This morning as I was leaving for work I couldn't find my wallet. Now that's strange because every time I come home I'm very careful to put it on the counter right next to the door.
I looked all over the house, in the pants I was wearing yesterday, on my dresser. Even in the dresser drawers (thinking I might have knocked it off the top and it fell into a drawer). Checked in my car. Looked everywhere I could think of. No luck. So I headed out to work, trying to remember when I last had it. The best I could remember, the last time I had it was when I filled up for gas at Sheetz on my way home yesterday evening. I remembered my daughter calling me as I was filling up with gas and I was fumbling around with the phone, the gas pump handle and . . . yes . . . my wallet. I remember putting it on the roof of my car!
Oh Crap!!
When I got to Sheetz I ask if anyone had turned in a wallet and the lady checked and said they hadn't. So I decided to walk up the median of the highway to see if I could see my wallet . . . it had to have fallen off the rooftop fairly soon as I got up to speed.
I walked for maybe 1/3 mile. Nothing.
I tried to remember everything I had in my wallet. I was carring a little more cash then normal, my debit card and my credit card, driver's license, bank access card, and a bunch of other things that didn't really matter all that much. All gone!
To relieve the pain of the loss some, I did find a $20 bill!! Certainly not compensation for my loss, but it did ease the pain a little!
A little further down I spotted a $1 bill. Then . . .another $20. Guess I had my bad luck yesterday, but someone else had had some bad luck too! I knew I would be okay with my loss and I hoped whoever lost this would also be okay. These are tough time for so many people.
Further down the road I saw the sleeve that a NC Hunting / Fishing license comes with. Looked inside but nothing. Odd. Very Odd! Saw nothing else and went maybe 1 mile. So I crossed the lanes and headed back towards my car. Went maybe 1/4 mile and I saw another $1 bill. Then, I saw an REI membership card . . . with my name on it!
So probably all the money had been mine anyway! Little further I saw my Sam's Club card. Then my VISA!! Thank goodness! And soon there was my debit card! But that was it. Nothing else . . . and no wallet! So I decided to walk back again . . . I had to have missed the wallet itself!
Going back on the median I did find my fishing license, Food Lion MVP card and a few other things. But no wallet.
So I headed back towards my car. On my way back a car pulled over near me. The driver asked me if I was looking for something and I told him I was looking for my wallet. He asked where I was from and I told him Littleton, NC. He smiled a big smile and told me he had been jogging yesterday evening and had found my wallet! What are the chances! I am so lucky!
So this was about running after all! I followed him back to his house (about 4-5 miles away!) and got my wallet back! YESSSSS! There are a lot of honest people in the world . .. but this was a runner and I'm sure he would have spent a lot of time trying to find me. Runners would do that. Not everyone else would!
What a nice guy! He and I talked some and it seems his daughter goes the the daycare center near there and he and his buddy run there often. I told him about the Rocky Mount Endurance Club . . . I hope he will join the group!
Thank you Ronell Edmondson!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
What a wuss!
Okay . . . I've been backing off for a few weeks. Just a little rest brought on by some minor 'Boogie' issues . . . But I'm fine! Just resting some. But I'm blown away . . . I'm getting more folks coming to my blog each day then I get when I post something new! What is up with this?
I'm beginning to think the more I don't do, the more folks will like it!
I just wish the same principle would work in my running. Quite honestly I've found myself not looking forward to my runs. Actually dreading them is a better description. Just lacking motivation. Wanting to sleep on Sunday morning rather then go on my long run . . . even in the heat!. So a break seemed like a good course of action.
So since Boogie, my longest run has been about 10 miles . . . and another about 8 miles. Plus a few 3-6 milers during the week. Basically lots of rest!
So I should be feeling all recovered and ready to go! But that's not happening! Actually every day is a new physical issue! Crazy!
There silly little 'nothings' just have to be in my head!
And we all know that runners are generally prone to hypochondriac-type mentality. Heck, listening to everyone at the start of a race you would think most of them had to be driven to the starting line by an ambulance! Everyone has been having 'issues' and their training has just hardly prepared them for the race. Most question if they will even be able to finish! But, of course, virtually everyone does finish . . . with great times too!
But this 'layoff' is arming me with a ton of new excuses for my poor performances! Another week or two and I'll be all set! Hinson Lake . . . why .. . I'll probably only get in 15 miles or so!
I'm beginning to think the more I don't do, the more folks will like it!
I just wish the same principle would work in my running. Quite honestly I've found myself not looking forward to my runs. Actually dreading them is a better description. Just lacking motivation. Wanting to sleep on Sunday morning rather then go on my long run . . . even in the heat!. So a break seemed like a good course of action.
So since Boogie, my longest run has been about 10 miles . . . and another about 8 miles. Plus a few 3-6 milers during the week. Basically lots of rest!
So I should be feeling all recovered and ready to go! But that's not happening! Actually every day is a new physical issue! Crazy!
- All last week my wrist hurt (wrist I injured at the Medoc Re-Run in November that still isn't 100%).
- Sunday I was going to do a 16-17 miler at Medoc . . . but I got dizzy after a mile, walked for four miles hoping it would go away. And finally just quit.
- Monday, my hip hurt. Really hurt. I was limping! No injury, I did nothing! It just started hurting!
- Tuesday, still a little dizzy and the hip still hurts some . . . but way better.
There silly little 'nothings' just have to be in my head!
And we all know that runners are generally prone to hypochondriac-type mentality. Heck, listening to everyone at the start of a race you would think most of them had to be driven to the starting line by an ambulance! Everyone has been having 'issues' and their training has just hardly prepared them for the race. Most question if they will even be able to finish! But, of course, virtually everyone does finish . . . with great times too!
But this 'layoff' is arming me with a ton of new excuses for my poor performances! Another week or two and I'll be all set! Hinson Lake . . . why .. . I'll probably only get in 15 miles or so!
Saturday, June 18, 2011
How to Train Fleas!
When I was a young banker in Tennessee, I had the opportunity to hear a luncheon talk by the then head coach of the University of Tennessee football team, Bill Battle. At that time, Coach Battle was the youngest head football coach in the nation and lead the Volunteers to a 59-22-2 record while the head coach. Coach Battle was known as a really inspiring leader and field coach . . . but his recruiting skills were a little suspect.
Coach Battle started off telling everyone present he was going to teach us all something that probably no one in the room knew how to do but him. He was going to teach everyone how to train fleas!
He ask for a show of hands for everyone that already had learned this skill and not a person raised their hand. Coach Battle promised us this new skill would be a much more valuable skill then anyone would ever believe. And he was right!
To start the flea training process is really quite simple and you really only need two things: 1) a glass jar with a lid (like a Mason jar or a clean, mayonnaise jar), and 2) a bunch of fleas. New in East Tennessee we knew how to come up with an empty Mason jar but the coach never told us the best way to gather up a bunch of fleas. Anyway . . .
Training begins when you put the fleas in the jar, put the top on the jar, shake the jar up and the set it down on a table.
Believe me the fleas will be upset. And they'll want to get out of that jar and go find some nearby dog to jump on! These fleas will be jumping hard, trying to escape. A flea can jump over 7 inches in vertical height and 13 inches in horizontal length! These jars are only about 6 inches high. So when the flea jumps to escape he (or she as the case may be!) will bang his head on the jar top! I would imagine this would hurt! And every time the flea jumps . . . BANG against the jar top . . . more pain!
But eventually each flea, for one reason or another, won't jump their full 7 inches one time. They jump but just not as high and this time they don't hit the jar lid and thus no pain!
Now fleas probably aren't all that smart! But even a stupid flea can pretty quickly learn that if you jump as high as you can, it hurts. But it you jump just a tad less high, there is no pain! Simple!
So eventually, every flea is still inside the jar jumping hard, trying to escape . . . just not their full 7 inches! At this point you can take the top off the jar and the fleas, while continuing to jump, won't jump out of the jar!
Vol la! You have just trained the fleas!
Each flea is totally convinced he (or she!) is trying to escape just as hard as he can. But he's wrong! There WAS a barrier, but it's no longer there!
Obviously, Coach Battle was trying to tell us that the banking establishment would put barriers in front of each of us . . . maybe unintentional or maybe even intentional. But either way, we needed to keep trying just as hard as we can all the time.
Coach Battle warned each of us young banker to not become trained fleas. And I've tried to remember this lesson all my life. But I can't tell you how many times I've found that I had been trained and didn't even realize it!!. And I bet we all have. And maybe we've even trained a few fleas of our own!
Last night I just realized that I have been taking the easy way out in my training. Focusing on really long distances but avoiding the pain of interval and hill training. And I haven't been progressing. I've fallen into a complacency with my running and I have no one to blame but myself. I need to do better. Mediocre results are not a problem, but I should NOT be accepting my mediocre efforts.
But don't get me wrong. There are parts of my running where I am definitely NOT a trained flea. I have taken off the blinders about how far someone can run. I don't just run races where I'm pretty sure I can finish and do well in. I'm willing to try something that seems virtually impossible and where in all likelihood I will fail. And I've failed plenty! While a DNF is not a good thing, my friend Jim Plant tells me "any DNF is way better then a DNS." And he is right!
But I'm not happy with the fact that I'm a trained flea. And I'm going to work a little harder and be a little more varied in my running.
My challenge to each of you (and me too!) is to find out what areas in your life that you have become a trained flea. And then do something about it!
It's never too late for us to jump!
He ask for a show of hands for everyone that already had learned this skill and not a person raised their hand. Coach Battle promised us this new skill would be a much more valuable skill then anyone would ever believe. And he was right!
Training begins when you put the fleas in the jar, put the top on the jar, shake the jar up and the set it down on a table.
Believe me the fleas will be upset. And they'll want to get out of that jar and go find some nearby dog to jump on! These fleas will be jumping hard, trying to escape. A flea can jump over 7 inches in vertical height and 13 inches in horizontal length! These jars are only about 6 inches high. So when the flea jumps to escape he (or she as the case may be!) will bang his head on the jar top! I would imagine this would hurt! And every time the flea jumps . . . BANG against the jar top . . . more pain!
But eventually each flea, for one reason or another, won't jump their full 7 inches one time. They jump but just not as high and this time they don't hit the jar lid and thus no pain!
Now fleas probably aren't all that smart! But even a stupid flea can pretty quickly learn that if you jump as high as you can, it hurts. But it you jump just a tad less high, there is no pain! Simple!
So eventually, every flea is still inside the jar jumping hard, trying to escape . . . just not their full 7 inches! At this point you can take the top off the jar and the fleas, while continuing to jump, won't jump out of the jar!
Vol la! You have just trained the fleas!
