I'm still alive and I still plan on running the 50K again this year.
I'm in a weird spot though mentally and physically. I feel stronger than I did at this time last year, I'm definitely lighter (by about 8 pounds), but at the same time I feel as if I'm not as in good of shape when I do my long runs. I suppose it's possible that I'm simply better at mid distances, but I'm not convinced. Maybe I just haven't put myself through the pain yet. I mean really and truly tested myself. Crap, I haven't even hit 20 miles yet, though I just did 15 yesterday with the last 3 being an up-and-down of the CCC trail at PD Canyon.
I think I just convinced myself to run balls-out at the Mayor's Half Marathon here in Amarillo on the 22nd. And while it won't be indicative of an an ultra, it will put some needed discomfort into a run. It will put my body in a place where my mind will need to take over and finish the job. Plus it'll feel good to get that competitive feeling back. And not just compete with the other runners but with myself. With the runner I used to be back in the fall of 2011. I want to know that all the miles I put in this summer were worth it. In short, I need to see some payoff, man.
Blog O' Things
Although not exclusive to just one thing, this blog will serve mainly as a record of what I do with my mind, body, and spirit as I train for an ultramarathon. After that's done, who knows?
Search This Blog
Monday, September 10, 2012
Monday, October 10, 2011
Final Taper Week
Strong, swift, soft.
Embrace the pain, refuse to suffer.
Relentless forward progress.
Run when you can, walk when you have to.
Just keep moving.
Holy crap it's hot.
Don't listen to your body, trust your training.
It's funny sometimes where your mind goes while running. Sometimes, especially when you're running solo, you have to talk to yourself to keep from going crazy. (That's right, world. Our rules are different. Join us and let the insanity envelop you like a warm, soft blanket.) And when you start measuring your runs in hours rather than miles, the <thuff-thuff-thuff> of your feet hitting the trail invokes a few, repetitive thoughts or phrases. Naturally the voice in my head goes on and on like a lonely old grandmother with dementia, so the stuff I have listed at the top is a very small list, but I'm willing to bet that many other runners can relate.
Right now though I find myself doing the roughly same thing only I'm not running. I'm "tapering" which in layman's terms is "sitting on my ass and bugging everyone around me about my race this weekend." Only it's not some motivational quote or words of encouragement. It's stuff like:
- That pain in my heel better freaking go away.
- I need to check my nutrition strategy again.
- Is everything I need packed in my running bag?
- How many days left?
- What shirt am I going to wear?
- Is Wednesday the right day to start carb loading?
And so on and so on. Ahh, pre-race jitters. Gotta love 'em.
Speaking of carb loading, I'm kind of looking forward to it; although I really like my protein. Still, three days of sweets and starches and little else will be a fun change of pace: pancakes, spaghetti, rice, sweet potato, bagels, juice, dried fruit, etc. Is it a perfect plan? Probably not. But my body should respond well, it's not something that will cause any negative mental stress, and everything on it is relatively easy to prepare.
So, five more days. Five. All the miles, all the trips to Palo Duro Canyon since May (25 by my count, each one taking ~45 minutes of driving), all the long runs and blisters and 100+ degree days and purchases at Get Fit have led up to this. My first ever 50K trail run. Whatever shape I'm in will have to do. I figure my body is physically capable of running 20 quality miles on the trail, meaning my mind will have to be good for at least another 11. That's the fun part though, and the reason I'm doing it in the first place. Be significant. Besides, if I want to run the 50 mile race next year, I have to get this sucker out of the way first.
One more thing. It's a long shot, but there's always a chance that someone who is actually running the race will read this blog. If you're one of those people who by sheer luck found me here, and you can do it again out at the canyon this Saturday, introduce yourself and I'll let you have one of the ten kitschy, cotton, Palo Duro Canyon t-shirts I came across recently. It has a picture of the Lighthouse and says "I Love Texas!" or something equally cheesy, I forget. They run huge though, so I hope you're a pajama t-shirt kind of person.
Enough rambling. Back to obsessing over my trail groceries.
So, five more days. Five. All the miles, all the trips to Palo Duro Canyon since May (25 by my count, each one taking ~45 minutes of driving), all the long runs and blisters and 100+ degree days and purchases at Get Fit have led up to this. My first ever 50K trail run. Whatever shape I'm in will have to do. I figure my body is physically capable of running 20 quality miles on the trail, meaning my mind will have to be good for at least another 11. That's the fun part though, and the reason I'm doing it in the first place. Be significant. Besides, if I want to run the 50 mile race next year, I have to get this sucker out of the way first.
