tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55539007727917028832024-02-07T02:18:06.685-08:00Every other mileUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-83353400878705931182014-11-02T19:32:00.002-08:002014-11-02T19:33:31.677-08:00Back Cove 6 Hour Fun Run and Food DriveJes and I are kicking off the second annual Back Cove 6 Hour Fun Run and Food Drive on Sunday November 16th! <br />
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This event strives to fill the shelves of the Preble Street Food Pantry with nutritious and delicious food for the holidays. Meet in the Back Cove parking lot directly across from Hannaford's <strong>at 8am</strong> and walk or run as many 3.5 mile laps as you'd like in 6 hours. Entry fee is one or more food items for the pantry. A food item for the aid station table is always welcome and very much appreciated. <br />
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Check out the event page and feel free to call me at (207) 423-1423 or shoot me an e-mail at <a href="mailto:dbidler@gmail.com">dbidler@gmail.com</a> with any questions. <br />
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Thanks for reading and we hope to see you on the 16th! <br />
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Here are a few pics from last years event-<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-43536852972839131242014-08-24T06:00:00.002-07:002014-08-26T12:30:22.140-07:00Eastern States 100: A Race Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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The Eastern States course is mean. It's designed by nature to be mean-and that's what I like about it. There are courses where challenges are created and then there are challenging courses. And this race definitely falls into the latter category. The mountains are majestic, rugged and inhospitable. With their cambered trails that run for miles at a wicked angle you are constantly at risk of sliding off into the dense dark woods below you. The descents are brutally steep and littered with angry rocks that attack with painful precision. The climbs can be long and lonely and the "miles of endless nowhere" promised by the directors of this inaugural 100 mile event are delivered in full. The course did seem endless. And often nowhere. But it had a way of swallowing you up in it's deep green leaves and making you forget that there is a world outside of it. So you had no choice but to hang on tight, roll with the punches and enjoy the incredible experience of being the first runners to circumnavigate Pine Creek Gorge and the miles of rocky hills that surround it. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elevation profile</td></tr>
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The notion of staging a single loop course that snakes up and down these mountain trails for one hundred miles is admirable and sort of unbelievable. Part of the reason that I run trail ultras is to experience as much of these remote and beautiful places as I possibly can. The supportive infrastructure of a race makes these adventures possible. And with each step forward being a brand new step into the Pennsylvania Wilds the event immediately felt less like a race and more like a collective journey into the unknown. <br />
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It was in the fall of 2012 that I ran my first 100 mile race. My experience at Virgil Crest was everything that I hoped it would be and I decided to focus my training on the one hundred mile distance from that point on. I had no idea at the time that it would be almost two years before I toed the line at another 100.<br />
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Just as I was getting to know my amazing partner and future wife Jes I was deep in training for the Grindstone 100 in Swoope, VA. I take my training seriously and when the offer to serve as a campground host at Bradbury Mountain State Park presented itself during the summer of 2013 I looked at it as the opportunity of a lifetime. I spent three months living in a small tent and running in the mountains every chance that I got. Jes, who was not as big a fan of mosquitoes, lukewarm meals cooked on a suffocating fire on rainy nights and month after month of sleeping on the ground joined me in this experience regardless. <br />
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The memories that we made were worth every one of the challenges that we faced -and ultimately<br />
overcame- together. Unfortunately, the race was cancelled at the last minute due to the government shutdown and we packed up our tent with an incredible experience under our belts but no finish line, no belt buckle and no big finale to our summer of camping and race training. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Training for the Beast</td></tr>
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We moved into our new home in September and I signed up for the Beast of Burden 100 which takes place in January. Unfortunately after a very sold block of training I ended up dropping down to the 50 mile distance prior to the race due to illness. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocking Jes's snow shoes on Old Speck</td></tr>
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With a lack of local races in mid to late winter I shifted my focus away from going after my next belt buckle and on to big adventures in the mountains. This opened up a whole new door for me as a runner and I'm grateful that it happened. I spent the winter on snowshoes visiting the highest peaks that I could find and exploring new trails with one of my closest friends. I bought a set of Black Diamond Z-Poles which I use on all of my big mountain runs and really enjoy. I also started collecting maps of local long distance trails and putting together a list of solo runs that I've since done or hope to accomplish within the next year-while learning more and more about what it takes to stay safe and strong in the backwoods. <br />
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In early May as the snow fell from the trails and the "race" season unofficially began I entered a rugged 43 mile trail race in MA and came home with my sites set on a spring or summer 100. The very next week I received a surprise e-mail from some folks in PA. I'd put my name on the waiting list for a first year event called the Eastern States 100 and apparently I had just gotten in. With a name like Eastern States it was clear that the organizers were out to do something big. And with their history of directing quality trail races in the area it seemed like their interest was coming from a place of passion. Finally, with 20,000 feet of elevation gain/loss on the tough trails of "Rocksylvania" it seemed like it was going to be the real deal. I hadn't felt this excited about a race since signing up for Grindstone and I jumped at the chance to be part of the inaugural event. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpixVd49hyphenhyphenMNmYxOrp3Ob4LbD7Lid5QRvFAaTqqN8TsxP8Lt_vJY1LOhyphenhyphen_9h-qQ5IckHEpKiD84ZlszA5wwEUbAF_zwuAjDFsyegI6FbwOAhpG5P55DJWegc58G6NNf1pLYsg_NpSB8xUS/s1600/Eastern+States+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpixVd49hyphenhyphenMNmYxOrp3Ob4LbD7Lid5QRvFAaTqqN8TsxP8Lt_vJY1LOhyphenhyphen_9h-qQ5IckHEpKiD84ZlszA5wwEUbAF_zwuAjDFsyegI6FbwOAhpG5P55DJWegc58G6NNf1pLYsg_NpSB8xUS/s1600/Eastern+States+pic.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pine Creek Gorge</td></tr>
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Training: <br />
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With two and half months to shift my training towards Eastern States I began crossing some big runs off of my list. The first was the Grafton Loop Trail which is 39+ miles and boasts 12,000 ft. of gain and loss. I've wanted to do this for years and the run was nothing short of amazing. Next was a planned trip to the Whites to run a Presidential Traverse but some car issues forced me to hit the roads for a local run. I ran a set of "triples" beginning with a ten mile hill run in the morning followed by a ten mile tempo run in the afternoon and finally a ten miler in the evening. I'd never done this before and I found that it worked really well allowing me to get in a 30 mile day at a faster cumulative pace than I would have been able to sustain on a 50k run. It also reminded me that when you question whether you have any fast miles left in your legs on a given day the answer is usually yes.<br />
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Next up was a Pemi Loop with my friend Joe who was also running Eastern States and a self supported 43 mile run on the Wapack trail with him as well. As always, I kept my focus on pretty minimal mileage (60-70 per week) with an emphasis on quality and race specificity while incorporating <em><u>a ton</u></em> of box jumps, burpees, kettle bell swings, rowing, deadlifts and back squats into my training regimen.<br />
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Gratitude: <br />
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Let me say that training, travelling and racing with Joe meant <u>a lot</u> to me as this entire Eastern States experience unfolded. He is a mentor and an inspiration to so many of us who run trails here in New England. No one is as tough as Iron Joe and it was an honor to share this experience with him. <br />
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Words cannot express the gratitude that I feel towards my fiancé Jes. She has seen me at my strongest and at moments where I'm not so strong. She's never left my side and I will never leave hers. I am incredibly lucky to have her as a training partner, lover and friend.<br />
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Road Trip: <br />
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My taper went well and race weekend soon approached. With Jes and Joe ready to rock and roll and the car packed up full of gear we headed out for PA at about 6am on Friday morning. The drive down was full of good tunes, good conversation and a couple of really bad sandwiches. Fortunately, we found an awesome little coffee shop close to the race start and got pretty caffeinated. I'll take good coffee over good food anytime. <br />
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We set up our tents near the start finish, chowed down on the pasta dinner and got to bed at around 9. I slept surprisingly well and when the alarm went off at 2:50 I was ready to rise and ready to run. Despite a small incident (I freaked out in the shower when I thought I'd forgotten my deodorant at home. I can't imagine running a 100 mile race without deodorant-for some reason) the morning was as relaxing as can be. It turns out that Jes packed the deodorant and the race was on after all;)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiin13MvOZKWrsgPWQ923iTjmngDziiRc0YB73zHBs7FaqV6CkKhcCTxpyBnidbuIArw-HyImvfXtGjIDoKdtKpQTown8njtrf_6GgyBzzl8xXxsxcbvffUTJ2CggyTHQlYEvpBlTDWExwQ/s1600/eastern+starting+line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiin13MvOZKWrsgPWQ923iTjmngDziiRc0YB73zHBs7FaqV6CkKhcCTxpyBnidbuIArw-HyImvfXtGjIDoKdtKpQTown8njtrf_6GgyBzzl8xXxsxcbvffUTJ2CggyTHQlYEvpBlTDWExwQ/s1600/eastern+starting+line.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to rock</td></tr>
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I made a fresh cup of my favorite roast from Coffee by Design and ate a breakfast of granola and half of a bagel with peanut butter and honey. Soon we were driving to the start for a pre-race weigh in and to pick-up our bibs. I can't describe the feeling at the start of a 100 mile run but I love it and just cant get enough of it.<br />
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Before long I was giving Jes a goodbye kiss and lining up with the 165 others who were ready to kick off the first ever Eastern States 100. The air was cool and the energy was awesome as the Race Director counted us down. <br />
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Soon we were running down the 1 mile stretch of pavement leading to the trailhead and the first big climb of the day. It seemed like everyone wanted to take advantage of the smooth road and beautiful pre-dawn weather and we ended up starting off at a pretty good clip. We quickly reached a tight and winding staircase that led to our first taste of vertical trail. Some of the runners were pushy trying to skirt around each other to advance a position or two but most were just enjoying a mellow start to what was sure to be a long day for us all. The roughly 1,800 foot climb took place in a fog and a slight drizzle leaving us to wonder if the forecast for the day had changed. I felt strong and relaxed as we climbed. I was happy that our adventure was underway and I was looking forward to a big day in the mountains. <br />
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One thing that stood out once we reached the top was the strangely slanted trail. It's not really comparable to anything that I've run on here in New England. Hard rocks imbedded in soft dirt and snaking around the side of a mountain at a wicked angle makes for an interesting running experience. The trail itself leaned so strongly to the left that you could easily slip and slide right off of it winding up in a pile of rocks and trees hundreds of feet below. I was grateful that I had on my Inov-8 Roclite 315's for this sketchy stuff -but this would change as we began the first of many brutally rocky descents. <br />
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As I began the first major descent I couldn't help but notice that the trail dropped straight down. Like straight down. I run a lot in the White Mountains and am used to tough and technical descents but this was different, The path down the mountain is long, steep and full of these gnarly Pennsylvania rocks. They're not big enough or level enough to hop on and they're not small enough to just skirt over. They're medium sized, oddly shaped and very good at breaking your stride and bashing your feet if you're not careful. By the time I made it to the section of road leading to mile 17.5 and my first opportunity to see Jes my feet were banged up and burning in the spots were I typically develop blisters. I decided to switch into my Hoka Stinson ATR's early and grab my poles for good measure. I pulled into the aid station to see Jes smiling with her camera and it felt great to give her a kiss before running to my bag to take care of business. I told her before the race that I wanted to be cool, collected and conversational at all of the 4 aid stations where we would meet. I have yet to invest in a heart rate monitor but always pay close attention to not fall into a state of stress where sloppy decisions can affect my race. I was a little worked up from starting out so fast and she noticed. I relaxed and got reorganized. Taping my feet for the first time I changed into dry socks and put on my Hoka's. Feeling much better I kissed her again and took off down the winding driveway leading back to the road. We had a bit of a climb on the smooth gravel before heading back onto the trails and I took advantage of my poles syncing them up easily with my stride. Once we were back on trail things leveled out for a bit and I found myself running smoothly and without effort. Soon we were climbing again and I was enjoying myself enough to begin pushing the pace once again....<br />
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Patience:<br />
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At Virgil Crest I went out hard and was able to maintain a solid pace for the majority of the race. And then the wheels fell off the wagon. I pretty much ran as hard as I could until mile 73 and was forced to hike for the last 27 miles. I actually finished the race in a pair of Timberland hiking boots. This happened to work out pretty well for me as I finished in 7th place with a time of 27:48. The difference is that aside from a few short dips in energy here in there I felt super strong and had no real issues for most of those 70+ plus miles. Now, as I plowed my way through the climbs and descents of these first 20 miles with the same intensity that I brought to Virgil I felt the effects of my efforts almost immediately. My body still felt strong but the burning in my feet was very noticeable despite my shoe change and my heart was pounding hard simply due to the non-stop up's and down's. I was working at a pace that felt aggressive and potentially unsustainable on feet that were screaming at me to stop before I'd really even started. I'm not usually too conservative in races finding that I can muscle forward at a pretty decent pace even when I'm not able to run as well as I'd like to. But unlike Virgil Crest there were several variables at play that made this an exceptionally risky proposition. First, this would be my first attempt at a 100 miler without the support of a pacer. I wouldn't have crew after mile 60 either. If I fell apart there would be no friends or teammates to help put me back together, Second, no one knew what the rest of course actually looked like. Virgil used a double out-and-back course so by mile 25 I had seen the whole thing. Here in PA I knew that we had monster climbs, tons of rock and a long night ahead and it wasn't even close to noon. I made the decision then and there to prioritize patience at this event just as much as I had prioritized aggression at Virgil Crest. I would regain my composure, slow my pace down a few notches and take care of issues before they became problems. I would run this race with my head just as much as my heart. I began to focus on two things: being present and open to the experiences that the next 20+ hours would present me with and mapping out a successful path to the finish line. I wanted to appreciate all of the little things that made this run so special. And I wanted to cross that finish line on Sunday.<br />
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Suddenly my race took on a different feel. I enjoyed myself as I ran across piles of slick rocks that led us across small and quiet streams. I ran at a smooth and measured pace on the many flat sections that we encountered. I felt happy and light with my poles clicking quietly on the trail below my feet. I felt absolutely awesome until I reached back into my Ultimate Direction Race Vest to grab a bottle and found the one of the two 20 oz. bottles had fallen out somewhere on the trail. I've run with this vest for over a year and this has never happened. It also happened to be the full bottle leaving me with only a few sips of water until the next aid station. Even still, the weather was cool and I had no doubt that I could make it through this little setback unaffected. I ran into Joe at the mile 30 aid station and he looked super strong as he passed me. From our training runs I had gotten very used to seeing Joe from behind as he disappeared into the trail ahead of me. I was glad that he was having a good day and didn't expect to see any more of him until we finished. <br />
