Since my last non-crew-report update, nearly 5 months ago, I wish I could report a running and fitness renaissance, but that is not the case. In general, I've either been running a little, reinjuring things or struggling with new injuries. And, for the most part, I've had a general disinterest in running. It still wasn't fun. Of course, even when it wasn't fun, I'm still competitive as hell. I was trying to get back in the game, but that was a mistake. August started to look promising, but the classic too-much-too-soon came back to bite me, and I couldn't run. I spiraled even further downward mentally. I barely ran a step in September, and I didn't care. An attempt at an 8-mile run at the end of the month nearly broke me. Nothing was working.
Looking back, it's clear the hurdle has been as much mental as physical, perhaps even more so. To illustrate that point, I started to feel a renewed interest/less hatred with the notion of running after the day of the Baystate Marathon had come and gone. That was to be my goal race for 2012, and I was going to absolutely throw down. It was never meant to be. But, in the days following the race, I began to come to grips with the fact that I wasn't part of that race. It was history. If I had raced, it would have been time to look forward, and I found myself in a similar mindset without having raced. Additionally, I'm wrestling with my inner competitive demons and have drastically scaled back my expectations. The result has been two-fold. First, it's taken a huge amount of pressure off. (All of that pressure being internal.) And, second, it has allowed me to take a rational look at how I train. And, as a result, things are looking up.
My current running has been nothing more than relaxed, 5-mile runs. I've mixed up road and trail, and I'm actually enjoying it. As a normal person, everyday life also affects running, and I recently started a new job. I've gone from a run-whenever-I-want-working-at-home-self-employed consultant to a regular-nine-to-five guy. In September, I told D that if I did get a "regular" job, I couldn't possibly see myself getting up in the morning to run. I don't believe in mornings. I figured my running would be over. Much to my (and her) surprise, I've done an amazing job of getting out the door around 6:00am most mornings. (Yesterday's sunrise was incredible.) I'm generally running 3 days on, one day off, not caring about the weekly mileage. And, if I feel like taking another day off or adding another run, I'm doing that. It seems to be working. I'm going to continue in this vein and start to mix in a little speed and hills because that sounds...well...fun. My only goal is to be healthy for snowshoe season this winter. It was really depressing to miss out on it last year. Even if I'm not in shape, I hope to at least be able to participate. I need to just put in a base of consistent, healthy running. I feel like I'm doing that. Or at least not get fat...
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Thursday, July 26, 2012
The Vermont 100
To be clear, there is no possible way I can adequately sum up the weekend at the Vermont 100. I had never crewed, paced or even attended a 100-mile event, and I came away truly believing that ultrarunning is a team sport. Watching the runners, crews and pacers work together for a common goal was inspiring. It was even more inspiring to see my Trail Monster Running teammates and crews come together for some amazing results. It has also never been clearer to me that ultrarunning is about adapting, and I learned that the same is true for the crews. But, I'm getting ahead of myself... (WARNING: This may be longer than my race reports, if you can imagine that.)
My role for the weekend was to lead Zak's crew for his second attempt at completing the Vermont 100. Last year, he dropped at mile 93, unable to walk, so he was looking for redemption. Additionally, I was also slated as back-up pacer, if necessary. I met Zak and his wife, Lenka, in Portland for the ride to Vermont. We stopped in Scarborough adding to the caravan Jeremy and his crew: his girlfriend, Alison; Mindy and his pacer, David. Following an uneventful drive, we arrived at Silver Hill Meadow, the start/finish/hub of the Vermont 100, which is conveniently located in the middle of nowhere, for weigh-in and medical check.
Lunch at a greasy spoon after and on to Zak's friend's house to meet the rest of the crew: Zak's friend Kevin, who would be pacing him either 30 or 19 miles, Kevin's girlfriend, Christsonthy and Zak's sister Sarah. Yes, that's a large crew. I knew that it was going to be pretty cozy in the little yellow engine that could for an entire day, so I was pleased to see from the get-go that we would all get along really well. Following an amazing dinner courtesy of Alison and Lenka, we went over last minute details and hit bed (or tent, in my case) around 9:00pm in advance of our 2:00am wake up call.
Getting up at 2:00am is terrible. Luckily, my body didn't realize it was up for the day until a couple hours later, and by then, I was 32 oz of coffee deep and there was no going back. We followed the parade of headlights and dust along the Vermont country roads to the start and prepared to send the Trail Monster boys on their way. We had 5 guys tackling the 100—Zak, Ian, Jeremy, Joe and George—and each was ready to kill it.
At 4:00am, headlamps aglow, they were off into the darkness along with 300+ other runners. We didn't have to leave Silver Hill Meadow until around 6:00am, so the ladies took the opportunity to grab a quick snooze while Kevin and I hung out in the tent, watched the horses start and talked about beer. (Along with the 100 mile and 100km runs, the Vermont 100 also features 3 horse rides of different lengths.) The first handler-allowed aid station is Pretty House at mile 22.5, but this year, due to the effects of Hurricane Irene, the runners also took a detour through Woodstock at mile 13. We saw this as an opportunity to not only provide moral support for the Trail Monsters but also grab "second" breakfast for the crew. Starting my third cup of coffee at 6:30am meant I was even more fun than usual! We saw all 5 guys in Woodstock, looking comfortable and easy, including Ian skipping. Fueled by gas station breakfast sandwiches, we jetted north to Pretty House.
Following a very minor navigational blunder and correction from a French-Canadian volunteer ("Dees not da waaay."), we arrived at Pretty House with plenty of time to set up Zak's personal aid station. It also gave me time to catch up with some friends from the running world, including Scott who was crewing his wife, Debbie, to a third place finish and Nick and Sarah who were crewing the eventual men's winner, Brian, and women's second place finisher, Amy. (And, yes, I just crew name dropped.) As crew, your heart rate at aid stations goes from flatline to about 329 as soon as your runner arrives. Thankfully, Zak kept things pretty simple for us, and we'd discussed our roles beforehand. Kevin and I would meet him before the aid station. I would take his pack and restock it: refill the hydration bladder with water plus a Nuun tablet or two, fill one pocket with 3 gels, fill the other pocket with 2 shot blocks and keep the s-cap pocket loaded. Meanwhile, Kevin would bring him to the table, get him eating and bring him to the crew. There, the ladies would wait on him hand and foot. Not a bad deal, really. And, this is exactly how it went at Pretty House. We had him out in a minute or two, and he was off down the road. He looked exactly as he should. His only complaint was that he felt tight and not warmed up—a good sign with nearly 80 miles to go. I couldn't wait to see him again at the next stop—Stage Road, mile 30.5.
It would take Zak about 90 minutes to Stage Road, but by car, it was only a 20-minute drive. There is no sense getting to the aid station too early because you're just taking a (very-limited) parking space and you're in the way. We chilled for a bit at the Teago Country Store, the halfway point, between the aid stations, and I finished my third large mug of coffee for the day. So, fully caffeinated, we drove to Stage Road and set up Zak's station in the shade. Ian and Jeremy, once again, rolled in together and were out in a flash. By this time, Ian's parents had joined the fray as his crew, giving Emma some much needed support. And, of course, Alison had every little thing Jeremy could ever need. Only two or three minutes later, Zak arrived looking much more comfortable than one should after running 50k. We fueled him up, and Kevin and I walked him down the road away from the aid station.
"OK, now that we're away from everyone, you can tell us how you really feel," I said. Unless things were dire, I knew that Zak would put up a good front for Lenka and Sarah, but my job was to strip away the bullshit to make certain he had everything he needed. He said he was feeling great and running relaxed. He couldn't believe Jeremy and Ian were only a couple minutes ahead. His only complaint was a "wonky" knee, but Kevin and I told him it was probably just some weirdness from the taper working itself out and that he would forget about it after a couple more miles. He agreed, and we sent him into the woods.
The next handler-accessible aid station wasn't for another 17 miles, Camp 10 Bear at mile 47.6. It would take Zak nearly 3.5 to get there, so we stopped at the Teago Store again and hatched a new plan. We decided to head to Lincoln Covered Bridge at mile 39.6. We figured we could see the boys run through, and it would be a nice spot to have lunch. Plus, we'd still have plenty of time to get to Camp 10 Bear. It was a flawless plan.
We arrived at Lincoln Covered Bridge, parked on the opposite side from the aid station and dove into the piles and piles of food Lenka had brought for us. It was awesome. I've never eaten a bigger lunch at 11:00 in the morning. So, with bellies full we strolled up to the bridge to offer encouragement to the runners coming through.
Just before noon, Jeremy and Ian rolled through the bridge and knowing Zak left Stage Road only minutes behind them, the countdown was on. I figured he'd probably be about 15 minutes behind them. Fifteen minutes came and went—no Zak. A half hour went by—no Zak. I was standing alone inside the covered bridge to stay out of the sun, and Lenka walked up to me noticeably concerned.
"Zak could finish two hours behind Jeremy and still have an awesome race. He's fine."
I barely believed this lie, but I think she bought it. I knew something was up. Best case scenario was that he had stopped a couple times with stomach...err...pooping issues that he had mentioned to me at the start. And, I tried not to think about the worst case scenarios as Joe rolled past looking great 45 minutes after Jeremy and Ian. Once an hour had passed I walked to the other side of the bridge to give me a view down the road in the direction from which the runners were coming. Soon after, I saw Zak. I walked to the other end of the bridge to let the crew know he was coming. As soon as I saw him shuffle onto the bridge, I knew his day was done. His head was down, and he barely looked at me. Lenka walked with him the 100 meters to the aid station, while Kevin and I hung back. Not knowing exactly what was wrong, I said, "Let's let Lenka make him feel better, then we can swoop in with the tough love." Kevin was thinking the same thing, so we walked to the aid station where Zak was icing his left knee.
Since I'm having trouble recounting this part of the day, let's just say that I let Zak make his own decision to drop. I walked with him for about 200 yards out of the aid station before he let the reality of what was happening to him set in. He couldn't put any weight on his left leg and continuing would have been foolish at best. I wanted to take his number and run for him, but all I could do was give him a hug and cry with him. It was so unfair. He was fit enough to run an amazing race. A sub-24 hour buckle was practically a given. He was on his way early. After dropping at mile 93 of this race last year, I couldn't understand why it was happening to him again. I still don't understand it. I went to back to the aid station and said "316 is a drop." It was the worst thing I think I've ever said.
We piled the crew and Zak into the car and drove in silence to Camp 10 Bear. I know that another aid station or anywhere near the race was the last place Zak wanted to be, but his parents were there volunteering (because they're awesome!), and we had to deliver the news. We also dropped Zak's sister off here since her parents were also watching her dog. We got out of there as fast as we could so Kevin and Christsonthy could drive Zak back to the house to shower, eat and try to feel human again. The day was just beginning for me.
We had fortuitously decided to bring two cars to Silver Hill Meadow in case we needed to split up the crew for supplies. But, as it turned out, it allowed me to jump right back into the fray and lend a hand to Jeremy and Ian's crews. Beyond that, it allowed me to crew Joe, who in typical Joe fashion was running solo. I felt bad leaving Zak, as I was there for him, but as an ultrarunner, I knew he understood that I had to get out there and help our Trail Monster teammates any way that I could. I'm not certain everyone else did, but I knew Zak did. If the roles were reversed, I would have sent him out there, too. So, at 3:30pm, I was at Margaritaville, mile 62.5, awaiting the arrivals of Jeremy and Ian.
Not to be overly dramatic, especially in the face of Zak's situation, but I had a really tough time making the shift from lead crew man to menial task crew gimp. I didn't know Jeremy or Ian's plans or gear. I didn't know their expected times. I just knew that I was a pair of hands. I even had to check with the timers at Margaritaville to see if they had come through yet. I was a bit lost. I wanted to help, but I didn't know if I'd just be in the way. Not long after I arrived, Alison, Mindy and David appeared, and not a moment too soon. Jeremy came into the aid station before they were really set up. He'd just run 100k in 12 hours flat and was looking amazing.
I helped out where I could and after some food and a sock change, he was gone. As he was rolling out, Emma, Bob and Ann arrived for Ian, and he also arrived just as they were setting up. Ian plopped into a chair about 10 minutes after Jeremy did the same, and I've never seen anyone so excited to eat pickles.
I offered my water bottle to wash his dusty feet. Emma popped a couple blisters. He changed his shoes and socks, and he was gone. It was really impressive to see both of these guys' attitudes at this point. No whining, no complaining. Just focus. They were polite to their crews, which is hard to do and many runners are not. In those brief moments, I gained even more respect than I already had for these guys, and I knew they were both on their ways to amazing days. I was still sad that Zak wasn't out there with them, and I hated delivering that news to them. But, the race must go on, and, suddenly, I was back in it.
The runners pass through Camp 10 Bear twice, and mile 70.5 was the next stop for our guys. Camp 10 Bear is ridiculous. It's far too small an area to accomodate all the runners and crews. For one weekend, it's the most ridiculous place on earth. The runners come through here twice, but each time they approach from a different angle. (I think.) It's wildly confusing. After arriving early enough to watch enough befuddled runners come down the hill to the medical check in, I decided that even though it would be more fun to hang with the crews, I would go a ways up the hill to catch the guys as they were coming in, take their bottles and run them right to the scale. The crews could get everything ready, and I could get them to the right place. Seriously, this place is a madhouse.
The good part about Camp 10 Bear is that it is the point at which the runners pick up their pacers for the final 30 miles. Having a pacer is a huge psychological boost for the runner. In fact, the race organizers actually connect runners who don't have pacers with volunteer pacers, if the runner would like one. And, while I ripped on Camp 10 Bear in the previous paragraph, the Vermont 100 is an astounding organizational achievement. The race director, Julia, and her team do a fantastic job. The problem with Camp 10 Bear is really geography. They do the best they can in an extremely limited space.
Jeremy arrived looking relaxed and feeling not that bad, you know, for running 70 miles. I could tell he was ready to pick up David for the mental boost. I got him to the scale. His weight was dead on—78 pounds. ;) Then, we loaded him up with fuel, and he and David took off moments later. One down. More to go.
