Today I took the group out for a 17ish mile loop on the Way to Cool course. The point was to show the group the main sections of WTC. Namely the single track, "Ballbearing" and "Goat Hill". The day was awesome, wet trail with a lite rain and lots of puddles.
I went the day before and marked the first part of the run on my Mt bike. I was feeling the ride this morning in my legs. It's been a long time since I've rode 10+ on my Mt bike. My new theme song came to mind soon after I headed out, the back beat and repetitions got me thru the first few miles of dead leg running.
I later hooked up with the group. Kate and Rob Evans were leading group. Everyone looked great and looked to be having fun. For a great report and photos of the day go her: PAM's Blog. I tucked into the rear and began taking down the ribbons while hanging out with some of our group.
Fast forward to Hwy 49 crossing. I ran into a runner friend who told me she had run into one of my group runners near Goat Hill, she was lost. First thought was CRAP!!, how did she get behind me. I had already taken down the ribbons so she had no life line back. My friend told her to go down to Quarry Road where she had seen the ribbons were still up. She told her to follow those back to Cool.
The runner followed but got turned around, (not her fault, she has never seen the trails before). Long story short she ran another loop with Ballbearing Hill.
In the mean time I returned to my car to re-fueled and put together a plan. I made some calls to Kirk for help and told the others what we were going to do. Kudos to my friend Melissa for staying at the car the whole time I was gone to cover phone calls, etc. I then ran down to Quarry Road and down the road a bit checking for my runner.
I returned REALLY scared at this point. No one I saw along the way had seen my runner. The only thing I could think of at this point was the quote I heard for a Search and Rescue call-out, $40K. Thankfully I checked my cell phone when I got back. Jeffrey Johnson who was out on the trails had found my runner, THANK YOU JEFF!
Eventually she got back to Cool, surprisingly with a smile on her face. I forget her totals for the day, but I she told me " Ballbearing was not so bad the second time". Now that's an ultra runner. Lost, tired, extra miles, starving and she's smiling, nice job!!
My total for the day was 26+miles, I finally turned it off after I bonked.
I think I'm going to have to re-think how we execute these long runs. Had this been the 26miler we have coming up this could have been a lot worse.
AB
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Lost
Just got home from an interesting run. More to follow but I had my first lost runner with my Traingin Group. Talk about anxiety.
Shout out to Jeff Johnson and his wife, they saved the day.
AB
Shout out to Jeff Johnson and his wife, they saved the day.
AB
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
One more....
I left this one out:
Run this town
Take out Town and add in AR50 and this is my 50 mile training groups theme song.
AB
Run this town
Take out Town and add in AR50 and this is my 50 mile training groups theme song.
AB
Monday, February 1, 2010
Why do you do it? (RANT)
I get this question asked of me a LOT. Usually this phrase encompasses other facets of the conversation. Which usually are: why do you run so far, in the heat, in the rain, on the remote trails with bears and cougars (the cat type). Usually the question comes from a relative or co-worker.
So why do I “do it”, for a variety of reasons. The one reason that sticks with me the most when I’m asked is the experience of the moment(s). Good run or bad, finish or DNF, I take something away that enriches my life beyond the norm.
We get one life, why waste it on what I would call a “vanilla” existence. I want to be the competitor, not the tourist. I don’t need to be the best out there, just out there experiencing it. I’ve learned from both the good and bad runs, races. The bad experiences usually teach me more about myself and life than the good. You have to admit having a bad day or running in crappy weather is character building.
To me your world view is all about personal perception. I find that if I did everything in life when it was dry, 70deg, no wind, etc. I’m not really experiencing much in life because I only want to try when it’s easy. To me my perception of the world is narrowed. The next thing I know I’m like everyone else. I complain when the world is not perfect or I won’t try unless I can do well, or look good.
You know the people I’m talking about. The ones who have a melt down because their 5 pump, dopio, Venti Carmel Frappa high calorie $5 drink is not 185deg. Is it really that big a deal? Not to me because I’m going out onto the trail in the wind, rain and mud for 3+hrs with a group of people with smiles on their faces.
Don’t get me wrong I like being comfortable. I’ve just found if you never have any adversity in your life, or put yourself out there you’re missing out.
My DNF this past Western States was a very unique experience. I would say I remember more about my DNF than my finish in 2007. I’ll admit I don’t want to experience a DNF again, but I learned a lot that day. For one I have never felt so depressed in my life. Believe it or not I think that DNF gave me profound physical and mental experiences most people wouldn’t even consider in their vanilla lives.
This goes with another aspect of why I “do it”. Goals, I think we all need them, large or small. If you have a “perfect” vanilla life how are you going to know if something is wrong or out of wack?
The DNF has motivated me to be a better runner and try harder. The goal in life now is to have another go one day and have a better day. How sweet do you think that finish will be after having a DNF? I know it will be because I think about it. That goal alone makes the hum drum days at the office go by no problem.
