(Read some of Joe's past race reports for inspiration, insight, and a glimpse into the mind of one tough trail runner)
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Iron Joe
This Sunday Trail Monster Running teammate "Iron" Joe Wrobleski completed the Western States Endurance Run in 23:47. Joe is one of my personal "running heroes" and his performance at this historic 100 miler is a testament to his iron will, indomitable spirit, and expertly executed training/racing strategy. Huge congrats Iron Joe!!
(Read some of Joe's past race reports for inspiration, insight, and a glimpse into the mind of one tough trail runner)
(Read some of Joe's past race reports for inspiration, insight, and a glimpse into the mind of one tough trail runner)
Thursday, June 21, 2012
An honor...
One month from today I'll be pacing a runner who I have tremendous respect for at one of the most prestigious ultra-marathons in the country. (Prestige-a word that you don't often hear in the shit-kicking and mud stomping world of ultrarunning- applies to this event in every way.)
The race, one of the original 100 mile runs in the USA and part of the Grand Slam Series of Ultrarunning, is The Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run.
The runner is my friend and Trail Monster Running team mate Jeremy Bonnet. Jeremy is an accomplished ultra-marathoner who I've had the pleasure to race with, train with, and get to know over the past several months as we prepared for our respective races at the Peaks Ultra (me the 50 and Jeremy the 100).
Jeremy maintains the excellent blog Run Efficient where he posts his training log and thoughts on trail running. A highly recommended addition to anyone's blog roll.
Grateful to Jeremy for letting me share this experience with him. Only hope that I can do him justice as he makes his way to the finish line of the VT100.
The race, one of the original 100 mile runs in the USA and part of the Grand Slam Series of Ultrarunning, is The Vermont 100 Mile Endurance Run.
The runner is my friend and Trail Monster Running team mate Jeremy Bonnet. Jeremy is an accomplished ultra-marathoner who I've had the pleasure to race with, train with, and get to know over the past several months as we prepared for our respective races at the Peaks Ultra (me the 50 and Jeremy the 100).
Jeremy maintains the excellent blog Run Efficient where he posts his training log and thoughts on trail running. A highly recommended addition to anyone's blog roll.
Grateful to Jeremy for letting me share this experience with him. Only hope that I can do him justice as he makes his way to the finish line of the VT100.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Sweet Potatoes and Bacon...
Sunday morning is the only day of the week that I have time to cook an official breakfast. Since making the switch to a Paleo diet I've found this to be the most (and really the only) challenging meal to attack without gluten, grains, or soy products in the arsenal. I needed something that vibes well with a strong, dark cup of morning coffee and feels like a breakfast. This morning I came back from my first run in almost a month with an appetite and here's what I came up with...
Sweet Potatoes, Apples, Blueberries, and Bacon
1 small sweet potatoes
1 medium apple
1/2 cup of fresh blueberries
Nature's Place Hickory Smoked Bacon
2 tbsp Almond Butter
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Pre-Heat oven to 400 degrees
Slice cooked sweet potato into 1'4" thick rounds, slice apple into quarter's, sprinkle with cinnamon and bake for 20-25 minutes
I fried the bacon in coconut oil, added a spread of almond butter to the baked sweet potatoes and apples, and poured a cup of Matt's Organic Coffee making for one exceptionally aromatic kitchen and a satisfying breakfast all around.
Sweet Potatoes, Apples, Blueberries, and Bacon
1 small sweet potatoes
1 medium apple
1/2 cup of fresh blueberries
Nature's Place Hickory Smoked Bacon
2 tbsp Almond Butter
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Slice cooked sweet potato into 1'4" thick rounds, slice apple into quarter's, sprinkle with cinnamon and bake for 20-25 minutes
I fried the bacon in coconut oil, added a spread of almond butter to the baked sweet potatoes and apples, and poured a cup of Matt's Organic Coffee making for one exceptionally aromatic kitchen and a satisfying breakfast all around.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Training Season
This Sunday marks my return to the trails and the official start of my training for Virgil Crest.
After spending the past several weeks rehabbing a foot injury I'm feeling rested, recovered, and ready for a strong summer of trail racing. Lessons learned from past training sessions, a slew of positive lifestyle changes, and a broader base of knowledge concerning both exercise science and nutrition should create some exciting opportunities to put theory into practice over the course of the summer.
Some of the major tweaks to my training will include the absolute elimination of junk-fuel during long runs (Cliff-Bars, Gu's, anything containing refined sugars or questionable, unpronounceable ingredients). I'll be replacing these with home-made, nutrient dense bars/gels made from real food.