Ian arrived looking better than he had at Margaritaville and raised his hands in celebration as I met him on the hill.
I grabbed his bottles and pointed him to the scale. He'd actually gained weight, a cause for celebration—every little boost counts. His parents, who are a stellar crew—seriously, they should crew for hire—got him everything he needed, all of which came out of the Husky, think of a giant fishing tackle box on wheels, complete with multiple, segmented compartments, stocked with everything an ultrarunner could need. Emma was dressed and ready to pace, and off they went to an ovation prompted by the Camp 10 Bear master of ceremonies complete with a microphone who was part air traffic controller, part carnival barker, part safety monitor. "Look out for the cars!" (Personally, I would have been yelling at the cars, "Look out for the runners!" Dear people driving to Camp 10 Bear: this race is for runners. It's not a mall parking lot. Slow down and yield to the runners. While bringing Ian to the crew, I had to walk centimeters away from a bumper in order to get the car with Massachusetts plates to stop. Obnoxious.)
While driving from Margaritaville to Camp 10 Bear, I had made the decision to wait for Joe at Camp 10 Bear. Joe has a tendency to fly solo. (Understatement of the year.) He had neither a crew or pacer for the race. In addition, he wasn't exactly fresh. Joe just completed the Western States 100 last month. Barely a month away from his last buckle, he was looking for another sub-24 hour finish. Joe is one tough dude. He hadn't asked for any help, but I was available. I hiked back up the hill to my car to wait for him.
I should point out that by now it was about 6:00pm. I was polishing off my first Red Bull of the day. I was finishing my third BLT, courtesy of Zak's parents. I was also head first into the giant cooler Lenka had packed. I'd asked them to let me keep the food, since I knew I'd be wandering around for a while. I didn't know how long exactly, but that bounty really saved me. While waiting for Jeremy and Ian, I tore through a entire quart bag of raw veggies—something I wouldn't have been smart enough to pack for myself. Lenka had the crew set up, and I was extremely thankful to be well fed.
I hadn't seen Joe since Lincoln Covered Bridge—30 miles earlier—so I wasn't certain how long it would take him to arrive. I was sitting on the cooler next to car devouring a BLT when I saw Joe coming my way only about 30 minutes after Ian had left. I tossed half my sandwich on the driver's seat and jumped up to run him to the scale.
"Hey, Joe! Zak dropped. I'm your new crew."
I had no idea how he would react. This is the same guy that completed Maine's 100 Mile Wilderness solo, using only 5 gallon buckets he'd placed the day before as crew. He declined a pacer (or even a ride to the airport) for Western States. I honestly didn't know what to expect. However, without hesitation, he held out his hand and said, "Great. Take this. Fill it with ice, then water."
I was lead crew once again! I ran him to the scale and took his bottle to a volunteer at the aid station. I ran back to Joe to take him to his drop bag. He was downing an Ensure, when I asked him if he'd like company for the final 11 miles. His response was exactly what I expected: he was noncommittal because I could tell that he didn't want to inconvenience me.
"I was planning to run with Zak, so I'm ready if you need me."
"Sure, that'd be great."
It was never completely established between Kevin and myself whether or not I would be pacing. Kevin was to pick up Zak at Camp 10 Bear, and hopefully take him 30 miles to the finish. But, since Kevin's life had been unrealistically busy of late, he hadn't been able to train as much as he would have liked. If he was faltering, I was prepared to jump in. So, now I was definitely pacing. But, before that, I needed to get to Spirit of 76 to meet Joe with his lights. I had crew duties again!
Navigating from aid station to aid station at the Vermont 100 is difficult. It's not impossible, but it's tricky. Kevin had done a terrific job of reading the directions to me early, and all went smoothly. Now, I was on my own. With the logistics of shuttling people around after Zak dropped, I'd seen a little more of the course, so I was becoming more familiar with the roads, but navigating the Vermont 100 solo is hilarious. It was me, the direction sheet, the Vermont gazetteer and Smashing Pumpkins—cranked. So much for the quiet countryside.
With my second Red Bull in hand, I was thrilled to arrive at Spirit of 76 before Jeremy and Ian. I really wanted to keep helping them, even just by offering encouragement, as long as I could. My presence was fairly inconsequential as their crews and pacers had it covered, but I was there as an extra set of hands and for a snarky comment or two. I barely remember Jeremy's stop, as he and David were in and out. Of course, Jeremy put down 4,000 calories in that time. He basically ate his way through 100 miles. As he left, I knew his buckle was in the bag as he was right around 21-hour pace and looking incredibly strong. Plus, I knew David would push him if need be.
Ian arrived about 30 minutes later in fantastic spirits. It was clear that picking up Emma had done wonders for him. They're an amazing team, and while his quads were shot, I knew he was also going to buckle. His mom applied a generous amount of muscle rub to his legs, Emma popped a blister, he changed his shirt and off they went. It was a bit of a tiptoe out of the aid station due to his feet and quads, but it was done with a smile and positivity. I couldn't have been more impressed with my teammates.
The crews packed up and headed for the next stop, while I waited for Joe. Compared to Alison's wagon and the Parlins' Husky, I felt a bit silly waiting for Joe with nothing but his drop bag from Camp 10 Bear. All it contained was a long sleeve shirt, a small ziplock bag with a couple gels and a Clif bar and his hydration pack stuffed only with his lights and a lightweight jacket. Let's call this approach minimalist. While staring down the hill cheering for each runner that trudged into the Spirit of 76, I found myself standing near a runner seated in a chair, his pacer and his crew—his mother and wife/sister/friend (not sure which). While slowly sipping his soup, he looked at his pacer and said, "I think I'm gonna call it." He looked fine. A bit tired, but he should after completing 77.4 miles. Each member of his team cajoled him to press on, and when they were done I looked at him and said, "I don't know you, but there's a buckle waiting for you, so get your ass out of that chair." A few moments later he was on his way. I'd see him a number of hours later at the finish, hobbling with a smile on his face. He'd finished in under 24 hours, and I told him I was really glad he got his ass out of that chair. He said he was to. Sometimes, you have to be reminded that you believe.
Joe arrived like clockwork at 8:00pm—exactly when I expected him. He looked strong and had closed the gap on Ian. I was certain he was going to catch him. He was talking about sub-22 or better as I slipped his pack on him. He was soon going to need those lights. We walked to the aid station table, and he ate a few items, including a hot cup of ramen noodles. It was an efficient and great stop, and I sent him off down the trail with our spirits high. He was running so well. I couldn't wait to start pacing him in 11 miles, as I knew he was going to kill it. Then again, a lot can happen in 100 miles.
The one trick about pacing Joe was the logistics involving my car. Sure, I could drive around and crew, but I would need to leave it someplace while pacing. I had spoken with Zak before they left, and he had decided to come out and cheer on the guys. It showed a lot of heart and class for him to do this, since I knew that the last place he wanted to be was anywhere near the Vermont 100 course. But, he knew that he'd be able to give the guys a boost by coming out. I really admire him for doing that. It also helped me a great deal because it meant that someone could drive my car back to the finish from Bill's—the aid station at which I would start pacing Joe. Even ultracrews need to be flexible, but this was a decent plan. However, as I was driving away from Spirit of 76 (and decent cell coverage) and past the road to Silver Hill Meadow, I thought of a better plan. Zak & crew could meet me at Silver Hill Meadow and drive me to Bill's. This way, they wouldn't have to return to Silver Hill Meadow just to shuttle my car, and my car with all my clothes would be waiting for me at the finish. Unfortunately, I didn't know where they were in transit as they had hoped to be at Bill's by 9:00pm. And, without good/any cell coverage, I couldn't relay my genius plan. So, I kept driving towards Bill's until I had coverage, which was 10+ minutes past Silver Hill Meadow. When I finally connected with them, they were headed down the highway, so they could meet me at Silver Hill Meadow. Off I went back the way I came at a rapid pace with more Pumpkins. I quickly had to shift from crew mode to pacer mode, which also meant a change of clothes—my first since 30 hours prior. They arrived moments after I did, so I had to hustle. And, amazingly, I remembered everything that Joe and I would need.
It was dark as we made our way to Bill's, mile 88.6. Now, the roles were reversed with Kevin driving and me navigating. Despite the directions making the navigation sound tricky, we made it to Bill's without issue. Although, I'm not certain I could have done it that smoothly solo. Upon arriving, I moved quickly down to the barn that houses the aid station, but before I got there I came upon Alison and Mindy. We had just missed Jeremy and David. I was too slow changing at Silver Hill Meadow, and I felt really awful that Zak had hobbled down the hill with ice wrapped around his knee and missed him. He could still see him at Polly's at mile 95.9, which they did end up doing. They were able to see Ian and Emma come in, however, so the trip wasn't a total bust.
Bill's is a crazy, crazy place. The aid station is actually inside a barn. Runners come down the road, down a small incline, onto the scale for a med check, over to the picnic tables for sustenance and back out again. It seems simple enough, but then you realize that these people have just run more than 88 miles. It's a place full of skinny zombies, thousand yard stares, headlamp blindness and shivering crews. Thankfully, everyone is moving slowly enough that people don't crash into each other too hard. Although, while I was there, one runner vomited, passed out and hit his head on the concrete floor of the barn. I'll never forget that sound. Ultrarunning is fun.
Ian and Emma arrived shortly after 10:00, once again with spirits high. Ian was in a terrific mood, even though his quads were not. I snapped off his light and waist pack, so he could hop on the scale. His weight was fine, and he plopped down at a picnic table. His mom applied more muscle rub to his ailing quads while I resnapped his waist pack on. Needless to say, that position put me a little too close to the muscle rub, and if my third Red Bull hadn't woken me up that full assault on my nostrils certainly did. After a few minutes, they were off. He had a buckle to get, and Emma was going to push him to the finish.
It was time to wait for Joe, and Ian's father, Bob, was nice enough to hang out with me for a while. Based on how he looked at Spirit of 76, I was surprised that he hadn't come in ahead of Ian, and I was more surprised when at 10:45, he still hadn't appeared. Bob had to get up the road so as not to miss Ian at Polly's, so I thanked him for waiting with me and keeping me company. It was a little unsettling being left alone with the zombies. 11:00pm. No Joe. 11:15pm. No Joe. Then finally, I recognized the headlamp that was bobbing down the road. He'd made it.
"How ya doin', buddy."
"Not good. Really bad. My stomach."
Joe put on a great poker face at the aid station. He was calm and cool on the scale and while talking with the med staff. Knowing his stomach wasn't great, I didn't push any food on him, but I did recommend some watermelon and ginger ale. He had both, and shortly before 11:30pm, we walked out of the barn.
Here's what Joe didn't know: I had never paced anyone before. I had averaged about 10 miles per week for the last 6 weeks. The last time I ran 11 miles was more than 6 weeks ago, and my right Achilles blew up on that run. I have probably run a total of 30 miles at night in my entire life. In short, I was not the model pacer. All I knew was that I was going to do everything I could to help Joe to the finish. I really just hoped that he wouldn't drop me.
Once we were out of the light and earshot of Bill's, Joe said, "We're going to have to walk for a while." It became quite clear very quickly that running really upset his stomach. We did chat a bit, but he was feeling generally horrible. We reached a wide open field with a beautiful look at the starry sky. I shut off my headlamp and took it in, but I don't think Joe was able to enjoy it. The field sloped downhill and got progressively steeper. Joe was also feeling worse and worse. He was dizzy and at one point, I thought he was going to hit the deck. He stayed upright, and we reached the end of the field to begin the never ending climbing on dirt roads. We climbed 500+ feet in the next mile, and it was nothing but hiking. Slow, slow hiking. A downhill mile ticked by in 17:30, followed by a 20:50 uphill mile. And, it felt like he was slowing. He voiced what I was thinking: at this rate, 24 hours was in doubt.
It took us more than an hour to reach Keating's at mile 92.4, and Joe hadn't said much for the last 20 minutes. He was also breathing much heavier than the pace would dictate. Frankly, I was stunned he hadn't vomited yet. At Keating's, I mentioned to the volunteers that it would be best if they didn't mention food. Joe leaned on the tent post sipping a ginger ale while I filled his water bottle. I forced him to take another cup of ginger ale before we left.
"But, then I have to deal with the cup."
"I carry it. That's how we deal with it."
He was reluctant, but off we went. A few strides down the road, he realized he wasn't carrying his water bottle. Fearful he forgot it, he stopped, but I assured him that I was still carrying it. His hands were full: cup of ginger ale in one, flashlight in the other. He was perplexed. And, then came the exchange that sums up Joe.
"It's OK. Drink your ginger ale. I've got it."
"No, you're not supposed to mule at any time."
There we were alone on a dirt road in the dark, him feeling like complete and utter shit, and he was worried about breaking the rules. Or even the spirit of the rule. I handed him his bottle. He took a final swig of ginger ale, and I swiped the cup from him as he was looking for a place to put it. We moved forward in silence, and I knew at that point that we would get to the finish. I didn't know how, and I didn't know when. I just knew that he was far too strong to not get there. I was just along for the ride.
We moved along in silence for a while, only broken by me pointing out a turn or to offer a bit of encouragement. He actually apologized at one point for being quiet. I knew that speaking was making him sicker. He said, "I just need to concentrate." And, focus he did. The glow sticks marking the trail became our goals. He'd see a glow stick, and he'd run to it. Then stop. He'd see another one and run to it. Now, I'm using the word "run" here liberally as he was really barely shuffling. Yet, it was obvious to me that he wasn't shuffling because of his legs, but because of his stomach. I felt terrible for him because it was unfair that his stomach would betray him, when his legs were still strong with Western States only a few short weeks behind him. Then, suddenly, it happened.
We went through a short section with some high grass and around a gate around mile 94. The trail pitched upward on some doubletrack. We started hiking. Then, he started hiking faster. Then faster and faster. He kept shifting gears, moving better and better until we reached the top. Then, we started running. The trail was a bit technical, but he moved over the roots and rocks with ease. We were now passing people. Something we hadn't done since Bill's. I encouraged him as we moved along, and I could feel a real rally coming on. He still wasn't speaking, but he was moving. That was just fine with me.
