Boogie Beat Down - 2012 version

Beginning 2008 I started going to the Bethel Hill Moonlight Boogie.  The first year I went with no real expectations or goals other than to see what this race was all about.  So many friends just loved this race, so I decided to go and see it for myself.

I didn't have my blog then, and I didn't write any sort of race report . . . but the afternoon/evening is etched in my mind.  Three things: HEAT, HILL and HUMIDITY.  It was hell on earth.  I did what most Boogie veterans call the 'Baby Boogie' . . . only the marathon (the full Boogie is a 50 miler!) That afternoon it was so hot and humid it was just unbelievable.  97° at the start if I remember correctly.  Janet Smith and I had decided to run this thing together . . . both of us had heard all the stories and were quite terrified of the race.  And Boogie didn't disappoint!  Just at dark the first thunderstorm hit . . . then another about midnight.  The rain cooled the temps but the humidity went to 100%.  Lightning everywhere.  Bad blisters from all the rain.  Finally finished . . . slowest marathon of my life (and even at that point I had some slow ones!).  I had NEVER been so happy to see a finish line in my life!

And ever year since, I have returned to Boogie.  And ever year Boogie beats me down.  In 2011 I finally decided to try the 'Full Boogie' and that turned into one of the hardest finishes I've ever had and one of the few races I SERIOUSLY considered DNF-ing (DFN = Did Not Finish for you non-runner readers . . . all the other DNFs I've had were either 100 milers or one race where I missed the time cut-off.).  I was DFL . . . (That stands for 'Dead Fuckin' Last'!).

So this year I showed some sense and backed back up to the 'Baby Boogie' . . . more my speed!  And I thought it was going to be a cake-walk this year!  At the start of the race the temperature was only 81° and the humidity was LOW!  So instead of HEAT, HILLS and HUMIDITY . . . all we had was HILLS . . . How hard could that it be?

Plus . . . I had decided that this year was the year to intentionally walk the distance.  Okay . . . I'm a wimp!  But I decided virtually no running!  So this year I didn't experience the physical Boogie beat down . . . but I did suffer the mental beat down.

Other runners don't care.  And EVERYONE is supportive of anybody out there trying.  Runners are amazing like that.  And Boogie runners and Mangum Track Club (MTC) runners are unusually supportive.

But I'm a RUNNER.  I've always been a runner.  Since 1975 I've run.  10k . . . then 5k.  Started trail running in 1976.  First marathon in 1982.  I AM a runner.

Sure I've walked.  Many times.  Sometimes when I'm tired.  Sometimes when I'm hurt.  And many time a walking interval is planned.  I usually walk hills in longer races.  But usually I run too!

This year's Boogie was the second race where I walked it all.  The first was the VA 24 Hour race a few months ago.  Walking at that event was necessary to maximize the distance the team needed me to do.  So I was okay with that.  But this was only a marathon.

Intellectually, I know it doesn't matter.  Being out there  is way better than staying at home doing nothing.  Plus, it's simply GREAT to see all my MTC/running friends and acquaintances!  These folks are so inspirational!  And so supportive.  Being with them is like getting free drugs or something! 

How can you not just love these people??  Most are certifiably crazy.  Each is a totally unique character.  And they are all fierce competitors and supportive friends.  Each and every one has a kind work for every person they see.  And there are many many more . . . just like these!

But when I only walk I just don't personally feel fulfilled.

So I want to go to races . . . and not just to volunteer but as a participant.  But I don't want to 'just walk' these races.  Hopefully I'll heal up and everything will be fine.

No matter . . . Boogie is an awesome race that everyone needs to try.  I mean, we all get a little 'full of ourselves' from time to time.  Everyone needs a race that will bring them back to reality!  Everyone needs a 'beat down' at least once a year.  And Boogie is mine!

Boogie Week

Well . . . this week leads to my very favorite race of the year . . . the Bethel Hill Moonlight Boogie (aka 'The Boogie').
Every year this has been one hard race.  Last year I attempted the "Full Boogie" (50 miles).  I finished DFL (and some might say I really didn't finish at all since I was past the cut-off!).  But still loved it.  It was HOT!  It was HUMID! And it was HILLY . . . as always!  Other years I've done the "Baby Boogie" - 26 miles of the same HEAT, HUMIDITY and HILLS!!  In all the years I've done this race the coolest it has ever been at the start (6 PM) was last year's 94°!  Usually its warmer then that!
That is just what The Boogie is . . . But this year it looks like things will be WAY different!

The weather forecast this year says Saturday's high temperature will be 81°.  WHAT??  81°!!  You've got to be kidding me!

No HEAT!  No HUMIDITY!  Only the hills remain . . .

Starting down Bethel Hill

Yesterday, I sent this e-mail to Doug "Boogieman" Dawkins (Race Director) -

"Are you going to cancel Boogie this year due to the predicted terrible weather?   . . . Cloudy with some sun . . . 81° high.

This is going to TOTALLY spoil the Boogie reputation if we have it!!!"

Doug's response . . .

"No, but long sleeves, gloves and knit headgear may be an option."

So . . . if Doug insists on having the race as scheduled I guess I'll still go.  It's always fun to see everyone.  Boogie is almost like an annual clan meeting that every family member must attend!  But is just won't be the same this year.

Maybe there will be more snakes than usual . . .

. . . and so it was done.

Yesterday was the Ellerbe Springs Marathon Re-Run . . . quite an historic event. 

As expected . . . it was hot and tough.  The Ellerbe Springs Marathon is always tough.

