Dang, Its been nearly 2 years have gone by since I've written anything on here...
So much of my life has changed. Almost a year ago since my last race where I dropped 85 or so miles in when I could barely walk. Becky, the nurse at so many Texas trail races, came over and asked me what I had to prove. Enough said so I showered and drove back home. The only thing I ever tried to prove to myself running is that I could go 100 miles.
Running was good to me at a certain point in my life but I'll never consider myself a runner. It all started out wanting to meet new people and better my life. Did it? I met some great people I made memories with that hopefully will remain my friends the rest of my life. Did it better my life? I can't attest for that. Sure I wasn't out drinking every night but honestly the time,effort and money it took, I simply traded one thing for another. It was cool running 100 miles 3 separate times and a multitude of other shorter races but no I dont think it changed me much. I've always felt I could accomplish anything in my life I chose and running wasn't much different for me. I never wanted it to define me as it could for others. At the peak of training cycles it may have seen that's what defined me but the level of training requires that. People are the same everywhere. Some are there because they love it and some are simply escaping a bad relationship or an addiction. I know a few that's just there for a hustle or to make themselves feel maybe important in life. It's like that in all walks of life and nothing is wrong with it if that's your thing. I must say that my little running group in Dallas- Dallas Dirt Runners are some of the best people I've ever met and I do miss those guys n gals BUT I don't miss running enough to join them right now. :):) So many others outside this little group have touched me along my running journey and I hope we remain friends forever!! At the end of the day the thrill was gone for me.
I married my best friend just over a month after my last race and life has been great. There are so many more things in life I want to accomplish and places I need to see. Since leaving running my work has excelled as well as a few other things that I've always dabbled in and I must say that between me and the wife, our combined cooking skills are getting to be off the charts! In addition, it's kinda cool to plan a trip not having to worry about how tore up your legs will be on a return flight home!
New interests require some new people in your life and I welcome that but will always remain friends with many of the people I shared trails with. I'll always be there if any of them needs to reach out for my humble opinions on races and training. Heck some day, I may show up at a race to work a aid station and laugh at those crazy people trying to knock out a ultra..... Throughout my 30's people have always told me that the most productive and best time of your life was between 45 and 60. I'm 50 now so I figure I still have a ton of production to do no matter where my crazy life takes me!
I'll try to do better with this blog in my next crazy goal once I get that figured out... Got some ideas but nothing concrete just yet..... Til next time #LiveStrong
Tuesday, April 3, 2018
Monday, April 25, 2016
Running back home.....
Wow! That was a crazy last 30 to 45 days in my life...... Took a job, moved to Denver and now I'm back home in Plano figuring out what's next. Sometimes paths in life seem so easy and you get pulled in a certain direction but that's not always the right one to go down. A job fell into place, housing and boom! I was gone to Denver. It's a ok place but I gotta say that 2 weeks was plenty for this kid from Plano,Tx.
Back track to January and I met a lady in a grocery store here in Plano. We hit it off and spent alotta time together until I moved. She talked about maybe one day going up there but I was really just focused on my run and I thought if that's meant to be then it'd work out. I went and ran a race out in western Colorado last weekend but due to a snow storm, I couldn't drive back to Denver until the following day. Sitting in a hotel room in po'dunk Colorado really just sucks but I got through it. The next day on my drive home I plugged my ITunes into my car and was just listening to some independent bands I like and there's this kid from Duncan,Oklahoma named Chance Anderson who has a great sound so I've downloaded his stuff. He has a song "The Road Don't Take Me There" and I heard it and I put that song on repeat and after about the 4th time I got the message and didn't want to be the guy in the song that gives up a loving life to chase a dream......
http://youtu.be/g8HeHvPhxzw
See running saved me from a crappy selfish life. It's made me a better person but that day I felt like it had simply replaced the bottle that used to control my every thought in life. I want running to be fun and to be a joy and not tear apart the chance to have someone in my life that loves me for who I am. Oh n that gets the running deal..... I worked all last week until I got the nerve to call my old job and they said they wanted me back so I loaded up and got myself back to Texas. Maybe it'll work out career wise but if not I'm pretty sure it'll be ok. I'm sure some friends in Colorado were disappointed and I hope they will understand one day. In the meantime, I'll be running back near my old neighborhood and trying to become better. I still have some questions for myself on what to do next but it'll come and life will go on. Til next time #RunStrong
Back track to January and I met a lady in a grocery store here in Plano. We hit it off and spent alotta time together until I moved. She talked about maybe one day going up there but I was really just focused on my run and I thought if that's meant to be then it'd work out. I went and ran a race out in western Colorado last weekend but due to a snow storm, I couldn't drive back to Denver until the following day. Sitting in a hotel room in po'dunk Colorado really just sucks but I got through it. The next day on my drive home I plugged my ITunes into my car and was just listening to some independent bands I like and there's this kid from Duncan,Oklahoma named Chance Anderson who has a great sound so I've downloaded his stuff. He has a song "The Road Don't Take Me There" and I heard it and I put that song on repeat and after about the 4th time I got the message and didn't want to be the guy in the song that gives up a loving life to chase a dream......
http://youtu.be/g8HeHvPhxzw
See running saved me from a crappy selfish life. It's made me a better person but that day I felt like it had simply replaced the bottle that used to control my every thought in life. I want running to be fun and to be a joy and not tear apart the chance to have someone in my life that loves me for who I am. Oh n that gets the running deal..... I worked all last week until I got the nerve to call my old job and they said they wanted me back so I loaded up and got myself back to Texas. Maybe it'll work out career wise but if not I'm pretty sure it'll be ok. I'm sure some friends in Colorado were disappointed and I hope they will understand one day. In the meantime, I'll be running back near my old neighborhood and trying to become better. I still have some questions for myself on what to do next but it'll come and life will go on. Til next time #RunStrong
Monday, April 18, 2016
Colorado, Desert Rats Marathon and such.....
