I’m back to blogging. I had to take an extended reprieve from it simply for time issues. I spent the last 2 years busy earning my teaching license and my Masters of Education. When I was not working my full time job I was busy with school, or running, or living life. There were of course plenty of interesting blogable adventures, stories, and races to share but the time eluded me.
This spring Lynnette, my wife and girlfriend, gave birth to our little Katrina. She is now 3 months old:
I have high hopes for this coming season with races already stacking up. Next week I’ll be running the Black Canyon Ascent http://sanjuanmountainrunners.org/?page_id=173 – a 6 mile uphill run that gains about 2000 feet. The Course Record is right at 40 minutes even. I hope to run fast. In preparation for some of my races this year I’ve been doing repeat miles. Up until last week I was doing the miles on the treadmill. I’ll run 3, 4, or 5x1 mile. My breaks between miles have remained constant at 7.5 mph for 2 minutes which translates into a ¼ mile break at 8 minute pace. January and February miles were a about 5:20 pace. Finally by March I was running low 5 minute mile. Then in April I did a lifelong dream: I ran my first sub 5 minute mile on a treadmill: 4:58.
In the last few weeks I’ve also picked up 2 knew sponsors in addition to SportHill. http://www.sporthill.com/ . They are V Fuel http://vfuel.com/ and Barlean’s Organic Oils http://www.barleans.com/. V Fuel makes great energy gels that are easy to digest. Also they are one of the few gels around that also has fat to help with the fuel absorption into the body. Check out Barlean’s website. They have flax seed, chia seed, coconut oil, other needed oils, greens, etc. I’ve been using their products for the last few weeks for recovery and nutrition. Even their fish oil which is all natural without sugar tastes great… For those of you who are worried that the fish oil might taste fishy… it does not. Great product check it out.
Stay tuned for updates.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Sage Burner 2012
The Sage Burner 25K (Actualy GPS at 16.5 miles): Website and results are here. http://sageburnertrailrun.com/
A Monday race... granted it was Memorial Day but it still was a little different. I figured overall competition and numbers at the race would be down. There were only 120+ people who competed down from over a usual 200+. My goal for the race was simple run a new course record. I did not check the CR before running but i figured it was about 1:55 (it was 1:57:30). After a quick couple minute warm up, seeing old friends and new faces, and a few starting line instructions the race was off. I wanted to warm into the race while going up the first hill while also testing the waters and see who would be competing with me. By 5 minutes into the race. I was surprised that with the initial warm-up all but one had dropped and I was left with only Dane Michele on my heels. He would not budge. I thought of a race strategy to unsettle him. First I noticed he would not voluntarily pass. He was content to give me the lead and let me set the pace. We pounded down a single trace (The Ridge) and he remained stoic giving little as too his plan. At the bottom of the single track I slowed up to a painfully slow jog and let him have the lead. He started hammering up the next hill with me close on his heels. I realized then that I was faster on the uphills, but did not attempt to pass. At the top of the hill Dane continued to hammer downhill. Unlike the uphill portion where I could easily match stride with stride I was now pushing it to remain within close proximity. I realized that Dane was running the downhills better, whereas I was running the uphills better. With this knowledge I was ready to take the lead again and run like the wind. I passed Dane and rolled over undulating terrain which was neither predominantly up or down hill. I hammered through an aid station (about mile 4) just ahead of Dane. I continued on building a 6 second lead until I ran up to a closed gait. I stopped and fumbled with the latch on the gate. I knew my lead was gone so I took the few seconds to relax and relish the easy of the moment.
Once again I headed off just a stride up on Dane. Once again I increased my lead by just a few seconds. We yo-yoed as my lead would go from one stride to 5 seconds ahead and back again. I continually pushed the pace not sure if I could hold on. This eventually gave me an 8 second lead. But then came the long downhill down to the Josie's aid station near mile 9. On the downhill Dane caught up but did not want to pass. We ran through the aid station in 1:00:41. I knew that the longest continuous uphill followed the aid station so I once again dropped the hammer and pushed the pace up the next single tracks: Buddy Bear, Broken Shovel, and Josho's. I was unsure if i could continue the staggering pace but kept at it. I was determined that I was going to drop Dane and win. The risk paid off as I pulled away from Dane and started building up a lead. I averaged 10 seconds per mile faster for the next 3 miles and built up close to a 30 second lead on Dane. I continued hammering with the goal to finish. The last 2 or 3 single tracks disappeared and I crossed the finish line setting a new CR of 1:51:30. Dane finished 31 seconds later.
