Monthly Archives: October 2013

Fall Plan

26 Saturday Oct 2013

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York StI think this photo is in City Park.  It meets my primary criteria of showing both feet airborne.  Not sure why I find these pictures so cool when both feet are completely off the ground during about 50% of any running stride, but I do.  I’m less happy with the poor form this photo illustrates.  Note how my forward foot is heel-down.  That’s not unusual for distance running, but it’s poor form nonetheless.  I’ve been working hard to run toe-down and I do much of the time.  At only 5 miles into the Denver Marathon, I am clearly over-striding here.  Something for me to continue to work on this fall.  Might need to work on my double chin too, another thing this pic illustrates.  Why do race photographers think kneeling down is a good angle for pictures?  You’ll see what I’m talking about if you click on the pic to enlarge it.

The best method I know to practice running with downward pointing toes is to run fast.  Wearing minimalist shoes also helps.  I decided on a 9 mile run today on Eagle Trail with Keith.  Nine miles is too far for me to wear minimalist shoes so I wore my training flats.  I’ll work those more into my routine though on shorter runs.  After DST ends and I start running more 3 and 4 milers.

aurora Keith and I worked speed into our trail run today by leveraging a downhill mile on the Eagle Trail loop.  The loop is around 2.7 miles.  We circled it 3 times.  On miles 3, 6 and 9, we picked up our pace.  Our regular pace was about 8.5 minutes per mile.  For our fast miles, we dropped our pace under 7 minutes per mile.  Actually about 6.5 minutes per mile.  At some points I ran under a 6 minute pace.  The weather was 54° and sunny.  There are no additional health benefits to running fast, but it feels good.

My late fall to early winter running plan looks to include some shorter events – like 5Ks.  History suggests I don’t necessarily run a 5K any faster than a 10K.  In fact, my recent PRs have me with a 7:09 pace for a 10K but only 7:12 for a 5K.  I know I can break a 7 minute pace for a 5K.  Some speed training will teach my legs to run that fast.  This final pic is before the Denver Marathon.  Before the dawn.

Post Marathon Syndrome

24 Thursday Oct 2013

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kirsten millerI am posing here after crossing the finish line with Kirsten Miller.  She took 2nd out of 72 women in her 45-49 yr old age division with a time of 3:45:01.  For whatever reason the photographer wanted us both in this shot.  I finished 28 out of 92 men in my 50-54 yr old age division with a time 2.5 minutes slower, so you could say Kirsten is slumming it with me here.  I appreciate her adding some color to my otherwise mostly monochrome finisher’s photo.

I’ve had some time to digest my marathon and think of what to do with myself for the rest of the year.  For those of you who run marathons, or have completed comparable feats of outlandish athletic prowess, you understand the post event phases of somber reflection.  I would not be exaggerating to say an entire year of training went into my run last weekend.  Now I find my mind bloated from thoughts of how I did and what could I have done differently.  My decision-making is cramped by indecision on what to plan for future weekends.

The more I think about my first half pace, the more comfortable I am with it.  I might do better overall if I were to run slower at first, but that is my pace.  Maybe not a 3:20 pace.  I could stand to slow down a tad for a 3:30 overall pace.  I’ve decided on what I need to do to improve in marathons.  I am going to start carrying my own drinks.  I don’t drink enough electrolytes at the aid stations.  I know though that unless I stop for a full minute, I can’t.  I like the idea of having aid stations to obviate the need to carry a camelbak, but I’ll do better sipping my own brew.  Eating is even more difficult for me while running and I do better if I take my fuel in liquid form.  Next marathon I plan to carry my own liquid fuel.  I’ll likely appreciate the extra pockets from the pack too.  Old men can’t have too many pockets.

I’m still disappointed my hamstring cramped at 20 miles.  I had no warning whatsoever – I was running along fine and boom!  If you’ve never had your hamstring cramp, let me tell you.  It friggin hurts!  Ever see a sprinter pull up short of the finish or a football player screaming on the field?  It’s a big muscle to have cramp.  I’m so glad it didn’t keep cramping, but then I had to keep my speed down the final 6 miles because of it.  I actually think cooling down the final 10K was a good scenario because I felt great the next day.  I’ve never even been able to walk the day after a marathon but this Monday I ran six miles.  I ran ten miles yesterday and six today.  Totally recovered.  More importantly, no injuries.