Where to start??? So many life changes in the past 30 days or so. Back in January I started using a coach again as I work to finishing Leadville in August. My training plan had me working towards Ouachita Trail 50 on April 16 as a prep race. This was going to be a race where there is some elevation but mostly tight cutoffs on a very runnable course. After running A-OK 50k I was very confident on having a great run at Ouachita. This was great until I got a job offer which I accepted in Denver. Colorado is the Mecca for trail runners and I felt it was time to take this step in my life. For years I've always told myself I'd move to some place awesome but somehow I wound up back in Plano,Tx where I was raised. It's a great place to live and I'll always be a Texan but the timing of this offer was such that I felt I needed to take this step in my life. My son is 19 and I really want to be able to be successful running mountain races so away I went to Colorado settling in Lakewood. I absolutely love it! I've got a couple of roommates who are also somewhat new to the area also and we are great friends so it's great. Back to running......
Logistically with a new job I couldn't make the trek to Arkansas to run Ouachita so I jumped online and found a double marathon in Fruita,Co. It seemed like a small race so it should be very doable even for a newly transplanted "flatlander". The weekend called for a major snow storm to hit Denver and Fruita was on the west side of the Rockies so Friday at noon I headed out. The drive out is just so beautiful! From mountains to desert but I was simply amazed the entire drive. The race I knew had more elevation gain than Ouachita which I had trained for. 4200 versus I had read 6400. Still tight cutoffs with 13 hours to complete the race. I saw there was 2 huge climbs on each loop and it looked like rollers the rest of the race.
Race morning- 40 degrees and a light steady breeze. 6:30 start right at daybreak and away we went. I kinda hung mid pack maybe going out too fast but it felt great. The race was at about 4500ft above sea level and my lungs burn pretty good the 1st coupla miles on runs up here but then I settle down and the same was true on race day. I'm pretty sure I was the only out of state guy there cause that 1st climb we didn't slow down much on that 1.5 mile scamper up a mountain. The terrain was like Bandera. It was desert and just rocks and more rocks.... The 1st 1/2 marathon took me 3 hours and I was where I wanted to be. My goal was a 6 hour marathon and have plenty of time for issues that might arise on the 2nd half. After the 1st climb I had hoped for rollers like we have in Texas but nope. Colorado & Texas is totally different. Climb up, get down, run a flat for a mile or so and go up again. I had been using just a handheld since September but used a vest for this race. It was ok but I didn't wash it out good before putting it away last fall. Mile 18 I got real sick. Just couldn't keep anything in me for a bit and really just kicked my butt. Between that and the 40MPH wind gusts when the trail took you around a ridge was just a beatdown. Mile 19.5 was the last aid and I was able to get some watermelon in me and started the trek up the last climb. It was a simple jeep road but went up for 1 mile with 2 false ascents. I'm just guessing but I think it went up about 1400ft. After that it had a few ups and downs like the rest of the course before descending on a trail that was just more rocks and then kicking you onto a jeep road to get back home. The cutoff was 6:30 and I came in at 6:50 so I couldn't go back out for the 2nd loop. Total elevation gain was 3648 on my Garmin. Nearly as much in 26 miles as the 50 miler I had trained for. I walked away frustrated a little with myself knowing that I could have made it had I not gotten sick but it was great training. I don't think I'm fully acclimated to running at 5000ft above sea level and my hill work has been limited leading up to this race. You run the race under the race directors rules but if they would make this a 14 or 15hr cutoff like many 50 mile races are it'd be a great goal race for out of state people but with 13 hours you have little room for error unless you have the speed to get far enough ahead. Live and Learn.
Moving forward, next month Me and Steven Monte along with some TROT runners fly out to Georgia for Cruel Jewel. After getting my butt handed to me, I've opted for the 50 miler this year. 15k ft of vert but most of it is in the last 25 which I ran twice last year. The clock is a non factor on the 50 mile race so I'm just going into it with the mindset that I'll be getting some great hill work. I've got a couple of weeks so I'm sure my coach will be having me working on climbing and running downhills as much as possible. I love it here in Colorado so far! It's cooler temps but the cold isn't bone chilling like Texas and Oklahoma and I can't wait to get more time higher in the mountains running. The trail community here is great just as it is all over Texas and I look forward to running more with them. Til next time #RunStrong
Logistically with a new job I couldn't make the trek to Arkansas to run Ouachita so I jumped online and found a double marathon in Fruita,Co. It seemed like a small race so it should be very doable even for a newly transplanted "flatlander". The weekend called for a major snow storm to hit Denver and Fruita was on the west side of the Rockies so Friday at noon I headed out. The drive out is just so beautiful! From mountains to desert but I was simply amazed the entire drive. The race I knew had more elevation gain than Ouachita which I had trained for. 4200 versus I had read 6400. Still tight cutoffs with 13 hours to complete the race. I saw there was 2 huge climbs on each loop and it looked like rollers the rest of the race.