But this years re-run was especially cool in two ways: 1) we ran what will probably be the new, Ellerbe Springs marathon course (the Ellerbe Springs Inn has now closed and race headquarters will move). 2) But the BEST thing was that the 20-30 folks running yesterday in Ellerbe, NC were joined by MTC military members serving our country in other locations:  5 Afghanistan sites plus Qatarand Kuwait!!  At each location they staged their own version of the Ellerbe Springs marathon . . . complete with Ellerbe Marathon medals!  I can't tell you how many times I thought about this during my day.  I really felt like I was a part of something very special.

From Camp Arifjan, Kuwait

Here are more pictures from our military runners in Kuwait.

I drove to Ellerbe Friday afternoon, set up my hammock and then went to meet Charles West and Mike Day for  pre-race dinner.  Mike was running Doug "Boogieman" Dawkin's first every May Madness 50k while I was doing the marathon.  Both MTC events and both withing a couple of miles of each other!

Camped the night before at the Community Center.  Tim Preble and Will LeMieux were both there and we swapped lies for an hour or so before I headed to my hammock.  I always sleep so good in that hammock!


This may surprise some of you but I a slow runner!  And quite honestly I've recently turned more into a moderate paced walker!  So, with that in mind I started my marathon just as it started getting light (about 5:45am).  Brazenly, I lined up on the front line at the start!!

My plan for the day was to run some of the downs but walk the vast majority of the marathon.  Turns out I probably ran about 3 miles and walked everything else.

Surprisingly, I got passed by 4 runners at about mile 4-5 I believe!  Stephanie Carter, Don Dees and two folks I didn't know.  Thank God they had started early too! (Race was supposed to start at 8 am!).  No real chance to talk much.  They stopped for water so I passed them back . . . but that didn't last long!

The new course pretty much follows the old course except missing the part to and from the Inn.  To compensate they  (that is Jerry Lindstrand) added a few more and bigger hills on a new road called Green Road).  The things about this course is there are no flat areas - you are either going up or down.  And some of the hills rival Bethel Hill in my mind . . . long and steep!  Tamera Hardee suggested the race should be called HELLerbe or HILLerbe!  PERFECT!!  And after 9 am there was virtually no more shade!  Brutal on a 90° sunny day!  At Boogie it might be 95-100+° at the start but the sun goes down soon.  Here the temperatures just keep climbing all day long!  Both are hard.

As I recall, it was at about mile 5 when my hip started complaining.  By mile 9 it was toast.  The cant of the road on the turns and the heavily crowned parts just reeked havoc on my hip.  So from mile 9 to 26 I just suffered . . . it never let up.  I didn't run a step after mile 9.  The good news is that I didn't do any damage to it!  Today there are no lingering ill effects.  But this was a painful experience.

The real saviors of the day were Lee Watson, Will LeMieux and his friend.  These folks were our roving aid stations!  Fluids, snacks and encouragement all day long.  There is really something amazing about great people like these who give up a day in their life to make a day in YOUR life better!  Race volunteers are just awesome!  And these were some of the best!  Handling 40 runners for 26 miles in hot temperatures is HARD!  Thanks folks!

Will and his friend!

Lee Watson

Brian Kistner was the first runner to pass me . . . believe I was at about mile 13.5 or so.  He was absolutely FLYING.  It was actually quite awhile until runners 2 and 3 passed me at about mile 18.  #3 was Tom Gabell who slowed down and walked with me for 200 yards or so.  And then at about mile 19-20 lots of people started passed by.  Everyone was very social and seemed pleased to have an excuse to walk a short while with me!!  It was great to have a whole bunch of quick catch-ups!

By mile 10 the sun was high and no clouds!  Burning hot!  No shade to speak of.  Temps got into the low 90s by when I finished.  Everyone suffered!  It was brutal.  We just haven't had much hot weather to help us adjust.  This wouldn't have been so bad if it were July or August when we have had time to acclimated some.

Mark had put out fluids for folks but I was using my Nathan with a 2 liters capacity so I didn't need to re-fill until mile 20.  I was almost out so I filled up to a little more than 1 liter, trying to leave plenty for runners coming up.  The water was super hot by being in a clear plastic container in the direct sun!  But water is water!  Heck . . . once I swallowed it, my body would cool it off!!  Seriously!!  I thought this would be plenty to get me to the end . . . wrong! 

Besides the water, I needed three more bottles of Gatoraide from Will and Lee.  Without those I don't know what I would have done . . . just walked up to a house and beg water I guess!  I started taking Salt Sticks at 7 am and took one every hour.  Only once did I start cramping up so I took one extra when that happened.  Post race I had another Gatoraide and then 2 Buds!  Two huge fountain drinks driving home and then 97 oz of water before I returned to a normal colored piss!

At about mile 21-22 Jerry Lindstrand pulled up beside me and started walking.  I have heard so much about Jerry, but I had never had the opportunity to actually meet him!  Jerry announced the he was DONE running and ask if he could walk in with me!  Hell yea!  Just an awesome time getting to know Jerry.  I found out that he was the one that made the course changes for the new start / finish.  I cussed him awhile for that!  What a great guy!  The folks around Rockingham / Ellerbe all have nicknames.  Jerry is "Godfather" plus a new one I gave him at about mile 24 when we were talking about what a nice course this was!! After 200 stories by each of us, we finally finished!

I found Mark Long inside the Community Center (air conditioned!) and got my medal.  It's frickin' huge!  Look at the picture of the Kuwait finishers to see the medal . . . they got exactly what we got!  So many fun folks to spend some time with were hanging around:  Charles and Blanca Akers, Rosemary Baxley, Jerry Lindstrand, Will LeMieux, Lee Watson, Mark Long, Mike Walsh and others! 

