"Back in the Saddle"

So after taking a two week hiatus from running and training after my 100 miler. I actually hit the trail and roads once again for a little running. Always a strange feeling after not doing something for a longtime. Two weeks is not a long time for most people, but for me can feel like an eternity.

Hit my usual trail route with one of my running partners for a 12 mile run. It was actually kinda of odd, because I was the one trying to keep dry from the mud and water on the trails. I guess after 100 miles of it two weeks ago, I needed a much needed break from that to.

Then another 12 miles on Sunday on the roads. I was reminded why I like the comfort of a softer surface to run on. "Me NO likey" pavement running to much anymore.

I also finally got the result of my MRI on my ankle. I actually scheduled all the testing and ortho doc appointment after my race. I figured if I was not messed up before, I sure would be afterwards. But guess what??

NO STRESS FRACTURE, that is what the doc intitally suspected. Post-Tib Tendinitis , definitely sounds better than a STRESS FRACTURE. So treatment is better pain meds, ankle physical therapy, Custom orthotics , and I have been cleared to run.. OOOPS, I think I have been doing that already. No, I did not mention the 100 miler or 50k I completed since my initial consultation. Guess I went with my "GUT" instinct and lucked out. Sometimes it's good to be lucky??

So with my next race on the horizon, ICE AGE 50 miler in two weeks, I need to get some running in before then. But my "A" race is behind me now, so time to have some fun out there. Run with my one of running friends during the race, and just make the 12 hour cutoff. That's the plan and I'm good with that.

Then after that, I'm going to try to morph into more of a triathlete and give my feet a rest, but I might have one or two "LONG" ultras left in me yet. Because honestly I'm just having way to much fun out there running around in the woods.

"The 100 miles"

How do you try to put into words what 30+ hours of endurance felt like?

It all started the Friday before the race, I picked up my packet and watched some of the 150 milers doing their loop. I timed it right and saw the top 3 people finishing 30 miles.

On race day, Saturday morning I was up at 3:00am, to get my stuff finally organized and headed to the race to drop of my gear at that drop zone (A place to have your own personal aid station). I was taking my time to get settled and get ready, then I went to go get a closer parking to the start of the race. Since it had been raining during the night, my wheels spun trying to get out of the parking spot. Crap, my car is stuck in the mud. After several people helping me and several moments of shear panic, I was able to get towed out and find more level ground. Now that would have sucked coming to this after completing the race.

So the start was a 6:00am, it was still dark and I used a headlamp for good measure. My plan was just to take one loop at a time. It was pretty surreal starting out, I didn't want to think how long or how many miles ahead of me, just run the first 10 miles and feel the course out.

Loop/Lap 1 ~ 2:08:50.68 12:53/M 10.000

At the beginning the 10 mile loop was actually still in great shape, there was muddy spots but most of it was pretty runnable. I planned to just stay in zone 2 heart rate and not care about how many people passed me along the way. After the first hill we headed out to a open area before the single track. There was a bagpiper belting out a tune, ahhh the sounds of nature.. So after a couple more miles the 1st water crossing was upon me. The race director said to go right if you wanted to go to the more shallow end (knee deep), if you went straight across it was close to 5 feet deep. There was another water crossing further along, ankle deep. So 2 water crossings per loop, yup 20 times of water fun. So the rest of the loop was easy going, felt great and I had the fastest split time ever for me at McNaughton:

Loop/Lap 2 ~ 2:18:51.57 13:53/M 20.000

The plan after each loop was to consume one ENSURE drink and try to eat as much of my PB&J crustables I could stomach. So after that I was off again. I just tried to keep an even pace. Run the flats, walk up the hills, and be cautious on the descents. So a couple of miles into loop 2 Travis caught up to me. He did his first 50 miler at McNaughton last year as well and was also attempting his 1st 100 miler today. We proceeded to run together talking about life, the trails, and people we have run into so far. It was great running with him because we both had the same positive attitude. Time and the miles just flew by, so loop two was in the books.

Loop/Lap 3 ~ 2:26:22.98 14:38/M 30.000

So another quick stop, more liquid nutritional calories and Me and Travis were off again on our third loop. So around the end of the 1st mud climb we ran into fellow ChiA runner Brian (he was doing the 50 miler). We chatted a little bit and headed on ahead. Things were going smoothly, run strategy was going great, and I was way ahead of my time goal splits. Then on one of the hills my left leg started to cramp, I told Travis to go ahead. So with the cramping I had to do a different strategy, let me try walking up sideways up the hill. That seemed to do the trick and elevate the pressure on my cramping muscle. So 30 miles done and another 70 to go, woohoo, actually tried to not think about how much I had left to do.