Race morning- 40 degrees and a light steady breeze. 6:30 start right at daybreak and away we went. I kinda hung mid pack maybe going out too fast but it felt great. The race was at about 4500ft above sea level and my lungs burn pretty good the 1st coupla miles on runs up here but then I settle down and the same was true on race day. I'm pretty sure I was the only out of state guy there cause that 1st climb we didn't slow down much on that 1.5 mile scamper up a mountain. The terrain was like Bandera. It was desert and just rocks and more rocks.... The 1st 1/2 marathon took me 3 hours and I was where I wanted to be. My goal was a 6 hour marathon and have plenty of time for issues that might arise on the 2nd half. After the 1st climb I had hoped for rollers like we have in Texas but nope. Colorado & Texas is totally different. Climb up, get down, run a flat for a mile or so and go up again. I had been using just a handheld since September but used a vest for this race. It was ok but I didn't wash it out good before putting it away last fall. Mile 18 I got real sick. Just couldn't keep anything in me for a bit and really just kicked my butt. Between that and the 40MPH wind gusts when the trail took you around a ridge was just a beatdown. Mile 19.5 was the last aid and I was able to get some watermelon in me and started the trek up the last climb. It was a simple jeep road but went up for 1 mile with 2 false ascents. I'm just guessing but I think it went up about 1400ft. After that it had a few ups and downs like the rest of the course before descending on a trail that was just more rocks and then kicking you onto a jeep road to get back home. The cutoff was 6:30 and I came in at 6:50 so I couldn't go back out for the 2nd loop. Total elevation gain was 3648 on my Garmin. Nearly as much in 26 miles as the 50 miler I had trained for. I walked away frustrated a little with myself knowing that I could have made it had I not gotten sick but it was great training. I don't think I'm fully acclimated to running at 5000ft above sea level and my hill work has been limited leading up to this race. You run the race under the race directors rules but if they would make this a 14 or 15hr cutoff like many 50 mile races are it'd be a great goal race for out of state people but with 13 hours you have little room for error unless you have the speed to get far enough ahead. Live and Learn.
Moving forward, next month Me and Steven Monte along with some TROT runners fly out to Georgia for Cruel Jewel. After getting my butt handed to me, I've opted for the 50 miler this year. 15k ft of vert but most of it is in the last 25 which I ran twice last year. The clock is a non factor on the 50 mile race so I'm just going into it with the mindset that I'll be getting some great hill work. I've got a couple of weeks so I'm sure my coach will be having me working on climbing and running downhills as much as possible. I love it here in Colorado so far! It's cooler temps but the cold isn't bone chilling like Texas and Oklahoma and I can't wait to get more time higher in the mountains running. The trail community here is great just as it is all over Texas and I look forward to running more with them. Til next time #RunStrong
Monday, March 14, 2016
San Felipe Shootout
What do I say or how to even begin? I had plans to go spend a weekend in Denver but life & work commitments got in the way. After a week of rain I knew the trails in DFW were closed so I had a bright idea pop into my head to go run a #TROT race and see a ton of friends. As soon as Trail Racing over Texas posted a video of water covered trails I knew I had to go. Nothing but fun could be had outta mud,water and running a few miles..... The Shootout was a combination of 3 races in 1 day. 5k at 7:30am, 10k at 8:30am followed with a 1/2 marathon for a total of 22.4 miles if I opted to do the entire Shootout. I always want to get my money's worth so of course I did all 3.
5k- 1 3.1 mile loop. After arriving that morning I saw people looking at a "creek" behind the finish line and heard rumor of really deep water but I didn't care. I was running at least 22 miles this weekend so I decided to just have a good time. Old wore out kicks was the shoe of choice. Races like this is why I hoard crappy ones. The race starts and we begin down a road and I'm thinking "what the heck?" I know Rob- the RD- and he's not going to make a course easier and fortunately the road was only about .10 and onto a jeep road which promptly dumped us into about .3 mile of knee deep water. A really nice soaking with 200 people scrambling for position. After that we got on single track for a bit before hitting a submerged bridge that ended with climbing up a mud bank. After that we just had single track trail littered with knee deep mud holes and lotsa slop. Not sticky mud but just a soup. Good times!! This led us to an out and back which had a aid station at the end. And it had water & mud. At this point my legs were black as well as my beautiful #TROT tank top. After the out n back we had a very short lived section that was flat,dry and super fast. All good things must end and it did on a 30ft slope down into a creek. A creek waist deep. I tried walking down the hill and passed 5 ladies cursing as I slid down on my feet only to fall when I hit the water. More good times!! After that we walked,waded n some swam .3 or so through this swamp to our waists in water but it ended fast. Once it ended we were on another single track trail that was dry. Well til we came to the 1st turn and then we had to go back into this time chest deep water. A volunteer was out in the middle directing us and keeping everyone safe. We cleared that to run in knee deep water another .5 or so then down a muddy hill and through 2 creeks. It finally put us out on a flat straight dry jeep road and I ran hard thinking this is it and this 5k is done. LOL Not quite. There was a slight detour at the end dumping us back into the waist deep water once more before scrambling up a wet hill and a 5k was complete!!! The best 5k ever!
