Typically, my planned day off from running each week falls on Sunday. Of course, I usually end up taking random days off here and there as needed, but that’s neither here nor there. Sundays are my lazy day; a day to rest from the other six jam-packed days of the week. Really just a great day for me to recharge in general!
Every now and then I’ll get an itch on Sunday, though. A few weeks ago I got the itch to get up in the mountains while the weather was still in my favor. Good thing I did too, since it snowed the next day which forced the closing of that canyon road. Then Sunday I woke up to seven or eight inches of fresh snow outside. I don’t particularly like snow (mostly because I’m forced to drive in it), but Sunday was an exception. I got up and just knew I had to get rid of the itch… So I scratched!
After a quick breakfast and change of clothes, I ran out the door and headed to the Jordan River Parkway trail. The trail is very close to my house and it allows me to get off the roads. In fact, I do the majority of my flatland training here due to easy access and lack of cars (read: no cars). What awaited me was pure running bliss! I hopped onto the trail and only saw one other set of footprints for the first half mile or so. From there to my appointed turnaround (about 3 more miles) was fresh, untouched snow. There were literally hundreds of downed branches and trees that made blazing a new trail that much more fun, along with having to push my legs through the moderately deep snow. My Wildcats helped secure my footing and my base layers kept me warm. If only every winter run was so much fun!
Of course the biggest boneheaded move of the day was not taking my camera! I went back last night to get a few pics of my winter playground but the atmosphere just wasn't the same. In fact, it wasn't even close! Too much traction and melt off left things a sloppy mess. I really hate lugging my camera around too. Here I am making it sound enormous when it’s actually just a normal compact camera. Anyone know of anything small, light, and convenient to take on a run?
All in all my Sunday excursion was a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. After my 19 mile endeavor on Saturday, my legs were a bit taxed and my route that normally takes about 48 minutes, turned into 62 minutes with sore legs and fresh snow. The solitude and scenery were absolutely worth it, though! I’ll give up my regular rest day for a run like this any time!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Running Through The Pain
Why can something as simple as running cause so much pain?
When I sit down and think about that question, it seems like a stupid one. Of course running can lead to pain you idiot! You’re pounding your legs into the ground (with all that weight on top of them) for miles on end. Take an average stride of 150 strides per minute and run for an hour. That means you’re thrusting each of your legs into the ground around 4,500 times an hour. Ouch!
Now that winter’s on our doorstep, I’m trying to transition back to hitting the pavement. I’m having much less success than I’d hoped for! While I’m much stronger than last winter, the long, redundant miles on the road are exposing my weaknesses. On the trails I get to vary my stride and bounce around a bit. On the road I’m going at the same tempo, trying to maintain an efficient stride and pace. The truth is that it’s painful! I’ve been experiencing some posterior shin splints that I’m able to run through, albeit in an extremely uncomfortable fashion.
I think I’ve narrowed it down to a few issues...
The first is my shoes. I rotate between three different pairs of road shoes: A more “minimal” shoe for shorter runs, a transitional shoe for medium length runs, and a more cushioned shoe for long runs. The Brooks (long run shoe) are a perfect balance for me between not enough, and too much shoe. However, I think they might be forcing me to pronate unnaturally. I haven’t experimented much with good road trainers as most of my long runs have been on dirt, so I might have to look into some other options here.
The second issue is my stride. Now that I’m focusing on becoming faster, I think my form has changed. The tread patterns on all my shoes indicate I’m spending much more time on my forefoot than I was before. That’s not a terrible thing, but it’s not the way I stride naturally. I’m obviously forcing the issue when I should be easing into a more natural, faster variation of my current form.
Mostly, I’ve come to realize that you need to be bulletproof to run without injury. You can’t have any weakness in your armor or you’ll be brought to your knees. I have mad respect for all the elite runners out there who train day-in and day-out, all while avoiding injury. I’m still new to the sport, so while it’s frustrating having to deal with injury, it’s fun learning more about what’s causing it. And truthfully - for some reason - I like doing things the hard way! So until my flaws are strengthened, I’ll continue to make friends with the pain!
When I sit down and think about that question, it seems like a stupid one. Of course running can lead to pain you idiot! You’re pounding your legs into the ground (with all that weight on top of them) for miles on end. Take an average stride of 150 strides per minute and run for an hour. That means you’re thrusting each of your legs into the ground around 4,500 times an hour. Ouch!
Now that winter’s on our doorstep, I’m trying to transition back to hitting the pavement. I’m having much less success than I’d hoped for! While I’m much stronger than last winter, the long, redundant miles on the road are exposing my weaknesses. On the trails I get to vary my stride and bounce around a bit. On the road I’m going at the same tempo, trying to maintain an efficient stride and pace. The truth is that it’s painful! I’ve been experiencing some posterior shin splints that I’m able to run through, albeit in an extremely uncomfortable fashion.
I think I’ve narrowed it down to a few issues...
The first is my shoes. I rotate between three different pairs of road shoes: A more “minimal” shoe for shorter runs, a transitional shoe for medium length runs, and a more cushioned shoe for long runs. The Brooks (long run shoe) are a perfect balance for me between not enough, and too much shoe. However, I think they might be forcing me to pronate unnaturally. I haven’t experimented much with good road trainers as most of my long runs have been on dirt, so I might have to look into some other options here.
The second issue is my stride. Now that I’m focusing on becoming faster, I think my form has changed. The tread patterns on all my shoes indicate I’m spending much more time on my forefoot than I was before. That’s not a terrible thing, but it’s not the way I stride naturally. I’m obviously forcing the issue when I should be easing into a more natural, faster variation of my current form.
Mostly, I’ve come to realize that you need to be bulletproof to run without injury. You can’t have any weakness in your armor or you’ll be brought to your knees. I have mad respect for all the elite runners out there who train day-in and day-out, all while avoiding injury. I’m still new to the sport, so while it’s frustrating having to deal with injury, it’s fun learning more about what’s causing it. And truthfully - for some reason - I like doing things the hard way! So until my flaws are strengthened, I’ll continue to make friends with the pain!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Ragnar Relay - Las Vegas 2010
I had much more fun than anticipated at Ragnar Vegas over the weekend. I left for Vegas on Thursday, just after work. Five of us went down together in our crew vehicle that we’d decorated the night before. Here are a few pics of the vehicle..