Still, knowing my season is over is a bit of a let down.  That doesn’t mean I can’t keep running, but I don’t have anything big scheduled.  I’ll find some runs – ideally inexpensive events since I spent a few hundred already this year on running.  I got an invite today for the ColderBolder 5K on Dec 7th.  That’s a bit out there.  I’ll find some things to do in November.  Daylight Savings ends though in another week or two.  That’ll impact my training.  Traditionally, after DST ends, I start to run during the day, while the sun is warm.  The issue with that is I have to squeeze my runs in between conference calls so I’m limited to 3 or 4 miles.  I can still get some distance training in on the weekends.  We’ll see how the year winds down.

Denver Marathon 2013

20 Sunday Oct 2013

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burning tree I wake up at 4:30 this morning for the Denver Marathon.  First, I shower and shave.  Not something I would generally do before a run, but I didn’t do either of these things Saturday and I’m a bit ripe.  I never made a decision on what socks to wear the night before.  I go for the knee-high compression socks.  I don’t wear them much because I don’t like dressing like a girl.  I’ve had issues lately with my calves cramping though and they are supposed to help mitigate that risk.  Plus, I suspect I might appreciate the warmth today.  Pulling on compression socks is a chore.  I check my toes first because they can be a bit sensitive.  One of my toe nails falls off after touching it.  Think of leprosy, I did.  There’s a new toe nail growing about half way to where it needs to be.  I wonder how long it will take to become a real toe nail.  Good thing we’re headed into winter.

I have a doughnut on the drive to Denver, along with my coffee.  Not sure why I bought those last night.  Probably because they are decorated for Halloween.  The road closures are already in place but it’s straightforward for me to park at the Denver Art Museum garage at 12th and Broadway.  This close-up parking is included with my Platinum Lounge – where I head next.  They have gas heaters setup.  Nice.  I hang here and put together my gear – pin my race bib on, load my fuel and I decide to wear my iPod.

match strideI don’t catch her name but chat with the lady standing next to me in the corral.  She’s from Indianapolis so we mostly discuss the Broncos game tonight which is fairly hyped up over Peyton’s return to play the Colts.  This race will publish my splits to facebook, as well as text some friends who provided their mobile numbers.  I start my Garmin as I cross the starting line but for some reason don’t look at it much.  I read the race clocks and am a bit concerned I might be running too fast.  I feel fine though.  In terms of breathing.  I’m a bit nauseous from the doughnut during the first 10K.  Not the smartest food choice, but what better time to eat a doughnut than before a 3000 calorie marathon?

I know a 7:30 pace is too fast for the first 5k.  I try to slow down a bit but otherwise feel comfortable with this speed.  I’m not breathing hard.  The 10K comes in at a 7:40 pace.  A slight moderation.  I begin to feel fatigue in the second half but don’t slow down much.  I eat my first fuel – other than sipping Gatorade at the aid stations.  I eat a chia seed bar.  This takes me a full mile.  I see Chris with his daughter and mine while eating my chia bar.  Chris takes photos of me throughout the second half of the marathon.  These pics of me in this blog are what he captured.  Thanks buddy.  Afterward he took the kids to Elitch Gardens.

red tree After 16 miles my pace begins to slow down.  I turn off my iPod at 18 miles.  The 3:30 pace sign passes me at 19 miles.  I try to hang with it but can’t.  I’m still averaging 8:05 per mile at 20 miles but am now running closer to 9 minute miles.  Then my right hamstring cramps at 20.4 miles.  A couple of sweethearts come to my aid with a banana and water.  I lose some time here but recover.  Unfortunately I am forced to purposely run slower than I’m capable of from here on out to keep my hamstring from cramping again.  I suspect I lose a minute per mile on my pace, so this likely added 5 to 6 minutes to my overall time.  I’m OK with this actually.  I had a good run.  I cross the finish line in 3:47:16.

