Here's to the adventures of my life which are usually ultra marathon trail running or fly fishing but may include other trips, experiences, thoughts, opinions, or pretty much whatever I want. As co-founder of Altra Footwear my life and adventures seemingly revolve more around developing and promoting the best footwear in the world...and I love it!
Heli-Running, an adrenaline junky trail runner's dream, the process of being taken to a high remote mountain and running/finding your way down! Sissy- probably, but its so much fun I don't feel bad at all. I've climbed enough mountains that getting a one-off freebie it ok in my books. Particularly when its with one of the editors of Runner's World magazine! We had a blast.
I also got roped into running the uphill challenge at Outdoor Retailer. I didn't take last so I felt pretty good about that. I actually finished 10th out of 16 runner's so for a semi-out-of-shape downhill runner, I did pretty awesome. Max King slaughtered everyone but the highlight was watching Luke Nelson and Anton Krupicka duke it out head-to-head. Luke won by .01 miles.
Also had a chance to run trail 151 around Timpanagos this week. 24 amazing miles. It was incredible....maybe it was the new Altra shoe I was testing "The Superior." Either way, the shoe and/or the trail created on awesome morning on the mountain.
I'll be heading out to run Corner Canyon 50K for my last attempt to get some miles in before Cascade Crest in 2 weeks. I'm totally unsure of my fitness right now due to the inconsistent training and work related stress but when I have run recently, I've felt great. 100 miles has a way of exposing weaknesses though...
I had the opportunity to do an adventure run in Paris. As I travel, one of my favorite things to do is get lost for a couple hours in the city I'm in. This was one of my favorites! Even had some local food afterwards...Viva la France!
Its seems like yesterday but its been a few weeks since I ran back-to-back races. I'll try to be quick in my recaps but this is a LONG post. I've had a great but crazy couple of weeks!
Timp Trail Marathon-
Cons: One week before Squaw...I run these trails every day...and thats about it.
Pros: I LOVE these trails. Even though I run them everyday, they are awesome. The climbing, the runnable sections, singletrack, doubletrack, mountain views, close to home, well priced, well marked, great organization, and just a ton of fun. The first 11 miles are somewhat vanilla but I don't believe there are 14 miles of more beautiful running from the edge of city in the world!
I decided 2 days prior to run this race. I knew that I wouldn't be in A shape for Squaw so I thought it would be fun to do both on back-to-back weekends. I started out relatively slow as I didn't want to overdue it. I basically had it on cruse-control for 18 miles. (aside from the wake of bathroom breaks...my wife made awesome homemade chili the night before. I had 3 bowls...never again before a race).
I was also a medical station handing out salt pills, Tylenol, Pepto, and Tums to various people. The craziest was a half-marathoner sprawled out on the trail cramping. After hurdling her, I turned around and gave her a salt pill and water...she looked at me like I was crazy saying nothing but doing what she was told.
I felt great going up Grove, floated through the meadows, and plowed up Curly Springs. At the top (app. mile 18) I finally decided to push the pace a bit. I flew to the finish! It felt sooo good. I finished feeling like a million bucks. Even had a sprint off with a 1/2 marathoner....I won! Ended up 6th place in a time of 4:14. The year I won it I ran a 4:12...of course that was the mud year and I figure my time would have been approximately 15 minutes faster. Considering how easy I took it, I was very pleased with my time. Partner Seth Wold CRUSHED the course winning in 3:40!
I beat him, too much pumping up the crowd...
Squaw Peak 50-
6th finish at Squaw. This is an annual pilgrimage for me now. I love this race. This year I knew I wasn't in PR shape but I wanted to go run well anyway. My calf was a bit sore from pushing the downhills too fast the week before but I was ready. However, I almost missed the start! I couldn't find a piece of gear in the morning and was frantic. I finally left without it but it turns out that my freeway on-ramp was closed until 6am. I speed through the city and up the canyon on an alternative route. I quickly parked, sprinted 300 meters to the start, gave some random person my only drop bag, and got to the start as John was counting down 3, 2,1...
Sucked being so rushed at the start but it was fun having friends all around running and chatting. I accelerated right before the singletrack and climbing we went. Oddly enough as we reached the Rock Canyon aid station mile 10.5 I wasn't feeling great. I got their slower then I ever had (my plans were to start slow). After the next climb I had slowed even further. Soon I was weazing and having a full on asthma attack. It was scary. On the flat bowl everyone ran away from me and I found myself walking struggling for breathe. I have been having some respiratory issues recently but for how fast I was going, it shouldn't have flared up. Odd and a bit scary.
I was in no-mans land. The chase pack I was in had left and there was no one behind for quite a ways. As I walked for a couple miles I decided to drop out at Horse Mountain Aid Station mile 15. I couldn't breath and there was no way I was going another 35 miles in my state. I entered the aid station and went and sat down. Several runners came and left then John and Rory, some early starter friends of mine, came in and asked what was wrong. I told them...and Rory pulled out an inhaler! I took three puffs and decided that I would continue on albeit slowly. I ran with them for a mile then Cory Johnson and Kendall Wimmer came by. I decided to go with them. We chatted as we ran down the canyon and I was feeling much better. I was monitoring my breathing, relaxing, and floating down the mountain. At the next aid station I quickly filled my bottle and kept it up. I found myself alone again and moving well.