Plus there was a "friend" of Charles' who ran this as his very first marathon!  Can't believe he listened to Charles . . . bet he won't make that mistake ever again!!  And there was a cute puppy that just sort of adopted everyone!  So cute!  He was Donnie Richardson's dog (Donnie lives right on the corner and must be the president of the community center we were using as headquarters.)  If that pup hadn't been Donnie's dog I'm SURE he would have gone home with someone!  Maybe even me!

I wish I could have stayed longer, but I had a 3 1/2 hour drive and dogs waiting on me.

I'm thinking that maybe my hip needs more time.  Then, I need to re-start running.  Build up slowly.  And lose some of this excess weight.  We'll just have to see how it all goes.  But I'm glad this one is DONE!  Now to decide about Boogie in two weeks.

Bright Night 5k

Not sure exactly why I signed up for this race.  A 2 hour drive each way and the race started at 7pm.  Ugh!  But several friends were going so I knew it would be fun.  Still . . . that's a long way to drive for a 5k!  But, on the positive side, Greenville, NC is pretty flat . . . maybe a relative good time was possible.

Hip acted up during the week but everything felt fine Saturday, so I was in.

Got to Greenville early so I could go by Overton's for a little shopping!  Connie wanted a big island float and I wanted to see what they had.  Plus, I planned to eat early and be ready to run at 7!

Lots of RMEC folks were there and we all had a chance to catch up before the start.  Weather was awesome!  Not too hot . . . no wind . . . really couldn't have been better.

I decided to hang right behind Amber Shingleton and Margaret Bentley for the start.  Initially they went out a little too strong for me, but oddly I caught them pretty soon!  (Not that they were slowing but I ran the tangents while they were being more social!)  Maybe at the 1/2 mile point I passed them but was thinking this was a huge mistake.

Lot's of turns on this course, but not bothersome really.  I intentionally wasn't looking at my watch, so I had no idea what my first mile split was.  But soon after the first aid station, my hip started tightening up some.  I just eased off some and soon the tightness eased off and things returned to normal. 

At about the 1 1/2 mile point I saw Caroline Forrester just up ahead.  I slowly gained on her and soon passed.  But that didn't last long.  Soon she eased back in front of me and I never was able to pass her back.  By the end of the race she had pulled maybe 30 seconds ahead!  She was running really smart . . . cutting the tangents and all.  Very relaxed.  Great job Caroline! 

Then, Margaret Bentley passed me just before the 3 mile mark and just kept pulling ahead!  Margaret is running well!  Look out Hinson Lake!  Margaret is going to be ready for you this year!

Soon after Caroline passed me I walked maybe 15 yards and then started back running.  Had to walk once more before the end and I was dead on my feet!  I listened to the crowd at the last turn and knew that there was nobody lurking and ready to pass me at the end.  Thank God!  Cause I had noting left to hold them off! 

My time was a blazing 31:36 . . . that's a 10:13 pace.  That's hard with I think about what I used to run a 5k in . . . but still . . . I had nothing left at the end, so I did my best that night.  One of the best things about this race is where they have the awards ceremony!  There is a huge patio at Moe's where they have live music and beer for sale!  I was right at home!

Oh . . . and my run was good enough to get 1st place in my age group . . . and no . . . there were three other guys out there.  I actually BEAT some people!  :-)

I'm not giving up . . .

I still believe that I'm going to be able to run pain-free eventually.  I'm not giving up on that goal.  But while I struggle with my hip issues, my fitness just continues to decline.  As an example I ran a 5k last Saturday . . . pain free . . . and slow!.  Took Sunday off.  Then I ran Monday - only finished 2 miles and had to limp home.  And I haven't run since as the hip wasn't happy.  Running 5 miles in seven days just doesn't get it!

So I need to cross-train.  So . . .what do I do?

Swimming

Now that the weather is getting warmer, I can start to swim regularly.  But I'm guessing my hip would like me to swim.  During an earlier injury a bunch of years ago, I did swim.  I got to where I was swimming about a mile a day but I never really enjoyed it.  I never looked forward to a swim.  And there were never folks to just chat with as you swam.  Plus, I just never got the "post-exercise euphoria feeling . . .  that wonderful feeling of exhaustion that we all love! 

So I'm really starting to think about other alternatives . . . and the first one that comes to mind is biking.

 Biking

So many friends simply LOVE biking!  So I know it must be a great alternative.  But I've got reservations.  Some are really just fears . . . perhaps overblown . . . perhaps not.  Some are concerns that I have.  So let's lay these out:

Safety - Road biking just seems dangerous.  If there weren't any cars it wouldn't be so bad.  Cars cause problems . . . and they always win in any "bike - car encounter."  So many biking friends have had serious crashes.  Luckily none have died.  Maybe I'm too fearful of this.  But it just seems risky.  I know how I feel as a driver coming up behind a biker or a line of bikers.  I'm not sure if they know I'm there or not . . . and when I'm passing them I worry that another car will come . . . so I slow down to a relative crawl while I wait for a straight stretch.  I worry many drivers just don't always do this!  When you're running, you're facing the traffic and you have a much better chance of getting out of the way.

Mountain biking seems much more safe.  You may crash and break a bone or get cut up, but the chances of dying seem small unless you do that really crazy riding . . . which I would never do since I'm afraid of heights!  But I've tried mountain biking.  My big problem is that to my knowledge there just aren't many good trail riding spots near me.

Cost - Road biking is EXPENSIVE!  Bikes just cost a small fortune to me . . . and a really nice bike costs 2 fortunes!!  And then all the gear you need.  Several thousand dollars!  And then what if it turns out you don't like it!  And I don't have a job right now!  Well, I guess you could either buy a "cheap" bike or perhaps a used one to try biking out.  But I hear 1) it is important to get a bike that is 'fitted' to you, and 2) you'll miss the real enjoyment of you have a poor quality bike and thus won't keep riding. 