One more thing. It's a long shot, but there's always a chance that someone who is actually running the race will read this blog. If you're one of those people who by sheer luck found me here, and you can do it again out at the canyon this Saturday, introduce yourself and I'll let you have one of the ten kitschy, cotton, Palo Duro Canyon t-shirts I came across recently. It has a picture of the Lighthouse and says "I Love Texas!" or something equally cheesy, I forget. They run huge though, so I hope you're a pajama t-shirt kind of person.
Enough rambling. Back to obsessing over my trail groceries.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Palo Duro Trail Run Course Guide
If you're a canyon veteran, I'm going to apologize in advance for leaving anything out. (Please leave a comment and tell me what I missed.) If you've been to Palo Duro Canyon before but don't really remember much, let this serve as a refresher. And finally to those who have never been to the canyon, I hope I provide enough information to give you an idea of what to expect but not enough to spoil the experience of your first time out there.
Anyone who knows me or has kept up with this blog should know that I am extremely proud of Palo Duro Canyon. But never let it be said that I'm not equally appreciative of those who have taken the time to make it such a wonderful place to go trail running. The trails are in great shape and have a good variety of difficulty and technicality, and they didn't get that way because of deer or cattle or a band of magical elves with construction hats and tiny shovels. So let this guide be dedicated to those folks - Red Spicer, Bill and Wynn Ross, Kevin McClish, et al. - who gave up countless hours of their free time so that goofballs like me can have such a fun and amazing place to go trail running. I just hope that one day I can look back and say I ran these trails, and made a respectable attempt at working on them, as much as they did.
Update: After corresponding with Bill and Wynn Ross, there are a few more individuals (by no means though is the list complete) who deserve recognition for the contributions they've made to the beauty and success of the PDC trail system:
- Bill Snure
- Chris Villagomez
- Jason Bass
- Bryan and Nuggett Quillin
Thanks, guys!
Notice: you may consult or print this park map for additional reference.
How to Get to the Starting Line (Juniper Day Use Area)
After you've entered the park there's really only one way to go, so just stick with it for a while and take care not to hit any deer. The road will wind and turn and go downhill until you eventually get to the bottom of the canyon. What you're initially going to be looking for are river crossings, so don't let anything else distract you.
River Crossing #1 |
River Crossing #2 |
Lighthouse parking |
Back to the driving directions. You'll want to really slow your vehicle down once you reach river crossing #2, because it will be dark and this is where a lot of people have gotten lost in the past (me included). Immediately after the Lighthouse parking area is Alternate Park Road 5. Turn here. Do not go straight/left. Most likely it will be marked before race day, but you can look for the road sign just in case it isn't.
Juniper Day Use Area entrance |
The Bottom Loop (First Half)
Juniper camp: start/finish, restrooms, an aid station, and post-race burgers can all be found at this spot. Toe the line, take a deep breath, and get ready to have a great, great run!
Juniper Trailheads |
Juniper Cliffside |
Juniper Cliffside |
One significant thing about this section though is the inspiring landmark named after one of the most well-liked people to ever walk these trails. I'm talking of course about the late J.M. "Red" Spicer, former director of the PDTR and one of the folks who helped create and maintain a lot of this course. It's at this landmark that many runners, myself included, pay their respects by tapping the rock every time they pass by.
Red's Rock - Juniper Cliffside |
Juniper Cliffside exit |
The Top Loop
Lighthouse Trailhead |
Lighthouse Trail |
As I hinted earlier, the Lighthouse trail doesn't have much in the way of trees. Or anything that gives you shade really. Right around the 1.1 mile marker there's a cliff that provides some protection from the sun, but forget about that after 9am or so. The trail is nice though, starting out flat, then gradually going uphill into a mix of surfaces and elevations. There are plenty of open spaces as well, similar to what you saw on Juniper Cliffside.
Lighthouse-GSL junction |
Now when I say "demanding," I don't mean GSL is super hard or anything, because none of the trails at Palo Duro Canyon are super hard. But there are a few relatively lengthy uphills, and there's quite a bit of loose, gravely rock, and there are some tight, winding corners (in a section I call The Racetrack). And running it in the middle of the summer can be brutal and make you wish you had brought more water. But having said that, this is definitely my favorite section of the course. Maybe it's because of the increased difficulty or maybe it's because of the scenery. I don't know. There's even a spot where I bonked once (it's a long uphill starting at the .6 mile marker), instantly becoming a zombie and dragging my knuckles the 4 miles back to Juniper camp. But I try to run it almost every time I go out and I'm like a kid at Christmas when I do.