I don’t think the starting temperature ever warmed up.  They hand out foil wraps at the finish and I take one.  The wind was not an issue during this run but it did pick up a bit in the final miles and added a chill to my sweat-soaked shirt.  It doesn’t take long before I begin to shiver.  I head for the Platinum Lounge for a post-race recovery.  I meet some guys near a gas heater – Jake and Charlie.  They ran the half marathon so have been here awhile.  Jake has already had 3 massages.  The lounge is nearly empty and there’s little competition for resources.  I wonder how many Michelob Ultras they drank.

finishI change into dry gear but it’s still cold and I continue to shiver.  I know this is because my body is too depleted to defend itself against the cold.  I’m also on the verge of cramping.  Not just my legs but my stomach, torso sides and hips.  I keep things in check but vomit all the food and drinks I ate since finishing.  Sucks because I need those electrolytes.  I feel better afterward though and it’s my turn for a massage.  The massage lady freaks out a bit because of my shivering.  Or maybe because I’m overly vocal about my pain.  That’s my style.  Some of us are screamers.  She cuts the massage short because she thinks she might hurt me.  Wimp.  Then she calls over the medical staff because I refuse to go to their tent.  This is silly.  I’m delicate but am drinking my electrolytes and avoiding cramps.  Did I mention the masseuse spilled my beer?

I commend the race on this level of care but I’m experienced and know I don’t need any help.  I was in their medical tent last year and forced to drink a bottle of Gatorade spiked with salt.  It was like drinking from the Gulf of Mexico.  The doctor asks me some questions to ensure I am fine.  She wants me to go to the tent but I provide the right answers to remain in the lounge.  “Have this ever happened to you before?”  “Yes, this is nothing really.”  “Have you vomited?”   “No.”  Not only am I fine and just need a little time to refuel, but I can guarantee you the med tent doesn’t have gas heaters or beer.  The doctor lets me stay.

I drive home when I can’t stand the cold anymore.  The temperature continues to drop and the wind is picking up.  I pick up my first ever Five Guys Burger.  They are awesome.  Karen has a roast slow cooking and serves it later with twice-baked potatoes.  Watching Denver in a close game now with the Colts.  Another epic run and a great day.

Gear & Swag

19 Saturday Oct 2013

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Durango StartI don’t have sponsors.  Apparently there is some FCC disclosure regulation that requires bloggers, or writers in any medium, to be clear about sponsorships when reviewing products.  I rarely focus on reviews but figure I mix in my product endorsements as part of the details of my stories.  I feel compelled to relate my first race experience with my fairly new Camelbak during the Durango Ultra.  While I’m at it, I’ll share my feedback on the swag I picked up today at the Expo for tomorrow’s Denver Marathon.  I have my head down in this pic at the start to the Durango Ultra starting my Garmin.  That’s me in the blue jacket and red hat.  Rob is to my left – to the right of me in the pic.

camelbakI’m as quick to dis a product as I am to praise it.  Making my contribution.  Mentioning products accounts for many of the search results that lead to my blog, so I figure there’s value.  I don’t want my review of the Camelbak Rogue Hydration Pack to come across as negative.  It failed several times, but it failed so gracefully.  I only filled the 70 ounce reservoir less than half full with water.  Rob and I debated a great deal on how much we should leverage the aid stations.  I packed some Chia Seed bars in my pockets and stored extras in this pack.  I had to remove the pack to reach the pockets, which I did to eat several more bars, but that wasn’t at all inconvenient considering my pace.

I bought this pack because my blue running vest chafes my tailbone on long runs.  This wears high on my back.  I love the fit.  I wore it for my recent Georgia Pass run and it met all expectations.  Fairly quickly in the ultra though the little black plastic connector that attaches the clip for my strap fell off.  It remained attached to the chest strap, but seemed too complicated at the time to reattach to the shoulder strap.  And I didn’t need to reattach it because the drinking hose attaches in a similar fashion and position.  The hose held my pack together in lieu of the chest strap.  I simply tucked the chest strap under the other shoulder strap to keep it from flapping. This is what I refer to as failing gracefully.  The water hose served as a redundant strap.  Until the little black plastic connector that attaches the hose clip to the shoulder strap also fell off.  Completely.  I stored it in my pocket.  Then I discovered an extra flap of material on the strap that I could tuck the end of my hose into and continue to have it hold my pack together.  This worked so well, I’m not sure it isn’t designed for this purpose.  So yet another redundant system.

