Thursday, December 20, 2007
AH December
So after signing up and getting into MMT 100, It is time to start running again. After a week hiatus in November and the first week of December, I am currently building up my mileage and have added a weekly spin class, stair stepper and treadmill walking into the mix. I am fairly confident that the spin class and treadmill will help me on the climbs of the upcoming runs that I have planned or at the very least, I'm burning some calories. Happy holidays!!!!
Monday, November 19, 2007
Slim Pickings 70
The real start of the Slim Pickings 70 starts at the seventy mile mark of the Laurel Highlands Hiking trail and runs to the zero mile mark in Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania on Friday morning. This is in the reverse direction of the LH ultra trail race held in June. Since I only get one weekend off of work every month, It is easier for me to get days off in the middle of the week and being of the Fat Ass format, I decided to start on Wednesday. I informed Gombu of my plans and he joined in on the fun.
I left work on Tuesday evening and drove the 5 1/2 hours to Seven springs ski resort. Slept in my car and met Gombu at Seven springs on Wednesday morning. He had just dropped off Moose's car at the top of the resort as Moose was running from the start to Seven springs. They had dropped aid at the 11 mile mark the night before and we would use Seven springs as the next aid around the 26 mile. Back to Ohiopyle we go and we started running around 9:30ish. To summarize the run, windy, snowy and slow. I had no time goals just fun trail time. A bear got into the aid cache and left us some scraps. We were going to meet up with John DeWalt at 26ish miles but missed him and we spent the next hour or two wondering were oh were could Downhill Johnny be. I was supposed to bring my cell phone but forgot it in my car at the start so we had no way to get in touch with him. Around this time, the snow really started coming down and the trail was beautiful. FRESHIES. A few miles before the bridge crossing we see a light coming towards us and lo and behold it's John. John's phone was operational and we spoke to Jim Harris who was dropping aid for us and the runners the next day. Thanks Jim but we missed it and spent the next couple hours going off trail(not on purpose) and getting soaked by the large bushes that were weighted down by snow and covering the trail. We ended up stopping at John's van with about 50 miles logged. It was fun playing in the mountains and catching up with a few of my favorite trail partners. What is next? I am taking some time off to heal up. Small little achy, nagging pains have made me decide to take a week or two off of running.
Congrats to all finishers and Way to go Brian on a new PR distance.
Happy Trails
I left work on Tuesday evening and drove the 5 1/2 hours to Seven springs ski resort. Slept in my car and met Gombu at Seven springs on Wednesday morning. He had just dropped off Moose's car at the top of the resort as Moose was running from the start to Seven springs. They had dropped aid at the 11 mile mark the night before and we would use Seven springs as the next aid around the 26 mile. Back to Ohiopyle we go and we started running around 9:30ish. To summarize the run, windy, snowy and slow. I had no time goals just fun trail time. A bear got into the aid cache and left us some scraps. We were going to meet up with John DeWalt at 26ish miles but missed him and we spent the next hour or two wondering were oh were could Downhill Johnny be. I was supposed to bring my cell phone but forgot it in my car at the start so we had no way to get in touch with him. Around this time, the snow really started coming down and the trail was beautiful. FRESHIES. A few miles before the bridge crossing we see a light coming towards us and lo and behold it's John. John's phone was operational and we spoke to Jim Harris who was dropping aid for us and the runners the next day. Thanks Jim but we missed it and spent the next couple hours going off trail(not on purpose) and getting soaked by the large bushes that were weighted down by snow and covering the trail. We ended up stopping at John's van with about 50 miles logged. It was fun playing in the mountains and catching up with a few of my favorite trail partners. What is next? I am taking some time off to heal up. Small little achy, nagging pains have made me decide to take a week or two off of running.
Congrats to all finishers and Way to go Brian on a new PR distance.
Happy Trails
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Stonesteps 50k-
Five years and going.
Started out fatigued. Ran TWOT 50 miler the week before so I would see what my legs have left.