10k- like the 5k but we got to do the loop twice! After falling right after the 10k start into a mud pit, I drop my shirt at the 1/2 way mark and decide to take my coach's advice and just go have fun in the mud! Pretty uneventful other then getting to encourage a few 1st time trail runners to battle on through this. I've ran every distance from 5k to 100 miles before this day with the exception of a 10k. It was pretty cool getting my 1st 10k on trails in one of the most memorable races I've ever ran.
1/2 Marathon- This race was 3 loops of much the same as the 5 & 10k but had some beautiful soft single track that was pretty dry added on the end to get us to 13.1 miles. It got hot and humid and by the 2nd 1/2 marathon loop and my 5th time in the swamp, I was looking forward to it. The water rose throughout the day but the safety guys were out there watching out for everyone. My most memorable part of it was a 10yr old passing me on the 1st loop and him telling me how he got to swim through the water. Activities like that keep kids out of trouble and kudos to Mom for tagging along behind that young man. And I must say, all that water kept all the mud from building up on shoes or bodies.
San Felipe was a great race! Sliding down the hill into the swamp with Wayne like we were a coupla young kids on a sled to watching Jeff Ball, Steven Moore, Tracie Ackerhielm among other great Texas trail runners just killing it in spite of the mud and water made this race for me. Running with so many #TROT team members makes me so proud to be a part of this great organization. The elite guys and girls are so welcoming and helpful and the other Ambassadors are such a joy to be around. The TROT volunteers are nothing short of amazing. John,James and the guy in the deep water- you men rock! HOURS in frigid waters just to keep us runners safe. Thank you so much! I can't swim a lick but not once did I feel unsafe. All the other TROT volunteers- you are all the backbone of a great organization. Thanks so much! Rob & Rachel- Damn you never disappoint!! Many race directors would have been doom & gloom but you guys made people excited about running in mud and water and you made it fun! I say it over and over but Trail Racing Over Texas doesn't simply put on a race. Yea we run em but it's an event and I can't wait to run another one of these epic races!! Til next time #RunStrong
5k- 1 3.1 mile loop. After arriving that morning I saw people looking at a "creek" behind the finish line and heard rumor of really deep water but I didn't care. I was running at least 22 miles this weekend so I decided to just have a good time. Old wore out kicks was the shoe of choice. Races like this is why I hoard crappy ones. The race starts and we begin down a road and I'm thinking "what the heck?" I know Rob- the RD- and he's not going to make a course easier and fortunately the road was only about .10 and onto a jeep road which promptly dumped us into about .3 mile of knee deep water. A really nice soaking with 200 people scrambling for position. After that we got on single track for a bit before hitting a submerged bridge that ended with climbing up a mud bank. After that we just had single track trail littered with knee deep mud holes and lotsa slop. Not sticky mud but just a soup. Good times!! This led us to an out and back which had a aid station at the end. And it had water & mud. At this point my legs were black as well as my beautiful #TROT tank top. After the out n back we had a very short lived section that was flat,dry and super fast. All good things must end and it did on a 30ft slope down into a creek. A creek waist deep. I tried walking down the hill and passed 5 ladies cursing as I slid down on my feet only to fall when I hit the water. More good times!! After that we walked,waded n some swam .3 or so through this swamp to our waists in water but it ended fast. Once it ended we were on another single track trail that was dry. Well til we came to the 1st turn and then we had to go back into this time chest deep water. A volunteer was out in the middle directing us and keeping everyone safe. We cleared that to run in knee deep water another .5 or so then down a muddy hill and through 2 creeks. It finally put us out on a flat straight dry jeep road and I ran hard thinking this is it and this 5k is done. LOL Not quite. There was a slight detour at the end dumping us back into the waist deep water once more before scrambling up a wet hill and a 5k was complete!!! The best 5k ever!
10k- like the 5k but we got to do the loop twice! After falling right after the 10k start into a mud pit, I drop my shirt at the 1/2 way mark and decide to take my coach's advice and just go have fun in the mud! Pretty uneventful other then getting to encourage a few 1st time trail runners to battle on through this. I've ran every distance from 5k to 100 miles before this day with the exception of a 10k. It was pretty cool getting my 1st 10k on trails in one of the most memorable races I've ever ran.
1/2 Marathon- This race was 3 loops of much the same as the 5 & 10k but had some beautiful soft single track that was pretty dry added on the end to get us to 13.1 miles. It got hot and humid and by the 2nd 1/2 marathon loop and my 5th time in the swamp, I was looking forward to it. The water rose throughout the day but the safety guys were out there watching out for everyone. My most memorable part of it was a 10yr old passing me on the 1st loop and him telling me how he got to swim through the water. Activities like that keep kids out of trouble and kudos to Mom for tagging along behind that young man. And I must say, all that water kept all the mud from building up on shoes or bodies.