Each flea is totally convinced he (or she!) is trying to escape just as hard as he can. But he's wrong! There WAS a barrier, but it's no longer there!
Obviously, Coach Battle was trying to tell us that the banking establishment would put barriers in front of each of us . . . maybe unintentional or maybe even intentional. But either way, we needed to keep trying just as hard as we can all the time.
Coach Battle warned each of us young banker to not become trained fleas. And I've tried to remember this lesson all my life. But I can't tell you how many times I've found that I had been trained and didn't even realize it!!. And I bet we all have. And maybe we've even trained a few fleas of our own!
Last night I just realized that I have been taking the easy way out in my training. Focusing on really long distances but avoiding the pain of interval and hill training. And I haven't been progressing. I've fallen into a complacency with my running and I have no one to blame but myself. I need to do better. Mediocre results are not a problem, but I should NOT be accepting my mediocre efforts.
But don't get me wrong. There are parts of my running where I am definitely NOT a trained flea. I have taken off the blinders about how far someone can run. I don't just run races where I'm pretty sure I can finish and do well in. I'm willing to try something that seems virtually impossible and where in all likelihood I will fail. And I've failed plenty! While a DNF is not a good thing, my friend Jim Plant tells me "any DNF is way better then a DNS." And he is right!
But I'm not happy with the fact that I'm a trained flea. And I'm going to work a little harder and be a little more varied in my running.
My challenge to each of you (and me too!) is to find out what areas in your life that you have become a trained flea. And then do something about it!
It's never too late for us to jump!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Boogie . . . Damn you Boogie!
Boogie beat me again . . . damn it!
My training was good. The temperature forecasts were good. I knew the course well. And I was relaxed. This was going to be my breakthrough year at Boogie. I was ready!
Up to this year I had always done the Boogie Fun Run aka "the Baby Boogie" aka the "Boogie Marathon." And every year Boogie handed me my hat and said "Better luck next time, Sucker!" Nothing about Boogie fits with my running. Maybe that's why I love this race so much.
Anyway, after one poor finish after another I had the brilliant idea that if I couldn't do well in the marathon maybe I should step up to the "Full Boogie." Okay, I know it seems stupid to think if I can't do well running 26.2 miles maybe I'll do better running 50. But it seemed like a good idea at the time.
And I had a plan! I was going to walk virtually all of the first lap! In the past, one of the key reasons for my stumbles was the mid June temperatures and humidity combined with the Boogie hills. And it was 94° that afternoon. So with a 6 pm start there would be at least 2 hours of bad Boogie heat. So my plan was to conserve my energy in the heat and then spend it when it's cooler.
So . . . the race started.
But just before the start thunderstorms rolled in. Clouds covered the sun, thunder rolled and the temperatures started to cool. So cool compared to the afternoon heat I decided that I could go ahead and run lap 1. So I did. And soon we had some rain from the storm. Not a lot . . . just enough to wet everything down. And then the humidity went to 99.99%. Nothing could evaporate in this humidity. So every drop of water hung around. And every drop of sweat did too! Soon I felt like I was running in a hot shower. But I kept on running.
The Boogie race course starts at
the top of Bethel Hill and looks like a balloon on a string. The start is where the string is tied to the balloon. We run around the balloon (6 miles) then down the string (2 miles) and back up to the start/finish/main aid station for a 10 mile lap. Everyone parks on the road so your car can serve as your gear drop station. Awesome setup.
As we neared the main aid station at mile 6, I saw a bunch of kids with squirt guns soaking runners (as if they weren't already wet enough from their sweat!). But I had heard the kids plan, so I developed a plan of my own. At my car I had my own 'super-soaker' all loaded up and ready to go. Hiding it behind my back, I walked up the last of the hill to the kids. And then I sprang my surprise! No way they expected to get soaked by a runner . . . especially an old runner! Not sure who enjoyed this surprise the most, me or them!
But by the end of lap 1 was beginning to see the writing on the wall. I was roasting in my own juices! 40 miles to go and I was already medium rare! I knew I had to slow way down or I was going to be 'done' in 2 laps! And I had forgotten to take my Cool-off bandanna with me the first lap. So, with that now in place I completed lap 2 . . . slowing down some, but not near enough. Plus, I told my friend, Charles West I was starting to feel a hot-spot developing on my left forefoot. Walking up Bethel Hill I promised myself I would walk way more. 30 miles to go and I was medium-well already! Oh crap!
Luckily I had a secret weapon . . . or rather 2 secret weapons! Rick and Tammy Gray had promised to keep my company part of the way. Tammy joined me first and right off her bad luck multiplied! First I told her we would be mostly walking. Then . . . it was almost like World War 3 started! Thunder and lightning everywhere and the downpour came! Honestly it was more then a little scary. This sure didn't help the humidity any but I finally got my body temperature down to something comfortable. But it was too late . . . the damage had been done.
But Boogie wasn't going to let me get off that easy!
I noticed that 'hot-spot' I had felt lap 1 had gone away! And in it's place . . . thanks to all the rain, had now morphed into full-fledged blisters! Nice one, Boogie! Nice!
But there was one group of folks that was lovin' this weather . . . the frog population. Never in my life have a heard a more strange assortment of frog calls. It must have been a 'frog orgy' going on! I swear there even frogs that sounded like goats! At least these guys and gals were happy about things!
As Tammy and I passed the main aid station I considered changing shoes and socks . . . but since the weather was still threatening (though the rain had slowed) I opted to just keep going and wait to be sure the rain was over.
Next, Tammy handed me off to her husband Rick (who had been manning the main aid station all evening) for lap 4.
Now I hate to brag, but in these morning hours I really gave Rick a lesson in the 'Lilley-style' of ultrarunning . . . er ultrawalking! Rick runs 100 mile runs like they're nothing. He has run 5ks in the 14 minute range, sub 30 10k and 2:30 marathons! Imagine the fun he had on a slow walk with me in the rain! But to give Rick credit, he adapted well! Thanks Rick! You and your wife kept me going. I likely would have dropped without your support!
Before Rick and I started I had a rare treat! I got to be there when my friend Laura MacLean finished her 50 . . . first place female! I was so happy to get to be there and see her victory! That made my night!
So with 30 miles completed and 20 to go, Rick and I headed out for another loop. The blister pain was really pretty intense. Several times I just sat down in the road to take off my shoe to try and re-adjust things to relieve the pain . . . but nothing worked.
Oh . . . and I had my first hallucination! Rick and I both had our light off and then suddenly there were snakes crossing the road everywhere! Maybe 50 of them! I really couldn't tell what kind they were but they were everywhere!
As we got back to the main aid station and my car, I stopped to change shoes and socks . . . hoping that might help. But as I went from my car to the aid station, it was hurting worse then ever. And I told Rick I was quitting. The pain was just too much. Boogie had kicked my ass . . . again. And this one was worse! At least with my other Boogie races I had managed to finish.
Rick was supportive and told me that I knew best. After a few minutes of standing around talking about it and being unsure about quitting, I decided I should just walk down Bethel Hill some while I was re-thinking my decision before I told the lap counters I was DNFing. So we headed out down the hill. In a few minutes I told Rick I was going to finish 40 miles before I called it quits.
Going down Bethel Hill it started to get a little lighter and soon we could recognize folks we passed. And everyone was so encouraging . . . telling me 'great job' and 'awesome finish' super job . . . you did it!' Somehow I found it really hard to tell them I was so slow I still had another lap to go and I wasn't going to do that last lap . . .
Yea . . . maybe Boogie did kick my ass . . . but I decided to kick back! Okay . . it wasn't much of a kick! But I decided to finish this . . .
Luckily, our race director, Doug Dawkins, told me he would let me finish despite the fact that I was way over the cut-off. Thanks Doug!
So I got my hat and headed down the hill for lap 5.
But within a mile my macho decision to finish seemed pretty stupid. Quite frankly I seriously started thinking about turning around and heading back. Then, I heard a car approaching.
It was Amy Schimmel and Lauren Wilkins coming by to check on me before they headed back to Raleigh. Amy had every possible thing an ultra runner could need with her! Her SUV looked like the Clampett's truck headed to California! They knew I was having blister issues and asked if there was anything they could do! So they stopped in the road and opened their mobile hospital!
Amy got a folding chair, Lauren got Ibuprofin and the medical kit as I took off my shoes and socks (by this time I had blisters on both feet). About this time, Jim Plant drove up and and the three of them looked things over and decided the best course of action. Drain the blister and then use some of Amy's special 'blister tape' to tape over the problem areas. These three were my saviors. I would have quit without their help.
So on I went. And things started feeling much, much better for awhile. I was back running! Hell yea! Passed the aid station and hardly slowed down! Ran about half way down Bethel Hill when the blister pain returned. So I just walked. Only one other person was out there, Paul Heckert and I passed Paul headed up the hill as I was about about half way down! Yea . . . I was DFL . . . again!
Frank Sherrill was actually sitting in the middle of the road ON the turnaround point! And he and I walked a way together until Tom Herbst came by and gave Frank a RIDE back to his truck!
Bethel Hill one last time . . . and I was was done! Paul stayed to see me finish as did Doug Dawkins. And Amy Surette and her kids were there too!! ) Amy had finished her first 50 earlier in the morning and just hung out until the bitter end! A very special thank you to all these folks.
So I did finish. Based on my performance, I didn't deserve to be an official finisher. Quite honestly this was much more of a walk then a run. But it was all I could do. And I'm proud I finished. Yea . . . Boogie kicked my ass again . . . but I did go down fighting!
My training was good. The temperature forecasts were good. I knew the course well. And I was relaxed. This was going to be my breakthrough year at Boogie. I was ready!
Up to this year I had always done the Boogie Fun Run aka "the Baby Boogie" aka the "Boogie Marathon." And every year Boogie handed me my hat and said "Better luck next time, Sucker!" Nothing about Boogie fits with my running. Maybe that's why I love this race so much.
Anyway, after one poor finish after another I had the brilliant idea that if I couldn't do well in the marathon maybe I should step up to the "Full Boogie." Okay, I know it seems stupid to think if I can't do well running 26.2 miles maybe I'll do better running 50. But it seemed like a good idea at the time.
And I had a plan! I was going to walk virtually all of the first lap! In the past, one of the key reasons for my stumbles was the mid June temperatures and humidity combined with the Boogie hills. And it was 94° that afternoon. So with a 6 pm start there would be at least 2 hours of bad Boogie heat. So my plan was to conserve my energy in the heat and then spend it when it's cooler.
So . . . the race started.