Debbie crewing Brent during his leg
Tara running hard on her first leg
Scott showing his "kill" count with Kody crewing
"Thing 5" just before the start of his (my) run
Puttin' the hammer down
My final leg started in the dark and finished with the sky starting to light up. It was 4.2 miles, all uphill, all on a dirt jeep road. I knew this would play to my benefit! Problem was, I started the leg 4 ½ minutes after the previous runner came through. I knew I had a lot of ground to make up to catch anyone! After about 12 minutes though, the first person came into sight. I knew I’d have a hard time passing too many people since I only had about 20 minutes of running left. I continued to push though and was up to 8 kills when I hit the final mile mark with no one left to pass in front of me... Or so I thought. I cruised the final mile fairly easy, but noticed one runner quite a ways in front of me. He was moving pretty good and I knew I’d have to push it to catch him. I came around the final bend and saw the exchange 300 yards or so in front of me, with the runner less than 50 yards ahead. I put it into stealth mode so he couldn’t hear me as I closed in on him, then blew his doors off with about 100 yards to go. He let out a big grunt and tried to chase me, but I just sped up and beat him fairly easily to the exchange. Now that was fun!
I finished the race with 43 kills; more than the rest of our van combined. It felt good to get out and really open it up. That’s something I haven’t done for a long time since I try to conserve a bit more energy while I’m out there running longer distances. Overall, the experience was really fun! The atmosphere is great and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves out there. I realize that most the people aren’t very committed runners - which is probably why I had as much success as I did - but it still felt good to at least feel fast!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
The Post-Wasatch Blues
Not much has been happening over the course of the last month. After Wasatch I was relegated to a bare bones running schedule. In fact, I didn't do much running at all the first 3 weeks after the race as my knee would not allow it. Depressing! I was going through some anxiety as well and I'm sure I was driving Lydia absolutely crazy. I was finally able to start running more regularly just a few weeks ago and I'm finally on the mend. My knee's still only about 90% or so, and while I'm not able to push the hills - or much of a pace for that matter - I'm able to run and that keeps me sane.
To keep me in line, I put together a new schedule to keep me running through winter. My next real race isn't until next year, but I find that a schedule keeps me on track much better than having nothing to look at. One of those psychological tricks I use to keep me going. Whatever works I guess!
I actually shouldn't say that I don't have any "real" races til next year. I do have a "real" race coming up this weekend. My friend Scott that helped pace me at Wasatch, invited me to join his Ragnar team since he had several people drop after the Wasatch Back Relay. So I'm heading down this weekend to do Ragnar Relay Las Vegas. Should be interesting since Scott is the only person I know on the team. Looks like it could either be a really long, or really fun weekend. I've also never done a relay so I'm not sure what to expect. Looking forward to the unknown!
To keep me in line, I put together a new schedule to keep me running through winter. My next real race isn't until next year, but I find that a schedule keeps me on track much better than having nothing to look at. One of those psychological tricks I use to keep me going. Whatever works I guess!
I actually shouldn't say that I don't have any "real" races til next year. I do have a "real" race coming up this weekend. My friend Scott that helped pace me at Wasatch, invited me to join his Ragnar team since he had several people drop after the Wasatch Back Relay. So I'm heading down this weekend to do Ragnar Relay Las Vegas. Should be interesting since Scott is the only person I know on the team. Looks like it could either be a really long, or really fun weekend. I've also never done a relay so I'm not sure what to expect. Looking forward to the unknown!
Friday, September 17, 2010
2010 Wasatch 100 Race Report
As I sit here with a terribly swollen right leg, feet I’m unable to recognize, and aches and pains covering my entire body, I’m still trying to process what happened to me during my first 100 mile journey on foot. It truly was as advertised: “100 Miles of Heaven and Hell”… and then some! The gist of it is that I pushed when I felt good, clawed my way out of some dark pitfalls, and ended up with a very satisfying 28:59:02 finishing time. For those interested in hearing the details, read on…
Every journey begins with a thought
After finishing the St. George Marathon last October, I knew I wanted to attempt a few ultra marathons in the 2010 calendar year. It wasn’t until the last minute – on a whim – that I put my name in for Wasatch. I surprised even myself by doing so, but my family thought I was completely nuts! Really though, I didn’t think I had much of a chance getting in and was more or less trying to get an extra draw for 2011. Fate played me a different card, though! Upon being drawn, I knew I had to get to work. With a little over 6 months to prepare, I was in for some intense training. I used my 50 milers and 50K as training tools and felt like I had a really great plan going into Wasatch.
The Beginning
After some nervous weeks, race day finally arrived. I caught the bus from downtown Salt Lake and we made our way to the starting line. A light drizzle and some wet roads along the way had me a little worried, but upon arrival my fears were diminished; the ground was slightly damp, the clouds were slowly rolling away, and excitement was filling the air. I felt an amazing calm come over me. Not sure what it was, but I did know that 100 miles is a long distance to travel on foot. Worrying at this point would only compound problems that may arise later. After a few quick words and a countdown from the race director, 250ish runners were on their way to tackling the beast that is Wasatch.
After heading north for a very easy first few miles, the trails turns east and begins it’s ascent up the mountain. The trail was not very wide and passing was difficult, but I found myself amongst a group that was keeping a pace which felt comfortable to me. As we made our way up the first few thousand feet of the mountain, we became engulfed by fog and the trail was starting to show signs of crisp, new-fallen snow. It felt as though we were climbing into the clouds… So surreal! The ominous Chinscraper - wrapped in clouds - loomed in the distance, taunting us. Eventually we rounded the bowl beneath it and overtook the steep summit en-route to the first water stop. After a quick water break, we began descending the fog-enveloped dirt road that led us to the first aid station of the day: Francis Peak (mile 18.6). I refilled my bottles, grabbed some gels and some fruit, snagged my shades and my iPod, and was off.