• Here are some cost estimates. These may not even be close . . . . I really don't know much at all about bike costs.

	Biking
		Cheap	Quality?
	Bike	1,000	2,500
	Helmet	40	40
	Shoes	120	120
	Other clothing	200	200
	Annual maintenance	200	200
	GPS	150	250
		1,710	3,310
	Running
		Cheap	Quality
	Bike	-	-
	Helmet	-	-
	Shoes	200	200
	Other clothing	100	150
	Annual maintenance	-	-
	GPS	-	-
		300	350

•   All in all this looks like a REALLY expensive gamble to me!

Repairs - I know NOTHING about bike repairs and adjustments.  And I hear there are a lot  needed.  So here come another, additional cost!!  And hassle - since there are no bike repair shops near where I live.
 
Pain - That's right.  Bike seats just aren't comfortable . . . AT ALL.  Bikers tell me you get use to it but when I tried mountain biking 15 years ago I NEVER got to where it didn't hurt.  NEVER!
 
Clothing - Okay . . . this is embarrassing and may offend some folks . . . but the biking clothes just look silly to me.  All the jerseys with bike company logos, etc. as if the rider was a sponsored rider!  Now, I do understand the need for tight-fitting clothes and I'm okay with that!  But for me, I'm afraid I'll look like a "whale on a bike!" I might get harpooned out there!
 
How would my hip do biking?  How do I know this won't hurt my hip as much as running? Maybe even more.

Am I wrong in how I'm thinking about biking?  Weighing all this: Biking just doesn't seems to be right for me.  

I need some kind of cross-training . . . something!  Any ideas?  Remember: I live in rural NC!

Knock, knock, knock . . .

Knock, knock, knock . . .

Just a minute . . . I’ll be right there!

Knock, Knock, Knock . . .

Hold on . . . I said I'll be there is a minute!  Who is it?

It’s me.

Who is “me?”  Just a minute . . . let me get this door open.  Okay . . .  let’s start this again!  Who are you?

It’s me . . . you know . . . your body and my buddy your brain! 

Oh yea . . . I remember you two.  What on earth do you two guys want?

We’ve come by to talk with you.  Quite frankly we’re not too please with you recently.  You’ve been ignoring us.

What do you mean “I’ve been ignoring you.”   That’s just not true.  I’ve listened to every single thing you've ever told me.

Yea . . . right!

It is right.  I listen.  It’s just that I learned a long time ago that you two don’t always tell me the truth.

What the heck do you mean?  Are you calling us liars?

Well . . . I guess I am . . . YOU TWO ARE A LIAR!

We tell you the truth!

Yea . . . when have you told me the truth?

Remember when your knees started locking up and hurting a ton?  That wasn’t a lie.  Your knees needed work.  And how about your hip?  Wasn’t it us that started nagging at you telling you that you had real issues that needed addressing?

Okay . . . I’ll give you all that.  Those weren’t lies!  But you still lie to me all the time.  You both start screaming at me that you just can’t continue on in a race.  But when I do continue on . . . well . . . surprise, surprise . . . you two are fine with it!  In fact, most times you both just shut up and let me finish.  And when it’s all over . . . there are no problems.  You all just lied to me.

Okay . . . we admit that there are times we are afraid of what you might do, so we speak up too early.

So . . . you’re admitting you all are liars!

Well . . . to a degree . . . maybe so.  But the brain and I always have your best interest at heart!

I don’t buy that.  I think you two have your own best interest at heart . . . just running your own agendas.  But it doesn’t matter!  Either way I just don’t know when I can trust you and when I can’t!   So . . . obviously you’ve come to tell me something.  What is it?

Well . . . we think you need to stop running.  Or at least stop running long distances.  Your hip is definitely not totally right, both of your knees have issues . . . and let’s face it . . . you’re not getting any younger!!

Okay guys . . . now I KNOW you all are lying to me right now!  No doubt!

No we’re not.  We’re telling you the truth!

Guys . . . there are PLENTY of folks much older then me still running . . . and running well!  It’s not an age thing at all!  Okay . . . I admit I have slowed down significantly.  You two gomers should be happy with that!

Happy “hell!”  No way we’re happy with you!  You’re a frickin’ idiot!  You just keep trying to do things that we just can’t deliver on.  And you make “us” out to be the bad guys!  That’s not fair.

Well . . . I’m not listening to you guys any more!  I just don’t know when you all are telling me the truch or when it’s another of your lies!

You better listen!

Oh yea . . . so what are you going to do about it if I don’t!

You REALLY don’t want to know!  You act like this is some sort of game.  “Us” against “you!”  We’re not against you!  Honestly . . . you’ve kept us going longer than most people do!  How many folks your age finish 50 miles?  And only 6 months after hip surgery!!  All we’re saying is we just can’t continue to cash all the checks you’re writing!!

Okay . . . I promise you two that’s I’ll think about what your saying.  I’ll consider it.  But don’t expect me to just quit!  Heck . . . I’m not ready to even slow down yet!

Well . . . you better . . .or you won’t like the outcome.

Virginia 24 Hour

Guess I need to do a race report on the Virginia 24 Hour run in Hampton, VA last weekend.

For the second year in a row, I was part of a 12-person ultra team, Team Awesome.  Team competition in a 24 hour race is amazing.  It adds a terrific new dimension an already fun format.  Essentially each team member goes as far as they can and you simply add all the distances together for a team distance.