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Before long I reached mile 40 and my second chance to see Jes. Unfortunately, I got into a little argument with some race officials who were making runners take off their shoes and packs to weigh-in. This was not supposed to be happening according to both the race website and the RD and it distracted me as I was trying to resupply myself and give Jes an update on my progress and my needs at the next station. I left hastily and although I didn't find myself in need of any extra food or gear I still regretted what could have been a major mistake on my part. I suddenly ran into a pretty fast dude who I'd shared some earlier miles with and we resumed our conversation like nothing had happened. But it wasn't long before I had to let him go on ahead-I was really careful not to get pulled into someone else's pace or someone else's race. (This guy happened to be Dave Walker who earned the nickname "Twinkle Toes" for his technical running prowess and who ended up placing 15th in a time of 27-ish hours. He is also the RD for the <a href="http://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=27122">Montour 24</a>-an ultra with gourmet coffee at the aid stations that I'll have to check out one of these years. This was Dave's first 100. Congrats to a really nice guy and a very talented runner. )<br />
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I ducked to the side of the trail and dunked my head in a cold stream. I felt awesome as I reemerged and enjoyed the remaining miles leading to the halfway point at mile 50. I ran into Joe around mile 44 and saw that he was having some stomach troubles. We talked for a bit and I wished him well having no doubt that he'd come flying by me again if and the issues resolved. Unfortunately they didn't but Joe continued to kick ass for another long stretch of trail before having to end his day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pulling into mile 51</td></tr>
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I reached mile 51 feeling strong. I was glad to access my bag and looked forward to making a few changes that would prepare me for a full night of running. I grabbed a quick snack at the aid station and hooked up with Jes. She knew that this and mile 60 would be my two major stops. I would spend roughly ten minutes at each which is much longer than I would typically allow myself. But with no crew access after 60 and a long night ahead I wanted to make sure than I was prepared for whatever challenges the course presented. I used this stop to change into a different pair of compression shorts, put on a new shirt and tape my feet again. At mile 60 I would switch into my Ultimate Direction Pack and have something more substantial to eat. I would also drink a little bit of coffee before heading into the night.<br />
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Miles 51 to 60 flew by finding me running alone at dusk and taking in all of the sights and sounds of these gorgeous mountain trails. My only wildlife sighting all day and night was a cool salamander but as I ran I envisioned the bear and the deer hanging out in the backwoods. I ran light and I ran well. I didn't feel pressure to catch another runner or afraid of being caught. I felt at peace and tried to take in as much of the land as I could before the sun went down. <br />
<br />
At some point between mile 55 and 60 darkness set in and I ran alone with the familiar glow of my headlamp lighting the path before me. Soon I heard the clapping and the cow-bells of the mile 60 aid station and after a long descent on a paved road I found myself holding Jes in my arms again. She put some coffee on the stove as I scoured the aid station for dinner. They had lukewarm pierogies and that was more than enough for me. I drank my freshly brewed organic french roast from home, kissed Jes goodnight and headed back into the trail to begin my first full night of solo running. <br />
<br />
This section begins with a 8-9 foot water crossing that is almost knee deep. I decided to take my shoes off to avoid facing the night with cold wet Hoka's that could further aggravate the blisters. My feet were burning pretty badly at this point and the pain intensified with each passing step. I held onto my shoes and poles tightly realizing that if I dropped them in the swiftly moving water it could mark the end of my race. The cold water felt good on my feet and the slippery rocks forced me to move slowly and deliberately until I reached the trail. I dried off with a bandana, put my shoes back on and prepared for some vertical miles.<br />
<br />
The climb following this water crossing was one of the toughest of the race. This section of the Black Forest Trail rises about 1,400 feet before topping out on runnable trail again but I felt so strong climbing that I barely noticed. It was the descents that were beating up my feet and slowing me down at this point so I really tried to take advantage of the areas where I felt strong. The next 13 or so miles are a blur of ups and down at least in terms of terrain. My spirits were super high and I ended up running into someone I'd talked to earlier in the race who seemed to be moving along at a compatible pace. We joked and talked and took turns leading the way as he told me about his previous races and his plans to run Badwater next year. I shared some stories and some goals of my own and soon we were running quietly and softly through the woods in sync with one another and it felt like a big adventure run with a friend. I mentioned hoping that they would have pancakes in the morning and within a few miles we saw a sign promising pancakes at the next aid-station 1.5 miles away. Sweet. We got to the station and as I snacked on a small plate of pancakes I made the decision to re-tape my feet which were causing me a lot of pain at this point. Unfortunately I did a sloppy job with a roll of ducktape and would seriously pay for it over the next several miles as it cut into my the tops of my feet leaving them a bloody mess. The next aid station wasn't far but the terrain was rough and the running was slow. And the second that we reached it the skies began to POUR. The cold rain came down in torrents dripping through the tent and onto the food. We huddled up with a few other runners, grateful to not be caught in it and watched a few people drop from the race right there. Knowing that it might not stop for a while and that we could only wait so long we began to gear up. I put on a pair of gloves, my Salomon rain shell and a light hat while my running partner put on a garbage back from the aid station. As soon as the rain slowed a little we were back on the trail. The night had turned foggy and cold, the rocks were slick and the drops on our headlamps obscured our vision. <br />
<br />
We ran hard regardless trying to stay warm and trying to make up time. This was not a ton of fun as it was happening but as I sit and write this almost a week later I can recognize it as one of the standout moments from this race. It had another advantage for us as well-as tough as the miles before the storm had been and as brutal as some of the final miles would come to be it was now "not raining anymore" So at least we had that. We pressed on. <br />
<br />
Pulling into Blackwell aid station at Mile 78 I was anxious to get the duck tape off of my feet and get some legitimate foot care. As a medic taped me up and addressed some serious blisters and cuts I felt oblivious to the pain and grateful to be at this stage in the race. I'd visualized this point all day long and anticipated it being the defining moment where I knew that I would finish. I also heard from a runner who helped mark course that the trail really leveled out after Blackwell....<br />
<br />
The long climb out of Blackwell and up to Gillespie Point found me pushing hard while focused on my goal of getting to mile 80 before sunrise. A facebook post a few weeks prior suggested that most of the field would reach 80 in the daylight and this provoked some serious chatter on the page. It seemed like a bold statement but it was clearly true. I was in roughly 43rd place at this point out of 165 starters and I knew that almost 70 had dropped. Reaching mile 80 before the sun rose was going to require me to push and it was here that I lost my running partner as I pressed hard up the climb and turned around to see that the glow of his headlamp was nowhere in sight. I reached the summit in the dark and was immediately overwhelmed by the enormous shadows of the surrounding mountains and the outline of a the view that I suppose I'll never see. It almost would have made reaching this place at sunrise well worth it. But thankfully there are photos and I was very glad to have reached this point before the sun rose. <br />
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="300" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10553399_723344867730064_4153712393543557431_n.jpg?oh=fc089767c9cc98d99c06fe7151d9f0d1&oe=545E7858&__gda__=1417430240_174a7ee3a743186045209e13a309c90f" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from mile 80 (from website)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I bounded down the trail and worked my way to the next station as quickly as my blistered and beaten feet would let me. What I felt at this point was comparable only to the final miles of Vigril Crest when I could have sworn that I was stepping on shards of flaming broken glass. Time slowed down here and the run from 80 to 82 felt endless. When I did reach the Sky Top aid station I noticed something strange. The crew there were super friendly but they seemed overly concerned with how much water, food and salt I had on me for the next section. I couldn't figure out what all the fuss was about since it was only 8 miles of comparatively "easy" trail. After snagging a few more peirogies and a York Pepperment Patty I headed out across a sun streaked meadow and down into the trails. I went down and then down some more. And then I went up, and up, and up. And up. I remember climbing what seemed like a grassy ski-slope at a mild but never-ending grade. Two things happened to me here that have never happened during a run or race, First, I began to fall asleep on my feet. I was suddenly exhausted and would lean on my poles and press forward with all of my strength but my vision was wavering and the realization that I might legitimately drop at any second hit me with full force. Second, I started seeing some interesting things-none of which were real. I came across a quiet photographer crouched alongside the trail. Unfortunately he turned right back into the log that he was when I waved at him. A small crowd appeared at several of the trail crossings and I wondered why they weren't ringing a cow bell. I was disappointed to learn that they were only bushes and that I was all alone. A couple of old gazebos poked out from the treeline and the road seemed to be running alongside the trail leaving me to believe that I was close to being done with this never ending nightmare section and close to the Mile 91 aid-station. But they disappeared as I approached and all that was left was a sea of endless green. Pre-dawn was a weird time for me and as I climbed this never ending hill that I estimated to be about 13 miles long I hoped that my running buddy would catch up to me or that I would catch another runner. No luck. It took me close to 3 hours to navigate this crazy section by myself.<br />
<br />
Still battling exhaustion I developed an emergency plan to keep moving forward at a reasonable pace. I realized that if I ran hard on the blisters and cuts that had slowed me to a hiking pace over the past several miles the fresh pain would jar me enough to keep me awake. This worked well enough and soon the sun was out in full force and it was officially daytime. I felt renewed and at around 9:30 am I finally approached the second to last aid station. <br />
<br />
At mile 91 I received a huge welcome and when I told them what a beautiful course I thought this was they seemed legitimately surprised. I think that they were expecting an angry dude to emerge from the trails. They immediately asked whether I needed my feet cared for and referenced the number of runners who had stopped here to treat blisters and get fresh tape. There was a runner in a chair having his feet worked on and it looked too tempting to pass up. Plus, my legs were still feeling really strong and the fast yet painful miles that brought me to this aid station left me feeling confident that I could run the next 6 miles of smoother trail at a decent clip. Limping out of the aid station I waited for those first awkward steps to smooth out and soon I was moving well and enjoying my run again. These miles were as close to enjoyable as you're going to get this late in 100 mile race and I ran pretty much all of them. I knew that the last 3.5 miles to the finish were tough and straight downhill. I prepared myself for the fact that I would likely lose a few positions here as this had been the case on all of the longer descents since my foot issues started at around mile 15.<br />
<br />
<br />
When I reached the final aid station I bypassed it and hit the trail as hard as I could taking advantage of every mile that wasn't too gnarly or too steep to run. At this point my ankle was swelling up and my feet were screaming at me again. Knowing that the road to the finish line was going to be a tough one I resolved to run it as smoothly and evenly as I could without risking any major blowouts this close to the end. <br />
<br />
When the first runner actually passed me I was accepted it in full and pushed ahead just as I had been. When the second runner passed me I just said screw it and bombed down the trail with all of the force and power that I could muster. Again, these long races don't feel that much like races to me-they are just too big and too personal to reduce to the level of competition. I was glad to see<br />
these runners cruising down to the finish line in style. The motive to run hard came from my personal desire to leave everything on the course. Not to "couch it in" as a close friend said to me while pacing me in my first 50 miler. It got me moving then and it got me moving now. I passed by a hiker who was upward bound as I was dropping down the trail and he told me that I had a mile to go. Sweet. I then passed a race volunteer who told me that I had only two miles to go. Man...<br />
<br />
I reminded myself to enjoy these final miles because it's here that so many of the best memories are made. <br />
<br />
Soon I could hear the crowd cheering on the road below and I pushed beyond the pain in my feet digging my trekking poles into the soft earth while flying down the steepest portion of the trail. I hit the road, turned sharply to the right and came up to the large field where this amazing journey had begun roughly 32 and half hours ago. Crossing the finish line was simply unforgettable. <br />
<br />
<br />
Every night spent in that little tent at Bradbury Mountain with the rain seeping in from a dozen small leaks and Jes and I lying in each others arms long after the novelty of camping had worn off led to this very moment.<br />
<br />
<br />
I was handed my finsher's buckle and finishers jacket just as Jes wrapped her arms around my waist and Joe reached his hand out to say congratulations. An unbelievable moment that I will never forget.<br />
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And these big and wild adventures, the ones that start before sunrise and stretch into nightfall only to see the sun rise again are defined by a series of moments. Whether alone on a summit with miles and miles to go, at a finish line surrounded by friends or in that magic span of time just after completing a huge run when all that's left to do is eat, drink good coffee and celebrate our accomplishments we are reminded of the reasons that we do this to ourselves. Or more accurately, for ourselves. I wouldn't be who I am without my running. It keeps me focused, inspired and ready to push beyond my comfort zone both on and off the trails. Few experiences in our lives can truly be classified as adventures. Falling in love is an adventure, starting off on a new life path and redefining who we are and who we want to be is an adventure. And these big runs through the mountains and through the night are always an adventure. <br />
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I'm grateful for every one of them and for all of the amazing people that I get to share them with. <br />
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A huge thank you to my Trail Monster Running team. Thank you to my daughters Amella and Nikyla. Thanks again to Jes for her endless love and support and thanks to all of the countless volunteers who say just the right thing at an aid station in the middle of the night. Extra special thanks to the organizers of this event for being crazy enough to dream it up and solid enough to pull it off. This is a truly amazing community and I'm very lucky to be a part of it. <br />
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Thanks for reading and I'll see you on the trails. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-35348908639994077532014-04-08T12:11:00.001-07:002014-05-19T15:23:54.303-07:00Every other mileSo, I'm changing the name of the blog. <br />
<br />
When I started 100th Mile I was really excited about my race at Virgil Crest. I felt like I'd accomplished what I set out to do when I began running ultras and that the 100 mile distance is what I would focus on from then on. I still love the idea of racing 100 milers but it's the training runs, the time with friends and the journey from registration to race day that excites me the most about these events. I'm also really jazzed about some long self-supported runs this spring and summer that will take a day or more to complete and none if them are ending in a big round number. <br />
<br />
In short, 100 miles seems more and more like an arbitrary number to me and I want to shift the focus of the blog from ultra-distance races to the everyday runs and occasional adventures that keep me inspired to run trails. I also plan to start writing more regularly, more freely, and more like an actual blog.<br />
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Looking forward to bare trails, big mile days and the summer of running ahead.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-1291029728295517592014-02-14T17:55:00.000-08:002014-07-20T19:31:28.213-07:00Hudson Highlands 100kI've been working on a race report for the Beast of Burden 50 miler but still have a ways to go before it's done. Meanwhile. there are a couple of races and runs that I'm really excited about. The first is a return to <a href="http://wapacktrailrace.com/">Wapack and Back</a>. This race really beat me down last year and I'm looking forward to a rematch;) The next is the <a href="http://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=27175">Hudson Highlands 100k</a>. The second that I heard about this no-fee race along the Harriman Park trails with only 50 entry slots I jumped over the dog, raced to the computer and typed my info in as fast as I humanly could to get what I thought would be one of the last open slots. Not a single person has signed up since. I'm sure word will spread as the date nears and I couldn't possibly be more excited about this event. <br />
<br />
I'd say that in preparation for both events I'm planning some long self-supported runs in the mountains, but its more like the other way around. My whole spring and summer are based around big solo runs in the mountains and these two races happened to fit in perfectly with my plans. Now, if I could just get into the <a href="http://www.easternstates100.com/">Eastern States 100</a> (on the waiting list) I'd have a dream season of running ahead. If not I'm planning to plug in a couple more bucket list runs in the Whites leading up to this years goal race. I'm just not sure what it is yet. There are two tough, gorgeous point-to-point 100's in September and I'm still figuring out which makes best sense in terms of logistics. Just ordered a new pack, poles and a spot tracker and looking forward to the summer ahead!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-27196514718791564882013-11-17T17:08:00.003-08:002013-11-17T17:08:45.846-08:00Back Cove 6 Hour Fun Run and Food Drive<a href="https://www.atayne.com/">Atayne,</a> a local company that produces top notch athletic apparel, had a pretty cool idea in their November newsletter. Hold a "fat-ass" style run before Thanksgiving, make the registration fee a non-perishable food item and donate the food to a local food bank or shelter.<br />
