Random Christmas Post

I didn't wish for too much this Christmas but I wished for and expect to have the best year of running ever! I received some luck from the lottery gods for 2013.  So far I got into Boston Marathon, Miwok 100k AND Devils Backbone 50.  I also expect to get into Wasatch 100 with two tickets in the lottery. After pacing two years in a row to 23:40, my training begins this weeks to achieve the same time.  Having run Cascade Crest 100 in 23:40 earlier this year it seems like the magic number for me!

I'm looking to expand my racing into different avenues.  I'm excited to get two long time bucket list races off the list for 2013.  I seem to get 2 races added for every one I check off but there are many things to do...

On my run the other night I figured out the problem to life...I need more running!

Lottery Mania 2013...apps are in.

As I was filling out my Wasatch 100 application today I was giddy.  However, as I was filling out my Hardrock 100 application, my heart sunk.  My Hardrock app needed to be in yesterday.  Very upset about that.  I rebounded by putting my Wasatch application in the mail as well as the Devils Backbone 50 which should give me a rugged experience.  I have now submitted apps for the following races:

Miwok 100k
Western States 100
Devils Backbone
Wasatch 100

Still thinking about putting in for UTMB...and I'll surely do a couple more races.  I also have plans to complete the double Boston Marathon again as well as another stab at the Uintah Highline Trail.  I definitely think I'll need to train for this next years schedule! We will see over the next 2 months what the lottery gods think...

2013 Racing plans...already

Having come off of multiple races over a brief time period, my body is finally feeling normal.  Not normal enough to train but enough to be longing for next years racing season.  It looks to be fairly aggressive but one of the most exciting and diverse years I've ever had!

Races I'm putting in for:

April- Boston Marathon Double
May- Miwok 100k
June- Western States/San Juan Solstice
July- Hardrock/Devils Backbone
August/Sept- UTMB/Wasatch
October- Antelope Island 100k

Ideally my schedule would be Miwok, San Juan Solstice, Hardrock, UTMB.  But we will see how the lottery gods pan out this year!  There will probably be 1 or 2 smaller races I plug into the schedule for fun but we shall see.  I've got 6 months of dreams...

Shinetsu 110k Race Report

Short Version-
An amazing race through Japanese mountains and forests with forays into the pain cave, extreme heat and humidity, vomiting, intense fatigue, cramps, and other masochistic fun.  Finished 54th out of 600 starters in a time of 15 hrs 47 min.

Plenty of Japanese Altramaniacs.  Seriously, Altra's were everywhere!

 Really Long Version-
One of the perks of my job is traveling around the world promoting Altra.  I have a Japanese distributor who has done very well with the product as the Japanese love low profile foot shaped shoes.  Altra has been a smash hit in Japan!  Takashi, my distributor, has been inviting me to Japan for 8 months.  Finally he begged saying that he really wanted me to come run a race in Japan and spend a week traveling around the country promoting Altra.  I looked at my schedule (his number), thought about it, and said YES!  Check out Altra Japan

Going over race plans and course with the locals.

The race happened to be the Shinetsu 110k, one of the most popular and difficult ultra's in the country.  Even though it was 3 weeks after Cascade Crest 100 I thought I would be fine and looked forward to the challenge.  The weekend came quickly and after pacing at Wasatch 100, I had an ankle that was still not recovered after running Corner Canyon 50k, Cascade Crest 100, and pacing Wasatch 100 in 4 weeks.  Shinetsu would practically be my 4th ultra in 5 weeks.  I was a little worried and went to my PT/Chiro/masseuse/magician Dr Eric Brady 2 days before flying out and 4 days before the race.  Dr Brady is amazing.  If you live in Utah County and need something fixed, he is the man!

Standing Banquet and Pre-Race Meal

Enthusiastic Taiko Drummers

I'd never been to an Asian country and was excited to experience Japan on several levels.  I arrived with my ankle and spirits feeling good.  I was immediately treated royally by Takashi and Manabu my hosts.  The night before the race was a carnival of people, drums, food, and race preparation excitement.  I loved it. Only 1 other non-Japanese runner was in the race that I was aware of, Justin Angle.  Patagonia athlete and super-stud, we chatted about how different the culture was but the same ultra-vibe.  As a business and marketing professor we had a great conversation about how Altra got started by 3 guys in our 20's from a basement in Utah.