These Ginger Pear Energy Bars taken from the book Thrive by Brandon Brazier are an excellent example of what you can do with a little creativity, a basic understanding of the glycemic index and the nutritional needs of an endurance athlete, and a food processor.
Ginger Pear Energy Bars:
Ingredients:
1 small pear, cored
3/4 cup fresh or soaked dry dates
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup ground flax seed
1/4 cup hemp protein
1/4 cup walnuts
2 tbsp grated fresh ginger
Sea salt to taste
2 tbsp sesame seeds
In a food processor, process all ingredients together except sesame seeds before shaping into bar. Coat with sesame seeds and freeze.
On that note, this will be my first racing season post veganism. Based on how I am feeling since eliminating whole grains, legumes, and most all processed foods from my diet and adopting a Paleo approach to eating I anticipate faster recovery times and better results in all aspects of my training.
To say that reintroducing local, grass-fed, meats into my diet, upping the content of high quality fats and lean proteins, and eliminating all processed carbohydrates has been a game changer for me would be an extreme understatement. These changes, along with a complete shift in my approach to strength training and metabolic conditioning, have been transformational in every sense of the word. I've never felt better and more prepared to test my limits than I do right now...
All thoughts welcome, more posts soon.
After spending the past several weeks rehabbing a foot injury I'm feeling rested, recovered, and ready for a strong summer of trail racing. Lessons learned from past training sessions, a slew of positive lifestyle changes, and a broader base of knowledge concerning both exercise science and nutrition should create some exciting opportunities to put theory into practice over the course of the summer.
Some of the major tweaks to my training will include the absolute elimination of junk-fuel during long runs (Cliff-Bars, Gu's, anything containing refined sugars or questionable, unpronounceable ingredients). I'll be replacing these with home-made, nutrient dense bars/gels made from real food.
These Ginger Pear Energy Bars taken from the book Thrive by Brandon Brazier are an excellent example of what you can do with a little creativity, a basic understanding of the glycemic index and the nutritional needs of an endurance athlete, and a food processor.
 |
Ingredients:
1 small pear, cored
3/4 cup fresh or soaked dry dates
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup ground flax seed
1/4 cup hemp protein
1/4 cup walnuts
2 tbsp grated fresh ginger
Sea salt to taste
2 tbsp sesame seeds
In a food processor, process all ingredients together except sesame seeds before shaping into bar. Coat with sesame seeds and freeze.
On that note, this will be my first racing season post veganism. Based on how I am feeling since eliminating whole grains, legumes, and most all processed foods from my diet and adopting a Paleo approach to eating I anticipate faster recovery times and better results in all aspects of my training.
To say that reintroducing local, grass-fed, meats into my diet, upping the content of high quality fats and lean proteins, and eliminating all processed carbohydrates has been a game changer for me would be an extreme understatement. These changes, along with a complete shift in my approach to strength training and metabolic conditioning, have been transformational in every sense of the word. I've never felt better and more prepared to test my limits than I do right now...
All thoughts welcome, more posts soon.
Monday, June 11, 2012
100 Miles: The Road to Virgil Crest
Years ago my Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach made a book recommendation that changed my life. He was becoming interested in long distance running and posted a review of Ultra-Marathon Man by Dean Karnazes. Reading about Dean's 50,100,and 200+ mile runs forever changed my perception of endurance, distance, and human physical potential. (At the time my personal goal was to circle the 3.5 mile Back Bay Loop in Portland twice for what seemed like an epic run of 7 straight miles. Running and racing have since become my passion and I've competed in events ranging from 5k to 50+ miles)
I recently had the honor of joining the Trail Monster Running Team and look forward to flying our flag at a series of races this summer. This will include my longest race to date: The Virgil Crest 100 Mile Ultra-Marathon on September 22nd in Virgil, NY.
What I hope to gain from running the Virgil Crest Ultra:
Aside from the belt buckle (a standard finishers award for completing a 100 mile race) I'm seeking those unforgettable moments that await us on the trails. The spirit of a group run kicking off. The relationships forged and built through pain, sweat, laughter, and the silence of a long run. The solitude of an early morning turned early afternoon on the trails where it's just you, the rhythm of your footfalls, the sound of your breath, and the woods...
Beyond this I'm seeking a test both physical, mental, and emotional. I'm seeking the challenges that we meet when we venture past comfort zones and safe spaces. And perhaps most of all I'm seeking out those moments when all of our social dressing is stripped away and we are confronted with our raw and naked selves; humbled by our weakness, awakened to our vulnerabilities, and more often and than we might expect, impressed with our strength.