Team Awesome 2012 LtoR John Price, Kati Craig, Frank Lilley, Ladonna Kapustensky, Tony Mollica, Shannon McGinn, Jim Plant, Alana Garrison-Kast, Matt Smythe, Tom Gabell, Cheryl Lager (missing Mike Senko)

I already knew about half of my teammates from last year's team but the other half I was just getting to know through this run.  Leading up to the race our team captain, Shannon McGinn, set up a Facebook group as a way to start to get to know everyone and a great way to make team plans.

I was a substitute this year.  Originally I had told Shannon I wouldn't compete due to my hip surgery.  I knew I would not be able to really excel.  But about a month before the race, Ray Krolewicz had a change of plans and said he shouldn't run, so Shannon asked me again.  I told her if she couldn't get anyone else I would come.  No promises about distances though.  But how cool is it to be Ray K's replacement!!  (I'm sure when someone thinks of Ray, I'm usually the next person that comes to mind!!  :-)  )

My hip seems to have good days and bad days. My longest 'run' had only been 11 miles and I limped back the last 2 miles on that outing.  Don't get me wrong . . . averaging my runs out I definitely am getting better . . . but I still have a few really bad days.

So my plan was to not run . . . but only walk.  I felt like this was my best chance for getting a fairly long distance.  But I've got to admit that walking every step makes one feel like a second class citizen.  Something about walking in a running race.  I almost always do a combination of running and walking, but this time . . . no running at all.

That's Chad in the middle (Steve Durr on Rt and Elizabeth Montgomery on Lt)

I rode over to Hampton, VA with Chad Wollenburg, a friend who had also decided to do the 24 hour run.  We had a ball!  Great pre-race dinner and maybe a drink or two!

Cheryl seems happy to be getting started!

Got to Sandy Bottoms Park at 6 am and setup our team 'camp' right on the race course.  Perfect spot just before the start/finish line and right near the bathroom!  Finally got to meet all the new team members, and just after 7 am we were off.

I ran . . . okay . . . only about 20 yards . . . but I ran!  But then I start my walk.  For the first lap I did it in reverse so I could get pictures of everyone running.   Then I returned to the 'normal' course for all other laps.  One of my teammates, Matt Smythe, was concerned that maybe my reverse lap would count as a negative lap against us!!  :-)

The Sandy Bottoms course is both really nice and really bad.  Nice, in that you have about a mile where it's an out-and-back and you can see everyone plus you run both through the woods and by some beautiful salt marshes.  Bad, in that parts of the road/trail have large gravel (especially nasty at night when you can't see very well) and about 1.5 miles of the course is within 100 yards or less from I-64 (very heavily traveled!). 

Kati Craig & Matt Smythe

At all ultra events, the participants are just awesome folks.  But adding the team concept even makes the day more fun.  Everyone is so supportive!  I wish every 24-hour race added a team competition component.

Saturday started out mild but the temperatures quickly rose.  Not sure how warm it got but it was pretty warm . . . maybe into the 80°.  Not terrible at all . . . but few were used to dealing with the heat and by late afternoon folks were suffering.  Lots of stomach issues out there!

But for me I actually LIKED that it got hot!  It made more runners walk more . . . thus I had more company!  Really nice to walk some with some of my teammates that normally I wouldn't get to talk much with since I'm so slow and they are so fast!  Tom Gabell, Shannon McGinn, Matt Smythe, Alana Garrison-Kast, and Ladonna Kapustensky are some that come to mind that would join me for a little walk each lap.  Made my day a lot more fun!

For some crazy reason Jim Plant, Kati Craig, Mike Senko, John Price, Tony Mollica and Cheryl Lager either never walked or just never ended up walking near me!  I hated that but that's just how the laps turned out.  We still got to cheer each other on when we passed.

I maintained a pretty steady the whole time.  I took a pretty long break after only 3 laps to tape up my feet . . . I felt some 'hot spots' developing and wanted to stay ahead of a problem.  But by 20 miles I had blisters anyway.  So the question was: 1) do I stop and try to address the blisters (remove the tincture of benzion, tape, drain the ones I could see and then re-tape) or 2) just suck it up and continue one.  I chose #2  so I pretty much suffered all through the rest of the race.  Pain wasn't terrible.  I took ibuprofen which I usually don't do and I believe it helped "take the edge off" the pain.

I got really tired out there.  Physically, I felt like I had gone 75 miles.  Just dead on my feet by the end with nothing left.

But the good news is my hip did fine!!!!  It would start hurting / tightening up some but after 1/4 to 1/2 mile it would ease off!  That sequence kept up the whole time.  Really good news.  I'm sure that walking is what allowed me to do this!  Had I tried my walk / run I'm convinced my hip would have stopped me.

My dream goal was to finish 50 miles and get a plaque.  That goal kept me going.  About 2:30 am Sunday morning I finished!  About 19 hours and 10 minutes or an average of 23 minutes per mile.  Honestly, I was as proud to finish 50 miles at this race as any other race I can think of.  Maybe I did just walk, but it still took 100% of my available energy and I had nothing left at the end.

Team Awesome Captain Shannon McGinn with our trophy!

Oh . . . and for the second year in a row, Team Awesome won the team competition and for the second year in a row, we set a new course distance record (803.5 miles or just under 67 miles per person!)  Sweet!

Maybe I spoke too soon . . .

Okay . . . maybe I slammed this product too early!  If you remember, I was dogging this product for false advertising.  I had used this for maybe a month and I had noticed absolutely no improvement in my endurance after using this!  I was religious in my use of the product and followed directions to the letter.  But nothing . . .












But this weekend at the Virginia 24 hour Run . . . something very strange happened.  I did good!  Seriously.  Good.

Leading up to this event my longest run had been 11 miles . . . and the last two of those miles were a hobble back to the car after my hip shut down.

