</p> <p>An on-call massage therapist for 24 hours.</p> <p>A beautiful trail.</p> <p>Beer laps.</p> <p>A banana lap.</p> <p>A beautiful sunrise.</p> <p>And all for $24. </p> <p>Looking forward to the last weekend in September 2014 already</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wBxaiCoJ1JI/UktRBRO5MvI/AAAAAAAAeUY/QsxK8ek8_24/s1600-h/photo%2525203%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="photo 3" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="photo 3" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ydXBrRqM8Cw/UktRCkaqRFI/AAAAAAAAeUg/ZpJpd7KYZcY/photo%2525203_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="468" height="352"></a></p> Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-3741378730288704462013-05-24T10:36:00.001-04:002013-05-24T10:36:10.229-04:002 people, 2 cars, 3 cats, 2 dogs, 2916 miles and a new life<p><br>WTF? LOL – Jimbo reporting back after an absence of a few months.</p> <p>And what a hectic, crazy, exhausting, stressful, and yet occasionally fun filled months they have been. </p> <p>So it has been “So long North Carolina”, and “Hello Northern California.” (Did you know that an anagram of <em>Northern California</em> is <em>Finer North Carolina</em> – no, I didn’t either).</p> <p>And Ironically I am writing this on a plane after heading back to NC for work and to take care of some stuff with the house I still own there. Now that I live in my territory, I spend a lot less time on planes, which is probably one of the most significant reasons I have got behind with the blog (I can hear a collective “phew, what a relief”)</p> <p>My last race in NC was Doug “The Boogieman” Dawkins’ creation, The Doomsday Marathon, celebrating the end of the world. 26.2 sandy, pitch black miles – many of which was with friends. One particular highlight was sharing a lap with Paul Heckert, one of the stubbornest <font size="1">(yeah, I know – made up word)</font> and finest runners I know. He is also the only Astronomy Professor I know – and on a clear night with little light pollution, spending some time with someone who can point stuff out to me in the sky was special. <br><br>And after The Doomsday my interest in running disappeared. Well maybe disappeared is the wrong word – how about, my interest in running waned somewhat. No, still not quite right – my interest in running was overcome by life events. Yeah, that is it. </p> <p>Packing up and moving took up the next month. It took a lot out of me. There were of course one or two moments of joy – Boxing Day Madness and the Chicken Run (with associated New Year’s Day Polar Plunge by Trever and Heather. What kind of fool would go running into Jordan Lake in January? Oh, that’s right – ME. And Amy and Rebecca who came to Jordan Lake with me to celebrate my last run there.</p> <p>Enjoy….</p> <div id="scid:5737277B-5D6D-4f48-ABFC-DD9C333F4C5D:7831aa64-4f1e-456d-be9c-6ed2204871e8" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent" style="float: none; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px"><div><object width="448" height="252"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dTNyfRNkwL4?hl=en&hd=1"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dTNyfRNkwL4?hl=en&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="448" height="252"></embed></object></div><div style="width:448px;clear:both;font-size:.8em">Seriously, what kind of crazy fools would jump into a lake in the middle of January?</div></div> <p>A week later, the movers came by. A day late (because of weather), which meant I had to DNS Weymouth Woods 100k <img class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-sadsmile" style="border-top-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-right-style: none" alt="Sad smile" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-r1eiU36BGPM/UZ961BXkRLI/AAAAAAAAb7c/KZsMj92ILKE/wlEmoticon-sadsmile2.png?imgmax=800"> (although one wonders if that was some good luck – pretty sure I would have struggled at that distance). I did get a chance to visit with my friends there after the movers had been, and it was good to see so many people I know on my last night in NC.</p> <p>By the time the journey began – I think we were so ready to get going, the movers had gone, we were packed, and it was time to embark upon a journey across the country. We left Sanford Sunday early afternoon. It was fun, a fairly easy journey (drive to I-40, turn left – keep gong to California, turn right), the pups had a blast, the cats (in Jess’ car) settled down fairly quickly. The stopping points were, Knoxville TN, Shawnee OK, Gallup NM and Bakersfield CA – we arrived home in Camino CA on Thursday lunchtime. </p> <p>And that ended January – December and January were my two worst running months probably since I wasn’t a runner. 72.3 miles total. Time to shake things up in Feb.</p> <p>Within a few days of arriving in CA, it was time to explore! I had a things on my schedule – Western States training run (the last 20 miles of the course), Way Too Cool 50km, and of course scope out some local trails for my training runs. Not only that, my friend Frankie had talked me into the FOURmidable 50k –which took on board probably the four most brutal climbs in the Auburn State Recreation Area. You know, when you get hills with the name “Cardiac” and “K2”, you are in for an awakening!</p> <p>Way Too Cool 50K was cool but crowded – another race in the Auburn State Recreation Area, and the first race I have successfully entered through a lottery. More runnable than FOURmidable.</p> <p>Knext up was Knickerbocker Canyon 30k. A fine race that took place in the Auburn State Recreation Area. Similar course to FOURmidable, with some tough climbing.</p> <p>My 4th run at Umstead was an attempt at a Sub-11 hour 50. I did well and was on pace for 42 miles when the meltdown started. Ended up running just under 12:30. I wasn’t upset, it was good to hang out with my NC friends for again, and any time spent running with the Dooms is always enjoyable.</p> <p>After some crewing and pacing duties at Sonoma 50 and the shortened Miwok, my next race was the inaugural Goldrush 100k. Having the start just 15-20 minutes from home was a definite plus. The weather forecast that day was a delicious 97<sup>o</sup>F. But of course it was a dry heat….. WTF?? LOL!! OMFG! Yep, it was toasty. 40 miles into it, and in the heat of the afternoon, with the sun beating down on me, I missed the cut off at 43 miles. Ugh. Just to give an indication of the difficulty of the day, I was in good company – over 50% dropped or were pulled.</p> <p>Official Stats</p> <p>Entered: 233 <br>Starters: 177 <br>Finishers: 81 (61 Men, 20 Women) <br>Volunteers: >135! <br>Ice: >2,500 lbs <p>So, there you have it! A brief update, and a promise that I will try and write more. Next on the cards for me are the Western States training runs, and then the TRT training runs, followed by my goal race – Tahoe Rim Trail 100. [EEeeek]</p> Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-25276334666772077712012-12-30T18:13:00.001-05:002012-12-30T18:52:16.057-05:006 Hours of WTF? LOL! Boxing Day Madness and Awesomeness<p> </p> <p>Below are the results of the Second Annual Boxing Day Madness 6 hour fat ass fun run in Kiwanis Park Sanford NC.</p> <p>This year, I also gave athletes from anywhere in the country (world even) to participate – just let me know the mileage ran, and I would list you in the results (those with the asterisk). We had runners in NJ, NV, Western NC and OH.</p> <p>The rest of the runners deserve a ton of accolades for even just showing up – they were greeted with heavy, cold rain – a drenching, soaking rain. Everyone who managed to run even just a little while deserve a ton of credit – congratulations to all.</p> <p>BCRT Chief [Brick City Running Tribe here in Sanford), Tim Preble ran a smart race all day, staying in sight of the leaders, and eventually picking them off to win overall. Considering a year ago to the day was Tim’s first ultra – where he just got above 26.2, and he suffered a rather spectacular meltdown towards the end, he has come a long way in a year! Congrats!</p> <p>There was a tie for first place among the women the second year running, with Amy Surrette, and Sue Harbour grinding out 21 miles each. <a href="http://gene-spincycle.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Gene Meade</a> wore a skirt of some description. I think he was trying to con the RD into making it a three-way tie for the women.</p> <p>Amy’s race write up is here: <a title="http://amosmotor.blogspot.com/2012/12/jimbos-boxing-day-madness-lol-wtf-fa.html" href="http://amosmotor.blogspot.com/2012/12/jimbos-boxing-day-madness-lol-wtf-fa.html">http://amosmotor.blogspot.com/2012/12/jimbos-boxing-day-madness-lol-wtf-fa.html</a><br></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gBf5wLDhEl4/UODKUwS-r3I/AAAAAAAAaXs/AuIltZYOb5I/s1600-h/2012-12-26%25252012.08.39%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2012-12-26 12.08.39" border="0" alt="2012-12-26 12.08.39" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Jmm6xOuN6Pw/UODKWBVFJKI/AAAAAAAAaX0/rxxKooBaDyY/2012-12-26%25252012.08.39_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="248" height="329"></a><br><font size="2">Gene and his skirt. “Ach laddie, it is but a mist!”</font></p> <p>There were distance PR’s for Shawn Sheffield (who also got his first Ultra distance) and also Colin Barrows.</p> <p>Jeff Sackaroff won the ugly-sweater contest (can’t imagine why!)</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-kOt2aiIHefg/UODKXxCGmpI/AAAAAAAAaX8/fC2Sfm2FXOM/s1600-h/2012-12-26%25252012.04.58%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2012-12-26 12.04.58" border="0" alt="2012-12-26 12.04.58" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-mZ4c0vfalDo/UODKY6c4AYI/AAAAAAAAaYE/kmXOOqLbUQo/2012-12-26%25252012.04.58_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p>John Price came all the way down from Virginia Beach for this run – how cool is that?? John has an impressive ultrarunning resume, having run across the United States in 2011 (averaging 35 miles per day for more than 3000 miles), almost the complete length of Great Britain earlier this year, and he is a veteran of The Last Annual Vol State 500k run across TN and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barkley_Marathons" target="_blank">The Barkley Marathons</a>. In 2013, his next adventure will be 30 Iron Distance Triathlons in a row. Yes, you read that right, that is an Ironman every day for 30 days, for a total accumulative mileage 4,218 miles in a month. And now he can add to his list the fact that he survived the Boxing Day Madness Typhoon of 2012!<br><br><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MDxudzV4ETs/UODLU8JuufI/AAAAAAAAaas/CWsSu369kEE/s1600-h/IMG_0957%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0957" border="0" alt="IMG_0957" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-72Uv7b1yQ7E/UODLWJtQExI/AAAAAAAAaa0/QIasNAHfKps/IMG_0957_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><br>John Price dodging a puddle</p> <p>I have a ton of chipotle chicken left , as there would have been no way I would have got a grill lit (going to have a cookout on New Years Day probably to get rid of it). There were a ton of great snacks, and Gene’s vegan soup was really nice too – got even nicer when we added Deanna’s deep fried Cajun turkey to it!</p> <p>Also, as a result of me being lazy, I did not get around to arranging t-shirts before the run – so instead, I had people sketch stuff and I am going to make a whacky, unique, “reflections” of the day shirt…. watch this space – it could end up looking something like this:<br><br><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Kwwu6HsN8gI/UODKZ5d6wJI/AAAAAAAAaYM/Inr8JsPgF-I/s1600-h/2012-12-26%25252022.19.46%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="2012-12-26 22.19.46" border="0" alt="2012-12-26 22.19.46" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-sEvl3smB4xU/UODKajO8glI/AAAAAAAAaYU/isuMm4Kp5as/2012-12-26%25252022.19.46_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="311" height="413"></a></p> <p>On the whole, I think those brave enough to get out of bed and come for a run in the rain had fun – congrats to everyone who took part!</p> <table style="line-height: normal; border-collapse: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="257"> <colgroup> <col style="width: 145pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 7058" width="193"> <col style="width: 48pt" width="64"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" height="20" width="193"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000"><strong>Name</strong></font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl65" width="64"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000"><strong>Miles</strong></font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">Tim Preble</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">33.6</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">Colin Barrows</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">31.5</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">Bob Sites</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">30.45</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">Jim Wei</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">28.35</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">Trever Schick</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">27.3</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">Shawn Sheffield</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">27.3</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">Jeff Sackaroff</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">27.3</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">John Price</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">23.1</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">Tony Mollica *</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">23</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">Sue Harbour</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">21</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">Gene Meade</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">21</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">Amy Surrette</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">21</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">Bill