"Short Memory Loss"

" I think UltraRunners must have a very poor memory or no one would do another race. You tend to forget the pain and misery and only remember the thrill of accomplishment. Sometimes you even welcome the pain because it causes you to overcome your weaknesses and become a little stronger each time." ~ Bethany Hunter (UltraRunner)

Well folks, two weeks after the McNaughton 50 miler, I'm still having some ankle issues that is not going away anytime soon.

The Ultra race did a little dance on my ankle.

So Ultra training plan B, C, and D is going into effect this week. Time on the boring elliptical trainer and StairMaster. I have less than 2 weeks to bring myself to the starting line of my second 50 mile UltraMarathon in four weeks.

Hmmm, what to do?

1) Do I show up?

2) Do I D.N.S.

3) Do I drop down to the 50k?

So I guess the decision for me for now is going to behind door #1. I think I have enough fitness to be able to make it all the way. I guess trying to do Half-Ass of something is better than Half-Ass of nothing. That's my thought anyway.

Do I run the risk of further injury? Maybe or Maybe not. Proceed with caution, I've been told.

It's just 10 miles than repeat 5 times. Right? For me it is more of a scouting mission or planting the seed for maybe next year's run of the Kettle 100. Plus I really wanted to wear my new trial running hat that appeared on my door step one fine day.

On the IM training front, a semi-solid full fledged training week minus the running :( A second straight week of outdoor bike rides (40 & 50 miles over the weekend, it's a start) and two flat tires. A flat tire for the second straight week as well. Some days I think I would rather be running.

"Bike Reality and Meaning"

I must say all week long as I was pretty excited of doing my first outdoor bike ride with my TRIClub... We had around 15 people from the club riding.. It was going to be a great day..

So not sure how many miles I would totally do.. My goal was at least 50 miles.. So the first half was great.. I felt good and was riding at a moderate pace and not feeling to bad... Then I see my rear tire becoming low, then somebody told me "I was bouncing on my bike".. Crap, I stop and hear a hissing sound.. Flat tire.. I was glad some of the group stayed with me...

But after that it seemed my cycling went downhill for the day. The strong wind and fatigue started to go thru my legs. Let just say at the end of my 55+ mile bike ride, it was not pretty.. I was dragging to keep up with group and a dose of "Bike Fitness Reality" smacked me in the face.. Since I have around 7 week to my 1st triathlon race, a half Iron-Man, and a 200k bicycle ride on a hilly route a week after that, I think I need to start biking more.. You think??.....

But the crazy part, at some points during my ride, I thought to myself I really rather be trail running then having to deal with this... So as I reflect on my UltrRunning plans for rest of the year.. I think I want to continue to plant the seeds for next year (taking an Idea from TriTeacher and SkiRough).

So even-though I'm limping around today with my ankle still injured from my 1st Ultra (I think I have ..Footballer's Ankle ~ anybody had that before?)

I signed up for the ICE AGE 50 miler happening on May 12Th.. Because I think I would regret it if I didn't.. Even-though my body is telling me otherwise, I'll register for the race using my heart... Not sure how I'm going to do, It will be a "B' race for me so this might not be pretty... But I think necessary for me to plant the seeds for next years crazy adventures.

Finally, while I'm reading this book

I read this race story which explains in words: My reasons why?

"Ultras are more of a competition between me, myself, the course, and the distance. UltraRunning pits my mind against my body. It is being outdoors where few dare venture, either with friends or alone with just my God. Ultras are a test of what the magnificent human body can do and what the mind will allow. I can think of no other way to truly feel alive. Running is not just what I do; It is who I am. For me, sleep-eat-work-TV-then-repeat is not enough. I need to see things. I need to see a squirrel scramble in the snow, then jump up onto the branch and run full tilt with no fear of falling. I need to hear a deer snort out a warning that I am perhaps not where he thinks I should be. I need to feel the wind, the breath of Mother Earth herself, tickle my ears and cause the trees to sway and dance around me. I run to be fit and healthy, to be fast and strong, and to accomplish feats that seem unobtainable to many. I enjoy discovery of that which I am actually capable: of how far I can push myself. It is why I live"

Or in simple terms, my wife calls it "MY MID-LIFE CRISIS"

"Final Stats"

So the final stats for last weekend's Ultra Race is in.