I can’t tell you if any of this is by design.  I find it brilliant nonetheless.  Or maybe I’m just a running MacGyver.  That ultra was a total success from a gear and nutrition perspective.  Combined with the snow covered Las Platas, it was a great experience.  Hope tomorrow’s Denver Marathon is just as enjoyable.  I picked up my race bib and related swag today.  I’m disappointed the race shirt is short-sleeved.  And that it’s essentially the same as last year’s shirt.  And that it’s ugly.  It is a more manly blue than last year’s baby blue, but that’s the only good thing I can think to say.  I like to wear the race shirt when the weather supports doing so.  I just learned the forecast calls for 45° when the run begins.  Previous forecasts were for 31°.  The 5 mph wind hasn’t changed, and is fine.

The day will warm up to 49° and is really perfect running weather.  But it’ll be cloudy all day.  The sun makes a noticeable difference in Colorado.  Everyone’s different but for me, an October marathon in Colorado calls for a long-sleeved shirt.  This run starts at 7:15am.  Sunrise isn’t until 7:16 tomorrow.  I want to be warm and comfy while I wait for the run to start.  And, I don’t know if this is scientific, but the downtown in a city is always colder than elsewhere in a city.

ultra shortsSo I won’t be sporting the official event shirt tomorrow.  I’ll layer with one of my short sleeve, cotton Moab race shirts underneath one of my favorite long-sleeved, running jerseys.  I picked up an awesome Pearl Izumi running jacket I could wear too.  The sleeves come off making it a vest.  Had the weather not warmed up to 45°, I’d consider wearing it.  Even better, I purchased a pair of Pearl Izumi ultra running shorts at the expo.  I spent some money at the expo.  The liner in these shorts wrap all the way around the legs – almost like having some short tights underneath.  These will keep me feeling toasty.

Durango FinishI won’t bother with gloves but will be wearing the 2013 Boulder Marathon hat.  That event was cancelled but they gave out the hats.  I’ll be looking for any others.  Because I’m a gentleman runner, I registered for the Platinum Lounge.  This gives me close-up parking and a private area to warm up and cool down before and after the race with coffee, bagels, private restrooms and other amenities.  I may not run fast tomorrow, but I’ll be comfortable.  Actually, I expect to run well – possibly in 3:45.  I’ve been dreaming about a 3:30 marathon to qualify for Boston, but can’t point to any recent runs to suggest I can run that fast.  I’ll be happy with anything under 4 hours.  What I want more than anything is to run a consistent pace without cramping or bonking.  Wish me luck.

Ultra

13 Sunday Oct 2013

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M$HWYI should be stitching up my Halloween costume.  Instead, I’m watching the ten o’clock news, because tomorrow I drive to Durango.  Almost embarrassingly, I have to consider the possibility of a fourth primary route.  I’ll have to drive down I-35 for a 100 miles or so to Walsenburg.  Then drive another 300 west on Hwy 160 over Wolf Creek Pass.  The opposite corner of going west 300 to GJ and south 100.  The Pagosa Springs approach would be nice.  It would not include Red Mountain Pass, Molas Pass, and Coal Bank Pass.  This picture is on the road between Ouray and Silverton.  It’s referred to as the Switzerland of America.  There are 76 miles between Ouray and Durango.  Each mile is just like this.