But this weekend . . . I completed 50 miles at this race and only had limited hip issues.  So not only did this product work to improve my endurance so that I could cover 50 miles . . . but I'm also thinking that MAYBE there is a medical healing property that "Old Spice" isn't capitalizing on!

As a matter of fact, I plan to bring this product up with my surgeon, Dr. David T. Jones.  Maybe he needs to start including the use of this in his post-surgery instructions.

Gallberry Stampede

Choices, choices, choices!  Should I run the 5k?  The 10k?  Or the 10 miler?  That was my big concern driving the hour to Scotland Neck Saturday morning.

Nothing is simple right now.

I know I should do the 10 miler but that would be equal to my longest run since surgery . . . and I have the Virginia 24 next weekend.  So it wouldn't be smart to to 10 miles I knew.  But heck . . . 10 miles isn't very far at all.  So I opted for the 5k race and once I finished I decided to go do another lap . . . so getting some time on my feet without risking hip complications too much.

I am getting better, both hip wise and endurance wise.  I ran the full 5k without walking!  Okay . . . that's not very great at all!  But it IS improvement and that's all I am looking for.  Just getting better.

I ended up finishing in 31:46 . . . that's 31 minutes and 46 seconds, not 31 hours and 46 minutes all you smart asses!  I was pretty happy with that . . . I definitely didn't run too hard and could have gone faster.


When I finished, I picked up a bottle of water and talked Amber Poole into going another easy lap . . . walking and running.  Tons of fun for me since Amber and I haven't had a chance to catch up since PNC bought RBC Bank.  Amber got a job with PNC just before the conversion, plus she had had her 1st Umstead 100 attempt . . . so we had a lot to talk about!

The Gallberry Stampede is a really small race . . . probably about 100 folks between all three distances.  With that advantage it turns out I was the only male in my age group (Older then Dirt) so . . . first place!  14th overall out of 41 . . . but a number of the entrants were walkers.  Hey . . . nothing wrong with that.  And I DID beat them!!!  :-)














So this coming weekend is the Virginia 24 Hour and I'm on a "relay" team called Team Awesome for another year.  I put the word "relay" in quotes because to me it's not really a "relay" since everyone runs the full 24 hours and you add up each team members distance.  But the RD calls it a 'relay' . . . so "relay" it is!!

My plan is simple.  No running at all.  I plan to walk as fast and as far as my hip will let me.  But I'm NOT going to do anything stupid.  When my hip says "STOP" . . . I'll stop.

But walking or running I haven't gone further than 11 miles since surgery so this will definitely be untried, untested waters.  My goal for the 24 hours . . . 50 miles.  That will be a 28:48 pace.  Seems easy enough.  Plenty of extra time in there for rest stops, bathroom breaks, etc.  Heck . . . if I take 2 hours worth of breaks I still only have to walk at a 26:24 pace!!  If I can hold a 21:00 pace for 22 hours that would mean I could cover over 62 miles!!!

So we'll see how this all goes . . .

VA 24 Hour Race . . . my 2012 comeback run.

THE SITUATION

One thing that is consistent with my recovery from my October hip surgery is that nothing is consistent!  Good days followed by bad days.  A string of good followed by a few bad.  But even with the variance it is clear to me that things are improving.

So far my longest "long run" has only been 11 miles and that hasn't gotten longer in weeks and, believe me, my overall fitness has DRAMATICALLY declined since surgery.  I can just barely run 3 miles without walking!  But that too is improving some.  I have tried running 2 minutes and walking 1 minute and only lasted 7 miles . . . 5 miles "on interval" and then 2 miles walking back to my frickin' car when my hip "shut down."  This was one week ago.


THE COMEBACK RACE

So . . . with all this what on earth makes enter a 24 hour race?  And what on earth makes me think I can go over 11 miles?

Two words . . . Shannon McGinn.

Last year I was part of a 12-person ultra team "relay" at the VA 24.  I had just gotten my butt kicked at the Umstead 100 (stopping at 62.5 miles) three weeks before.  When I heard "relay" team I assumed it would be like any other relay . . .  one person runs, then turns the baton over to the next team member who then runs.  That's a "relay" . . . right!

Wrong!  I found out that THIS relay involved every team member running and then ADDING all team members distances to get a team distance!  But I had committed to Shannon and the other team members that I would participate.  Team members like Jonathan Savage, Ray Krolewicz, Sabrina Moran, Jessi Kennedy, Tom Gabell, Cheryl Lager . . . folks who had all WON 100 mile races!  And WON 24 hour races!  Plus . . . super experienced running friends like Amy Schimmel, Jim Plant and Charles West (Jim and Charles had finished 100 milers).  Plus, a new ultra runner Alanna Garrison-Kast.  That was our team . . . Team Awesome!

Shannon took all the pressure off me and just wanted me to try.  So I did.  I didn't have a good run but I did "stay after it" and ended up with just over 50 miles completed.  And Team Awesome won the relay by a rather wide margin.

That was 2011.  Now . . . its time fore the 2012 VA 24.

With my hip surgery in October, I told Shannon I couldn't be on the team but I would try to crew for everyone.  Fine . . . until Ray K decided to run another race within a week of this one so he told Shannon he could only crew.  Huh?  Ray K, the 100 mile ultra running legend, as a 'crew' . . . how cool is that!

So Shannon asked me to come out and "give it the ol' college try" and just see what I could do.  After some back and forth I caved and told Shannon I would come . . . but she should try and get someone else.  She didn't.  Shannon is quite convincing and she doesn't take "No" for an answer very well!  But I do LOVE that she thought of me as a "replacement" for Ray K!!!!!   :-)  (I'm guessing Ray is going to be pissed at Shannon!!)