Fears: I used to fear pain. I grew up in neighborhood where fist-fights and the fear of getting "jumped" and having your ass kicked for almost no reason was commonplace. Pain was something that could come suddenly and unexpectedly and last for as long as someone chose to inflict it on you. Since becoming competitive in the jui-jitsu, boxing, Cross-Fit, and trail running scene I no longer hide from pain. I've come to recognize it as one of the many markers, along with sacrifice, self-discipline, commitment, and dedication, of any goal worthy enough to take up and pursue.
Running through the woods at night unnerves me. Better said, it scares the hell out of me. With the support of my team I've got several night runs planned for this summer in order to be both mentally and logistically prepared to meet this fear head on by the time that I arrive in Virgil.
Mostly, I fear that I'll loose the gains that I've made since rounding out my running regimen with a strong dose of strength and power training, flexibility and mobility work, and Cross-Fit style metabolic conditioning. I'm healthier, stronger, and happier than when I was running every day and logging 60+ miles a week. I've seen improvements in everything from my race times to my "FRAN" time. And I occasionally spend Saturday mornings doing bear crawls across the grass, practicing handstands, and "playing" with the human movements that combine to form what I view as functional and fulfilling human fitness.
That said, the time that I spend on the trails is now of greater value to me than ever before. I appreciate every minute of it, every stream crossing, hill climb, and quiet stretch of single track trail. This appreciation for trail running is something that I vowed not to lose as my racing and running goals evolved. (There will undeniably be moments during my training when I don't want to run another step, when "appreciation"is the last thing in my mind as I pull into the parking lot at Bradbury Mountain and strap on my Camelback, when I'm sick of the woods. But I want them to be few and far between.)
This is a fear that can be avoided by a smart. periodized, training plan which I'll be developing , testing, and blogging about in the months to come.
Balance: Running a marathon distance every week for several months leading to a body-wrecking 24+hour endurance event is about as healthy as being repeatedly punched in the head during a heavyweight title fight or doing seven straight minutes of burpees at the Crossfit Games. That said, trail running is my passion. It is what I love to do. As ultra-running legend David Horton once said when asked why he runs these seemingly insane distances "I feel most at home and closest to God when I'm out on the trails'. I've never been a religious man but I can relate to the sentiment.
Training Plan: To avoid the ultra-training train wreck of adrenal fatigue, chronic sleep disturbances, sky-high cortisol levels, and a thoroughly trashed immune system I am going to take the same approach that served me well for the Peaks 50: comparatively low volume/well planned/and high quality miles with a focus on my weekly long run of 20-30 miles and a strong dose of general physical conditioning to prepare me for the challenges that await on race day.
The Crossfit Endurance program and athletes like Brian Mackenzie have demonstrated that you can run an Ultra-Marathon, and run it competitively (Brian completed the Western States 100 Mile Endurance run in 26 hours 48 minutes while claiming to have trained no more than 10.5 hours per week and focusing on Crossfit-style strength and metabolic conditioning workouts) with relatively low training miles behind you. Remarkable achievement for sure. But there is a missing element in these efforts...and that element is joy.
Here is clip of Crossfitter Mark Matyazik completing the Javelina Jundred on nothing but Crossfit training http://youtu.be/NQmcYeuqFu8
Remarkable achievement for sure. But whereas Mark seems to have approached this race the same way that many of us approach an insanely tough Crossfit WOD: by gritting his teeth, readying and steadying his mind, and powering through it until he reached the finish line, I am approaching the Virgil Crest Ultra from the opposite end of the spectrum: I want September 22nd to stand among the best days of my life. I want to squeeze my children, hug my teammates, and sink into the satisfaction of a hard fought battle won with a big smile on my face.
I love running long, I love running trails, and I know that I can design a training program that allows me to get a good dose of what I love without completely sacrificing what I need to remain both fit and functional in the other realms of my life in which I perform, compete, and exist in when I'm not running in the woods...
I'll be posting details on my Virgil Crest training in my log from now until race day.
I recently had the honor of joining the Trail Monster Running Team and look forward to flying our flag at a series of races this summer. This will include my longest race to date: The Virgil Crest 100 Mile Ultra-Marathon on September 22nd in Virgil, NY.
What I hope to gain from running the Virgil Crest Ultra:
Aside from the belt buckle (a standard finishers award for completing a 100 mile race) I'm seeking those unforgettable moments that await us on the trails. The spirit of a group run kicking off. The relationships forged and built through pain, sweat, laughter, and the silence of a long run. The solitude of an early morning turned early afternoon on the trails where it's just you, the rhythm of your footfalls, the sound of your breath, and the woods...