My legs felt great at this point! My pace was relaxed and I was thoroughly enjoying myself as well! The scenery was unmatched and the fog was finally beginning to let up. However, it was here that one of two major problems on the day began rearing its ugly head; my stomach felt great, but unfortunately my bowels did not. I know it’s not very pleasant, but it’s something that affected me throughout the race. I probably lost somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 minutes over the course of the race in the squatting position (I stopped counting around the 12th break), but it’s a reality that I had to deal with. You gotta take the punches and roll with it! Aside from this problem, the sections to Bountiful B (mile 23.9) and then to Sessions Lift Off (mile 28.2) absolutely flew by. I honestly don’t remember what I was thinking through here. I was just enjoying the lush scenery. I love these moments when I’m able to just “zone out”.
Immediately out of Sessions is a pretty tough climb. I worked my way through it and upon reaching the top of the climb I made my way towards Swallow Rocks (mile 34.9). I loved this section! It flattens out for the most part until you make one last small ascent before reaching the valley where the aid station is located. As you crest the hill, the scenery opens up in front of you and you’re presented with a breathtaking view of (essentially) the rest of the course. I’ve spent a lot of time in this area over the years, so it felt a bit like home to me. I plowed my way into the aid station, drank some Coke and grabbed a few cookies, and then it was off to meet my crew and my first pacer at the next stop: Big Mountain.
On my way to Big Mountain I was trying to hold back my emotions. I couldn’t believe I was really doin’ this thing! I also had a song come on that reminded me of my brother. I felt so blessed to be out here and wished he was able to share this day with me, but he’s fighting his own battles right now (maybe next race, Ty). Eventually I made my way around Big Mountain and heard cheers off in the distance. What great motivation! As I’m descending I start seeing pink flamingos and hearing vuvuzelas. I arrive to a spectacular scene and catch sight of my crew for the first time today. I’m quickly led to a scale to weigh in (2 pounds up), then escorted to my chair where my crew is at my beck and call. I spout the list off to Lydia who starts filling up my pack, I run to the john, and everything’s ready to go when I get back. Next thing I know I’m off with my first pacer for the day, Scott.
The Middle
Getting to Big Mountain in good shape was huge for me. Now that I had someone in tow the rest of the way, I felt like I could push just a little bit harder. Scott did great at keeping me on pace. I kept him informed of my goals to the next aid stations, and he always encouraged me to push - especially on the downhills. Occasionally, I’d tell him to run ahead and I’d try to catch him. This was a fun way for me to stay motivated and to hopefully extend my time cushion in the process. Scott is a very strong runner so I never actually caught him (he’d just end up waiting for me), but it was fun trying!
Eventually we made our way into the Alexander Springs A.S. (mile 47.4), now only a few minutes behind on my goal. Everyone at this station was wearing tie-dye and the atmosphere was great. They even had a table where they had a line of Coke (cup of Coca-Cola). I thought that was pretty clever! After a quick stop, we made our way down into the furnace that is the hottest section of the course. I ended up taking another break behind a tree through here and I think this is where my second big problem of the day started. Due to all the squatting I’d been doing, my right leg started hurting behind my knee (on the back side of my leg). I’ve never hurt in this area before and I wasn’t quite sure what to do. I tried stretching it out but that didn’t help. Eventually I just decided that I had to go along with it ‘til it got better (it only got worse throughout the race). We still made great time to the Lambs Canyon A.S. (mile 53.1) and gained 15 more minutes on my goal time!
I weighed in (now 2 pounds down), changed into my other shoes (1/2 size bigger), and changed socks as well. I had a few sweet blisters going on, but nothing that required too much attention so I just duct taped the problem areas. My stop was long, but definitely worth the time spent! The crew was awesome in getting me everything I needed! They always end up waiting for me – the sign of a great crew. I never have to wait for them! We took off up the road in Lambs – running every so often – and finally reached the trailhead to start the ascent. The ascent went pretty quickly (aside from another break) and Scott encouraged me to cruise on the descent down into Millcreek, just as the sun was beginning to go down. It felt great to open it up for a bit! After 3 miles of road up Millcreek Canyon, we arrived to the crew at the Upper Big Water A.S. (mile 61.7) where I changed into my night gear and donned the headlamps. I also bid farewell to Scott and thanked him. He was on-point the entire leg he ran with me and got me into this stop 40 minutes up on my projection! Huge thanks to him!
I left Upper Big Water with my next pacer, Bart. Bart and I have known each other since we were about 12. We’ve been through some crazy adventures together and it was great talking and passing the time with him. He made me forget about my pains and kept my mind focused elsewhere. It was exactly what I needed at the time! We ran all the downhills and flat portions on the way to Desolation Lake (mile 66.9) and I felt great upon arriving there. After a quick stop, we made our way up the climb out of Desolation and started on the road to Scott’s A.S. (mile 70.8).
This trail to Scott’s is relatively flat and runnable. I was able to run sections of it, but my form was way off at this point due to my knee getting more and more stiff, mostly due to the cold. After a quick stop at the aid station, we started on the trek to Brighton. I should have been able to run the entire Guardsman road down to the Big Cottonwood Highway, but I was altering my stride too much and it hurt to put much pressure on my knee for long periods of time. I think I ended up running about half of it and getting passed by several runners along the way. Bart kept my mind off my pains with more great stories and reminiscing. It was exactly what I needed because my mind was beginning to question whether or not I could finish.
After a long slog, we finally rolled into Brighton to cheers from the crew. I was elated to reach this point and was still over 10 minutes up on my projected pace! Credit to Bart for dragging my sorry butt to Brighton! I went into the lodge and weighed in (now 4 pounds up), refilled my pack and water, took a bathroom break, and re-taped my feet. After putting on a fresh pair of socks I was ready to tackle the last 25 with my dad.