But just before the start thunderstorms rolled in. Clouds covered the sun, thunder rolled and the temperatures started to cool. So cool compared to the afternoon heat I decided that I could go ahead and run lap 1. So I did. And soon we had some rain from the storm. Not a lot . . . just enough to wet everything down. And then the humidity went to 99.99%. Nothing could evaporate in this humidity. So every drop of water hung around. And every drop of sweat did too! Soon I felt like I was running in a hot shower. But I kept on running.
 |
| From the top of Bethel Hill, the start where everyone parks! |
The Boogie race course starts at
the top of Bethel Hill and looks like a balloon on a string. The start is where the string is tied to the balloon. We run around the balloon (6 miles) then down the string (2 miles) and back up to the start/finish/main aid station for a 10 mile lap. Everyone parks on the road so your car can serve as your gear drop station. Awesome setup.
 |
| Looking down the other side towards the infamous Bethel Hill. |
As we neared the main aid station at mile 6, I saw a bunch of kids with squirt guns soaking runners (as if they weren't already wet enough from their sweat!). But I had heard the kids plan, so I developed a plan of my own. At my car I had my own 'super-soaker' all loaded up and ready to go. Hiding it behind my back, I walked up the last of the hill to the kids. And then I sprang my surprise! No way they expected to get soaked by a runner . . . especially an old runner! Not sure who enjoyed this surprise the most, me or them!
But by the end of lap 1 was beginning to see the writing on the wall. I was roasting in my own juices! 40 miles to go and I was already medium rare! I knew I had to slow way down or I was going to be 'done' in 2 laps! And I had forgotten to take my Cool-off bandanna with me the first lap. So, with that now in place I completed lap 2 . . . slowing down some, but not near enough. Plus, I told my friend, Charles West I was starting to feel a hot-spot developing on my left forefoot. Walking up Bethel Hill I promised myself I would walk way more. 30 miles to go and I was medium-well already! Oh crap!
Luckily I had a secret weapon . . . or rather 2 secret weapons! Rick and Tammy Gray had promised to keep my company part of the way. Tammy joined me first and right off her bad luck multiplied! First I told her we would be mostly walking. Then . . . it was almost like World War 3 started! Thunder and lightning everywhere and the downpour came! Honestly it was more then a little scary. This sure didn't help the humidity any but I finally got my body temperature down to something comfortable. But it was too late . . . the damage had been done.
But Boogie wasn't going to let me get off that easy!
I noticed that 'hot-spot' I had felt lap 1 had gone away! And in it's place . . . thanks to all the rain, had now morphed into full-fledged blisters! Nice one, Boogie! Nice!
But there was one group of folks that was lovin' this weather . . . the frog population. Never in my life have a heard a more strange assortment of frog calls. It must have been a 'frog orgy' going on! I swear there even frogs that sounded like goats! At least these guys and gals were happy about things!
As Tammy and I passed the main aid station I considered changing shoes and socks . . . but since the weather was still threatening (though the rain had slowed) I opted to just keep going and wait to be sure the rain was over.
Next, Tammy handed me off to her husband Rick (who had been manning the main aid station all evening) for lap 4.
Now I hate to brag, but in these morning hours I really gave Rick a lesson in the 'Lilley-style' of ultrarunning . . . er ultrawalking! Rick runs 100 mile runs like they're nothing. He has run 5ks in the 14 minute range, sub 30 10k and 2:30 marathons! Imagine the fun he had on a slow walk with me in the rain! But to give Rick credit, he adapted well! Thanks Rick! You and your wife kept me going. I likely would have dropped without your support!
Before Rick and I started I had a rare treat! I got to be there when my friend Laura MacLean finished her 50 . . . first place female! I was so happy to get to be there and see her victory! That made my night!
So with 30 miles completed and 20 to go, Rick and I headed out for another loop. The blister pain was really pretty intense. Several times I just sat down in the road to take off my shoe to try and re-adjust things to relieve the pain . . . but nothing worked.
Oh . . . and I had my first hallucination! Rick and I both had our light off and then suddenly there were snakes crossing the road everywhere! Maybe 50 of them! I really couldn't tell what kind they were but they were everywhere!
As we got back to the main aid station and my car, I stopped to change shoes and socks . . . hoping that might help. But as I went from my car to the aid station, it was hurting worse then ever. And I told Rick I was quitting. The pain was just too much. Boogie had kicked my ass . . . again. And this one was worse! At least with my other Boogie races I had managed to finish.
Rick was supportive and told me that I knew best. After a few minutes of standing around talking about it and being unsure about quitting, I decided I should just walk down Bethel Hill some while I was re-thinking my decision before I told the lap counters I was DNFing. So we headed out down the hill. In a few minutes I told Rick I was going to finish 40 miles before I called it quits.
Going down Bethel Hill it started to get a little lighter and soon we could recognize folks we passed. And everyone was so encouraging . . . telling me 'great job' and 'awesome finish' super job . . . you did it!' Somehow I found it really hard to tell them I was so slow I still had another lap to go and I wasn't going to do that last lap . . .
Yea . . . maybe Boogie did kick my ass . . . but I decided to kick back! Okay . . it wasn't much of a kick! But I decided to finish this . . .
Luckily, our race director, Doug Dawkins, told me he would let me finish despite the fact that I was way over the cut-off. Thanks Doug!
So I got my hat and headed down the hill for lap 5.
But within a mile my macho decision to finish seemed pretty stupid. Quite frankly I seriously started thinking about turning around and heading back. Then, I heard a car approaching.
It was Amy Schimmel and Lauren Wilkins coming by to check on me before they headed back to Raleigh. Amy had every possible thing an ultra runner could need with her! Her SUV looked like the Clampett's truck headed to California! They knew I was having blister issues and asked if there was anything they could do! So they stopped in the road and opened their mobile hospital!
 |
| Here is what they looked like Monday PM. |
So on I went. And things started feeling much, much better for awhile. I was back running! Hell yea! Passed the aid station and hardly slowed down! Ran about half way down Bethel Hill when the blister pain returned. So I just walked. Only one other person was out there, Paul Heckert and I passed Paul headed up the hill as I was about about half way down! Yea . . . I was DFL . . . again!
Frank Sherrill was actually sitting in the middle of the road ON the turnaround point! And he and I walked a way together until Tom Herbst came by and gave Frank a RIDE back to his truck!
Bethel Hill one last time . . . and I was was done! Paul stayed to see me finish as did Doug Dawkins. And Amy Surette and her kids were there too!! ) Amy had finished her first 50 earlier in the morning and just hung out until the bitter end! A very special thank you to all these folks.
So I did finish. Based on my performance, I didn't deserve to be an official finisher. Quite honestly this was much more of a walk then a run. But it was all I could do. And I'm proud I finished. Yea . . . Boogie kicked my ass again . . . but I did go down fighting!
 |
| Thanks for taking this Amy! |
Friday, June 10, 2011
Boogie Prediction
Okay . . . it is REALLY bad luck to predict a future race outcome.
I mean, really . . . 50 miles in the summer. Who can say what will happen? Certainly not me! At least for sure!
But still . . . I'm willing to go out on a limb and predict I WILL finish the 2011 Boogie 50-miler. Now, realistically I may not be an 'official' finisher. I'm mean I may possible (ok . . . very likely!) miss the 'official' race cutoff. And I sure don't blame the race for having one! But I predict I WILL finish . . . eventually!
There you go! Nothing like 'staking yourself out' on a race . . . even one as hard as Boogie! I mean, Boogie has the big three:
1) hills (okay, not mountains, but still hills!),
2) heat (looking like this year's temperatures may not be all that bad . . . only low 90°s, and
3) humidity . . . not as bad as FL in the summer . . . but close!)
I'll do this!
I mean, really . . . 50 miles in the summer. Who can say what will happen? Certainly not me! At least for sure!
But still . . . I'm willing to go out on a limb and predict I WILL finish the 2011 Boogie 50-miler. Now, realistically I may not be an 'official' finisher. I'm mean I may possible (ok . . . very likely!) miss the 'official' race cutoff. And I sure don't blame the race for having one! But I predict I WILL finish . . . eventually!
There you go! Nothing like 'staking yourself out' on a race . . . even one as hard as Boogie! I mean, Boogie has the big three:
1) hills (okay, not mountains, but still hills!),
2) heat (looking like this year's temperatures may not be all that bad . . . only low 90°s, and
3) humidity . . . not as bad as FL in the summer . . . but close!)
I'll do this!
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Boogie . . . Next Saturday!
Next Saturday is THE day! Time to Boogie!
Each year I look forward to the Bethel Hill Moonlight Boogie races. I really don't know why.
For the last three years I've 'run' the 'Baby Boogie' and for three years the race has totally kicked my butt. I suffer and slog my way through the 26.2 miles and finish with an embarrassingly slow time. Totally shot. I really don't understand why I came back after my first year.
Hot as hell at the start (6 pm) . . . high 90s. Then thunderstorms rolled in just after dark. Got so foggy you couldn't see! And got TOTALLY soaked. Then, blisters developed. Tired, beaten and hurting, I limped to the finish in torrential rains. The finish line crew was sitting in a car there. They cracked the window and yelled at me to pick up a mug for my finishers award.
And that year was probably my most enjoyable Boogie!
So . . . . after being beaten down and humbled for three straight years. Did I sign up for Boogie again this year? Well . . . sort of. I did sign up. But since the marathon has my number and kills me each year I decided to change races and enter the 50 miler.
Okay . . . I admit . . . this decision was made in nice, cool weather and alcohol influenced. Definitely not thinking clearly when I sent in my entry. What on earth was I thinking?
"Okay, I better go ahead and send in my Boogie entry or it will sell out. The last three years the marathon has totally, 100% kicked my butt. Do I really want to suffer through another 26.2 Boogie miles. Hell no! Soooo . . . maybe I should enter the 50. How much harder can it be? Yea . . . that's a good idea. Enter the 50. I'll just pace myself and cruise through it. Yea . . . should be easy! Yea . . . that's what I'll do! Enter the 50! Cool!"
So, next Saturday afternoon, here we go! It will take a frickin' miracle for me to finish this within the cutoff. But just maybe a miracle is in the wings! Extended weather forecast says only high 80s at the start.
Yea . . . this should be easy!
Each year I look forward to the Bethel Hill Moonlight Boogie races. I really don't know why.
For the last three years I've 'run' the 'Baby Boogie' and for three years the race has totally kicked my butt. I suffer and slog my way through the 26.2 miles and finish with an embarrassingly slow time. Totally shot. I really don't understand why I came back after my first year.