We reached the end of the trail and turned left onto an uphill dirt road. He stopped running. I was stunned and deflated. He'd been moving so well, but the roads were killing him. I think that mentally he couldn't handle any more roads. I didn't let him know how I was feeling, but as soon as the road flattened I suggested we pick off that next glow stick. He started running. And running well. Something had clearly changed. I knew his stomach was still terrible. I'd glance at him every now and then, and he was green. Really green. He was sick. Sick, but moving forward. His running pace was solid, though, and he even started passing glow sticks without stopping. He wasn't quite alive, but the buckle was back in play.
The lights of Polly's at mile 95.9 were a welcome sight. For my part, I was hungry. With Joe being so nauseous, I didn't want to eat near him. I snuck a couple gels while stopping for pee breaks, but I'd had nothing else in almost two hours of running. You know, running that started at 11:30pm after being awake for 21.5 hours. So, yah, hungry. I downed a whole PBJ, a cup of soup and finally a Honey Stinger waffle, as we headed down the road. At the aid station, I knew the drill: fill his bottle with ice and then water. I pointed to the watermelon and he ate 2 or 3 small pieces. But, really, my job at the aid station was to keep him upright. He was wobbly and unstable, but he once again checked in with composure. After only a few seconds, we were gone. No sense hanging around with 4 miles to go. Plus, some of the Bill's zombies had made their way to Polly's, and I didn't think it was a good idea to have that visual around Joe.
About a hundred yards down the road from Polly's we missed a turn. Bad pacing on my part. I was following another runner/pacer duo and a car down the road. I wasn't looking for the yellow paper plates and glow sticks that pointed us to the left. We only went a few extra feet, but it was downhill. We had to climb back up. Big momentum loss. I felt terrible. Luckily, Joe couldn't speak to cuss me out. It worked out OK, though, because we took the opportunity to stop and change out Joe's fading headlamp. But, then again, looking back, maybe it was the perfect mistake. Joe took off. It was time to get this sucker done.
I will never forget what I witnessed over the next 4 miles. Joe was a machine. We passed dozens of people. Joe was back from the dead and cranking. He still wasn't speaking, but he didn't need to. My role had now changed. First, each time we passed someone, I had to say to them, "Good job!" And, second, I needed to run between Joe and the ditch on the side of the road. Although wobbly, he was running so well, and there was no way I was going to lose him in a ditch now. Mile 97 ticked off. I looked at my Garmin: 10:34! I told Joe the split, and he kept running. Downhill, flat and even uphill. He ran it all. I can't do justice to his rally in this blog post. It was beyond impressive. I wanted to jump up and down, yell and scream, slap him on the back, high five. I didn't do any of that. I offered quiet encouragement, but I was exploding inside. I was so happy for him. The buckle was his his. Two sub-24 hour 100 mile finishes in month!
We passed the final, unmanned aid station at mile 98 and turned onto some trail. Joe said, "I remember this." He was speaking again. Moments later, he was chatting. Then, he was yelling, cursing at the trail, singing the Clash and laughing. It was awesome. We passed the one mile to go sign. We passed the giant congratulations sign. We started passing the "toxic waste" jugs (green glow sticks in the water). Then, we saw the finish line. I dropped back to let Joe cross the line. 22 hours and 14 minutes! He'd done it. I walked up to him and gave him a huge hug. We laughed and cried. Then, in the happiest of voices, we said in unison, "Let's go to the medical tent!"
I won't go into all the details of our time in the medical tent, but as it would turn out, I wouldn't head out of there until about 6:15am—four hours later. I will say this: Paula, wherever you are—thank you. She was amazing. She delivered the perfect balance of caring and tough love. I was planning to stay awake just in case Joe needed anything else, but once he fell asleep/passed out around 4:00am, she threatened me with bodily harm if I didn't also get some shuteye. I felt bad about taking a cot from a runner. After all, I'd only run 11 miles, but Paula insisted. I did go to Joe's tent to get his sleeping bag. (I'd already been there to get his clothes. Finding his tent in the dark, when I'd never laid eyes on it before was an interesting task.) As I half-heartedly laid down on the cot next to Joe's, Paula came over and wrapped me up and basically told me, "Sleep or else." I did manage to get about a half hour sleep despite the French-Canadian crew looking over their snoozing runner by drinking beer and talking loudly to a woman who had finished the 100 who was enthralled by her own awesomeness and wasn't nearly as hot as she thought she was.
Joe woke up about 5:30am, and we wandered over to the food table. Joe was hungry, which as a great sign. As he ate we recounted the events of the previous hours, and his stomach issues came into focus. The soup at Spirit of 76 was the culprit. Joe is a vegetarian, and he and I both mistakenly assumed that the ramen he ate was vegetarian. It was not. The chicken stock combined with the effort of running 77 had ravaged his stomach. He said he started to feel bad less than a mile after the aid station and had considered dropping at Cow Shed at mile 83.4. I felt a little guilty as I'd mentioned that the soup was an option at the aid station. He was back among the living now, and I felt comfortable enough to be released of my pacing duties. I had no idea they would extend well beyond the finish line, but I was glad he was feeling better. He looked like hell propped up in a chair in his hooded jacket with a blanket wrapped around him, but he was alive. Then again, I probably didn't look much better.
I headed for my car and my plan was to head back to the house for a nap before returning for the awards ceremony. My tent was still set up on the lawn, so I wouldn't disturb the rest of the crew who was no doubt snoring comfortably. I plopped down in the front seat and paused to collect myself. I was hungry, so I pounded a Larabar and some watermelon. I started the car and headed in the only direction that seemed appropriate: back into the fray to meet George at Polly's.
I hadn't seen George since 24 hours earlier in Woodstock. I wasn't even certain which side of Polly's he was on. If he was having a great race, he'd already be gone. If he wasn't, I'd hopefully be able to give him a boost. Shifting gears once again, I switched from pacer to cheerleader and tore off down the road wishing I had some coffee, knowing that the half hour nap was going to be all the sleep I would get for the weekend. Open windows and Thievery Corporation would have to do.
Arriving at Polly's was surreal. I'd been there a few hours prior, but I barely recognized it now bathed in early morning light. I parked and went to the volunteers at the aid table to see if George had passed through yet. I was pleased to hear that George had not yet come through, yet at the same time, I hoped that he hadn't dropped (they didn't have that information) and that his day was going well. I had until 8:40am to find out as that was the time that the aid station closed, and no runners would be allowed to continue after that point. I grabbed a few vittles from the car and laid down in the grass. The sun rejuvenated me as I waited and watched the back of the pack come through. The cutoff for the Vermont 100 is 30 hours, and each of the people now passing through needed to be aware of that number.
I wasn't worried about George's well-being, since Val was pacing him. I can't think of a better pacer in any capacity. George's spirit alone could carry him, but with Val on board, I knew he could do anything. Of course, waiting is still tough to do. But, a few minutes before 8:00am, I saw George and Val headed towards the aid station. I walked out to meet them to Val yelling, "DON'T TOUCH HIM!!!" At first, I thought she was kidding, but as I approached, I realized she was dead serious. In fact, George held out his hand to shake mine, and I thought Val was going to kill me. George's neck was shot. He couldn't move his head, and he could barely lift his arms. It had been like that for 50 miles. You'd never it know if from his smile, however. Seriously, he'd barely been able to move for 46 miles, but he was all smiles and laughs as he made his way down the road. He's amazing. He had two hours to finish under the cutoff, and I knew he'd get there. I grabbed Val's hydration pack and filled it with water as they continued. When I caught back up to them, George chatted me up for so long, I was a good ways down the road from the aid station. I think he wanted me to come the rest of the way with them. I bid them farewell and ran back up to my car as my most important crew duty of the weekend was up next.
I drove back to Silver Hill Meadow and made my way to the finish line. It took me a minute, but I found her just as I knew I would: sitting in her chair facing the finish line. I told Ann, George's wife, that I had seen George. His neck hurt, but he was moving. He was going to make it under the 30-hour cutoff. I gave her a hug, and felt like the weekend had come full circle. George, holding hands with Val, arrived at the the finish shortly after 9:15am. The race for the Trail Monsters was over.
Here are the final numbers:
Jeremy Bonnett - 20:05:07, 34th
gIANt Parlin - 21:03:47, 48th
Joe Wrobleski - 22:14:36, 70th
George Alexion - 29:24:41, 212th
Zak Wieluns - DNF
306 starters / 218 finishers
I snuck away to get some breakfast but returned for the awards and barbecue. A lot of hobbling figures around that tent, but they were hobbling with pride. It was great to see the three guys get there buckles, but it was just as hard to see Zak sit there without his and ice on his knee. I know he'll be back some year and get that buckle. Personally, I don't think he needs it to validate his badassery, but I know he feels like he has a score to settle.
For my part, the Vermont 100 was an unforgettable experience. Perhaps most surprisingly of all, even with all the energy, I didn't come away feeling an overwhelming urge to run 100 miles. Watching everyone go through their races, I know I'm not ready for that challenge both physically and mentally. Not even close. Prior to Lookout Mountain, I put myself on the wait list. I was number 23. I would have certainly gotten in. I'm really glad I couldn't run. I'm not ready, and I won't be ready next year. The 100k is intriguing, however...
My role for the weekend was to lead Zak's crew for his second attempt at completing the Vermont 100. Last year, he dropped at mile 93, unable to walk, so he was looking for redemption. Additionally, I was also slated as back-up pacer, if necessary. I met Zak and his wife, Lenka, in Portland for the ride to Vermont. We stopped in Scarborough adding to the caravan Jeremy and his crew: his girlfriend, Alison; Mindy and his pacer, David. Following an uneventful drive, we arrived at Silver Hill Meadow, the start/finish/hub of the Vermont 100, which is conveniently located in the middle of nowhere, for weigh-in and medical check.
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| Silver Hill Meadow |
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| Monster Fuel! |
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| Ian, Zak and Jeremy just before the start. |
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| High fives. |
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| SMOOCHES! |
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| Just George. |
It would take Zak about 90 minutes to Stage Road, but by car, it was only a 20-minute drive. There is no sense getting to the aid station too early because you're just taking a (very-limited) parking space and you're in the way. We chilled for a bit at the Teago Country Store, the halfway point, between the aid stations, and I finished my third large mug of coffee for the day. So, fully caffeinated, we drove to Stage Road and set up Zak's station in the shade. Ian and Jeremy, once again, rolled in together and were out in a flash. By this time, Ian's parents had joined the fray as his crew, giving Emma some much needed support. And, of course, Alison had every little thing Jeremy could ever need. Only two or three minutes later, Zak arrived looking much more comfortable than one should after running 50k. We fueled him up, and Kevin and I walked him down the road away from the aid station.
"OK, now that we're away from everyone, you can tell us how you really feel," I said. Unless things were dire, I knew that Zak would put up a good front for Lenka and Sarah, but my job was to strip away the bullshit to make certain he had everything he needed. He said he was feeling great and running relaxed. He couldn't believe Jeremy and Ian were only a couple minutes ahead. His only complaint was a "wonky" knee, but Kevin and I told him it was probably just some weirdness from the taper working itself out and that he would forget about it after a couple more miles. He agreed, and we sent him into the woods.
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| Leaving Stage Rd. (Chip Tilden photo.) |
We arrived at Lincoln Covered Bridge, parked on the opposite side from the aid station and dove into the piles and piles of food Lenka had brought for us. It was awesome. I've never eaten a bigger lunch at 11:00 in the morning. So, with bellies full we strolled up to the bridge to offer encouragement to the runners coming through.
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| Clydesdale Division. |
"Zak could finish two hours behind Jeremy and still have an awesome race. He's fine."
I barely believed this lie, but I think she bought it. I knew something was up. Best case scenario was that he had stopped a couple times with stomach...err...pooping issues that he had mentioned to me at the start. And, I tried not to think about the worst case scenarios as Joe rolled past looking great 45 minutes after Jeremy and Ian. Once an hour had passed I walked to the other side of the bridge to give me a view down the road in the direction from which the runners were coming. Soon after, I saw Zak. I walked to the other end of the bridge to let the crew know he was coming. As soon as I saw him shuffle onto the bridge, I knew his day was done. His head was down, and he barely looked at me. Lenka walked with him the 100 meters to the aid station, while Kevin and I hung back. Not knowing exactly what was wrong, I said, "Let's let Lenka make him feel better, then we can swoop in with the tough love." Kevin was thinking the same thing, so we walked to the aid station where Zak was icing his left knee.
Since I'm having trouble recounting this part of the day, let's just say that I let Zak make his own decision to drop. I walked with him for about 200 yards out of the aid station before he let the reality of what was happening to him set in. He couldn't put any weight on his left leg and continuing would have been foolish at best. I wanted to take his number and run for him, but all I could do was give him a hug and cry with him. It was so unfair. He was fit enough to run an amazing race. A sub-24 hour buckle was practically a given. He was on his way early. After dropping at mile 93 of this race last year, I couldn't understand why it was happening to him again. I still don't understand it. I went to back to the aid station and said "316 is a drop." It was the worst thing I think I've ever said.
We piled the crew and Zak into the car and drove in silence to Camp 10 Bear. I know that another aid station or anywhere near the race was the last place Zak wanted to be, but his parents were there volunteering (because they're awesome!), and we had to deliver the news. We also dropped Zak's sister off here since her parents were also watching her dog. We got out of there as fast as we could so Kevin and Christsonthy could drive Zak back to the house to shower, eat and try to feel human again. The day was just beginning for me.
We had fortuitously decided to bring two cars to Silver Hill Meadow in case we needed to split up the crew for supplies. But, as it turned out, it allowed me to jump right back into the fray and lend a hand to Jeremy and Ian's crews. Beyond that, it allowed me to crew Joe, who in typical Joe fashion was running solo. I felt bad leaving Zak, as I was there for him, but as an ultrarunner, I knew he understood that I had to get out there and help our Trail Monster teammates any way that I could. I'm not certain everyone else did, but I knew Zak did. If the roles were reversed, I would have sent him out there, too. So, at 3:30pm, I was at Margaritaville, mile 62.5, awaiting the arrivals of Jeremy and Ian.