The race was solid. My legs felt great despite hammering in the race and running a long training run just 2 days prior to the race. A friend of mine, Allen Peoples, also ran a great time in the race. He was 17th. After the race we scarfed down left over Chinese food from the day before, watched a movie, and then scampered up Mt Emmons 12,391 up near Crested Butte. The Sage Burner was a great race and benchmark. I know where I am at physically and look forward to the Hardrock 100 in a month.
A Monday race... granted it was Memorial Day but it still was a little different. I figured overall competition and numbers at the race would be down. There were only 120+ people who competed down from over a usual 200+. My goal for the race was simple run a new course record. I did not check the CR before running but i figured it was about 1:55 (it was 1:57:30). After a quick couple minute warm up, seeing old friends and new faces, and a few starting line instructions the race was off. I wanted to warm into the race while going up the first hill while also testing the waters and see who would be competing with me. By 5 minutes into the race. I was surprised that with the initial warm-up all but one had dropped and I was left with only Dane Michele on my heels. He would not budge. I thought of a race strategy to unsettle him. First I noticed he would not voluntarily pass. He was content to give me the lead and let me set the pace. We pounded down a single trace (The Ridge) and he remained stoic giving little as too his plan. At the bottom of the single track I slowed up to a painfully slow jog and let him have the lead. He started hammering up the next hill with me close on his heels. I realized then that I was faster on the uphills, but did not attempt to pass. At the top of the hill Dane continued to hammer downhill. Unlike the uphill portion where I could easily match stride with stride I was now pushing it to remain within close proximity. I realized that Dane was running the downhills better, whereas I was running the uphills better. With this knowledge I was ready to take the lead again and run like the wind. I passed Dane and rolled over undulating terrain which was neither predominantly up or down hill. I hammered through an aid station (about mile 4) just ahead of Dane. I continued on building a 6 second lead until I ran up to a closed gait. I stopped and fumbled with the latch on the gate. I knew my lead was gone so I took the few seconds to relax and relish the easy of the moment.
Once again I headed off just a stride up on Dane. Once again I increased my lead by just a few seconds. We yo-yoed as my lead would go from one stride to 5 seconds ahead and back again. I continually pushed the pace not sure if I could hold on. This eventually gave me an 8 second lead. But then came the long downhill down to the Josie's aid station near mile 9. On the downhill Dane caught up but did not want to pass. We ran through the aid station in 1:00:41. I knew that the longest continuous uphill followed the aid station so I once again dropped the hammer and pushed the pace up the next single tracks: Buddy Bear, Broken Shovel, and Josho's. I was unsure if i could continue the staggering pace but kept at it. I was determined that I was going to drop Dane and win. The risk paid off as I pulled away from Dane and started building up a lead. I averaged 10 seconds per mile faster for the next 3 miles and built up close to a 30 second lead on Dane. I continued hammering with the goal to finish. The last 2 or 3 single tracks disappeared and I crossed the finish line setting a new CR of 1:51:30. Dane finished 31 seconds later.
The race was solid. My legs felt great despite hammering in the race and running a long training run just 2 days prior to the race. A friend of mine, Allen Peoples, also ran a great time in the race. He was 17th. After the race we scarfed down left over Chinese food from the day before, watched a movie, and then scampered up Mt Emmons 12,391 up near Crested Butte. The Sage Burner was a great race and benchmark. I know where I am at physically and look forward to the Hardrock 100 in a month.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Moab Red Hot 55K
Moab: I had been looking forward to racing Moab. The race I knew would give me a decent benchmark of my fitness. Lynnette and I drove down Friday night ready for a relaxing weekend. The morning was cold around 20 degrees but with a clear sky promising warm weather later in the day. I started with just shorts and a singlet figuring I would warm up. The first few miles found inviting patches of sun intermixed with cool numbing shading. I thought how the cold would soon be past but it seemed to go indefinitely. Finally by the first aid station near mile 5 I was starting to warm up. I was in first place by this point but only by a few seconds. I clicked off the mile up to the overlook somewhere 10 miles into the race. Down below the racer’s cars still lined the road for quarter mile looking like the mini Hot Wheels I used to play with.