So I'm a Team Awesome team member again this year . . . the second year of being the "Team Excuse."  That's right . . . if another team beats Team Awesome, the whole team can save face by says something like "Yea . . . we lost but we really didn't have a complete team . . . since Frank Lilley was with us we really only had 11 team members!"

MY 2012 PLAN

So . . . WTF am I going to do?  I can only run 3 miles without walking.  And the longest my hip has let me run is 11 miles.  Truth is I should NOT be doing this.  I know it and Shannon knows it.  She must have it out for me for some reason . . . maybe I offended her somehow.  Prior to this I actually thought Shannon was a friend.  But now I know the truth . . . she is trying to destroy me.

Anyway . . . I doing this race.  So I need a plan.  I'm toying with two possible approaches . . .

• Plan A - Start off walking . . . and just walk . . . for as long as I possibly can.

• Plan B - Run 1 minute and walk 2 minutes . . . and repeat until I just have to only walk.

With Plan A I would maximize my chances of completing a lot of miles . . . slow boring miles but miles none the less.  Probably the smart option.  But it's NOT running . . . and I'm a runner. 

Plan B isn't really a runner's plan either . . . but I would be running . . . SOME!  Plan A is the plan for a good team member and Plan B is a selfish plan to "save face." 

A 24 hour race is not a race about speed . . . its about covering the maximum number of miles in the 24 hour time.  I need to remember this!

THE GOAL

My goal IS a minimum of 50 miles over the 24 hour time.  I just hope my hip has the same goal!  I'm wondering if perhaps I should take my crutches with me - just in case!

One final off-topic word of warning . . .

All us runners search for those little things that make a difference to our speed or endurance.  Here is a product that CLAIMS to be a "High Endurance" product.  But after using this product for several months I can detect NO improvement in my endurance.  Be warned of this false advertising . . .

So much indecision right now. Just trying to sort everything out and start charting a new course.

Don't get me wrong.  I'm not upset or down.  I've got options and I'm sure everything will be good.  But there is a lot to think about right now.  Basically my questions fall into to categories . . . working and running.


WORKING

I know I've got plenty of time to work through this.  But one thing I know is true . . . I don't want to stop working yet.  There are plenty of people left for me to piss off!  And I really enjoy working.  So real retirement is not an option for me right now.

But I don't need to rush.

So I'm going fishing!

Maybe 2 weeks, maybe 3-4 weeks.  Maybe even longer.  Add in some backpacking and 'll be in heaven.  Probably leave some time this week.  No real firm plans.  Just heading out and the only plan is to have fun and catch some trout!  Va, TN and NC.  Don't worry . . . I'll take pictures!

RUNNING

Oddly, this is worrying me more then my job situation!

My frickin' hip is just driving me crazy.  Some days better than others.  Some days just suck (like today!).

I don't want to be hasty . . . my operation was in October and healing may take more time then expected.  So I don't want to be rash.  But it's looking more and more like my running will be 5 & 10 ks instead of ultras.  I'm finding it harder and harder to maintain a positive attitude.

But I do know for sure that if I'm only able to run 5ks and 10ks I'm WAY better off then running nothing.  I'll take that if that is what I'm dealt.

But I so love my ultra friends and the challenge of running longer distances.  I simply don't want to give that up.  Not if I can help it.  I'm not really sure why this so gets into my mind . . . but it does!  I love the challenge of starting a race and honestly not being sure if I can finish it!  Strange! 

Marathons . . . while hard . . . are not all that hard.  When I was healthy I KNEW I would be able to finish any marathon.  I might miss a time cut-off but I could finish the run.  Even if I had not trained at all . . . I could finish.

But a 50 miler or longer . . . well . . . you never know for sure until you actually do it!  And how far can you go in a 24 hour period.  So cool to find out!

So lots going on and the answers aren't clear right now.  Time will tell.  I just need patience.

Life #3

Today may be the first day of my third life.

Life 1 was that of a kid.  No responsibilities and no timetables except those imposed on me either by my parents or at school.  It was awesome.

Life 2 was my working life.  Family and my job made this another fun life!  Rewarding and challenging.  It was awesome.

Now . . . either I have a brief pause in Life 2 or I've moved into Life 3 . . . not totally sure right now.  But there are options.  Plus, my family remains and so does my health!  It is awesome!

And through it all . . . some very good friends!

I'm a very lucky man.

Okay . . . Okay . . .

Okay . . . stop it already!  Hundreds and hundreds of comments and e-mail coming in begging for another "Hurry Slowly . . . but Hurry" post.  Stop the madness . . . here it goes!

"Hurry Slowly . . . but Hurry" is, and always will be, a running blog.  That's just the way it is.  Okay . . . I admit that from time to time I lose my focus and go 'off-topic' but for the most part I've stayed true.  Thus, no recent posts.  If I don't run much, there is just nothing to say.

Okay . . . I could 'brag' on my personal-worst 5k . . . 31:41 or so.  Sorry, that is just sad.  And actually I was pretty pleased because I ran all but 15 steps (I counted them!).  My recent running has been humbling compared to my past running.

Don't get me wrong . . . I'm still running and glad to be able to run.  But 9-10 miles seems to me my absolute limit . . . and it's just not getting better.  (For those of you that have known me for a long time remember that I had a 13 year period were I didn't run at all!  Bad medical advice made me quit for years until I found a magic solution.)  But there doesn't seem to be a magic solution to my hip right now.  Maybe in a few more months things will get better.  That would be nice.  But not necessary.

Honestly, I'm just sooooo glad I can run at all.  Seriously.  If I can only run 9 miles or less . . . well . . . I'll be 100% fine with that.  If I do heal up and I find I can go further . . . well . . . that's great too.  But a few realities need to be acknowledged . . .