The End
My dad will be the first to tell you that he’s not a fast runner. He’s finished numerous marathons so he has no problem with the distance. More importantly, he’s consistent and will tackle anything you put in front of him. Over the years hunting together, our group has teased him and has enshrined the name “Billygoat” upon him due to the terrain he goes through while we’re out there. I was lucky enough to have the “Billygoat” with me on the gnarliest part of the course.
The climb up to Point Supreme (10,450 feet & the highest point of the course) went exactly as I’d expected; a consistent slog. The time passed very quickly though and I began seeing a trend that would last the rest of the race – feeling pretty good on the ups and the knee revolting on the downs. Too bad there’s over 10,000 feet of cumulative descent during the last 25 miles! Just my luck! We found a decent pace into the Ant Knolls A.S. (mile 80.3) and only stayed briefly to rifle through our drop bag and refuel. After tackling the short, steep uphill known as “The Grunt”, we made our way over to the Pole Line Pass A.S. (83.4) where we refilled on water and took a few solid food items from the table.
Upon leaving Pole Line we were treated with another fairly long stretch of uphill. This was exactly what I needed since my knee was very stiff now. By this time, I was no longer able to straighten my leg, so the uphill was nice as I was able to keep it bent for the most part. The fun didn’t last for too long though, as another downhill was presented and I was forced to shuffle into the Rock Springs A.S. (mile 87.39). It was also very cold at this station. Reports were that it reached 23 degrees during the night, and I imagine that when I was here at 5:30AM, it would have been right around that number. The cold just made my knee tighter. I was pretty deflated to say the least! Not to mention that I knew what was ahead…
The next section offered the two most talked about downhill sections of the course – The Dive and The Plunge. Before race day I’d wanted to really hammer these, but with my current condition I knew I wouldn’t be able to. As we came into the bowl where The Dive is located, we looked straight down into the abyss to see runners’ lights below us. What had we come up against? I was baffled at how quickly the trail dropped into oblivion! Making my way down was painful, but I got through it. The Plunge then presented fine powdered dust that was at least 5 inches deep! I couldn’t believe people actually hiked these trails. It was far worse than I’d ever imagined! After suffering through it and a few more rollers, we made our way into the Pot Bottom A.S. (mile 93.1).
I could smell the barn! It was actually going to happen; I was going to finish! After re-evaluating, I figured I could get in under 29 hours. We shed a layer at the aid station, refueled, then we were off to tackle the final climb. I felt great on this climb out of Pot Bottom. It was a nice wide trail, then a nice dirt road. My dad and I were able to walk side by side and talk about how the race had progressed up to this point. Upon hitting the top of the road, we began descending into Lime Canyon for the final few miles of trail. I’m not gonna lie, the trail here sucked! It was technical and a bit steeper than I’d hoped for, honestly. It was also through here that I got passed at by at least 6 more runners. I couldn’t go any faster though, as my leg had progressed to a point where it hurt putting pressure on my knee at all. My dad was walking downhill as fast as I was able to run! After what seemed like an eternity, I came out onto the road with .7 miles to the finish. I knew I had to run at sub-8 minute pace to get my 29 hours, so I lowered my head and clenched my teeth while I ran it in for a 28:59:02 finish! I was done!
The Aftermath
The memories of my day at Wasatch are still so vivid. I wish I could express every emotion that I left out there on the trail. I wish Lydia could relive the race through my eyes. I wish my friends and family knew what I’d endured out there. Maybe this is what makes ultras so personal; you toy with agony and ecstasy for mile upon mile, yet you’re tormented with an inability to convey your experience. You can’t really do it justice, so you don’t say much. Instead, when asked what it was like, you respond with something like 'It was tough, but I had fun and came out alive'. One of my favorite quotes reads: “Those that understand don't need an explanation. Those that need an explanation will never understand.” Pretty fitting in this circumstance.
Of course my experience could not have been had without the help of many…
The hundreds of volunteers: Truly, they’re the ones who make it possible for us runners to have these experiences. I couldn’t believe the enthusiasm and willingness to help all day long. Kudos to them!
The runners: Congratulations to all of you, whether you finished or not. Thanks for the encouragement and camaraderie. It was a day full of memories to take home!
My pacers: They each provided me with exactly what I needed at the time. Scott, who helped me bank some time and encouraged me to push. Bart, who kept my mind off things when I was struggling and kept me on track. And dad, who pulled me along through the night and gave me a consistent pace to follow. Each of them did their job and then some! There’s no way I could have done it without them! I’d still be laying out there somewhere if it weren't for these guys.
My family: First, to my wife who supports me in all my crazy endeavors. She never bats an eye, just offers support and encouragement throughout. I could not have done this without her love and whole-hearted support! Also to my parents who come to each race and do whatever they can to support me (including pacing and crewing). They give up their time and efforts on my behalf and I couldn’t be more grateful. Also to my siblings who show up and offer their support (Britt was there at every crew stop screaming her guts out for me!). You all helped make this journey possible!
Every journey begins with a thought
After finishing the St. George Marathon last October, I knew I wanted to attempt a few ultra marathons in the 2010 calendar year. It wasn’t until the last minute – on a whim – that I put my name in for Wasatch. I surprised even myself by doing so, but my family thought I was completely nuts! Really though, I didn’t think I had much of a chance getting in and was more or less trying to get an extra draw for 2011. Fate played me a different card, though! Upon being drawn, I knew I had to get to work. With a little over 6 months to prepare, I was in for some intense training. I used my 50 milers and 50K as training tools and felt like I had a really great plan going into Wasatch.
The Beginning
After some nervous weeks, race day finally arrived. I caught the bus from downtown Salt Lake and we made our way to the starting line. A light drizzle and some wet roads along the way had me a little worried, but upon arrival my fears were diminished; the ground was slightly damp, the clouds were slowly rolling away, and excitement was filling the air. I felt an amazing calm come over me. Not sure what it was, but I did know that 100 miles is a long distance to travel on foot. Worrying at this point would only compound problems that may arise later. After a few quick words and a countdown from the race director, 250ish runners were on their way to tackling the beast that is Wasatch.