I continued to cruise as my body resounded. I was eating and drinking well but did not feel as strong as other years. I know my base is not as good as previous years but I could still race well. Midway at mile 17 or so I had about a 1-2 minute lead. Not very much really. Soon I was on the most adventurous and enjoyable part of the course: the slick rock trails of Gold Bar Rim. I ran up and down the slick rock jumping cracks and boulders and bounding down drops. I followed the trail ribbon mostly successfully but my tired body was finding it difficult to follow it precise. At one point 20 yards off course I had to down climb a 10 foot rock section. Around mile 24 my lead was abolished as both Kevin Koch and Eric Bohn passed me battling it out for 1st. I could just watch. A mile later, Karl Meltzer passed me as well. My rough patch between miles 23-27 was finally over. I started running with a purpose again hopping to chase down one of the lead runners. The fantasy served to help keep me running with speed.
I crossed the finish line tired but knowing I had raced well and was content with my effort. My training right now must continue through May to be a fine line of putting in the miles amongst school and life. For now a winter and spring foundation must grow as speed and fitness await for the summer.
Up next: Salida Marathon
I continued to cruise as my body resounded. I was eating and drinking well but did not feel as strong as other years. I know my base is not as good as previous years but I could still race well. Midway at mile 17 or so I had about a 1-2 minute lead. Not very much really. Soon I was on the most adventurous and enjoyable part of the course: the slick rock trails of Gold Bar Rim. I ran up and down the slick rock jumping cracks and boulders and bounding down drops. I followed the trail ribbon mostly successfully but my tired body was finding it difficult to follow it precise. At one point 20 yards off course I had to down climb a 10 foot rock section. Around mile 24 my lead was abolished as both Kevin Koch and Eric Bohn passed me battling it out for 1st. I could just watch. A mile later, Karl Meltzer passed me as well. My rough patch between miles 23-27 was finally over. I started running with a purpose again hopping to chase down one of the lead runners. The fantasy served to help keep me running with speed.
I crossed the finish line tired but knowing I had raced well and was content with my effort. My training right now must continue through May to be a fine line of putting in the miles amongst school and life. For now a winter and spring foundation must grow as speed and fitness await for the summer.
Up next: Salida Marathon
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
2012 Starts
It is a new year: 2012 and it is almost 10% over. I’m busy student teaching at the Gunnison Middle School finishing up my year. Student teaching should pay off in the future with an actual job. My days are spent teaching, running, and doing homework or lesson plans. I’ve been able to balance life, training, work, school, and school work, not an easy task. Lynnette has been amazing doing extra work around the house and baking to help keep me fueled and going. I’ve been training a good deal in preparation for the upcoming races this year.
Tentatively I’m planning on racing the Moab 55K (about 34 miles) in 2 weeks. It promises to be a great season opener as a well as a benchmark that will inform me what shape I am in. I’ve only had two-3 hour runs (about 24 miles) in training this year so we will see how hard Moab will be. Come March there will be the Salida Marathon. April will not disappoint with the Fruita Fifty. May offers the Black Canyon of the Gunnison 10K race. June will bring both warm weather and a potential North Face 50 mile race in Virginia. July will come and usher in THE RACE: The Hardrock 100. After July the summer will be filled with more training, a little school, a lot of mountains, and either the Leadville 100, or an attempt at the Colorado 14ers Record… or maybe both. We will see.