• I'm 99% sure I'll never finish a 100 miler.  Sad . . . but likely true.  What the hell am I going to do with this belt I purchased?
• If I ever finish another 50 miler, it will be walking the vast majority of the way.  And that may not ever happen.
• No more races with cutoffs . . . ever.
• And that likely means marathons too. I have signed up for the Baby Boogie Marathon this year (ample cut-off time!)  Likely my last marathon.  I'll finish if I have to crawl . . . pretty much like last year!!

In my mind I'm an ultra runner and I don't think that will ever change.  I've earned that.  In my mind . . . once an ultra runner, always an ultra runner. But now I'm think my ultras will be 24 hour walks for the most part.  And I'm okay with that.

My long-distance running may possibly be coming to an end and I may need to turn the page to new, and different challenges.

• I've always loved backpacking.   Maybe an AT thru-hike is in my future.
• I've GOT to get my 5k time to sub 30 . . . that's just frickin' embarrassing!
• Maybe some sort of a marathon of 5ks . . . I need ideas here.  I seem to need to run every other day.

Any other ideas or suggestions?

Most folks just plain enjoy being outside and in the woods.  There is just something peaceful and satisfying about it!  And last Saturday was especially nice!

Since I couldn't run Uwharrie this year, I decided to run the Medoc Marathon course backwards and just see how far I could get.  The answer . . . 9.8 miles.  Not all that far but my furthest yet.  Recovery continues and I'm still excited!

Funny some of the things I think of while running.  At one point out there I decided that both rocks and trees were 1) beautiful additions to the woods, but at the same time . . . 2) they are evil! 

Of the two, rocks are much more honest.  I mean when you see a rock you know it's hard and can hurt you.  And many times you can stop and simply kick it off the trail.

 But trees  . . . trees just look so inviting and gentle.  But that is just one side . . . . the other is trees are the devils of the woods!

Luring your eyes with their interesting trunks and branches they have sent out their root out in a covert mission to attack both suspecting and unsuspecting runners and hikers.  Even when you think the trail is a nice, gentle pine straw section you better beware . . .  those frickin' roots are just hiding there waiting to catch your toe and throw you to the ground!  Luckily trees move really slowly . . . so you can get away before being eaten!












I also spent a lot of time trying to come up with a better way to mark the Medoc trails.  The current approach just simply sucks.  And the Park experimented with using plastic colored squares and circles instead of painted blazes.  Thank goodness Medoc rangers now has agreed to return to paint blazes and the park trail map is being redone . . . so the timing is perfect to re-design trail blazes.  I did come up with a more simple and easier to follow approach . . . but now we learn the map is too far along and the park wants to just go ahead and paint blazes marking the trails as they are marked today.

Damn . . . what a missed opportunity!

I can run!

There was a time, not too many years ago when I believed my running life was over.

X-Rays revealed significant arthritis in my left knee.  My orthopaedic surgeon told me there was nothing he could do except knee replacement surgery.  I could run as long as I wanted to, but he assured me that my running was going to be over quite soon and a knee replacement was in my future.  His advice was to put that off as long as I possibly could.

Long story short I did quit running . . . for about 10 years before I found my own miracle cure.  No surgery or medicine and I was able to run again.  And run I did!

Not fast . . . but I completed a ton of marathons and a whole bunch of ultras.  Two cartilage knee surgeries (one on my left knee and one on my right) didn't even really slow me down.  My only personal running goal left is to finish a 100 mile run.  Three attempts and three failures . . . well . . . let's don't call them failures.  Just unsuccessful attempts.  A failure would be to not try.

And I've tried.

My October hip surgery has been a difficult challenge.  And the story had not finished.

But I have hit a plateau in my comeback and progress is not detectable right now.  That may start to change tomorrow.  Or next week.  Or next month,  Or maybe next year.  Or maybe not at all.

And that's what I've been thinking a lot about in the last two weeks.  What if 4-6 miles is my new limit?  What if I don't progress any further?

It's not that pain starts building and it's the pain that limits my distance.  No . . . it's something really strange.  My hip seems to 'tighten up' and loose strength.  I know that doesn't make much sense.  And you would thing I would just run through that.  But it is very limiting.  And I'm having a really hard time getting through this.  To the point where I have started to consider the possibility that this could be as good as it gets!  There may well not be a successful 100 mile finish.  There may not be another marathon . . . nor even a 10 miles in my future.

Now understand . . . I'm not giving up!  And I honestly don't want a single comment about this post.  I just wanted to share with you what is going on in my 'unusual' mind!  My hip doctor has warned me this may be a six month recovery and I'm only 3 months in!  Well ahead of were he thought I would be by this time!  So the story if far from over!

There is a part of me that is not sad at all about this possibility of limited running!  Honestly there is even some relief there!  Right now when I think about all the work needed to even have an honest 100 mile attempt the mountain seems almost too high.  A significant part of me is not disappointed to think I may not have to go through this.

4-6 miles a run is PLENTY to continue a healthy, active life.  And maybe my active life could even be extended by NOT attempting these longer distances.  It's not bad to do a 4-6 mile run every other day.

Quite frankly, in the middle of my 10-year hiatus when I thought I had arthritis, I would have done a 'double back-flip' to run just 2 miles every other day.  So . . . to be able to run 4-6 miles is a gift I'm seriously happy to have received!

But let me say this again.  I'm not giving up yet.  I'm just saying that if I do have to give up . . . I'm okay with it.  Just as long as no one puts "But he never could finish a 100 miler!" on my gravestone!  Hey . . . come to think of it, I'm going to be cremated anyway, so that's just not going to happen anyway!

Seriously . . . no comments please.