Many Japanese runners approached me testing their English, which typically was very poor, but the smiles and bows made me feel like I knew every word they were speaking.  The Japanese ultra community has been very receptive to our concepts and there were people wearing Altra's all over!  It was so much fun seeing people from halfway around the world wearing my shoes!  When the excitement died down, I headed to bed.  Prep'd and ready to go I toe'd the start line.

Game face

600 runners and over a 1000 volunteers

The first few miles of an ultra seem to always fly by.  This one was no different.  We hiked up a ski slope and started a circumnavigation of the first of 5 mountains.  It was a beautiful trail that went through rice fields, 10 foot high grass, and old growth forests.  After 5-6 miles my stomach wasn't feeling so good.  Very unusual so early in a race at such an easy pace.  I took a gel at mile 7 and within 30 seconds found myself on the side of the trail pucking my guts out.  Not the best start...but I immediately felt better and continued on. Eating extremely different food the two days before an ultra is not a great idea...

This picture was taken at 5:50am...the sun was up and 75 degrees

Beautiful early section of trail

I loved the next section as we turned straight up the mountain.  This would be the steepest section of the course and I felt at home.  The forest had a high altitude tropical feel.  One minute I felt I was in Park City and the next I felt I was in Hawaii.  Very cool.  Up and down I was feeling good and moving well.  I was in-and-out of the first major aid station at mile 14 and running through incredible single-track.  It was 8am in the morning and I was sweating profusely.  I couldn't believe how hot it was already.  I decided that I would back off a bit as it was early and I had already lost some liquid at mile 7.

Up and over mountain #2 I found myself on a long dirt road that I didn't like.  The footing was horrible and I longed for the beautiful singletrack we had left a few miles back.  There would be 3-4 long dirt road sections on this course that were just brutal.  They don't use gravel but instead used rocks ranging from the size of a marble to that of a baseball and everything in-between.  My ankle started to hurt.  We came out of the forest through a little town.  The low point of the course, hotter than Hades, and spectacularly beautiful with small Japansese cottages, farms, and mountains in every direction.

Cooling off!

Still Smiling...

Aid Station #3 was a welcome sight.  I soaked the body, drank some water, and was off.  Within 2 miles I was in trouble.  It was 10am and in the high 80's with 90% humidity.  I didn't know my body was capable of sweating that much.  I was still moving but the heat was really getting to me.  Aside from heavy legs and tired body, I felt ok.  I was eating, ankle/knee felt fine, feet felt great, but I just couldn't move very fast.  At 40km/25m I was already tired.  Soon I was out of water.  I also stumbled upon Justin who sadly was done for the day.  I wished him the best and kept moving.  Coming to the 52km aid station was a relief.  Takashi and crew went to work cooling me off and getting me to drink.  I also took an additional hand-held for the next sections.  I left with a rejuvenated mood.

Oh yeah!

I was now going through another ski resort which had planted acres and acres of flowers.  There were tourists riding the ski lift looking at me like I was crazy (yet to be proven!).  It was surreal as the flowers seemed to go on for miles.  Finally they ended as I was heading up another horrible dirt road.  The hi's and low's seemed to be rather close and I went to another low.  I decided to focus on nutrition and ignore the several runners who were able to run by me.  It was a 5k climb that seemed to last forever.  Soon it leveled out and turned onto a technical single-track.  My energy was coming back, probably due to my eating and drinking on the climb, and I re-passed everyone who had passed me on the climb.  It was the best I'd felt all day.  There was a VERY steep decline and incline that was brutal but I seemed to thrive.  We ended up in an old growth forest that was a perfect trail.  I was buzzed and loving it.  It lasted all the way to the next aid station nearly 5 miles away.  I passed a dozen runners and was smiling all the way.  The subtle differences of terrain seemed to accentuate the feeling.  I'm not good enough with the English language to describe these differences but it was stunning scenery running through old Japanese forests, fields, and pathways.