Parquet</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">13.65</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">Alanna Garrison-Kast *</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">13</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">Mike Flores</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">10.5</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">Lisa Daniels</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">8.4</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">Jeremy Jackson</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">8.4</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">Paul Heckert *</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">6</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">Cari Heckert *</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">6</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">Marshall McNeill</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">5</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">Christy Buchannan McNeill</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">5</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">Karen Martin *</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">3.5</font></td></tr> <tr style="height: 15pt" height="20"> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" height="20"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">Jody Stauffer *</font></td> <td style="border-bottom: windowtext 0.5pt solid; border-left: medium none; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: medium none; border-right: windowtext 0.5pt solid; padding-top: 1px" class="xl66" align="right"><font style="font-size: 11pt" color="#000000">3.1</font></td></tr></tbody></table> <div style="padding-bottom: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: none; padding-top: 0px" id="scid:66721397-FF69-4ca6-AEC4-17E6B3208830:104406dd-10d0-4033-9530-8df20c0246a8" class="wlWriterEditableSmartContent"><table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;width:400px;border-collapse:collapse;' > <tr> <td colspan=2 style='outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:5px 0px 5px 5px;width:157px;vertical-align:bottom;' > <a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=c3936b5a696b940c&page=play&resid=C3936B5A696B940C!176&parid=C3936B5A696B940C!175&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AKaailIv1P-f42I" target="_blank" border="0" style="outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:0px;"> <img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" alt="View album" title="View album" width="157" height="157" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-u7J4g2HecQk/UODTY0H6E_I/AAAAAAAAaeE/dl_nVn2mu0o/-48183313017DF67BE.png?imgmax=800" /></a> </td> <td colspan=3 style='vertical-align:middle;margin:0px;padding:5px 5px 5px 0px;outline:none;border-style:none;width:223px' > <div style="margin-left:10px;top:-3%;" > <div style='width:223px;overflow:visible;'><a style="text-decoration:none;" href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=c3936b5a696b940c&page=browse&resid=C3936B5A696B940C!175&type=5&authkey=!AKaailIv1P-f42I&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:1.26em;padding:0px;width:223px;font-size:26pt;font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;" defaultText="Enter album name here">Boxing Day Madness</span></a></div> <div style="padding:10px 0px 0px 0px;margin:0px;"> <table border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style="margin:0px;padding:0px;outline:none;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;width:auto;"> <tr> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:10px 15px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=c3936b5a696b940c&page=play&resid=C3936B5A696B940C!175&type=5&authkey=!AKaailIv1P-f42I&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">VIEW SLIDE SHOW</a></td> <td style="vertical-align:top;outline:none;border-style:none;margin:0px;padding:10px 0px 6px 0px;"><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=c3936b5a696b940c&page=downloadphotos&resid=C3936B5A696B940C!175&type=5&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AKaailIv1P-f42I" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;">DOWNLOAD ALL</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div> </td> </tr> <tr><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 5px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=c3936b5a696b940c&page=play&resid=C3936B5A696B940C!177&parid=C3936B5A696B940C!175&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AKaailIv1P-f42I" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Q_DKuvWtnSM/UODTZ2-5n4I/AAAAAAAAaeM/M5Zv4XHyG7s/-48183299009749166.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=c3936b5a696b940c&page=play&resid=C3936B5A696B940C!178&parid=C3936B5A696B940C!175&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AKaailIv1P-f42I" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eezPJgtX204/UODTb8BrHnI/AAAAAAAAaeU/z3fl6c4IAlQ/-6157233371431E8BB.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=c3936b5a696b940c&page=play&resid=C3936B5A696B940C!179&parid=C3936B5A696B940C!175&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AKaailIv1P-f42I" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ke_YVimdoxc/UODTc9yezyI/AAAAAAAAaec/zscxw_Alie4/-61572363268ED51B3.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=c3936b5a696b940c&page=play&resid=C3936B5A696B940C!180&parid=C3936B5A696B940C!175&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AKaailIv1P-f42I" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-G2WVyxkHFcA/UODTdlf_JsI/AAAAAAAAaek/16O0qALob7M/211122976333E0C283.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=c3936b5a696b940c&page=play&resid=C3936B5A696B940C!181&parid=C3936B5A696B940C!175&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AKaailIv1P-f42I" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-OdyM2MwDRXM/UODTetxhsGI/AAAAAAAAaes/CD7hPsZ9FVs/122603503028B73839.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 5px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=c3936b5a696b940c&page=play&resid=C3936B5A696B940C!182&parid=C3936B5A696B940C!175&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AKaailIv1P-f42I" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xyp8Cb_n3hc/UODTfuR6QcI/AAAAAAAAae0/w0_qKm2MAvM/1226035061089C2B7C.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=c3936b5a696b940c&page=play&resid=C3936B5A696B940C!183&parid=C3936B5A696B940C!175&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AKaailIv1P-f42I" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-sphokj4djDI/UODTgonDSTI/AAAAAAAAae8/Zf1kdSOuofc/-1902588074538F9C4B.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=c3936b5a696b940c&page=play&resid=C3936B5A696B940C!184&parid=C3936B5A696B940C!175&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AKaailIv1P-f42I" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sprvPu9SSOY/UODThSkqU2I/AAAAAAAAafE/_Xm6h0O-qhU/-19025881244C705FD3.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=c3936b5a696b940c&page=play&resid=C3936B5A696B940C!185&parid=C3936B5A696B940C!175&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AKaailIv1P-f42I" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yjByMvn0Grc/UODTibhnvfI/AAAAAAAAafM/o3OVeeVxKyE/-19025879035A42A5CE.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=c3936b5a696b940c&page=play&resid=C3936B5A696B940C!186&parid=C3936B5A696B940C!175&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AKaailIv1P-f42I" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jQ4fA1qmlB8/UODTkO3twII/AAAAAAAAafU/fzp9wvKQp3E/-19025885280110BC0F.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 5px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=c3936b5a696b940c&page=play&resid=C3936B5A696B940C!187&parid=C3936B5A696B940C!175&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AKaailIv1P-f42I" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-AGRAtozu00g/UODTlQop5KI/AAAAAAAAafc/MIZzUFXy-HE/-12930254534C042CDE.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=c3936b5a696b940c&page=play&resid=C3936B5A696B940C!188&parid=C3936B5A696B940C!175&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AKaailIv1P-f42I" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JLWXPZ9Ahbo/UODTmaAV6aI/AAAAAAAAafk/mOzwVTlu-3M/-142691566072D2431E.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=c3936b5a696b940c&page=play&resid=C3936B5A696B940C!189&parid=C3936B5A696B940C!175&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AKaailIv1P-f42I" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SVWcscPNHMA/UODTnXAm9nI/AAAAAAAAafs/_fsBPj0Pv-g/143392720867A8B8D4.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=c3936b5a696b940c&page=play&resid=C3936B5A696B940C!190&parid=C3936B5A696B940C!175&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AKaailIv1P-f42I" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-SZ5ulg3eRFw/UODToBClQnI/AAAAAAAAaf0/FowjGHf83LQ/130003745919A0595F.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a href="https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=c3936b5a696b940c&page=play&resid=C3936B5A696B940C!191&parid=C3936B5A696B940C!175&type=1&Bsrc=Photomail&Bpub=SDX.Photos&authkey=!AKaailIv1P-f42I" border="0" target="_blank" style="font-family:'Segoe UI', helvetica, arial, sans-serif;font-size:8pt;outline:none;border-style:none;text-decoration: none;padding:0px;margin:0px;"><img style="outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px;margin:0px;border:0px;background:none;background-image:none;vertical-align:bottom;" border="0" width="76" alt="View album" title="View album" height="76" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8wfyJ0g_8Zk/UODTpFa_DSI/AAAAAAAAaf8/4iG94akgIzI/196948736979854CA1.png?imgmax=800" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 5px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' ><a 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style='vertical-align:bottom;outline:none;border-style:none;padding:0px 5px 5px 0px;margin:0px;width:76px;height:76px;' > </td></tr></table></div> Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-12441275278336593382012-12-13T13:35:00.001-05:002012-12-13T19:11:06.352-05:00Ever thought of hiring a running coach?<p>This is a blatant plug for one of my best friend’s coaching business.</p> <p>Here is the website:</p> <blockquote> <p><strong><a href="http://shannon-creatingmomentum.blogspot.com/p/running-coach-based-in-woodbridge-nj.html" target="_blank">Creating Momentum! Shannon McGinn</a></strong></p></blockquote> <p>Anyone who has ever met Shannon will struggle not to be inspired by her awesomeness. Under 20 hours for 100 miles, 110.67 for 24 hours, 3:15 marathon, 4:13 for 50k. Yeah, so she is a fast runner, and she is also a certified long distance running coach. Being a good runner though is not the only thing that makes a good coach though (it is a good start though!). You will need to be motivated to train (not shouted at), you will need to understand the methods and why you are being asked to do what you are being asked to do. And you will need inspiration.</p> <p>What Shannon doesn’t know (unless she reads this), is that had I been selected in the <a href="http://www.sofarfromnormal.com/2012/12/reflections-on-western-states-lottery.html">Western States Lottery</a>, I would have hired her to coach me in the months leading up to the race – It would have been an obvious step; it is apparent that opportunities to run Western States will be few and far between, and I would absolutely would want to give myself the best possible chance of finishing on the once in a lifetime opportunity I would get of running my dream race. Also, having had numerous consultations and discussions with her over the years, I absolutely believe her methods (how she trains herself) would work for me. Volume, running streaks, slow running, using races for speedwork, run for joy etc. [Probably about time I paid her for all of the advice I have received too!]</p> <p>I think I will end up by using the words our mutual friend Alanna posted on Facebook to summarize why I think Shannon would be a great choice for a coach – I can’t think of a better way to say it.</p> <blockquote> <p><font size="2">For anyone out there looking for some motivation -- Shannon is an excellent running coach, a good friend of mine, and a wonderful person who can help you attain your fitness and wellness goals. She provides both online and in-person coaching, and can kick your butt into high gear -- yes, this would make an excellent Christmas present for that special running someone!</font></p></blockquote> <p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pTh5HTS_rOSqMSAHoQY0KhXfYAI_sEn-iUWr0zZpzfDyhg05-dmOLrbtUojdETMwXCciLp07msyNAsJEB73i5XTunTOHTD_wW9D6muLODjBuOCPyMwEVG5brs5W7c642YbsTrl6WxD0/s320/385001_4870678255377_390865016_n.jpg"></p> Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-87229376066150642842012-12-08T20:36:00.001-05:002012-12-13T14:51:42.322-05:00Reflections on the Western States Lottery. Again.<p><br>[<a href="http://www.sofarfromnormal.com/2011/12/reflections-on-western-states-lottery.html">For last year’s reflections…click here</a>.]</p> <p>Dammit.</p> <p>I didn’t get in again. But I shouldn’t be surprised, the odds were stacked against me, everyone. With 4 tickets in the draw, I had ~28% chance of getting in. </p> <p>This time I decided to make the journey from NC to Auburn (misplaced confidence, not the first time I have had that)– what a fun time; the room is filled with energy – big rounds of applause when a local favorite gets picked, or a 4-time loser who is in the crowd gets picked. As the names get drawn and you start realizing that there are not many spots left, you can certainly feel the energy draining out of the place. Looking forward to next year already. You can also tell that they take the integrity of the process very seriously. </p> <p>Of course it was disappointing to not be selected, but it kinda is what it is, a random process, fairly done, and the probability of having my name pulled out even with 4 tickets in the hat was slim.</p> <p>There were quite a few times during the drawing (try saying that fast after a few beers), when a ticket would be pulled, and it would go like this:</p> <blockquote> <p>RD: “Another 4 time loser”<br>ME: [Heart starts thumping]<br>RD: “From San…….”<br>ME: [Heart stops….] “PLEASE SAY SAN<strong>FORD</strong> NORTH CAROLINA PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE”<br>RD: “…….Jose”<br>ME: “Shit”</p></blockquote> <p>That happened 5 times. 