Loop/Lap 4 2:35:10.86 15:31/M 40.000

I usually don't race with any music, even my 50 milers, but 100 milers, Yeah I think I needed to. So I put them on, fueled up, and was off again. I was off running on my own again, still feeling pretty good, heart rate was still in my correct zone, and I did not feel tired at all. The trail was still in good shape and I even might beat my 50 mile mark set from last year race at McNaughton.

Loop/Lap 5 2:55:39.93 17:34/M 50.000

Woohoo, I'm pretty sure I PR'ed at the 50 miler, even just by a couple of minutes. So I'll take it for now, I thought for myself. Now the hard part was coming. NIGHT RUNNING!!! So I got ready for the night, changing my shoes, socks, warmer clothing, and lighting gear to see my way through the darkness. I was off again to do the longest running miles ever in my life. I was still running well, then near the 1st water crossing, I came across a set of eyes, one high, and one low. Could not figure what it was. It was a lady walking her dog. It was BIG DOG, German Shepard. I asked which way you want me to pass, left or right. So I went left, then the dog growled, barked, and totally wanted to rip me another ASSHOLE. Dang lady, no leash, she was barely holding on to him with his collar. So I tried to put as much space I could between me and that angry dog. I just hoped she did not cross path with any other runner. Imagine that, being taken out of race because of dog attack, not by the race itself.

Loop/Lap 6 3:48:19.15 22:50/M 60.000

Darkness, that is all I could say, not sure if it was raining, snowing, or what, but it was getting a tad bit colder running around. I was starting to get a little tired at this point, I even drank my double espresso Starbucks can drink before I left for my loop. That did not deter me from yawning and thoughts of a warm bed right now would be just sooo wonderful. The trail was starting to get more slippery and the thought of falling off the single track into a big ditch was not to appealing, but possible. So I tried to stay alert and be more cautious on the dangerous sections of the course. At this point I screamed, talked, and played mind games to stay focused and stay awake. I actually started to see things, tree logs started to look like creatures of the night. Also for the 1st time I had doubts and questioned what I was doing. It was a slow loop but with a cup of warm noodle soup I got through it nonetheless.

Loop/Lap 7 4:12:44.91 25:16/M 70.000

By far this was the most challenging loop, after falling allot during my last loop, I decided to regroup and try to "power" walk this loop and see how much time it would take me. I was starting to get even more tired. I stopped once or twice and just stood there and closed my eyes for about 20 seconds to get a little rest. It was pretty quite out there, I hardly saw any runners and one time heard male voices, but nobody seemed to be there. That put the heebeejeeves in me, so I quickened my pace and kept looking back every couple of seconds. More cups of noodle soup, pieces of Pb&J, and soft sounds from my Ipod were the only thing that kept me going and finally finishing the 7 Th loop.

Loop /Lap 8 3:54:11.22 23:25/M 80.000

In the beginning of this lap I realized I had lost alot of the buffer of time I had during the day to reach my time goal. So after more Ensure, hot coffee, and my last can of canned Starbucks double espresso I headed off into the night again. I know I needed to go faster in order to reach 80 miles by the time sunrise came about. I was still pretty tired and getting more cold. So I decided to try to use my run strategy I had during the start of this crazy event. So I started to run, run in the darkness like a zombie. It actually was a great thing, it gave me my second wind and woke me up, warmed my chilled bones, as I waited for my defining moment. "SUNRISE," I knew if I can see Sunday's sunrise I would finish this event. The sunrise came slowly but I was still going and that was the most important part. Eventhough I was still about 30 minutes behind my schedule, I only had 20 miles to go. THANK GOD...

Loop/Lap 9 3:20:56.06 20:06/M 90.000

So while getting more nutrition and getting ready on my next lap, the Race Director comes over and tells me I was in 10th and now jumped to 6th place during my previous loop. I was pretty much in shock and just told him I was just trying to survive out there. So after dumping my lighting gear, I changed my hat and wore my Iron Man hat for the last 20 miles for luck. "It was time to earn your keep", I said to myself. It was great again to see where I was going, it was still pretty much shoe sucking mud at certain points but like being a zombie runner most of the night I felt like a trail runner once again. As the miles clicked off I tried to keep focused and just live in the moment, but my legs were starting to getting tired. But I finished and WOW, one more lap to go.