Not to be overly dramatic, especially in the face of Zak's situation, but I had a really tough time making the shift from lead crew man to menial task crew gimp. I didn't know Jeremy or Ian's plans or gear. I didn't know their expected times. I just knew that I was a pair of hands. I even had to check with the timers at Margaritaville to see if they had come through yet. I was a bit lost. I wanted to help, but I didn't know if I'd just be in the way. Not long after I arrived, Alison, Mindy and David appeared, and not a moment too soon. Jeremy came into the aid station before they were really set up. He'd just run 100k in 12 hours flat and was looking amazing.
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| Jeremy at Margaritaville. Time to eat! |
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| Where dem pickles at?!?!?! |
The runners pass through Camp 10 Bear twice, and mile 70.5 was the next stop for our guys. Camp 10 Bear is ridiculous. It's far too small an area to accomodate all the runners and crews. For one weekend, it's the most ridiculous place on earth. The runners come through here twice, but each time they approach from a different angle. (I think.) It's wildly confusing. After arriving early enough to watch enough befuddled runners come down the hill to the medical check in, I decided that even though it would be more fun to hang with the crews, I would go a ways up the hill to catch the guys as they were coming in, take their bottles and run them right to the scale. The crews could get everything ready, and I could get them to the right place. Seriously, this place is a madhouse.
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| Camp 10 Bear |
Jeremy arrived looking relaxed and feeling not that bad, you know, for running 70 miles. I could tell he was ready to pick up David for the mental boost. I got him to the scale. His weight was dead on—78 pounds. ;) Then, we loaded him up with fuel, and he and David took off moments later. One down. More to go.
Ian arrived looking better than he had at Margaritaville and raised his hands in celebration as I met him on the hill.
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| Welcome to Camp 10 Bear! |
While driving from Margaritaville to Camp 10 Bear, I had made the decision to wait for Joe at Camp 10 Bear. Joe has a tendency to fly solo. (Understatement of the year.) He had neither a crew or pacer for the race. In addition, he wasn't exactly fresh. Joe just completed the Western States 100 last month. Barely a month away from his last buckle, he was looking for another sub-24 hour finish. Joe is one tough dude. He hadn't asked for any help, but I was available. I hiked back up the hill to my car to wait for him.
I should point out that by now it was about 6:00pm. I was polishing off my first Red Bull of the day. I was finishing my third BLT, courtesy of Zak's parents. I was also head first into the giant cooler Lenka had packed. I'd asked them to let me keep the food, since I knew I'd be wandering around for a while. I didn't know how long exactly, but that bounty really saved me. While waiting for Jeremy and Ian, I tore through a entire quart bag of raw veggies—something I wouldn't have been smart enough to pack for myself. Lenka had the crew set up, and I was extremely thankful to be well fed.
I hadn't seen Joe since Lincoln Covered Bridge—30 miles earlier—so I wasn't certain how long it would take him to arrive. I was sitting on the cooler next to car devouring a BLT when I saw Joe coming my way only about 30 minutes after Ian had left. I tossed half my sandwich on the driver's seat and jumped up to run him to the scale.
"Hey, Joe! Zak dropped. I'm your new crew."
I had no idea how he would react. This is the same guy that completed Maine's 100 Mile Wilderness solo, using only 5 gallon buckets he'd placed the day before as crew. He declined a pacer (or even a ride to the airport) for Western States. I honestly didn't know what to expect. However, without hesitation, he held out his hand and said, "Great. Take this. Fill it with ice, then water."
I was lead crew once again! I ran him to the scale and took his bottle to a volunteer at the aid station. I ran back to Joe to take him to his drop bag. He was downing an Ensure, when I asked him if he'd like company for the final 11 miles. His response was exactly what I expected: he was noncommittal because I could tell that he didn't want to inconvenience me.
"I was planning to run with Zak, so I'm ready if you need me."
"Sure, that'd be great."
It was never completely established between Kevin and myself whether or not I would be pacing. Kevin was to pick up Zak at Camp 10 Bear, and hopefully take him 30 miles to the finish. But, since Kevin's life had been unrealistically busy of late, he hadn't been able to train as much as he would have liked. If he was faltering, I was prepared to jump in. So, now I was definitely pacing. But, before that, I needed to get to Spirit of 76 to meet Joe with his lights. I had crew duties again!
Navigating from aid station to aid station at the Vermont 100 is difficult. It's not impossible, but it's tricky. Kevin had done a terrific job of reading the directions to me early, and all went smoothly. Now, I was on my own. With the logistics of shuttling people around after Zak dropped, I'd seen a little more of the course, so I was becoming more familiar with the roads, but navigating the Vermont 100 solo is hilarious. It was me, the direction sheet, the Vermont gazetteer and Smashing Pumpkins—cranked. So much for the quiet countryside.
With my second Red Bull in hand, I was thrilled to arrive at Spirit of 76 before Jeremy and Ian. I really wanted to keep helping them, even just by offering encouragement, as long as I could. My presence was fairly inconsequential as their crews and pacers had it covered, but I was there as an extra set of hands and for a snarky comment or two. I barely remember Jeremy's stop, as he and David were in and out. Of course, Jeremy put down 4,000 calories in that time. He basically ate his way through 100 miles. As he left, I knew his buckle was in the bag as he was right around 21-hour pace and looking incredibly strong. Plus, I knew David would push him if need be.
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| Jeremy and David leaving the Spirit of 76. |
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| Pit stop and the HUSKY! |
Joe arrived like clockwork at 8:00pm—exactly when I expected him. He looked strong and had closed the gap on Ian. I was certain he was going to catch him. He was talking about sub-22 or better as I slipped his pack on him. He was soon going to need those lights. We walked to the aid station table, and he ate a few items, including a hot cup of ramen noodles. It was an efficient and great stop, and I sent him off down the trail with our spirits high. He was running so well. I couldn't wait to start pacing him in 11 miles, as I knew he was going to kill it. Then again, a lot can happen in 100 miles.
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| The sun begins to set over the Vermont 100. |
It was dark as we made our way to Bill's, mile 88.6. Now, the roles were reversed with Kevin driving and me navigating. Despite the directions making the navigation sound tricky, we made it to Bill's without issue. Although, I'm not certain I could have done it that smoothly solo. Upon arriving, I moved quickly down to the barn that houses the aid station, but before I got there I came upon Alison and Mindy. We had just missed Jeremy and David. I was too slow changing at Silver Hill Meadow, and I felt really awful that Zak had hobbled down the hill with ice wrapped around his knee and missed him. He could still see him at Polly's at mile 95.9, which they did end up doing. They were able to see Ian and Emma come in, however, so the trip wasn't a total bust.
Bill's is a crazy, crazy place. The aid station is actually inside a barn. Runners come down the road, down a small incline, onto the scale for a med check, over to the picnic tables for sustenance and back out again. It seems simple enough, but then you realize that these people have just run more than 88 miles. It's a place full of skinny zombies, thousand yard stares, headlamp blindness and shivering crews. Thankfully, everyone is moving slowly enough that people don't crash into each other too hard. Although, while I was there, one runner vomited, passed out and hit his head on the concrete floor of the barn. I'll never forget that sound. Ultrarunning is fun.
Ian and Emma arrived shortly after 10:00, once again with spirits high. Ian was in a terrific mood, even though his quads were not. I snapped off his light and waist pack, so he could hop on the scale. His weight was fine, and he plopped down at a picnic table. His mom applied more muscle rub to his ailing quads while I resnapped his waist pack on. Needless to say, that position put me a little too close to the muscle rub, and if my third Red Bull hadn't woken me up that full assault on my nostrils certainly did. After a few minutes, they were off. He had a buckle to get, and Emma was going to push him to the finish.
It was time to wait for Joe, and Ian's father, Bob, was nice enough to hang out with me for a while. Based on how he looked at Spirit of 76, I was surprised that he hadn't come in ahead of Ian, and I was more surprised when at 10:45, he still hadn't appeared. Bob had to get up the road so as not to miss Ian at Polly's, so I thanked him for waiting with me and keeping me company. It was a little unsettling being left alone with the zombies. 11:00pm. No Joe. 11:15pm. No Joe. Then finally, I recognized the headlamp that was bobbing down the road. He'd made it.
"How ya doin', buddy."
"Not good. Really bad. My stomach."
Joe put on a great poker face at the aid station. He was calm and cool on the scale and while talking with the med staff. Knowing his stomach wasn't great, I didn't push any food on him, but I did recommend some watermelon and ginger ale. He had both, and shortly before 11:30pm, we walked out of the barn.
Here's what Joe didn't know: I had never paced anyone before. I had averaged about 10 miles per week for the last 6 weeks. The last time I ran 11 miles was more than 6 weeks ago, and my right Achilles blew up on that run. I have probably run a total of 30 miles at night in my entire life. In short, I was not the model pacer. All I knew was that I was going to do everything I could to help Joe to the finish. I really just hoped that he wouldn't drop me.
Once we were out of the light and earshot of Bill's, Joe said, "We're going to have to walk for a while." It became quite clear very quickly that running really upset his stomach. We did chat a bit, but he was feeling generally horrible. We reached a wide open field with a beautiful look at the starry sky. I shut off my headlamp and took it in, but I don't think Joe was able to enjoy it. The field sloped downhill and got progressively steeper. Joe was also feeling worse and worse. He was dizzy and at one point, I thought he was going to hit the deck. He stayed upright, and we reached the end of the field to begin the never ending climbing on dirt roads. We climbed 500+ feet in the next mile, and it was nothing but hiking. Slow, slow hiking. A downhill mile ticked by in 17:30, followed by a 20:50 uphill mile. And, it felt like he was slowing. He voiced what I was thinking: at this rate, 24 hours was in doubt.
It took us more than an hour to reach Keating's at mile 92.4, and Joe hadn't said much for the last 20 minutes. He was also breathing much heavier than the pace would dictate. Frankly, I was stunned he hadn't vomited yet. At Keating's, I mentioned to the volunteers that it would be best if they didn't mention food. Joe leaned on the tent post sipping a ginger ale while I filled his water bottle. I forced him to take another cup of ginger ale before we left.
"But, then I have to deal with the cup."
"I carry it. That's how we deal with it."
He was reluctant, but off we went. A few strides down the road, he realized he wasn't carrying his water bottle. Fearful he forgot it, he stopped, but I assured him that I was still carrying it. His hands were full: cup of ginger ale in one, flashlight in the other. He was perplexed. And, then came the exchange that sums up Joe.
"It's OK. Drink your ginger ale. I've got it."
"No, you're not supposed to mule at any time."
There we were alone on a dirt road in the dark, him feeling like complete and utter shit, and he was worried about breaking the rules. Or even the spirit of the rule. I handed him his bottle. He took a final swig of ginger ale, and I swiped the cup from him as he was looking for a place to put it. We moved forward in silence, and I knew at that point that we would get to the finish. I didn't know how, and I didn't know when. I just knew that he was far too strong to not get there. I was just along for the ride.
We moved along in silence for a while, only broken by me pointing out a turn or to offer a bit of encouragement. He actually apologized at one point for being quiet. I knew that speaking was making him sicker. He said, "I just need to concentrate." And, focus he did. The glow sticks marking the trail became our goals. He'd see a glow stick, and he'd run to it. Then stop. He'd see another one and run to it. Now, I'm using the word "run" here liberally as he was really barely shuffling. Yet, it was obvious to me that he wasn't shuffling because of his legs, but because of his stomach. I felt terrible for him because it was unfair that his stomach would betray him, when his legs were still strong with Western States only a few short weeks behind him. Then, suddenly, it happened.
We went through a short section with some high grass and around a gate around mile 94. The trail pitched upward on some doubletrack. We started hiking. Then, he started hiking faster. Then faster and faster. He kept shifting gears, moving better and better until we reached the top. Then, we started running. The trail was a bit technical, but he moved over the roots and rocks with ease. We were now passing people. Something we hadn't done since Bill's. I encouraged him as we moved along, and I could feel a real rally coming on. He still wasn't speaking, but he was moving. That was just fine with me.
We reached the end of the trail and turned left onto an uphill dirt road. He stopped running. I was stunned and deflated. He'd been moving so well, but the roads were killing him. I think that mentally he couldn't handle any more roads. I didn't let him know how I was feeling, but as soon as the road flattened I suggested we pick off that next glow stick. He started running. And running well. Something had clearly changed. I knew his stomach was still terrible. I'd glance at him every now and then, and he was green. Really green. He was sick. Sick, but moving forward. His running pace was solid, though, and he even started passing glow sticks without stopping. He wasn't quite alive, but the buckle was back in play.
The lights of Polly's at mile 95.9 were a welcome sight. For my part, I was hungry. With Joe being so nauseous, I didn't want to eat near him. I snuck a couple gels while stopping for pee breaks, but I'd had nothing else in almost two hours of running. You know, running that started at 11:30pm after being awake for 21.5 hours. So, yah, hungry. I downed a whole PBJ, a cup of soup and finally a Honey Stinger waffle, as we headed down the road. At the aid station, I knew the drill: fill his bottle with ice and then water. I pointed to the watermelon and he ate 2 or 3 small pieces. But, really, my job at the aid station was to keep him upright. He was wobbly and unstable, but he once again checked in with composure. After only a few seconds, we were gone. No sense hanging around with 4 miles to go. Plus, some of the Bill's zombies had made their way to Polly's, and I didn't think it was a good idea to have that visual around Joe.
About a hundred yards down the road from Polly's we missed a turn. Bad pacing on my part. I was following another runner/pacer duo and a car down the road. I wasn't looking for the yellow paper plates and glow sticks that pointed us to the left. We only went a few extra feet, but it was downhill. We had to climb back up. Big momentum loss. I felt terrible. Luckily, Joe couldn't speak to cuss me out. It worked out OK, though, because we took the opportunity to stop and change out Joe's fading headlamp. But, then again, looking back, maybe it was the perfect mistake. Joe took off. It was time to get this sucker done.