Tentatively I’m planning on racing the Moab 55K (about 34 miles) in 2 weeks. It promises to be a great season opener as a well as a benchmark that will inform me what shape I am in. I’ve only had two-3 hour runs (about 24 miles) in training this year so we will see how hard Moab will be. Come March there will be the Salida Marathon. April will not disappoint with the Fruita Fifty. May offers the Black Canyon of the Gunnison 10K race. June will bring both warm weather and a potential North Face 50 mile race in Virginia. July will come and usher in THE RACE: The Hardrock 100. After July the summer will be filled with more training, a little school, a lot of mountains, and either the Leadville 100, or an attempt at the Colorado 14ers Record… or maybe both. We will see.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Wasatch 100
Quick Wasatch 100 overview. I finally felt recovered from Leadville. It was time to race another 100 miles. I drove over Thursday to Salt Lake City with Duncan Callahan and my brother Super Danny. Duncan was going to crew for me; Super D was going to crew for Duncan… and me. We arrived 2 hours prior to the race meeting so Duncan and I went for a quick run which I followed up with a subsequent nap. After the meeting we drove to the start, ate some food, and found a nice quite cul-de-sac ½ mile away to crash at until the wee early hours.
I slept soundly and was ready to race. At 5:00 am sharp we started our bid to pocket 100 miles in the rugged Wasatch Front. Little did I know that I’d be dropping out of the race 60+ miles later. The first 2 hours went by quickly as we slowly trudged from 5000 feet up to nearly 10,000. We were mostly in a fast walk and I felt controlled. By mile 8 the majority of our early race climbing was completed. I fell in step with the leaders including Evan Honeyfield eventual winner. Meanwhile Luke Nelson was leading about 3 minutes up. Evan and I ran and chatted. I ended up passing him on a steep uphill. We both were walking I was just walking a little quicker. I soon caught Luke and put a minute lead on both Luke and Evan.
The trail was overgrown difficult to follow at times. At one point the trail disappeared and I had to bushwhack and guess where the race went. I luckily kept finding the race ribbon showing that I was indeed on track. My minute lead was short lived as Luke and Evan caught up to me at mile 33. I was happy to have the company. We ran together through the mile 35 aid station which had frozen popsicles which helped revive me. I was overheating and starting to feel nauseated. Luke took the lead at mile 36 and never looked back, Evan followed and held off a charging Carl Metzler for 2nd place. I was unable to reciprocate. I arrived at mile 40 just a few minutes back from Evan and Luke. I felt dehydrated and drained. I rested about 5 minutes at the aid station getting much needed help from Duncan and Dan. I soon left but felt lethargic and slow. I was unable to run at a decent clip. I tripped and stumbled and somehow made it to mile 53. Duncan was planning on running with me from mile 60 but decided to go from 53.
I was deflated and felt like it was not my best day of running. With Duncan by my side I was soon able to run again. He kept me going and I felt ok. Then it came. There was a long downhill which although I felt good on, I lost my cookies at mile 58. Then again at mile 60 and 61 and 62. I stumbled into the mile 62 aid station feeling horrible. I puked several more times in the next 30 minutes all while sitting in the aid. After an hour of hanging out in the aid station I finally could keep light food down. To continue or not, that was my question. I decided to call the race. I did not feel like stumbling for 12 hours and 40 miles just to walk and maybe jog a little. I dropped out.
Duncan, Danny, and I started the drive back to Gunnison . We camped out in Price and finished the drive the next day (Saturday). Once home I started feeling poor. That night I went to bed with a fever. On Sunday and Monday I slept or rested all day. I was congested and felt like puke; I still did not want to eat. My fever finally broke Tuesday morning.
Wasatch was fun but I felt horrid. I think I was coming down with the flu yet I just did not notice any symptoms prior to racing. At any rate, I want to come back and race well at Wasatch. Until we meet again, Wasatch, until we meet again.
I slept soundly and was ready to race. At 5:00 am sharp we started our bid to pocket 100 miles in the rugged Wasatch Front. Little did I know that I’d be dropping out of the race 60+ miles later. The first 2 hours went by quickly as we slowly trudged from 5000 feet up to nearly 10,000. We were mostly in a fast walk and I felt controlled. By mile 8 the majority of our early race climbing was completed. I fell in step with the leaders including Evan Honeyfield eventual winner. Meanwhile Luke Nelson was leading about 3 minutes up. Evan and I ran and chatted. I ended up passing him on a steep uphill. We both were walking I was just walking a little quicker. I soon caught Luke and put a minute lead on both Luke and Evan.