<br />
My partner and I both work at the Preble Street Resource Center and really appreciated the suggestion. We are organizing the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/754657091218450/">Back Cove 6 Hour Fun Run and Food Drive</a> for Sunday, November 24th from 8-2p. The course is a 3.5 mile loop around Portland's Back Cove and participants can run a little or run a lot. <br />
<br />
Entry is one food item that is both nutritious and delicious. We will have a white board on hand to track times and laps completed. <strong>There will be no additional aid on the course and the water fountains are turned off for the season.</strong> In typical "fat-ass" style everyone is encouraged to bring something for the aid station if they can. <br />
<br />
Aside from collecting a ton of good food, our goal is to make this event accessible to everyone in the community. Walkers, joggers and runners of all ability levels are invited and encouraged to attend. <br />
<br />
It is also our hope that some will use this event to reach a distance that they have yet to cover. First 5k, 10k, 1/2 marathon, or marathon opportunities abound!<br />
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Finally, I hope that some dude/dudette shows up with a hydration pack, compression socks and a pair of Hoka's and takes our invitation to run this as a 50 miler with a 6 hour cut-off seriously. Because that would just be rad. <br />
<br />
Jokes aside, we hope to fill some shelves at the PSRC's food pantry next week, and hope to see some of you there! Feel free to send any questions pertaining to the event to: <a href="mailto:david@whybestrong.com">david@whybestrong.com</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-79146225434326705292013-11-10T15:27:00.000-08:002014-01-06T05:04:08.777-08:00Beast of Burden Winter 100In 68 days I'll be running the <a href="http://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=24086">Beast of Burden Winter 100</a>. <br />
<br />
After spending the past four months training for the Grindstone 100, which was cancelled due to the government shutdown, my partner Jes and I were feeling ultra'd out. We'd spent the better part of four months living in a small tent at Bradbury Mountain so that I could train. We talked and planned and mapped out Grindstone strategy endlessly. And,we sacrificed time with one another to invest in a goal that was deeply personal to me. I could not be more grateful for the love and support of this amazing lady.<br />
<br />
When Grindstone was cancelled I did some soul searching. I went searching for the soul of a sport that I fell in love with at a no-fee fat ass in New Jersey, and which is now filled with races that are too expensive or too exclusive to get into. I searched myself to find the reason that these races and runs are so important to me. And I searched the depths of the interwebs for a race that could inspire me and excite me like Grindstone had. What I found was the Beast of Burden. It was the website that I couldn't stay away from. The race reports that I read and re-read. And the race that I did not (and do not) know if I can complete.<br />
<br />
From the race website:<br />
<br />
<em><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"></span></em><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #666666; color: white; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Noto Sans", sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 15px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: black;"><em>The Beast of Burden 100 & 50 Mile Ultra Marathon series is not a race at all. Sure, there's a timing clock, a start/finish line, and some truly awe-inspiring world-class runners who will travel from the far corners of the globe to toe that line and race that clock on one of the flattest, fastest and most runner-friendly surfaces on the earth in hopes of setting new world records. But, that's just a centerpiece for what really makes the B.o.B. special. This event is our semi-annual family reunion for ultra runners as unique as yourself.</em></span></span><br />
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Also from the race website:<br />
<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Noto Sans", sans-serif; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: black;"><em>Yeah....we know. You can run 100 miles.You can run it through the hills of the highest mountains and through the heat of the sun in the desert valleys, but can you run it in the heart of winter? Through inches or feet of snow? Are you ready to unleash the beast inside of you and run 100 miles on the frigid, historic Erie Canal Towpath? Ladies and Gentlemen, throw away your razors for the new year. This winter, you're going to need all the insulation you can muster!</em></span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #666666; color: #666666; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 12px/18px "Noto Sans", sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"></span></span><br />
<br />
I consulted with Jes and we agreed to take on the BoB. I feel like we are a team in the truest sense of the word, and hope that I can return her endless support as we continue to chase down dreams and slay dragons together. <br />
<br />
I attribute my success at the Virgil Crest 100 largely to having my nutrition dialed in. I fueled my training with healthy, local food and how good I felt during this period leading up to the race was one of the inspirations for my book, Paleo in Maine. <br />
<br />
My goal is to train for the Beast of Burden exclusively on local food from many of the farms and distributors featured in the book, and many of them have offered to supply us with some extra meat and veggies to support that effort. Feeding a hungry ultra-runner is a monumental task at times, and their support is endlessly appreciated. <br />
<br />
I have also reached out to several local outfitters to see whether they could contribute some winter running gear to aid in my preparation for the Beast. This training cycle is going to take some serious cold weather apparel, and every little bit of support allows us to reach our big goals on a not so big budget.<br />
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I reached out because I needed support to do this, and the response was just amazing. If I am successful at the Beast of Burden this January, it will be because of the incredible team of people who have helped me to reach the finish line. <br />
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My race at the Beast of Burden Winter 100 will serve as a benefit for the adaptive services program at the Casco Bay YMCA, and will take place on January 18th in Lockport, NY. <br />
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Gearing up, and getting ready to run.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-44893473882623135882013-10-07T17:48:00.001-07:002013-10-09T11:10:10.573-07:00Ted Corbitt 24 Hour Memorial RunThis weekend I had the honor of participating in the <a href="http://www.newyorkultrarunning.org/2013_TC_24Hour.htm">Ted Corbitt 24 Hour Memorial Run</a> in Queens, NY. This is one of the most unique and memorable races that I've ever been a part of, and one of the best events in the ultra scene. Hands down.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAlnfnuOIbAyiIo0TOIqzW0rdSJwBYSqtMgBNNgC1DkhmTr9PfLitDQUvCPIMK69oIR3r3-KgHE-ewBOPkziZl4kILV4c5-dKObZWpyosRpUMY1uU0RSuxnMXujC1W-affGeteLOrcVxq8/s1600/IMG_0973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAlnfnuOIbAyiIo0TOIqzW0rdSJwBYSqtMgBNNgC1DkhmTr9PfLitDQUvCPIMK69oIR3r3-KgHE-ewBOPkziZl4kILV4c5-dKObZWpyosRpUMY1uU0RSuxnMXujC1W-affGeteLOrcVxq8/s200/IMG_0973.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broadway Ultra Society</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After the abrupt cancellation of the Grindstone 100 last week, I had a few options on my table. With vacation days taken and family plans etched in stone Jes and I were definitely heading to New Jersey. Originally slated as a stop on the road to Virginia, the visit to my aunts house became the focus of the trip. She practically raised me, and I don't get to see her nearly enough. <br />
<br />
There were a handful of 50k races taking place in the area, all of which would have fit into our schedule and allowed me to get a good run in on a gorgeous weekend. There was also the option of solo adventure in the White Mountains or a long run with friends on the return trip. But all of these would have separated me from Jes, and this weekend was about the two of us celebrating a long summer of camping, training and overcoming obstacles together. It was the culmination of several months worth of effort and it marked a new stage in our lives together as we'd just settled into our new home before leaving town.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjiytwy3QwZZy7ySXDNtipRu6o4PP6buKYhyphenhypheniLxveZ_ZUfBBmyB5NPvTmti9xoFWVwQS03dNOBJU9UInM7Shd2iepuFrGyY7WSAwvzF5en7wJ9rwQW3ORjBc7qS4jzq7_7t1CIcnvMOTA/s1600/08_TedCorbitt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjiytwy3QwZZy7ySXDNtipRu6o4PP6buKYhyphenhypheniLxveZ_ZUfBBmyB5NPvTmti9xoFWVwQS03dNOBJU9UInM7Shd2iepuFrGyY7WSAwvzF5en7wJ9rwQW3ORjBc7qS4jzq7_7t1CIcnvMOTA/s320/08_TedCorbitt.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ted Corbitt leading the pack. Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx, NY 1957</td></tr>
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After searching the ultra lists for a day or two I found this hidden gem of a race in Queens. And I'm so glad that I did. <br />
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The Ted Corbitt 24 Hour Memorial Race takes place on a 1.1982 mile loop at a small park in Queens. The name of the event caught my attention instantly. <a href="http://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/remembering-ted?page=single">Ted Corbitt</a> is nothing less than a hero in the world of ultra-running. <br />
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Ted overcame racial prejudice while setting new world records and redefining what it means to "go long". The event held on October 5th and 6th in Juniper Valley Park in Queens celebrated the 40th anniversary of Ted setting the 24 hour record in 1973.<br />
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The race also celebrated artist, activist, spiritual teacher and endurance athlete <a href="http://www.srichinmoy.org/">Sri Chinmoy</a>. Sri was a personal friend of Ted's and a truly incredible individual. Excited to be part of this celebration I contacted Rich from the <a href="http://www.newyorkultrarunning.org/broadwayultrasite.htm">Broadway Ultra Society</a> and signed up immediately. I set a personal goal of running 100 miles at this event and looked forward to my first 24 hour race almost as much as I'd looked forward to Grindstone.<br />
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The night before the race I was surprisingly relaxed. The normal pre-race jitters were virtually non-existent and I was truly excited to get out on the course. Unfortunately, the ankle that I'd sprained a few weeks ago (and rehabbed meticulously ever since) had started to act up again while I was coaching a group run earlier in the week. I rested it well and hoped for the best, but by Saturday night I was still feeling a sharp pain when I moved it a certain way. Fortunately, due to the nature of the race I could pull out if things got bad without risking serious injury, or go the distance if fate, fortune and the alignment of the starts allowed. I slept well on Saturday night and woke up ready to run.<br />
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We arrived early and got to talk with Rich who directs the event and some of the other participants.. These were real deal ultra-runners, and the sense of community was just as deep as the storied history of NYC ultra's-which was painted on old race jackets, tattered t-shirts and across the faces of many of the 50 or so participants. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE77_LYdEX6qn46y5fiuAI9RC1SImOxL92j8KuFuiHNbZnZSCVcaShy7tQY0uKH-dveG8WFXmB3luFjZFnieOt8qCSNlOKkxrksju_R2mPxyYyS2C4vep2w5_M0nzASmInEPqOCpaCxH9C/s1600/IMG_0990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE77_LYdEX6qn46y5fiuAI9RC1SImOxL92j8KuFuiHNbZnZSCVcaShy7tQY0uKH-dveG8WFXmB3luFjZFnieOt8qCSNlOKkxrksju_R2mPxyYyS2C4vep2w5_M0nzASmInEPqOCpaCxH9C/s320/IMG_0990.JPG" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyY9EV6piVS_-ERWU4QLgQCht9skUofZUXj2oAt48IiKp5xKSeLmMYp5s3oBnp5qAZDhhyphenhyphenGcnl8QKbp5GbVMmO6q7p6o4WGZgiW0AJxp_UzVU6suo5Q7YNMlhxQj5bJjVFfnAsBsPwhOYu/s1600/IMG_0984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyY9EV6piVS_-ERWU4QLgQCht9skUofZUXj2oAt48IiKp5xKSeLmMYp5s3oBnp5qAZDhhyphenhyphenGcnl8QKbp5GbVMmO6q7p6o4WGZgiW0AJxp_UzVU6suo5Q7YNMlhxQj5bJjVFfnAsBsPwhOYu/s320/IMG_0984.JPG" width="213" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBxjQaJM4zNgm2qScCPQCdKiWkUFIgvGrStSW1p7aHhOJweCo8z_L1ju7vQVIZw2tEfqEts4lpdQlQgvstvHQdG07xkz4ZSxn_0HUWl0g7mUBStg7qSFveAPCkBRqE6PVoc5YYWhkWur6/s1600/IMG_0994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBxjQaJM4zNgm2qScCPQCdKiWkUFIgvGrStSW1p7aHhOJweCo8z_L1ju7vQVIZw2tEfqEts4lpdQlQgvstvHQdG07xkz4ZSxn_0HUWl0g7mUBStg7qSFveAPCkBRqE6PVoc5YYWhkWur6/s320/IMG_0994.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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The race began with two and half loops around a track, then proceeded to the big (well, 1.1982 miles big) loop in the park. 83 loops around the official circuit equals 100 miles. <br />
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With a small but moving ceremony they started the clock and we were off around the track for the first time. I ran next to the previous winner (the event has been held every 10 years since 1983, with a special race held in 2008, making this a rare event. And making this experience that much more incredible.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaDNd0xeMHoaPUJUjCgj5Sy-Bn3kfXBk7wHFPIn4u5xOktKd3qUt5PcXAu6XzmO9kelxD7GLI6UTmehcpWlxrZUWcYJTlv1hyPha7iUDQiK0v-2l8M_culFeyj5TbdaVd4RrlG_JO8NhH/s1600/IMG_1021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaDNd0xeMHoaPUJUjCgj5Sy-Bn3kfXBk7wHFPIn4u5xOktKd3qUt5PcXAu6XzmO9kelxD7GLI6UTmehcpWlxrZUWcYJTlv1hyPha7iUDQiK0v-2l8M_culFeyj5TbdaVd4RrlG_JO8NhH/s320/IMG_1021.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
I hadn't raced in a while and was definitely there to give it my all. Although I would have been proud to race and come in behind any one of these runners, I had a good summer of training behind me and didn't want to sell myself short. I started out in the front of the pack and stayed there for the next 20 miles.<br />
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Needless to say, I wondered what it would feel like to run a single loop all day and night. By the time I made it around the park for the first time I was relieved. It seemed that the energy of the city coupled with the great community of runners and the presence of my ultra-amazing crew (Jes) on every lap was going to make this an event to enjoy and an event to remember. <br />
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The weather was awesome on Saturday and the park was filled with children playing soccer, a couple of young dudes slapping some serious handball and a ton of inquisitive Queens natives wondering what the hell was going on as we walked, jogged and ran circles around them all morning. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcDS_QzbcT_YNR0NFMIu-h3YPpyqq1Tv-YmNjIuT5qirUc85hzGC9pvI4I_e7sDii3RTKW_BbS6CfTrCShAfiMzLZzet64suJpes6GGMz7U6BVOWT4w05O1f_Qa1q-XsDWAmyByR5qUVC/s1600/IMG_1036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcDS_QzbcT_YNR0NFMIu-h3YPpyqq1Tv-YmNjIuT5qirUc85hzGC9pvI4I_e7sDii3RTKW_BbS6CfTrCShAfiMzLZzet64suJpes6GGMz7U6BVOWT4w05O1f_Qa1q-XsDWAmyByR5qUVC/s640/IMG_1036.JPG" width="640" /></a>I felt great during the early miles of the race, smiling and chatting with people while truly digging the scene. On loops one through fifteen I was reminded by the timing crew that I was in first place, although I knew that meant very little so early in the game. By the 13th trip around the track I began breaking the race down into loops of ten. Seven more loops of ten to go and I would be at 100 miles, my first goal of the day. By 1pm things started to heat up a bit and I began carrying a handheld with NUUN and using my ice-filled <a href="https://www.facebook.com/poeticmoments.noolies">Noolie</a> to stay cool. The aid station was well stocked and Jes was able to mix drinks, hand me salt tabs and tend to a couple of unexpected needs that came up (got some hot spots early, but a quick change into my Darn Tough's and a little tape took care of that). <br />
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It was on the 18th loop that my ankle started to bark at me. By the 19th loop it started to bite. Shortly after starting the 20th loop I had to begin walking as each step that I ran sent a small bolt of pain right through my ankle. I knew going in to this race that, just like the Grindstone 100 or any run that I took this weekend the ankle giving out on me was a possibility-but it still hurt to think that I wouldn't see the stars come out in the park that night or the sunrise in the morning. I knew as I walked slowly around the perimeter of Juniper Valley Park for the twentieth time that I wouldn't reach the 100th mile of the race as I hoped and planned. <br />
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I could certainly have walked for the next 19 hours but this is not an option that I considered for very long. As much as I respect every walker on the course, this would not have satisfied me and my passion for running. Jes had made tremendous sacrifices to be with me all night, another evening spent with family before heading home would be an unexpected blessing and I could not risk a more serious injury for a 100k walk around the course. <br />
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Other than not being in a better position to stay the night and support the other runners, I don't have a single regret about this weekend. It was one of the most fun, most rewarding and most compelling races that I've ever done. I wish that I were healed up and back on the course as I write this. <br />
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A huge shout out to Rich the race director, the Broadway Ultra Society and the friends and family of Ted Corbitt and Sri Chinmoy. And huge respect to everyone who completed the 24 hour run this year. You've done something truly amazing.<br />
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Honored, grateful and looking forward to the Ted Corbitt Memorial Run in 2023!<br />
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My total miles run: 24.51<br />
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Men's winner: Jim Morris 116.39<br />
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Women's winner: Lan Nguyen 109.69<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-62703740329952535662013-10-06T19:47:00.000-07:002013-10-06T19:47:34.705-07:00Grindstone suspended<br />
"The 2013 Grindstone 100 has been suspended due to the government shutdown." <br />
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I've never invested so much time and energy into a single event, and I felt dazed for hours after I read this. I walked around in a cloud all afternoon, checking e-mails from my phone every two minutes to see if anything had changed. <br />