I ran the whole way up the asphalt. I began passing back the people who had passed me at Horse Mountain. At mile 26 I felt like I hadn't even started! I watched my breathing very closely but kept plugging forward and I was picking up speed! Passed several people at Sheep Creek and noticed something: as they were hopping over the water/rivers I was bending over and splashing myself. Despite the warm weather (hottest Squaw on record) I was managing to stay cool. I was smiling as I motored onwards feeling great. Thankfully my drop bag somehow managed to get to Little Valley AS mile 33.
I loaded up with fresh gear, drank an entire bottle of water, changed my socks, and headed up the mountain. I was surprised how much I was able to run. I ran maybe a little too much as I looked up Bozung Hill at mile 39 breathing pretty hard. I knew that breaking 10 hours was almost impossible at this point due to my asthma attack delay so I did the smart thing, I sat down in the last patch of shade, took a gel, drank most of my leftover water, and caught my breath for 5 minutes. As I was about to get up, Nick Sourlos came up. We hit Bozung Hill together which was great. I was up and over shockingly quick and entered Windy Pass aid station pumped! I flew down the mountain with runners coming back to me like flies and finished in 10hrs 21min in 16th place.
Considering the situation and how much time I lost around Horse Mountain I am very pleased. My splits from the bottom of Hobble Creek, mile 22 to the finish were my exact planned splits for a 9:30 finish. I ended up having a great time and loved seeing so many familiar faces. Thanks to all the volunteers, Rory, friends, and some great gear!
Adventure of a Lifetime-
Riley Richard Beckstead was born Tues June 12th. 7lb 12oz 20in. Healthy and happy we are so excited to have this little boy in our family.
First weekend in June means 1 thing to me over the last 7 years...Squaw Peak 50. I seem to get amp'd up every year for the race. This year is no different. So here is an update on course conditions, competition, my expectation for the race and years leading up. Counting down...!
The course is in the best shape its been in for years. Having run nearly all of the course over the last two weeks, its going to be a potentially fast year. The early climbs are shocking smooth. Snow will be a non factor, and Little Valley to Windy and down is as nice as I ever remember it. (I ran from Big Springs to Little Valley and back last Saturday). The Spring is flowing Bozung Hill is a little overgrown since the race didn't go up it last year, but everything else is as nice as ever. Should be a fast year!
The competition should be very good also. Some new younger talent but some veterans as well. Scott Jaime has to be the favorite. After winning here in '09, he should do well. Speedster David Holt ran a very fast time that same year and is back to see if he can top Scott. Allen Belshaw has several wins at Squaw and is returning after a couple year hiatus. We will see what shape he is in when he arrives. Several Squaw Peak new-comers should have great races and compete for the win. Evan Hone is a great racer from California. Mick Jurynec is in stout shape right now and should run exceptional. We will see if he goes 100% with Western States 100 in a few weeks. Several fast road runners have entered the race including Jody Benson, Logan Fielding, and Seth Wold. Should be a fast front pack.
I will be following them in the chase pack. I wanted to crush it this year and am about a month away from being in the shape I want. I was traveling 22 days of April which made it hard to train and then got a large cold accompanied with a sinus infection that was as bad as I've ever had it. So that took away 10 days of training in May. I've had a lingering respiratory thing holding me back a bit as well. Otherwise, I'm in pretty good shape. Should be a typical sub-10 hour year for me. Not the sub-9 I've been searching for. I intend to go out pretty easy and pick off the leftovers from what surely will be a blazing fast front pack.
One of these years I'll enter it fully prepared to crush it. The two years I entered in that shape I didn't make it. The mud year in 2008 nobody broke 9 due to conditions...I took 3rd with a 9:36. And 2010 when I got off course on Bozung Hill which was the final straw to me blowing up and struggling down in my slowest time ever of 10:03. I am in much better shape then my 2009 time of 9:55 so I hope to come in around 9:30.
Should be an awesome year. I am going out and running Timp Trail Marathon 7 days prior but looking to run solid and have fun at both races. Really focusing on Cascade Crest 100 in August! Looking forward to the next week of awesome trail racing.
Had the amazing experience of going to New Zealand on business. Didn't have much time to run but was able to climb Ben Lomond Peak outside Queenstown, New Zealand. Only trail run I was able to get in during a busy and amazing 10 days. More Pictures to come but here are a few video's and pics from the epic run and trip.