The trail was overgrown difficult to follow at times. At one point the trail disappeared and I had to bushwhack and guess where the race went. I luckily kept finding the race ribbon showing that I was indeed on track. My minute lead was short lived as Luke and Evan caught up to me at mile 33. I was happy to have the company. We ran together through the mile 35 aid station which had frozen popsicles which helped revive me. I was overheating and starting to feel nauseated. Luke took the lead at mile 36 and never looked back, Evan followed and held off a charging Carl Metzler for 2nd place. I was unable to reciprocate. I arrived at mile 40 just a few minutes back from Evan and Luke. I felt dehydrated and drained. I rested about 5 minutes at the aid station getting much needed help from Duncan and Dan. I soon left but felt lethargic and slow. I was unable to run at a decent clip. I tripped and stumbled and somehow made it to mile 53. Duncan was planning on running with me from mile 60 but decided to go from 53.
I was deflated and felt like it was not my best day of running. With Duncan by my side I was soon able to run again. He kept me going and I felt ok. Then it came. There was a long downhill which although I felt good on, I lost my cookies at mile 58. Then again at mile 60 and 61 and 62. I stumbled into the mile 62 aid station feeling horrible. I puked several more times in the next 30 minutes all while sitting in the aid. After an hour of hanging out in the aid station I finally could keep light food down. To continue or not, that was my question. I decided to call the race. I did not feel like stumbling for 12 hours and 40 miles just to walk and maybe jog a little. I dropped out.
Duncan, Danny, and I started the drive back to Gunnison . We camped out in Price and finished the drive the next day (Saturday). Once home I started feeling poor. That night I went to bed with a fever. On Sunday and Monday I slept or rested all day. I was congested and felt like puke; I still did not want to eat. My fever finally broke Tuesday morning.
Wasatch was fun but I felt horrid. I think I was coming down with the flu yet I just did not notice any symptoms prior to racing. At any rate, I want to come back and race well at Wasatch. Until we meet again, Wasatch, until we meet again.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Leadville 100 Mile Race
The morning had come after a night filled with saxophone, thunder, rain, and lightening. The former was a short lived nuisance of a Grandma in an adjacent apartment telling her grandson to play… at 9:00 pm. Duncan and I stayed with legendary Bill Dooper who graciously housed and cared for us.
I towed the starting line awake with a small touch of grogginess overwhelmed by nervous excitement, I was ready to race. We were off running at a steady yet easy conversational pace. By Boat Ramp I was leading a small troupe of runners: Ryan Burch http://ryanwburch.blogspot.com/ , Dylan Bowman http://dylanjbowman.blogspot.com/ , Ryan Sands http://ryansandes.com/blog/ , Duncan Callahan http://strategicendurance.com/ , Neal Gorman http://nealgorman.blogspot.com/ , and Jeff Browning http://www.gobroncobilly.com/ . About 100 yards in front of us were the 3 leaders: Mike Arnstein, and two others.
At Mayqueen I zipped through pausing just long enough to top off my bottle. Dylan flew through faster. I caught up to him on the Colorado Trail up to Haggerman Pass Road. Unbeknownst to us we were now in 2nd and 3d place behind Mike as the other two ‘leaders’ had paused longer at the aid station. Once on Haggerman we were certain that we were now 2nd and 3d. I picked it up a little to catch mike who was throwing down. I soon caught mike and we chatted. Then about halfway down Sugarloaf, Dylan, Burch, and Ryan Sands caught up to us. This was the pack I was expecting.
We ran together but Mike kept putting on surges. I would follow suit simply because our pace was right on for the goal half of 7:50. But at Fish Hatchery Mike ran through again without so much as a pause giving him a 40 second lead. I kept at it. By mile 33 I had my first low point in the race forcing me to slow up and give up my chase of Mike. He was now 3 minutes up. Dylan, Burch, and Ryan Sands caught up back up to me (I only had a 30 second lead anyways), and they lead exchanging the lead down to Twin Lakes. Finally at mile 37 I started to roll again and actively participated in the chase peloton. We rolled into Twin Lakes in a pack an estimated 2 minutes back from Mike.