San Felipe was a great race! Sliding down the hill into the swamp with Wayne like we were a coupla young kids on a sled to watching Jeff Ball, Steven Moore, Tracie Ackerhielm among other great Texas trail runners just killing it in spite of the mud and water made this race for me. Running with so many #TROT team members makes me so proud to be a part of this great organization. The elite guys and girls are so welcoming and helpful and the other Ambassadors are such a joy to be around. The TROT volunteers are nothing short of amazing. John,James and the guy in the deep water- you men rock! HOURS in frigid waters just to keep us runners safe. Thank you so much! I can't swim a lick but not once did I feel unsafe. All the other TROT volunteers- you are all the backbone of a great organization. Thanks so much! Rob & Rachel- Damn you never disappoint!! Many race directors would have been doom & gloom but you guys made people excited about running in mud and water and you made it fun! I say it over and over but Trail Racing Over Texas doesn't simply put on a race. Yea we run em but it's an event and I can't wait to run another one of these epic races!! Til next time #RunStrong
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
A-OK 50k
This race is definitely one of my favorites! Rewind to 2014 and I had just ran the Hot Chocolate 5k. A friend- Nikki tells me I can do a 25k at this little trail race in Oklahoma. Ignorance is bliss and so I agreed. Dang it was cold that day. 18 degrees but me and my friend Janet got through it together. My 1st trail race was done and I was hooked on this sport that has become a huge part of who I am today.
2015 I ran the 25k again and it was fun. Watching my friend Andrea win his 1st race ever as he dominated the 50k option was pretty cool! Someday I'll be as fast as that dude. Maybe it's the pasta he eats.........
2016- I wasn't sure this race would fit my schedule or not after my injury last fall but my coach asked if I had a March race I'd like to do that was close. This race is near and dear to me being its what got me into trail running 2 years ago plus the race director is a really sweet lady. 83 and still does ultra marathons. I hope I live that long and if so, I pray that I'll still be doing some races. Race weekend was the same weekend I had planned to spend with my son. He's never been to a trail race before so I thought it was cool to show him a part of my life where I don't see family. We drove up to Atoka,Oklahoma Saturday afternoon to check in and see the course condition. 2015 was a sloppy mess so I had to see what I was up against this year. After checking in we had dinner and went to the hotel & crashed.
Race morning- It was just beautiful! The race starts at 8am and we showed up early so I could get my stuff where I needed it. The 50k is 2 25k loops so I just wanted more nutrition for the 2nd loop. My coaches instructions were to just have a solid training run and don't do anything stupid where I couldn't finish. My training leading up to this has been solid as I rebuild my base and try to find some speed for races later in the year. I just wanted even splits and anything around 7 hours was a win for me. Loop 1- the 1st 3 miles is a series of rocky hills followed by a mile on jeep road then a mile out n back over various terrain before more jeep & gravel road. The loops end with just over a mile back through the hills. My plan was to just run and have fun. Take limited walk breaks on hills and maintain a steady pace hopefully finishing in 3:30. My plan kinda went out the window when I hit the jeep road section and for my old slow butt, I was flying and having fun. Fly as in 9:30 to 10:15 miles. That's like my normal pace training on roads but it felt great so I kept on. I caught a friend at mile 10 or so and I ran with him to nearly the finish. We slowed down to a 12:15 pace and took more walk breaks but it probably saved my legs. I've always employed some walk strategy into my ultra's simply because I'm new to the sport and don't have the years of running that so many do but I'm quickly weaning off that. It's all mental now and once I started walking more, that kinda got in my head but I finished the loop in 2.58. I was way ahead of my scheduled splits so I made myself sit a few minutes before heading back out for the last 15 miles.
Loop 2- My head and legs just really took a crap on me. I'm thinking it was all mental because I could still bomb the downhills but my mind kept trying to tell me to take walk breaks. That's a struggle I've got to get past like now. I could still get in the 13's range pace but not what I wanted at all. The afternoon got really hot and after mile 23 I skipped nutrition and only stopped at the aid stations to refill my water bottle as I used it on my head to keep cool. The last 2 miles was a struggle until I heard my friends yelling at me. Looking at my watch I had a huge PR for the 50k distance so I hustled it on in. 6:49 with my only other 50k time being 8:05 so I was happy.
Takeaways- It was just a good solid training run and I hope my son better understands this sport that I love so much. I had so much more in me and left some laying on the table but going into a 50 miler next month with super tight cutoffs, I know I can hustle and lay down some solid miles to eliminate that fear from my mind. Props to my buddy Pepe- he's been running for years but never won a race until A-OK. He won the 25k. So many other friends had great runs and it was cool seeing everyone out there handing out encouragement to others. I really love #TROT races but if you can't make one and need a small bare bones race in March and live close, I'd suggest driving up to Atoka,Oklahoma and doing this one! Til next time #RunStrong
2015 I ran the 25k again and it was fun. Watching my friend Andrea win his 1st race ever as he dominated the 50k option was pretty cool! Someday I'll be as fast as that dude. Maybe it's the pasta he eats.........
2016- I wasn't sure this race would fit my schedule or not after my injury last fall but my coach asked if I had a March race I'd like to do that was close. This race is near and dear to me being its what got me into trail running 2 years ago plus the race director is a really sweet lady. 83 and still does ultra marathons. I hope I live that long and if so, I pray that I'll still be doing some races. Race weekend was the same weekend I had planned to spend with my son. He's never been to a trail race before so I thought it was cool to show him a part of my life where I don't see family. We drove up to Atoka,Oklahoma Saturday afternoon to check in and see the course condition. 2015 was a sloppy mess so I had to see what I was up against this year. After checking in we had dinner and went to the hotel & crashed.