Errors:
1. Went out on the first loop almost two minutes faster than the previous year!!! crazy
2. didn't take any gels or food for the last lap(5.3 miles)
Positives:
1. Drank a bottle per loop(20oz)
2. shut off my mind to push through a couple rough times.
3. pushed the steps for three out of four loops
Summary: Had fun and one of only a few runners that have run all of the Stonesteps 50k every year. Was only five minutes slower than the previous year. Pissed all of it away on the last lap. If I would have taken some kind of calories, this paragraph would be different. Stored all my gear(H20 and gels) at the finish of the second loop, this worked out well as I spent about a total of less than a minute in every aid station. Colder at the start: Gloves, Shorts, sleeveless, Hand held and later picked up a 1 water bottle pack. C-divides and injini toesocks.
I should be able to cut some time off of this course. Probably not next year as I plan on running the TT252 in the fall.
Thanks to the RD's and volunteers. This run gets better every year!!!!
A day later, I got my Montrail Vitesse in the mail. YEAH for an awesome looking shoe.
Into the wild is airing and will see it today.
Peace
Bill
Started out fatigued. Ran TWOT 50 miler the week before so I would see what my legs have left.
Errors:
1. Went out on the first loop almost two minutes faster than the previous year!!! crazy
2. didn't take any gels or food for the last lap(5.3 miles)
Positives:
1. Drank a bottle per loop(20oz)
2. shut off my mind to push through a couple rough times.
3. pushed the steps for three out of four loops
Summary: Had fun and one of only a few runners that have run all of the Stonesteps 50k every year. Was only five minutes slower than the previous year. Pissed all of it away on the last lap. If I would have taken some kind of calories, this paragraph would be different. Stored all my gear(H20 and gels) at the finish of the second loop, this worked out well as I spent about a total of less than a minute in every aid station. Colder at the start: Gloves, Shorts, sleeveless, Hand held and later picked up a 1 water bottle pack. C-divides and injini toesocks.
I should be able to cut some time off of this course. Probably not next year as I plan on running the TT252 in the fall.
Thanks to the RD's and volunteers. This run gets better every year!!!!
A day later, I got my Montrail Vitesse in the mail. YEAH for an awesome looking shoe.
Into the wild is airing and will see it today.
Peace
Bill
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Skydiving
Went skydiving.
Jumped at 10,500 ft. pulled at 5,500. I am glad I went tandem since I forgot all about pulling the cord to open the chute. Maybe next time I will remember this small but very big detail. Nothing like jumping out of a plane about two miles up.
WAHOOO
Jumped at 10,500 ft. pulled at 5,500. I am glad I went tandem since I forgot all about pulling the cord to open the chute. Maybe next time I will remember this small but very big detail. Nothing like jumping out of a plane about two miles up.
WAHOOO
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Bear 100 DNF
So, I chalked up a Did Not Finish:
The whole story is this. I got to CVG airport a few hours early, got standby on an earlier flight and had hopes to arrive in Chicago early for dinner. I sat on the plane for about three hours since Chicago was experiencing bad weather and we were "wheels down." Headed for takeoff and another hour delay. Being the laid back traveler that I have become, just another bump in the road. I knew Chicago would be backed up so I didn't even worry about my connection. Quiznos burnt my sub and made me another one. Onward and upward to Salt Lake City. Arrived a few hours late and met a friend,Bob Combs, who saw that I would be delayed and decided to nap, read at the baggage carousel that my luggage would be arriving. Touchdown in SLC and off we go to Enterprise rent a car. CLOSED. We found a comfortable spot underneath some stairs, unpacked some camping gear(sleeping bags, z-rest, makeshift pillows) and got to bed around 1am. We were rudely awaken by a cleaning lady around 7:30 am whom I think she thought we were homeless. She launched a chair towards our general resting place and was yelling at us to get up and that we weren't allowed to be sleeping there. Funny since she wasn't going to clean that area anyways. We saw her in the same area on the return flight.