I will never forget what I witnessed over the next 4 miles. Joe was a machine. We passed dozens of people. Joe was back from the dead and cranking. He still wasn't speaking, but he didn't need to. My role had now changed. First, each time we passed someone, I had to say to them, "Good job!" And, second, I needed to run between Joe and the ditch on the side of the road. Although wobbly, he was running so well, and there was no way I was going to lose him in a ditch now. Mile 97 ticked off. I looked at my Garmin: 10:34! I told Joe the split, and he kept running. Downhill, flat and even uphill. He ran it all. I can't do justice to his rally in this blog post. It was beyond impressive. I wanted to jump up and down, yell and scream, slap him on the back, high five. I didn't do any of that. I offered quiet encouragement, but I was exploding inside. I was so happy for him. The buckle was his his. Two sub-24 hour 100 mile finishes in month!
We passed the final, unmanned aid station at mile 98 and turned onto some trail. Joe said, "I remember this." He was speaking again. Moments later, he was chatting. Then, he was yelling, cursing at the trail, singing the Clash and laughing. It was awesome. We passed the one mile to go sign. We passed the giant congratulations sign. We started passing the "toxic waste" jugs (green glow sticks in the water). Then, we saw the finish line. I dropped back to let Joe cross the line. 22 hours and 14 minutes! He'd done it. I walked up to him and gave him a huge hug. We laughed and cried. Then, in the happiest of voices, we said in unison, "Let's go to the medical tent!"
 |
| Home sweet home. |
Joe woke up about 5:30am, and we wandered over to the food table. Joe was hungry, which as a great sign. As he ate we recounted the events of the previous hours, and his stomach issues came into focus. The soup at Spirit of 76 was the culprit. Joe is a vegetarian, and he and I both mistakenly assumed that the ramen he ate was vegetarian. It was not. The chicken stock combined with the effort of running 77 had ravaged his stomach. He said he started to feel bad less than a mile after the aid station and had considered dropping at Cow Shed at mile 83.4. I felt a little guilty as I'd mentioned that the soup was an option at the aid station. He was back among the living now, and I felt comfortable enough to be released of my pacing duties. I had no idea they would extend well beyond the finish line, but I was glad he was feeling better. He looked like hell propped up in a chair in his hooded jacket with a blanket wrapped around him, but he was alive. Then again, I probably didn't look much better.
I headed for my car and my plan was to head back to the house for a nap before returning for the awards ceremony. My tent was still set up on the lawn, so I wouldn't disturb the rest of the crew who was no doubt snoring comfortably. I plopped down in the front seat and paused to collect myself. I was hungry, so I pounded a Larabar and some watermelon. I started the car and headed in the only direction that seemed appropriate: back into the fray to meet George at Polly's.
I hadn't seen George since 24 hours earlier in Woodstock. I wasn't even certain which side of Polly's he was on. If he was having a great race, he'd already be gone. If he wasn't, I'd hopefully be able to give him a boost. Shifting gears once again, I switched from pacer to cheerleader and tore off down the road wishing I had some coffee, knowing that the half hour nap was going to be all the sleep I would get for the weekend. Open windows and Thievery Corporation would have to do.
Arriving at Polly's was surreal. I'd been there a few hours prior, but I barely recognized it now bathed in early morning light. I parked and went to the volunteers at the aid table to see if George had passed through yet. I was pleased to hear that George had not yet come through, yet at the same time, I hoped that he hadn't dropped (they didn't have that information) and that his day was going well. I had until 8:40am to find out as that was the time that the aid station closed, and no runners would be allowed to continue after that point. I grabbed a few vittles from the car and laid down in the grass. The sun rejuvenated me as I waited and watched the back of the pack come through. The cutoff for the Vermont 100 is 30 hours, and each of the people now passing through needed to be aware of that number.
I wasn't worried about George's well-being, since Val was pacing him. I can't think of a better pacer in any capacity. George's spirit alone could carry him, but with Val on board, I knew he could do anything. Of course, waiting is still tough to do. But, a few minutes before 8:00am, I saw George and Val headed towards the aid station. I walked out to meet them to Val yelling, "DON'T TOUCH HIM!!!" At first, I thought she was kidding, but as I approached, I realized she was dead serious. In fact, George held out his hand to shake mine, and I thought Val was going to kill me. George's neck was shot. He couldn't move his head, and he could barely lift his arms. It had been like that for 50 miles. You'd never it know if from his smile, however. Seriously, he'd barely been able to move for 46 miles, but he was all smiles and laughs as he made his way down the road. He's amazing. He had two hours to finish under the cutoff, and I knew he'd get there. I grabbed Val's hydration pack and filled it with water as they continued. When I caught back up to them, George chatted me up for so long, I was a good ways down the road from the aid station. I think he wanted me to come the rest of the way with them. I bid them farewell and ran back up to my car as my most important crew duty of the weekend was up next.
I drove back to Silver Hill Meadow and made my way to the finish line. It took me a minute, but I found her just as I knew I would: sitting in her chair facing the finish line. I told Ann, George's wife, that I had seen George. His neck hurt, but he was moving. He was going to make it under the 30-hour cutoff. I gave her a hug, and felt like the weekend had come full circle. George, holding hands with Val, arrived at the the finish shortly after 9:15am. The race for the Trail Monsters was over.
 |
| George and Ann at the finish. |
Jeremy Bonnett - 20:05:07, 34th
gIANt Parlin - 21:03:47, 48th
Joe Wrobleski - 22:14:36, 70th
George Alexion - 29:24:41, 212th
Zak Wieluns - DNF
306 starters / 218 finishers
I snuck away to get some breakfast but returned for the awards and barbecue. A lot of hobbling figures around that tent, but they were hobbling with pride. It was great to see the three guys get there buckles, but it was just as hard to see Zak sit there without his and ice on his knee. I know he'll be back some year and get that buckle. Personally, I don't think he needs it to validate his badassery, but I know he feels like he has a score to settle.
For my part, the Vermont 100 was an unforgettable experience. Perhaps most surprisingly of all, even with all the energy, I didn't come away feeling an overwhelming urge to run 100 miles. Watching everyone go through their races, I know I'm not ready for that challenge both physically and mentally. Not even close. Prior to Lookout Mountain, I put myself on the wait list. I was number 23. I would have certainly gotten in. I'm really glad I couldn't run. I'm not ready, and I won't be ready next year. The 100k is intriguing, however...
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
All Done
That's all she wrote.
After taking 3 days off with tightness in my right Achilles, I did a short, easy 3-mile test run. It no longer hurt, but it was still a bit twingy. I decided to take more time off. It felt much better throughout the week, and after an additional 5 days off, replete with icing and ibuprofen, I went for another 3-mile test run on Sunday. My right Achilles felt basically fine, but towards the end of the run, my other Achilles/calf tightened dramatically. I limped in the last few strides and was completely hobbled the rest of the day/night. I woke up the next morning limping, and I knew it was a strain.
Another injury means more time off, more rehab, more...more...more...
I'm done. I don't have the mental energy for another stint of rehab. Running is supposed to be fun. It's not anymore. No more training. No more goal races. It's just not enjoyable this way.
I'll probably run here and there. I'll still show up at the summer Bradbury races. I'll still direct the snowshoe series. I'll still consider myself a runner. But, I'm not training. It's just not worth it.
And, with no more training. No more training posts.
I'm done.
After taking 3 days off with tightness in my right Achilles, I did a short, easy 3-mile test run. It no longer hurt, but it was still a bit twingy. I decided to take more time off. It felt much better throughout the week, and after an additional 5 days off, replete with icing and ibuprofen, I went for another 3-mile test run on Sunday. My right Achilles felt basically fine, but towards the end of the run, my other Achilles/calf tightened dramatically. I limped in the last few strides and was completely hobbled the rest of the day/night. I woke up the next morning limping, and I knew it was a strain.
Another injury means more time off, more rehab, more...more...more...
I'm done. I don't have the mental energy for another stint of rehab. Running is supposed to be fun. It's not anymore. No more training. No more goal races. It's just not enjoyable this way.
I'll probably run here and there. I'll still show up at the summer Bradbury races. I'll still direct the snowshoe series. I'll still consider myself a runner. But, I'm not training. It's just not worth it.
And, with no more training. No more training posts.
I'm done.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Training 6/3 - 6/9
The week started out strong, but ended with a setback. My right Achilles really tightened up on me at the end of my run on Thursday. (IT-band trouble was in the other leg.) With my main focus more than 4 months away, I'm being extremely cautious and shutting things down until I'm 100% pain-free. Not sure if it's a case of "too much too soon", the change in stride or a combination of the two. Either way, it's a bit annoying, and I'm hopeful it won't escalate beyond that. Icing as I type.
Onto the numbers...
6/3, Sunday: 9 - 1:06:27, Bike Path. Looking for a moderate effort with a dose of speed, after the first two miles, I added a 2:00 pick up at each mile. Opening mile was 7:57, but then averaged 7:23 for the duration of the run. It's all downhill from my house to the Bike Path, which means you-know-what on the way back. Admittedly, this was a bit harder than I had hoped, but definitely a workout I'd like to repeat. Due to the rain and wind, I had the Bike Path to myself, which never happens, and I was probably the last person out there before it flooded.
6/4, Monday: 7 - 1:09:37, 14x Mt. Ararat. Considerably slower than last week, but that was dictated by the conditions more than my condition. It was raining heavily, and the downhill sections were extremely muddy and slippery. I only ran the "backside" twice since the bog bridges were green ice and the mud was over my ankles in many places—not really conducive to a steady pace. After Sunday's effort, I thought I'd be a little more off as I was creaky at first, but once I got moving I felt pretty decent. I nearly called it at about 4 miles as another downpour had me borderline hypothermic. Thankfully, the rain stopped or diminish to a heavy mist, and I was able to complete the workout.
6/5, Tuesday: 6.75 - 55:16, Back Cove & Eastern Prom + 5x 100 strides. Due to the aforementioned rain, we moved the TMR TNR from Twin Brook to keep from trashing those trails. Good, easy run with a smallish group, including Ian, Jeff, Zak, Nathan & Sara. Well, it was mostly easy except for when the damn ultrarunners had to run up and down every little hill. "Oh look! Steps!" Strides felt great post-run, and I was in the car just as it started pouring.
6/6, Wednesday: Off. Did a new/revised/augmented core workout. It is the devil.
6/7, Thursday: 10.75 - 1:41:12, Head of Tide Park/Cathance Trails. Somewhat random out and back, but I wanted to see the effects of the rain on some notable sections of the Cathance River. I was able to check out the famed Cathance & Pancakes stream crossing, and it was uncrossable. Right now, we'd need to use Jamie as a raft and Jeremy as the paddle. I felt like garbage right out of the gate, and nearly bagged the entire run at 1.5 miles. Held it together, and actually got rolling pretty comfortably later on. Took my time on this one with decent breaks to check out the falls at Head of Tide and the narrows at Barnes Leap. Crazy amount of water. I was even wading in a couple spots. At about 7 miles, I could feel my right Achilles start barking. It hurt mainly on the downhills. Stretched it as best I could and iced it that evening.
6/8, Friday: Off. Achilles didn't feel right.
6/9, Saturday: Off. Achilles still twingy, so another zero.
Total: 33.5
Trail: 24.5
Road: 9
Good start. Bad finish.
Of note: I'm hungry. I can really tell the training volume has bumped up, as I'm eating non-stop. Friday, in particular, was out of control: I ate two lunches, snacked until dinner, and ate more after dinner. Hopefully, all those extra calories will go straight to my Achilles.
Onto the numbers...
6/3, Sunday: 9 - 1:06:27, Bike Path. Looking for a moderate effort with a dose of speed, after the first two miles, I added a 2:00 pick up at each mile. Opening mile was 7:57, but then averaged 7:23 for the duration of the run. It's all downhill from my house to the Bike Path, which means you-know-what on the way back. Admittedly, this was a bit harder than I had hoped, but definitely a workout I'd like to repeat. Due to the rain and wind, I had the Bike Path to myself, which never happens, and I was probably the last person out there before it flooded.
6/4, Monday: 7 - 1:09:37, 14x Mt. Ararat. Considerably slower than last week, but that was dictated by the conditions more than my condition. It was raining heavily, and the downhill sections were extremely muddy and slippery. I only ran the "backside" twice since the bog bridges were green ice and the mud was over my ankles in many places—not really conducive to a steady pace. After Sunday's effort, I thought I'd be a little more off as I was creaky at first, but once I got moving I felt pretty decent. I nearly called it at about 4 miles as another downpour had me borderline hypothermic. Thankfully, the rain stopped or diminish to a heavy mist, and I was able to complete the workout.
6/5, Tuesday: 6.75 - 55:16, Back Cove & Eastern Prom + 5x 100 strides. Due to the aforementioned rain, we moved the TMR TNR from Twin Brook to keep from trashing those trails. Good, easy run with a smallish group, including Ian, Jeff, Zak, Nathan & Sara. Well, it was mostly easy except for when the damn ultrarunners had to run up and down every little hill. "Oh look! Steps!" Strides felt great post-run, and I was in the car just as it started pouring.
6/6, Wednesday: Off. Did a new/revised/augmented core workout. It is the devil.
6/7, Thursday: 10.75 - 1:41:12, Head of Tide Park/Cathance Trails. Somewhat random out and back, but I wanted to see the effects of the rain on some notable sections of the Cathance River. I was able to check out the famed Cathance & Pancakes stream crossing, and it was uncrossable. Right now, we'd need to use Jamie as a raft and Jeremy as the paddle. I felt like garbage right out of the gate, and nearly bagged the entire run at 1.5 miles. Held it together, and actually got rolling pretty comfortably later on. Took my time on this one with decent breaks to check out the falls at Head of Tide and the narrows at Barnes Leap. Crazy amount of water. I was even wading in a couple spots. At about 7 miles, I could feel my right Achilles start barking. It hurt mainly on the downhills. Stretched it as best I could and iced it that evening.