Race morning- It was just beautiful! The race starts at 8am and we showed up early so I could get my stuff where I needed it. The 50k is 2 25k loops so I just wanted more nutrition for the 2nd loop. My coaches instructions were to just have a solid training run and don't do anything stupid where I couldn't finish. My training leading up to this has been solid as I rebuild my base and try to find some speed for races later in the year. I just wanted even splits and anything around 7 hours was a win for me. Loop 1- the 1st 3 miles is a series of rocky hills followed by a mile on jeep road then a mile out n back over various terrain before more jeep & gravel road. The loops end with just over a mile back through the hills. My plan was to just run and have fun. Take limited walk breaks on hills and maintain a steady pace hopefully finishing in 3:30. My plan kinda went out the window when I hit the jeep road section and for my old slow butt, I was flying and having fun. Fly as in 9:30 to 10:15 miles. That's like my normal pace training on roads but it felt great so I kept on. I caught a friend at mile 10 or so and I ran with him to nearly the finish. We slowed down to a 12:15 pace and took more walk breaks but it probably saved my legs. I've always employed some walk strategy into my ultra's simply because I'm new to the sport and don't have the years of running that so many do but I'm quickly weaning off that. It's all mental now and once I started walking more, that kinda got in my head but I finished the loop in 2.58. I was way ahead of my scheduled splits so I made myself sit a few minutes before heading back out for the last 15 miles.
Loop 2- My head and legs just really took a crap on me. I'm thinking it was all mental because I could still bomb the downhills but my mind kept trying to tell me to take walk breaks. That's a struggle I've got to get past like now. I could still get in the 13's range pace but not what I wanted at all. The afternoon got really hot and after mile 23 I skipped nutrition and only stopped at the aid stations to refill my water bottle as I used it on my head to keep cool. The last 2 miles was a struggle until I heard my friends yelling at me. Looking at my watch I had a huge PR for the 50k distance so I hustled it on in. 6:49 with my only other 50k time being 8:05 so I was happy.
Takeaways- It was just a good solid training run and I hope my son better understands this sport that I love so much. I had so much more in me and left some laying on the table but going into a 50 miler next month with super tight cutoffs, I know I can hustle and lay down some solid miles to eliminate that fear from my mind. Props to my buddy Pepe- he's been running for years but never won a race until A-OK. He won the 25k. So many other friends had great runs and it was cool seeing everyone out there handing out encouragement to others. I really love #TROT races but if you can't make one and need a small bare bones race in March and live close, I'd suggest driving up to Atoka,Oklahoma and doing this one! Til next time #RunStrong
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Getting past an injury & such.....
As my last blog post said, in December I had to drop at Brazos Bend 100 around mile 50. My ankle just wouldn't hold up and the pain was up in my IT Band and knee area so I shut it down. Mentally it was bad but I knows then that I had to go see a doctor. A few days later I saw my race photos and I decided then that I must throw everything out, hire a coach and start fresh. After seeing a doctor and being told not to run for 6 weeks I immediately hired Gia Madole for my coach to get me across the finish line at Leadville. There are good coaches out there but it's what fits me the best. I knew I had 6 weeks to lose weight, change my diet and hopefully maintain my base so I started that day.
Many runners view an injury as a negative but after over racing in 2015 I feel those 6 weeks were great! My core was in terrible shape and even though I had the legs to run a 100 in October,76 in Nov and 50 in December it would have been a tad easier with a stronger upper body. I just got time to reboot and decide what my priorities are in running. Just as in life when you get caught up in the hustle & bustle you sort of forget what you are doing and this is where I was. I had signed up for SnowDrop 55hr, Rocky 100 and Vol State 500k. I quickly dropped from all of them and simply focused on Stephen. It's a pretty cool thing to do! Several days a week at the gym on a bike and doing strength/core was nice and I missed that when I tried following other runners late last year.
Diet- I had to shed 15 to 20 pounds and I have zero patience so I got into the calorie counting deal. I gave up the eating out and bought a lunch box. MyFit Foods became my friend for lunches and dinners consist of veggies,protein and fruit for the most part. Breakfast - protein shake, 3 tablespoons of rolled oats and a chia cereal that keeps me full til lunch. I started out at 197. I'm a small frame person so that's a lot for me while running. I finally got down to 180 Sunday after a run and I'll see where it leads. I've ate good before but never really "got" it. Portion controls haven't been a strong suit for me. Yes I'd eat quality food but I would just eat more than I needed. I see people's struggles on social media with weight and food. The struggle is real but for me it's just about making better choices. I can't drink alcohol and run at the level I'm wanting to be. That's a battle for me but just like food, it's a choice. I do think I need to reward myself after a tough week but I'm starting to think that may just be a way to make excuses to drink or to eat crap. I'm still working on that......
What's ahead? I've got a couple of 50 milers this spring and then Leadville 100 in August. June & July I want to spend as much time as I can in Colorado running up mountains.... No pressure. Just get use to the elevation. After Leadville I'm not sure. That's too far away and I'm just enjoying each week training. I'm back to running and last week got close to 70 miles in plus my gym work.
I guess the purpose of this blog is that no matter what life throws at you, the setback can be used as a catapult to even bigger and better things in life if that's what you truly desire. Whining and moping would have just wasted time in my very short life and nobody's got time for that...... Til next time #RunStrong
Many runners view an injury as a negative but after over racing in 2015 I feel those 6 weeks were great! My core was in terrible shape and even though I had the legs to run a 100 in October,76 in Nov and 50 in December it would have been a tad easier with a stronger upper body. I just got time to reboot and decide what my priorities are in running. Just as in life when you get caught up in the hustle & bustle you sort of forget what you are doing and this is where I was. I had signed up for SnowDrop 55hr, Rocky 100 and Vol State 500k. I quickly dropped from all of them and simply focused on Stephen. It's a pretty cool thing to do! Several days a week at the gym on a bike and doing strength/core was nice and I missed that when I tried following other runners late last year.