5 times my heart skipped a beat. There are 5 4-time losers with San as the first three letters of their town. 5 times I get ready to do a fist pump and give a large “WOOHOO!”</p> <p>Seriously, what are the odds of that?? There were 37 (I think) four time losers picked – 5 of them came SanSomewhere. None of those Sans ended in Ford. Bollox. </p> <p>I don’t feel as down as I did this time last year. Here is why. After the drawing – I took a walk on part of the Western States trail, I sat on a rock next to the American River and looked up at No Hands Bridge (mile 97 of the course), and started thinking how lucky I am. In the next 6 weeks or so, I will be living within 45 minutes of this spot. And then the plan came to me. Over the course of the next year, I am going to run the whole course, piece by piece. Squaw Valley, to Auburn. Why? Because I can. And I will.</p> <p>Some geekery. In December 2009, my name was one of 1693 entrants. That pool of entrants has dwindled year on year. 2010, there were 500 of us that would have 2 tickets in the hat. 2011 there were 258 with three tickets, and today, there were 122 with 4.</p> <p>Of those 4, there were 37 who get selected, leaving just 85 from the original 1693. Meaning that 1608 (95%) have either got into the race, failed to qualify or lost interest.</p> <p>If I was a betting man, I would guess that next year, there will be just 50-60 people with 5 tickets in the hat. Those 50 or 60, even with their 5 tickets, will still have only around a 30% chance of getting selected. It is the nature of the beast that way this particular lottery works.</p> <p>Perhaps, Mr. Race Director, sir, perhaps, next December, you can clean the board get rid of 250-300 tickets out of the drawing and let all 50-60 of us in the race. Please?</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-KX3XkGb_BLg/UMPqZJ11lSI/AAAAAAAAOz8/kXispTJ8cs0/s1600-h/IMG_0888%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0888" border="0" alt="IMG_0888" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8UDhxjnGxkg/UMPqZzrVNiI/AAAAAAAAO0E/2vZJdFBpc9Q/IMG_0888_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-un54sqwAN8k/UMPqcLYSuwI/AAAAAAAAO0M/y-4fN5olTi8/s1600-h/IMG_0889%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0889" border="0" alt="IMG_0889" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3RnnF8LWLIk/UMPqdLQRzcI/AAAAAAAAO0U/-4ZSPxVqCdY/IMG_0889_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-2Gq1mXd-P1Y/UMPqfJfGVAI/AAAAAAAAO0c/lUiINOYmYIg/s1600-h/IMG_0890%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0890" border="0" alt="IMG_0890" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-drIsoasIpcM/UMPqgOxlzMI/AAAAAAAAO0k/TLciYYnxjO8/IMG_0890_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-WUzAAQAhdGk/UMPqhgWPGmI/AAAAAAAAO0s/trJuuo4xlp0/s1600-h/IMG_0891%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0891" border="0" alt="IMG_0891" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nuJRqLOYdBE/UMPqiYcofrI/AAAAAAAAO00/nDmst3MG2tg/IMG_0891_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HhPi9rpeTvE/UMPqjziKBPI/AAAAAAAAO08/thpc8NIxaaU/s1600-h/IMG_0892%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0892" border="0" alt="IMG_0892" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Lmz3wIOvM5A/UMPqkvMxt0I/AAAAAAAAO1E/VCB2UzmULIc/IMG_0892_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-eiyAKGmarlA/UMPqnCZBBVI/AAAAAAAAO1M/ANPrbCTsLqQ/s1600-h/IMG_0897%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0897" border="0" alt="IMG_0897" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-h_4MK0sSyjA/UMPqoIalNCI/AAAAAAAAO1U/iS2-PZvxjp0/IMG_0897_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--SNEP9akP8A/UMPqp34IkJI/AAAAAAAAO1c/dtAikeZQ4pI/s1600-h/IMG_0899%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0899" border="0" alt="IMG_0899" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-x36iuZqFkCk/UMPqq0MKX4I/AAAAAAAAO1k/-nALnDcQDaY/IMG_0899_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-y-zKOJbRR2I/UMPqs_oFYzI/AAAAAAAAO1s/gmWtonoDa4w/s1600-h/IMG_0900%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0900" border="0" alt="IMG_0900" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-97liPjYxw84/UMPqt9oDPDI/AAAAAAAAO10/qTUK8Ex84UI/IMG_0900_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZynT8q96MIg/UMPqv-iTE7I/AAAAAAAAO18/2f1BavVsbuA/s1600-h/IMG_0901%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0901" border="0" alt="IMG_0901" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LdIfSVyrBUU/UMPqw0qk01I/AAAAAAAAO2E/xWQPQmLO1OE/IMG_0901_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-XSWNDU8hVeY/UMPqyxjGewI/AAAAAAAAO2M/AUG6DPx-1QE/s1600-h/IMG_0902%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0902" border="0" alt="IMG_0902" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/--9ShdBWdKDk/UMPqzhEsISI/AAAAAAAAO2U/SkunC8rJJ5Q/IMG_0902_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-J8NdxeeWJrI/UMPq2TFyKkI/AAAAAAAAO2c/jAiGQpKWP9s/s1600-h/IMG_0903%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0903" border="0" alt="IMG_0903" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-T_UQ1S8HBqs/UMPq3P96jVI/AAAAAAAAO2k/KLOwdLEzxeI/IMG_0903_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-tDwBsktw6es/UMPq5WCGsUI/AAAAAAAAO2s/g26k1_RU8YE/s1600-h/IMG_0904%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0904" border="0" alt="IMG_0904" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nyEuqSXyXas/UMPq6fF3apI/AAAAAAAAO20/5g2W5cYkP28/IMG_0904_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-esK6lFDEWuY/UMPq7kfLzWI/AAAAAAAAO28/D0G9Z_uKTfo/s1600-h/IMG_0905%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0905" border="0" alt="IMG_0905" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JaHLJxwNqMs/UMPq8fB7AnI/AAAAAAAAO3E/M_GtOHvE37Q/IMG_0905_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dLCSUbRpoWs/UMPrAItrA2I/AAAAAAAAO3M/KjEXtQk2CC8/s1600-h/IMG_0906%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0906" border="0" alt="IMG_0906" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DJsIztKIzJ4/UMPrA2y8HVI/AAAAAAAAO3U/LjLxS8gXYZs/IMG_0906_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-91490832134247112742012-12-07T12:48:00.001-05:002012-12-07T12:48:32.087-05:00163637<p><br>That is my number in the Western States 100 lottery tomorrow.</p> <p>There will be 4 tickets in the hat with that number on it.</p> <p>I am told I have a 27.1% chance of being selected – <a href="http://www.sofarfromnormal.com/2011/12/reflections-on-western-states-lottery.html">which is pretty much what I predicted after last year's lottery.</a></p> <p>#FingersCrossed.</p> Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-74128318569099910582012-12-02T22:38:00.001-05:002012-12-02T22:38:47.485-05:00The Croatan 24 Hour Ultramarathon<p><br>This is late – sorry. Oh well.</p> <p>There are lots of different things that give races an appeal. The list below is a pretty good summary. A run doesn’t have to have all of these things to appeal to me – in fact it may just have say one or two of these things and do them well.</p> <p>So, anyway, here is the list in no order:</p> <ul> <ul> <li>Well supported <li>Well organized <li>An RD who is loving what he is doing <li>Fair priced (value in other words) <li>Nice place to run <li>Good views <li>Loops <li>Friendly runners <li>Good atmosphere <li>Its own character</li></ul></ul> <p>Croatan pretty much had all of these covered. Brandon the Race Director did a superb job in every aspect of this race. From the schwag, the course, the volunteers – I loved this race.</p> <p>Now the character of the race – Brandon is a former marine, and the race being held on the marines’ birthday, there was ceremony marking the occasion. Also to commemorate veterans day, at the start of the race, active duty and retired military were asked to lead for the first lap. We were also given special t-shirts that said the branch of service were in. I had my own special shirt with “Royal Navy” on it. Nice touch, and thank you.</p> <p>The course is a 1.3 mile loop, in the Croatan National Forest in Eastern North Carolina, about a 3 hour drive from home. My plan was to run somewhere north of 50 miles. How north of 50 all depended on how I felt when I got to 50!</p> <p>I got got to run some loops with Ray K and hang out with my friend Steph (who also volunteered for several hours – thanks!). I enjoyed their company. </p> <p>The course – 1.3 miles is a great distance, you get a ‘bonus mile’ every 3.3 loops. The views around the salt marshes were gorgeous. I can honestly say that despite running around it 37 laps, it never got boring and I actually never even got familiar with the loop. Normally on a small loop ultra, you get to learn every single turn, tree, view, pothole etc. Not this one – I think the diversity of the scenery just kept it interesting. The sunset was spectacular</p> <p>So, anyway, I got my 50 miles in, and tried to sleep for a couple of hours and then drove home.</p> <p>This race is a great one. Put it on your to-do list.</p> <p>Enjoy the photos – you can never have enough sunset pictures.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vHZDUtQ6Ans/ULwd2fycdVI/AAAAAAAAM6Q/riEHGTcjXfQ/s1600-h/IMG_0622%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0622" border="0" alt="IMG_0622" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-lINHm8GfS7E/ULwd39kJGUI/AAAAAAAAM6Y/BjWrFYMCjG8/IMG_0622_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-j3GYJMHSj8E/ULwd5tsXo3I/AAAAAAAAM6g/Nowq0Fr5WjI/s1600-h/IMG_0627%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0627" border="0" alt="IMG_0627" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-F6C4Zdn4vEQ/ULwd6pUCLOI/AAAAAAAAM6o/yWKTrhMbcWE/IMG_0627_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-o9BXkKOF2kw/ULwd8oAuQfI/AAAAAAAAM6w/2Cql6GSDepo/s1600-h/IMG_0628%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0628" border="0" alt="IMG_0628" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-islxcevdGr8/ULwd907NtLI/AAAAAAAAM64/wG6JA9USlcc/IMG_0628_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-s6NXuTNPZTY/ULwd_P9JqFI/AAAAAAAAM7A/nLcG1hvkfLU/s1600-h/IMG_0633%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0633" border="0" alt="IMG_0633" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tQytHKOJ8TY/ULweAW93wYI/AAAAAAAAM7I/nl0Vt-70VMc/IMG_0633_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7XKMn5s3aUg/ULweCV3ep4I/AAAAAAAAM7Q/eXegFOji2tA/s1600-h/IMG_0634%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0634" border="0" alt="IMG_0634" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-JTX2_llYyGs/ULweDQcpVOI/AAAAAAAAM7Y/JJHJo5trcMY/IMG_0634_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Yhla163QqT0/ULweFIbAtsI/AAAAAAAAM7g/ITCPpuekh5Y/s1600-h/IMG_0637%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0637" border="0" alt="IMG_0637" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-kbqVqAjs-TA/ULweGDXbL8I/AAAAAAAAM7o/ZUMJiPLhXtc/IMG_0637_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LbdIQhu7Atw/ULweIJNmV7I/AAAAAAAAM7w/hRAkAl17UT4/s1600-h/IMG_0638%25255B9%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; 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border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0667" border="0" alt="IMG_0667" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-RAPs0Fevmnw/ULwexBX1EbI/AAAAAAAANBA/14rsXKvYP8M/IMG_0667_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-48781129303741203022012-11-26T18:25:00.001-05:002012-11-26T20:51:38.266-05:00Derby 50k. Kind of the end of an era<p align="left">My 4th Derby. Probably my last <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-cryingface" alt="Crying face" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-sZaGfNfbnFw/ULP5nFb8pBI/AAAAAAAAKZ0/CEe4TnbMbc0/wlEmoticon-cryingface%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"></p> <p align="left">These races, these Mangum Track Club races, each and every one of them is like a family reunion. Catching up with friends making new ones and of course the run itself, taking in the wonderfully scenic North Carolina countryside.</p> <p align="left">As I set off on the run, I really had no goals in mind, I certainly had no visions of a PR. I truly believe that my <a href="http://www.sofarfromnormal.com/2011/10/new-river-trail-50k-jimbos-day-of.html">4:52 that I ran at New River Trail 50k</a> last year will remain a lifetime best. I figured around 6 hours would be a good time, so I set off at a pace that would get the first 10.5 mile lap in 2 hours. Highlight of the first loop was my friend Tim doing the Floppy Bacon Dance©™ at the first Aid Station. The second aid station had “Chili Con Queso Pringles” which was another highlight.</p> <p align="left">With the exception of the wind, the weather was delightful. Yeah, and the wind, errr, it was a loop course, that means a circle of sorts. So, how come the wind was a head wind for 9.5 miles of each 10.5 mile lap? And I asked, it wasn’t just me. Others reported the same, so that meant the wind was going in several different directions at the same time. HTF does that happen? Anyway, I sighed, said WTF? and LOL’d several times and continued my merry way.</p> <p align="left">1:59:xx was my first lap time. YEAH! Happy with that. Grabbed some cookies, filled my bottle and set out on lap two. At aid station #1 again, I learned a lesson about keeping my mouth shut. “My only goals today are to finish alive and not get lapped” (managed not to get lapped on two of my previous Derby’s). Not two or three minutes later, I got lapped. WTF? LOL. OMG!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lhI5-QF5_jo/ULP5wB7IpLI/AAAAAAAAKZ8/5uSAfqXO0go/s1600-h/156791_232819690182699_893784853_n%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="156791_232819690182699_893784853_n" border="0" alt="156791_232819690182699_893784853_n" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-KsSkT1dUyqI/ULP50fCZ8QI/AAAAAAAAKaE/SzPgpQN6tco/156791_232819690182699_893784853_n_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></p> <p align="center"></a><font size="1">The eventual winner Tomasz Kochanowicz, coming up behind me. WTF? (Picture Lee).