Coming into the Aid Station

I swear I drank a bathtub of water...and was still dehydrated.

At the 67km mark I hit my crew with smiles.  I felt great.  I swapped bottles, socks, and shoes feeling really good about the next 40km. The Superiors continue to impress but I swapped to Lone Peaks for the last 43km for additional protection. However like the day was going, the fun wasn't there to stay.  On a long climb at the 70km mark it all came crashing back down (they had signs every 10km telling you how far you had gone!).  It was another long exposed dirt road and I was drained.  I didn't even know what was wrong aside from I could barely move.  The heat seemed to sap everything away.  I plotted along as best I could.  I definitely seem to thrive on single-track as after a couple miles I was back climbing up the most remote overgrown part of the course.  I think I'm more comfortable in this terrain and I think its cooler temperature.  It was apparent that I was not prepared for the heat/humidity.

I gained momentum on the climb and cresting the top was now in the shadows on the east side of the mountain.  Again I was feeling better and moving well.  Several of these sections were severally rutted and overgrown with mossy roots but I loved it.  I came down to a lovely lake at dusk with bugs buzzing everywhere and silhouetted mountains in the background.  It looked like it was from a movie.  I was not flying but still running well.  I seemed to be in no-mans land seeing almost no other runner for miles.  I passed two runners through here but saw no-one else. 

Typical terrain and view of the course

One highlight was an ancient shine with thousands of tourists.  We ran about 1/2 mile dodging tourists to then see this amazing site.  I'll need to research more about the place but a sharp left turn took me away from the crowd and shine.  It was on a wooden pathway through old growth forests.  Beautiful.  Suddenly several runners appeared both ahead and behind me.  Having seen nobody for hours the pressure was now on...and I was tired.  I pushed into the last aid station with the group.  My crew gathered around giving me Coke and chips.  18km left.  I gathered what I could and left too quickly.

Sunset in Japan

Mustering the courage to leave the last major aid station

Within minutes I had to turn my headlamp on.  There was a huge climb to the hi-point of the course.  I was dead set on distancing myself from those behind and taking in the 3 runners that were within minutes of me.  I powered up the hill the best I could.  It kept going and going.  Finally at the top I stopped to adjust my laces and cramped up fiercely.  I had to sit down for 3-4 minutes watching what was a couple close lights bound away.  As I got up and started down the mountain, I was struggling terribly.  My ankle was trashed, I was dizzy, cramping, tired, and I just couldn't get a rhythm going.  With 10km left I was a mess.  I found myself walking into the next aid station where I sat for 20 minutes hyperventilating and trying to pull myself together.

I drank 4-5 glasses of soup (they had water, soup, and chips...nothing else at this last little outpost).  I was four miles from the finish and DEAD!  After watching 10 people pass by, I started walking.  Desperate to finish and just plan tired I walked for over a mile.  Slowly I increased the speed and was slowly running.  I vowed to let nobody else pass me.  Soon I saw a light ahead.  I was re-passing someone!  Within a mile left I was giving it all I had and managed to pass 2 more people.  The last mile was coasting down the mountain.  I knew the finish was close and pushed all the way down the mountain.

Triumphantly Done!!

I had finished.  Worn out primarily by the heat, fatigued from travel, and too much racing on not enough base but I had finished.  54^th place (600 starters) 15 hours and 47 min.  It wasn’t my goal finishing time but I left everything I had on the course.  The experience as a whole was quite incredible.  Amazing course, more volunteers then ANY US race (they had people at every turn..yes, every turn!), better organized then any US race, more festival like then but still a good ole fashion ultra feeling.  Thank you to the volunteers, my gracious hosts, and Altra Japanese supports.  I hope to come back soon!

Getting Prep'd in Japan- Shinetsu 110k

So I am in Japan getting ready for the Shinetsu 110k ultra marathon.  The real reason I'm in Japan is because the Japanese love Altra but the benefit is that I get to race while I'm here!