One important note about the first quarter mile or so of GSL. There will be a creek bed that you'll cross over, and immediately take a left after you do. This isn't really part of GSL proper, but instead an addition that was made a few years back to increase the length of the course. Just a small detour, nothing big. About 400 yards in you'll come across another fork. Go right this time and you'll quickly see the 6 mile course marker. From there it's a hop and a skip to the GSL-Little Fox junction.
Cottonwood Flats - GSL Trail
|
The Moon - GSL Trail |
Cairn - GSL Trail |
Givens, Spicer & Lowry Trailhead |
Paseo del Rio Trailhead |
Paseo del Rio exit |
The Bottom Loop (Second Half)
Rojo Grande Trailhead |
Alt Road 5 - Rojo Grande |
"El Viejo" - Rojo Grande Trail |
Rojo-Sunflower junction |
About a mile later you'll come out of the trees and see the main park road. Keep right and you'll go right back into the trees, only now you'll be on Sunflower trail which will seem like a mix of Rojo and Juniper Cliffside. After another mile or so, you'll come to another fork. In the picture below, taken the day before a bike race, you can see that some folks obviously have a hard time reading signs so the trail is taped off. Ha! Us runners need no such help! <grab crotch, spit> Just veer left onto Juniper Riverside and you'll be headed for home.
Juniper Riverside-Sunflower junction |
There isn't a lot to say about JCR that hasn't already been said about the previous few miles. The section is flat, narrow, and provides brief moments of shade. Simply keep running knowing that the Juniper camp is just up ahead!
And that's it. That's the course. Easy peasy, bacon greasy. If you're a 20K runner, WOOHOO! Grats, you did it! But if you're running either of the 50s? Sorry, kiddo. You have a ways to go still.
Summary
Hopefully this has served as a fairly informative guide on what to expect while participating in a Palo Duro Trail Race. And more importantly, I hope I've shared some of my enthusiasm with you regarding how awesome of a place it is to visit. I've run through this course many, many times now, yet I'll be swept up by its beauty on race day as much as I was during my first time out.
In closing, I want to ask that you please, please, no matter who you are or how competitive you plan on being, slow down every so often and look around; especially at sunrise. You'll likely be upset with yourself later if you don't. Because being on the trail isn't just about physical fitness. It's an escape from the modern world, a nod to our ancestors, and it's sadly becoming a rare occasion that only the lucky ones get to truly experience. I feel it's our duty to appreciate not only the opportunity that we've been given, but also our physical ability that affords us that opportunity. The badge we put on every time we go out is that of a trail runner, but it's not pride that makes us wear it. It's humility and reverence. We take care of the trail and it takes care of us. So again, pause for a moment. Smile at yourself and at your fellow runners. And allow the smells and sights and sounds remind you of what running used to be before they paved paradise and put up a parking lot.
And if I can't convince you of how vital it is that we allow running to help define who are, maybe Roger Bannister can.
"We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves. The more restricted our society and work become, the more necessary it will be to find some outlet for this craving for freedom."
Jump strong. Fly swift. Land soft. |
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Be Significant
This past Sunday I celebrated my 41st birthday, but that's not what this post is about. Not really anyway. No, it's more about one thing that started going through my mind that morning as I got about halfway through a planned 18-mile run.
Backing up a tiny bit, I had originally wanted to run 24 miles out at the Canyon, thinking the workout would serve as my last long, difficult run before the PD 50. Two more 18-milers after that and then I'd be in a full taper right up until "gun's up." But apparently people other than me use the canyon, and sometimes those people happen to be bike riders, and sometimes those bike riders like to have races of their own. Le sigh. So coupled with the fact that Lissa - my best friend/canyon partner/race team captain - was on death's door with a cold, there wasn't a whole lot of internal debate going on about going out or staying home. Stay home, run an easy 18, then do my 24-mile run at the canyon next week. Yeah, that's a good plan. Let's do that instead. OK, go!
So go I went, with every intention of roughly sticking to my 50K nutrition and rest plan: stop every 3 miles, consume 300 calories and 800 mg of sodium every hour, and make sure to mix in some protein and fat along with all the carbs. Here's a list of what I had to eat in the beginning:
Oh and that PDTR course guide is coming. Soon. Just like I said.