The FINAL LAP!! Lap 10 3:07:47.89 18:47/M 100.000

As soon as I finished mile 90, the Race director screams out at me, your in 4th place now, and there is the guy in 5th right behind you. All the volunteers were prodding me to run like the wind. "NO TIES OUT HERE", "RUN 7 MINUTES MILES, YOU CAN DO IT". Crap, something a person wants to hear after going 90 miles already. So I said what the hell, I hastened my aid station stop and took off as best I could. What was the difference between 4th and 5th place, nothing really just a number. But I wanted to leave everything out there when I was done. So my strategy was me to get as much distance I could get so I could deter his will to even try to catch up to me. I starting running, my breathing became harder, my legs were getting really fatigued, "C'mon give everything you got, these last 10 miles". I was actually doing pretty good putting distance between me and the 5th place person. I did not want him to see me and my plan was working. Two miles left I heard voices, crap, wasn't even sure if it was the 5th place person, but I kept running even when my body was telling me to stop. So with the last foot bridge, the finish line was in site, so guess what, I started sprinting best I could, waving my arms so they could see me approach.

I WAS DONE, 30 hours and 48 minutes later, I WAS A 100 MILE FINISHER, 4th Place Overall, 3rd place overall among the men.

I shook peoples hands and saw my training friends screaming from their car to congratulate me for finishing.

It was a great crazy two days, I experienced alot of things during this time. To many to even write in this long post.

I was happy to finish, to set up the "goal post" where some people thought was to far for me to reach. But I believed in myself and my training friends believed in me. That is what so special of that moment. To spend that moment with them as well.

So what's next, besides alot of rest for my still tired feet. It is the McNaughton 50/100/150 mile races. Hmm, the McNaughton 150 miler, maybe one day, for now 100 miles is far plenty for me.

Thanks for everybody for reading and sharing this with me. It was a journey, a journey of 100 miles and then some I will always remember.

"Relentless Forward Motion"

That was the motto for the 100 miler, you know what?

It worked more than I ever could imagined.

Yes, I finished. I'm an 100 MILER ULTRA FINISHER!!!!

Total time, around 30 hours and 48 minutes. I think I closed my eyes for about 20 seconds a couple of times to rest the entire time. Had a couple of delusional episodes while running at night, but somehow I made it through to the Sunday sunrise. I knew if I could do that, I would make it to the end.

It was a crazy race, it rained, snowed, probably had sleet too, and knee high water crossings at the shallow end. I'm sure it was mid 40's during the day and colder at night.

Muddy conditions and a very high D.N.F rate at the 100 mile event, I think only 22 out of 60 registered finished the whole 100 miles.

Congratulations to Brian from my Chia running group for finishing his 50 miler at McNaughton as well.

I'm also pretty dang proud to have my running buddies, KickstandPam and Caroline finish their 1st 50 miler at McNaughton as well. Now my UltraRunning buddies.

So for the most amazing thing, finishing with a 30+ hour time, I placed 3rd among the men and 4Th overall. I can't fricken belief it, I'm still in shock.

So today, I'm going to rest up (off from work) and eat tons of junk food, the lack of sleep has not totally caught up to me, but I'm sure it is coming. Legs are feeling okay, feet feel swollen but it will pass. But feeling pretty good considering.

Thanks for everybody who was thinking about me during my race. You thought I was probably insane for doing a 100 miler, and after finishing this, I might have to agree with you.

But the belief I could do this crazy thing got me the finish line and alot of Relentless Forward Motion helped me finish remarkably well.

(my 100 mile finisher buckle and muddy flashlight, after falling several times during the night)

I will write a longer Race report soon, but for now I'm just going to relax and wear my Ultra jacket I got from the race with great pride.

"Six words are not enough"

I was tagged by "Travis," to post a "six word memoir".

Here are the rules:
1) Write your own six word memoir
2) Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you want
3) Link to the person that tagged you in your post, and to the original post if possible so we can track it as it travels across the blogosphere
4) Tag at least five more blogs with links
5) Leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play!

Well I actually have more words than that, so I will cut the words I live by into 6 words,

How about:

"Life is Short, it's LONG enough"

So who ever wants to play, your tagged!

That's me after finishing the McNaughton 50 miler last year.

"There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered" ~ Nelson Mandela

So I return a year later to attempt the McNaughton 100 miler on Saturday.

Start time is 6:00am. I have until 4:00pm on Sunday to FINISH. 34 hours, I thought about starting with the 150 mile group and having more time to finish. But I will start with the regular group and attempt the hardest race I have ever done. No doubt about that!!!

Race goals, obviously just to FINISH. Just make it to the SUNRISE on Sunday with a certain number of miles. That's the goal, nothing else.

Will I sleep, probably little or none. "Relentless Forward Motion", the more moving I do the closer I can get to the finish line.

"An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox" ~ Lao Tzu

I'll live off PB&J, Cliff Bloks, Cliff gels, Hammer Perpeteum, and Ensure to get some calories in me. Sound delicious, doesn't it, ooh Yummy..

How will I Pace? Run slow, walk up all the hills, and run the rest of it as much as I can.