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There were plenty of bumps on the road to Grindstone, from a diagnosis of Lyme's disease early in the summer to the subsequent joint inflammation that slowed my runs to a crawl to a sprained ankle three weeks before the race, which forced a cold wet night on the Appalachin Trail.<br />
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But, by the time that this e-mail came I felt ready to go.<br />
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I felt ready for the 6pm start on Friday night, ready for bright starts under the cool black sky in VA and ready for the hot, dusty and long day of trail running that would follow. Despite an extended taper from the ankle sprain I felt about as ready for "the hardest 100 miler on the east coast" as ready gets.<br />
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Now that the race is off I'm taking stock of what I've gained over the past several months, and figuring out what to do next. <br />
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I have some new running gear that's begging to be used. Black Diamond Z poles for long days in the White's, an excellent pack from UltraSpire and some Inov-8's and Hoka's that need serious mileage put on them. I'm feeling fitter and stronger than I have in a long time. And, I'm catching a fire for the sport like never felt before.<br />
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I'm planning on some big runs over the next several weeks and have a new goal race in sight. Here's a hint: it's like the opposite of Grindstone. And it goes down in January. <br />
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Endless thanks to everyone who's supported me on the journey to the Grindstone 100 and to race director Clark Zealand and the rest of the Grindstone crew who got dealt a crazy hand and played it well. I hope to run Grindstone 2014 and I'll keep on posting as plans for the next race develop. <br />
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Run strong and run long,<br />
<br />
DUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-83551506051340198072013-09-22T16:01:00.000-07:002013-09-23T07:15:12.466-07:00Taper timeOne of my goals for the summer was to blog more. I totally failed. My other goal was to train for the Grindstone 100. This time I succeeded. I got in some great runs, some tough runs and some runs that I'll never forget. Getting stuck on the summit of Old Speck in a lightning storm for example, and having to sleep beard to beard with a bunch of thru- hikers before summiting the mountain again in the pitch black and rainy morning was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I wouldn't wish the experience on anybody, but it was good, if completely accidental, ultra training.<br />
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Unfortunately, that's the run where I sprained my ankle. Three weeks before the race.<br />
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It swelled to three times it's normal size, turned every shade of black and blue and left me with a lot to think about heading into my taper for Grindstone. <br />
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On my final double digit run this morning I took a few missteps and paid the price. You could hear me yell from Route 9. And I was on the snow mobile trail, about 5 miles away.<br />
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The ankle is still in pretty rough shape and with the race just twelve days away, I'm nervous. The Grindstone course is notorious for ankle bashing rocks and hairy descents. There is also a "best blood" award at this race. And I don't want to win it. <br />
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<strong><em>But, that's both the beauty and the allure of these things. You never know what's going to happen, everybody's got something hurting them before race day and one way or another, everything is going to shake out in the Blue Ridge Mountains in less then two weeks.</em></strong><br />
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The Grindstone race means a lot to me, for many reasons. I'm thankful that I've gotten a summer of good training under my belt and I'm hopeful that almost two weeks of rest, recovery and some easy breezy runs around my new neighborhood will find me feeling strong at the starting line. But, in the meantime, I've got some serious thinking to do...<br />
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Assuming that the ankle heals enough that a finish at Grindstone seems possible (and that's what I'm assuming at this point. I have every intention of running this race) then what can I do from now until then to best prepare? As a coach, I find myself hesitant to ask these questions because, well, I should know the answers. Right? But that's bullshit. It's just ego talking. I truly believe that coaches need coaches and I am absolutely humbled when I look around at all the amazing runners, talented coaches and genuine mentors that I have in my circle, and in my life. So I'm throwing these questions out there and appreciate all of the feedback and insight that anyone has to offer. <br />
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Ankle sprains: Has anyone else gotten a sprain before a big race? What did you do about it? Any advice, words of warning or inspirational stories of how you kicked ass regardless would be greatly appreciated!<br />
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Footwear: I'm wearing my Inov-8 Roclite 315's for the first half of the race, and changing into my Hoka Bondi B's for the second. Has anyone had ankle issues in the Hoka's? I sprained the ankle on a moderately technical descent off of White Cap mountain while wearing them. I feel like I would have landed awkwardly regardless but wonder if anyone can comment on the trade off between the added protection vs reduced proprioception and if they feel the trade off is equitable?<br />
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Trekking poles: I've always kind of frowned on the use of poles in a race. But, when a client asked me whether I was using them at Grindstone my argument against them just didn't hold up. I really don't know what my beef is with trekking poles and, if the ankle is still really shaky, am considering picking up a pair for the Grindstone. (I guess I felt like they offered an unfair advantage, but if they are within the rules I have to reason that makes them fair. And, just as some of us choose hand-helds over packs, Hoka's over Vibrams or show up solo as opposed to having their own personal entourage it seems more like a matter of personal choice.) Incidentally, the Hardrock 100 is an eventual goal of mine (and Grindstone is a qualifier). I would definitely bring poles to Hardrock so what would stop me from bringing them to VA? How high a mountain do you need to have for poles to be legit? And, more importantly, what do I want out of this race? After a respectable 7th place finish at last year's Virgil Crest 100 I purposely picked a race that scared me just a little, and humbly shifted my goals back to just finishing. My goal at Grindstone is to see all 101 miles of the course, and if a pair of trekking poles increases my odds then I just might bring them along.<br />
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Rhetorical questions aside, and long question short, has anyone used poles at an ultra? And if so, what was your experience like? Were they a major help or a pain in the ass? And what poles would you recommend for a race like Grindstone?<br />
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Thanks in advance and looking forward to your thoughts!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-62541765936390761682013-08-01T12:18:00.000-07:002013-08-02T12:03:02.494-07:00Grindstone 100The Grindstone 100 has been in my sights for the past three years. I first heard about this race through my friend and teammate Joe Wrobleski's amazing <a href="http://trailmonsterrunning.com/1685/grindstone-100-joe-wrobleski">2011 race report.</a> At the time I had no desire to run a one hundred mile race (but was considering my first 50) and enjoyed the report from the safe distance of the blogosphere, with no danger of getting all jacked up and registering for an ultra. <br />
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Immediately following the <a href="http://trailmonsterrunning.com/2808/peak-50-david-bidler">Peaks 50</a> I knew that I wanted to register for a 100. I began to scout out a good race and cycle through the collection of reports on our team site <a href="http://www.trailmonsterrunning.com/">Trail Monster Running</a>. I wanted a fall race. It's my favorite time of year and would allow an entire summer of training to prepare for the challenge. I immediately thought of Grindstone, mostly due to the unique 6pm start, which I somehow figured would help with my fear of running through the mountains at night. (In fact, with a night start and a course that takes most runners around 30 hours to complete, assuring that we'll strap on our headlamps for a second time, Grindstone will have more night running than I've ever done. But there's ultra-logic for you...)<br />
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After taking all things into consideration (price, location, logistics etc.) I settled on the <a href="http://www.virgilcrestultras.com/">Virgil Crest 100</a> in Cortland, NY. My friends Ian and Emma ran it last year and wrote a<a href="http://trailmonsterrunning.com/1653/virgil-crest-100-ian-parlin"> report that is nothing less than epic.</a> Virgil Crest went very well for me. With Ian pacing me through the night and the Trail Monster crew out in full force I earned a 7th place finish and my first 100 mile belt buckle.<br />
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I went into this season knowing that I'd like to build up to another fall 100. And my thoughts turned back to Grindstone. But, after a rough time at Wapack and Back I decided that I wanted a more runnable course. I'm not a hiker, and didn't want to sacrifice those moments when you're flying across the trails for the "monster climbs" and epic summits of the Blue Ridge mountains. I found a flat race with gorgeous views and set my sites on it. For the next month or so the Pine Creek Challenge in PA became my new goal race. <br />
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But, along with my <a href="http://100thmile.blogspot.com/2013/07/vermont-2013-dns.html">injury/illness</a> and the perspective that I gained through the recovery process, I began to question what I was running these races for in the first place. I would like to run 100 miles along the Pine Creek Gorge one day. I'd like to run up the coast to Belfast with a $20 bill in my pocket before the summer ends. But, when racing and setting a target that will serve as my goal for the year, I want to tackle something that scares me. Something that pushes (and hopefully expands) my boundaries as a runner and something that I don't know if I can complete. And with 23.000 feet of elevation gain/loss and a course described as "without a doubt, the toughest 100 miler east of the 100th meridian) Grindstone is all of that. And more. <br />
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I went into Virgil Crest with the goal of finishing. I raced as hard as I could and had a good day and an unforgettable experience. I'm going into Grindstone with the same goal, and looking forward to testing myself in the Shenadoah Valley of Virginia in just over two months. I'll be posting stats from my training, which will include several trips to NH to run in the White Mountains, and a self-supported trek across the 43 mile Wapack and Back course, as they happen. Stay tuned and again, thanks to the ultra community for reading and for all of the support. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-914672386142143792013-07-29T12:13:00.002-07:002013-07-29T12:13:58.509-07:00Noolies, new shoes, and an update from the woodsSince moving to Bradbury Mountain State Park for the summer I've gotten some great runs in. I've also made some incredible memories, both on and off the trails. A few weeks ago though, I got my butt kicked by a tick and had to reshape my training around some serious joint pain thats slowed me down to permanent late stage ultra-pace.<br />
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Since the last post my long runs have been 4-5 hour exercises in patience. I've had to walk/hike at least a quarter of the time and could barely manage 13:00 minute miles when I was able to run. Still, I figured it was better than sitting in my camp chair reading Trail Runner. I'm happy to say that I got in 17 miles of pure running yesterday afternoon and am starting to feel like my old self again. I've got a birthday 50k planned for next week and the forced slow-down led me to reevaluate my race plans for 2013. I've got something exciting to add to my calendar and I'll post the details later this week. In the meantime, here are some quick highlights from the past couple of weeks at the 'Brad.<br />
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1. <strong>Noolies-</strong> On the fourth of July I ran twenty miles from my campsite to Portland to visit Jes. It was a crazy hot day and I wrapped a bandana soaked in cold water around my neck to stay cool. Later that evening Jes and I started talking about ways to keep core temperature down during long runs and she had an amazing idea. Being the awesome, fire breathing, go-getting lady that she is Jes put this idea into action and <strong><em>Noolies-"Coolies for your Neck"</em></strong> were born. Jes has been working hard to get these fun and innovative bandanas on the market. They have sewn in pockets for ice and are just an awesome addition to anyone's gear box. As a runner I'm really excited to see this happening. They're incredibly effective and the prototype model has helped me through several hot long runs. The ice cubes stay cold and solid for a long time and when they melt, they send a cold stream of water through the bandana and onto your neck. Just awesome. As her partner I'm so proud and impressed with what she's done. Check them out at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/poeticmoments/noolies">www.facebook.com/poeticmoments/noolies</a> and order a Noolie asap!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Dr252E0iKymGh8KCUiARj_MeXlal-63U6lZWbO8SQUhN74hGw1uHaDTn3FRflu8bL7FWERrH_X1btUw0yWaY4L2XZ3kjZCnHz-buwx7VxILWOW6ILPq2UpEpi68RysvdEC64SOVxkNnd/s1600/noolies+blog+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Dr252E0iKymGh8KCUiARj_MeXlal-63U6lZWbO8SQUhN74hGw1uHaDTn3FRflu8bL7FWERrH_X1btUw0yWaY4L2XZ3kjZCnHz-buwx7VxILWOW6ILPq2UpEpi68RysvdEC64SOVxkNnd/s1600/noolies+blog+pic.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noolies prototype</td></tr>
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2. <strong>Perspective-</strong>While on one of my slow-mo jaunts around Bradbury over the past month I had a sudden realization. And a renewed sense of perspective. I was running at a painfully slow pace around the Island Loop trail and, in the midst of self-pity and frustration, I realized how much worse things could be. And how lucky I was. I spent several week over the course of the winter on crutches and would have killed to be able to run a mile on these trails. With Lyme disease, the suspected diagnosis surrounding my symptoms, being such a sketchy devil I could have been immobilized and in a hospital bed right now. Instead, I was able to run for twenty miles at a time, albeit at a slower pace than I would have liked, and that was something to be truly grateful for.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGmP7MkI7wVHFRLVFCv4JGnQAkUvBumWed9NpEbz8qvhVS00LPElZ1WuQ3-6FUgaMePWRW9Mg_8u3AXcXyJd50TgFJcp5d4nhwxjYZCbyNfKO4tD4PT_56WMFg6ffgSnHhrEaIdgf0DSp/s1600/Roclites.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGmP7MkI7wVHFRLVFCv4JGnQAkUvBumWed9NpEbz8qvhVS00LPElZ1WuQ3-6FUgaMePWRW9Mg_8u3AXcXyJd50TgFJcp5d4nhwxjYZCbyNfKO4tD4PT_56WMFg6ffgSnHhrEaIdgf0DSp/s1600/Roclites.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roclite 315's straight out of the box</td></tr>
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3. <strong>Last remaining pair of Roclite 315's on the planet</strong>-I've been scouring the web for a over a month, trying to locate my favorite pair of running shoes. The Inov-8 Roclite 315's served me more than well for my first 50 and 100 mile races and hundreds of trail miles in between. After a tireless search I found them in my size at a Peter Glenn Sport and Ski, in Florida. Score! (I wish that I could still buy them directly from my friend <a href="http://trailmonsterrunning.blogspot.com/">Ian</a> instead of shopping online and ordering from Florida but unfortunately, that's not the case.) My first run in them reminded me of what an exceptional shoe they are-and how well they're going to perform at my new goal race of 2013. Again, stay tuned for details...<br />
<br />
4. <strong>Running with Rob</strong>-I had a chance to run with a pretty incredible dude yesterday. Most people who run ultra-marathons are some kind of incredible anyway, and I feel very fortunate to be in such amazing company. But, this guy was on another plain entirely and I wanted to share the experience. Rob is my friend Nancy's son who lives out in Moab, UT. A few months ago Nancy mentioned that Rob was running his first 100 miler, the notorious <a href="http://www.wasatch100.com/">Wasatch Front</a>, in September, She also mentioned that he would be in town for a week in July and that we should run together. I was disappointed to find out that his visit coincided with my illness from last months tick bite and the joint pain that left me running in slow motion, but I was excited to meet the guy. I didn't plan for us to run together for fear of holding him back but we set up a time to meet and talk ultra's. That time came yesterday afternoon when Rob showed up at my site around 1pm. An exceptionally nice guy with a midwest mellowness, Rob emerged from a van with Alaska plates. He was a little sweaty, and clued me in to the fact that he'd run 17 miles already this morning. It turns out that he hooked up with the Trail Monster crew on the Saturday group run and had been running ever since. I explained my situation and he still seemed willing to hit the trails together, slow motion miles or not. With the understanding that he had license to leave me behind in order to get a good training run in we headed straight up the summit trail and into a truly fun run where I got to know a little bit him. It turns out that Rob is a mountain guide and spends a lot of his time taking clients up to the highest heights that they're willing and able to scale. Aside from designing courses for adventure races and collaborating with Montrail on some new racing vests/hydration packs, he apparently spends the rest of his time running trails. Without a trace of ego he told me about 40, 50, and 60+ mile mountain runs that he's done, all of which led him to the line of his first 100 miler in a few weeks. We ran into my friend Jordan mid run, who, like a true bad-ass, promptly turned around and ran back the way that he'd come to share a few miles with us. We ended up out on the power lines with the Pineland Farms trails in sight but were met with an electric fence at the second of two major road crossings. This forced us to turn around or bushwack even further into the woods. With Jordan needing to get back and a good hour of running between us and the park we filed bottles at an abandoned house with a hose and moved on. It was great to see J and talk details about a planned Pemi Loop and a trek across the Wapack and Back course planned for early fall. Always great to share the trails with Jordan and looking forward to some serious adventures right around the corner.<br />