In 5 weeks I will have raced a 50k, 100 miler, paced Wasatch 100, and now a 110k.  With as little base as I have, its a bit much.  My right knee and ankle are sore from a rotated Fibia but other then that I am feeling great and ready to race.   I'm hoping to go under 13 hours and place top 20.  Takashi, my host, will be crewing me in what looks to be a tough, beautiful, yet runnable 69 mile stroll through the mountains of Japan.  I'm aware of 3 Americans who have run this race over the years, including Krissy Moehl.  Its become one of the most popular ultra's in Japan and is a UTMB qualifier.  I'll report back next week on how it goes....
 

36 hrs before the race I'm getting as much food as possible...

Squid, cow tongue, octopus, cow tendon, pork intestines, and lots of sushi!!!

 Altra ad in Japan!

 My hosts Takashi and Manabu

 Looking out on the course from my hotel room.

Wasatch 100 2012 pacing

For the 6th straight year I found myself at Wasatch 100.  This year I was pacing Roger Smith from Brighton to the finish.  Roger really wanted a sub 24 in his 7th Wasatch.  As I headed up to Brighton looking at his splits it wasn't looking good.  It was great seeing long time friends and meeting some new ones as I hung out at Brighton.  Rogers splits had him there at 9:45pm but his estimated arrival at Brighton was 10:55pm after leaving Scotts....sub-24 out of reach.  However, at 10:40pm he stormed in shouting out orders.  He was in and out in mere minutes.  As we started up the mountain he looked at me very seriously and said "We are running a sub-24.  OK?!  I can do this."

I was doubtful.  Leaving Brighton at 10:44pm I didn't know anyone who had left that late and still made it.  But I thought I would push him to see how close we could get.  He simply told me "I'll do anything you say...no questions asked.  Just get me there before 5am."  So we pushed it...HARD.  I honestly didn't think he could hold it.  From Brighton to Ant Knolls in 73 minutes.  His drop bag at Pole Line he ignored and left within 20 seconds after arrival.  He didn't stop at Rock Springs.  As we were leaving, I was blown away by his perseverance, but we were still on the bubble.  However, he finally had me believing!  I wouldn't let him talk...everytime he said something I would tell him "if you can talk, you can run.  Shut up and run!" 

We stormed down the Plunge and the Dive picking out headlamps and picking them off one by one.  Heading into Pot Bottom, he was doing sub 7 minute miles!  As we pulled into Pot Bottom I smiled...we had plenty of time!  Rogers GPS had died and he had no idea how much time he had left.  I didn't let him know, but kept pushing him.  As we hit the singletrack 2 miles from the finish I called the family.  Roger still didn't know how much time he had left and was pushing with everything he had.  Over the phone I told his family and him, that he was going to be a Cheetah!  He was emotional over the next mile and coasted to the finish in a time of 23 hours and 42 minutes.  13th Place.

He ran the last 25 miles in 6 hours flat!  It was amazing to behold.  23:40 is now my new magic number.  After pacing Ben Corrales last year to 23:39, running Cascade Crest 100 in 23:40, and now pacing Roger Smith to a 23:42!  I'm sensing a trend! Next year should be my turn at Wasatch...

Congrats to Roger and all other Wasatch 100 finishers!  Magical race.

Cascade Crest 100 23:40.06

100 miles is a long way to run...

 
I didn't get into Wasatch 100 this year and so I immediately began looking at other options back in January.  Cascade Crest was top on my list and I was lucky to get a spot.  My training however throughout the year was spotty.  The last 8 weeks however I was able to squeeze 9 runs of 20 miles  or more.  Not many more miles throughout the week but I at least had some good long runs including the tune-up race of Corner Canyon 50k.

I headed up to Seattle a few days earlier to do some business and promote Altra.  Friday night I still didn't have any pacers which I wasn't really worried about but as I was visiting my last shop I got a phone call from Kevin, a local runner, who said he would pace me the last 27 miles.  I also teased the manager at the shop that he should come experience it as well.  Luckily he showed up at mile 52 and ran 15 miles with me also.