Diet- I had to shed 15 to 20 pounds and I have zero patience so I got into the calorie counting deal. I gave up the eating out and bought a lunch box. MyFit Foods became my friend for lunches and dinners consist of veggies,protein and fruit for the most part. Breakfast - protein shake, 3 tablespoons of rolled oats and a chia cereal that keeps me full til lunch. I started out at 197. I'm a small frame person so that's a lot for me while running. I finally got down to 180 Sunday after a run and I'll see where it leads. I've ate good before but never really "got" it. Portion controls haven't been a strong suit for me. Yes I'd eat quality food but I would just eat more than I needed. I see people's struggles on social media with weight and food. The struggle is real but for me it's just about making better choices. I can't drink alcohol and run at the level I'm wanting to be. That's a battle for me but just like food, it's a choice. I do think I need to reward myself after a tough week but I'm starting to think that may just be a way to make excuses to drink or to eat crap. I'm still working on that......
What's ahead? I've got a couple of 50 milers this spring and then Leadville 100 in August. June & July I want to spend as much time as I can in Colorado running up mountains.... No pressure. Just get use to the elevation. After Leadville I'm not sure. That's too far away and I'm just enjoying each week training. I'm back to running and last week got close to 70 miles in plus my gym work.
I guess the purpose of this blog is that no matter what life throws at you, the setback can be used as a catapult to even bigger and better things in life if that's what you truly desire. Whining and moping would have just wasted time in my very short life and nobody's got time for that...... Til next time #RunStrong
Sunday, December 20, 2015
2015 - Another crazy year in life & running
Wow! Where to start or end this year? I went hard all year! Some great times and a few low points in all facets of my life. I guess when you try to live life with the throttle wide open you get that. Running- craziness but fell short of my goal of 2015 miles in 2015. Ended the year with 1917 miles and a bum ankle that'll keep me out of SnowDrop 55hr Ultra that would have let me hit my goal but it's ok. Things happen and more on that later....
Bandera 100k - wet and cold but done.
Rocky Raccoon- tripped at mile 75 n walked in and dropped. A hour later I felt great.
Not a race but running 30 miles with Patrick Sweeney & Jup Brown for a day. Just a unforgettable moment for me.
A-Ok 25k - fun run and got another cool plaque.
Austin Rattler 75k -DFL but got gobs of Gu for my effort and a slot in Leadville.
Possum Kimgdom 56k- Done pr'd by 1:57 over last year. Maybe a 7:30 next year?
Cruel Jewel 100 - timed out at mile 26. Had my butt handed to me but met some great people. No regrets.
Captain Karl 60k x4 - that's a hard series. 4 races in 75 days but a cool buckle for completing all of them. One day I want to do it again.
Fossil Rim 12hr- Finished with 26.2 miles. I ran a 60k the weekend before and the am of the race I ran 13 with a friend on another trail. That was a fun night and the honey is great!
Mogollon Monster- I had zero business running this race and was pulled 30 miles in when I was 4 minutes over the cutoff. It was awesome seeing 3 of my friends complete this epic race! I don't know if I'll go back to this or not. Not feeling it right now.
Pumpkin Hollar 100- Done. Probably the best 50 miles of my life as I was flying and it felt great. My pacers had to drag me home. Changed shoes at 70 to some tall Hoka's and turned a ankle but made it through.
Tunnel Hill 100- A really awesome and solid 73 miles with zero issues other than a brain freeze and not putting on enough clothing before the temps dropped. Mile 75 I couldn't stop shaking and had to drop. Afterwards the ankle was in pretty bad shape... 12 hours for the 1st 50 was too dang slow but I did get a 50 mile credit. I'll take it.
Brazos Bend 100- Great start but my ankle started hurting early on. Pretty much death marched from 33 to 50. Pain got up in my right ITB and I had to shut it down.
Lotsa racing. Too many attempts at 100's but I'm ok with it. I used a coach through May and kinda went free style the rest of the year. A friend Dale guided me some through the Capt K series and gave me some race day advice at Pumpkin but I think looking back that the value of a scripted schedule is hard to beat. You can't race your way into shape. Recovery post race is such a key as well. Looking at my fall races and my 50 mile splits plummeting from 10 hours at Pumpkin to 12 at Tunnel and down to 13:30 at Brazos shows me that one cannot race that heavy at this point in my career and be successful. Downtime is key and stopping to let injuries heal is so important. Maybe I'll do better in 2016...... :) Core is also key. I hit the gym hard from March through May and slacked off. I think it showed up in my runs. Sure I finished some tough races but might have finished more if my butt would have been in there grinding it out working on the little things. I finish the year sidelined and healing up and after just a few days in the gym it's nice waking up to a sore upper body and abs that hurt. I gained so much this year but gave so much back by not continuing with that work.