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Rob and I got in a solid 10 miles together (27 total for him). I tacked on an additional 7 after he and Jordan hit the road for the best 17 miler since the tick attack. Grateful to have shared some trail with Rob and my thoughts will be with him and his mom (who's pacing for the last few miles) at Wasatch this September. Go get that buckle brother!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-14212916820065604022013-07-09T14:31:00.001-07:002013-07-09T15:05:39.210-07:00Vermont 2013: DNSOn Wednesday night of last week as I lay in my tent, a wave of tremors, cold chills, and body aches came over me. I pulled on my boots along with my thickest hoodie and tried to sleep it off, I had a 25 mile road run on tap for the morning and suddenly, the <a href="http://www.vermont100.com/">Vermont 100</a> just two weeks away. <br />
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Since pacing my friend <a href="http://runefficient.com/">Jeremy</a> in his stellar <a href="http://trailmonsterrunning.com/2972/vermont-100-jeremy-bonnett">2012 performance</a> at Vermont I've wanted to run this race. I didn't expect this years registration to fill as quickly as it did and I ended up with my name at the rear end of the waiting list. I e-mailed the director to inquire about my chances of getting in and her (always prompt) response was: Highly unlikely. I might want to consider the 100k or plan for next year. But she'd keep me posted.<br />
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With these odds in mind I didn't give much thought to the race and put the <a href="http://hampshire100.com/rundetails.html">Hampshire 100k</a> and The <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/pinecreekchallengepa">Pine Creek Challenge</a> 100 miler down as my goal races for 2013. I began camping full time back in June to train.<br />
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Flash forward to a rough race at<a href="http://wapacktrailrace.com/"> Wapack and Back</a>, a series of 20-25 mile redemption runs with the Hampshire 100k on my mind, and the fact that I'm living at Bradbury Mountain and biking 15-20 miles a day, every day, on top of my running starting to pay dividends. Flash forward to an out of left field e-mail from Julie two weeks ago. Congratulations! You've been accepted into the 2013 Vermont 100!<br />
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I immediately began reaching out to friends in my tight knit trail running community for training advice and resources while sourcing out every opportunity to make this small adventure happen. These are some of the best people that I know and their supportive responses only reaffirmed that fact. A dream race was suddenly in sight and I began running harder than hard. After a series of good trail runs culminating in a 6 hour mix of hills, roots, rocks, and roads I was feeling good. Flash forward to me shaking in my tent on July 3rd bundled up like it was January 3rd, feeling bad.<br />
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I woke that morning a little behind schedule, rushed down a quick breakfast (had to go without coffee,and everyone knows that you can't run without coffee), filled my bottles and hit the road. I couldn't tell if what hit me the previous night had moved on but the next 25 miles would reveal. And if I were really sick my amazing partner Jes, whose house I was running to in South Portland, would scoop me up. I had my cellphone in my Northface waist belt along with a $20 bill. And hey, it was the Fourth of July.<br />
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I used the high and humid temps to explain away how badly I was feeling, and how poorly I was running. But by mile 4 I was legitimately thinking of turning around and saving my legs for another day when I could actually do something with them. Finally I decided that suffering through a hot stretch of road with absolutely no energy would surely be a part of the VT 100 if I ran it and this would be as good a training opportunity as any. Plus, I had a bunch of festivities to run through in nearby Freeport, an easy afternoon with my lady to look forward to when this thing was done. <br />
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I made it 16 miles before a combination of hydration issues, a strange stiffness in my neck, and the extreme fatigue that I'd been battling all morning caused my to pull out the cell phone and make the call. I told Jes I'd meet her near the Martins Point Bridge in Portland 4 miles away to give her time prepare and to round the run out to an even 20.<br />
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Afterwards we went to one of our favorite cafe's to eat but I could barley get anything down. My appetite picked up a bit later on and then died out completely. For the next several days. <br />
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By Friday night I was getting worried as I was suffering from fever, chills, a migraine headache, and an inexplicable pain in my neck and hip. I was also beyond fatigued. As I cooked another dinner on the grill that I wouldn't be able to eat I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration-and there I found it. An engorged tick buried in the crown of my head.<br />
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Upon removing it, and realizing that it had likely been there since at least Wednesday and rode the 20 miles to Portland with me, I suddenly felt sicker than sick. I jumped on my phone and started researching all that I could about Lyme Disease. I've got some smart friends and resources began streaming in. <br />
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By this time darkness was setting in, the chills were getting worse, and one of the scariest nights I've ever had began to unfold The stiffness in my neck shifted into a panic inducing numbness and my heart started beating fast. I felt too weak to move and as I lie in my tent I began to seriously wonder how something like paralysis sets in? How does it feel to fall into that last deep sleep? I'm not exaggerating here. Things got deep. I knew that I was hospital bound at this point, the question was whether to call an ambulance to the camp that night or head over first thing in the morning. After much debate I found myself nervously drifting off and anxious for sunlight.<br />
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Morning came, along with an unofficial diagnosis of Lyme's (blood test results still pending, and from what I can tell, close to worthless), my first dose of doxycycline, and a day spent totally racked with pain. Jes is a healer in the truest sense of the word. Her strong spirit, endless patience, and attention to all of the little details of the day got me through the roughest stretch of road that I can remember.<br />
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It's been tough travelling since but I'm far from beaten. I'm learning more about the disease, it's co-infections, and other possible forms of treatment. I'm also discovering one of the most contentious debates in the world of science and medicine and watching big ego's, big money, and big ideas fight for space in a crowded room. I'll be posting more about the resources that I uncover and the experience as it unfolds. <br />
<br />
I'll also be posting more about a planned peak bagging adventure in NH, a race report from the Hampshire 100, and my backyard adventures at Bradbury Mountain. All leading up to my next 100 miler in September. Vermont 2013 wasn't in the cards for me but I'm looking forward to seeing my teammates go down and do their thing. My heart is with them and I'm sure they'll be bringing some hardware back to Maine. And my 2013 racing season is far from over, this is just a bump on the road, an unexpected scale back week, and a reason to run harder, stronger, and better than I ever have. <br />
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On a final note, to all of my trail running friends-do your tick checks and do them well. For real. Keep safe, keep smiling, and keep scaling mountains. <br />
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I'll see you up there.<br />
<br />
D<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-89783449782728847102013-06-04T09:19:00.002-07:002013-06-04T09:23:57.857-07:00Training Camp<br />
Last month I sent the manager at Bradbury Mountain State Park the following message:<br />
<br />
<em>Hi there, I am a long time camper/hiker/runner of Bradbury Mountain and I had a question regarding seasonal camping. I am running a 100 mile trail race this September and am planning to tent camp for the months of June, July, and August in order to train for this race. Do you offer monthly rates for tent sites and would it be alright to camp for that length of time?</em><br />
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This was their reply:<br />
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<em>During the peak season we allow only a 14 night maximum stay in ME state parks. You are asking specifically about that time frame. The only exceptions are for our Campground Hosts that can stay an entire season. They basically work for their rent. I am looking for someone to fill our need in that regard. Would you be interested in taking this on?</em><br />
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With two major races on my calendar, the majority of my personal training clients only a short bike ride from the park, and a few months before me and my amazing partner Jes settle into our new apartment I didn't hesitate to fire off my reply. I would absolutely be interested. <br />
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Jes and I settled into the site last Thursday (super fortunate to have her and Liam the Ultra-Dog joining me a few nights a week) and set up a summer training camp for the<span style="color: lime;"> </span><a href="http://hampshire100.com/rundetails.html"><span style="color: lime;">Hampshire 100k</span></a> and the <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/pinecreekchallengepa/"><span style="color: lime;">Pine Creek Challenge 100.</span></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCLVR9ZbnF_uuv3CaGdh3SFSSlvJgNJ3jjKsTm5esT0c1im42nAgvRxeHg6pNmaZK-9dzghTYMgOnqAalpyRRH_z3Wmuwsk7h9aqyueI2W2L7ziwv-BzVzd5pu100Y1qumO2gIxOy9WRY/s1600/Liam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCLVR9ZbnF_uuv3CaGdh3SFSSlvJgNJ3jjKsTm5esT0c1im42nAgvRxeHg6pNmaZK-9dzghTYMgOnqAalpyRRH_z3Wmuwsk7h9aqyueI2W2L7ziwv-BzVzd5pu100Y1qumO2gIxOy9WRY/s1600/Liam.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liam the ultra-dog</td></tr>
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I'm beyond grateful for this opportunity and plan to post training updates, pictures from the trails, and updates on Liam's trail name (his doggie hydration pack has a space for this for this and we're working on something good) as the summer rolls on.<br />
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Keep checking the blog... or better yet knock on the door of the green tent near the entrance and we'll hit the trails.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-89204124883716704162013-05-03T12:57:00.000-07:002013-05-20T11:42:01.571-07:00Traprock 50KOn a frigid February night I found myself in a friends home talking ultra-running. Jordan and I had known each other in a previous life and had shared many experiences together but it wasn't until we both moved away from Portland and then subsequently moved back that we became running partners. 3 mile runs through the neighborhood to catch-up with one another turned into 3 and 4 hour trail runs every Saturday morning. He paced me at my first 50 miler, I watched him cross the line of his first 50k, and now here we were on a cold, cold night, thinking of spring and of bare trails and of our next ultra-adventure.<br />
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<br />
We had gathered at his place to watch Unbreakable (again) and scope out spring and summer races. <a href="http://trailmonsterrunning.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: lime;">Ian</span></a> had mentioned the Wapack and Back 50 to me several weeks before and it seemed like a truly appealing race, an out-and-back on the Wapack trail in MA that two of our most bad-ass team members <a href="http://perpetualmotion-vja.blogspot.com/2013/05/post-wapack.html"><span style="color: lime;">Val</span></a> and <a href="http://www.5squirrels.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: lime;">Mindy</span></a> had already set their sights on.<br />
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With registration still weeks away from opening we put Wapack on our calendar and began training. I began looking for 50k races in late April in the hopes of finding something tough, hilly, and generally mean about thirty days from Wapack. And this is where I found the Traprock 50k.<br />
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From the race website:<br />
<h1>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><strong><span style="border-spacing: 2px; font-family: Tahoma, arial; font-size: 13px; font-weight: 300;">Consisting entirely of rolling forest roads or single track that can be extremely rocky, the course will provide a true test of the runner’s fitness and mental stamina. You should only consider entering this race if you are confident you have sufficient running experience such as having completed a recent road or trail marathon</span></strong></span></span></span></span></h1>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-7wrTygKqk65TBrAiwdVG-5eYpuIpI6y4PvFaDQEkl_-xnLBL2GQ4b3zaGid_omdFWofFjpsYrXY0ra1ET3ZnqLbMJdc6Y-5AiRtYQIcCfTfVu-TXsAGXSS4DWoux4UOL7czgu5sbpLR/s1600/574916_357237787725643_245155226_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-7wrTygKqk65TBrAiwdVG-5eYpuIpI6y4PvFaDQEkl_-xnLBL2GQ4b3zaGid_omdFWofFjpsYrXY0ra1ET3ZnqLbMJdc6Y-5AiRtYQIcCfTfVu-TXsAGXSS4DWoux4UOL7czgu5sbpLR/s320/574916_357237787725643_245155226_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traprock training</td></tr>
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Training was going well and I transitioned from an average of roughly 15 miles per week in the winter to the first 20 mile runs of the season pretty seamlessly. Then, on a long run in surprisingly deep snow which had drifted onto the trail I hurt my ankle-bad. The next several weeks were spent hobbling around on crutches, swinging kettle bells and rowing on the Concept 2, and hoping that I could heal up in time for Wapack. <br />
Most of my training runs consisted of running the Knight Woods trail at Bradbury Mountain, a 1 mile loop with a small hill in the middle. I would run this 10, then 12, then 15 times in order to get as many trail miles in as I could while not straying too far from the car in case the ankle gave out.<br />
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Until 3 weeks before the race I considered dropping down the 17k distance at Traprock due to the setback from the injury and the subsequent lack of training. Then, after a long run on a rainy Tuesday morning I texted Jordan to say "50k at Traprock is on". I felt like we had made a commitment to one another and with my ankle in good shape I saw no reason to back out of our biggest training run for Wapack and Back.<br />
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We arrived in CT on the evening before the race and got a good night of rest before a beautiful day of running. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ian ready to rip it up<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylC5CPjahvjgffL5hvoHuUT7b1sMU9CmLRLb0x_b4PpJLV7iDE3Px9s9MjrEa79dcL9-Jzp_yeEGEHoSlst8PSfrGbnvbHqnuf8_CH-kJGePMXMUEiAusnI6E5M-AfULCyWCp_L30d6mC/s1600/48014_10151641504520466_1228288817_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylC5CPjahvjgffL5hvoHuUT7b1sMU9CmLRLb0x_b4PpJLV7iDE3Px9s9MjrEa79dcL9-Jzp_yeEGEHoSlst8PSfrGbnvbHqnuf8_CH-kJGePMXMUEiAusnI6E5M-AfULCyWCp_L30d6mC/s320/48014_10151641504520466_1228288817_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TM Ultra Team</td></tr>
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With no real time goal in mind and a sense of gratitude that I could even run the thing post-injury I embarked on one of the most relaxed and enjoyable trail runs of my life. The first 10.5 mile loop offered many pleasant surprises, most notable being the relatively runnable terrain in a race that I'd expected to be more of a hands-on-knee's affair. The few climbs that this course offered were undoubtedly difficult and the steepest of them, the stairway to heaven was one of the meanest things I'd ever encountered in a race. But, on this day it didn't feel all that mean and I actually enjoyed ascending this set of stone steps on all three trips occasions. Half-way through the second lap I saw Jordan coming around a lollipop loop less than a 1/4 mile behind me. He looked strong and as I gave him a high five it occurred to me that within a few minutes we might be racing one another. I'm sure that this thought had passed through both of our minds as our training runs found us pretty evenly matched. We'd run into this interesting pattern of him charging out hard at the beginning of our runs and leaving me in the dust, me catching up about 10 miles into the run, and him and I leapfrogging each other as we take turns at feeling good and feeling bad. In our training we always made a plan to meet back at the car at a specified time which allowed us to run at our own pace, break away on our own path, or race each other when the spirit moved us-all of which occurred on these memorable Saturday morning runs. Now with Jordan pulling up next to me at the halfway point of the race I wondered how the next 15 miles were going to go down. We ran neck and neck at a relaxed pace and talked about our favorite parts of the trail and how good we were feeling. For some reason the competitive drive that I expected to kick in for both of us-as it had during so many runs where one of us begins to push the pace and the other drops, keeps up, or pushes harder and charges past- just didn't happen. There came a time when I stopped to stretch for a bit and Jordan ran on. I wondered if I would see him again and felt nothing but glad that he was having such a good run. I caught up to him on a stretch of road a few miles from the start/finish and we completed the second loop together, At this point I wondered if we would end up naturally falling into the same pace for the third and final loop and, with no desire to hard charge and race my friend for the next two hours, if we would possibly cruise into the finish line together.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLt4vK9jpXHfQVW_4HiJwtXN19gx6niu8DxknVAmKE7-qhsJ7jUNhYgbsvGNeBJ9rIN_c2UNZ7G9yUe49CIZgq1x0aaNsnpjp5D8ltYspIWTRY8JjnzN1Y7C-_Nn1ENCt4pjXl1VV9nQXq/s1600/525391_10151649061280466_1976029117_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLt4vK9jpXHfQVW_4HiJwtXN19gx6niu8DxknVAmKE7-qhsJ7jUNhYgbsvGNeBJ9rIN_c2UNZ7G9yUe49CIZgq1x0aaNsnpjp5D8ltYspIWTRY8JjnzN1Y7C-_Nn1ENCt4pjXl1VV9nQXq/s320/525391_10151649061280466_1976029117_n.jpg" width="216" /></a>The rest of the team, Ian, Joe, Ben, and Nate where having a great day on the trails and I saw them periodically as they came cruising down the backs of trails that I was just beginning to climb. With a 3 loop course and several lollipop sections I could see that they were all doing really well and tearing up the Traprock. I ended up a getting a bit ahead of Jordan on some of the climbs and found myself suddenly feeling better than I ever had at mile 23-24 of a 50k. I ran evenly and easily and found myself suddenly alone on a gorgeous stretch of singletrack that was just glowing in the midday sun. As I was enjoying the solitude of the trails I noticed the faint sound of breathing and the crunch of footsteps behind me. I turned to see Jordan coming fast and hard. Suddenly we were neck and neck and pushing the pace. We pulled into an aid station together and took exactly 5 seconds to down a drink and race back out onto the trail. Next aid station same thing-in and out and after each other again. Yet, even with us running neck and neck it didn't feel like we were racing each other. It felt like we were running a race together and was one of the most unique and enjoyable experiences that I've ever shared with a friend on the trails. I could still see either of us taking the lead at this point and the possibility of a duel finish was still on my mind as well. <br />