I had 4 drop bags, no crew, and had the best pre-race sleep ever.  A 10am start let me stay in Seattle then drive out to the start.  At 10am sharp, after the national anthem, we were off.  I started slow as I wanted to conserve for what I knew would be a long race.  I was surprised after 4-5 miles at how steep and rugged the terrain was.  I was told that this course was much easier then Wasatch (which it is, but not by as much as you would think).  The technical terrain and constant up and down became a theme of the race for me.  Regardless, we were going quite high.  I was testing a new Altra road shoe and was beginning to slip a bit.  Luckily the shoe did great although it probably wasn't the wisest to run in a prototype shoe for the 3rd time ever to begin a 100 miler.  I guess thats how we roll at Altra but it worked out well.

After nearly 17 miles, nearly all of them up, with temp's rising near 80 we hit the PCT.  It was as good as everyone said!  Gorgeous singletrack that wove through the forest and tall pines.  For some reason though my stomach began to be a bit sour.  I backed off the pace a bit and sucked on some ginger.  After the 1st big aid station of Tacoma Pass mile 23.5, I started feeling better.  I also began passing a ton of people who started out too fast.  It was really getting hot through this section and to my surprise, rather technical.  I kept plugging away yet about a mile before Stampede Pass, mile 33, I was busy looking at the scenery and took a pretty nasty spill, but overall I enjoyed this section.

Stampede Pass is much like Big Mountain.  Lots of people, crew, and fanfare.  It was fun and I quickly got my dropbag and went to work.  I'd been running in a new Altra shoe called the Torin for the first 33 miles and was swapping to The Superior, our new lightweight performance trail shoe which releases in a few weeks.  They are very different shoes so it was interesting to feel and compare their performances on the trail.  The Superior however might be my favorite Altra shoe to date though!  Shortly after Stampede my stomach went sour again.  I did my usual tums and ginger...soon I was back and running well again.  However, this section was long and I ran out of water.  Meadow Mountain aid mile 41 took longer to get to then I wanted but I drank a bunch while there and off I went.  The next 10 miles were my favorite of the whole course.  It was perfect!  Ups and downs on a perfect combination of technical and smooth trails.  I had a blast!  I kept swapping places with a guy named Dale.  I don't think Dale and I were more then 20 minutes apart for the entire 100 miles!  We must have passed each other a dozen or more times.  But this section in the evening was incredible and I was moving better then I had all day, 45+ miles into the race.  It was amazing.

As the sun was now down I hit the bottom....this led me to the famous Snoqualmie Tunnel.  My goal was to hit this without turning on my light and I was successful!  But the tunnel had me worried as I'm severely claustrophobic.  Snoqualmie Tunnel is an old railroad tunnel that they carved through the mountain.  Its over 2 miles long!  I put my head down, turned on my light, and began running.  I played a trick by putting down my visor so I couldn't see much aside from the ground in front of me.  It worked!  It felt like I was running down a bike path...not underneath an entire mountain (there is a ski resort above you!). Soon I was out and heading down to the Hyak aid station.  This is where you head under the highway and really the only part of the course where you see any form of civilization.  I hit this aid station ay 9:08pm. 

53 miles in 11 hrs and 8 minutes.  I was feeling great!!  I didn't take a watch and the only split I set before the race was 9-9:30 at Hyak.  I was right on time!  I was helped by Shawna Thomson, last year winner and course record holder.  She had dropped at Stampede Pass this year and was helping out at Hyak.  How cool is that?  Ultra-runners are the best.  They have a crappy day and DNF but still stick around and volunteer.  I refueled quickly and was about to leave when Max showed up.  He was the store manager that I dared to come run with me.  I didn't think he would make it but was glad he did.  We were off and I was running well on a 2 mile section of asphalt.