6/8, Friday: Off. Achilles didn't feel right.
6/9, Saturday: Off. Achilles still twingy, so another zero.
Total: 33.5
Trail: 24.5
Road: 9
Good start. Bad finish.
Of note: I'm hungry. I can really tell the training volume has bumped up, as I'm eating non-stop. Friday, in particular, was out of control: I ate two lunches, snacked until dinner, and ate more after dinner. Hopefully, all those extra calories will go straight to my Achilles.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Training 5/27 - 6/2
(Please note the omission of "Log" in the post title. It's gettin' all kinds of serious up in here.)
Mileage was actually down this week, but the quality was way up. Only reason for the drop was an extra day off that, at this stage of the game, seemed prudent. I need to focus on building not setting myself back. Additionally, this was a bit of a "race penance" week, as I felt I needed to atone for my horrible (mental) performance at Pineland.
Onto the numbers...
5/27, Sunday: Off. It was really hard to not get a run in today, but it would have been tricky. I was at Pineland for a little over 12 hours, starting at 4:45am, volunteering at registration and cheering on my fellow Trail Monsters and others. Many, many impressive performances out there, especially those running their first ultras. I feel both honored and lucky to be part of a group with such tremendous heart and determination. Plus, aside from the actual running, Pineland is the best event of the year. By the time I got home, I was pretty beat and entertained the thought of running but decided to eat and hang out with the kiddo instead—two of my favorite activities.
5/28, Monday: 7 - 1:06:23, 14x Mt. Ararat. With the horrible taste still in my mouth from Saturday, I needed to prove to myself that I could actually run up and down hills. So, what better way to do that than tackle my favorite little bump: Mt. Ararat? Pushed myself to 14 summits and called it a day. Not only good to get back to this run after a long hiatus, but also good to put out that kind of effort, as my pace was only about 20 seconds slower per mile than when I'm fit.
5/29, Tuesday: 8 - 54:57, Meadow Cross. I wanted to follow up the hills with some speed to further cleanse myself of the Pineland fiasco. I was not disappointed with my effort. Even with a 7:18 opening mile, I averaged 6:52 for the entire loop. And, this loop isn't flat. I pushed the entire way, which was what I needed. In time, this pace should (and will) feel easy, but I wanted to see how close to (projected) marathon pace I could get. Throw in the fact that it was windy and raining, including some crazy downpours, thunder & lightning and a wee bit of hail, and I call this a good effort. Much work to be done, but this was a solid start. Of note: this was the first run post-injury in my Racer ST 5's. I think these may end up becoming my full time road running shoe. They felt so much less clunky/heavy than my Ravennas. Plus, I don't think it's possible to run slower than a 7:59 mile in them. I love everything about them.
5/30, Wednesday: 5 - 40:02, Highland Green. Sluggish. Possible causes: A.) Monday; B.) Tuesday; C.) Monday & Tuesday; D.) Playing 9 holes of golf in the morning in Massachusetts with my father and father-in-law; or E.) All of the above.
5/31, Thursday: 11 - 1:44:07, Cathance Trails. Not the perkiest of runs, but a good effort nonetheless. The heat was definitely a factor as it was in the high 70's by the time I finished, and I'm just not accustomed to either that or the technical trails enough quite yet. Also, I was a bit thrown off by not being able to complete the loop I hoped, as I started with a 1.5 mile out and back at the beginning of the run due to an equipment malfunction.
In the late fall, I won a single bottle waist pack in a raffle from the awesome dudes at Ultrarunner Podcast. The prize was a Ultimate Direction Access Airflow, which I was pretty stoked to score, as it looked awesome and I don't have a single bottle waist pack. Plus, I hadn't been healthy enough to go on a run to actually need to carry anything in quite some time. Unfortunately, the belt was a complete bust. About a quarter mile in, the bottle fell out. I could easily see that this was operator error as I hadn't put the elastic cord around the bottle to secure it. No big deal, and off I went. About a mile into the run, I decided to take my first drink. As I pulled the elastic cord off to remove the bottle, I heard a pop. The elastic cord popped right out at one end leaving it dangling and useless. I figured I could manage for the run, but over the course of the next half mile or so, I had to keep pushing the bottle back into the holster every few yards. There was no way I was going to put up with that for another hour and a half, so I turned around, carried the bottle in my hand and headed home. I swapped it out for trusty Nathan handheld. Worth noting: The bottle that came with the pack has a really odd spout that was a bit hard to drink from. Perhaps I would have gotten used to it, but it's hard to know, since the pack only lasted a mile. Needless to say, I recommend avoiding this product.
So, back to the actual run, I never really got into a good groove for whatever reason: pack, heat, previous days' runs, but I still put in a decent effort. At about halfway, I dunked my head in the river, which was a welcomed relief. Regardless, it's always great to be out on these trails, and we're very fortunate to have them so close to home.
6/1, Friday: Off. I definitely could have gotten out this day, but, as I mentioned, I don't want to overdo it. They'll be plenty of time to bury myself later on.
6/2, Saturday: 5 - 40:41, Highland Green + 5x100 strides. Woke up with a splitting headache (I've been battling my allergies for a couple weeks), so I wasn't thrilled to have to put in an early morning run. But, I was on kiddo duty all day, since D had to work, so that's what it had to be. Plan was to take it nice and easy to see if the rest day had helped. Not only did I feel great and fully recovered, but the run also cleared my headache. Good stuff. Also, for the first time in forever, I added some strides post-run. I really need to work on both my form and my speed, so I'm going to start doing strides a couple times a week. They felt great. Going fast is fun. Plus, the midfoot strike felt great, and I feel like these will really help finalize the transition. All good news.
Total: 36
Trail: 18
Road: 18
Very happy with the week, and I feel like I've exorcised the Pineland demons...at least for this year. Going to keep building and mixing up the type of runs moving forward. I'm feeling good enough to seriously think about training now. I feel like the injury is behind me. And, as I get more and more comfortable with the change in form—I'm already feeling far more efficient—I know that I'll only feel stronger and smoother. Throw in one black toenail, a couple blisters and some chaffing, and I really feel like a runner again.
Official Announcement: Goal race for the year is the Baystate Marathon. Really going to get after it and more on my reasons for choosing this race at another time. My finishing time will start with a "2". Mark it down.
Mileage was actually down this week, but the quality was way up. Only reason for the drop was an extra day off that, at this stage of the game, seemed prudent. I need to focus on building not setting myself back. Additionally, this was a bit of a "race penance" week, as I felt I needed to atone for my horrible (mental) performance at Pineland.
Onto the numbers...
5/27, Sunday: Off. It was really hard to not get a run in today, but it would have been tricky. I was at Pineland for a little over 12 hours, starting at 4:45am, volunteering at registration and cheering on my fellow Trail Monsters and others. Many, many impressive performances out there, especially those running their first ultras. I feel both honored and lucky to be part of a group with such tremendous heart and determination. Plus, aside from the actual running, Pineland is the best event of the year. By the time I got home, I was pretty beat and entertained the thought of running but decided to eat and hang out with the kiddo instead—two of my favorite activities.
5/28, Monday: 7 - 1:06:23, 14x Mt. Ararat. With the horrible taste still in my mouth from Saturday, I needed to prove to myself that I could actually run up and down hills. So, what better way to do that than tackle my favorite little bump: Mt. Ararat? Pushed myself to 14 summits and called it a day. Not only good to get back to this run after a long hiatus, but also good to put out that kind of effort, as my pace was only about 20 seconds slower per mile than when I'm fit.
5/29, Tuesday: 8 - 54:57, Meadow Cross. I wanted to follow up the hills with some speed to further cleanse myself of the Pineland fiasco. I was not disappointed with my effort. Even with a 7:18 opening mile, I averaged 6:52 for the entire loop. And, this loop isn't flat. I pushed the entire way, which was what I needed. In time, this pace should (and will) feel easy, but I wanted to see how close to (projected) marathon pace I could get. Throw in the fact that it was windy and raining, including some crazy downpours, thunder & lightning and a wee bit of hail, and I call this a good effort. Much work to be done, but this was a solid start. Of note: this was the first run post-injury in my Racer ST 5's. I think these may end up becoming my full time road running shoe. They felt so much less clunky/heavy than my Ravennas. Plus, I don't think it's possible to run slower than a 7:59 mile in them. I love everything about them.
5/30, Wednesday: 5 - 40:02, Highland Green. Sluggish. Possible causes: A.) Monday; B.) Tuesday; C.) Monday & Tuesday; D.) Playing 9 holes of golf in the morning in Massachusetts with my father and father-in-law; or E.) All of the above.
5/31, Thursday: 11 - 1:44:07, Cathance Trails. Not the perkiest of runs, but a good effort nonetheless. The heat was definitely a factor as it was in the high 70's by the time I finished, and I'm just not accustomed to either that or the technical trails enough quite yet. Also, I was a bit thrown off by not being able to complete the loop I hoped, as I started with a 1.5 mile out and back at the beginning of the run due to an equipment malfunction.
In the late fall, I won a single bottle waist pack in a raffle from the awesome dudes at Ultrarunner Podcast. The prize was a Ultimate Direction Access Airflow, which I was pretty stoked to score, as it looked awesome and I don't have a single bottle waist pack. Plus, I hadn't been healthy enough to go on a run to actually need to carry anything in quite some time. Unfortunately, the belt was a complete bust. About a quarter mile in, the bottle fell out. I could easily see that this was operator error as I hadn't put the elastic cord around the bottle to secure it. No big deal, and off I went. About a mile into the run, I decided to take my first drink. As I pulled the elastic cord off to remove the bottle, I heard a pop. The elastic cord popped right out at one end leaving it dangling and useless. I figured I could manage for the run, but over the course of the next half mile or so, I had to keep pushing the bottle back into the holster every few yards. There was no way I was going to put up with that for another hour and a half, so I turned around, carried the bottle in my hand and headed home. I swapped it out for trusty Nathan handheld. Worth noting: The bottle that came with the pack has a really odd spout that was a bit hard to drink from. Perhaps I would have gotten used to it, but it's hard to know, since the pack only lasted a mile. Needless to say, I recommend avoiding this product.
So, back to the actual run, I never really got into a good groove for whatever reason: pack, heat, previous days' runs, but I still put in a decent effort. At about halfway, I dunked my head in the river, which was a welcomed relief. Regardless, it's always great to be out on these trails, and we're very fortunate to have them so close to home.
6/1, Friday: Off. I definitely could have gotten out this day, but, as I mentioned, I don't want to overdo it. They'll be plenty of time to bury myself later on.
6/2, Saturday: 5 - 40:41, Highland Green + 5x100 strides. Woke up with a splitting headache (I've been battling my allergies for a couple weeks), so I wasn't thrilled to have to put in an early morning run. But, I was on kiddo duty all day, since D had to work, so that's what it had to be. Plan was to take it nice and easy to see if the rest day had helped. Not only did I feel great and fully recovered, but the run also cleared my headache. Good stuff. Also, for the first time in forever, I added some strides post-run. I really need to work on both my form and my speed, so I'm going to start doing strides a couple times a week. They felt great. Going fast is fun. Plus, the midfoot strike felt great, and I feel like these will really help finalize the transition. All good news.
Total: 36
Trail: 18
Road: 18
Very happy with the week, and I feel like I've exorcised the Pineland demons...at least for this year. Going to keep building and mixing up the type of runs moving forward. I'm feeling good enough to seriously think about training now. I feel like the injury is behind me. And, as I get more and more comfortable with the change in form—I'm already feeling far more efficient—I know that I'll only feel stronger and smoother. Throw in one black toenail, a couple blisters and some chaffing, and I really feel like a runner again.
Official Announcement: Goal race for the year is the Baystate Marathon. Really going to get after it and more on my reasons for choosing this race at another time. My finishing time will start with a "2". Mark it down.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Training Log 5/20 - 5/26
Much better overall week. Zero pain and very little tightness. (Well, for me, anyway.) More importantly, I felt comfortable running, which was a big boost both physically and mentally. Things are definitely coming around...well, until I got to Pineland...
Onto the numbers...
5/20, Sunday: 5 - 40:05, Highland Green. Felt oddly sluggish, perhaps the body didn't like taking the previous day off.
5/21, Monday: 10.5 - 1:30:20, Topsham ATV Trails + 3x Mt. Ararat. Great to be back out on some trails I hadn't seen in months. Miles clicked away pretty easily. I knew based on the loop I was on that I would need to add a bit to get the 10 miles I wanted, so I decided that I might as well run a couple laps of Mt. Ararat. Tough choice, but I'm glad I added that challenge at the end of the run. Good stuff.
5/22, Tuesday: 5.5 - 45:59, TMR TNR @ Twin Brook. My first TNR since January 3. That's way too long. Aside from Tom pushing the pace the whole way, it was great to be back in with the team. My legs were a bit draggy from the bay before, so I was glad the sprint lines never materialized.
5/23, Wednesday: Off
5/24, Thursday: 5 - 37:54, Highland Green. Proving that I have no idea how to train, this run turned into a lame progression run. I thought it wouldn't hurt to do something a little up tempo, but not too hard as to blow myself out for Saturday's race. I felt great, but running only moderately faster probably didn't really do anything.
5/25, Friday: 5 - 42:30, Homeplace. Another "classic" from our house that I hadn't done in months. Just a mellow trail run on a humid day.
5/26, Saturday: 8 total. Pineland Farms Trail Running Festival 10k - 49:51, 41/302. This race couldn't have gone any worse. It was embarrassing. Basically, I went out at a pace that was perfect, if I'm in shape. I know my fitness is poor, but I wanted to see how much I could push. Basically, it started to hurt at about 2 miles, and I just gave up. I pathetically jogged the rest of way while the entire field passed me. I wanted to drop because I was embarrassed to run through the finishing chute and be seen by so many people. I didn't drop, but it was tempting. I'm not upset about the time or place. I'm upset about the effort. I didn't give any. Utterly disappointing. If the time and place we're the same but I'd given 100%, I'd be fine with it. Not sure what happened aside from another bad racing experience at Pineland, which is sad because the event is awesome. Let us never speak of it again.