Hot as hell at the start (6 pm) . . . high 90s. Then thunderstorms rolled in just after dark. Got so foggy you couldn't see! And got TOTALLY soaked. Then, blisters developed. Tired, beaten and hurting, I limped to the finish in torrential rains. The finish line crew was sitting in a car there. They cracked the window and yelled at me to pick up a mug for my finishers award.
And that year was probably my most enjoyable Boogie!
So . . . . after being beaten down and humbled for three straight years. Did I sign up for Boogie again this year? Well . . . sort of. I did sign up. But since the marathon has my number and kills me each year I decided to change races and enter the 50 miler.
Okay . . . I admit . . . this decision was made in nice, cool weather and alcohol influenced. Definitely not thinking clearly when I sent in my entry. What on earth was I thinking?
"Okay, I better go ahead and send in my Boogie entry or it will sell out. The last three years the marathon has totally, 100% kicked my butt. Do I really want to suffer through another 26.2 Boogie miles. Hell no! Soooo . . . maybe I should enter the 50. How much harder can it be? Yea . . . that's a good idea. Enter the 50. I'll just pace myself and cruise through it. Yea . . . should be easy! Yea . . . that's what I'll do! Enter the 50! Cool!"
So, next Saturday afternoon, here we go! It will take a frickin' miracle for me to finish this within the cutoff. But just maybe a miracle is in the wings! Extended weather forecast says only high 80s at the start.
Yea . . . this should be easy!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Home again! Loved California!
After a week's vacation it is sure is nice to be home!
I took a week off from running . . . okay . . . except for just one marathon last Saturday by myself in Solvang. We went to a family wedding and had a blast!
Solvang is in a wine region just north of LA and we spent Friday sampling lots of different wines! Wonderful rehearsal dinner Friday night (yea . . . more wine!) and then the wedding Saturday late afternoon. The ceremony and reception was at a vineyard and I've never been to a wedding where everyone was served wine when you got to the ceremony! Heck we drank wine the whole ceremony long!
But this is a running blog . . . enough off-point commentary!
I knew that San Francisco weather was cool (long sleeves feel nice!) but I had no idea that even LA has cool weather. They tell me LA rarely gets into the 80s! Usually 60s or 70s max! And dry! No wonder there are so many great California runners . . . they have perfect training weather year round! And I found the folks I met to be super nice and friendly.
I got up early Saturday morning to go for a run. (Not hard to get up when your body is on eastern time!) I was actually cold when I started and wished I had brought a long-sleeved shirt! A guy at our hotel had told me about a road that sounded like a perfect out and back so I could go as far as I wanted. Just no water or stores! Since I didn't take my Nathan with me on the trip I improvised! Doubled plastic bag with four Gatorades inside which I carried! Okay . . . not the best idea I've ever had but it did work. Sort of!
But true to form, I quickly missed a turn, got lost and had to improvise again. I ran about 7 miles of somewhat interesting running by a bunch of wineries and small farms. On Friday, a huge bike stage race had run their time trials section in Solvang (we missed it due to pre-arranged wine tours) but their route out of town had several, well-placed port-a-potties! Nice!
Eventually, I found a different road with virtually no traffic and beautiful scenery!
~5 miles out and not a single house! The road ran through some guy's ranch! HUGE! On each side of the road fields and pastures as far as you could see! Beautiful!
Ran back to Solvang to pick up my nephew and his wife for a final ~3 miles or so. But they bailed so I just ran around town until I finished . . . maybe ~26-27. By the end the temperatures had climbed to the 70s maybe.
Back to the motel, shower and off to lunch and a couple of cold beers! Then, a short afternoon nap before the wedding.
The next day, after a post-wedding breakfast with everyone, Connie, Michael, La and I drove to Santa Barbara to spend the day. What a great town! The layout is just about perfect . . . on the ocean at the base of mountains! We had a blast there . . . here are a few pictures . . .
On Monday everyone decided they wanted to go on a whale watching cruise. I tend to really get seasick, so I was going to stay on dry land . . . but Connie shamed me into going with them . . . the old "Well, if you're not going, then we'll all just stay here and try and find something else to do." routine. Damn I didn't want to go! Once out of the harbor the captain told us it was going to be unusually windy. Turned out it was a REALLY rough, windy day out there and probably 75% of the folks on the boat got seasick. Honestly the first person started losing it within 15 minutes!! They even ended the trip early to the cheers of passengers!! I had taken a pill and only got a little queasy . . . but both Connie and La felt bad. And Connie even fed the fish! . . . Yes . . . There is some justice in this world!
But we did see whales . . .
The pictures just don't show how rough the seas were though! So glad to get back on dry land!
I took a week off from running . . . okay . . . except for just one marathon last Saturday by myself in Solvang. We went to a family wedding and had a blast!
Solvang is in a wine region just north of LA and we spent Friday sampling lots of different wines! Wonderful rehearsal dinner Friday night (yea . . . more wine!) and then the wedding Saturday late afternoon. The ceremony and reception was at a vineyard and I've never been to a wedding where everyone was served wine when you got to the ceremony! Heck we drank wine the whole ceremony long!
But this is a running blog . . . enough off-point commentary!
I knew that San Francisco weather was cool (long sleeves feel nice!) but I had no idea that even LA has cool weather. They tell me LA rarely gets into the 80s! Usually 60s or 70s max! And dry! No wonder there are so many great California runners . . . they have perfect training weather year round! And I found the folks I met to be super nice and friendly.
I got up early Saturday morning to go for a run. (Not hard to get up when your body is on eastern time!) I was actually cold when I started and wished I had brought a long-sleeved shirt! A guy at our hotel had told me about a road that sounded like a perfect out and back so I could go as far as I wanted. Just no water or stores! Since I didn't take my Nathan with me on the trip I improvised! Doubled plastic bag with four Gatorades inside which I carried! Okay . . . not the best idea I've ever had but it did work. Sort of!
But true to form, I quickly missed a turn, got lost and had to improvise again. I ran about 7 miles of somewhat interesting running by a bunch of wineries and small farms. On Friday, a huge bike stage race had run their time trials section in Solvang (we missed it due to pre-arranged wine tours) but their route out of town had several, well-placed port-a-potties! Nice!
Eventually, I found a different road with virtually no traffic and beautiful scenery!
~5 miles out and not a single house! The road ran through some guy's ranch! HUGE! On each side of the road fields and pastures as far as you could see! Beautiful!
Ran back to Solvang to pick up my nephew and his wife for a final ~3 miles or so. But they bailed so I just ran around town until I finished . . . maybe ~26-27. By the end the temperatures had climbed to the 70s maybe.
Back to the motel, shower and off to lunch and a couple of cold beers! Then, a short afternoon nap before the wedding.
The next day, after a post-wedding breakfast with everyone, Connie, Michael, La and I drove to Santa Barbara to spend the day. What a great town! The layout is just about perfect . . . on the ocean at the base of mountains! We had a blast there . . . here are a few pictures . . .
On Monday everyone decided they wanted to go on a whale watching cruise. I tend to really get seasick, so I was going to stay on dry land . . . but Connie shamed me into going with them . . . the old "Well, if you're not going, then we'll all just stay here and try and find something else to do." routine. Damn I didn't want to go! Once out of the harbor the captain told us it was going to be unusually windy. Turned out it was a REALLY rough, windy day out there and probably 75% of the folks on the boat got seasick. Honestly the first person started losing it within 15 minutes!! They even ended the trip early to the cheers of passengers!! I had taken a pill and only got a little queasy . . . but both Connie and La felt bad. And Connie even fed the fish! . . . Yes . . . There is some justice in this world!
But we did see whales . . .
The pictures just don't show how rough the seas were though! So glad to get back on dry land!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
5k my way . . .
I really didn't want to run the Rocky Mount Fun Run for Charities.
I sent two emails to the race asking if they needed volunteer help, but I never got a reply. Guess they really wanted quality help. Can't blame them.
Rocky Mount doesn't have too many races, so all of us in the running community try to support every race put on. This one is pretty neat . . . not as a run . . . but what the event does. Essentially, the race serves are the fund raising hub for local charities . . . the event organizers get matching funds for all contributions made to a local charity. So every charity in the area tries to get donors to make contributions through the event. Very neat!
Another neat thing about this event is that each charity sets up a booth on race day to show what their organization is all about. And lots of folks from the community come to be part of it all!
So as an event to benefit the community, there is none better!
But as a running event . . . well . . . let's just say it could be improved! But that doesn't really matter that much. The races themselves are not the real point of this event. But still, the run itself could be so much better . . .
So instead of driving to Rocky Mount to volunteer, I drove there and signed up for the 5k.
I didn't plan to really run very hard . . . and I didn't. I haven't done any speed work in months, so it made no sense to try and go all out. I was just there to have fun and run a little harder than normal.
Before things got started had a chance to see a lot of Rocky Mount folks I don't get to see all that often anymore. Lot's of fun. Plus, the Rocky Mount Endurance Club (RMEC) was out in force! Since I actually live an hour away, I don't often get to run with the group and see everyone so this is especially fun for me. I finally found Connie (or rather she found me!) before she when to her volunteer spot on Falls Road.
Lots of confusion about the race start. One person involved with running the race told us the 10k would start 5 minutes after the 5k start. But surprise, surprise! At the last minute (it seemed!) they decided to start both races together! Actually a smart move considering the 5k walkers . . . but many 10k runners weren't ready! Oh well . . . its a fun run!
Brent Brondyke and I started together. Brent was doing the 10k and was also planning to take it easy as he has been having serious running issues. Lot's of fun catching up with Brent! We passed the first mile in 9:20. Faster than I had thought! I felt really comfortable . . . not like a normal 5k race!! Saw Connie just after the 1 mile point. The course headed into the park and at the split, Brent went his way and I went mine. Soon after I saw Margaret Bentley and we hung together for awhile. Just ahead we saw Eric Ghiloni and Margaret and I set our sights on catching up with him. Eric was having some stitch issues but luckily they passed and the three of us ran together until about the 2 1/2 mile point.
At the top of the little hill I decided it was 'go time' for me. I still didn't really push it, but I did pick it up. By the time I got to the finish line I was definitely tired. But the nice thing about a 5k is after 3 minutes and a drink of water I felt 100% recovered!
So I headed back out the race course to cheer! So many inspiring faces! I can only imagine the stories that go with each of them. Kids struggling, but so focused on finishing! Folks intent of crossing the finish line in what is likely their very first 5k! Proud parents running with their children! And many, many more. The smiles and determination on folks' faces is really what running is all about.
I stayed for the awards ceremony where more of the race organization issues surfaced. Two 5k runners were declared winners of the overall 10k race so the folks that were the age group winners missed the public announcement of their wins. Too bad. I'm sure they sorted this out later, but still 'a swing and miss' for the race. One neat addition they did at the race this year . . . the overall winners (3 deep) got to award money ($50, $74 and $100) to the Rocky Mount charity of their choice! What a cool idea! Very nice tough!!