At this point Dylan, Burch, and I casually ran over the marshes and through the river to Grand Hope Pass’s base we went. Sands was only a minute back from us. I started the climb going a little faster than my compatriots. By half way up I was 1 minute up on Dylan and Burch, yet surprisingly there was Sands 15 yards behind me. He was patient, methodical, and looked strong. I had been having some salt issues and cramps going up Hope so I took a few salt tabs. The cramps increased, mostly in my quads, so kept taking the salt tabs. I ended up taking 12 salt tabs the hour prior to the Hope Pass aid station. Each tab was 340 mg of sodium and 21 mg of potassium. This equaled about 4,000 mg of sodium and 260 mg of Potassium.
With all this salt and potassium I would think my cramps would subside, which they would in 5 minute interludes only to return with full force. At the Hope Pass aid station I knew I had to break and get my electrolyte balance back under control. I stopped letting Sands trudge on solitarily. 3 minutes uphill I could see Mike in the lead. I drank 12 oz of Coke and had the most amazing half cup of instant mashed potatoes with salt. Actually, they might have been salt with a dash of mashed potatoes. Normally I might have gagged from the high potent salt mixture. This time I devoured it. With the proper salt I set off in 5th place in hot pursuit of Dylan and Ryan who had passed through.
They crested and pass about 1 minute up on me. I descended after them with a static and nonthreatening pace. I would take it easy down hope so as not to destroy my quads. Yet, there at the bottom of hope, to my surprise, I ran into Ryan and Dylan. We trudged up road to Winfield. The road is hot, dusty, and beckons one to go loony. I made a quick pit stop and continued in hot pursuit. Nearing Winfield I knew I was sitting pretty. Sands was 5 minutes up in first place, then Mike was 4 minutes up, Dylan was 3 minutes on me, and Burch was about 1 minute up.
I stopped at Winfield for a quick break eating and drinking. My difference in weight was negligible. I had neither gained nor lost weight. I left Winfield ready to start racing. Grant, my pacer, carried all that I needed. Going up Hope we maintained a consistent non taxing hike, walk, jog. By the summit I had drained two 16 oz bottles one of water, the other electrolyte. Grant soon filled up at the aid station while I kept trudging downhill. Burch also had to stop at the aid station propelling me to 4th place. We kept a solid pace but did not kill it (indeed Duncan went over 4 minutes faster than I did). Soon we overcame Mike who seemed to be having a rough time and going through a low spot. I was now in 3d.
I ran into Twin Lakes, mile 60, feeling confident, strong, and ready to chase down the 2 remaining leaders who were now 5 to 15 minutes up on me respectively. Sully, my next pacer kept me going and eating as we trudged up out of Twin Lakes. The next couple hours went by quickly. I kept running really never feeling all that bad. We kept getting reports that we were 15, 20, 25 minutes back. I figured we were still on 17 hour pace, which was where I wanted to be. I started to slow but not dramatically… I was still good. I went through pipeline and was confident.
Between pipeline and Fish Hatchery I started to falter. I think it was a lack of electrolyte. I had been drinking mostly water and craving salt. I ended up slowing more and walking the mile into Fish Hatchery. Meanwhile, Neal Gorman passed me and Mike would pass me in the aid station. I stopped in Fish Hatchery drinking the much needed Coke yet really not eating that much.
I left Fish Hatchery feeling horrible. Slow, tried, drained, worthless. All of which were not true. Brian, my pacer did a fabulous job of negotiating my eating. He got me to eat, to jog, to drink, to go. Over Sugarloaf my energy came back as Brian made me eat 3 goos,2 gels, 12 oz of coke and 14 oz of water. This was perfect, I was rolling again.