Enterprise: These salesman crack me up. We let them know of the inconvenience and sleeping in the terminal. They tried to sell us an upgrade. We insisted that the upgrade should be free since no one was present to greet us(the closer left a few minutes early). I had reserved an economy car and he agreed to upgrade us for our troubles. Corolla. While we are doing a walk around of the car(dents, etc) Bob asks what car we would have gotten if we would have gotten the economy? Oh, we don't have any here. Nice, we would have gotten the corolla anyways. This is why they crack me up. Do they think all patrons are stupid? I did appreciate his selling technique and we made up for that later. Kicked around Salt Lake City for a day and hit up some gear shops(patagonia outlet, REI and Black Diamond). Headed to Park City, hiked a few trails with grand views, Idaho, tacos, prerace check in and found a camping spot at the start.
The RUN:
Awesome trails, wonderful views, great volunteers, low key-let's keep it that way, tons of studs, ran through a controlled forest burn and the potato soup at 13 miles was great. I know this since this is were I wanted to stop.
If you have ever had a bad day at work, multiply it by let's say 3 and this is where and why I wanted to stop. My run sucked. Everything around me was beautiful and I was being a bitch. Not in the womanly sense just done. Thinking things would get better, you push on. Had an ok spell going out of the 13 mile aid station for about a few miles and back into the funk. This is the first run that I could care less whether I finished or not. I don't know where I got it, maybe my nonchalant approach to a hard 100, maybe life, maybe mentally I was done before I started. maybe this was just hard. I am a predominately happy runner. I could care less who passes me, I rarely race against individuals, only me, the course and as fast as I can go on a given day. On this day I tried everything. I tried to get pissed at people who passed me as a means to motivate me to some form of uprising. Nothing, nada zilch, Zip to mile 66. The big fork, stick it in me and turn it. I am done. Hell, I was done before it started and o the relief.
I digress.
Ate more tacos, enjoyed seeing running friends, watched the awards ceremony and cheered for the finishers.
Happy trails
B
The whole story is this. I got to CVG airport a few hours early, got standby on an earlier flight and had hopes to arrive in Chicago early for dinner. I sat on the plane for about three hours since Chicago was experiencing bad weather and we were "wheels down." Headed for takeoff and another hour delay. Being the laid back traveler that I have become, just another bump in the road. I knew Chicago would be backed up so I didn't even worry about my connection. Quiznos burnt my sub and made me another one. Onward and upward to Salt Lake City. Arrived a few hours late and met a friend,Bob Combs, who saw that I would be delayed and decided to nap, read at the baggage carousel that my luggage would be arriving. Touchdown in SLC and off we go to Enterprise rent a car. CLOSED. We found a comfortable spot underneath some stairs, unpacked some camping gear(sleeping bags, z-rest, makeshift pillows) and got to bed around 1am. We were rudely awaken by a cleaning lady around 7:30 am whom I think she thought we were homeless. She launched a chair towards our general resting place and was yelling at us to get up and that we weren't allowed to be sleeping there. Funny since she wasn't going to clean that area anyways. We saw her in the same area on the return flight.
Enterprise: These salesman crack me up. We let them know of the inconvenience and sleeping in the terminal. They tried to sell us an upgrade. We insisted that the upgrade should be free since no one was present to greet us(the closer left a few minutes early). I had reserved an economy car and he agreed to upgrade us for our troubles. Corolla. While we are doing a walk around of the car(dents, etc) Bob asks what car we would have gotten if we would have gotten the economy? Oh, we don't have any here. Nice, we would have gotten the corolla anyways. This is why they crack me up. Do they think all patrons are stupid? I did appreciate his selling technique and we made up for that later. Kicked around Salt Lake City for a day and hit up some gear shops(patagonia outlet, REI and Black Diamond). Headed to Park City, hiked a few trails with grand views, Idaho, tacos, prerace check in and found a camping spot at the start.