Personally- it's been a good ride this year. People have come into my life and stayed and some have came in and gone back out and that's ok. I've tried to stay true to who I am and if someone did something I didn't agree with then I called em on it. A couple got butt hurt and we don't talk but I'm alright with that. Through the ups and downs in life certain people are always there. They know who they are and I care about them like they are family. I slipped a little late summer and drank more than I ever have since I started running. That hurt my running and when I saw what it was doing to me personally it was a wake up call. I've struggled with it all my life and I can't surround myself with people who do that. I've corrected that and moved on. Sometimes looking in the mirror is tough but that's the only way people improve themselves. Life is a journey and on a journey constant adjustments must be made.
2016- I'm really excited!!! I was able to roll my Leadville entry to 2016 and have already entered so I'll be toeing that line in August! I signed up for Rocky before I knew I was hurt. I may go and use it as a training run but I'll see. I signed up for Vol State 500k and depending on how I feel and what my coach says will decide that. (I gotta find a coach 1st) Brazos Bend 50 is definitely a must do as well as all of the Trail Racing Over Texas fall races. I've been blessed to be a #TROT ambassador for the 2016 season so you will hear a lot about their events from me. It's a great organization with awesome races. Personally I just hope to be a better person I was than I was in 2015. We all trip and fall in life. It's how we react to it that makes us who we are. I can't wait to see everyone out there on the trails next year! Til next time #RunStrong
Bandera 100k - wet and cold but done.
Rocky Raccoon- tripped at mile 75 n walked in and dropped. A hour later I felt great.
Not a race but running 30 miles with Patrick Sweeney & Jup Brown for a day. Just a unforgettable moment for me.
A-Ok 25k - fun run and got another cool plaque.
Austin Rattler 75k -DFL but got gobs of Gu for my effort and a slot in Leadville.
Possum Kimgdom 56k- Done pr'd by 1:57 over last year. Maybe a 7:30 next year?
Cruel Jewel 100 - timed out at mile 26. Had my butt handed to me but met some great people. No regrets.
Captain Karl 60k x4 - that's a hard series. 4 races in 75 days but a cool buckle for completing all of them. One day I want to do it again.
Fossil Rim 12hr- Finished with 26.2 miles. I ran a 60k the weekend before and the am of the race I ran 13 with a friend on another trail. That was a fun night and the honey is great!
Mogollon Monster- I had zero business running this race and was pulled 30 miles in when I was 4 minutes over the cutoff. It was awesome seeing 3 of my friends complete this epic race! I don't know if I'll go back to this or not. Not feeling it right now.
Pumpkin Hollar 100- Done. Probably the best 50 miles of my life as I was flying and it felt great. My pacers had to drag me home. Changed shoes at 70 to some tall Hoka's and turned a ankle but made it through.
Tunnel Hill 100- A really awesome and solid 73 miles with zero issues other than a brain freeze and not putting on enough clothing before the temps dropped. Mile 75 I couldn't stop shaking and had to drop. Afterwards the ankle was in pretty bad shape... 12 hours for the 1st 50 was too dang slow but I did get a 50 mile credit. I'll take it.
Brazos Bend 100- Great start but my ankle started hurting early on. Pretty much death marched from 33 to 50. Pain got up in my right ITB and I had to shut it down.
Lotsa racing. Too many attempts at 100's but I'm ok with it. I used a coach through May and kinda went free style the rest of the year. A friend Dale guided me some through the Capt K series and gave me some race day advice at Pumpkin but I think looking back that the value of a scripted schedule is hard to beat. You can't race your way into shape. Recovery post race is such a key as well. Looking at my fall races and my 50 mile splits plummeting from 10 hours at Pumpkin to 12 at Tunnel and down to 13:30 at Brazos shows me that one cannot race that heavy at this point in my career and be successful. Downtime is key and stopping to let injuries heal is so important. Maybe I'll do better in 2016...... :) Core is also key. I hit the gym hard from March through May and slacked off. I think it showed up in my runs. Sure I finished some tough races but might have finished more if my butt would have been in there grinding it out working on the little things. I finish the year sidelined and healing up and after just a few days in the gym it's nice waking up to a sore upper body and abs that hurt. I gained so much this year but gave so much back by not continuing with that work.
Personally- it's been a good ride this year. People have come into my life and stayed and some have came in and gone back out and that's ok. I've tried to stay true to who I am and if someone did something I didn't agree with then I called em on it. A couple got butt hurt and we don't talk but I'm alright with that. Through the ups and downs in life certain people are always there. They know who they are and I care about them like they are family. I slipped a little late summer and drank more than I ever have since I started running. That hurt my running and when I saw what it was doing to me personally it was a wake up call. I've struggled with it all my life and I can't surround myself with people who do that. I've corrected that and moved on. Sometimes looking in the mirror is tough but that's the only way people improve themselves. Life is a journey and on a journey constant adjustments must be made.
2016- I'm really excited!!! I was able to roll my Leadville entry to 2016 and have already entered so I'll be toeing that line in August! I signed up for Rocky before I knew I was hurt. I may go and use it as a training run but I'll see. I signed up for Vol State 500k and depending on how I feel and what my coach says will decide that. (I gotta find a coach 1st) Brazos Bend 50 is definitely a must do as well as all of the Trail Racing Over Texas fall races. I've been blessed to be a #TROT ambassador for the 2016 season so you will hear a lot about their events from me. It's a great organization with awesome races. Personally I just hope to be a better person I was than I was in 2015. We all trip and fall in life. It's how we react to it that makes us who we are. I can't wait to see everyone out there on the trails next year! Til next time #RunStrong
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