At Mayqueen I drank some hot Romen soup, and then got going with Scott Drum who took over for Brian. 5 minutes later I puked up the Romen. From there, for the next hour and a half I could not keep any liquid nor food down. I finally resolved to run the last 7 miles without food or water. Towards the end I was able to take the smallest sip to wet my parched mouth. At times I trudged on stopping only to puke. During one of these ‘breaks’ Ryan, and Jeff Browning passed me. Scott got me through. I trudged up the last few miles of the course on Boulevard, trying to maintain and finish, which I did in 7th place in 19 hours 2 minutes 4seconds.
Sands had gone on to win in 16:46, with Dylan Bowman in the fastest non-winning time of about 17:19.
Complete results are here: http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0020/6737/LT100_Run_Overall_30_Plus.pdf
Overall, solid run even with some stomach and electrolyte issues. It was great getting to race with friends and great competitors. I want to come back and challenge Leadville yet again.
Special thanks to SportHill http://sporthill.com/ and their continued support, my support team and pacers, and old friends, teachers, and coaches who showed up. I appreciate all the support and fellowship that you extend. Thank you!
I towed the starting line awake with a small touch of grogginess overwhelmed by nervous excitement, I was ready to race. We were off running at a steady yet easy conversational pace. By Boat Ramp I was leading a small troupe of runners: Ryan Burch http://ryanwburch.blogspot.com/ , Dylan Bowman http://dylanjbowman.blogspot.com/ , Ryan Sands http://ryansandes.com/blog/ , Duncan Callahan http://strategicendurance.com/ , Neal Gorman http://nealgorman.blogspot.com/ , and Jeff Browning http://www.gobroncobilly.com/ . About 100 yards in front of us were the 3 leaders: Mike Arnstein, and two others.
At Mayqueen I zipped through pausing just long enough to top off my bottle. Dylan flew through faster. I caught up to him on the Colorado Trail up to Haggerman Pass Road. Unbeknownst to us we were now in 2nd and 3d place behind Mike as the other two ‘leaders’ had paused longer at the aid station. Once on Haggerman we were certain that we were now 2nd and 3d. I picked it up a little to catch mike who was throwing down. I soon caught mike and we chatted. Then about halfway down Sugarloaf, Dylan, Burch, and Ryan Sands caught up to us. This was the pack I was expecting.
We ran together but Mike kept putting on surges. I would follow suit simply because our pace was right on for the goal half of 7:50. But at Fish Hatchery Mike ran through again without so much as a pause giving him a 40 second lead. I kept at it. By mile 33 I had my first low point in the race forcing me to slow up and give up my chase of Mike. He was now 3 minutes up. Dylan, Burch, and Ryan Sands caught up back up to me (I only had a 30 second lead anyways), and they lead exchanging the lead down to Twin Lakes. Finally at mile 37 I started to roll again and actively participated in the chase peloton. We rolled into Twin Lakes in a pack an estimated 2 minutes back from Mike.
At this point Dylan, Burch, and I casually ran over the marshes and through the river to Grand Hope Pass’s base we went. Sands was only a minute back from us. I started the climb going a little faster than my compatriots. By half way up I was 1 minute up on Dylan and Burch, yet surprisingly there was Sands 15 yards behind me. He was patient, methodical, and looked strong. I had been having some salt issues and cramps going up Hope so I took a few salt tabs. The cramps increased, mostly in my quads, so kept taking the salt tabs. I ended up taking 12 salt tabs the hour prior to the Hope Pass aid station. Each tab was 340 mg of sodium and 21 mg of potassium. This equaled about 4,000 mg of sodium and 260 mg of Potassium.
With all this salt and potassium I would think my cramps would subside, which they would in 5 minute interludes only to return with full force. At the Hope Pass aid station I knew I had to break and get my electrolyte balance back under control. I stopped letting Sands trudge on solitarily. 3 minutes uphill I could see Mike in the lead. I drank 12 oz of Coke and had the most amazing half cup of instant mashed potatoes with salt. Actually, they might have been salt with a dash of mashed potatoes. Normally I might have gagged from the high potent salt mixture. This time I devoured it. With the proper salt I set off in 5th place in hot pursuit of Dylan and Ryan who had passed through.