Backing up a tiny bit, I had originally wanted to run 24 miles out at the Canyon, thinking the workout would serve as my last long, difficult run before the PD 50. Two more 18-milers after that and then I'd be in a full taper right up until "gun's up." But apparently people other than me use the canyon, and sometimes those people happen to be bike riders, and sometimes those bike riders like to have races of their own. Le sigh. So coupled with the fact that Lissa - my best friend/canyon partner/race team captain - was on death's door with a cold, there wasn't a whole lot of internal debate going on about going out or staying home. Stay home, run an easy 18, then do my 24-mile run at the canyon next week. Yeah, that's a good plan. Let's do that instead. OK, go!
So go I went, with every intention of roughly sticking to my 50K nutrition and rest plan: stop every 3 miles, consume 300 calories and 800 mg of sodium every hour, and make sure to mix in some protein and fat along with all the carbs. Here's a list of what I had to eat in the beginning:
- cinnamon raisin bagel w/honey and 1 cup of milk (1.5 hours pre-run)
- 3 Fig Newtons (after mile 6)
- 8 oz grape juice and 4 oz sliced turkey (after mile 9)
- GU vanilla bean energy gel (after mile 12)
- Kashi Oatmeal Dark Chocolate cookie, baby dill pickles w/juice, and 8 oz Gatorade (after mile 15)
- 100 calorie box of craisins (after mile 18)
- 1/2 cup refried black beans on a small, flour tortilla and 12 oz defizzed Diet Dr Pepper (after mile 21)
- 2 Fig Newtons (after mile 24)
- 16 oz Gatorade (after mile 27)
Who has two thumbs and ran 30 miles on his 41st birthday? |
Oh and that PDTR course guide is coming. Soon. Just like I said.
Labels:
marathon,
Palo Duro Trail Run,
running,
trail running,
ultra running,
ultrarunning
Thursday, September 15, 2011
The Big Long Awaited Granddaddy Update Post (Part One)
Although this introductory picture here was taken by my beautiful daughter after the Barr Trail run, it's pretty much what one would see if one were to catch me after every run. Because that's how I roll, bee-yotch. All out, no holds barred, pedal to the metal. Or because I tire easily, I don't know. I'm beginning to forget things in my old age.
So here we go. Let's see how long-winded I can be while going into detail about what I've been up to this summer. I mean, it's not like I have my summers off, so you can only imagine how busy and run down I would be trying to squeeze my workouts into the grueling and hectic schedule of a high school athletic trainer on vacation. Nah, it's not like that at all.
Colorado. Let me start off by saying that if someone were to call me up right now and offer me a job (that included a pay raise of course) working somewhere in or around Colorado Springs, I might take the time to pack my bags before hitting I-40 and heading west. Put simply, that whole area is just the bees knees, and the folks who live there are some of the luckiest people anywhere ever. And them thar hills is absolutely the funnest and most difficult places to run that I can imagine. I mean look at it. Seriously. How can anyone look at this picture and think something stupid like "Eh, whatever."? They can't. Trust me. I'm a doctor.
So anyway, the race. We get to Manitou Springs and park about a mile downhill from the start. And when I say "downhill," I mean it. The walk up served as a dang good warm-up and just a small taste of the climb I was about to endure. It was a good crowd though and the weather was nice, and I hadn't traveled all that way to start wetting myself before we even toed the line. But once the gun went off, and I jogged with the traffic up the remainder of the street, I was just about ready to give a good ol' "See ya!" to the people up front. But rather than do that, I figured I'd just walk a bit. And walk a little more. Oh I mean, hike. Hike! Yeah, I'm hiking up the mountain and my heart is about to explode out of my chest. We'll say that because it sure wasn't running. Two freaking hours towalk hike 6.25 freaking miles. What was it I said way back in June when I ran up the mountain in Santa Fe? Learn to walk/jog? Ha! Good one, Jason.
Well I got to the top and I'd managed to make the cut-off time limit, but I didn't want to diddle my doodle for very long because I still wanted to make the finish line in 3 hours. And let me tell you the trip down was way easier. Almost as if I was just starting the race. Six miles? That's it?!? Ka-chow! My ankles were still cruddy and loose from the numerous sprains I'd subjected them to over the past month though, so my pace was a compromise of sorts. Fast enough to have fun and make my goal but slow enough to prevent anything on my body from blowing up on me. Plus it was vital that I stop every so often and take some pictures like this one here.