It was a tough day indeed for the 100 and 150 milers..

150 Mile: 40 Starters / 10 Finishers

100 Mile: 61 Starters / 27 Finishers

The rule was if you didn't finish what you signed up for, you were not counted as finishing your event.. How cruel is that but understandable.. I know they will be back to finish the job next year..

I do have a new fond respect for these 100+ mile runners and anybody doing any kind of 12+ hour endurance events.. The darkness, mind games, and just sheer endurance it takes to go thru this is inspiring..

As for my 50 miler stats: 32nd overall out of 122 starters (top 26th percent) I was hoping for a top 30 finish.. But I'm pretty happy I was so close to my goals.

Something to shoot for next year..

Now as the pain on my body starts to lesson. My medication to control my "Endurance Compulsive Disorder" is running out. (I only get a weeks supply at a time) I'm ready to start training again. Not just any kind of training, Iron-Man training..I do have this race on September to train for...

So hopefully a little running this weekend and my 1st outdoor bike ride for the year.. Whoop, Whoop. Time to join up with the living and my teammates in my TriClub for a little ride...

As for my UltraRunning, it has taken awhile to sink in.. The journey and meeting some people at the race was what I will cherish most.. It is a part of me know and hard to get out of my head:

Hmm, ICE AGE Trail 50? From Zero to 100 in a year?

Thank-you bloggers and training buddies for your comments and well wishes. I did think of you out there, knowing in a virtual way that you were waiting for me at the finish line. Eventhough unavoidable sometimes, a DNF would have not been fun to write about..

On a blogger note, if you can give up a bloggy welcome to one of my Teammates and friends who just finished her 1st Boston marathon. SHE will be towing the line with me and some others at IM Wisconsin and become and IronMan for the 1st time, that I have no doubt..

Everybody have a nice weekend. It is finally above 60 degrees in Chi-Town. WooHooo.

McNaughton Ultra Race Report

As I drive down Friday night to go to the race location. I had a sense of calmness of what I was about to do. I thought I was ready. I felt I had trained the best way I could and I thought it would be enough.. And for some strange reason I thought the course was not as tough as I have heard.. Boy, I was totally wrong on that..

So after checking in the hotel, I headed to the race sight to pickup my packet and wanted to see the people who where running the 150 miles. A small group, probably around 40 to 50 people went off into the night around 6:00pm.

So on Saturday morning I left for the race early to get a good spot for my gear. It was probably around the mid 30's. While waiting around I saw some of the 150 milers finishing some of their loops. At this point, they had run for almost 12 hours non-stop in the woods.. Crazy stuff I must say...(After finishing the wimpy 50 miler, I could not even fathom doing 150 miles out there)..

So at 6:00 am, the 100 and 50 milers took off into the darkness. Even-though it would be sunrise soon I wore a headlamp just to be safe. It was Kinda of a
surreal thing taking off for a new adventure for the 1st time. "I
was actually going to try to do this". I thought to myself.

Loop 1: My goal for each loop and the entire race was to stay within a zone 2 Heart-rate no matter what the pace. Especially for me, this would be one of the hardest loops because it takes me awhile to get into any type of running groove. But my race plan kinda went out the window anyways halfway through the 1st loop. I actually was not surprised. The course was mostly single track, so at certain points in the loop, I stayed with certain running packs and followed their pace. Not sure what my first loop time split was but I realized after finishing this loop. This course is "Hard ASS, I'm definitely not In Chicago No more"

So a quick pit stop after loop one. I knew it was raining during my 1st loop, but I was trying to ignore it most of the time. But after stopping for a few minutes to re-fuel, I realized, "Dang it is really raining out there".

So loop 2 hear I come.

Loop 2: I must have been trying to be in my "happy place" for a little while, then I heard, HEY, HEY... So I turned around and looked.. Crap, I missed the turnoff and was going the wrong way. I think that woke me up, you think?? I really don't want to get lost out there and add any more yardage then I needed to. After that I paid very close attention to the trail markings for the race..