They crested and pass about 1 minute up on me. I descended after them with a static and nonthreatening pace. I would take it easy down hope so as not to destroy my quads. Yet, there at the bottom of hope, to my surprise, I ran into Ryan and Dylan. We trudged up road to Winfield. The road is hot, dusty, and beckons one to go loony. I made a quick pit stop and continued in hot pursuit. Nearing Winfield I knew I was sitting pretty. Sands was 5 minutes up in first place, then Mike was 4 minutes up, Dylan was 3 minutes on me, and Burch was about 1 minute up.
I stopped at Winfield for a quick break eating and drinking. My difference in weight was negligible. I had neither gained nor lost weight. I left Winfield ready to start racing. Grant, my pacer, carried all that I needed. Going up Hope we maintained a consistent non taxing hike, walk, jog. By the summit I had drained two 16 oz bottles one of water, the other electrolyte. Grant soon filled up at the aid station while I kept trudging downhill. Burch also had to stop at the aid station propelling me to 4th place. We kept a solid pace but did not kill it (indeed Duncan went over 4 minutes faster than I did). Soon we overcame Mike who seemed to be having a rough time and going through a low spot. I was now in 3d.
I ran into Twin Lakes, mile 60, feeling confident, strong, and ready to chase down the 2 remaining leaders who were now 5 to 15 minutes up on me respectively. Sully, my next pacer kept me going and eating as we trudged up out of Twin Lakes. The next couple hours went by quickly. I kept running really never feeling all that bad. We kept getting reports that we were 15, 20, 25 minutes back. I figured we were still on 17 hour pace, which was where I wanted to be. I started to slow but not dramatically… I was still good. I went through pipeline and was confident.
Between pipeline and Fish Hatchery I started to falter. I think it was a lack of electrolyte. I had been drinking mostly water and craving salt. I ended up slowing more and walking the mile into Fish Hatchery. Meanwhile, Neal Gorman passed me and Mike would pass me in the aid station. I stopped in Fish Hatchery drinking the much needed Coke yet really not eating that much.
I left Fish Hatchery feeling horrible. Slow, tried, drained, worthless. All of which were not true. Brian, my pacer did a fabulous job of negotiating my eating. He got me to eat, to jog, to drink, to go. Over Sugarloaf my energy came back as Brian made me eat 3 goos,2 gels, 12 oz of coke and 14 oz of water. This was perfect, I was rolling again.
At Mayqueen I drank some hot Romen soup, and then got going with Scott Drum who took over for Brian. 5 minutes later I puked up the Romen. From there, for the next hour and a half I could not keep any liquid nor food down. I finally resolved to run the last 7 miles without food or water. Towards the end I was able to take the smallest sip to wet my parched mouth. At times I trudged on stopping only to puke. During one of these ‘breaks’ Ryan, and Jeff Browning passed me. Scott got me through. I trudged up the last few miles of the course on Boulevard, trying to maintain and finish, which I did in 7th place in 19 hours 2 minutes 4seconds.
Sands had gone on to win in 16:46, with Dylan Bowman in the fastest non-winning time of about 17:19.
Complete results are here: http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0020/6737/LT100_Run_Overall_30_Plus.pdf
Overall, solid run even with some stomach and electrolyte issues. It was great getting to race with friends and great competitors. I want to come back and challenge Leadville yet again.
Special thanks to SportHill http://sporthill.com/ and their continued support, my support team and pacers, and old friends, teachers, and coaches who showed up. I appreciate all the support and fellowship that you extend. Thank you!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Leadville Countdown
Leadville’s clock is ticking, and Saturday will be here in a moment that seems to last an eternity. I’ve been looking forward to a return to Leadville for some time and I will not be disappointed. The competition is stacked… as it seems to always be these days. I’ve put in the miles and the time of training, so to wait and trust that I am indeed ready. This week I’ve been resting up and preparing mentally for a long day. I go to bed and Leadville is on my mind. I think of all the training that I’ve put in. I wake up and Leadville is already on my mind. Hours of running, joy and pain, laughter and crying mixed with desire and heart. It will be great. I am prepared. I am ready. I am a Timmy.
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