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I'd held back a bit on the second loop in the hopes of a strong finish and as we arrived at the middle of the last loop I felt a surge of strength and began to push hard. I ran the climbs that I'd hiked on the previous two loops and soon found myself alone on the trails again. I kept the pace up for the next mile or two and just as I was about to slow it down and do some late stage ultra-shuffling I noticed a dude in a bright red shirt a few hundred yards ahead. With another runner in striking distance I amped it up again and soon found myself running alongside him and his friend. We ran together until we reached the final aid-station at which I gulped down some ginger-ale and tried to race back out onto the long stretch of road. One of the runners held back while me and the other started a ridiculously slow late stage ultra battle for the books. He was just beginning to pull away from me when the ginger ale settled in my stomach and I felt ready and able to run. I was able to pass him and as I rounded a bend in the road I saw a group of 5 or 6 runners just a few hundred feet away. I raced harder than I ever had at this stage of a long race and was fortunate enough to catch up to, and pass, one after another. Most were supportive and encouraging except for one guy who shot me a snarky ass "How'd <em>you</em> get here?" We'd seen each other many times over the course the day, each time with him in the lead and descending a trail that I was just beginning to climb. I explained to him that I had run there and passed him on the last stretch of road before heading back into the trails.<br />
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The last climb and subsequent descent to the finish found me alone and pushing as hard as I could to stay that way. I crossed the line totally wiped by this late stage ultra-duel and pretty close to puking. This was the perfect end to an excellent Wapack training run and to a race that was as memorable for its mellowness as it was for a sudden slugfest in the last few miles and a unique racing experience shared between friends. Jordan finished shortly after and we hung out with the rest of the team for a bit. The Trail Monster flag flew high in the post-ultra haze of burger smoke, sore muscles, and smiling faces and I'm looking forward to hanging it up again at the Wapack and Back 50 in less than two weeks.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ultra's make Nate happy</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-70006378444590564092013-04-06T13:42:00.001-07:002013-04-06T13:42:33.995-07:00Big thingsBig things are happening. Everywhere that I look I see someone taking a chance, making a move, taking a stand or chasing a dream. I see people who are becoming increasingly unafraid to bet on themselves and on each other. This speaks volumes to the awesome community that I am a part of and I am nothing but grateful.<br />
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Here are a couple of new things on my end that I wanted to share. A few posts ago I mentioned a big change in my business. Well, here it is. I've renamed the business Why Be Strong? and am now offering personal fitness consultations at my <a href="http://www.whybestrong.com/"><span style="color: lime;">new website</span></a> and running an outdoor training program based in Portland. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19bHp6ycrK2iyTfkHFJXliUudWq4OjAtzy6OwL3nAVuukSlsV6POdXsXKcEE7UGjVfoIamNBkLeAWKAkp_eFkL7u6oMfIUpFmlQhERyqeYwJJjkF1WxwMHXqsl6Abcgv-Z0Uaf2bAYf76/s1600/Paleo-Sample5-swapped.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19bHp6ycrK2iyTfkHFJXliUudWq4OjAtzy6OwL3nAVuukSlsV6POdXsXKcEE7UGjVfoIamNBkLeAWKAkp_eFkL7u6oMfIUpFmlQhERyqeYwJJjkF1WxwMHXqsl6Abcgv-Z0Uaf2bAYf76/s320/Paleo-Sample5-swapped.png" width="200" /></a><br />
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I've also been working on a revised edition of my book Paleo in Maine which is now officially completed and on the market. Check it out on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1480164240/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&tag=trailtrotter-20&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1480164240&linkCode=as2"><span style="color: lime;">Amazon!</span></a><br />
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I wanted to send a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me in these projects and helped to make them possible. <br />
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Spring in the air, dirt on the trails, good things ahead. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-60692615719121852932013-03-10T16:24:00.002-07:002013-03-10T16:24:30.971-07:00GratitudeI was on a 20 mile training run two weeks ago when I hurt my ankle...bad. The run was an out-and-back from Bradbury State Park in Pownal, Maine to Pineland Farms in New Gloucester, and by mile 15 of the return I knew that I had done some damage. Each step of the next 5 miles reaffirmed that fact. By the time that we got back to the parking lot I couldn't put any weight on it and I ended up on crutches for the past two weeks.<br />
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I usually do okay with acceptance...and with putting things in perspective. Yeah, I couldn't run but I could still walk. I couldn't train the way that I wanted to, but I could still train. I wasn't battling a more serious illness, wasn't dodging bullets in a war zone, wasn't an innocent man on death row etc. Things could definitely be worse.<br />
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But, for some reason, this injury was a tough one for me to accept. I just began running regularly again after a taking some time off this winter and (after some huffing, puffing, and humbling first runs) I've never felt better. More importantly for me, this past winter presented some difficult personal challenges and as I hit the fresh dirt trails which snow had covered for the past several months I felt as though I had met these challenges not only intact, but stronger. I just bought a new GPS and some new gear, built up my mileage with a few 10 and 15 milers and a solid 20 two weeks before the injury, and was feeling that feeling that I get every time that I return to race training: it's a feeling of pure and absolute passion. It reminds me of the role that running plays in my life and, this year in particular, of the primal desire to race and race hard. I've never been more excited about a racing season and with the <a href="http://traprock50.com/"><span style="color: lime;">Traprock 50k</span></a> and the <a href="http://wapacktrailrace.com/"><span style="color: lime;">Wapack and Back 50</span></a> miler fast approaching I ended up in serious funk. The past 14 days were spent hobbling to the YMCA in Portland and swinging kettle bells, rowing on the Concept 2, and focusing on targeted strength training (mainly deadlifts and squats, and core work) that will correlate to a stronger race performance once I'm ready to get back on the trail.<br />
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I ran my first mile this morning and I'm in no pain as I write this. I'm planning on a 3 miler tomorrow morning and I'm optimistic. But, most importantly, somewhere along the line I've regained the perspective that I lost along the way....<br />
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There's no "it's only running and I'm grateful for what I have" morale here. Just the opposite. Running has become a huge part of my life over the past few years, largely due to the <a href="http://www.trailmonsterrunning.com/"><span style="color: lime;">amazing community</span></a> that I'm a part of and partly due to my discovering a passion for the 50 and 100 mile distance and the races that I've put on my radar a result.<br />
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The past two weeks have reminded me that I am extremely grateful to have something that I love so fucking much that it kills me when its gone. Those are the kind of experiences that I want to fill my life with, the type of relationships that I want to have, and the degree of importance that I want the important things in my life to take.<br />
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Looking forward to the run tomorrow, and the one after that, with the sense of gratitude still fresh in my mind. Looking forward to the Traprock 50k and the Wapack and Back 50, where hopefully the only pain that I feel is the pain that I've earned on the trails.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-25472537574393635992013-02-20T16:35:00.000-08:002013-02-20T16:35:57.403-08:00Have we met?Hey, I'm Intensity. Just wondering if we've met.<br />
If we had, you'd remember...<br />
You'd remember because it was awkward and uncomfortable.<br />
You'd remember because it hurt.<br />
What you might remember above all though is how it felt afterwards.<br />
It felt good. You felt strong. You were proud.<br />
Crossing the bridge between I CANT and I WILL and I DID isn't easy traveling, but do it once and you come out stronger. Do it again and get stronger still.<br />
So if we've met before let's get together again soon.<br />
If not,let's set a date....<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-5339682106856783892013-01-26T16:51:00.001-08:002013-01-26T16:51:31.594-08:00As good as it gets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is about as good as it gets....take twenty seven minutes and one second out of your day to watch it. And then get after what ever what you love to do, with no excuses.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-18542564897576841792013-01-22T17:28:00.001-08:002013-01-22T17:28:57.172-08:00F#@K Off<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When was the last time that someone told you to f-off? It had been a while for me and I started to question whether that's a good or bad thing. I both hate and fear rejection, even mild rejections hang on me for days,but there's one thing I've learned through the process of chasing goals, falling flat on my face, shaking it off, and picking up the chase: The things that are most important to me incur the most risk, they lie in that danger zone where a f-off is just as likely as a handshake. And I'm starting to see both as a sign of progress.</div>
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Asking someone to believe in you, or simply to believe you, is asking a lot nowadays. Sharing an idea that seems crazy, asking someone to join you in a leap of faith, or just straight up saying what you mean when no one in the room agrees may just result in someone telling you to f-off. If so, congrats. With the best things in life lying just outside of our comfort zones we'd better be ready to break some rules, make some new ones, and risk rejection of who we are today in order to become who we want to be tomorrow. So the next time that you're sure the room is in agreement, certain that the answer on everyones lips is yes, and pretty confident that no ones going to tell you to f-off...it might be worth asking if you're in the right room.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo from <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Trust-Your-Journey/141558557649?ref=ts&fref=ts"><span style="color: lime;">Trust Your Journey</span></a> posted by my friend Vanessa. </td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-78988379566421561882012-12-31T16:29:00.002-08:002012-12-31T16:29:58.434-08:00Rearview mirror" It's possible that you've never thought of ideas as competition at all, but as creators we have no choice but to think this way. We have too many ideas all the time, and probably you do too. Which to follow, which to wait on, and which to take off life support?" - Chris Brogan and Julien Smith, The Impact Equation<br />
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I try to view the past through my rearview mirror. This small but critical lens allows me to observe and reflect on the road behind me while maintaining steady forward motion towards the goals that I am committed to reaching...lots of interesting things back there but no time to pull over and stare.<br />
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As 2012 draws to a close I've been giving a lot of thought to the development of my business, X-City Athletics, my desire to coach others towards reaching their health and fitness goals on a full time basis, and the opportunities that I have before me to make 2013 a year of major progress in that regard. I am making some significant changes to X-City's programming, marketing, and business model and following those ideas which I find myself inspired by in the late hours of the night and greeted by first thing in the morning.<br />
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Julien Smith and Chris Brogan raise a great question in their new book, The Impact Equation. The answer, for me, is to follow the ideas which follow you, the ones that you can't shake no matter where you go, and the ones that you intuitively know to be worthwhile and deserving of your time and effort. Then sharpen them, refine them, and when the time is right, make a committed and targeted move to bring them to life. The time is almost right for a major change at X-City Athletics. I'm going to spend the first month of 2013 preparing to implement an idea that I am truly excited about and in mid-February I'm going to move on it. Hard. I hope that the start of 2013 inspires similar acts of calculated risk, impassioned action, and heartfelt advances towards the goals that you hold close...<br />
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Wishing everyone who's found their way to 100th Mile a truly happy new year. I'll keep you posted as this "big idea" develops (and if you have a goal that you're willing to share with the blogosphere-I hope you'll post it in the comments section and keep me posted too)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-9382381043353517512012-12-12T04:05:00.000-08:002012-12-12T04:05:13.053-08:00The Flinch<em>"No one has a problem with the first mile of a journey. Even an infant could do fine for a while. But it isn't the start. It's the finish line. Look at the finish line now. It's far and it seems impossible. You imagine you weren't meant for this. You think that you're not strong enough. In a sense, you're right.</em><br />
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<em>What you're missing is that the path changes you. You're weak because you haven't stepped on the path. Once you do a process will begin. As you climb the mountain you'll get stronger. You might think that this path isn't for you,but it is-you'll just change along the way. The path itself will toughen you up for the end. Right now, you just need to start."-</em><span style="color: lime;">Julien Smith, The Flinch</span><br />
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This reminds me a lot of running an ultra-marathon. It also represents the kind of writing that Julien Smith, author of The Flinch, has become noted for-thoughtful,inspirational, and exceptionally insightful passages followed by direct challenges to follow that inspiration to action: or admit that you're flinching.<br />
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Released as part of Seth Godin's <a href="http://www.thedominoproject.com/2011/12/it-might-stick-with-you.html"><span style="color: lime;">Domino Project</span></a> The Flinch is available completely free of charge. Visit Juliens site to download your copy: <a href="http://theflinch.com/"><span style="color: lime;">http://theflinch.com/</span></a><br />
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Amazon has at dubbed it a book too important to sell and, clever marketing aside, I definitely agree. Julien is a brave writer and this 122 page power punch is worth every second of your time. Give it a read and post your thoughts.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-71756146796018347362012-12-01T04:48:00.002-08:002012-12-01T04:50:08.222-08:00Paleo in MaineI picked up the first few copies of my book Paleo in Maine: A Local Resource Guide for the Modern Hunter-Gatherer from the printers yesterday. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicACgcP0rJelycZqJJ944kPspICq50-RXGE9RgnzpU2h10vijEkNSNRdWsk1YWeo2y6rzxZYlYHOROp8dwpJ_TbHpPoH2yUyVaMwZV4PSM8aMcnOLP-2b4e65-j51MLJqcYQQkLL4bEHZz/s1600/IMAG0673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicACgcP0rJelycZqJJ944kPspICq50-RXGE9RgnzpU2h10vijEkNSNRdWsk1YWeo2y6rzxZYlYHOROp8dwpJ_TbHpPoH2yUyVaMwZV4PSM8aMcnOLP-2b4e65-j51MLJqcYQQkLL4bEHZz/s320/IMAG0673.jpg" width="320" /></a>Paleo in Maine features recipes, resources, and real-life stories from farms and kitchens throughout the state and is officially available for purchase. <br />
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I'm holding a book release party at Morning Glory Natural Foods in Brunswick this afternoon from 1-3 and looking forward to some good conversations on health, nutrition, and the role of locally sourced food in our communities. <br />
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Check out <a href="http://www.paleoinmaine.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: lime;">www.paleoinmaine.blogspot.com</span></a> for more info on the book and a list of upcoming eventsUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-18410038381280118012012-10-17T03:49:00.001-07:002012-10-23T09:50:59.900-07:00Virgil Crest 100<br />
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</w:wrap></v:imagedata></v:shape><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 200%;">100 moments, 100 miles:
A Report from the Virgil Crest Ultra-Marathon</span></b><br />
<strong></strong> </div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p> </o:p><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1. Abandoned
plans to run small distances and lift large weights this summer. Registered for
the Virgil Crest Ultra-Marathon instead.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
2. First long run of 12 miles after recovering from
a stress fracture reminded me that I love, absolutely love, to run trails.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
3.Ian called out to me from the lawn chair which
he'd collapsed into directly after running the Vermont 100 in 21 hours. I thought
he was going to ask me to get him a soda. He asked if I had support for Virgil
Crest instead.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
4. A planning session with Ian over burnt burgers
and strong coffee. Maps, charts, and graphs. An offer to pace me for 42 miles
through the night. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A runner that I have