The next section is a long grueling dirt road climb.  I was able to run quite a bit of it and hike strongly the rest.  I passed a couple more runners feeling strong.  However I discovered that I had no pills.  I had left my pill bag at Hyak.  I was pissed...no pepto, extra salt, exedrin, tums, ginger, pain rub, etc.  Once at the top (10 miles from Hyak...) it was a long 6 miles down.  My right knee was beginning to be a little painful as I had bumped it pretty good on my spill at mile 32 and it started bothering me on this section. I couldn't run the downs like I usually can and was having my first low in nearly 30 miles.  I kept moving though and soon hit the Kachess Lake aid station mile 68.  I changed socks and into the Lone Peaks.  This last 32 miles was supposed to be the toughest and I needed to be prepared.  I also had a patella strap for my knee which I donned.  I said goodbye to Max and left what is the last major aid station of the course.

The next section is called "the trail from hell."  On the map it looks like a nice flat 5.5 mile section next to the lake.  In reality it is a horrible unkept trail with log falls and short steep embankments that you go up/down up/down up/down for miles.  Despite what I was told I was unprepared.  It took me 2:22 to go just 5.5 miles.  I was in suffer mode and moving slow.  My knee hurt, my legs were dead, and I just hurt.  I lost 30 minutes over this section due to moving slowly and sitting down 3-4 times on the many log crossings.  There were water crossings at the start and finish of the trail which the wet feet was just a little 'extra' nice touch! :(  For the first time in 50 miles a couple runners past me and I just didn't have the legs to do with them.  When Dale came by I had to go with him as we were nearing the aid station.  I entered right behind him feeling horrible.  I loaded up on gear including a fresh headlamp and trekking poles as well as my next pacer Kevin.  Kevin is a young enthusiastic yet experienced ultra runner and I was glad to have him. 

The next section is a 7.5 mile dirt road with nearly 3500 ft of elevation gain.  I got into a solid hiking rhythm and was able to hammer it out in 2 hours flat.  The trekking poles saved me.  The best part was I was able to eat and recover on the way up.  I was getting a 2nd wind!  Miles 81-84 went quickly as we were on no name ridge and feeling great.  Singletrack ridge running made me feel right at home.  The first signs of light were coming over the Northern Cascades and soon the clouds were red and we could turn out lights off.  It was incredible.  Without warning I hit another low.  My energy levels went from solid to another low.  I was wondering where the Thorp Mtn aid station was.... it seemed to take forever.  My legs literally left me.  Finally we reached the aid station but had to do an out-n-back up to to the top of the mountain.  I was angry.  But half way up I realized that it was nearly all downhill for the next 14 miles.  As we got to the top, so did the sun.  My short and intense low point disipated as I sat down at the top of Thorp moutain and watched the sun come up.  Words can't describe the high I was on.  I started flying down the mountain!  I filled up my bottle and gave a big thanks to the aid station volunteers who hauled everything 2 miles up the mountain to provide us with aid.  I also saw 5-6 runners right on my tail on the out-n-back.  I vowed nobody would catch me and was off.

And nobody did catch me!  I was smelling the barn and with 14 miles left nearly all of which was downhill, I was cruising.  The sun was up, the singletrack was pristine, and I was ready to be done.  Ok well I probably wasn't going that fast but I felt like I was flying.  I couldn't beleive how pretty the morning was as well as the trail.  I hit one final low at mile 95 as the trail turned ridiculously steep and technical.  My legs were shot but I pushed through it.  It was also a relief knowing that a sub-24 was in the bag.  At several aid stations they mentioned I was on pace and sure enough I finished in 23:40.06.  I always have mixed emotions at the final of a 100 miler but this was was pretty mellow.  I didn't get emotional like I usually do but it was more of a quite contentment knowing I'd run very well and pushed myself.  I am very happy with my Cascade Crest experience.

The race itself was tougher terrain then I expected but extremely well organized.  Aid stations were great, course markings were easy to follow, and the trail was beautiful.  Thanks to the race directors and all the volunteers.  I don't anticipate coming back any time soon but as a bucket list race, it was perfect.  Wasatch is my baby so hopefully I get in in for next but I hope to check off a bucket list race every year.  Other races on my to do list are: UTMB and Hardrock 1st and 2nd but many others including Leadville, Bighorn, Western, Tahoe Rim, Pine to Palm, Headlands, Angeles Crest, and IMUTF.  I figure one a year plus Wasatch will be satisfying.  But my experience at Cascade Crest was incredible!