<br></font></p> <p>Kept my pace “easy-ish” until I was just a little before half way round, and then opened it up a bit. Things always seem to go better when I run the first half of a race at an easy and manageable pace. 1/2 way split 2:57:xx. Then I had an idea. If I do the second half of the race at the same pace, I could finish with all the 5’s. Yep, 5:55:55 became my goal. It is the kind of goal that people dream of. For REAL! People dream of this crap! I once tried to do a marathon in 4:44:44. And failed (meltdown the last two miles). So, with the goal set, I figured that there would be a fade at the end, so best put some time in the bank.</p> <p>My push for the second half of the lap got me to mile 20.5 with an accumulative time of 3:54. Cool, 2:01 for lap 3 should do it.</p> <p>Of we go on lap 3. The day had gotten pleasantly warmer, so I ditched the vest and proudly showed off my Mangum Track Club shirt. Still pushing it until the 4 mile aid station (ANY FOOL CAN RUN A 10K RIGHT??). It was around then I started to slow down. Marathon split 4:51. (it did cross my mind at that point that it would have been impressive for my 26.2 mile time to be the illusive 4:44:44. But I didn’t think of that until 4:51 and I had forgotten my time machine. 5 miles in 1:05. OH YEAH – I CAN DO THIS!!!!. Aid #2, grabbed me some of them awesome Pringles. 3.5 left. (ANY FOOL CAN RUN A 5-and-a-bit-K RIGHT?). Then the fade. I knew it would happen, but was happy I had budgeted for it – sometimes, I even amaze myself with my incredible foresight and extreme awesomeness.<br><br></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gWx8LYuiXOw/ULP59WL3WqI/AAAAAAAAKaM/jp4pZusDDsU/s1600-h/481669_232813420183326_1412956141_n%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="481669_232813420183326_1412956141_n" border="0" alt="481669_232813420183326_1412956141_n" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8IFI1C0g_DM/ULP6CLB5yiI/AAAAAAAAKaU/lki3cGrEezE/481669_232813420183326_1412956141_n_thumb%25255B4%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="529" height="398"></a><font size="1">Look how grumpy and miserable I am – 2.5 miles to go (Picture by Lee)</font></p> <p>Mile 8 of each lap sees that start of a pretty good climb, just about a mile long, and I knew I would have to work it if I didn’t want to see my dreams unceremoniously shattered – it was a tough climb, my run walk pattern, became more of a walk walk plod run pattern. Mile 9-10 is much flatter, so I pushed hard to make up for the time I had lost on the hill. 1/2 mile to go, I knew I could do it. I eased right off, and just walked some – now though it was to kill time. 10 yds from the finish, I saw Ricky, had a chat for 30 seconds, walked to just short of the finish line, and told Mark “not yet”, and counted down from 5 … and …. NOW! and stepped across the line.<br></p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-E7MLQLZQ6VQ/ULP6Jg8oejI/AAAAAAAAKac/8iZOPn-bpzg/s1600-h/248962_4722293982567_68454601_n%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="248962_4722293982567_68454601_n" border="0" alt="248962_4722293982567_68454601_n" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-0y-wOpAbuY4/ULP6NVatHFI/AAAAAAAAKak/XQSgYNxrgms/248962_4722293982567_68454601_n_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="242" height="244"></a> <p align="center"><font size="1">Just before crossing the line (Photo: Ricky)</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GJWpHJE3XpI/ULP6Rws77YI/AAAAAAAAKas/6xeBu08Ks0c/s1600-h/14409_10151142887426984_1794276402_n%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="14409_10151142887426984_1794276402_n" border="0" alt="14409_10151142887426984_1794276402_n" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Zv0wPqwpSkU/ULP6WE38kwI/AAAAAAAAKa0/xAHbt7nMbzc/14409_10151142887426984_1794276402_n_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><font size="1">Mission Accomplished YEAH!</font><br></p> <p align="left">A wonderful spaghetti lunch capped off a great run. Many thanks to the volunteers – Gene, Tim, Frank, Charles, Jamie’s mom and those whose names I have forgotten or don’t know, y’all are why runs like this are special to me, and thank you to Lee for just showing up randomly for the encouragement and photos! And a huge thanks to Mark for putting on such a great run.</p> <p align="left">So there you have it. My last Derby 50k. Maybe. They have awesome vests for five time finishers. Hmmmm, so perhaps we will call it “probably my last Derby 50k, but almost certainly my last one as a resident of NC”. How’s that?</p> <p align="left">And now follows a message to all of my friends in the Mangum Track Club, as I start up the process of packing up and heading west. This is truly a wonderful organization. The spirit of the runs and runners will remain with me when I move to my new home. I love the fact that each and every walker and runner is embraced and welcomed by the club, whether you are a ultrarunner or a just like to walk some, whether you are fast or slow, short distance or long distance, I love the fact that there are no dues or committees, no politics or rules. It is awesome that the only requirement to being a member is the ability to walk or run the 15 miles from Mangum to The Dog Pen in Ellerbe, you don’t need sponsorships or someone to nominate you. Thank you one and all. Truly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Y’all have motivated me, inspired me and given me more joy as a runner, more friendships than you will ever know. </p> <p align="left">Coming soon MTC (west) <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-0SB9F04qKDs/ULP6YXnWLXI/AAAAAAAAKa8/6te76lyDiuk/wlEmoticon-smile%25255B2%25255D.png?imgmax=800"> WTF? LOL!</p> Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-10415429830630602912012-08-23T21:50:00.001-04:002012-08-23T22:55:18.105-04:00When you take your dog on your adventure………….<p>……. don’t be an asshole.</p> <p>[wondering if I should post this]</p> <p>Yeah, somewhat blunt, but to the point I think.</p> <p>So, here is what is prompting this rant. I saw this <a href="http://www.outsideonline.com/blog/outdoor-adventure/man-who-left-dog-on-colorado-14er-faces-animal-cruelty-charges.html" target="_blank">link which was posted on Facebook</a> a couple of days ago. Initially, I wasn’t sure what my opinion was. You see, I run a lot with my dogs, and I would hate to have some “authority” limiting my activities with Wilbur and Sarah. I get that. But…….</p> <p>After reflection, I now have an opinion. </p> <p>They are charging him with cruelty because I am not sure that he can be prosecuted for being a stupid asshole.</p> <p>And he deserves everything he gets. And if it means jail, then, “oh well”. That’s what you get for being an asshole</p> <p>He deserves the same punishment as someone who leaves their dog in a car in out of the shade on a sunny day, not understanding or knowing that the car can get over 120 degrees very quickly, and using the fact that “but it was only 75 degrees outside” as an excuse.</p> <p>If you don’t want to be an asshole, here is what you do:</p> <ol> <li>You find out if the trail is dog appropriate – if it isn’t you don’t go <li>Your dog will wear tags <li>Your dog sets the pace. <li>Always have a way out. <li>If your dog starts showing signs of trouble, you turn round <li>If the dog won’t move, you stay with your dog, and send your friend off to get help. <li>If you feel forced to leave your dog behind (risk of loss of human life is only appropriate thing I can think of), you go back day after day to search. <li>If search and rescue won’t help, you arrange your own search parties. <li>Or you could just be an asshole and not do anything and leave your dog to die.</li></ol> <p>So, why am I posting this? Simply because some good may come of this whole crappy situation. This page may get 100-200 page views, and maybe, just maybe one or two of them will consider their actions before going off on some inappropriate hike or run. Maybe, just maybe someone will consider their actions, and decide not to be an asshole.</p> Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-25631028160659353582012-08-22T10:26:00.001-04:002012-08-22T23:51:45.415-04:00Some highs in a low spot. Badwater 2012.<p>A month or so late. Oh well.</p> <p>So, one my highest highs started at the lowest of the lows.</p> <p>I am of course talking about my Badwater, where I had many highs at low point, and then another high at a high point.</p> <p>Earlier in the year, Meredith Murphy asked me to crew for her again. This would be my third year running at Badwater. On the crew this year was the quiet, shy and reserved Mandy, fellow Team Awesome member <a href="http://running4beer.blogspot.com/">Jessi</a> and my new friend, Iliana. I had to think about it for a while. Well, until I realized the “chick to Jimbo” ratio including <a href="http://www.sofarfromnormal.com/2012/07/badwater-135-merediths-race-report.html">Meredith</a> was 4-1. </p> <p>A strange thing happened on the way to Badwater. The plane to Vegas had onboard Wi-Fi. While Facebooking, up pops a friend request. It turns out that I was on the same plane as someone who was crewing for Ethel Cook who was on Meredith’s crew last year. Not only was Rosie on Ethel’s crew, remember <a href="http://www.sofarfromnormal.com/2011/10/medoc-trail-marathon-awesomeness.html">this post</a>? Rosie happened to be “Tumbling Rosie” – the woman who took a fall and hurt her nose. So there I am, enjoying a three way online chat with not only Rosie, but Tammy as well, who is also on Ethel’s crew and is on a different flight to Vegas. Technology is as amazing as the smallness of the running world. So that was actually a high point while high.</p> <p>This year, Meredith had elected to do the crew differently – one crew, with one shift for the whole race. Personally, I think this is the way to go. Yeah, we get tired, very tired, but you tend to get into a rhythm, and I am sure that is better for the runner without having to deal with the crew shift changes. Downside though is how tiring it is – you can lose focus.</p> <p>The lowest point in the western hemisphere is Badwater. I got a real high there when Meredith and about 29 other runners started their 135 mile journey. As a crew, we quickly got into a rhythm. Drive a mile or two, wait for a while. Offer food, fluids, spray downs and ice. And so it went. </p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-v26VBT7V3qw/UDTrtcT6LYI/AAAAAAAAJRE/5VoC0-TFutM/s1600-h/IMG_03644.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0364" border="0" alt="IMG_0364" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-8hAvsvlmhSI/UDTruojJKVI/AAAAAAAAJRM/R_UhCBIhalE/IMG_0364_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="426" height="320"></a><br>Meredith and Ethel just before the start<br></p> <p>Last year Meredith started having a pacer at Furnace Creek, mile 17. This year she she was trucking along just fine on her own until about 35-36 miles or so, when she started complaining of shortness of breath, and needed a break. It dawned on me after a few minutes that she was overheating. Ice in Ziploc bags did the trick and she cooled down quickly. A couple of crew lessons here – the overheating can creep up on the runner quite quickly, Meredith had not wanted spraying with ice water other than on her arms for quite a while up to that point. I think that’s why she overheated. The lesson for me next time I crew is that I really should just spray anyway. </p> <p>At that point, I started pacing, and would continue pacing to a couple of miles past the summit of Townes Pass. Now then, let’s talk about the climb up Townes Pass. [right then, if you do not like bad language, and swearing, just skip the next paragraph.</p> <p>Yes, let’s talk Townes Pass. HOLY-MOTHER-FUCKING-SHIT, that climb is a fucking killer!</p> <p>[swearing over for now] That climb is brutal. The wind is in your face, bone dry, hot, dusty and hot. The climb is relentless – over 16 miles, 5000 ft to the summit. The best description I have heard is that it is “soul-sucking”. To make matters worse, it doesn’t actually look like you are going up hill. it looks like you trudging along a flat road. But of course our calf muscles feel it, you notice the effort of going up hill. But it looks flat! It totally screws with your mind – until you look behind you and you can see the valley below. It is a very weird optical illusion. All you can do is LOL at the hill and say WTF. I can see why Meredith wanted me to experience that climb. It is tough, and it is that sort of thing that makes you realize just how tough Badwater is.</p> <p align="center"><br><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-xQ1PlVQMi58/UDTrv3fhlUI/AAAAAAAAJRU/RiRTeKNTgao/s1600-h/IMG_04064.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0406" border="0" alt="IMG_0406" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-3K-8okXXtvU/UDTrxFhmnDI/AAAAAAAAJRc/GI-GW6QHYLo/IMG_0406_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="396" height="298"></a><br>See how flat it looks? The beginning of the climb up Townes Pass<br></p> <p>Most of the rest of the run was uneventful really. This year Meredith’s stomach stayed in check and she managed to keep plodding away. The landmarks came and went, Panamint, Poo-Point, Father Crowley’s, the 100 mile point and on into Lone Pine.</p> <p align="center"><br><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uZejg-zPKbQ/UDTryA9yXdI/AAAAAAAAJRk/aTOypWYtV4o/s1600-h/IMG_04223.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0422" border="0" alt="IMG_0422" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-P8CAMMDonbE/UDTrzHI2IJI/AAAAAAAAJRs/ewB4w0CNiH4/IMG_0422_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><br>Sunrise at Poo-Point<br><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VVeDqHENAxE/UDTr0cyIGgI/AAAAAAAAJR0/Asff4fym9og/s1600-h/IMG_04293.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0429" border="0" alt="IMG_0429" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-gcO0i-vEYg4/UDTr1XHmy1I/AAAAAAAAJR8/NM2Ec79HZs0/IMG_0429_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><br>But is it art?<br><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-atx4Za-qaFY/UDTr3AQ9CZI/AAAAAAAAJSE/4C1sDqCSPR0/s1600-h/IMG_04363.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0436" border="0" alt="IMG_0436" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mZO33NpUGqk/UDTr4KpSf8I/AAAAAAAAJSM/d4bHUt1DpWs/IMG_0436_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><br>Pavement art.