So here we go. Let's see how long-winded I can be while going into detail about what I've been up to this summer. I mean, it's not like I have my summers off, so you can only imagine how busy and run down I would be trying to squeeze my workouts into the grueling and hectic schedule of a high school athletic trainer on vacation. Nah, it's not like that at all.
Colorado. Let me start off by saying that if someone were to call me up right now and offer me a job (that included a pay raise of course) working somewhere in or around Colorado Springs, I might take the time to pack my bags before hitting I-40 and heading west. Put simply, that whole area is just the bees knees, and the folks who live there are some of the luckiest people anywhere ever. And them thar hills is absolutely the funnest and most difficult places to run that I can imagine. I mean look at it. Seriously. How can anyone look at this picture and think something stupid like "Eh, whatever."? They can't. Trust me. I'm a doctor.
So anyway, the race. We get to Manitou Springs and park about a mile downhill from the start. And when I say "downhill," I mean it. The walk up served as a dang good warm-up and just a small taste of the climb I was about to endure. It was a good crowd though and the weather was nice, and I hadn't traveled all that way to start wetting myself before we even toed the line. But once the gun went off, and I jogged with the traffic up the remainder of the street, I was just about ready to give a good ol' "See ya!" to the people up front. But rather than do that, I figured I'd just walk a bit. And walk a little more. Oh I mean, hike. Hike! Yeah, I'm hiking up the mountain and my heart is about to explode out of my chest. We'll say that because it sure wasn't running. Two freaking hours to
Well I got to the top and I'd managed to make the cut-off time limit, but I didn't want to diddle my doodle for very long because I still wanted to make the finish line in 3 hours. And let me tell you the trip down was way easier. Almost as if I was just starting the race. Six miles? That's it?!? Ka-chow! My ankles were still cruddy and loose from the numerous sprains I'd subjected them to over the past month though, so my pace was a compromise of sorts. Fast enough to have fun and make my goal but slow enough to prevent anything on my body from blowing up on me. Plus it was vital that I stop every so often and take some pictures like this one here.
Without dragging this out any longer, I reached the end of the trail, fried what was left of my quads on the last quarter mile or so of downhill street, ran up the super steep HAHA YOU'RE NOT DONE YET block to the finish line and collected my race shirt. Of course the best part was yet to come - sitting in a cold, mountain river and letting the pain lose out to sweet, sweet numbness.
Part two coming soon!
Labels:
Barr Trail,
Colorado Springs,
running,
trail running
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Is This Thing Still On?
Wow, OK. It's been quite a while since I posted anything. I guess I turned out to be one of those people who gets all excited and gung-ho about making A COOL AND AWESOME BLOG ABOUT ME THAT EVERYONE WILL LOVE but then lets it die after a few weeks. What a putz.
Well no! I'm not going to be that person. I'm going to entertain (both of) you and tell you all about the interesting life I've been leading, and provide you with valuable insight on how (not) to run. So here goes...
Well no! I'm not going to be that person. I'm going to entertain (both of) you and tell you all about the interesting life I've been leading, and provide you with valuable insight on how (not) to run. So here goes...
- In July, I ran the Barr Trail race in Colorado. It was 12.5 miles and very hard, but also one of the funnest runs I've ever done. I'll post more about it very soon.
- In August, I sent my second kid to college. I miss him a lot, but he's going to excel and have a great career afterwards, so it's all worth it.
- On September 4th, I ran my first marathon (distance) out at Palo Duro Canyon. Before you ask, it took a total of 5:50, but that included walk breaks, rest stops, water refills, snacks, etc. Accomplishing this had many benefits, one being that I convinced myself I can complete the upcoming 50K. I'll post more about it very soon.
- I want to make a detailed guide on running in PD Canyon, and more specifically on the 12.5 mi trail loop that we'll be running at the 50. This guide will be for those who aren't lucky enough to go out there as much as I've been - 20 times in the past 3 months - and will include: pictures, descriptions, tips, etc. As with with the aforementioned items, I'll post this very soon.
- I'm growing my hair long. Why? I guess I'm hoping it'll help me run like Anton Krupicka.
- RunKeeper says I've logged 500 miles since April. Rather than being happy about it, I'm a little pissed off at myself. I should have hit 500 sometime in July. Ugh. Quit being lazy, Jason, and put some freaking miles in.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Yeah, We're Crazy. So?
Finding and watching these videos did two things for me:
- Made me laugh and put me in a good mood.
- Reminded me that I'm not alone in my obsession.
I'm better than I used to be though. Really. OK, not really. But I'm trying.
Enjoy the videos and have a great 4th of July weekend!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)