After heading north for a very easy first few miles, the trails turns east and begins it’s ascent up the mountain. The trail was not very wide and passing was difficult, but I found myself amongst a group that was keeping a pace which felt comfortable to me. As we made our way up the first few thousand feet of the mountain, we became engulfed by fog and the trail was starting to show signs of crisp, new-fallen snow. It felt as though we were climbing into the clouds… So surreal! The ominous Chinscraper - wrapped in clouds - loomed in the distance, taunting us. Eventually we rounded the bowl beneath it and overtook the steep summit en-route to the first water stop. After a quick water break, we began descending the fog-enveloped dirt road that led us to the first aid station of the day: Francis Peak (mile 18.6). I refilled my bottles, grabbed some gels and some fruit, snagged my shades and my iPod, and was off.
My legs felt great at this point! My pace was relaxed and I was thoroughly enjoying myself as well! The scenery was unmatched and the fog was finally beginning to let up. However, it was here that one of two major problems on the day began rearing its ugly head; my stomach felt great, but unfortunately my bowels did not. I know it’s not very pleasant, but it’s something that affected me throughout the race. I probably lost somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 minutes over the course of the race in the squatting position (I stopped counting around the 12th break), but it’s a reality that I had to deal with. You gotta take the punches and roll with it! Aside from this problem, the sections to Bountiful B (mile 23.9) and then to Sessions Lift Off (mile 28.2) absolutely flew by. I honestly don’t remember what I was thinking through here. I was just enjoying the lush scenery. I love these moments when I’m able to just “zone out”.
Immediately out of Sessions is a pretty tough climb. I worked my way through it and upon reaching the top of the climb I made my way towards Swallow Rocks (mile 34.9). I loved this section! It flattens out for the most part until you make one last small ascent before reaching the valley where the aid station is located. As you crest the hill, the scenery opens up in front of you and you’re presented with a breathtaking view of (essentially) the rest of the course. I’ve spent a lot of time in this area over the years, so it felt a bit like home to me. I plowed my way into the aid station, drank some Coke and grabbed a few cookies, and then it was off to meet my crew and my first pacer at the next stop: Big Mountain.
On my way to Big Mountain I was trying to hold back my emotions. I couldn’t believe I was really doin’ this thing! I also had a song come on that reminded me of my brother. I felt so blessed to be out here and wished he was able to share this day with me, but he’s fighting his own battles right now (maybe next race, Ty). Eventually I made my way around Big Mountain and heard cheers off in the distance. What great motivation! As I’m descending I start seeing pink flamingos and hearing vuvuzelas. I arrive to a spectacular scene and catch sight of my crew for the first time today. I’m quickly led to a scale to weigh in (2 pounds up), then escorted to my chair where my crew is at my beck and call. I spout the list off to Lydia who starts filling up my pack, I run to the john, and everything’s ready to go when I get back. Next thing I know I’m off with my first pacer for the day, Scott.
The Middle
Getting to Big Mountain in good shape was huge for me. Now that I had someone in tow the rest of the way, I felt like I could push just a little bit harder. Scott did great at keeping me on pace. I kept him informed of my goals to the next aid stations, and he always encouraged me to push - especially on the downhills. Occasionally, I’d tell him to run ahead and I’d try to catch him. This was a fun way for me to stay motivated and to hopefully extend my time cushion in the process. Scott is a very strong runner so I never actually caught him (he’d just end up waiting for me), but it was fun trying!
Eventually we made our way into the Alexander Springs A.S. (mile 47.4), now only a few minutes behind on my goal. Everyone at this station was wearing tie-dye and the atmosphere was great. They even had a table where they had a line of Coke (cup of Coca-Cola). I thought that was pretty clever! After a quick stop, we made our way down into the furnace that is the hottest section of the course. I ended up taking another break behind a tree through here and I think this is where my second big problem of the day started. Due to all the squatting I’d been doing, my right leg started hurting behind my knee (on the back side of my leg). I’ve never hurt in this area before and I wasn’t quite sure what to do. I tried stretching it out but that didn’t help. Eventually I just decided that I had to go along with it ‘til it got better (it only got worse throughout the race). We still made great time to the Lambs Canyon A.S. (mile 53.1) and gained 15 more minutes on my goal time!
I weighed in (now 2 pounds down), changed into my other shoes (1/2 size bigger), and changed socks as well. I had a few sweet blisters going on, but nothing that required too much attention so I just duct taped the problem areas. My stop was long, but definitely worth the time spent! The crew was awesome in getting me everything I needed! They always end up waiting for me – the sign of a great crew. I never have to wait for them! We took off up the road in Lambs – running every so often – and finally reached the trailhead to start the ascent. The ascent went pretty quickly (aside from another break) and Scott encouraged me to cruise on the descent down into Millcreek, just as the sun was beginning to go down. It felt great to open it up for a bit! After 3 miles of road up Millcreek Canyon, we arrived to the crew at the Upper Big Water A.S. (mile 61.7) where I changed into my night gear and donned the headlamps. I also bid farewell to Scott and thanked him. He was on-point the entire leg he ran with me and got me into this stop 40 minutes up on my projection! Huge thanks to him!
I left Upper Big Water with my next pacer, Bart. Bart and I have known each other since we were about 12. We’ve been through some crazy adventures together and it was great talking and passing the time with him. He made me forget about my pains and kept my mind focused elsewhere. It was exactly what I needed at the time! We ran all the downhills and flat portions on the way to Desolation Lake (mile 66.9) and I felt great upon arriving there. After a quick stop, we made our way up the climb out of Desolation and started on the road to Scott’s A.S. (mile 70.8).
This trail to Scott’s is relatively flat and runnable. I was able to run sections of it, but my form was way off at this point due to my knee getting more and more stiff, mostly due to the cold. After a quick stop at the aid station, we started on the trek to Brighton. I should have been able to run the entire Guardsman road down to the Big Cottonwood Highway, but I was altering my stride too much and it hurt to put much pressure on my knee for long periods of time. I think I ended up running about half of it and getting passed by several runners along the way. Bart kept my mind off my pains with more great stories and reminiscing. It was exactly what I needed because my mind was beginning to question whether or not I could finish.