<br><br></p> <p>Meredith ideally wanted to beat last year’s time (46.22). A hard climb up Townes, plus some longer than planned stops after the 100 mile mark slowly made that hard to reach. Finishing under 48 hours though was never in doubt. By the time the climb up to Whitney Portals had started, we knew that last years time was going to be out of reach, but we would finish with about an hour to spare. So with a tiny bit of light showing in the eastern sky, we finished Badwater. 47:08. DFL never felt so good!</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CTcV5cjUVUc/UDTr5BVenqI/AAAAAAAAJSU/hEPaPLdSkTI/s1600-h/IMG_04513.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0451" border="0" alt="IMG_0451" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-bUwncO-bZ3g/UDTr6Ic0A3I/AAAAAAAAJSc/tQkY50oA0vI/IMG_0451_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a><br>Love this shot! Our third sunrise on the road!<br><br><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ogyI-16ibSk/UDTr7Z0UdrI/AAAAAAAAJSk/FD0rPLPpNhU/s1600-h/Finish-Line2.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Finish Line" border="0" alt="Finish Line" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9K2Ki9LQKaA/UDTr8UIBlKI/AAAAAAAAJSs/RU8Me1HY3rQ/Finish-Line_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="156"></a><br>The finish line<br>Jessi, Mandy, Meredith, Jimbo and Iliana<br><br><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zS43xaLpWkA/UDTr9yUBmsI/AAAAAAAAJS0/gOWwpkhRRqU/s1600-h/IMG_04614.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0461" border="0" alt="IMG_0461" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-cDu4jKrcXaE/UDTr_OLGzPI/AAAAAAAAJS8/YoVBwNpAlUY/IMG_0461_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="336" height="253"></a><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Eiosl0W2aW0/UDWoyEMH10I/AAAAAAAAJUI/NlqabjXFoI0/s1600-h/IMG_0462.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0462" border="0" alt="IMG_0462" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-2xz1cgn43GA/UDTsBgssh1I/AAAAAAAAJUQ/dCHiQ7sHAng/IMG_0462_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="270" height="358"></a><br>Meredith looking like she had just finished a 5K!<br><br><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ORauUWcVemQ/UDTsC3d4gTI/AAAAAAAAJTU/5lMHxg_FPr4/s1600-h/IMG_04664.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0466" border="0" alt="IMG_0466" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-U47whxvSjB4/UDTsDxDYCBI/AAAAAAAAJTc/vpptyfZzMEs/IMG_0466_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="321" height="242"></a><br>Awwww This is not posed! Driving down the mountain, Iliana got this great picture of Jessi, Meredith and Mandy. After 3 sunrises though and a 135 mile journey, a quick power nap is perfectly reasonable.<br><br><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QAY9yksI5U0/UDTsFdZ1wpI/AAAAAAAAJTk/NlFk8ceTOTk/s1600-h/IMG_03204.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0320" border="0" alt="IMG_0320" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-H7jy0XyoAXg/UDTsGlyxSZI/AAAAAAAAJTs/L9UZqnE1IFI/IMG_0320_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="387" height="291"></a><br></p> <p>So, my third Badwater crewing experience is in the books. Is there a Badwater run in my future? Hmmm. Had you asked me that after my first time crewing, I would have said “hell no!”</p> <p>After my second year of crewing – I think my response would have “Doubt it, but you never know”</p> <p>This year while on the road, I found myself thinking how I would do the race, and what I would differently, and what I would do the same. Some people would call that planning!<br><br>So, my <a href="http://www.sofarfromnormal.com/2012/08/to-all-my-friends-in-north-carolina-and.html">upcoming move</a> probably make logistics easier, and with perhaps another year or two of crewing under my belt (it really is a blast – tough work, but an absolute blast), some saving up – well, I think there could well be a Badwater in my future.</p> Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-40048629754124690482012-08-17T19:29:00.001-04:002012-08-17T19:44:18.528-04:00To all my friends in North Carolina and anyone else who wants to read it too–a personal announcement<p>This may or may not be the best way to announce this…………</p> <p>Being as this is a running blog, I don’t often (if at all) talk about my work.</p> <p>Without going into detail, I work for a great company selling stuff for a living. For the last several years, my sales territory has predominantly been in the Mountain and Pacific time zone.</p> <p>A few weeks ago, I was offered the opportunity to live and work in my territory – after a trip out west with my wife, and some pondering, we have decided to move out to California. </p> <p>Not exactly sure when, but we will probably go early in the new year. We are nervous and excited. And there is also some sadness. You see, since I started this ultra running thing in April 2009, the amount of people who I can truthfully call friends has grown exponentially, and I will truly miss so many people when we go. Especially you folks in the Mangum Track Club, you have no idea how much inspiration and motivation I draw from you all, and from the races you put on. I truly expect to make Hinson Lake an annual trip. </p> <p>I am however excited about the potential of living in the foothills of the Sierras. About being within 30 minutes of the Western States Trail. About exploring new trails, new races and meeting new friends.</p> <p>Oh, sure, with Facebook, the blogs and races from time to time, we will be keeping in touch, but for now, know that my life has been enriched just by knowing you folks, and that as we embark on our new adventure across the country, I will think of y’all often.</p> <p>Cheers!</p> <p>Jim</p> Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-6763542387759704242012-07-23T18:03:00.001-04:002012-07-23T18:07:03.160-04:00Badwater 135– Meredith’s Race Report<p><br><em>I crewed Badwater for the third time, and for the third time, I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the desert. For the second year running, I was on Meredith Murphy’s crew – she kindly let me copy and paste her race report for SoFarFromNormal. I will add my own thoughts in a different post another day. </em> <p><em>It’s a good one. Enjoy!<br> <hr> </em> <p><u><span style="text-align: left; line-height: 14px; widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; display: inline !important; font-family: ; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; float: none; color: ; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">Badwater 135, 2012 – Meredith Murphy</span><br style="text-align: left; widows: 2; text-transform: none; background-color: rgb(255,255,255); text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; display: block; font: 11px/14px 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; color: rgb(51,51,51); word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"><span style="text-align: left; line-height: 14px; widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; display: inline !important; font-family: ; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; float: none; color: ; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"></span></u><br style="text-align: left; widows: 2; text-transform: none; background-color: rgb(255,255,255); text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; display: block; font: 11px/14px 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; color: rgb(51,51,51); word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px"><span style="text-align: left; line-height: 14px; widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; display: inline !important; font-family: ; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; float: none; color: ; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px">So, I finished my second Badwater ultra marathon. How can i even attempt to put the journey into words? From the start, this year was different than last ye</span><span style="text-align: left; line-height: 14px; widows: 2; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; display: inline; font-family: ; white-space: normal; orphans: 2; color: ; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px" class="text_exposed_show">ar. I knew what i was getting myself into and that was probably the hardest part, i think some of my naivety the year before was good, ignorance truly is bliss. I also felt like there was more pressure on me. I did it once, now I had to prove it was not a fluke. Last year if I did not finish, I could just say, well, it IS one of the hardest races on earth, so I did my best. My training was so much better this year and my mileage was easily double what it was last year. I also decided to go with a four person crew instead of two crews of three. I also was better prepared on what I needed to buy food and supply wise. I was going with the same everything else from last year-- socks (Injinji), shoes (Hoka), clothes, taping, etc.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="display: block"><br style="display: block">We arrived in Las Vegas early Friday morning and set off to procure our supplies. The first Walmart was pretty cleaned out of coolers after a heatwave, so it took a few different Walmarts over 2 days to get all our supplies, as well as a trip to a natural food store for the rest of my food. The other shock was that is was 80 and rainy when we arrived in Vegas, not quite the heat acclimation I was hoping for. On Saturday driving out to Death Valley, our thermometer read 73F while traveling through the Red Rock Canyons. I was very nervous that it would not be hot at Badwater or it would be really muggy, but only time would tell and in the end i had no control over it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="display: block"><br style="display: block">Prerace everything seemed to happen pretty fast and before I knew it, it was time to wake up for the big dance. I could barely sleep and woke up probably an hour before my alarm clock. I was all ready to go and antsy and ended up waking up my crew before their alarm. We got to watch the sunrise as we drove to Badwater Basin which is always spectacular. We arrived in good time and i weighed in, made the rounds seeing people and hit the bathroom. We did the official prerace pictures and headed up to the road for the start of the race. Last year i was beyond petrified at the start, but this year I felt good and not as nervous. I was still nervous, but not terrified.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="display: block"><br style="display: block">And then we were off. I just followed my own pace, as I did last year, and let people go ahead down the road. I ran a little with Eric Gelber and just enjoyed the desert. I love this section of the race and the beauty is just unrivaled. I enjoy the 6am start especially since we get the shade of the mountain for about an hour and you get to watch the 8am and 10am runners drive by. It is great to get the waves, honks and cheers as they head to their race start.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="display: block"><br style="display: block">I made it to Furnace Creek in good time and got my requisite ice pop. I continued on from there without a pacer. Last year I had a pacer from Furnace Creek to the finish, but this year, i was just enjoying the alone time and did not need one. The temps started to rise and it was a little irritating to hear from everyone along the course how "cool" it was, because yeah, it was not as hot as last year, but it is still hot and the sun is still strong! We saw the highest reading at 117F this year. I also was having so much fun. I do not think I ever had as much fun at a race as I did in the first 30-35 miles of Badwater this year.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="display: block"><br style="display: block">I was doing really well with hydration and eating and just moving along at a good clip. I saw a crew car fly off the highway right ahead of me and it freaked me out. I was pissed that they did that and then pissed that the rubberneckers were driving dangerously as well around all the runners. The 8am runners started to catch me after a few hours past Furnace Creek and the closer I got to StovePipe Wells, the more 10am runners I saw as well. It is really neat to be up close to all the top runners and everyone is always so friendly. I just love the family that is the Badwater Ultramarathon. Almost every crew you pass cheers for you, sprays you with water, etc.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="display: block"><br style="display: block">Towards Stove Pipe Wells, I started to feel a little short of breath and it continued to get worse. I was trying to keep distracted by the fighter jets I saw in the sky, but around mile 38 I just felt like I could not breath very well and headed over to the van. This was the point in the race last year that I started with tummy troubles and I was just not happy about having to admit i was not feeling great. Jim, who was also on my crew last year, immediately realized that I was overheating and my crew worked on cooling me down. I took ice packs and put them in my hat, bra and down my pants. Jim came out on the course and sprayed me down as he paced behind me. It felt like forever to get to the sand dunes, but it was just a couple miles. Once we hit them, it was a short 2 miles to Stove Pipe Wells, where I would get to use the bathroom and have some more ice pops and see my family.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="display: block"><br style="display: block">I was just about at the same time as last year, a little past 11 hours, into Stove Pipe Wells and was feeling good about my pace and glad I was having no tummy issues yet, however, I dreaded the next section, the 16 mile climb up Towne Pass. Last year we had 30-40 mph headwinds that started around the sand dunes and lasted to the top of Towne Pass. Jim was going to pace me on this section and I really wanted him to experience this climb. The sun was also starting to set, but not fast enough. I was hot and just looking forward to the relief nightfall would bring. And then it started. The winds. And they were unrelenting and soul sucking and shockingly worse than last year, with gusts up to 50mph i am told.