So what do you get when you mix water and dirt? YES, "MUD". The rain made the trail into shoe sucking mud at certain spots. Squishing and squashing beneath me was not a fun feeling.

There were some places you could not even run because of the mud. The worst parts were the steep descents and then an accent right afterword's.. I pretty much describe it as a crooked/crazy "V" shape.

So onward I go, trying being cautious so I would not end up tumbling down the hill if I misstepped. But maybe sometimes a little to cautious at times because an
unplanned butt slide took place. Then another steep muddy hill, I started to go down it and told myself, "This is not going to be good". And almost did a face plant in the mud. "THUG, down on all fours".. Only my out-stretched hands saved me from a mud pie in the face.. So after doing yet another butt slide I was mentally getting burned out. Doubting myself in a lot of ways. I felt this was hardest 20 miles I've ever done.. The questions like "why was I out here" came to mind.

But somehow "Never trying to finish" was never an option.

So Loop 3 and 4 here I come. The only goal for the loops was to stay upright. At this point the rain had finally let up and got a little warmer.. The best part was that I was staying upright. WooHoo.. But things started to hurt during this time as well. I was having a shooting ankle pain. Not sure the cause, but it hurt
the most when going down the hills. So I figure I would try to run as best I could. It wasn't pretty, but other things hurted to keep my mind off my ankle.

Wow, loop 5 was upon me. I was almost at the 9:30 to 10 hour mark. One loop to go. Then, I knew I would finish this crazy race. I really could not wait to finally say goodbye to these crazy mud hills.

I just said one thing to get myself to keep me going. I blurted out loud "RUN."
Somehow in a crazy way it worked, my body listened. The pain really didn't
matter anymore because I just needed 10 more miles..

So in the final miles, I crossed one of the two streams that was ankle deep for the last time. Then I knew I was so close.

I emerged from the trees, holding 5 in the air. The race director announcing a 50 mile finisher was coming in. Wow... I had done it. I'm really an "ultra-runner"
now.

Crossing the finish line with a smile on my face, pumping my fist in the air, hugging the race director, and telling him this was a great race..

I have to say this was toughest running race I had done so far, even running a 50k in -20 degree weather was alot easier than this.. It drained me physically and mentally as well. But I accomplished what I wanted to do and my 1st "A" race is now done..

Not sure how I placed, for me it really does not matter. Like Iron-man, whether you finish 500Th or 1500Th overall you are still an Iron-Man. But I know one blogger finished at 11 hours 24 minutes and finished 16Th overall (113 registered). So maybe I didn't to bad with my 12:21 time.

So I guess "Ultra Iron Bubba" does not sound to bad after all.

So what's next.. Oh yeah, there is more.. Right now I'm pretty wiped out.. I have to ramp up my Iron-Man training like it was yesterday and ICE Age Trail 50 is still on the racing schedule as a "?" race. ICE AGE 50 for me was never if I will do it. It was a matter if I will do a 50k or another 50 miler as a "B" race.. That I will decide in a week or two. Right now I'm taking a week off from running and trying to do some repairs on this 40yr old body of mine.

As they say "pain is temporary, regret last forever". Each day the pain is less and I have no regrets during my race because I did the best I could do out there. For now that is good enough, because next year Mr. McNaughton Trails I will be back for you, and will embrace your path instead or cursing it.

A Tough Day

I guess when the UltraRunning magazine describes it as a "tough race," I think they know what they are talking about.

So it being a tough course did not disappoint.

I will post a race report later on. But for now, I won't talk about the steep accents and downhills. The rain, mud running, and why my knees are covered in mud.

I'll just say I Finished.

Goals for the

1) Go sub 12:00 hours

2) Stand upright the whole way.

3) Finish

4) Try to finish before sundown

Let's say 2 out of 4 isn't bad.

Finishing time 12 hours and 21 minutes.

Was I first, I don't think so, was I last, not really either.

Finishing was the most important thing this day and holding that Finishers Ultra Buckle in my hand. Did I have fun, I guess in a sick demented way. Was worth it, most certainly so..