I go to bed Thursday night a little bummed.  The snow storm that was supposed to steer north into Wyoming is dumping over Colorado.  Mostly wind, but my local news is hyping up the snow.  The weather channel isn’t nearly as dramatic, surprisingly.  I come to the conclusion their focus is still on leaking oil wells related to the Great September Flood.  I wake up having decided I will drive Hwy 285 through BV, Monarch Pass, the Black Canyon, and lastly the Switzerland of America.  I fail to view any media suggesting this route, that hovers around 7000 feet, will be closed today.  It doesn’t help that the Weather Channel and my local news have such varied spins on this event.

SilvertonAn accident is blocking my interchange at I-70 and E-470.  I know this as I approach the interstate off Hwy 52, because my radio tells me so.  It’s cleared by the time I pass through but can’t possibly account for some of the weird slow downs along the way.  I sit on Kenosha Pass for 10 minutes due to construction.  Snow flurries start on Monarch Pass.  The snow falls off and on all the way to Durango but the roads are clear and it’s a gorgeous drive.  The Black Canyon looks on fire with flaming Aspen and low hanging clouds for smoke.

I can’t see the Switzerland of America as I turn south on Hwy 550 because of the low cloud cover.  As I pass through Ridgway the sun suddenly illuminates the mountains that box in Ouray.  Always stunning.  I stop by Kristopher’s Culinaire in Ouray to say hi.  90 minutes later, I meet Rob at Ska Brewery in Durango.  I camp out at Rob and Sue’s house for the weekend.  They live up Lightner Creek on a mountainside.  I would describe it as romantic but everyone lives like this in Durango.  On the sides of mountains.

starting lineSaturday morning, we toe up to the starting line,   This run is that small.  We begin on the street but hit the trail after a mile and immediately begin climbing.  I warm up on this first hill.  I remove both my hat and gloves before one and a half miles.  I keep my jacket on because the wind is cool on top the ridges.  I tie it around my waist after 3 miles and leave it there.  I replace my fleece hat with my orange marathon hat to keep the sun off my face and the light out of my eyes.

There are 53 runners.  With a twisty trail in the trees, I lose sight of all of them and feel like I’m running alone.  I run back into a crowd of them around 5 or 6 miles where the course splits.  It should lead right, and the left branch is where the loop rejoins this leg on the return.  The volunteer doesn’t know the route and one runner goes the wrong way, oblivious to our shouts while listening to her ear buds.  A guy from her group chases after her to bring her back.  I get lost myself a short while after this and waste a good 5 minutes searching for the trail.  I don’t find it until the next runner behind me catches up and spots the way.

This is an extremely technical trail.  The path is challenging and staying on course takes constant vigilance.  Intersections with other trails are well marked but it still takes quite a few educated guesses.  Keeping a straight line is what I know to do from experience and it almost always leads back to the trail.  I suspect I am running oftentimes off-trail, but false paths generally lead back to the main trail.  At times, I have to slow down, not because of fatigue, but in order to sight the trail markers – little blue and white ribbons strung up on tree branches.

RobRob catches up to me shortly before we are half way into the run.  He’s highly skilled at following the trail.  This relieves me of the pressure to sight the trail and probably helps me to run faster.  Trails are slow though compared to running through neighborhood streets.  There is snow in places and significant mud.  I never fully fall but stumble a couple of times – stubbing my toe hard on rocks.  I can see by traces on the ground where runners before me have fallen.  This is a hint to tread carefully.

snowThe mud dries up somewhat later in the run and makes for some nice cushion for sore knees.  Another challenge of the trail is when it runs along the ridge of a hill.  Footing is tricky over the rocks and I wonder whether I’ll fall left or right over the ledge should I trip.  This is what hikers refer to as a bit of exposure.

Even if this run were only a 10K rather than a 32 mile ultra, it would be hard.  This is a real trail.  Snow, mud, hills, twists and turns, exposure.  After 40 kilometers, the trail has stopped surprising me.  Did I mention the tarantula?  I took pictures but they didn’t turn out well.  The only obstacle now to finishing the final 10K is me.  My feet are tender.  My hamstrings feel close to cramping.  There are knots of pain in my thighs.  I must be refueling well though because I’m not bonking.  It’s hard to tell sometimes when I’m climbing a hill and have to walk.  I tell myself I’m fine, it’s just the hill.

aid stationFor fuel, I eat four or five Chia seed bars.  Each fruit bar contains 155 calories with sugar, protein and a healthy dose of potassium.  These will be in my pocket for next weekend’s Denver Marathon.  They leave me feeling like the spirit of the Tarahumara Indians are guiding my feet over the trail.  I stumble right at 26.2 miles – a marathon – but don’t fall.  Maybe I had the protective benefit of trail spirits, maybe I didn’t, but I finish this race still running strong and uninjured.