The RUN:
Awesome trails, wonderful views, great volunteers, low key-let's keep it that way, tons of studs, ran through a controlled forest burn and the potato soup at 13 miles was great. I know this since this is were I wanted to stop.
If you have ever had a bad day at work, multiply it by let's say 3 and this is where and why I wanted to stop. My run sucked. Everything around me was beautiful and I was being a bitch. Not in the womanly sense just done. Thinking things would get better, you push on. Had an ok spell going out of the 13 mile aid station for about a few miles and back into the funk. This is the first run that I could care less whether I finished or not. I don't know where I got it, maybe my nonchalant approach to a hard 100, maybe life, maybe mentally I was done before I started. maybe this was just hard. I am a predominately happy runner. I could care less who passes me, I rarely race against individuals, only me, the course and as fast as I can go on a given day. On this day I tried everything. I tried to get pissed at people who passed me as a means to motivate me to some form of uprising. Nothing, nada zilch, Zip to mile 66. The big fork, stick it in me and turn it. I am done. Hell, I was done before it started and o the relief.
I digress.
Ate more tacos, enjoyed seeing running friends, watched the awards ceremony and cheered for the finishers.
Happy trails
B
Monday, September 24, 2007
The Bear 100
Off to Utah and Idaho for a week. Running the Bear 100 on Friday and Saturday on little training and recovering from an injury. Don't really know how smart that is but we will see. Looking for a finish as this will be my second hundred of the year. It's all training for Barkley, Hardrock and life. I look forward to getting in some real down to earth trail time. Ye Haw and wahoo. Stress at work has been mounting and I am so looking forward to getting the hell out of dodge. I work for vacations. Enjoy your life, I do.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
roads suck
Ran my normal Ault park loop which from my house and back is 5.2 miles. I have no idea how long and at what pace since I didn't have a watch on or time this run. I stopped wearing a watch when running roads around my house since I tend to get to caught up with time and run harder than I should which leads me to injury. I will only time myself once a month to gauge speed and see were I'm at fitness wise.
During my run, I was thinking about two young ladies that work for me who have downs syndrome. I hired both about a year ago and these two ladies are on time to work, show up everyday they are scheduled and always have an awesome attitude. The more I thought, the more I started getting irritated at the people who call off work for any hangnail, toothache, and stubbed toe. It is a shame that "healthy" human beings do not have the work ethic and attitude of my two young ladies that bring their A game everyday.
Anyways, by the end of the run I was no longer irritated and felt strong hammering up and down some hills.
During my run, I was thinking about two young ladies that work for me who have downs syndrome. I hired both about a year ago and these two ladies are on time to work, show up everyday they are scheduled and always have an awesome attitude. The more I thought, the more I started getting irritated at the people who call off work for any hangnail, toothache, and stubbed toe. It is a shame that "healthy" human beings do not have the work ethic and attitude of my two young ladies that bring their A game everyday.
Anyways, by the end of the run I was no longer irritated and felt strong hammering up and down some hills.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Miami Forest
Met a few runners this morning for a twenty mile run on a mix of single track, horse trails and paved bike path. Didn't want to roll out of bed but glad I did. This is first back to back double digit run I have had in a month or two and I am glad to be injury free once again. Taking a break tomorrow.
Mt. Airy Loop
Joined up with a small group for one big loop at Mt. Airy Yesterday, Saturday September 15th, Two others joined in on the fun for the second loop. I logged 10.6 miles and was very tired at the start. Working to many hours last week and have been dragging. I get to sleep in Monday Hooray for sleeping in.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Groundhog fall 50k
September 08th,2007. Punxsutawney PA. Car camped in the parking lot the night before. The weather was hot and humid. I hadn't been running a lot of miles due to a shin splint and ankle injury. Goal time was under five hours and I ended up with 5:33. I had fun, good to see some friends and the race was well organized. This is the second time I have run this and look forward to going back. Now I get ready for The Bear 100 in Utah. Yeah.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)