After a long slog, we finally rolled into Brighton to cheers from the crew. I was elated to reach this point and was still over 10 minutes up on my projected pace! Credit to Bart for dragging my sorry butt to Brighton! I went into the lodge and weighed in (now 4 pounds up), refilled my pack and water, took a bathroom break, and re-taped my feet. After putting on a fresh pair of socks I was ready to tackle the last 25 with my dad.
The End
My dad will be the first to tell you that he’s not a fast runner. He’s finished numerous marathons so he has no problem with the distance. More importantly, he’s consistent and will tackle anything you put in front of him. Over the years hunting together, our group has teased him and has enshrined the name “Billygoat” upon him due to the terrain he goes through while we’re out there. I was lucky enough to have the “Billygoat” with me on the gnarliest part of the course.
The climb up to Point Supreme (10,450 feet & the highest point of the course) went exactly as I’d expected; a consistent slog. The time passed very quickly though and I began seeing a trend that would last the rest of the race – feeling pretty good on the ups and the knee revolting on the downs. Too bad there’s over 10,000 feet of cumulative descent during the last 25 miles! Just my luck! We found a decent pace into the Ant Knolls A.S. (mile 80.3) and only stayed briefly to rifle through our drop bag and refuel. After tackling the short, steep uphill known as “The Grunt”, we made our way over to the Pole Line Pass A.S. (83.4) where we refilled on water and took a few solid food items from the table.
Upon leaving Pole Line we were treated with another fairly long stretch of uphill. This was exactly what I needed since my knee was very stiff now. By this time, I was no longer able to straighten my leg, so the uphill was nice as I was able to keep it bent for the most part. The fun didn’t last for too long though, as another downhill was presented and I was forced to shuffle into the Rock Springs A.S. (mile 87.39). It was also very cold at this station. Reports were that it reached 23 degrees during the night, and I imagine that when I was here at 5:30AM, it would have been right around that number. The cold just made my knee tighter. I was pretty deflated to say the least! Not to mention that I knew what was ahead…
The next section offered the two most talked about downhill sections of the course – The Dive and The Plunge. Before race day I’d wanted to really hammer these, but with my current condition I knew I wouldn’t be able to. As we came into the bowl where The Dive is located, we looked straight down into the abyss to see runners’ lights below us. What had we come up against? I was baffled at how quickly the trail dropped into oblivion! Making my way down was painful, but I got through it. The Plunge then presented fine powdered dust that was at least 5 inches deep! I couldn’t believe people actually hiked these trails. It was far worse than I’d ever imagined! After suffering through it and a few more rollers, we made our way into the Pot Bottom A.S. (mile 93.1).
I could smell the barn! It was actually going to happen; I was going to finish! After re-evaluating, I figured I could get in under 29 hours. We shed a layer at the aid station, refueled, then we were off to tackle the final climb. I felt great on this climb out of Pot Bottom. It was a nice wide trail, then a nice dirt road. My dad and I were able to walk side by side and talk about how the race had progressed up to this point. Upon hitting the top of the road, we began descending into Lime Canyon for the final few miles of trail. I’m not gonna lie, the trail here sucked! It was technical and a bit steeper than I’d hoped for, honestly. It was also through here that I got passed at by at least 6 more runners. I couldn’t go any faster though, as my leg had progressed to a point where it hurt putting pressure on my knee at all. My dad was walking downhill as fast as I was able to run! After what seemed like an eternity, I came out onto the road with .7 miles to the finish. I knew I had to run at sub-8 minute pace to get my 29 hours, so I lowered my head and clenched my teeth while I ran it in for a 28:59:02 finish! I was done!
The Aftermath
The memories of my day at Wasatch are still so vivid. I wish I could express every emotion that I left out there on the trail. I wish Lydia could relive the race through my eyes. I wish my friends and family knew what I’d endured out there. Maybe this is what makes ultras so personal; you toy with agony and ecstasy for mile upon mile, yet you’re tormented with an inability to convey your experience. You can’t really do it justice, so you don’t say much. Instead, when asked what it was like, you respond with something like 'It was tough, but I had fun and came out alive'. One of my favorite quotes reads: “Those that understand don't need an explanation. Those that need an explanation will never understand.” Pretty fitting in this circumstance.
Of course my experience could not have been had without the help of many…
The hundreds of volunteers: Truly, they’re the ones who make it possible for us runners to have these experiences. I couldn’t believe the enthusiasm and willingness to help all day long. Kudos to them!
The runners: Congratulations to all of you, whether you finished or not. Thanks for the encouragement and camaraderie. It was a day full of memories to take home!
My pacers: They each provided me with exactly what I needed at the time. Scott, who helped me bank some time and encouraged me to push. Bart, who kept my mind off things when I was struggling and kept me on track. And dad, who pulled me along through the night and gave me a consistent pace to follow. Each of them did their job and then some! There’s no way I could have done it without them! I’d still be laying out there somewhere if it weren't for these guys.
My family: First, to my wife who supports me in all my crazy endeavors. She never bats an eye, just offers support and encouragement throughout. I could not have done this without her love and whole-hearted support! Also to my parents who come to each race and do whatever they can to support me (including pacing and crewing). They give up their time and efforts on my behalf and I couldn’t be more grateful. Also to my siblings who show up and offer their support (Britt was there at every crew stop screaming her guts out for me!). You all helped make this journey possible!
I can't quite say what lies in my future of running, but Wasatch will always hold a place in my heart. Now the question is: Have I been punished enough or will I keep coming back for more? Time holds the truth.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Gettin' Down To It
So here I am, 8 days away from the biggest physical undertaking of my life. I’m filled with lots of mixed emotions right now. Of course I’m feeling excited! Of course I’m feeling nervous! The part I don’t necessarily enjoy is the waiting game. I’m done with my difficult training and I just want to get on with it.