This is the most amazing trail I’ve ever completed.  The 25 mile Collegiate Peaks Trail Run was special.  And the IPR is unmatched with its 10 mile climb above Ouray and 7 mile drop into Telluride.  But this trail ultra is a runner’s dream.  Durango is truly a trail runner’s paradise.  Boulder County has some good trails but it doesn’t come close to Durango.  The entire town is surrounded by mountain trails.  I find myself somewhat smitten with this town.  I could live here.  Rob and I finish 4th and 5th respectively in our 50-59 year old age division.  It takes us 8 hours and 25 minutes.  I plan to visit Rob a few times before next October to become more familiar with this trail.  I’ll be back for next year’s Ultra.

Drive to Durango

09 Wednesday Oct 2013

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Million Dollar HighwayThere are three primary routes from the Denver area to Durango.  I-70 west to Hwy 550 and then south at 430 miles.  Hwy 285 to Hwy 50, over Monarch Pass to Hwy 550 and then south at 400 miles.  And Hwy 285 south to Hwy 160 and then west at 370 miles – or even I-25 south to Hwy 160.  I’ve driven the first two routes.  Not all the way to Durango necessarily because I’ve yet to actually drive into that town.  I hiked in as part of my epic 2011 Colorado Trail adventure.  I’ve driven as far as Molas Pass via Highways 50 and 550.  In the fall, I believe it offers the most vivid view of the turning Aspen.  I’ve driven the Hwy 160 route all the way to Pagosa Springs.  It’s the shortest route, but there is a brutally flat section near the Great Sand Dunes that puts me to sleep.  And there is no more beautiful drive in the world than along the Million Dollar Hwy in the fall.  This refers to the 25 mile section of Hwy 550 between Ouray and Silverton.

So that settles my trip planning then, I’m driving to Durango this Friday via Hwy 285 over Monarch Pass and through Ouray and Silverton.  I do still need directions to Rob’s house.  Next is laundry and packing.  Which leads me to think about another key planning topic – what to wear.  Weather forecast looks good.  A snow storm will be north of Colorado this weekend.  Durango will be sunny with a low of 32°, warming up to 58° with 7 mph winds on race day.  Tell me that’s not perfect for running.  Running tights might add to my comfort at the start but I suspect shorts are the way to go.  I’ll wear a long sleeve, high-tech fabric shirt.  I can start out with my light North Face jacket and store it later in my running vest.  Gloves and hat.  I’ll likely have more than one hat – beginning with a fleece skull cap and switch to my Boulder Marathon hat once the sun warms up.  I’ll pack more gear than this to be prepared.  You can’t trust weather reports in the mountains.

Solo

06 Sunday Oct 2013

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Hwy 36Chris starts off on his run Sunday morning at 8:00am.  The air at the Boulder Res is 47° with 7mph winds from the northeast so he wears a sweatshirt.  The 2013 Boulder Marathon was scheduled to run from here two weeks ago, but became another victim of the Great September Flood.  Chris refuses to be a victim.  Today he’s running the inaugural 2013 Chris Price Didn’t Do All This Freakin’ Training For Nothing Marathon.  There are no waves or corrals at the starting line.  Chris is running this one solo.  I have other commitments at 8 but catch up to Chris here on Hwy 36 and Left Hand Road.  Well into the second half of his run, Chris still looks fresh.  He shouts out that he’s four minutes under his target time.