So for now, while I chow down on some Taco Bell supreme tacos. I'll think about the 100, 150, and maybe some 50 mile runners out there still on course. Running in the dark with just a flashlight and headlamp to guide there way..

May they have a safe and warm night.

"The Final Week"

It all started with an idea to run 50 miles...

A plan from runner's world magazine I used as a guide...

A belief I could finish the race.

So the time has come..

Week 16 of 16 is upon me in my training plan.. Seemed like a long way to get to this point from where I started. But here I finally am..

Nervous? Maybe so!!

Some little injuries? Hopefully icing will fix right up..

Confident? Hell Yeah!!

Start time: 6:00am Saturday April 14, rain or shine baby, I'm towing the line..

5 loops for me, 10 for the 100 milers, 15 for the 150 mile crazy crew..

Race plan: start slowly, stay upright the rest of the way, and try to "Run like Hell" when I see the finish line.

Race goal: To become an Ultra-Runner!!! end of story!!!

So like the 12 days of Christmas, I devised my own 12 days or really 12 hour wintry song. Since it is still winter in some parts of the US.

Why not..

So sing along if you can..

OH, for the 12 hours of running, I plan to bring with thee:

Twelve pieces of clothing

Eleven Accel gels

Ten packets of cliff Blok

Nine salt tablets

Eight packets of Vaseline

Seven Elmo Bandages

Six pairs of black socks

Five curse words (okay more than that while I'm out there)

Four water bottles

Three flashlights

Two pairs of trail shoes

Annnd

One baa-ad "No Fear" attitude...Fa, La, La, La, La

So thanks fellow bloggers, for being my virtual support crew, I will think of you all out there, and I will try to take alot of pics, and will shoot off a signal flair when I'm done.

Because McNaughton Trail Ultra here I come..

And yes, this is only the beginning, not the end of my UltraRunning journey..

"Things Learned Along The Way"

So less than 10 days left for my Ultra Adventure to begin. So far the weatherman says it will be around 58 degrees and yes, rain showers.. I will not try to think about that part right now.. After IronMan Wisconsin last year I know I have to be prepared for it and I can't control it, so what the "HEY".

I also learned the last 15 weeks that Ultra Running for most of us is all about finishing under the cutoff times.. You against nature and also yourself.

"You Finish, you Win"

That is what that day will bring for me.

I learned what "gaitors" are. They are covers that go over just above your shoes to keep debris out while doing outdoor activities such as trial running, hiking, and other crazy things.. I always thought living in Florida it was a pet some people had in their fish tank and flushed down the toilet when they got to big.

I learned what getting "screwed" can mean. I always wondered how during my -20 snow covered 50k, I was only one of two people who wore YakTrax's that day. I could never
figure how these people were running so fast on ordinary running shoes in the snow packed trail..Maybe they did this to their shoes.. screwshoe

So maybe by next weekend I will learn quite a few more things, I looked at a list of 100+ things that say,

"You know your an UltraRunner when..." and can laugh and relate to all of the comments.

For now, the list is only a few:

You Know Your an Ultra Runner If...
By: Various Authors

1) You have more dirt on your shoes than in your garden.

2) You don't recognize your friends with their clothes on.

3) You have more buckles than belts. (Not yet anyway)

4) 6am is sleeping in.

5) Your feet look better without toenails.

6) You're tempted to look for a bush when there's a long line for the public restroom.

7) You don't think twice about eating food you've picked up off the floor.

8) You develop an unnatural fear of mountain lions. (Okay, actually any creature who can run faster than me)

9) When you wake up without the alarm at 4AM, pop out of bed and think "lets hit the trails". (this does drive my wife crazy)

10) Your ideal way to celebrate your birthday is to run at least your age in miles with some fellow crazies. ~ I'll be 41 this year, anybody want to join me :)

11) You know the location of every 7-11, public restroom, and water fountain within a 25-mile radius of your house.

12) Someone asks you how long your training run is going to be and you answer "seven or eight ... hours". ~ That will about right when one day I register for a 100 miler.

13) Your weekend runs are limited by how much time you have, not by how far you can run.

14) You think of pavement as a necessary evil that connects trails.

15) You rotate your running shoes more often than you rotate your tires.