a ton of respect for becoming a friend that I could never have done this
without. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
5. Long runs on roads, quad crushing hill repeats.
20 milers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Running 14 miles to the
starting line of a 6 mile race trail and then racing it, power hiking the
meanest climbs that I could find and dive-bombing down them. 25 milers. Running
under the moonlight and alongside galloping horses while pacing Jeremy at the
Vermont 100 Endurance Run. 30 milers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Packing
5,000 calories worth of fuel and a ten dollar bill into a waist pack and
heading out at sunrise for a sunset return. 53 miles. 25 miles. 20 miles., 12
miles., Taper<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>time….<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
6. Text from Jordan "Just registered for the
Virgil Crest 50K!" Road trip.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
7. Asked Mindy to come with me to N.Y She said yes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
8. Gear, food, supplies packed. Early morning freak
out due to Jordan being late. Hit the road.</div>
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p></o:p> </div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrZlhq_h08LYAcwQXTsSLX1YgMzqOsoRtQxJnjQL2vw_klV3Z2PHe4QxpE2pUR-w9ocYNH0vbD8UZ2Aw7AnmRV-pcQcp8mqBH_aST218KPR_WKUMRxwdKo8HH33OU3-3BdYfCDaI0LrCN/s1600/IMAG0526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrZlhq_h08LYAcwQXTsSLX1YgMzqOsoRtQxJnjQL2vw_klV3Z2PHe4QxpE2pUR-w9ocYNH0vbD8UZ2Aw7AnmRV-pcQcp8mqBH_aST218KPR_WKUMRxwdKo8HH33OU3-3BdYfCDaI0LrCN/s320/IMAG0526.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<o:p></o:p> </div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
9. Nervous energy. A perfectly timed call from
Jeremy to say good luck. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
10 Eating lunch from an aluminum tray in the
parking lot of a Shaws's in MA. Horns honked, a guy smoked a cigar, and the
sun beat down on the blacktop. Ate quick and beat feet for N.Y.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
11. A 16 oz cup of Starbucks dark roast in my hand.
The windows down, the music cranking, and Mindy's head on my shoulder, 3 hours
to Virgil.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
12. The fire station and a bunch of green hoodie
wearing, ultra running bad-asses from the mountains of Maine. George, Squirrel,
and Scout registering for their 50 mile "fun-run" Rick and Ann supporting
the team.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
13. Took a pre-race picture, dug the pre-race
shwag, snubbed the pre-race dinner, followed George and company to greener and
greasier pastures.<br />
<o:p></o:p> </div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="color: #301a05; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 200%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape alt="http://www.virgilcrestultras.com/photos/2012_9.jpg" id="ctl00_ctl00_AllContent_MainContent_LeaderboardUserControl_RunnerUserControl_RunnerFormView_PhotoImage" o:spid="_x0000_i1032" style="height: 201pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 120pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
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</span>14. BBQ ribs, sweet potato fries, collard greens,
and cornbread at Hairy Tony's. Good conversation, words of wisdom, words of
warmth, delicious memories and plans for a post-race return.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
15. Holy Shit. (The view of the Alpine Loop from
the very, very, bottom)<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
16. Arrived at The Love Den, our uber-posh <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>rental where Ian, James, and Joe had race-prep
fully underway. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
17. Logistics covered, drop bags packed and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>repacked, a walk under the starts to clear the
head, sleep. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
18. Wake-Up!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
19. Oatmeal with loads of almond butter, shredded
coconut, raw nuts and fresh fruit, Coffee. Shower. Battle-ready.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
20. Group pic and out the door.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p><img alt="Photo: TMR Ultra Team pre-race at Virgil Crest Ultras" class="scaledImageFitWidth img" height="403" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/c0.72.403.403/p403x403/284297_402483079818177_1541483641_n.jpg" width="403" /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
21. The longest walk to a race start....ever. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
22. "I don't know if you ever feel "ready
enough" for these things but if there was ever a day for me to run 100
miles this is it"- Me to Jordan on the dark and winding road to race
start.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
23. The longest wait for a race start...ever.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
24. Last minute hugs, a slice of banana bread, and
into the huddle. The countdown begins.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<o:p></o:p> </div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
25. 3,2,1...It's on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
26. Almost ran straight into a tiki torch. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
27. Circled the lake for the first time and looked
forward to heading into the trails. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
28. Glanced behind me to see a string of glowing
headlamps lining the paved path around Hope Lake. Glad the journey had officially
begun. Glad to witness everyone embarking on their personal adventure. Glad
that the majority of them were behind me...<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
29. Sunrise. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
30. Pulled into Gravel Pit, the first aid station,
where I planned to hand of my headlamp to Ian or Mindy. They weren't there yet.
Good....<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
31. Out of the aid station, back into the trails,
directly into a nest of wasps. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
32. A black cloud swarmed my right leg, stung me 8
times, flew down the back of my shirt and stung me again as I flailed around
smacking my back. Then one stung me on my head.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
33. I talked with another stung runner who was
nervous about allergies. Spent the next mile questioning whether I was feeling
weird from being stung 10 times, feeling weird because I was 5 miles into a
100 mile run and fully aware of that fact, or not feeling weird at all.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
34. Realized I was running my first 100 mile race while
holding up my shorts which were inexplicably falling off of my waist.. (They
fit well a few weeks ago....maybe all the running?) Planned to swap these out
at the next stop and splurge on compression shorts for the next ultra.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
35. Pulled into Lift House 5. to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ian saying "You're fast man. You should
slow down". Changed my shorts behind the porta-john, filled up a water bottle,
and climbed up the Alpine Loop for the first time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
36. Steep climb,,,and another....and finally
the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>infamous stretch of straight -up
single track <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>that I'd read about in so
many race reports. Enjoyed a beautiful view at the top followed by a nice
downhill stretch which, against my better judgment, I bombed <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as hard as I could. Gained a few positions for
my efforts and held them for the rest of the race. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(The plan at this point was to run hard until
the wheels fell off, keep running hard until the whole wagon fell apart, and
then drag the pieces through the mountains and across the finish line. And
that's pretty much <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>how it went…)<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
37. Picked up my waist pack and headed out to the
road with a half marathon behind me and the 25 mile turn around at Daisy Hollow
on my mind. Ian said "You're going up hill again". This surprised me-
for some reason I had anticipated, and mentally prepared for, a downhill
stretch. It ended up being the toughest part of the course and one of the low
points of the race.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
38. Legs started to wear out on me. This didn't happen
once during the Peaks 50 (aside from cramping I felt physically strong the
whole way through,) and I regretted not jumping on more boxes, squatting more
heavy loads, and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>flipping more tractor
trailer tires throughout this training cycle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
39. Stopped to stretch my legs out on a tree-about
6 times. The stretch stops paid off and the pace picked up as the rain came
down.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
40. Deja' Vue at Daisy Hollow: Pulled into Daisy
Hollow in the cold and steady rain about 45 minutes ahead of schedule. I was
grateful to see chicken soup (the first hot food of the race) and sandwiches. I
stretched out on the cold and muddy ground and had the most incredible case of
deja vue. The rain, the aid- station, the faces of the volunteers, this entire moment
crystal clear in my mind from a vision or memory or a dream. Plenty of time for
philosophizing on the way back...<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
41.Headed out from Daisy Hollow hard with a sub 11
hour 50 suddenly on my mind. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
42. Raced the next 25 miles like I was racing the
50 mile runners. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
43. Thought about what a nice 50 this would be. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
44. Never once questioned whether I would or could
finish the 100. (The DNF stats from previous years confirmed my fears of
running a double-out-and-back 100. Sure must be nice to be back at the hotel
with a solid 50 behind you as the sun sets on the lake and the smell of dinner
fills the air....)I wondered if this temptation to quit would sneak in through
some<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>mental window left open by the past
11 hours of running. Thankfully it didn't<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
45. Ran my favorite section of the course over
rolling and lush green single track as the post-rain <br />
sunshine peeked through
trees and spilled onto the trail. Enjoyed this moment to the absolute fullest<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
46. Chatted with a runner from Montreal who was
dropping at 50 (he hurt his knee). He was friendly, had run a bunch of 100's,
and was good trail company. Until...<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
47. He casually mentioned that I was "a good rabbit"
I have to admit that in my mid-ultra state of mind I took this to mean that he
was running the 100, had pressed me harder than I realized (the pace of the
last 25 miles was starting to set in on me) while he took it easy reclining in
my shadow. He would assuredly drop the hammer as we emerged from the trails and
onto the paved path leading to the race start, blow in and out of the aid
station, and smoke me in this race. I dropped the hammer first.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
48. Realized that running all day makes you (me) a little
paranoid as my friend slowed down, wished me well, and prepared to drop out of
the race and sit down to dinner just as he said he would.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
49. All of my "feel-good" from the last
25 miles was suddenly gone....with a 1/2 mile to go until I reached Mindy,
dinner, and the halfway point of the race I bombed out and had to do a
super-slow ultra-shuffle around the lake and across the line<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
50. Mindy's smile was sweet, sitting down for a
minute felt great, and the plate of hamburger s (no bun) topped with avocado
slices and tomatoes alongside several turkey roll-ups with small piles of
hummus surrounding it all was one of the most beautiful things that I'd ever
seen. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
51. Packed a burger in a plastic baggie, woofed
down a slice of banana bread for good measure, and hit the trails for the
second 50 miles of the race feeling super strong and ready to run!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
52. Ian geared up and waiting for me at mile 54. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
53. Sharing moments from the past 12 hours with Ian
as we rocked and rolled over the first stretch of trail and onto the road at
dusk.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
54. Scout, Squirrel, and George coming down the
trail and closing out at kick-ass 50 miler together! <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
55. Headlamps on.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>56. Began
our first pass of the Alpine Loop together. Black sky, small bright stars, and
cool fall air moving in. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
57. Climbing up the mountain towards Daisy Hollow
for the last time. Yellow ropes hanging off of the steepest sections, Ian keeping
me on trail at several critical junctures, both of us possibly entertaining the
thought of a 24-25 hour finish in the very backs of our minds....\<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
58. Ran the smooth trails fast (well...mile 70
fast) and tried to not fall off the mountain in between.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
59. Rain poured down.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
60. Rain poured down harder.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
61. Chased down several runners on a rain soaked
stretch of single track in the deepest darkest part of the mountains in the
deepest darkest part of the night. Traded positions a few times in an epic race
battle that I won't ever forget. Man...what a moment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
62. We figured out that I was currently in 8th
place<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
63. Approached the Rock Pile aid station and,
suddenly, started to not feel so good.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
64. A handful of gummy worms at Rock Pile.
Surprised that Ian passed on the pirogues. (He really liked them when he ran
this race last year) Off into the woods.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
65. Body-rocking nausea. Slow going and slowly
going slower. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
66. Hot spots on my feet going from a slow burn to
an angry sizzle. And getting hotter...<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
67. Increasingly sick from everything ultra. The
sugar, the gels, the bars. The cookies, the candy, the broth. The taste of
another s-cap washed down by nuun and sliding down my throat. The cold wet
clothes soaked in rain and sweat and stuck to my body. I was shivering. This
stretch was going to suck....but as long as we moved forward we would move past
it. Leave it behind. And at some point, hopefully, bounce back from it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
68. Ian mentioned James. Why hadn't we seen him on
the rebound yet? Was he okay? Was he off trail? He should have passed us a
while ago...<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
69. Thought of my Dad who passed away a little over
ten years ago. I wonder what he would think of these races. Would he respect
it? Be proud of me? Or dismiss it as crazy? My Dad didn't talk much but one
thing that he said, over and over, when life got hard and tough got tougher was
"This too shall pass". I shared this with Ian as I held onto these
words through a very low point in the night.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
70. James! The beam of a headlamp peered through
the trees and I knew immediately that it was him. He looked strong sporting
that "I'm going to get your ass" smile that he races with. Apparently
he hit a low point, bounced back, and was officially back in chase mode. Go get
'em brother. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
71. The flames of a campfire, the glow of tiki
torches, the sights and sounds of Daisy Hollow approaching. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
72. Mile 75. I had looked forward to this moment throughout
the whole race. I thought that a finish would be in the bag at this point, that
if I had to crawl the last 25 miles then I'd crawl, but no matter what, I would
finish. What I never considered was the possibility of passing out and being
pulled off course. And I was this close to passing out as we headed back down
the trail for the last stretch of the race...<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
73. My stomach began to slowly settle and the
sickness ever so slowly began to fade.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
74. The fire in my shoes blazed on like an inferno.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
73. A slip on a slick rock sent me knee-cap first
into something sharp and hard. For a second I thought I shattered my knee. I wondered
if I'd be able to move once the first powerful wave of pain blew past and I envisioned
leaving the woods on a stretcher with a DNF at mile 82.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
74. Realized that my knee still worked and that if
I could avoid falling off of the mountain during the technical passes or sliding
down the mud-slopped peak of the Alpine Loop and breaking my neck, that I was
only 18 miles away from my finish. But everything on me was breaking or broken
at this point and it would be slow going form here.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
75. Power hiking…<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
76. Ian asked if I would have trained differently
for the race. Yes. Just as I realized early on in the race more of the
functional strength training that I emphasized prior to the Peaks 50 and which
left me feeling strong the whole race through would have been hugely beneficial.