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="display: block"><br style="display: block">It took forever to get up that climb. The craziest part about going up Towne Pass is that while going forward it looks like you are going flat or downhill, but you are really going uphill. It is such a mind teaser. But then it gets dark and I just needed to focus on one foot in front of the other. When I finally got to the top, i was so exhausted i needed to take a short nap before my descent. I felt rejuvenated after my cat nap and Jim started with me down the mountain towards Panamint. I was running a good clip, but after a few miles, decided to power walk as my quads were starting to burn up. My fast walk was still pretty darn fast and Jim had to jog a little to keep up. Iliana took over pacing duties on my way to Panamaint. I was a little slower into Panamint than last year, but I think that was due to the winds just being worse this year. There were no smoothies at the gas stations, but my crew got me a slushy which was almost as good.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="display: block"><br style="display: block">Mandy paced me up this section and I felt great and felt a lot stronger than last year. Last year I also thought Father Crowley was the peak of the mountain, but this year knew it was not and that i had several more miles to go. It was still long once we got past Father Crowley. I also saw my second scorpion of the race, but this one was dead. It was great to spend this time with Mandy and we were really just had a good time hiking and chatting.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="display: block"><br style="display: block">The next check point is Darwin at mile 90. I tried to take a short nap, but the nap was too short and i was probably only asleep a minute or two. I could have used about 5 more, but it was what it was. Jessi paced me on this section and as we were going down the road, we heard an awful sound, i was so scared at what was coming down the highway behind us and just was frozen there waiting for a monster of some sort. It was not a monster, but a very low flying jet plane!! it whipped right by us, super low, and then whipped around the mountain and out of sight.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="display: block"><br style="display: block">It seemed like forever between mile 90 and 100, but eventually I made it and was once again really happy at how much stomach was holding up. Last year mile 100 was where it went downhill very fast for me. I started puking last year right at 100 miles and did not eat anything for the rest of the race. I did not want to jinx it, but i was glad to have beat that boogie man. We could see Mt Whitney for a long time, but this year was weird, there was no snow on the top of the mountain. It just really shows how weird the weather was this year. Heading towards Lone Pine I was feeling great and right past Keeler, I entered a few miles of a sandstorm. It was just horrible. It was just miles of sand whipping around and i felt like i was choking on the sand. I tried to cough some up and gagged and started to dry heave. I knew what was coming next. I hustled over to the van and Jim did not want me to sit, but i was like, outta my way!!! and i started to puke. However, i was not too upset over it. I knew it was not due to upset stomach, but just a freak thing with the sand. I felt fine and kept on going. A mile or two later i tried to eat a fruit cup and puked it right up, i do not even think it made it to my stomach! I decided I was fine to do the last 20 miles on no food, heck, i did 35 miles on no food last year.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="display: block"><br style="display: block">My crew left Mandy and I heading to Lone Pine as they went real quick to grab some food in Lone Pine. The sun was going down on the second day and things started to get really weird really fast. With the setting sun, the desert plants along the road took on shapes of their own. I saw dinosaurs, mannequins, voluptuous women, polar bears, and so much more. Mandy, who was just as sleep deprived, was seeing stuff too. It was fun for about 10 minutes, then it was just really really annoying. The white line on the road was floating and looking like a pipe or a snake or something. It was totally alive. When the crew came back I knew I needed a nap to reset my brain. I also knew I had more than enough time to make it to the finish before the cutoff.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="display: block"><br style="display: block">Jim took over pacing and once I made the turn into Lone Pine, I felt rejuvenated. i made it to the check point so fast, my crew was snoozing in the van. I just wanted to tackle the mountain. I know the people at the check point were a little concerned about me making it in time, but knowing how I felt last year vs this year, I had no concerns at all and knew it was just a matter of time before I crossed the finish line. It was a really good feeling and I could smell the barn, so to speak.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="display: block"><br style="display: block">I love getting into Lone Pine in the dark because you can see the trail of cars up the mountain. (though i will admit, it would be nice to finish in the daylight!) It is a sight to behold for sure. Last year, I was dragging so much at this point that my first mile up Mt Whitney was 36 or 38 minutes long. This year, I had none of that and really enjoyed my climb up the mountain for the most part. And I started to get really hungry. I ate some bread and then a few miles later I tossed the bread aside for some Milano cookies. After a few miles, Jessi took over for a few miles and then with 6 or 7 to go, Mandy took over for the final haul. I forgot how steep that section was towards the end but i felt a million times better than last year. Also, there were a lot of runners on the mountain this year when last year we saw none. I liked the company.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><br style="display: block"><br style="display: block">After roasting in the desert for two days, i was cold and had a sweatshirt on. Rumor was it was 45F up at the finish line. I would get hot going up the steeper climbs, but we were definitely not in Death Valley!! The altitude was hard on me again this year, being a flat lander, but Mandy and I just kept trudging forward and I huffed and puffed. She had her iPod playing some Cure for us and we had a good, quiet time. Finally we told the crew to meet us at the finish as we knew we were getting close. We were almost there, smelling the pines and listening to the water, when we took a slight turn towards what we thought was the finish line. There were all these people, a canopy and lights. It really looked liked the finish line. But a park ranger told us it was not, it was a camping area. He offered to drive us to the finish, but we said no thank you and turned around. Luckily, he drove up to the finish to tell them that we were lost and a race official came down to find us. At this point, we were questioning if we were going the right away or not. Mandy felt bad, but it was an honest mistake and we both thought it was the right way to go. We were both very sleep deprived and it really did look like the finish down there!<br style="display: block"><br style="display: block">FINALLY we saw our crew and I knew we were close. We crossed the finish line and Chris Kostman the RD told me that i woke him up from his nap and he only napped 5 minutes. I told him if i had not gotten lost, he would have gotten no nap at all. I finished in 47:08 and was the final female finisher and it turns out, the final finisher. I was told if it was the Comrades marathon, that i would have been more popular than the first place finisher, but alas, it was not. I was so happy to get my buckle, medal, and finisher's shirt and celebrate with my crew at the finish line. I had such a great race compared to last year that it is unfortunate that my finish time did not reflect how well my race went. My crew was not as efficient as last year with the crew stops, but my main goal was to finish and we did and I am really happy with that. If my family and Chris Kostman will let me come back, you know I will be back to Death Valley and Badwater. I love my desert family and I love the Badwater Ultramarathon. Why? I cannot exactly say, but I love everything about it, well, everything maybe except Towne Pass!!! I was happy that my stomach held up, i was happy with my climb up Mt Whitney and i was happy my feet were in great shape again this year in a race that is historically malicious to runner's feet. Words can not describe what it feels like to cross that finish line and finish Badwater. I can only hope I can do it again one day.</span> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-yR-n0j824-E/UA3KOAUHTyI/AAAAAAAAIpw/LzqlbzyxqVA/s1600-h/Finish%252520Line%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Finish Line" border="0" alt="Finish Line" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-RnSy0ePx9-A/UA3KPFlSDUI/AAAAAAAAIp4/d2DEDdJFtxY/Finish%252520Line_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="490" height="312"></a><br><em>Jessi, Mandy, Meredith, Jimbo, Iliana</em></p> Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-42095116010205847872012-07-09T19:37:00.001-04:002012-07-09T19:47:41.998-04:00The 3 Peaks Challenge<p align="left"><br>The last time I was in England was 7 years ago, March 2005. Now that trip was pretty significant in my running career (career? WTF??). It was my first ever organized run/race. The 2005 Reading Half Marathon. My time was around 2:27 or something. I thought I was going to become a statistic somewhere around the 9 mile mark, by 11 miles, I was even closer to death. But I did make it. And of course I cried my eyes out as I crossed the finish line.</p> <p align="left">It was to be my first and last race. One and done. The end. That was the plan anyway. LOL.</p> <p align="left">Fast forward to July 2012. A vacation, an opportunity to catch up with family and friends. And find some mountains. </p> <p align="left">After a brief discussion, “The 3 Peaks Challenge” in the Yorkshire Dales seemed to be a good plan. A 25 mile loop, somewhere between 5,000 and 6,000 feet of elevation gain.</p> <p align="left">How hard could it be? My sister, Abby would navigate, well, because she can, and also because she had done the route before, all I had to do was follow.<br><br></p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-JQK0j46VO38/T_tqQFtSTBI/AAAAAAAAHc4/2cs00oiOiGg/s1600-h/IMG_00433.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0043" border="0" alt="IMG_0043" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-IpvUHu5T4Jg/T_tqQ9k0H9I/AAAAAAAAHdA/nJuOcPu_8D0/IMG_0043_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><br> <p>Seriously, how hard could it be? Well, first there is the unpredictable nature of the English weather. Then there is the bogs. Peat bogs. Shoe sucking cold peat bogs. Then there is the fact that some of the climbing almost certainly crosses that line between hiking and mountaineering. You see, when you need hands to assist in the hike, that becomes mountaineering. Then there is the fact that I am pathetic at descents. Sure, the nicely groomed trails we mainly encounter in the US – any fool can fly down them. But the steep rock strewn, slippery descents of the Penines – well my fear of heights kicked in. Or was it the fear of slipping on a lime stone rock and cracking my skull and dying a gruesome death and having my body mauled by the man-eating-sheep that occupy the hillsides. Probably.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-HJBj8beYfOc/T_tqTRCoyUI/AAAAAAAAHdI/qo_nBhBZgCE/s1600-h/IMG_01233.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0123" border="0" alt="IMG_0123" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-1PD06jbWfgI/T_tqUPLdXeI/AAAAAAAAHdQ/n3536K6wASU/IMG_0123_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><font size="1">One of the ferocious creatures just waiting for me to slip and fall.</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-l2EO0R9HmYc/T_tqWJhdiJI/AAAAAAAAHdY/pUUHBUubPDg/s1600-h/IMG_00893.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0089" border="0" alt="IMG_0089" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-XA46OXcUtl0/T_tqW3Y56mI/AAAAAAAAHdg/AIeKDrdpkoM/IMG_0089_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><br><font size="1">And here is another one.</font></p> <p>The three peaks – Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. Not sure which was the toughest – they all had their moments. The climb up Pen-Y-Ghent wasn’t too bad. The approach to the summit a steep rocky climb. The descent was mainly manageable until we hit the bogs. That was tough terrain to keep moving on. Also, there were few landmarks, and no clearly marked trail (it was a bog, durr), so navigation became something that we needed to be aware of. Abby did great though and got us back to some kind of civilization. Before the climb up Whernside………..</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-4v0q5_5qWj0/T_tqXxKuDqI/AAAAAAAAHdo/0OK8oCF36Cw/s1600-h/IMG_00803.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0080" border="0" alt="IMG_0080" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-bCOXzmbXIzE/T_tqYr9CgfI/AAAAAAAAHdw/xHWHKlWs5Xk/IMG_0080_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a><font size="1">Peat bogs – one of the reasons they call it a challenge!</font><br></p> <p>After the bog crossing, there is a fairly long, comparatively easy hike, past the spectacular viaduct at Ribblesdale before beginning the ascent of Peak #2, Whenside. This was probably my favorite part of the journey, a good climb, with nice footing. The kind of climb that you can get a rhythm going, with wonderful views of the other two peaks.</p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-qFVEErOZ468/T_tqZl6atGI/AAAAAAAAHd4/lHqOOCy_wzk/s1600-h/IMG_00983.