16) You really envied Tom Hanks' long run as Forest Gump. (That is actually how I came up with RunBubbaRun, now my TRI teammates call me "Gump".)

17) You carry money around in a zip lock bag because store clerks complained that your money's usually too sweaty.

18) You start planning the family vacation around races, and vice-versa.

19) Vaseline isn't just for fun anymore.

20) You know you're an UltraRunner when the races you enter end in a different area code. -and pass through several different Zip codes enroute.

21) You're embarrassed that you've only done 50K's...

22) The only time major household projects get done is in a taper or race recovery.

23) On a long drive you see the road signs listing various mileages to different places and think of how long it would take to get there on foot rather than by the car your driving.

Maybe when I cross that finish line next week maybe I'll write a list why I wanted to be an

"UltraRunner."

Maybe I think my first item will be:

1) I think we were all born to run!!

"The Beginning"

This weekend was my last training run before I begin in full taper mode. Not sure how you actually taper to run 50 miles in two weeks.

Do I run less, but then how much?

Don't do anything new in my training? Definitely so!!!

But I came back to "The beginning" on Saturday. The Chicago Lakefront 50k, the place that put the notion of distance running in my head. This stuff isn't to bad, I said to myself that day while I limped to the car. I ran this race two years ago, two weeks after the Chicago Marathon. It was a rough day running that 50k that day, the first 20 was good, 21 through 25 started to hurt, the last mile was extremely painful. But with all that, it struck a fire in me believing I could run further than that.

Fast forward two years and the fire in my heart and the belief in my head will be put to the test on a "Tough" UltraMarathon. But I guess I would not have settled for anything less.

That is what I thought about on the last half on my Chicago Lakefront 50k this weekend.

It was supposed to be a cold and rainy day. As I arrived, we where still in luck and the rain had not started. Around 8:25 everybody had milled around the starting line with some teeth and legs quivering, including mine. Two minutes to the start, rain starts, okay this would not be to bad if it was a shorter race, but 5 hours of this stuff would really not be fun.

So the race director says, repeat after me:

"there no other place I would rather, then be with you here today."

A minute after that we all started. I had a plan this day, this was purely a training day, zone 2 all the way no matter what that pace that would bring me. The first 10.2 lap went to plan, but some reason it did seem to take forever. People where passing me, quite discouraging I must say, but I had to stick with my game plan no matter what.

Mantra of the day "eye on the prize." I want to hold that UltraMarathon Finishers Buckle in my hand in two weeks.

The second loop went according to plan as well. Felt pretty good running up to 20 miles so far, what no feeling of "HITTING THE WALL," Wow, I must be actually getting better at this stuff.

So along came mile 26.2, hey I just ran a marathon with NO signs of the "WALL." in sight.. Way cool.

Okay, so what the hell, the last turnaround, approximately 5 miles left, I going to negative split the last half lap and go past at least 5 people if I could. That was the goal now, finally the turnaround came, no more thinking of heart rate and just run.

Okay there is 1, then there was 2, bonus 3&4 together. OH, 4, dang it, he just went straight on the route instead of turning, he is just training.

Maybe I could PR, well crap, maybe not. Just get under 5 hours I would be happy. Okay my GPS watch says 31 miles now, why did I till have 3/4Th's a mile left.. Okay maybe the trip to the bathroom added a few tick on the GPS..

So "NO" PR on the course, a 5:01:24 finishing time (9:28 avg pace/31.84 miles) on a semi-cold day with on and off rain showers. At least I'm sure I passed at least 5 people. Was I sore afterwards, "Hell Yeah", did it feel as bad as other races, definitely not. It was more of a road 50k with the route mostly on the running path, not to technical at the least, with a couple of mounds (Chicago Hills) to break up the route.

But 31 miles knowing I still have something left in the tank was what I wanted to accomplish this day. . So no more 20+ runs until the "Big Show". 14 out of 16 week training plan is now complete, not sure if I would ever get here, but just starting was actually the hardest part.

So shorter trail runs for the next two week. Relax and figure out the course so I do not get lost in the woods. "Game ON" I must say.

Now to find something cool to wear for the race..