Another reason I “do it”, stories. I love sharing life adventures with people about what they’ve been up to, whatever it is.
But normally while at the ubiquitous BBQ/potluck/mixer (sucks to get old) excitement is the new iPhone app or the new show on HBO.
What motivates me nowadays runs with my 50 mile training group. They are all newbie’s but they all want the experiences, good and bad that come as they train for this intimidating distance.
Ok so this was going to be a post about recovery and the mental game. But I got the. “Why do you do” question this morning and I started to ramble/rant in my brain. I feel better now that I’ve written it out, but it’s a bit jumbled. Hopefully this ramble is not taken the wrong way, but it’s my blog and it was cathartic.
A sticker I’ve had for years sums it up pretty well:
“I’d rather be a racer for a day, than a spectator for life”
AB
So why do I “do it”, for a variety of reasons. The one reason that sticks with me the most when I’m asked is the experience of the moment(s). Good run or bad, finish or DNF, I take something away that enriches my life beyond the norm.
We get one life, why waste it on what I would call a “vanilla” existence. I want to be the competitor, not the tourist. I don’t need to be the best out there, just out there experiencing it. I’ve learned from both the good and bad runs, races. The bad experiences usually teach me more about myself and life than the good. You have to admit having a bad day or running in crappy weather is character building.
To me your world view is all about personal perception. I find that if I did everything in life when it was dry, 70deg, no wind, etc. I’m not really experiencing much in life because I only want to try when it’s easy. To me my perception of the world is narrowed. The next thing I know I’m like everyone else. I complain when the world is not perfect or I won’t try unless I can do well, or look good.
You know the people I’m talking about. The ones who have a melt down because their 5 pump, dopio, Venti Carmel Frappa high calorie $5 drink is not 185deg. Is it really that big a deal? Not to me because I’m going out onto the trail in the wind, rain and mud for 3+hrs with a group of people with smiles on their faces.
Don’t get me wrong I like being comfortable. I’ve just found if you never have any adversity in your life, or put yourself out there you’re missing out.
My DNF this past Western States was a very unique experience. I would say I remember more about my DNF than my finish in 2007. I’ll admit I don’t want to experience a DNF again, but I learned a lot that day. For one I have never felt so depressed in my life. Believe it or not I think that DNF gave me profound physical and mental experiences most people wouldn’t even consider in their vanilla lives.
This goes with another aspect of why I “do it”. Goals, I think we all need them, large or small. If you have a “perfect” vanilla life how are you going to know if something is wrong or out of wack?
The DNF has motivated me to be a better runner and try harder. The goal in life now is to have another go one day and have a better day. How sweet do you think that finish will be after having a DNF? I know it will be because I think about it. That goal alone makes the hum drum days at the office go by no problem.
Another reason I “do it”, stories. I love sharing life adventures with people about what they’ve been up to, whatever it is.
But normally while at the ubiquitous BBQ/potluck/mixer (sucks to get old) excitement is the new iPhone app or the new show on HBO.
What motivates me nowadays runs with my 50 mile training group. They are all newbie’s but they all want the experiences, good and bad that come as they train for this intimidating distance.
Ok so this was going to be a post about recovery and the mental game. But I got the. “Why do you do” question this morning and I started to ramble/rant in my brain. I feel better now that I’ve written it out, but it’s a bit jumbled. Hopefully this ramble is not taken the wrong way, but it’s my blog and it was cathartic.
A sticker I’ve had for years sums it up pretty well:
“I’d rather be a racer for a day, than a spectator for life”
AB
Thursday, January 28, 2010
It's Friday
Well for me it is Friday, (love those 10hr work days). So I was surfing the web (hey it's Friday)and found this video from one of the two races I REALLY want to do soon. I tried to put together a team for the first race this year, but alas no. It goes without mention that a 2011 WS100 trumps all other events:)
#1 Candian Death Race (GOD I love that name).
and
#2 Speedgoat 50K
Speedgoat takes place at Snowbird in Utah. You'll see from the video that they pack in a lot of climbing and beauty in 31 miles.
check out the video: Speedgoat 50K
Ok so who's game?
AB
#1 Candian Death Race (GOD I love that name).
and
#2 Speedgoat 50K
Speedgoat takes place at Snowbird in Utah. You'll see from the video that they pack in a lot of climbing and beauty in 31 miles.
check out the video: Speedgoat 50K
Ok so who's game?
AB
Wednesday's Workout
Last night was a GREAT interval workout for the group and I, 4x 1mile OUCH. Instead of the classic flat run or track for intervals we did something different. I threw in a little hill at the end of the interval. So it was mile repeats Ultra style.
For an audio reference this is the sound going thru my head as we started each interval:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLGNcGxZjSQ
The above link is the song from a movie soundtrack, but can you name the actual song?
AB
For an audio reference this is the sound going thru my head as we started each interval:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLGNcGxZjSQ
The above link is the song from a movie soundtrack, but can you name the actual song?
AB
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