As great as this event is, I just can't figure out why they can't the the running part right. I'm guessing that non-runners are the planners. I'm sure they do get runner input, but this was their 3rd year. Issues should be worked out by now!
I sent two emails to the race asking if they needed volunteer help, but I never got a reply. Guess they really wanted quality help. Can't blame them.
Rocky Mount doesn't have too many races, so all of us in the running community try to support every race put on. This one is pretty neat . . . not as a run . . . but what the event does. Essentially, the race serves are the fund raising hub for local charities . . . the event organizers get matching funds for all contributions made to a local charity. So every charity in the area tries to get donors to make contributions through the event. Very neat!
Another neat thing about this event is that each charity sets up a booth on race day to show what their organization is all about. And lots of folks from the community come to be part of it all!
So as an event to benefit the community, there is none better!
But as a running event . . . well . . . let's just say it could be improved! But that doesn't really matter that much. The races themselves are not the real point of this event. But still, the run itself could be so much better . . .
So instead of driving to Rocky Mount to volunteer, I drove there and signed up for the 5k.
I didn't plan to really run very hard . . . and I didn't. I haven't done any speed work in months, so it made no sense to try and go all out. I was just there to have fun and run a little harder than normal.
Before things got started had a chance to see a lot of Rocky Mount folks I don't get to see all that often anymore. Lot's of fun. Plus, the Rocky Mount Endurance Club (RMEC) was out in force! Since I actually live an hour away, I don't often get to run with the group and see everyone so this is especially fun for me. I finally found Connie (or rather she found me!) before she when to her volunteer spot on Falls Road.
Brent Brondyke and I started together. Brent was doing the 10k and was also planning to take it easy as he has been having serious running issues. Lot's of fun catching up with Brent! We passed the first mile in 9:20. Faster than I had thought! I felt really comfortable . . . not like a normal 5k race!! Saw Connie just after the 1 mile point. The course headed into the park and at the split, Brent went his way and I went mine. Soon after I saw Margaret Bentley and we hung together for awhile. Just ahead we saw Eric Ghiloni and Margaret and I set our sights on catching up with him. Eric was having some stitch issues but luckily they passed and the three of us ran together until about the 2 1/2 mile point.
At the top of the little hill I decided it was 'go time' for me. I still didn't really push it, but I did pick it up. By the time I got to the finish line I was definitely tired. But the nice thing about a 5k is after 3 minutes and a drink of water I felt 100% recovered!
 |
| Henry Forrester and Brandon Miller pushing to the finish |
 |
| Ted Lord and his son about to finish the 5k |
I stayed for the awards ceremony where more of the race organization issues surfaced. Two 5k runners were declared winners of the overall 10k race so the folks that were the age group winners missed the public announcement of their wins. Too bad. I'm sure they sorted this out later, but still 'a swing and miss' for the race. One neat addition they did at the race this year . . . the overall winners (3 deep) got to award money ($50, $74 and $100) to the Rocky Mount charity of their choice! What a cool idea! Very nice tough!!
As great as this event is, I just can't figure out why they can't the the running part right. I'm guessing that non-runners are the planners. I'm sure they do get runner input, but this was their 3rd year. Issues should be worked out by now!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Cures for the Colors 100 - The Good and the Bad!
This post is really more for me so I can remember all the stuff that worked and what didn't work so well. And maybe there is something here that you might find interesting or even possibly valuable.
While I didn't finish the full 100 miles at the "Cures for the Colors 100 mile Run" in Goldsboro, NC, I did have my best 100 mile attempt to date. 70 miles completed and I know I could have gone further without the blister issues. (See my last blog entry for my boring race report)
One thing did happen at this race! I proved to myself that I did have some mental toughness as I did continue about for about 23 miles after the blisters got bad. I knew I was doing additional damage . . . and I knew it wasn't going to just get any better, but I kept going as long as I could. My best guess is that I was at an Ivan8 or perhaps just a high Ivan7. If you're not familiar with this scale of suffering intensity, here is a link to Jonathan Savage's Wiki where he talks about his Ivan Scale! I really wanted to get to at least 75 miles, but that day it really wasn't an option. 70 was plenty!
Today is Tuesday and the blisters are now much, much better. After multiple 'openings' and soaking in epson salts things seem to be healing well. I'll try some running probably Wednesday or Thursday I'm guessing.
What went well . . .
What didn't go so well . . .
While I didn't finish the full 100 miles at the "Cures for the Colors 100 mile Run" in Goldsboro, NC, I did have my best 100 mile attempt to date. 70 miles completed and I know I could have gone further without the blister issues. (See my last blog entry for my boring race report)
One thing did happen at this race! I proved to myself that I did have some mental toughness as I did continue about for about 23 miles after the blisters got bad. I knew I was doing additional damage . . . and I knew it wasn't going to just get any better, but I kept going as long as I could. My best guess is that I was at an Ivan8 or perhaps just a high Ivan7. If you're not familiar with this scale of suffering intensity, here is a link to Jonathan Savage's Wiki where he talks about his Ivan Scale! I really wanted to get to at least 75 miles, but that day it really wasn't an option. 70 was plenty!
Today is Tuesday and the blisters are now much, much better. After multiple 'openings' and soaking in epson salts things seem to be healing well. I'll try some running probably Wednesday or Thursday I'm guessing.
What went well . . .
- The Zombie Runner Cool-off Bandana is totally awesome! If hot weather get to you like it does me, then this is a total MUST HAVE!!
- Walking the two laps in the afternoon worked out great. At the time, I was worried if I would be able to start running again when the sun got low. In some past summer runs I just couldn't get going again. But this time I didn't find it hard to start back up running again.
- Running at night is my favorite time to run. Saturday night there was no moon and one of the roads had few houses and no streetlight! I so love to turn my light off and just run! The best for sure!
- I finally got my pain medicine dosing right for me! This has been tricky to say the least. The medicine I use (Mortin) has a maximum dosage every 4 hours. So . . . here is what I did this time: when I first started feeling the need for so pain relief (this time around mile 30 or so, I took 1/2 the maximum dose. Then, 2 hours later I took another 1/2 the maximum dose. And I kept taking pills every 2 hours as long are you are peeing. If you aren't peeing . . . don't take any more pills and up your hydration intake. This worked soooo well for me! Everyone may do it this way . . . I don't know. But I did come up with this plan on my own and it sure works! And yes . . . I did talk with my doctor about this and my general medication risks before!
- I'm beginning to learn that when I start to feel myself struggling in a long run, it's usually because I need food! Gels, soup, candy . . . what ever sounds good. But I need to eat. I also drank 4 Ensure shakes. Not really sure if they were what gave me my boost or if it was the chicken noodle soup. I'm thinking it was the soup! But it's magic after I eat. 30 minutes and my energy level is back up!
- The race had a fantastic variety of fluids to choose from and this was REALLY nice! Sure they had the normal gator aid and water. But they also had Coke, Mt Dew, Apple juice, grape juice, orange juice and a ton more choices that I'm just not remembering! I totally LOVE that! Very nice!
- Desitin . . . Damn that stuff is GREAT! I'll just leave it there . . . Never an issue since I started using this before the race. And I used to have problems EVERY single race. I tried everything! But Desitin totally solves the problem.
- My Tilley Hat is absolutely perfect on a bright sunny day. I'm really surprised I see so many ball-cap style hats and so few brimmed hats. Maybe folks think they look stupid. Maybe they think the hat won't stay on well. I don't know. But these hats are awesome for running on a sunny day!
- Sharon Scott told me a tip she had heard . . . take a toothbrush and toothpaste and brush your teeth! It's amazing how great it feels to have clean teeth and a fresh mouth at 50 miles!
- My The North Face duffle bag is awesome. Okay. It is a little pricey! But I believe you could set off a stick of dynamite inside it and it would still be functional! I have the large size and it's huge! Everything can fit inside! Everything! And the neat thing is you can carry this monster like a backpack (everything is included).
What didn't go so well . . .
- The biggest problem was obviously my second set of shoes! I really believe all shoe companies are just about equal. The only things that really matter are 1) does the shape and volume of the shoe match YOUR foot, and 2) does the shoe have the features you need (cushioning, support, minimal, etc.). It's not the brand, it's the shoe! My problem was I had been buying the same shoe from the same brand for probably 15 years. And for some reason, they changed the shoe but still called it the same thing! So I bought them, took them home and ran in them . . . and then started feeling the differences. I should have just given them away. Joey Anderson was with me Saturday as I was changing the shoes and we even talked about the fact that I didn't like these shoes anymore! STUPID! I should have know better! Why take that risk?
- The food they had at the race was okay . . . but I just had trouble eating enough of it. Pizza was good, but I just had trouble getting the hot dogs down. Luckily, I did have chicken noodle soup and Ensure. But I was out by daylight Sunday morning. Had I been doing more loops I would have had issues if I couldn't talk someone into going to the store for me!!
- I needed medical help with my blisters and there was none available. On my lap where I was searching for a nurse or doctor at an aid station, whenever I ask, the station volunteers want to know if I wanted them to call for help. That was good. But I just needed help with my blisters and there was no one there to assist. Also, if the temps fell much lower there could have been hypothermia issues.
- The race needed either lap counters or a lap board. After 8-9 laps I have to struggle to remember correctly. Luckily, I had the 'Bill Keene Official 'Runners from Hell' Digital Lap Counter!' Without that I would have been screwed. What this technical device is is a over-sized ring you move from one finger (digit!) to the next as you complete a lap! It works!
- I really would benefit from an experienced crew member to help me remember stuff after 40 miles or so. Several laps I failed to replenish electrolyte pills and pain pills. I also forgot my blinker light as it got dark, I forgot to put on a long-sleeve shirt as the sun went down (and got quite chilled), I forgot to take my fleece my last two laps (when I was going to be walking so slow!). Nothing ended up being a serious problem, but it could have been if the weather had been any cooler (low was 52° that night).
- My blister treatment plan needs some serious work. While blisters have only been an issue for me twice in my running life, both times they occurred at the same place . . . the ball of my foot under the callous.
Monday, May 2, 2011
The Operation
"But you know, Joey, only ONCE in all my years of running have I ever had an issue with a blister!"
That is a short excerpt of a conversation Joey Anderson and I had as he and I walked through the mid-afternoon heat Saturday. Somehow we started talking about blisters and some of the problems he had experienced through his running years. After I said this, I should have walked off the road, found a tree and 'knocked' on it!