"If you can't fly, then run. If you can't run, Then walk. If you can't walk, then crawl. But whatever you do, keep moving." ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

Two stream crossings and 1600 feet of elevation per 10 mile loop. Just have to run 10 miles, 10 times, sound easy enough right?

So right now the weather is kinds of iffy, maybe rain, which means mud running, which is not really fun at all. But I will take what the course gives me and hopefully will have that 100 mile "buckle" in my hand by the time I leave that race on Sunday.

So come what may, I will do my best, but I will really not be happy unless I finish. With around a 48% finishing rate last year. It will be no easy task.

But here goes, time to get ready and gear up.

"Every morning I wake up saying, I'm still alive; a miracle. And so I keep on pushing" ~ Jacques Cousteau (Captain of Calypso)

And Push I will, until I cross that "FRICKIN" FINISH LINE.

"Running around a Lake"

So on Saturday, The Clinton Lake 30 miler was the 1st of the 4 races in the IL. Slam Ultra Race Series.

It actually started a little crazy on Friday, I come home from work and told my wife I'm feeling a cold coming on. I was hoping for some sympathy, but since my daughter was also sick, that didn't happen. Boohoo. But I decided not to take any medications so I would not feel to loopy running in the morning.

So at 3:15 am, me, kickstandPam, and Caroline headed off for the race. We must have had strong winds driving there, because we were the 1st racers there and still had two hours before the race start.

So luckily a little shuteye cleared my head a little bit before the race start.

It was an interesting start, the Race director told us that last year he only had less than a 50% finishers rate, because of all the mud. So that was inspiring to hear before we started, but off we went.

Loop 1

Honestly my plan was to just use it as a training run for the 100 miler in two weeks and take it easy, but sometimes you get caught up in the excitement of a race. So I did, my heart rate was around 160 already the 1st mile. I kinda of chalked it up as being sick, but I was trying to stay under 149 (Zone 2) the whole race if I could.

We started running single track immediately, pretty much early on it was follow the leader and tried to find some spots to pass some slower runners. Alot of rolling hills, some big hills, but not as muddy as I thought it would be. So on the 1st loop with still a 160+ heart rate I finished in around 1:48. So I was a little inspired, maybe I can finish under 6 hours this day.

Loop 2

The crowd thinned out a little bit and just tried to run my own race. It did seem a little bit more muddy, because of the 100+ racers who already passed on by. The winds seem to pick up a certain spots as well. At one point a fellow ChiA runner Brian, caught up to me and we started running together for awhile. Then at the end of the loop I felt a sharp pain in the my inner thigh and told Brian to go on without me. It felt like a really bad cramp. All I could think about is, man this could happen in my 100 miler. But I sucked it up and tried to walk it off. Eventually it started to go away and I was running slowly again.

I finished the second loop in around 3:55, so I still had hopes of breaking 6 hours.

Loop 3

I changed my water bottles once again and headed off for the final lap. At this point the cold air was starting to get to my lungs. I was whizzing a little bit and coughing was a little bit of agony in itself, but I needed to finish nonetheless. At one point I was actually able to catch up to Brian and another ChiA runner Kelly who was doing some pacing work in the final 10 miles. We stayed together until the last aid station on the loop. I was starting to cramp again, which was really frustrating because I thought I had my nutrition nailed down at this point.

But I continued on listening to the trees howl and geese flying across the lake. A beautiful thing I must say.


The Finish

So in the final stretch, I was able to get the kinks out of my leg, sprinted to the finish with a time of 6 hours and 17 minutes, 38Th out of 109 starters. Not the under 6 hours I was hoping for, but it was supposed to be a training run I kept telling myself. I had fun and took a well needed rest on the bench next to my fellow finisher Brian. Ahhh, it felt good to sit down..


So after eating some cold sausage pizza, I waited for my running partners to come in. This would be their first ever trail race and longest run to date. They will attempting there 1st 50 miler in two weeks, so I was pretty excited for them. I was wondering if they were cursing my name out on the trail as well.

Then I saw them heading to the finish, all smiles, WooHoo.


So it was a great time out there, a good primer for everybody who will be racing in two weeks at the McNaughton 50/100/150 mile Ultra and also meeting some of the ChiA runners. I need to tweak my nutrition a little more. But by running cautiously out there, my ankle held up and I'm glad about that.

So time to relax a little bit and do a little taper before my 1st 100 miler. How do you taper for a 100 miler anyways??

I still have alot of doubts of how I'm going to do, but try I will. I know it's going to HURT alot, I'm really HURT. But a challenge I set before me that I plan on not backing away from.

So bring it ON and how did I ever get myself signed up for a 100 miler, I wonder sometimes? Even these days I think I might be even a little bit nuts.