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0098" border="0" alt="IMG_0098" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zFdKmlUvlkw/T_tqaflb3YI/AAAAAAAAHeA/VcCTyu0_0X4/IMG_0098_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><br><font size="1">The Viaduct<br><br></font><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ivUvDj42u6I/T_tqcARIgGI/AAAAAAAAHeI/X8_3PA6z0ZI/s1600-h/IMG_01063.jpg"><font size="1"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0106" border="0" alt="IMG_0106" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-oKNl8y47h3s/T_tqc3QX2XI/AAAAAAAAHeQ/951EZP_9wm4/IMG_0106_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></font></a><br><font size="1">Waterfall on the way up Whernside</font></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-5wkzQy_pOZg/T_tqeAF512I/AAAAAAAAHeY/pbYVd2MR_TA/s1600-h/IMG_01103.jpg"><font size="1"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0110" border="0" alt="IMG_0110" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-4QjDSS0CIEk/T_tqeoAAz0I/AAAAAAAAHeg/8iX4TM_8bdI/IMG_0110_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></font></a><br><font size="1">The hill on the right is Ingleborough in the background on the left<br>is Pen-Y-Ghent</font><br><br><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5LzwYKMlLZk/T_tqfhiQPAI/AAAAAAAAHeo/sNC4HbGhqKw/s1600-h/IMG_01113.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0111" border="0" alt="IMG_0111" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--7fMpZOQgSo/T_tqgD9caGI/AAAAAAAAHew/YVkz3wpMDXI/IMG_0111_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><br><font size="1">Pen-Y-Ghent in the middle</font></p> <p>The descent from Whernside was steep, rocky and for me, it was terrifying. But we lived to start the third peak, Ingleborough. Which was when it started raining. Sigh.</p> <p>Most of the climb up Ingleborough was fine, but there is this one part fairly close to the summit that was brutal. I hated it when I was climbing it, but once done, it was one of those that gave immense satisfaction at having completed it. It was pretty much near vertical – maybe 200 or 300 vertical feet with probably less than a tenth of a mile forward motion. Fun <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3D4vJiq5n0s/T_tqgkFf9hI/AAAAAAAAHe4/gS11dui2DMA/wlEmoticon-smile2.png?imgmax=800"></p> <p align="left">At the top, there are the foundations of iron age buildings – apparently the climate used to be warmer in those days, but on this particular day, with the mist and the cold, we looked briefly, but couldn’t find them in the clouds.<br><br><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9lbaj2M3nfI/T_tqhpPk0BI/AAAAAAAAHfA/Ze6zUGYbiYQ/s1600-h/IMG_01187.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0118" border="0" alt="IMG_0118" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-7lBBvcLaLz0/T_tqiCqH3yI/AAAAAAAAHfI/jaZHMtT4R6c/IMG_0118_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ZmqYDIlRVPQ/T_tqjBxi_KI/AAAAAAAAHfQ/xi0IJKmjBM4/s1600-h/IMG_01193.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0119" border="0" alt="IMG_0119" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-lm3EuY4Gv5o/T_tqjj7VUZI/AAAAAAAAHfY/tNgJEfEIwYM/IMG_0119_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><br><font size="1">The summit of Ingleborough</font><br><br><br></p> <p align="left">After the summit – an uneventful drop down to where we started 10:42 earlier.<br><br></p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-8ADba0TIMvs/T_tqksPBoNI/AAAAAAAAHfg/Pl2_di-yWTM/s1600-h/IMG_01253.jpg"><font size="1"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0125" border="0" alt="IMG_0125" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-H5a5J6Se8Bk/T_tqlbmEnlI/AAAAAAAAHfo/-yXZ6ayFuzk/IMG_0125_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"> <p align="center"></font></a><font size="1">Done. And with Pen-Y-Ghent in the background. We climbed up the Right hand side</font></p> <p><strong>Now, here are some more pictures – pictures of buildings:</strong></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-8U7FnOXcx8E/T_tqmYJQlMI/AAAAAAAAHfw/sXhn7wujkZ4/s1600-h/IMG_00453.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0045" border="0" alt="IMG_0045" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dDRAK5Z0zKk/T_tqnIuag6I/AAAAAAAAHf4/OwPGsdIsODg/IMG_0045_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><br></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-smRvBO0GQ2U/T_tqo4Oi-dI/AAAAAAAAHgA/OnCP-24vs5Q/s1600-h/IMG_00963.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0096" border="0" alt="IMG_0096" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-gE9EssEDmHk/T_tqpqK3OmI/AAAAAAAAHgI/RKb-80jxLSU/IMG_0096_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><br><font size="1">The drystone walls and some of the old barns pepper the countryside which probably <br>hasn’t changed that much in 100’s of years</font><br><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-z4hEJc4jclM/T_tqrdFih5I/AAAAAAAAHgQ/lRxbKNRsF60/s1600-h/IMG_00973.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0097" border="0" alt="IMG_0097" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-6ophnbsTAqM/T_tqsLM5zII/AAAAAAAAHgY/PemMMjukJ8A/IMG_0097_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><br><font size="1">The sign above the door said this house was built in 1687.<br>Probably time to get a new one then. With bigger windows.<br><br></font><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-FNWLJZqvJfo/T_tqtUMsvpI/AAAAAAAAHgg/TVs_gq1w3xs/s1600-h/IMG_00463.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0046" border="0" alt="IMG_0046" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2aoZ2FhCxC8/T_tquNsBVnI/AAAAAAAAHgo/H0n1bBazKug/IMG_0046_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/--bjn32FQx0Q/T_tqvLcPZhI/AAAAAAAAHgw/UW0MzNn1omY/s1600-h/IMG_00953.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0095" border="0" alt="IMG_0095" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-h2wQ5XpQcOg/T_tqv74haQI/AAAAAAAAHg4/vidob-vIzmQ/IMG_0095_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a><br><br><strong>More pictures. Not pictures of buildings:</strong><br><br><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-uCRj8Ga3oYY/T_tqw8B8D1I/AAAAAAAAHhA/TwagX8jPr68/s1600-h/IMG_00493.jpg"><font size="1"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0049" border="0" alt="IMG_0049" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-NSlPZuwwhrc/T_tqxnUysuI/AAAAAAAAHhI/6Dtymj06pa4/IMG_0049_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></font></a><br><font size="1">The climb up Pen-Y-Ghent<br></font><br><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/--TryX_nlfZ4/T_tqznf2UoI/AAAAAAAAHhQ/iYsgh3jnfv8/s1600-h/IMG_00553.jpg"><font size="1"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0055" border="0" alt="IMG_0055" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-YOZVOz6DTUw/T_tq0G-hDCI/AAAAAAAAHhY/MgGpSQ2DGTs/IMG_0055_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></font></a><br><br><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-Nx2YsXYBNg8/T_tq16BVLAI/AAAAAAAAHhg/9ff9eUXyRNU/s1600-h/IMG_00563.jpg"><font size="1"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0056" border="0" alt="IMG_0056" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BX1A0qYVooI/T_tq2Q9Q2sI/AAAAAAAAHho/7MU39izpHqE/IMG_0056_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></font></a><br><br><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HmDXDfHHA6k/T_tq39qzh4I/AAAAAAAAHhw/bU2iprCQZTk/s1600-h/IMG_00683.jpg"><font size="1"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0068" border="0" alt="IMG_0068" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PZUXrexz5s8/T_tq4_vrDjI/AAAAAAAAHh4/a_azj7UkgSA/IMG_0068_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></font></a><br><font size="1">Abby’s way of keeping her socks dry.<br><br></font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-pg568aZTXZY/T_tq5ryl8sI/AAAAAAAAHiA/bp5vwpdElmM/s1600-h/IMG_00833.jpg"><font size="1"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0083" border="0" alt="IMG_0083" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-KkLO-84wjbA/T_tq6RCCyNI/AAAAAAAAHiI/TWUbtb6LzS4/IMG_0083_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></font></a><br><font size="1">Bog. And Pen-Y-Ghent<br></font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-514tjxd2YFE/T_tq7i4seTI/AAAAAAAAHiQ/o5M_SRGuGdI/s1600-h/IMG_00883.jpg"><font size="1"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0088" border="0" alt="IMG_0088" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rbTjLb-NuMY/T_tq8axSXXI/AAAAAAAAHiY/4C96Px8UXLQ/IMG_0088_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></font></a><br><font size="1">There was not just killer sheep to contend with<br><br></font><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-wcKAF5hUej8/T_tq-09k_AI/AAAAAAAAHig/m5mmU-nI0vs/s1600-h/IMG_00903.jpg"><font size="1"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0090" border="0" alt="IMG_0090" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ZOH6OpERgEM/T_tq_p-fADI/AAAAAAAAHio/fXgFbzWTk_Y/IMG_0090_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></font></a><br><br><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-zMQgFNlRu5Y/T_trA0Ctn9I/AAAAAAAAHiw/H5rJUOsHKfw/s1600-h/IMG_00573.jpg"><font size="1"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0057" border="0" alt="IMG_0057" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-miYplmpEML4/T_trBrvuybI/AAAAAAAAHi4/fx5uGIDerF8/IMG_0057_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></font></a></p> <p align="center"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CklIVnlxiVE/T_trCjiAGDI/AAAAAAAAHjk/-sx8bTgQqv8/s1600-h/IMG_00853.jpg"><font size="1"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CklIVnlxiVE/T_trCjiAGDI/AAAAAAAAHjk/-sx8bTgQqv8/s1600-h/IMG_00853.jpg"><font size="1"><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-CklIVnlxiVE/T_trCjiAGDI/AAAAAAAAHjo/VgmvNCpzjT0/s1600-h/IMG_0085%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0085" border="0" alt="IMG_0085" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Y93hkdZxe0M/T_trEloMf4I/AAAAAAAAHjM/L4u9YYDEnHY/IMG_0085_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="233" height="176"></a></font></a></font></a><br><font size="1">I think this is Whernside in the distance<br><br> </font><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-y216J-RYY5g/T_trF97ncCI/AAAAAAAAHjU/Pab-WXhrR2k/s1600-h/IMG_01203.jpg"><font size="1"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="IMG_0120" border="0" alt="IMG_0120" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-PB3s9voNCsk/T_trGldEG1I/AAAAAAAAHjc/n94hmIbFECQ/IMG_0120_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></font></a><br><font size="1">A limestone pavement towards the end of the walk<br></p></font> Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-274592147229371852012-06-28T09:14:00.001-04:002012-06-28T09:14:10.715-04:00The Bethel Hill Moonlight Boogie. Well, half-Boogie, but solo.<p>I have talked about the Boogie before, and how important it is to me not to bollox it up. I have bolloxed it up before, and I don’t want to bollox it up again.</p> <p>This is another one about how execution can make or break (bollox) the boogie. The stories about the heat, the hills, the pigeon sized deer fly, the snakes, drunk rednecks are all well documented, and the race waiver is still one of the best out there.</p> <p>This year I was adding a a new dimension to my race. I was going to run it solo.</p> <p>I was horrified to learn that I would be traveling for work on Boogie day! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! At May Madness, though, I talked to Doug “The Boogieman”, and asked him about the possibility of starting the race early. A week early. I also asked, if I could downgrade from the Full-Boogie (50 miles) to the Baby-Boogie (26.2). Doug very kindly agreed, and said he would recognize my finish and record my finish time with an asterisk for the early start.</p> <p>Of course I wasn’t going to be totally alone. Lady Sarah the UltraPup (who recovered within a day of Chatooga) was going to pace me again.</p> <p>My plan was to start exactly 6pm, a week early. When I left Sanford the weather was true Boogie weather. The thermometer in my car read 92<sup>o</sup>F, and it was nice and humid. However, the temperature plummeted in the 75 minute drive to Bethel Hill Church, to a mere 84<sup>o</sup>F. WTF? This is very-unBoogie like. Oh well, cooler weather wouldn’t be a bad thing. On the way to the start, I hid a cooler at the Dog Pen which would serve as my mini aid station. My truck would be the “main aid station” at the start of each loop.</p> <p>The course is basically a lollipop. A 6 mile loop, then a 4 mile out and back (down Bethel Hill then another 1/2 mile to a turn around and back). So, the marathon, is two full laps, plus the 6 mile loop. For the 0.2 , at the start you run a very short 0.1 mile out and a 0.1 mile back.</p> <p>At 6pm on the nose, I started my 0.1 out, and just as I was wrapping up the 0.1 mile back, a car pulled into the church parking lot. It was Merrie, Doug’s wife who was going to keep me company for the first 6 miles! Wonderful, then I would only have 20 miles on my own. I have seen Merrie at the occasional race, but had never met her before. Somewhere between 1.5 miles and 2 miles, Doug also joined us. And he would stick with me for a full loop. The pace was as easy as the conversation. As promised, Merrie went home after 6 miles. Doug stuck with me down the out and back and back to his car. So basically I had company for the first 12 miles or so. That really helped. When we got back to his car, Doug very kindly offered me a beer. We chatted for a few minutes while enjoying the beverage, then I carried on the run. </p> <p>This was right around dusk. It didn’t take long for the loneliness to kick in – about as quick as the darkness engulfed Lady Sarah and I. I made sure we were both lit up like Christmas trees, I had flashing red lights on my back, a head light, and Sarah had her flashing red and reflective collar on. </p> <p>This was also when the head games started. Seriously – everything seriously screwed with my head! Every crack in the pavement became a rattle snake or a copperhead. Every noise in the woods was a pole cat, even the lightning bugs when they first fired up became the flashlights of stalkers in the woods, (later on though – the lightshow they gave me was incredibly impressive), and every pair of headlamps became a drunk redneck ready to throw beer cans and run us off the road.</p> <p>Of course none of that was the case. Every car gave us a wide berth, the noises in the woods were probably rabbits (coulda been pole cats though, who knows?), and the cracks in the pavement, were just cracks in the pavement. </p> <p>The mind games and the loneliness really just made me want to get it done, it was actually pretty scary despite the fact that there really was nothing to be scared about. I picked the pace up quite a bit once I was on my own (or maybe it was the beer), and even more so for the last 6 miles.