Beyond this I'm seeking a test both physical, mental, and emotional. I'm seeking the challenges that we meet when we venture past comfort zones and safe spaces. And perhaps most of all I'm seeking out those moments when all of our social dressing is stripped away and we are confronted with our raw and naked selves; humbled by our weakness, awakened to our vulnerabilities, and more often and than we might expect, impressed with our strength.
Fears: I used to fear pain. I grew up in neighborhood where fist-fights and the fear of getting "jumped" and having your ass kicked for almost no reason was commonplace. Pain was something that could come suddenly and unexpectedly and last for as long as someone chose to inflict it on you. Since becoming competitive in the jui-jitsu, boxing, Cross-Fit, and trail running scene I no longer hide from pain. I've come to recognize it as one of the many markers, along with sacrifice, self-discipline, commitment, and dedication, of any goal worthy enough to take up and pursue.
Running through the woods at night unnerves me. Better said, it scares the hell out of me. With the support of my team I've got several night runs planned for this summer in order to be both mentally and logistically prepared to meet this fear head on by the time that I arrive in Virgil.
Mostly, I fear that I'll loose the gains that I've made since rounding out my running regimen with a strong dose of strength and power training, flexibility and mobility work, and Cross-Fit style metabolic conditioning. I'm healthier, stronger, and happier than when I was running every day and logging 60+ miles a week. I've seen improvements in everything from my race times to my "FRAN" time. And I occasionally spend Saturday mornings doing bear crawls across the grass, practicing handstands, and "playing" with the human movements that combine to form what I view as functional and fulfilling human fitness.
That said, the time that I spend on the trails is now of greater value to me than ever before. I appreciate every minute of it, every stream crossing, hill climb, and quiet stretch of single track trail. This appreciation for trail running is something that I vowed not to lose as my racing and running goals evolved. (There will undeniably be moments during my training when I don't want to run another step, when "appreciation"is the last thing in my mind as I pull into the parking lot at Bradbury Mountain and strap on my Camelback, when I'm sick of the woods. But I want them to be few and far between.)
This is a fear that can be avoided by a smart. periodized, training plan which I'll be developing , testing, and blogging about in the months to come.
Balance: Running a marathon distance every week for several months leading to a body-wrecking 24+hour endurance event is about as healthy as being repeatedly punched in the head during a heavyweight title fight or doing seven straight minutes of burpees at the Crossfit Games. That said, trail running is my passion. It is what I love to do. As ultra-running legend David Horton once said when asked why he runs these seemingly insane distances "I feel most at home and closest to God when I'm out on the trails'. I've never been a religious man but I can relate to the sentiment.
Training Plan: To avoid the ultra-training train wreck of adrenal fatigue, chronic sleep disturbances, sky-high cortisol levels, and a thoroughly trashed immune system I am going to take the same approach that served me well for the Peaks 50: comparatively low volume/well planned/and high quality miles with a focus on my weekly long run of 20-30 miles and a strong dose of general physical conditioning to prepare me for the challenges that await on race day.
The Crossfit Endurance program and athletes like Brian Mackenzie have demonstrated that you can run an Ultra-Marathon, and run it competitively (Brian completed the Western States 100 Mile Endurance run in 26 hours 48 minutes while claiming to have trained no more than 10.5 hours per week and focusing on Crossfit-style strength and metabolic conditioning workouts) with relatively low training miles behind you. Remarkable achievement for sure. But there is a missing element in these efforts...and that element is joy.
Here is clip of Crossfitter Mark Matyazik completing the Javelina Jundred on nothing but Crossfit training http://youtu.be/NQmcYeuqFu8
Remarkable achievement for sure. But whereas Mark seems to have approached this race the same way that many of us approach an insanely tough Crossfit WOD: by gritting his teeth, readying and steadying his mind, and powering through it until he reached the finish line, I am approaching the Virgil Crest Ultra from the opposite end of the spectrum: I want September 22nd to stand among the best days of my life. I want to squeeze my children, hug my teammates, and sink into the satisfaction of a hard fought battle won with a big smile on my face.
I love running long, I love running trails, and I know that I can design a training program that allows me to get a good dose of what I love without completely sacrificing what I need to remain both fit and functional in the other realms of my life in which I perform, compete, and exist in when I'm not running in the woods...
I'll be posting details on my Virgil Crest training in my log from now until race day.
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