I was thrilled when I saw Joey's smiling face Saturday morning when I was on maybe lap 3 (5.26 mile loops for this course!). Joey had come to a family event in Goldsboro and made time for a little run/walk with me in the morning and the came back for a little over a lap in the late afternoon. Trust me . . . I gave him a lesson in slow running in the morning session and a PhD in slow walking in the afternoon! So enjoyed the time together and the mental lift it gave me!
For that afternoon lap with Joey and the one before it, I had decided to 'walk only' to avoid the 80*+ temperatures. It wasn't all that humid, but the heat was tough . . . and the course had no shade. But you deal with whatever it is that's before you. You just adjust. So I just slowed down to conserve energy. That part worked pretty good.
Joey left as the sun was getting low in the sky. As he was leaving I was changing shoes and socks, though I was not having any problems. Joey and I even talked about the shoes I was putting on. I told him how they had changed this shoe and I really didn't like it much anymore and he agreed saying they even made it heavier and stiffer. I had brought three pairs of shoes and changing shoes at ~31 miles just made sense . . . the temperatures were starting to drop some and I thought starting again with fresh shoes and socks would be a welcome re-start. I knew I didn't love these shoes, but I thought they were okay. In hindsight, it turns out changing shoes was my critical mistake. But I had no way of knowing that at the time.
The event was called "Cures for the Colors' and was a fund-raising event to support NC cancer victims. The event was primarily a relay event but there were six of us who were planning to try to complete the full 100 miles.
Here is the course:
This was the race's first year and I expected just about nothing, since it was not put on by seasoned ultra runners. But I've got to say they did a very good job! Food (hamburgers and hotdogs) , a great selection of fluids (lot's of choices!), excellent number of aid stations, nice planning for dealing with running at night on roads that weren't close! And a nice, flat course with 3 aid stations along the 5.26 mile course. I would do this race again.
After, Joey left and I had changed my shoes and socks, I decided it was time to start running / walking again. And I was really pleased about how much energy I had conserved! I felt fresh physically and mentally! So far so good! I was making good time! And mentally I was 100% there!
I had decided to try to post short update on Facebook (my first time ever doing that!). At about mile 39 I posted "It's a little hot but cooling. Spirits good. At 39" I was moving better then I ever had before at this point.
But somewhere in the mid 40s I started to notice the bottom of my left foot was getting tender. Then, a little later I was definitely hurting. I knew I had a problem.
So I stopped at the main aid station to survey the situation. And it wasn't very good . . . no . . . not good at all! Definite blisters forming under the callous on the ball of my forefoot! With my shoe off I hobbled over to the main aid station volunteers to ask for some help dealing with these blisters. But there was no EMT, nurse or doctor around. The aid station folks told me at Dr. Jim Atkins had earlier been forced to quit due to blisters. Jim was the race organizer and was also trying to finish his first 100 mile race. He and I had walked together for the lap before Joey came that afternoon. I sure hated this for Jim!
Knowing I had a serious problem developing, I decided to change shoes to my most cushioned shoes, my most cushioned socks and stop at the other aid stations to see if they had anyone that might be able to help me deal with these blisters. They didn't.
So, now back at the main aid station (now at about mile 58) I did my own surgery! Those that know me know my eyesight is not so good up close . . . and I'm not as flexible as I used to be! Okay . . . I'm not flexible AT ALL! Especially at mile 58 of a 100 mile run!! So it must have been quite the sight - me with my headlight on, trying to find the edge of a callous on the bottom of my foot where I had a chance of getting a pin in!! Many, many different pokes! And when I hit one of the right spot, it looked like I had hit oil!! A mini-! "There she blows!!" It was like there were many, many different blisters, all hiding under this one huge callous covering my whole forefoot.
So, with surgery over and shoes and socks back on, I headed out again. While every step hurt, I found I could still walk. And I even picked up the walking pace (faster walking!!) for awhile as the pain seemed to back off some. But it got bad again after maybe a mile. Pain was . . . let's just say significant. At least with my foot hurting so bad, my legs felt relatively good, all things considered!
I got that lap finished and took a nap for about 15 minutes. Decided to head out for another lap.
On my last full loop, at mile 1 1/2 or so, I saw Jimmy Ballard who was pacing a friend on his first 100 (sorry but I missed his name!). They were moving really strong! To show you how slow I was moving, they passed me again at about mile 4 or so . . . and he was on his finishing lap!
Finishing that lap, I knew I was done. But I needed 2 more miles for 70. Doing my out-and-back, the last mile returning took me 40 minutes! My decision to quit was easy. I had (or even now have) no doubts that I did the right thing in quiting. If you saw the bottom of my foot, you would understand! So at about 6:45 am I quit.
Doing the math, I certainly would not have made the 30 hour cut-off to complete the 100, even if the blister issue hadn't come. But I believe I would have been within an hour or so of it. And I believe I could have walked the remaining 30 miles. So I do feel good about this effort. But . . . still . . . a DNF is a DNF! This one is just a tad easier to swallow then Umstead . . . or maybe I'm just getting better at failing!!
Next . . . what went right and what went wrong.
Question: Why do you keep reading this?? It's not going to get any better!
That is a short excerpt of a conversation Joey Anderson and I had as he and I walked through the mid-afternoon heat Saturday. Somehow we started talking about blisters and some of the problems he had experienced through his running years. After I said this, I should have walked off the road, found a tree and 'knocked' on it!
 | |
| Just before the start. A word of prayer. The National Anthem was fabulous! |
For that afternoon lap with Joey and the one before it, I had decided to 'walk only' to avoid the 80*+ temperatures. It wasn't all that humid, but the heat was tough . . . and the course had no shade. But you deal with whatever it is that's before you. You just adjust. So I just slowed down to conserve energy. That part worked pretty good.
Joey left as the sun was getting low in the sky. As he was leaving I was changing shoes and socks, though I was not having any problems. Joey and I even talked about the shoes I was putting on. I told him how they had changed this shoe and I really didn't like it much anymore and he agreed saying they even made it heavier and stiffer. I had brought three pairs of shoes and changing shoes at ~31 miles just made sense . . . the temperatures were starting to drop some and I thought starting again with fresh shoes and socks would be a welcome re-start. I knew I didn't love these shoes, but I thought they were okay. In hindsight, it turns out changing shoes was my critical mistake. But I had no way of knowing that at the time.
The event was called "Cures for the Colors' and was a fund-raising event to support NC cancer victims. The event was primarily a relay event but there were six of us who were planning to try to complete the full 100 miles.
Here is the course:
This was the race's first year and I expected just about nothing, since it was not put on by seasoned ultra runners. But I've got to say they did a very good job! Food (hamburgers and hotdogs) , a great selection of fluids (lot's of choices!), excellent number of aid stations, nice planning for dealing with running at night on roads that weren't close! And a nice, flat course with 3 aid stations along the 5.26 mile course. I would do this race again.
 | |||||
| Joey at the end of his walk! |
I had decided to try to post short update on Facebook (my first time ever doing that!). At about mile 39 I posted "It's a little hot but cooling. Spirits good. At 39" I was moving better then I ever had before at this point.
But somewhere in the mid 40s I started to notice the bottom of my left foot was getting tender. Then, a little later I was definitely hurting. I knew I had a problem.
So I stopped at the main aid station to survey the situation. And it wasn't very good . . . no . . . not good at all! Definite blisters forming under the callous on the ball of my forefoot! With my shoe off I hobbled over to the main aid station volunteers to ask for some help dealing with these blisters. But there was no EMT, nurse or doctor around. The aid station folks told me at Dr. Jim Atkins had earlier been forced to quit due to blisters. Jim was the race organizer and was also trying to finish his first 100 mile race. He and I had walked together for the lap before Joey came that afternoon. I sure hated this for Jim!
Knowing I had a serious problem developing, I decided to change shoes to my most cushioned shoes, my most cushioned socks and stop at the other aid stations to see if they had anyone that might be able to help me deal with these blisters. They didn't.
So, now back at the main aid station (now at about mile 58) I did my own surgery! Those that know me know my eyesight is not so good up close . . . and I'm not as flexible as I used to be! Okay . . . I'm not flexible AT ALL! Especially at mile 58 of a 100 mile run!! So it must have been quite the sight - me with my headlight on, trying to find the edge of a callous on the bottom of my foot where I had a chance of getting a pin in!! Many, many different pokes! And when I hit one of the right spot, it looked like I had hit oil!! A mini-! "There she blows!!" It was like there were many, many different blisters, all hiding under this one huge callous covering my whole forefoot.
So, with surgery over and shoes and socks back on, I headed out again. While every step hurt, I found I could still walk. And I even picked up the walking pace (faster walking!!) for awhile as the pain seemed to back off some. But it got bad again after maybe a mile. Pain was . . . let's just say significant. At least with my foot hurting so bad, my legs felt relatively good, all things considered!
I got that lap finished and took a nap for about 15 minutes. Decided to head out for another lap.
On my last full loop, at mile 1 1/2 or so, I saw Jimmy Ballard who was pacing a friend on his first 100 (sorry but I missed his name!). They were moving really strong! To show you how slow I was moving, they passed me again at about mile 4 or so . . . and he was on his finishing lap!
 | |
| Toast . . . mile 70 at 6:45am. |
Doing the math, I certainly would not have made the 30 hour cut-off to complete the 100, even if the blister issue hadn't come. But I believe I would have been within an hour or so of it. And I believe I could have walked the remaining 30 miles. So I do feel good about this effort. But . . . still . . . a DNF is a DNF! This one is just a tad easier to swallow then Umstead . . . or maybe I'm just getting better at failing!!
Next . . . what went right and what went wrong.
Question: Why do you keep reading this?? It's not going to get any better!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
A feudal effort . . . but an effort none the less!
Talk about 'no pressure' races. This coming weekend's race in Goldsboro is nothing but fun! All excuses are set in stone. Lot's of reasons to not do well!
But, you never know what to expect on race day! Anything can happen . . . ANYTHING!
Legs could feel tired. But legs COULD feel strong! No possible way to predict which legs will show up Saturday. But no reason to feel defeated before I start!
I'm guessing by 20-30 miles I'll pretty much know how I'll feel. But even then, you really just don't know! The ups and down / peaks and valleys of an ultra run continue to amaze me! In 5 minutes I can go from feeling like I'm ready to die, to feeling like I could just go on forever! I've learned to NEVER make a snap decision ultra running. Be sure you go for 10 miles or so, at least!! Things change!
Here is what I hope . . .
But, like I said . . . you never know what to expect on race day! Anything can happen . . . ANYTHING! But one thing I promise . . .
I WILL have fun!
But, you never know what to expect on race day! Anything can happen . . . ANYTHING!