All this energy that I’m used to expending is now thrashing my mind in multiple directions. One minute I’m on an emotional high and the next I’m questioning things. Did I train hard enough? Did I put in enough time? Typical feelings before any major event I guess. My confidence is not being shaken, however. I truly know that I put in the time, the miles, and the focus to be successful. Now it’s just about execution. That, and making sure I rest sufficiently over the next week (which can be tough for me). Looking forward to it!
All this energy that I’m used to expending is now thrashing my mind in multiple directions. One minute I’m on an emotional high and the next I’m questioning things. Did I train hard enough? Did I put in enough time? Typical feelings before any major event I guess. My confidence is not being shaken, however. I truly know that I put in the time, the miles, and the focus to be successful. Now it’s just about execution. That, and making sure I rest sufficiently over the next week (which can be tough for me). Looking forward to it!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
2010 Speedgoat 50K Race Report
It always takes me so dang long to post these race reports! Definitely something I need to improve on... Anyway, I had the opportunity to run the Speedgoat 50K on July 31st. Once I found out I was on the list for Wasatch, I put in my entry for this race knowing that it would be a great training opportunity. I mean, a 50K race that has 24,000 feet of cumulative elevation change is no walk in the park.
Since finishing Squaw Peak in June, my focus has been solely on Wasatch. I’ve logged some great runs and put in the miles necessary to be successful. However, about a week before the Speedgoat, I realized that I was overlooking this race entirely. I wasn’t giving it the respect it deserved. So I went into the race with only a few days of tapering. Mistake? Probably. But I also tried to find out as much about the course as possible so I could come to terms with what I was facing. Turns out this was exactly what I needed! Had I gone into this race completely overlooking it, the consequences could have been magnified.
Race day comes around and everyone’s gathered up at Snowbird. After a short briefing from the RD Karl, we line up and head out at 6:30am sharp. The first few miles are a fairly gradual uphill where I was able to keep a decent running pace. That pace soon came to a stop however, and a power hike was needed as we made our way up towards Hidden Peak which stands at 11,000’ elevation. There was a bit of scrambling over some large boulders, a few small snow crossings, then the rocky trudge up to the peak. After hitting the Hidden Peak aid station, I felt pretty good. I was maintaining my pace and trying not to run too hard just yet.
I made my way across the ridgeline and over to Mt Baldy, the highest point of the course. From there, it’s a steep descent down into the next basin. So steep in fact, there was some rope assistance for a short segment. Pretty gnarly! I maintained a perfect pace through the basin and eventually hit the next aid station. Here I had to empty my shoes since I had a few pebbles in there, grab some fuel and water, then I was off.
The next section was maybe my favorite of the course. It was super rocky, technical, and made me focus on my footing the whole way. I felt like I could have gone much faster here, but I held off just a bit trying to save my legs for damages to come later on. Through this section I talked with a couple people and just maintained my relaxed pace. I wasn’t here to break any records after all. Finally, I made my way to the intersection at the bottom of the canyon and headed out on the out-and-back section where the aid station was. This section is nice and flat for about a mile. It was a nice relief! I was also able to see the others that had already hit the aid station, coming back towards me. I reached the aid and grabbed some orange slices, got a nice cold towel to wipe my face off, a cup of Coke, then I headed back.
I was feeling great on the flat and picked up the pace slightly. Once I got to the intersection however, I took a right (I came down the mountain from the left) and slowly began to ascend and was forced into a power hike once again. This was absolutely my least favorite section of the day! I was basically alone, my back was starting hurt, and the climbing never stopped. It was just several miles of the same grade of ascent, twisting and turning my way through the forest. I had to keep reminding myself that I was lucky to be able to enjoy these views; Lucky to be able to have legs strong enough to power through this crappy terrain. Eventually though, I reached the short descent just before the aid station. I was beat! I spent a little bit longer at this aid than I would have liked, but I was trying to get back on my game.
As I head out, I realize that I can nearly see my next destination. Around 2 miles away, but very near the top of the mountain that stands in front of me is The Tunnel. I begin my climb and start feeling a little better about things. Before I know it, I’m at the aid station and refueling again. The aid station volunteer gets word that the winner has just finished. I’m 5 hours and 45 minutes into my run, with at least another 10 miles to go I would guess. How I would love to be done right now! I pushed these thoughts out of my head and ran through the tunnel.
Once I come out the other side and back into the light of day, I begin my descent down to the bottom of the basin. I was feeling great! I pushed the pace slightly, but not too hard knowing that I still had one more climb and one more descent in front of me. I worked my way through the bottom of the canyon, then over to the opposite side where I begin the last ascent up to Hidden Peak. This ascent took us along the ridgeline and it was epic! The scenery was outstanding. My body was beat. The trudge was relentless. I even stopped a couple of times to catch my breath. Eventually however, I reached Hidden Peak again. I refueled with more oranges, ginger ale, and some red bull, then made my way down to the finish.
From the peak, it’s about a 5 mile descent. I’d been saving my legs for this descent all day so I was gonna let it rip! I ended up passing 5 people on the way down. However, just before I reached the last person, I started to feel some tightness in my lungs. So I slowed down slightly, but then my blood pressure dropped. Not good! I actually ended up passing the guy but I was not in a good place. I slowed down after a few hundred yards and tried to maintain a steady pace. My body was not having it, though. I started feeling slightly dizzy and knew I had to do something. I pulled out a gel and sucked it down, but it did absolutely nothing! I eventually had to walk for short spurts, and was subsequently passed by the last runner I went by earlier. I could hear the finish, but we were winding away from it. I was getting frustrated! Eventually, the trail began heading in the right direction. When I was about 200 yards away I could see the finish, so I started to run hard again (though my body was screaming to stop) so I could “look strong” when I crossed the line. I finished in 7:43.09 officially.