Total: 39
Trail: 29
Road: 10
Aside from the disaster at Pineland, it was a good building week. I'm definitely on my way to being a runner again. And, it was entirely by accident that the trail mileage dramatically outpaced the road mileage. But, I'm certainly not complaining. Looking to continue to build.
Onto the numbers...
5/20, Sunday: 5 - 40:05, Highland Green. Felt oddly sluggish, perhaps the body didn't like taking the previous day off.
5/21, Monday: 10.5 - 1:30:20, Topsham ATV Trails + 3x Mt. Ararat. Great to be back out on some trails I hadn't seen in months. Miles clicked away pretty easily. I knew based on the loop I was on that I would need to add a bit to get the 10 miles I wanted, so I decided that I might as well run a couple laps of Mt. Ararat. Tough choice, but I'm glad I added that challenge at the end of the run. Good stuff.
5/22, Tuesday: 5.5 - 45:59, TMR TNR @ Twin Brook. My first TNR since January 3. That's way too long. Aside from Tom pushing the pace the whole way, it was great to be back in with the team. My legs were a bit draggy from the bay before, so I was glad the sprint lines never materialized.
5/23, Wednesday: Off
5/24, Thursday: 5 - 37:54, Highland Green. Proving that I have no idea how to train, this run turned into a lame progression run. I thought it wouldn't hurt to do something a little up tempo, but not too hard as to blow myself out for Saturday's race. I felt great, but running only moderately faster probably didn't really do anything.
5/25, Friday: 5 - 42:30, Homeplace. Another "classic" from our house that I hadn't done in months. Just a mellow trail run on a humid day.
5/26, Saturday: 8 total. Pineland Farms Trail Running Festival 10k - 49:51, 41/302. This race couldn't have gone any worse. It was embarrassing. Basically, I went out at a pace that was perfect, if I'm in shape. I know my fitness is poor, but I wanted to see how much I could push. Basically, it started to hurt at about 2 miles, and I just gave up. I pathetically jogged the rest of way while the entire field passed me. I wanted to drop because I was embarrassed to run through the finishing chute and be seen by so many people. I didn't drop, but it was tempting. I'm not upset about the time or place. I'm upset about the effort. I didn't give any. Utterly disappointing. If the time and place we're the same but I'd given 100%, I'd be fine with it. Not sure what happened aside from another bad racing experience at Pineland, which is sad because the event is awesome. Let us never speak of it again.
Total: 39
Trail: 29
Road: 10
Aside from the disaster at Pineland, it was a good building week. I'm definitely on my way to being a runner again. And, it was entirely by accident that the trail mileage dramatically outpaced the road mileage. But, I'm certainly not complaining. Looking to continue to build.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Training Log 5/13 - 5/19
Fairly lackluster week. Yes, I'm grateful to be running at all. (Thanks, Jamie!!!) However, the miles aren't coming easily. At my best, I've felt ok, but mostly I've felt off and sluggish. My fitness is just poor. It should be after taking 4 months off, and rationally, I understand it. But, while I'm running, it's frustrating. I am hoping it will turn around soon.
Onto the numbers...
5/13, Sunday: 5 - 39:48, Highland Green. I came very, very close to a zero here, but after the impressive performances of my Trail Monster Running teammates at the Peak 50 & 100 and the Massanutten 100, I knew I couldn't live with myself if I didn't get out. So, following dinner and as the sun was setting I shot out for an easy five. Due to the light situation, I ran the loop in reverse, which I never do, to get the dirt road out of the way first and to take advantage of the street lights on the way home. As it turned out, I had just enough light on the final trail section back towards my house to be able to navigate it without issue. Good mental boost to get this run in.
5/14, Monday: 6 - 50:52, Pineland Farms. Circumstances were such that I needed to watch the kiddo in the morning for a short stint, but then D would be able to handle her regular Monday duties. I headed over to Pineland to drop her off with D, and they went to Story Time, while I snuck out for a run. It was a soggy, misty, humid day down on the farm, and my feet were drenched as soon as I started the first field. I decided to run the 10k course...you know, just in case. It wasn't exactly an auspicious test run, as my legs felt heavier and heavier with each step. It felt as if I was shuffling the whole way. Pineland and I just don't get along.
5/15, Tuesday: Off
5/16, Wednesday: 5 - 39:13, Highland Green. I was hopeful that a day off would have a restorative effect, but it was not the case. Another so so run around the neighborhood.
5/17, Thursday: 9 - 1:25:15, Cathance River. It was great to be back out on these trails again, and this was definitely the most technical run I've done this year. Spiritually, this was a fantastic run, as it was great to feel like a trail runner again. My form is coming around, and I'm becoming more and more comfortable with each run on the trails. Physically, however, I still felt a bit off. I kept it nice and easy, but 90 minutes felt more like 3 hours. I was still feeling the effects later in the day. In many ways, it felt great to have the "long run/hard effort" feeling, but it was tough to reconcile that feeling after only 9 miles.
5/18, Friday: 5 - 40:04, Highland Green. I felt better than I thought I would after Thursday's run, so I'm taking that as a good sign. I do need to start mixing it up a bit, though, as I don't want to fall into the trap of racing myself on this loop. Since I run it so frequently, I know all the splits, and it's easy to get caught up in comparing it to other runs. Perhaps I'll just leave the watch at home. *gasp*
5/19, Saturday: Off. I was at an event for work all day and into the evening, so a run never materialized.
Total: 30
Trail: 15
Road: 15
I'm glad the trail running is feeling more comfortable, so I could at least get a 50/50 between surfaces this week. (Although, Highland Green has over a mile of dirt road and about a half mile of trail, so it's not a pure road run.) Right now, even though I'm just in a base building phase, it would be nice to feel a bit more fluid. I'm just out of sync. With that in mind, I'm going to jump into the Pineland Farms 10k on Saturday. It's a race, and I'm certain I'll be disappointed with the result. But, I can't help myself. At the very least, it will give me a barometer of how out of shape I actually am. At best, maybe some faster running will be the spark I need to jump start this training. Long term, I'm hopeful for something big in the Fall, but I want to be certain I can have a full and focused training cycle. Right now, I'm not certain that it's going to happen.
Onto the numbers...
5/13, Sunday: 5 - 39:48, Highland Green. I came very, very close to a zero here, but after the impressive performances of my Trail Monster Running teammates at the Peak 50 & 100 and the Massanutten 100, I knew I couldn't live with myself if I didn't get out. So, following dinner and as the sun was setting I shot out for an easy five. Due to the light situation, I ran the loop in reverse, which I never do, to get the dirt road out of the way first and to take advantage of the street lights on the way home. As it turned out, I had just enough light on the final trail section back towards my house to be able to navigate it without issue. Good mental boost to get this run in.
5/14, Monday: 6 - 50:52, Pineland Farms. Circumstances were such that I needed to watch the kiddo in the morning for a short stint, but then D would be able to handle her regular Monday duties. I headed over to Pineland to drop her off with D, and they went to Story Time, while I snuck out for a run. It was a soggy, misty, humid day down on the farm, and my feet were drenched as soon as I started the first field. I decided to run the 10k course...you know, just in case. It wasn't exactly an auspicious test run, as my legs felt heavier and heavier with each step. It felt as if I was shuffling the whole way. Pineland and I just don't get along.
5/15, Tuesday: Off
5/16, Wednesday: 5 - 39:13, Highland Green. I was hopeful that a day off would have a restorative effect, but it was not the case. Another so so run around the neighborhood.
5/17, Thursday: 9 - 1:25:15, Cathance River. It was great to be back out on these trails again, and this was definitely the most technical run I've done this year. Spiritually, this was a fantastic run, as it was great to feel like a trail runner again. My form is coming around, and I'm becoming more and more comfortable with each run on the trails. Physically, however, I still felt a bit off. I kept it nice and easy, but 90 minutes felt more like 3 hours. I was still feeling the effects later in the day. In many ways, it felt great to have the "long run/hard effort" feeling, but it was tough to reconcile that feeling after only 9 miles.
5/18, Friday: 5 - 40:04, Highland Green. I felt better than I thought I would after Thursday's run, so I'm taking that as a good sign. I do need to start mixing it up a bit, though, as I don't want to fall into the trap of racing myself on this loop. Since I run it so frequently, I know all the splits, and it's easy to get caught up in comparing it to other runs. Perhaps I'll just leave the watch at home. *gasp*
5/19, Saturday: Off. I was at an event for work all day and into the evening, so a run never materialized.
Total: 30
Trail: 15
Road: 15
I'm glad the trail running is feeling more comfortable, so I could at least get a 50/50 between surfaces this week. (Although, Highland Green has over a mile of dirt road and about a half mile of trail, so it's not a pure road run.) Right now, even though I'm just in a base building phase, it would be nice to feel a bit more fluid. I'm just out of sync. With that in mind, I'm going to jump into the Pineland Farms 10k on Saturday. It's a race, and I'm certain I'll be disappointed with the result. But, I can't help myself. At the very least, it will give me a barometer of how out of shape I actually am. At best, maybe some faster running will be the spark I need to jump start this training. Long term, I'm hopeful for something big in the Fall, but I want to be certain I can have a full and focused training cycle. Right now, I'm not certain that it's going to happen.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Training Log 5/6 - 5/12
Originally, I was hoping to keep the momentum rolling this week, but I was prepared to have to take a step back week. And, the body put on a hearty "Whoa, big fella!", so this week was certainly less than even the planned step back. I'm definitely erring on the side of caution, but that seems prudent.
Onto the numbers...
5/6, Sunday: 6 - 51:00, Eagle Lake, Acadia National Park. My legs were tight and sore from Saturday's run, and the rest of me was less than chipper after the previous night's festivities, which may have included Oxbow Farmhouse Pale Ale, venison, Marshall Wharf Phil Brown ale, bratwurst, Stone 15th Anniversary Imperial Black IPA, more bratwurst, Oxbow Freestyle #4...oh, I did have a salad. Needless to say, I felt terrible. I did manage to take all the signposts. Big group for this one, and a great way to close out the weekend.
5/7, Monday: 4.25 - 38:04, Heath Loop. Probably should have taken the day off. Legs were tight and heavy. Sluggish run all around. Beautiful day around the Heath, though. I scared up a mother duck and her chicks, which were hunkered down alongside the trail. Didn't see them until they were scattering and squawking in all directions. Also of note, my trail running is crap. I clearly need more practice with the new gait on technical terrain. I was a bit of a mess.
5/8, Tuesday: Off
5/9, Wednesday: 5 - 39:39, Highland Green. Felt terrible. No energy and my calves were killing me. Reduced to a shuffle by the end. Developed a large knot in my left calf, which had me icing afternoon and night.
5/10, Thursday: Off. Calf definitely a concern much icing and stretching.
5/11, Friday: Off. More of the same
5/12, Saturday: 3 - 23:11, Patriot Commons. Calf felt markedly better in the morning and throughout the day, so I decided to go for a little test jog when D got home from work. Aside from being a touch hungry, things felt pretty good. Legs had a bit of spring in them, and both calves felt fine. If anything, the right was a touch tighter, which makes sense since I haven't been paying as much attention to it. Good sign.
Total: 18.25
Trail: 4.25
Road: 14
As I said, definitely more of a step back week than I had anticipated, but I think it was a wise choice. Hopefully, it will pay off in the long run. My lack of skills/comfort on the technical terrain was a bit unsettling. I plan to both boost the mileage back up and add in more technical trails this week.
Onto the numbers...
5/6, Sunday: 6 - 51:00, Eagle Lake, Acadia National Park. My legs were tight and sore from Saturday's run, and the rest of me was less than chipper after the previous night's festivities, which may have included Oxbow Farmhouse Pale Ale, venison, Marshall Wharf Phil Brown ale, bratwurst, Stone 15th Anniversary Imperial Black IPA, more bratwurst, Oxbow Freestyle #4...oh, I did have a salad. Needless to say, I felt terrible. I did manage to take all the signposts. Big group for this one, and a great way to close out the weekend.
5/7, Monday: 4.25 - 38:04, Heath Loop. Probably should have taken the day off. Legs were tight and heavy. Sluggish run all around. Beautiful day around the Heath, though. I scared up a mother duck and her chicks, which were hunkered down alongside the trail. Didn't see them until they were scattering and squawking in all directions. Also of note, my trail running is crap. I clearly need more practice with the new gait on technical terrain. I was a bit of a mess.
5/8, Tuesday: Off
5/9, Wednesday: 5 - 39:39, Highland Green. Felt terrible. No energy and my calves were killing me. Reduced to a shuffle by the end. Developed a large knot in my left calf, which had me icing afternoon and night.
5/10, Thursday: Off. Calf definitely a concern much icing and stretching.
5/11, Friday: Off. More of the same
5/12, Saturday: 3 - 23:11, Patriot Commons. Calf felt markedly better in the morning and throughout the day, so I decided to go for a little test jog when D got home from work. Aside from being a touch hungry, things felt pretty good. Legs had a bit of spring in them, and both calves felt fine. If anything, the right was a touch tighter, which makes sense since I haven't been paying as much attention to it. Good sign.
Total: 18.25
Trail: 4.25
Road: 14
As I said, definitely more of a step back week than I had anticipated, but I think it was a wise choice. Hopefully, it will pay off in the long run. My lack of skills/comfort on the technical terrain was a bit unsettling. I plan to both boost the mileage back up and add in more technical trails this week.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Training Log 4/29 - 5/5
In short, it's all good news on the training front. The calves are getting better day by day. I had my "last" appointment with Dr. Jamie on Wednesday, and he gave me the green light to get after it. It was good to talk running and racing rather than adhesion and inflammation. I've come out on the other side a total convert. I was a bit skeptical when I first started treatment, but he really rebuilt me. I'm very thankful. On top of that, with my gait change, I'm beginning to feel as if this injury was actually a positive event. I'm going to be stronger (and, hopefully faster) going forward. Like I said, it's all good news.
Onto the numbers...