Legs could feel tired. But legs COULD feel strong! No possible way to predict which legs will show up Saturday. But no reason to feel defeated before I start!
I'm guessing by 20-30 miles I'll pretty much know how I'll feel. But even then, you really just don't know! The ups and down / peaks and valleys of an ultra run continue to amaze me! In 5 minutes I can go from feeling like I'm ready to die, to feeling like I could just go on forever! I've learned to NEVER make a snap decision ultra running. Be sure you go for 10 miles or so, at least!! Things change!
Here is what I hope . . .
- I get to 50 miles before I even start thinking.
- I can stay moving until at least daylight. I've never gone past 2:30 am!
- 75 miles would be awesome . . . the furthest I've ever gone. I sure would like to do that!
- If I could make it to 75 miles by 9 am . . . damn . . . I would have a chance! Rick Grey tells me that THAT should be my goal and then passion would take me in! We'll see!
But, like I said . . . you never know what to expect on race day! Anything can happen . . . ANYTHING! But one thing I promise . . .
I WILL have fun!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
When should a dream just remain a dream?
Warning to both of you readers!
This is nothing entertaining here . . . at all! Realistically, there is NO REASON to read this. I've just written it to help me sort things out. And I do believe I feel slightly better now. But seriously . . . save your time and skip this one.
-Frank
____________________________________________________________________
I can't help but be torn between two saying:
The dream has been with me now for about five years. It started in 2007 soon after becoming a member of the Mangum Track Club. Trust me . . . these folks are a REALLY bad influence on you! And it became a full-fledged goal when I paced the last lap with Cam Kelly and saw him accomplish this seemingly impossible feat. I've now tried to accomplish this twice and failed both times. So now I'm thinking about this dream. Should I try again? Or not?
For me three major questions come to mind:
I honestly do believe the answer to the first question is yes, it is possible. Men and women much older then I do this regularly. And my health is good. So this should be possible. Period.
Should I try again?
This is not quite so clear. It's a lot of work . . . and pain. And why? What is the point really.
Quite frankly I really don't like where my fitness is right now. In order to run the Umstead 100 I've spent literally months in training. My strategy was to go slow and steady. So I trained to walk every two minutes and run one. I thought this was smart. Now I'm not so sure.
Today, even on a 3 mile run, I'm finding myself walking! And when I try to run faster then normal, I get out of breath quickly. I hate to think of how long it would take me to finish a 5k right now!!
Plus, walking is now a mental habit I would need to break. Especially if I decide to move away from this 100 mile run goal. Heck, today find myself walking and there is no physical reason at all to walk! I just do it. Strange.
I honestly believe a shorter, harder run gets you to a better level of fitness then where I am right now. So, once I decide about this 100 mile goal I know I want to work to improve my speed. I did for awhile last spring/summer and results came quickly. It's not really all that hard to do. I know I can.
Simply add intervals and hills one or two days each week. And convert my long run to a shorter, but harder tempo runs. There is work to do, sure. But it's no harder then what I've been doing. Just different. And it would take way less time!
I was never really a fast runner but I wasn't the slowest runner either! My best 5k was a 20:01. Certainly not really fast, but respectable. Convert that to what I might be able to run today . . . maybe 22 or 23?? That would be a good goal to strive for probably.
Should keep on with my current strategy or re-train to use a different strategy?
So . . . IF (and I do mean 'IF') I do decide to try another 100, the remaining question is what is the best strategy for me so that I maximize my chances of achieving this dream? Is it a continuation of my current strategy, or should I change my approach and re-develop my fitness to support a new strategy?
To answer this I have to know why I failed in the past. Realistically you never know for sure. But I believe I pretty much understand . . .
My first failure was not at an official 'race.' Instead, I staged my own attempt. My failure was likely a combination of several factors . . . 1) insufficient miles of preparation, 2) the day I chose to run was the first really hot day of the year, 3) I didn't think through a good approach for a crew and pacers. These three things doomed my first attempt. Notice I didn't say that trying this alone was a failure factor. I run alone a lot. Even at the Umstead 100 I was running alone most of the time. It is nice seeing others while you run, but I'm not sure it is a real requirement.
My Umstead 100 failure was a combination of two factors . . . 1) a mental collapse and 2) dealing this the physical pain.
The mental collapse began when I realized that I was moving too slow to finish within the 30 hour time cutoff. I passed 50 miles at 14:51. Maybe I was just having a not so good day. Maybe the hills got to me. No matter . . . the second 50 miles just couldn't happen in another 15 hours! While I had taken two bathroom breaks and two clothing changes during the first 50, I had slowed to only infrequent run intervals. My last 12.5 miles took me 4 hours and 50 minutes and I walked it all!!! That's just over a 23 minute per mile pace . . . only a moderate walking pace!
And I was hurting pretty bad. Its hard to explain the pain. But trust me . . . it hurts a lot! I do know I could have kept going and now I'm wishing I had. For sure I had at least one more lap )12.5 miles) in me . . . and possibly two. But I'm questioning if I really could have finished the full 100. I'm not so sure I could have. Even with an unlimited cutoff.
But if I trained to run faster, realistically how much would this help?
More information
One of my problems is I'm not sure I can just 'give up' this goal as long as I feel like there is a chance I might be able to do it. But in some ways that exactly what I want to do. Let's face it, my running is excessive and compulsive. I know it. But right now, I just don't have anything to take it's place!
I'm mulling all this over . . . and I guess I need to decide pretty soon if I'm going to try this again this spring.
This is nothing entertaining here . . . at all! Realistically, there is NO REASON to read this. I've just written it to help me sort things out. And I do believe I feel slightly better now. But seriously . . . save your time and skip this one.
-Frank
____________________________________________________________________
I can't help but be torn between two saying:
- Never, ever give up! and
- Some things are just not to be!
The dream has been with me now for about five years. It started in 2007 soon after becoming a member of the Mangum Track Club. Trust me . . . these folks are a REALLY bad influence on you! And it became a full-fledged goal when I paced the last lap with Cam Kelly and saw him accomplish this seemingly impossible feat. I've now tried to accomplish this twice and failed both times. So now I'm thinking about this dream. Should I try again? Or not?
For me three major questions come to mind:
- Can I realistically do this?
- Should I try again?
- Should keep on with my current strategy or re-train to use a different strategy?
I honestly do believe the answer to the first question is yes, it is possible. Men and women much older then I do this regularly. And my health is good. So this should be possible. Period.
Should I try again?
This is not quite so clear. It's a lot of work . . . and pain. And why? What is the point really.
Quite frankly I really don't like where my fitness is right now. In order to run the Umstead 100 I've spent literally months in training. My strategy was to go slow and steady. So I trained to walk every two minutes and run one. I thought this was smart. Now I'm not so sure.
Today, even on a 3 mile run, I'm finding myself walking! And when I try to run faster then normal, I get out of breath quickly. I hate to think of how long it would take me to finish a 5k right now!!
Plus, walking is now a mental habit I would need to break. Especially if I decide to move away from this 100 mile run goal. Heck, today find myself walking and there is no physical reason at all to walk! I just do it. Strange.
I honestly believe a shorter, harder run gets you to a better level of fitness then where I am right now. So, once I decide about this 100 mile goal I know I want to work to improve my speed. I did for awhile last spring/summer and results came quickly. It's not really all that hard to do. I know I can.
Simply add intervals and hills one or two days each week. And convert my long run to a shorter, but harder tempo runs. There is work to do, sure. But it's no harder then what I've been doing. Just different. And it would take way less time!
I was never really a fast runner but I wasn't the slowest runner either! My best 5k was a 20:01. Certainly not really fast, but respectable. Convert that to what I might be able to run today . . . maybe 22 or 23?? That would be a good goal to strive for probably.
Should keep on with my current strategy or re-train to use a different strategy?
So . . . IF (and I do mean 'IF') I do decide to try another 100, the remaining question is what is the best strategy for me so that I maximize my chances of achieving this dream? Is it a continuation of my current strategy, or should I change my approach and re-develop my fitness to support a new strategy?
To answer this I have to know why I failed in the past. Realistically you never know for sure. But I believe I pretty much understand . . .
My first failure was not at an official 'race.' Instead, I staged my own attempt. My failure was likely a combination of several factors . . . 1) insufficient miles of preparation, 2) the day I chose to run was the first really hot day of the year, 3) I didn't think through a good approach for a crew and pacers. These three things doomed my first attempt. Notice I didn't say that trying this alone was a failure factor. I run alone a lot. Even at the Umstead 100 I was running alone most of the time. It is nice seeing others while you run, but I'm not sure it is a real requirement.
My Umstead 100 failure was a combination of two factors . . . 1) a mental collapse and 2) dealing this the physical pain.
The mental collapse began when I realized that I was moving too slow to finish within the 30 hour time cutoff. I passed 50 miles at 14:51. Maybe I was just having a not so good day. Maybe the hills got to me. No matter . . . the second 50 miles just couldn't happen in another 15 hours! While I had taken two bathroom breaks and two clothing changes during the first 50, I had slowed to only infrequent run intervals. My last 12.5 miles took me 4 hours and 50 minutes and I walked it all!!! That's just over a 23 minute per mile pace . . . only a moderate walking pace!
And I was hurting pretty bad. Its hard to explain the pain. But trust me . . . it hurts a lot! I do know I could have kept going and now I'm wishing I had. For sure I had at least one more lap )12.5 miles) in me . . . and possibly two. But I'm questioning if I really could have finished the full 100. I'm not so sure I could have. Even with an unlimited cutoff.
But if I trained to run faster, realistically how much would this help?
More information
- In some ways I could look at my Umstead 100 failure as a training run.
- Two weekends after Umstead, I traveled to the Va 24 Hour race and completed 56 miles and I knew FOR SURE I could have gone further if needed to assure that our Team Awesome won the ultra relay. (We didn't . . . Team Awesome finished with over 800 miles . . . almost 400 miles more then our nearest competitor!). I walked from about 30 miles on . . . I believe due to being tired from Umstead, but I kept a good walking pace. So this, too, could be considered another training run.
One of my problems is I'm not sure I can just 'give up' this goal as long as I feel like there is a chance I might be able to do it. But in some ways that exactly what I want to do. Let's face it, my running is excessive and compulsive. I know it. But right now, I just don't have anything to take it's place!
I'm mulling all this over . . . and I guess I need to decide pretty soon if I'm going to try this again this spring.
Monday, April 18, 2011
I love 24-hour races!
If you are a marathon runner or an ultra runner and have never participated in 24-hour race, you've missed a really fun format. There is no easier way to run your first ultra then at a race like this! Fun and low-key. The only pressure is the pressure you put on yourself!