As I stopped, I was greeted and given a finishers medal. I bent over so they could put it around my neck, but I was not feeling well. I was happy when I saw my parents and my wife (wasn’t expecting them to be there), said hi, then told them I had to go puke. I trotted clumsily through some bushes, bent over and puked 3 times. So much for looking strong! The aftermath was apparent on this day; I had worked my body over! Turns out I hadn’t taken any salt caps since The Tunnel aid station, where I had taken one every 40 minutes or so prior to that. Two full hours of ignoring my electrolytes turned out to be the reason for my demise! Guess that’s what happens when you get too caught up in finishing fast. I tend to learn my lessons the hard way, though! Overall, it was a great race put on by a fantastic group!
And the few pics at the finish where I don't look like death...
Since finishing Squaw Peak in June, my focus has been solely on Wasatch. I’ve logged some great runs and put in the miles necessary to be successful. However, about a week before the Speedgoat, I realized that I was overlooking this race entirely. I wasn’t giving it the respect it deserved. So I went into the race with only a few days of tapering. Mistake? Probably. But I also tried to find out as much about the course as possible so I could come to terms with what I was facing. Turns out this was exactly what I needed! Had I gone into this race completely overlooking it, the consequences could have been magnified.
Race day comes around and everyone’s gathered up at Snowbird. After a short briefing from the RD Karl, we line up and head out at 6:30am sharp. The first few miles are a fairly gradual uphill where I was able to keep a decent running pace. That pace soon came to a stop however, and a power hike was needed as we made our way up towards Hidden Peak which stands at 11,000’ elevation. There was a bit of scrambling over some large boulders, a few small snow crossings, then the rocky trudge up to the peak. After hitting the Hidden Peak aid station, I felt pretty good. I was maintaining my pace and trying not to run too hard just yet.
I made my way across the ridgeline and over to Mt Baldy, the highest point of the course. From there, it’s a steep descent down into the next basin. So steep in fact, there was some rope assistance for a short segment. Pretty gnarly! I maintained a perfect pace through the basin and eventually hit the next aid station. Here I had to empty my shoes since I had a few pebbles in there, grab some fuel and water, then I was off.
The next section was maybe my favorite of the course. It was super rocky, technical, and made me focus on my footing the whole way. I felt like I could have gone much faster here, but I held off just a bit trying to save my legs for damages to come later on. Through this section I talked with a couple people and just maintained my relaxed pace. I wasn’t here to break any records after all. Finally, I made my way to the intersection at the bottom of the canyon and headed out on the out-and-back section where the aid station was. This section is nice and flat for about a mile. It was a nice relief! I was also able to see the others that had already hit the aid station, coming back towards me. I reached the aid and grabbed some orange slices, got a nice cold towel to wipe my face off, a cup of Coke, then I headed back.
I was feeling great on the flat and picked up the pace slightly. Once I got to the intersection however, I took a right (I came down the mountain from the left) and slowly began to ascend and was forced into a power hike once again. This was absolutely my least favorite section of the day! I was basically alone, my back was starting hurt, and the climbing never stopped. It was just several miles of the same grade of ascent, twisting and turning my way through the forest. I had to keep reminding myself that I was lucky to be able to enjoy these views; Lucky to be able to have legs strong enough to power through this crappy terrain. Eventually though, I reached the short descent just before the aid station. I was beat! I spent a little bit longer at this aid than I would have liked, but I was trying to get back on my game.
As I head out, I realize that I can nearly see my next destination. Around 2 miles away, but very near the top of the mountain that stands in front of me is The Tunnel. I begin my climb and start feeling a little better about things. Before I know it, I’m at the aid station and refueling again. The aid station volunteer gets word that the winner has just finished. I’m 5 hours and 45 minutes into my run, with at least another 10 miles to go I would guess. How I would love to be done right now! I pushed these thoughts out of my head and ran through the tunnel.
Once I come out the other side and back into the light of day, I begin my descent down to the bottom of the basin. I was feeling great! I pushed the pace slightly, but not too hard knowing that I still had one more climb and one more descent in front of me. I worked my way through the bottom of the canyon, then over to the opposite side where I begin the last ascent up to Hidden Peak. This ascent took us along the ridgeline and it was epic! The scenery was outstanding. My body was beat. The trudge was relentless. I even stopped a couple of times to catch my breath. Eventually however, I reached Hidden Peak again. I refueled with more oranges, ginger ale, and some red bull, then made my way down to the finish.
From the peak, it’s about a 5 mile descent. I’d been saving my legs for this descent all day so I was gonna let it rip! I ended up passing 5 people on the way down. However, just before I reached the last person, I started to feel some tightness in my lungs. So I slowed down slightly, but then my blood pressure dropped. Not good! I actually ended up passing the guy but I was not in a good place. I slowed down after a few hundred yards and tried to maintain a steady pace. My body was not having it, though. I started feeling slightly dizzy and knew I had to do something. I pulled out a gel and sucked it down, but it did absolutely nothing! I eventually had to walk for short spurts, and was subsequently passed by the last runner I went by earlier. I could hear the finish, but we were winding away from it. I was getting frustrated! Eventually, the trail began heading in the right direction. When I was about 200 yards away I could see the finish, so I started to run hard again (though my body was screaming to stop) so I could “look strong” when I crossed the line. I finished in 7:43.09 officially.
As I stopped, I was greeted and given a finishers medal. I bent over so they could put it around my neck, but I was not feeling well. I was happy when I saw my parents and my wife (wasn’t expecting them to be there), said hi, then told them I had to go puke. I trotted clumsily through some bushes, bent over and puked 3 times. So much for looking strong! The aftermath was apparent on this day; I had worked my body over! Turns out I hadn’t taken any salt caps since The Tunnel aid station, where I had taken one every 40 minutes or so prior to that. Two full hours of ignoring my electrolytes turned out to be the reason for my demise! Guess that’s what happens when you get too caught up in finishing fast. I tend to learn my lessons the hard way, though! Overall, it was a great race put on by a fantastic group!
And the few pics at the finish where I don't look like death...
Finishing "strong"
Immediately following the puke-fest
Feelin' better
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