</p> <p>Sarah of course was simply awesome as always, and had a perfect rhythm going, and was probably the only thing that kept me from completely going nuts. I know that if there really was a polecat stalking us, she would of course alert me. I think. Probably. Hopefully, anyway.</p> <p>So with nobody at the finish, I just stopped my watch, and wandered over to the truck, sat down, had a beer and celebrated my 4th Boogie (and 3rd finish).</p> <p>Thank you Doug for letting me take part in one of my absolute favorite races, even though work got in the way</p> <p>Boogie done. Not Bolloxed.</p> Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-56727679788253562242012-06-28T09:10:00.001-04:002012-06-28T09:10:26.705-04:00Chatooga 50k Executed<p><br>Chatooga 50k is a tough run that is all about the execution. If you manage things well, then the race will go well for you. (However you define “well” of course).</p> <p>It seems that like many ultras, this one is totally capable of biting you in the ass. Quick summary of the course: 3.5 miles down (drop a 1000’ or so), 3.5 miles back up. Aid station. Then 10 miles without aid, rolling hills, quite a few of these miles by the Chatooga River (apparently, ‘Deliverance’ was filmed there). The trail is rocky with several roots, pretty technical. After 10 miles, the next aid station, followed by 2 miles out (mainly down), 2 miles back (mainly up – strangely), then back the way you came for 10 miles to the finish.</p> <p>So, here is how I think you can screw this thing up. The first 3.5 miles, this is where you can start to bollox things up. It is fairly easy running, all down hill – none of it really steep though. You can really push the pace. You can get to the bottom of the trail, and feel great – so great that when you turn around at the bottom, with visions of perhaps a PR in mind, you start to climb back up the hill. If you really want to fuck things up, then you run it hard. So, the end result of the first 7 miles, the beginnings of southern fried quads with a side of trashed calf muscles. Add a touch of dehydration into the mix, and you have the potential for disaster. Now you have 10 miles to go with no way to refuel, and you can only rehydrate with what you can carry (supplemented by Chatooga-Mineral-Water), the heat picks up, by the time you get to the aid station at 17 miles or so, you are totally bolloxed. This is essentially what I did last year – sure I finished, but the last 5 miles were pretty bloody miserable – it was a pretty spectacular meltdown).</p> <p>This year, not so. I have learned a lot about “trail miles”, and “mountain trail miles”, so I knew just how slow it could be, I had course knowledge. Also, this year, I had a wonderful pacer for the whole race – Lady Sarah The UltraPup. I left Wilbur at home this time, his paws were a little sore from running in sand at the <a href="http://www.sofarfromnormal.com/2012/06/it-madness-i-tells-ya-madness.html" target="_blank">May Madness 50K</a>, plus there was not going to be nearly as much down time for him to cool off during this race. So just Sarah and I. And she truly was awesome.</p> <p>So, running down the hill at the start, I felt myself going just a little faster than I wanted, I stood to the side of the trail and let everyone pass me by. I learned as I headed back up after the turnaround that I wasn’t quite DFL, but close, there was just one other person behind me and a couple who started 15 minutes late. I wasn’t bothered in the slightest. I was executing well.</p> <p>At the aid station, the volunteers were simply wonderful. They pampered Sarah, offered her snacks and a bowl of water, which she gratefully accepted, they didn’t leave me to fend form myself either, they filled my bottle, fed me to get me ready for the next 10 mile stretch. Here is the trick here. Slam a couple of Gatorades while waiting, eat something (even though hunger is not yet an issue, fill up a water bottle, and make sure the hydration bladder is filled up, and you will get through the next 3 hours or so without aid. Again, this stretch is all about taking it easy. Dehydration can easily become a factor if the effort levels get too high. The aid station at 17 miles is such a wonderful sight when you eventually get there.</p> <p>In my case, I felt very good at this point. Sarah was trotting along as graceful as she always is. But it was only just over the halfway point. The next 4 miles were uneventful, and to be honest fairly easy after the last 10 miles stretch. I enjoyed hanging out with Susan and Cliff. Turns out Susan and I have run many of the same races – I remember her from Javelina, and more recently from a brief conversation we had while I was pacing at Miwok a couple of weeks earlier. It the relative smallness of the UltraWorld always surprises me. You enjoy a few minutes chat with someone on the West Coast, and see them at a small race in the South.</p> <p>After the 4 mile out and back, back at the aid station, it is time to get ready for the 10 mile stretch back to the finish. Again both Sarah and I were pampered. After filling everything up, snacking up, it was time to head out for the last unaided 10 miles. This is where all my earlier caution paid off, I still felt good, even though the heat had picked up some. This is where I slowly move up the field (not that I really give a crap about exactly where I finish), but it was good to feel strong, knowing that it as because of all of my earlier decisions. Certainly there was a reasonable amount of carnage, that I passed!</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-QG37sDZmF0s/T-xXrS015fI/AAAAAAAAHUU/D0xGu7Rs0VI/s1600-h/250830_3961708322695_1287128115_n%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="250830_3961708322695_1287128115_n" border="0" alt="250830_3961708322695_1287128115_n" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-LBIpTSJDYgM/T-xXsJ3hJTI/AAAAAAAAHUc/87WxiJd1ei0/250830_3961708322695_1287128115_n_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="320" height="426"></a></p> <p> </p> <p>One thing I noticed – Sarah is a bit of a racer. 99% of the time when we were running, she ran at whatever pace I was running at. Never pulling on the leash. That 1% of the time though, that was when she could sniff that someone was ahead of us. She pulled a bit at the leash, would get a bit of a serious look and put her head down. Oh, she absolutely wanted to go faster. Once we had gone past, she would relax. </p> <p>At 28 miles, Sarah was in virgin territory. She had run 26.2 a couple of times, 27.43 at the NC Fat Ass, and 45k at May Madness. She took every opportunity to have drink when we crossed streams or passed the river. She was running a smart race too <img style="border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none" class="wlEmoticon wlEmoticon-smile" alt="Smile" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-W1brW5-vWGE/T-xXszeFD2I/AAAAAAAAHUk/vqAEfaZ7110/wlEmoticon-smile2.png?imgmax=800"></p> <p>With three miles to go, you turn away from the river, and basically have a very gentle climb to the end of the trail. I was beginning to tire at this point – but hey, it’s a 5k, and any fool can run a 5k.</p> <p>The road, and the place where the aid station was situated at 7 miles, signals the end of the 10 mile solo stretch and is the sign that you are about 1/2 mile from the finish.</p> <p>Just before the line, I let Sarah’s leash go and let her sprint to the finish. She truly looked as fresh as when she had started.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-3Peq1gtOFNI/T-xXulwqs_I/AAAAAAAAHUs/lIibMJwklOo/s1600-h/523515_3759698083739_601385101_n%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="523515_3759698083739_601385101_n" border="0" alt="523515_3759698083739_601385101_n" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-JgokGYmgZx4/T-xXwYk6UGI/AAAAAAAAHU0/miwQiYGFYMY/523515_3759698083739_601385101_n_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="407" height="286"></a></p> <p>Mind you, as soon as she got in the truck to head home, she was out like a light!</p> <p>I would like to put a shout out to Terri Hayes, this is a wonderful race which is just funded with donations, terrific scenery, definitely challenging and staffed with wonderful volunteers.</p> Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-4180837142841946292012-06-01T09:58:00.001-04:002012-06-01T09:58:07.209-04:00It's madness I tells ya, madness<p> </p> <p><strong><u>May Madness 50k</u></strong></p> <p>The brainchild of Doug “The Boogieman” Dawkins. Simple in concept, but the execution….. ugh!</p> <p>Basically, the principle was 10 x 5k’s each 5k starts on the hour every hour. The times in each 5k are added and your accumulative time is your time for the 50k</p> <p>You see, run it fast, you get a nice rest, and an opportunity to cool down. Run it slow, and perhaps you don’t overheat in the first place. Being as I knew I was never going to win (WTF? LOL! – No shit Sherlock), I elected to take something between the two. So an easy 5k, and aim for around 15-20 minute break.</p> <p>The ultra-puppies came along for a run, so I obviously didn’t want those guys to overheat, but at the same time, I wanted them to cool off between loops,</p> <p>The challenge of this was two-fold, the heat, and the course. It was going to be in the 90’s, and the course – oh my, the course. Sand. In some places, ankle deep. Not real hilly (although the small inclines that were there really did get steeper each loop). The lack of meaningful shade added to the difficulty.</p> <p>But I liked it!</p> <p>I have said before, that I like small loop ultras, you get to hang out with friends – some faster than me, some slower. And in this one, you also get to hang out with the REALLY fast people during the rests between loops.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-SQMp5yxFDzY/T8jKTPoLc_I/AAAAAAAAHTw/PdUQCU7rAzk/s1600-h/DSCN25943.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="DSCN2594" border="0" alt="DSCN2594" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-spS7Rl344-s/T8jKUSQfPyI/AAAAAAAAHT4/3Efo96swG00/DSCN2594_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="184"></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="1">Jimbo, Tim, and the Ultra-Puppies early on</font></p> <p><br>So, I liked the format, and being honest, I liked my approach. I did see some carnage – mainly caused by overheating. My approach to remaining cool was to dress in Badwater gear – long sleeve white shirt and desert hat. Wilbur’s approach to remaining cool involved sitting in a tub of water. Sarah’s approach was to sleep in the shade under the car</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pmtWJU1UueA/T8jKaA1lcoI/AAAAAAAAHUA/Qb4rhDxCULw/s1600-h/DSC_20993.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; margin-left: auto; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 0px" title="DSC_2099" border="0" alt="DSC_2099" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5uggtHUq_lQ/T8jKbdyo-qI/AAAAAAAAHUI/VQPs8I2ndmo/DSC_2099_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="163"></a></p> <p align="center"><font size="1">Cooling off between laps</font></p> <p>The 8th lap – Wilbur wanted to stop under the shade a couple of times. My rule when I run with the pups is that they must set the pace – especially in the heat. I made the decision to sit them out for the 9th lap, and I ran it on my own.</p> <p>We did all come together for the “glory lap though”. We walked the whole lap, and I came in DFL (YAY!!) for that last 5k.</p> <p>So, final thoughts? I enjoyed the run – the format was challenging mentally, but once I locked it into my head that it was a 50k with extra long aid stops, rather than 10 x 5k’s it was not too bad to wrap my head around.</p> <p>Here’s a thought – if somebody was particularly evil, they would come up with a similar concept for a race, but perhaps reduce the time allowed for each lap by, ooooh, say a minute for a 1.6 mile trail loop in August………….</p> Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6900756789775770074.post-79636158127000142632012-05-25T15:19:00.001-04:002012-05-25T15:19:10.306-04:00Why?<p>Here is something I posted to FB yesterday. Thought I may as well post it here too:</p> <p><font size="2">People often ask why I run. I think I have an answer.</font></p> <p><font size="2">I am travelling for work in So. California. </font></p> <p><font size="2">Tuesday, I find an urban wilderness area. Trails and a mountain within sight of downtown LA. Tough hill climbs, but great fun, you could hear birds chirping at the same time as traffic noises.</font></p> <p><font size="2">Tuesday - a different city, out in the desert. I'm jogging through the streets and a park close to my hotel, it's 104 degrees of dry heat. I come across some citrus trees in the park and pick a fresh satsuma from one, and a grapefruit from another. So deliciously sweet, fresh and still warm having been infused with desert sunshine. Perfect recovery meal!</font></p> <p><font size="2">Then today - I stumble across a State Park - I see mountains, I see ocean. I see a trail. I haul myself up a mountain, with wonderful views of the ocean, and eventually work my way back down to the beach. Where I run on the sand dodging the surf - eventually running in the surf. Finally, covered in sweat, salt and with aching calf muscles from all the climbing, I wade into the Pacific to rinse off and cool off my legs. Awesomeness. Pure awesomeness.</font><br><font size="2"><br>Now on Saturday, I get to spend the day and having fun with a whole bunch of crazies running 5k after 5k who will totally get where I am coming from.</font></p> <p><font size="2">Why do I run? You just sometimes never know what you will find. That's why I run.</font></p> <p>Note: I am posting this from a plane – for some reason the WiFi is not allowing me to post with pictures – I guess I will add those later.</p> <p><strong><u><font size="3">Guest Bloggers sought:</font></u></strong></p> <p>I’m thinking of expanding SoFarFromNormal to include some guest writers/posters. So, are you interested in writing some posts about running and randomness? Get in touch!</p> Jimbohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00518039689275322948noreply@blogger.com2