Neva Raod - DirtIf there’s any doubt about how strong Chris is running, he jumps up like a rock star for this photo on Neva Road – twenty miles into the marathon.  Typical antics at big events.  Chris doesn’t need a crowd though.  He makes his own party.  The sun has warmed up significantly by this time, but the air still has some coolness in it.  Chris dropped his sweatshirt somewhere in the first half.  The Boulder back roads are so full of bikers and other runners, it almost feels like Chris is part of an official race.  I take note of a couple trailheads off Neva Road I might check out for future trail runs.

Neva RoadFrom a photography perspective, I dare say Chris is fortunate the Boulder Marathon was cancelled.  The trees are showing their colors much more this weekend than two weeks prior.  I can’t recall the weather two weekends ago but today is just incredibly perfect to run.  Chris lets me know here at 22 miles that he’s starting to feel fatigue.  I think to myself that I hope so.  If you’re not feeling tired after running 22 miles, something is wrong with you.  I say this about someone running a solo marathon.

55th StreetWith two miles remaining, on 55th Street, Chris is still flying with both feet airborne.  I’ve run 7 marathons myself.  Two as a kid so maybe I shouldn’t count those, but five in the last 3 years.  I had a little gas left in my tank in one of the Denver Marathons.  And I wasn’t tired at all when I finished the Dallas White Rock Marathon at 18 years of age.  Otherwise I’ve always been literally crawling at this point.  That’s with crowds cheering me to finish strong.  Talk about self motivation.  Chris really is a one man race.

Boulder ResThe finish at the Boulder Res presents a quarter mile long hill, but Chris doesn’t seem to notice.  I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran a negative split.  His family is waiting for him.  His daughter runs the final 100 meters with him, but falls behind as he turns on his kick.  I wish I’d have been clever enough to string up a finish line tape for Chris to break, but I didn’t know exactly where he planned to stop running.

finishThis last photo is of his final strides.  His finishing speed and strength are apparent.  His time was a few minutes over 3:20. Good enough for 3rd place in his age division in the 2012 Boulder Marathon.  Can you imagine running a marathon all by yourself?  Steve Jobs said we all die alone.  I’d like to know what thoughts went through Chris’ head to power him through this endeavor.  I don’t think he played music.  I’m simply amazed.  Nicely done Chris.

The Pending Ultra

01 Tuesday Oct 2013

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Durango 50K ProfileI run my first ultra on October 12th.  A 50K trail run in the San Juan Mountains around Durango, CO.  If you’ve ever run a 10K, this is five of those.  A marathon would be about four 10Ks.  The trail starts out around 6500 feet (Durango’s elevation) but is run almost entirely above 7000 feet, nearly reaching 8000 feet on the 4th of its 5 major humps.  The trail description is “runable”, but on the same web page is also called “never flat, rolling twisty single track.”  So the runable perspective is of someone who lives and runs in Durango.  Click on the elevation profile chart to see better detail.

My buddy Rob, who happens to live in Durango, talked me into this with the prospect of free registration.  He knows someone.  Hell, I’ve been known to sign up for a run because of their cool hat.  This was a no-brainer.  Except of course I’ve never run this far before.  Still, I’m oddly confident I can do it.  Maybe my stomach will feel differently in the starting corral, but I don’t plan to push my pace hard.  In fact, I expect to stop at several of the aid stations to down my sports drink and smell the Yucca.  Probably for no more than 90 seconds.  Any longer and stiffness sets into the muscles.  Plus, I believe my conditioning is such that my heart rate will mostly recover by then.

I won’t be disappointed if I walk most of this event.  My original plans for this weekend were for a 40 mile hike over two days – same thing almost.  There’s a 9 hour cut-off though so I’ll be mostly running.  Rob predicts we’ll need 8 hours.  I forecast 7.5 hours.  Ever the optimist.

We’re currently planning what to carry on the run.  We’ve decided to forgo water.  I’d be carrying 70 ounces of liquid electrolytes if I were hiking but to me the point of signing up for these spectacles is to leverage the aid stations and travel light.  We’ll wear running vests to carry gear – mostly to be prepared for weather – and some food.  I’ll likely carry my iPhone for pictures to feed the blog.  I won’t listen to tunes though.  It’s way more fun to chat with some of the other crazies out on the trail.