This last weekend I traveled to Hampton, VA to participate in Happy Pace Races (that's right That is REALLY their name!) Virginia 24-hour Race at Sandy Bottoms Park. The race is put on as a way to raise money for the American Cancer Society and, unlike many races that support a charity, this one really cares about it's mission. Very cool in that area. But realistically this race is really more of a 'fat ass' race then a real 24-hour event. Everyone brings their own support and aide. But the race did get some surprise food and drink which was nice, and they did have volunteers that kept up with each runners laps.
The course was a 3.75 mile route through Sandy Bottoms Park, a park of land reclaimed from trash dumps and interstate road construction residue. Very nice place when you consider what it was like not so long ago! For the race we left the start / finish, ran maybe a 1.5 miles next to Interstate 64, left turn, go 1/4 mile, another left between a drainage ditch and the woods. Follow that for a mile or so. Big incentive here was it smelled terrible so you wanted to get by this part just as soon as you could!
Another left through the woods, another left beside a marsh back to the trail beside the interstate, right turn and 3/4 mile back to the start / finish. We did pass some beautiful marsh areas. The trail was for the most part a gravel road.
But the neat part of this event is the team competitions! This added a whole new dimension to a 24-hour race. A group of runners banning together for common support and results. I loved this and hope other 24-hour race will pick up on this. Competition was three ways: 1) individual runners, 2) a traditional relay where one runner passes the baton to the next runner and 3) something they called an ultra team . . . where each team member runs the full race and team member distances are added together!
Our team, Team Awesome, was put together by Shannon McGinn. This 12-person team was a team of 11 really talented runners . . . folks who have won 100 mile ultra event or have been solid 100 mile performers. Heck, one even participated in this year's Barkley!! Oh yea . . . and the last team member has a solid history if minimal performances in a variety of race distances, never performing at a level that could even be deem average. Yes . . . that's me . . . the team excuse. For more on that, see my previous post.
But Saturday was a new day . . . and another chance for something really good to happen . . . it didn't! By the time I had completed four laps (~15 miles) I knew my day was going to be a struggle. My legs just got tired. Period. No doubt I had not fully recovered from my Umstead 100 failed attempt.
So quite early in the race I knew this was going to be a hard day! And it was. After about mile 35 I don't believe I ran a step. Okay 'peanut gallery' . . . I know I don't run all that much anyway!! But this was not pretty . . . I just did what I had to do. But this really wasn't cause for concern . . . after all I was just becoming a better 'team excuse!'
For the first half of the day, the class of the field was Sabrina Moran (another Team Awesome member!) Sabrina lead the race for 13 hours until she had to stop due to some painful toenail issues. Following her was Jonathan Savage. But when the rains came in the evening Jonathan had to quit due to his weird skin disease. Bummer, since he was running strong and had saved plenty of energy for the full 24 hours. Sabrina ended her day with 82.5 miles, Jonathan ended his with just a little less at 78.75 miles.
Shannon McGinn essentially died at about mile 65 or so when the torrential rains, lightning and wind hit at maybe 8:30 or so. Those of you that know me well, know how much I love running in a storm! And I had a GREAT storm to run in Saturday night! Did about 2 laps in this and loved every second! Bet we had 4 inches of rain and the trails became creeks! Great to splash through! Totally soaked!
I was bound and determined to finish 14 laps (a double marathon) and I had 13 complete when the rains stopped and the full moon came out! This just keeps getting better! I LOVE running at night (as long as I can stay awake!). Plus, I still had the mud puddles to splash through!
So Shannon, Jim Plant, Amy Schimmel (all Team Awesome members!) joined me as we all headed out for another lap. Amy and Jim pulled ahead, but Shannon and I just hung together, walking the lap in darkness. Oddly, Shannon shares my love of not using a light unless you absolutely have to! About the mud puddles . . . not so much! Together, on that lap we solved at least 1/2 of the world's problems! Very fun for me to get to know Shannon a little better. Super lady!
When we finished that lap, Team Awesome got together to try and decide if we needed more laps or not. Cheryl Lager, our team member who had won last year's race with over 100 miles, wanted to finish 75 miles and needed one more lap . . . so she headed back out. Shannon needed two more for 75 and was planning to head out after a little rest. Amy Schimmel was out finishing her lap 14 and Jimbo had already done 14, but went out with Amy anyway! Such a nice, fun guy! Ray Krolewicz and Tom Gabell had taken a snooze during the storms and had just come out, refreshed, to add more laps! Not sure where these two guys ended up but you can bet with some serious miles!
Jessi Kennedy and Dave Lettieri had done a ton of miles each (Dave 60 miles and Jessi I'm not sure about) and had already headed back to NJ. Jessi had had a tough day with some back issues. So sorry Jessi! But I sure enjoyed our lap together! Not often I get to 'run' with the frickin' overall winner of a 100 mile race!
Alanna Garrison-Glast completed 52.5 miles when all was said and done. I didn't get to spend all that much time with Alanna . . . she just runs too fast! But this lady has the unique capacity to brighten anyone's day with her laugh and wonderful spirit!
Me . . . well I tapped out at 14 laps when the team decided we were good. 52.5 miles. I do think I had a few more laps in me, but had little desire to do more unless it was necessary! I admit it . . . I'm a wimp!
When I left, Shannon and Alanna were sitting in camp chairs with warm jackets on and blankets covering them. Shannon, a cancer survivor herself, wanted to finish 2 more laps for a 75 mile day. But after I left, Shannon, with new life, rose from the apparent dead and finishes 83.5 miles . . . the overall female winner for the event! WOW! Folks . . . to come back like that after mentally checking out is unbelievable! What a TOUGH chick!
Three heroes for the days were Charles West, Sid Dos Santos and Todd Glast. These guys served as crew for all 12 of us!! Hard work all day and all night! I hope I get a chance to return the favor! Thanks to each of you! Seriously . . . you guys ROCKED!!
Such a fun time and I loved meeting and sort of getting to know these super athletes and just good folks!
Turns out the team was right! The 11 team members of Team Awesome set a new race record by themselves! They didn't even need 'an excuse!!' But 'the excuse' had a blast anyway!! And 'the excuse' was ready if needed!
This last weekend I traveled to Hampton, VA to participate in Happy Pace Races (that's right That is REALLY their name!) Virginia 24-hour Race at Sandy Bottoms Park. The race is put on as a way to raise money for the American Cancer Society and, unlike many races that support a charity, this one really cares about it's mission. Very cool in that area. But realistically this race is really more of a 'fat ass' race then a real 24-hour event. Everyone brings their own support and aide. But the race did get some surprise food and drink which was nice, and they did have volunteers that kept up with each runners laps.
Another left through the woods, another left beside a marsh back to the trail beside the interstate, right turn and 3/4 mile back to the start / finish. We did pass some beautiful marsh areas. The trail was for the most part a gravel road.
But the neat part of this event is the team competitions! This added a whole new dimension to a 24-hour race. A group of runners banning together for common support and results. I loved this and hope other 24-hour race will pick up on this. Competition was three ways: 1) individual runners, 2) a traditional relay where one runner passes the baton to the next runner and 3) something they called an ultra team . . . where each team member runs the full race and team member distances are added together!
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| Alanna's Super Team banner!!! |
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| Sabrina, Shannon, Jessi, Jonathon, Tom and Dave . . . all one the front row! Go Team Awesome! |
So quite early in the race I knew this was going to be a hard day! And it was. After about mile 35 I don't believe I ran a step. Okay 'peanut gallery' . . . I know I don't run all that much anyway!! But this was not pretty . . . I just did what I had to do. But this really wasn't cause for concern . . . after all I was just becoming a better 'team excuse!'
For the first half of the day, the class of the field was Sabrina Moran (another Team Awesome member!) Sabrina lead the race for 13 hours until she had to stop due to some painful toenail issues. Following her was Jonathan Savage. But when the rains came in the evening Jonathan had to quit due to his weird skin disease. Bummer, since he was running strong and had saved plenty of energy for the full 24 hours. Sabrina ended her day with 82.5 miles, Jonathan ended his with just a little less at 78.75 miles.
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| Shannon before the race. |
I was bound and determined to finish 14 laps (a double marathon) and I had 13 complete when the rains stopped and the full moon came out! This just keeps getting better! I LOVE running at night (as long as I can stay awake!). Plus, I still had the mud puddles to splash through!
So Shannon, Jim Plant, Amy Schimmel (all Team Awesome members!) joined me as we all headed out for another lap. Amy and Jim pulled ahead, but Shannon and I just hung together, walking the lap in darkness. Oddly, Shannon shares my love of not using a light unless you absolutely have to! About the mud puddles . . . not so much! Together, on that lap we solved at least 1/2 of the world's problems! Very fun for me to get to know Shannon a little better. Super lady!
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| Ray . . . photographer, master ultra legend and nice guy! |
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| Sabrina Moran on the left Tom Gabell on the right. One was NOT paying attention at the briefing! |
Jessi Kennedy and Dave Lettieri had done a ton of miles each (Dave 60 miles and Jessi I'm not sure about) and had already headed back to NJ. Jessi had had a tough day with some back issues. So sorry Jessi! But I sure enjoyed our lap together! Not often I get to 'run' with the frickin' overall winner of a 100 mile race!
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| Jessi, Alanna and Dave paying attention at the briefing! |
Me . . . well I tapped out at 14 laps when the team decided we were good. 52.5 miles. I do think I had a few more laps in me, but had little desire to do more unless it was necessary! I admit it . . . I'm a wimp!
When I left, Shannon and Alanna were sitting in camp chairs with warm jackets on and blankets covering them. Shannon, a cancer survivor herself, wanted to finish 2 more laps for a 75 mile day. But after I left, Shannon, with new life, rose from the apparent dead and finishes 83.5 miles . . . the overall female winner for the event! WOW! Folks . . . to come back like that after mentally checking out is unbelievable! What a TOUGH chick!
Three heroes for the days were Charles West, Sid Dos Santos and Todd Glast. These guys served as crew for all 12 of us!! Hard work all day and all night! I hope I get a chance to return the favor! Thanks to each of you! Seriously . . . you guys ROCKED!!
Such a fun time and I loved meeting and sort of getting to know these super athletes and just good folks!
Turns out the team was right! The 11 team members of Team Awesome set a new race record by themselves! They didn't even need 'an excuse!!' But 'the excuse' had a blast anyway!! And 'the excuse' was ready if needed!
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About Me
- Frank Lilley
- Littleton, North Carolina
- World's Slowest Runner . . . well, at least in contention for the honor. Just your average "below average" runner.