So I got a last minute entry into the Boston Marathon. I was going out for the expo with Altra and I was able to snatch an invitational entry into Boston. I was pretty excited. It was so last minute that I never got my bib # packet before I flew out to the event but I was confident I was in. I went to check and pick up my bib number the first chance I could...needless to say I was in the last wave in the last coral. Basically starting in last place. I also noticed that the buses left at 6:30am and my wave didn't start until 10:40am. Heck I could run to the start that fast...
And so three days before the event, the idea of running it both ways came into my mind. I said as much to my partners Golden and Jeremy. Next thing I know, they are bragging to everyone that I'm running it twice...(thanks guys!?). So I guess I was committed to doing it! I tried in vain to get a few people to join me but got no takers. I got everything prep'd the night before and was generally nervous about having been on my feet for three straight days at the expo. I've done 25+ marathons or ultra's but never more then 12.2 on the road. Ended up getting a few hour of sleep and awoke focused on the event at hand. The hotel lobby was bustling with marathon runner's getting prep'd. None of whom knew that I was heading out to do the marathon as well...just twice!
I started at exactly 5:30am from Boston. The temperature was perfect. I settled into an 8 minute mile and just keep going. I had to stop several times totally maybe 15 minutes finding directions, then several bathroom breaks (I was well hydrated getting prep'd for the later high temps), then at several stop lights. Once away from Boston, it was mostly only cyclists so I was nice and relaxed. I stopped 17 miles in where a friend had dropped some water and food but it was gone. I couldn't find it anywhere. I was low on water but feeling great. Snapped this nice shot 20 miles in:
Shortly thereafter I was able to snag some water at the water stations that were now being set up along the course. They had also stopped traffic so I was now able to run in the middle of the road instead of the shoulder. It was great! The crowd was growing but looking in the wrong direction. Several people shouted out "Hey your going the wrong direction!". I didn't stop to explain....
2 miles from the start, the wheelchairs came zooming by...it was awesome watching their competitiveness and speed. It got me thinking about how lucky and blessed I was to be healthy and able to do what I can. I look up to those athletes who overcome their adversities very much. A mile later came the orthopedic athletes. At this point the emotions came pouring out. The remaining part of the day became a spiritual emotional experience for me that I will never forget.
I got to the start at 9:30 am in a time of 3:57:01. I was able to stand at the start and watch the elite females take off. The excitement was palpable with fans cheering, crowded streets, and runner's darting everywhere getting ready for the marathon. I was short a few calories and began looking for some food. I ended up at a corner grocery store where I bought the last 2 banana's in stock and a powerbar. Downing that I began drinking and taking some supplements to keep up my electrolytes. Found a shady spot and sat down for 45 minutes watching wave after wave of starters head out of Hopkington to Boston. At 10:40am my wave began. Being in the last coral, I passed the starting line at exactly 10:50am. So begins the official marathon.
LOTS and LOTS of people were heading down the road. I got to the shoulder and began passing people while trying to stay relaxed. It was crazy. Two miles in and it was still packed. Settling down I watched how nearly every person I passed had written on the back of their shirts something like "I miss you mom", "For Dad", "In remembrance of Jane", "Lets rid cancer", "MS"etc etc etc. I couldn't contain my emotions. Seemed the race had a message to tell me.
Still pumping out 8 minute miles I was thrilled to be running. I felt great. The endorphins seemed to have no end. Surrounded by positive minded runners I was engulfed in energy. Mile after mile I moved forward into the crowd. I took the time to talk with a few Altra wearers, friends, and strangers. I then began passing a few of the orthopedic runners-emotions, girls college- exhilarating (wow! talk about loud and intense), mile 13.1- pumped, passing the Hoyts- emotional, and forward.
Soon the heat was overpowering. I was pouring more cups of water over my head then I was drinking. The post water stations was covered with empty cups and spilled water. You had to watch out as everyone slowed, dodged, drank, poured over head, etc. I only had two gels since Hopkington which I took earlier and was struggling to get my energy up. Mile 17 was the only gel station...I grabbed three taking them at 17, 19, and 21. I was slowing down yet runner's were still coming back to me like a meteor shower!
I kept plodding and heartbreak hill was shockingly tough and steep. I had run every step and wasn't about to walk so onwards I ran. At the top I had a burst of energy and surged down the hills. I was so pumped! I had a huge smile on my face and kept getting emotional as I watched spectators with garden hoses spraying down overheated runners, random strangers passing out ice and oranges from their homes, medical staff scrabbling to get to struggling runners, and just a general sense of the positivity of humanity. It reinforanced to me that people are generally good. However, with 3 miles left, I was tired. The screaming fans 5-10 deep in places kept me going as I neared the finish line. I pushed all the way in with an official time of 3:44:25.
It was an incredible experience for me. I enjoyed every minute. The emotions of running that far with so many endorphins-factors-experiences was amazing. 52.4 miles in 7 hours 41 minutes and 30 seconds. Out of 21,554 finishers, I finished 5,331. Kind of crazy to think that I passed around 15,000 runners! Recovery has been better then I thought and I will forever look back on what an amazing experience this was. Altra Blog Write-Up