Unfortunately, it had been a crazy couple of months and my schedule just didn't
allow for me to maintain the cross-training volume while increasing the mileage
for this race.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
77. Approaching the Alpine Loop for the final pass.
Preparing my mind for what was going to be a painful, painful couple of hours.
Preparing my strategy for a quick aid-station stop (once we started hiking up
that climb there it would be all out forward motion until the finish and I wanted
to be sure that my<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>last stop at this
drop bag before heading out for the last 9 miles was well utilized<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
78. I couldn't believe what I saw when we
approached the familiar glow of the aid station. There was Mindy with a smile
on her face, a French press full of Alanzo's Double Dark, and a bowl of the
most delicious oatmeal that I'd ever seen. At 3 something in the morning in the
mountain of New York. Man…<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
80.Late night -ultra carnage by the campfire.
Several camp chairs surrounded the fire and were filled with dropped or
dropping runners. Despair and accomplishment combined under the late night sky<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
81. Hiking boots. I'd packed my timberland hiking
boots and a pair of thick wool socks in case the loop became to muddy to run
and allowed a chance to dry my shoes by the fire while power hiking it at some
point on the race. Now that my feet were shredded, each step feeling as though
I was walking on shards of broken flaming glass, the boots were a survival tool
that I was really fortunate to have packed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
82. Changed my shit, grabbed a hat, strapped on the
boots, sipped some coffee, sipped some more, took a few bites of oatmeal and
headed up the mountain. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
83. Ian and I plowed up the first climb slowly,
steadily and quietly together. The air was cool and turning cold. The slower
that we were able to move the quicker that the chill set in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
84. Ian ran ahead a little to keep warm. I tried to
do the same, and failed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
85. The descent down the steepest stretch of single
track was painfully suspenseful. Each movement hurt like hell and each slip,
fall, or unexpected slide brought with it a new, fresh pain as well as the
possibility of rolling down the hill.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
84. As we passed the most scenic stretch of the
loop Ian stopped suddenly to point out the glow rising behind the mountains. I
smiled. I had envisioned this moment for months and it was nothing short of
epic. Several times throughout the night Ian had stopped me to look at the stars
or to point out the beauty of a late night trail run. This is helpful on so
many levels and was truly much appreciated.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
85. We shuffled down the final hill and moved
towards the glowing aid station for the last time. I had 5 miles on my mind.
Five hard miles that I couldn't run a step of no matter how I tried and that
would take almost 2 hours to complete. 5 miles until I saw Mindy, who would
pace me to the finish. 5 miles in the light of the rising morning sun along some
of my favorite stretches of trail on the course. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
86. Pancakes and sausage dripping with syrup.
Enough said.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
87. 1.5 miles of uphill road <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
88. Back into the woods. The morning was becoming
increasingly gorgeous and I attempted to run a few times during this stretch
but the combination of my busted knee, ,shredded feet, and blown- out quads
didn't allow me to get more than a few steps into a stride. I enjoyed the view
as best I could, talked lively with Ian about all that had happened <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>mentally, physical, and emotionally over the
past 25 hours, and looked forward to seeing Mindy at Gravel Pit and putting
this race in the bag.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
89. Gravel Pit. There she was, geared up and ready
to go. The smile never left her face throughout this 25 hour ordeal and I only
wished that I could have run this last 4 miles smooth and easy with her.
Mindy's presence made the hardest 4 miles of my life as "easy", as
"enjoyable" and as memorable as they possibly could have been .<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
90. We saw the contours of the road from behind the
treeline and knew that the Lodge was right around the corner. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
91. The field near the finish line was empty save
for a small group who began to cheer when they saw us coming down the road. It
was my team, each recovering from their own battles and each taking the time to
welcome me to other side of the finish line. Amazing…<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
92. As we neared the line we broke into something
like a jog.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
93. Across the line. 27 hours and forty eight
minutes after starting this run I was welcomed with hugs, words of love and
encouragement, and a belt buckle that I held in my mud-caked hands and
absolutely beamed at.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151264103305466&set=p.10151264103305466&type=1&relevant_count=1"><span style="color: #3b5998; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 200%; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><img alt="Photo: a hard-earned reward" class="scaledImageFitWidth img" height="403" src="http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/c68.0.403.403/p403x403/527723_10151264103305466_2063372974_n.jpg" width="403" /></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
95. The miles that led me to to the finish line of
the Virgil Crest 100 all hit me at once in a moment overwhelming power. It
absolutely shook me and I'll never forget the feeling.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
96. Joe, who had gone through a very hard stretch
at this race, crossed the finish line and proved that he has absolutely no quit
in him. An absolute machine and a total inspiration.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENfJqBGgEQgrS43KQFuSxfrW6i3v_OaGT-vT7LfDqzSzuDJrQF13dV7aO3Vf-y0F9tMXsiVyuoT5rSuGc21Qx64u8TnNYvFqjwXrLSVPMtKl2EVSCyUSJyQWNhTLk1TpD01EjdKTh8KmY/s1600/IMAG0535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENfJqBGgEQgrS43KQFuSxfrW6i3v_OaGT-vT7LfDqzSzuDJrQF13dV7aO3Vf-y0F9tMXsiVyuoT5rSuGc21Qx64u8TnNYvFqjwXrLSVPMtKl2EVSCyUSJyQWNhTLk1TpD01EjdKTh8KmY/s320/IMAG0535.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
97. Jordan finished his first 50k after an early
mile injury forced him into painful slow-mo for most of the race. Another
incredible example of the mental toughness that need and the mental toughness
that you gain to accomplish these things. Congrats brother!<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-rYyFZEzZpdL4MMQZaPbhrzQp1RjHpxR1uY4gudfiL0kb-I_QjZQp0FkAYIydydZfkoXbYupolj7K6_XH9QuBkvl7Gnsn-eJsLMOWcWQOowS3qbhxOR7ji12J3WtXqysb9MDnDjA_MwB/s1600/IMAG0536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl-rYyFZEzZpdL4MMQZaPbhrzQp1RjHpxR1uY4gudfiL0kb-I_QjZQp0FkAYIydydZfkoXbYupolj7K6_XH9QuBkvl7Gnsn-eJsLMOWcWQOowS3qbhxOR7ji12J3WtXqysb9MDnDjA_MwB/s320/IMAG0536.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
98. A return to the restaurant and a dinner that I
was admittedly too shot to even realize I was eating. But the experience of
being there with Mindy and Jordan was one that I won't forget.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
99. A small Comfort Inn on the outskirts of town. A
trip to Friendly's for huge ice cream sundays. Comfortable beds, my ultra-comrades
passed out from the events of the day, and the Simpsons on the TV on a Sunday
night. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
100. Three weary out-of-towners stumble (or hobble)
out of a hotel lobby in the early morning and hit the highway with the little
town of Virgil N.Y and the Virgil Crest Ultramarathon in the rear view mirror<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; page-break-after: avoid;">
<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><img alt="" class="spotlight" height="206" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/p206x206/430510_10151204972390769_1712687337_n.jpg" style="height: 487px; width: 689px;" width="291" /></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Post-Race "team pic" by Ian
Parlin</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-71928490106546217662012-09-19T06:45:00.001-07:002012-12-30T06:00:27.158-08:00Paleo ChallengeOne of the things that I've done to prepare for the <a href="http://www.virgilcrestultras.com/"><span style="color: lime;">Virgil Crest 100</span></a> this weekend is to deliberately loosen up my diet over the past several weeks. This might sound strange but the tighter that your sails are when it comes to nutrition the farther off course you end up when the wind blows. And at an ultra-marathon the winds blow hard...<br />
<br />
I've been following a very clean paleo diet for the past several months and feel better than I ever have in my life. For me this means zero processed foods, no bread, grains, legumes, dairy, or refined sugars, and a low carb, moderate fat, and high protein intake favoring lean meats, a ton of veggies, seasonal fruits, nuts, seeds. Two days at the VT 100 this July reminded me why I do this in the first place. Poor sleep combined with a diet of GU, "energy" bars, and miscellaneous ultra-grub found at aid stations while pacing Jeremy Bonnet left me completely snackered for the next several days.<br />
<br />
I've really dialed in my race nutrition over the past two years and this has played a significant role in the performance gains that I've been able to make. Unfortunately, I still haven't found a "natural" approach to ultra-eating and am relying on the Gu's and bars that I'm used to. (Maybe I'll run my next 100 armed with sweet potatoes and fistfulls of bison jerky but with the biggest race of my life in less than 3 days I'm sticking with what I know works) <br />
<br />
That said, after the race (and a week of eating whatever my body tells me to while recovering from a 100 mile run) I'm beginning a 30 day paleo challenge in order to feel good for the fall. And you're more than welcome to join...<br />
<br />
These periodic challenges are an opportunity to tighten up diet, sleep, and general physical fitness while reminding us how good it feels to eat and live clean. <a href="http://unitedbarbell.com/"><span style="color: lime;">United Barbell</span></a> has a good description of the challenge and a list of paleo friendly foods to keep you running strong throughout the 30 day duration. <a href="http://www.unitedbarbell.com/dox/30%20Day%20Paleo%20Challenge%20Packet.pdf"><span style="color: lime;">http://www.unitedbarbell.com/dox/30%20Day%20Paleo%20Challenge%20Packet.pdf</span></a><br />
<cite></cite><br />
I'll be kicking off the challenge on October 1st and, as with most things in life, it's more fun with a friend. If you've been curious of the whole "paleo" thing and want to see if a few weeks of ancestral eating improves the way that you "look, feel, and perform" as paleo-dude Robb Wolff likes to say then post a comment and we'll tackle this thing together!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5553900772791702883.post-47207920165130633702012-09-01T16:34:00.002-07:002012-09-01T19:33:06.094-07:00Taper...The sun beat down on the fresh straw, makeshift bridges, and always lonely landscape of the powerlines late this morning. This solitary stretch of land that separates the trails of Bradbury Mountain State Park from those of nearby Pineland Farms has served as a reflection point during many of my long runs. And this morning I had much to reflect on. The aid station that we set up for friend and teammate <a href="http://trekforpeace.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: lime;">Xar's</span></a><span style="color: lime;"> </span><span style="color: white;">50k birthday run</span> would mark the end of my training cycle for Virgil Crest<span style="color: white;"> </span>and the official start of my taper. This has been an incredible period of training towards a longtime goal and I have to admit that it's hard to see it come to an end. Here's a sketch of what the past 9 weeks looked like and a snapshot of the memories that filled the miles:<br />
<br />
Key training runs for the <a href="http://www.virgilcrestultras.com/"><span style="color: lime;">Virgil Crest 100</span></a>: <br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: lime;">Week 1:</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: lime;">12 miles</span></strong> First long run in over a month. Collapsed on the lawn afterwards well reminded of why I love to run long and run trails.<br />
<span style="color: lime;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: lime;"><strong>Week 2:</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: lime;"><strong>22 miles </strong></span><span style="color: white;">Ran 14 miles from home to Bradbury Mountain to race a friend through the woods for 8 more. The plan was an additional 6 but we went off trail. The "race" was an impromptu challenge issued by me while running the "O" trail and feeling ballsy-I lost. And the run is one that I won't forget anytime soon.</span><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: lime;">Week 3: </span></strong><strong><span style="color: lime;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: lime;">20 Miles</span></strong> Ran 14 miles to the start of a 6 mile trail race. Raced (poorly) at the Bradbury Scuffle. Trained (well) for pacing my very fast friend Jeremy at the VT 100 the following week.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: lime;">Week 4:</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: lime;">30 miles</span></strong> Unforgettable experience pacing<span style="color: lime;"> </span><a href="http://runefficient.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: lime;">Jeremy Bonnet</span></a> at the Vermont 100. Many incredible moments captured in the reports of those who ran, paced, and crewed. All can be found on our team website <a href="http://www.trailmonsterrunning.com/">www.trailmonsterrunning.com</a><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: lime;">Week 5:</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: lime;">21 miles</span></strong> A hard and hot road run.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: lime;">Week 6: </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: lime;">9 mile trail race</span></strong> A good race at the Bradbury Breaker, an ultra-hilly 9 miler that has become my favorite race in our annual Bradbury Dirt series.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: lime;">Week 7: </span><br />
<span style="color: lime;">20 miles</span><strong> </strong>Hit the roads after work for a late day 20. Grilled Pineland Farms burgers in the garage afterwards while watching the sky open up and the rain pound down from the open bay door during an unexpected thunderstorm....man, what a great night.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: lime;">Week 8: </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: lime;">53</span></strong> <span style="color: lime;">miles</span> Planned a self-supported 12 hour run (6a-6p) covering a cloverleaf course of trails, fields, and roads in Brunswick, Freeport, Pownal, and New Gloucester. <span style="color: lime;">What I learned:</span> L.L Bean is the second best "aid station" in the world. Pineland Farms, which I burst into 7 hours deep into the run drenched in sweat and starving, is the first.<a href="http://trailmonsterrunning.blogspot.com/"> <span style="color: lime;">Ian Parlin</span></a> , my friend, mentor and teammate, who is pacing me for the race is the best person to meet at mile 43 of a run and crush the last ten miles with. <span style="color: lime;">What went down from 6 in the morning until 6 at night:</span>Watched a duck land softly on the water from the high and hilly trails of Wolfs Neck State Park in the foggy early morning, lost my bag of S-Caps on a road 3 hours later, filled my bottles in the bathroom of a little house along the railroad tracks in the heat of the afternoon, discovered a strength that surprised me in the hard moments, learned that Honey Stinger waffles are tasty, accidentally drank a bottle of river water, let out a yell at the summit with Ian at 5:50 before we bounded down the terrace trail together to put this unforgettable run in the books. Put a total of 53 miles in the bank and, hopefully, the hay in the barn for Virgil Crest.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: lime;">Week 9: </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: lime;">21 miles</span></strong> A good day spent with friends and a good ending to this training cycle. The taper is officialy on with a 12 mile trail race next Sunday, an easy breezy 6-8 miler the following weekend, and the Virgil Crest 100 on September 22nd. Much love to all who've supported me along this road, much respect to my teammates who are running, pacing, and crewing at the race, and much excitement as the starting line of my first 100 miler gets nearer with each and every tick of the clock.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4