4/29, Sunday: 5 - 38:45, Weldon Farm Road. After my 10k "race" on Saturday, I was anxious to see how I would feel. Happy to report that I felt great. A little tight in the calves, but other than that, no ill effects from the day before. I even had a little snap in my step and opened it up a touch in the final mile. Good stuff.
4/30, Monday: Off
5/1, Tuesday: 10.25 - 1:22:06, Simpson's Point via Brunswick Town Commons. I wanted to up the distance, but didn't want anything too hilly. This route, which is a 50/50 mix of road and trails, in addition to being a classic from Bowdoin College (or pieces of it, anyway), fit the bill perfectly. Looking back at my training logs, I last did this route in September '11 in around 1:20ish with a notation that I was looking for something "slightly up tempo." With that in mind, I was pleased to average 8:00's pretty comfortably throughout. Although, I was pretty uncomfortable at times as it was raining and very windy. Not the best day to be out on the roads, but the view oceanside at Simpson's Point is always worth it. Drew a lot of confidence from this run.
5/2, Wednesday: 5 - 39:00, Highland Green. Little sluggish, but that wasn't a surprise.
5/3, Thursday: Off
5/4, Friday: 5 - 36:58, Highland Green. Unintentional progression run. Chased a dump truck on the dirt road and just decided I wasn't going to let him go. Once I turned back onto the powerlines to head home, I was feeling good, so I decided to see what was there. Last three miles were 7:21, 7:01 and 6:38. Nothing blazing, but certainly good to open it up. Calves felt great, and it was interesting to focus on the new gait at faster speeds. Definitely a lot of work to do.
5/5, Saturday: 11.25 - 1:37:27, Around the Mountain Loop, Acadia National Park. Headed to MDI on Friday evening for a weekend of camping, running and shenanigans to celebrate Jamie and Kate's pending nuptials. After an evening at Geddy's and more festivities around the lantern light at the campground, things were a bit foggy both in the weather and in my head, when we started out from Jordan Pond House. I love this loop, but I was a bit nervous that I was biting off more than I could chew. It would be my longest run since returning from injury—my previous being on Tuesday—and it's hilly. Really hilly. After rolling for three miles, you do basically nothing but climb for the next 4 miles...then you have to come back down. Plus, I'm a competitive idiot, so I decided to sprint at each of the signposts. I was toast by about 6 miles. The last mile to the top, I just tried to keep Jamie from dropping me too badly. On the way down, he flew away, and I ran with Randy hoping he could pick me up if I fell over. We regrouped with a couple miles to go, and Mindy kept telling me I was doing great, even though I may have whined otherwise a number of times. Overall, I held up OK. No pain or bodily issues, which is key, but I'm clearly out of shape. But, I'll take it. Great run with friends. I was really glad to call it at 11.25, as Jamie and Zak tacked on 4 more miles at a rapid pace. Heh heh.
(Photos stolen from Jamie.)
Totals: 36.5
Trail: 16.25
Road: 20.25
Possibly an aggressive jump up this week, so I'm going to be cautious this week. The goal right now is just to build a solid base. I feel like injecting a bit of speed and upping the difficulty is going to pay dividends moving forward. Very happy to be over the injury hump and moving forward pain free. Look out...
Onto the numbers...
4/29, Sunday: 5 - 38:45, Weldon Farm Road. After my 10k "race" on Saturday, I was anxious to see how I would feel. Happy to report that I felt great. A little tight in the calves, but other than that, no ill effects from the day before. I even had a little snap in my step and opened it up a touch in the final mile. Good stuff.
4/30, Monday: Off
5/1, Tuesday: 10.25 - 1:22:06, Simpson's Point via Brunswick Town Commons. I wanted to up the distance, but didn't want anything too hilly. This route, which is a 50/50 mix of road and trails, in addition to being a classic from Bowdoin College (or pieces of it, anyway), fit the bill perfectly. Looking back at my training logs, I last did this route in September '11 in around 1:20ish with a notation that I was looking for something "slightly up tempo." With that in mind, I was pleased to average 8:00's pretty comfortably throughout. Although, I was pretty uncomfortable at times as it was raining and very windy. Not the best day to be out on the roads, but the view oceanside at Simpson's Point is always worth it. Drew a lot of confidence from this run.
5/2, Wednesday: 5 - 39:00, Highland Green. Little sluggish, but that wasn't a surprise.
5/3, Thursday: Off
5/4, Friday: 5 - 36:58, Highland Green. Unintentional progression run. Chased a dump truck on the dirt road and just decided I wasn't going to let him go. Once I turned back onto the powerlines to head home, I was feeling good, so I decided to see what was there. Last three miles were 7:21, 7:01 and 6:38. Nothing blazing, but certainly good to open it up. Calves felt great, and it was interesting to focus on the new gait at faster speeds. Definitely a lot of work to do.
5/5, Saturday: 11.25 - 1:37:27, Around the Mountain Loop, Acadia National Park. Headed to MDI on Friday evening for a weekend of camping, running and shenanigans to celebrate Jamie and Kate's pending nuptials. After an evening at Geddy's and more festivities around the lantern light at the campground, things were a bit foggy both in the weather and in my head, when we started out from Jordan Pond House. I love this loop, but I was a bit nervous that I was biting off more than I could chew. It would be my longest run since returning from injury—my previous being on Tuesday—and it's hilly. Really hilly. After rolling for three miles, you do basically nothing but climb for the next 4 miles...then you have to come back down. Plus, I'm a competitive idiot, so I decided to sprint at each of the signposts. I was toast by about 6 miles. The last mile to the top, I just tried to keep Jamie from dropping me too badly. On the way down, he flew away, and I ran with Randy hoping he could pick me up if I fell over. We regrouped with a couple miles to go, and Mindy kept telling me I was doing great, even though I may have whined otherwise a number of times. Overall, I held up OK. No pain or bodily issues, which is key, but I'm clearly out of shape. But, I'll take it. Great run with friends. I was really glad to call it at 11.25, as Jamie and Zak tacked on 4 more miles at a rapid pace. Heh heh.
 |
| Snowman and Squirrel in the mist. |
 |
| Slide...slide...slippedy...slide... |
(Photos stolen from Jamie.)
Totals: 36.5
Trail: 16.25
Road: 20.25
Possibly an aggressive jump up this week, so I'm going to be cautious this week. The goal right now is just to build a solid base. I feel like injecting a bit of speed and upping the difficulty is going to pay dividends moving forward. Very happy to be over the injury hump and moving forward pain free. Look out...
Monday, April 30, 2012
Training Log 4/22 - 4/28
Well, well, well...lookie here! A training post. Well, not exactly. I'm not training. I'm running. Note the title difference: it's "training log"; not "training." Semantics, yes. But, it's an important distinction that I need to keep in my head to insure that I don't get caught up in too much, too soon. And, I definitely accomplished that this week. Last week: 26.5 miles. This week: 29. I thought a couple different times about adding on an additional mile to get to 30. But, why? It really doesn't make a difference. The key is to not overdo it. Plain and simple.
Here's the best news: over the last 2 weeks, the knee/IT band has been a non-issue. I haven't had any pain and only minimal tightness. That Dr. Jamie cat really does know what he's doing. Really, the limiting factor right now is my calves. The complete gait change is really taxing them, but they seem to be getting better with each run...and foam rolling. Needless to say, I'm very optimistic.
Onto the numbers...
4/22, Sunday: 5 - 40:44, Highland Green. This was actually my first successful attempt at three consecutive days. Calves were definitely barking by the...well, beginning, but they never got any worse. Soooo windy.
4/23, Monday: Off
4/24, Tuesday: 8 - 1:06:11, Neighborhood + Patriot Commons + Mt. A HS. My left calf, especially, bothered me for the most of the day on Monday, so I wanted to play it safe and stay close to home. With this odd configuration of laps/loops, I was never more than a mile or so away from home if things went south. The calves held up, but it wasn't pretty. I was somewhat miserable for most of the run. The wind didn't help. However, I ran 8 miles. That was a huge milestone.
4/25, Wednesday: 5 - 41:37, Highland Green. Calves were about the same as the previous day, so I just gutted it out. Still windy. Chased a hawk for about a half mile along the dirt road section. Went to see Dr. Jamie in the afternoon—didn't even look at my knee. That was awesome. My calves wish he looked at my knee.
4/26, Thursday: Off
4/27, Friday: 5 - 39:34, Highland Green. After treatment and a rest day, my calves felt pretty decent. It was windy again, which seems to be a theme. Nice to hit this loop in under 40, comfortably. In the past that's been a benchmark for my level of rest/fitness. I think that might change moving forward, since I'm already feeling so much more efficient with the new gait. And, I felt like I had it rolling pretty good this day. Dr. Jamie gave me some pointers, which helped a lot.
4/28, Saturday: 6 - 45:50, TARC Spring Classic 10k, Weston, MA. In December, I registered for the 50k not knowing that I would be sidelined all winter. With that distance out the window, I was excited to learn this week that I could switch distances. I'd already paid; I might as well run. I was confident that my knee wouldn't be an issue but was a bit curious to see how it would react to 6 miles of all trail. My only plan was to run as fast as my calves would allow. I definitely wasn't out to race.
After leaving the kiddo with my parents for the day, D and I made our way to Weston arriving in plenty of time to register, wait in line for the porta-potties, change and listen to the pre-race meeting. But, somehow, I barely made it to the starting line. I ran across the field and took a spot on the front of the line, just as the race director yelled, "Go!" I settled into a comfortable pace and just cruised along. By the mile mark, I was in fifth place and was already bracing myself for the "sandbagger" comments to come. I traded places and conversation with a guy in Five Fingers, Josh, for the next couple miles as we enjoyed the trails and the real estate. The course was great: flat, mostly smooth and a good mix of double and singletrack. It had a ton of turns, but was marked flawlessly. We passed another runner around 3 miles and at right around 5 miles, I was behind Josh but starting to feel that race itch. I may have been pushing him a bit as he jammed his right foot hard on a rock. Remember those Five Fingers? He slowed quite a bit, and I jumped around telling him that "I'd let him cry by himself." About a quarter mile, I found myself really opening up my stride and moving at a pretty respectable pace once I hit a dirt road. I was just getting a great rhythm up, when I hit a boggy, rocky, wet section, which was probably a sign that I needed to dial it back. I cruised comfortably into the finish a very distant third as the first place man and woman were already posing for pictures with their awards. Plus, the majority of the stronger runners were running the longer distances, so the place was irrelevant. I was just happy to feel so comfortable and smooth. My calves felt the best they'd felt yet, and I'm already thinking about incorporating more trails back into my runs.
The rest of the day was a blast. I broke out the camp stove to grill up sausages and sketchy turkey burgers. Jamie and I may have downed a beer or two. I definitely got sunburnt. Hats off to the Trail Animals for hosting a terrific event. Hopefully, we'll get to another of their races soon. Of course, I wasn't just there to get fat, as I was race crew for D. She finished her third 50k battling a completely shut down stomach for the last 10 miles. She ended up 4th woman in 4:52. The Trail Monsters were well represented with Erik in the 10k; Brenda, Christine, Kate and Ann in the marathon; and Blaine, Nathan and George in the 50k. I hang out with some awesome people.
Miles: 29
Trail: 5
Road: 24
That's a lot of words for a 29-mile week, but it's great progress. On top of that, I've also been semi-regularly getting the core work in. I can't get to the 4 times a week range, but I'm averaging twice a week. I hate it. I do believe the knee is behind me, and I'm looking forward to a continued easy ramp up of the mileage. It's really nice to be running again.
Here's the best news: over the last 2 weeks, the knee/IT band has been a non-issue. I haven't had any pain and only minimal tightness. That Dr. Jamie cat really does know what he's doing. Really, the limiting factor right now is my calves. The complete gait change is really taxing them, but they seem to be getting better with each run...and foam rolling. Needless to say, I'm very optimistic.
Onto the numbers...
4/22, Sunday: 5 - 40:44, Highland Green. This was actually my first successful attempt at three consecutive days. Calves were definitely barking by the...well, beginning, but they never got any worse. Soooo windy.
4/23, Monday: Off
4/24, Tuesday: 8 - 1:06:11, Neighborhood + Patriot Commons + Mt. A HS. My left calf, especially, bothered me for the most of the day on Monday, so I wanted to play it safe and stay close to home. With this odd configuration of laps/loops, I was never more than a mile or so away from home if things went south. The calves held up, but it wasn't pretty. I was somewhat miserable for most of the run. The wind didn't help. However, I ran 8 miles. That was a huge milestone.
4/25, Wednesday: 5 - 41:37, Highland Green. Calves were about the same as the previous day, so I just gutted it out. Still windy. Chased a hawk for about a half mile along the dirt road section. Went to see Dr. Jamie in the afternoon—didn't even look at my knee. That was awesome. My calves wish he looked at my knee.
4/26, Thursday: Off
4/27, Friday: 5 - 39:34, Highland Green. After treatment and a rest day, my calves felt pretty decent. It was windy again, which seems to be a theme. Nice to hit this loop in under 40, comfortably. In the past that's been a benchmark for my level of rest/fitness. I think that might change moving forward, since I'm already feeling so much more efficient with the new gait. And, I felt like I had it rolling pretty good this day. Dr. Jamie gave me some pointers, which helped a lot.
4/28, Saturday: 6 - 45:50, TARC Spring Classic 10k, Weston, MA. In December, I registered for the 50k not knowing that I would be sidelined all winter. With that distance out the window, I was excited to learn this week that I could switch distances. I'd already paid; I might as well run. I was confident that my knee wouldn't be an issue but was a bit curious to see how it would react to 6 miles of all trail. My only plan was to run as fast as my calves would allow. I definitely wasn't out to race.
After leaving the kiddo with my parents for the day, D and I made our way to Weston arriving in plenty of time to register, wait in line for the porta-potties, change and listen to the pre-race meeting. But, somehow, I barely made it to the starting line. I ran across the field and took a spot on the front of the line, just as the race director yelled, "Go!" I settled into a comfortable pace and just cruised along. By the mile mark, I was in fifth place and was already bracing myself for the "sandbagger" comments to come. I traded places and conversation with a guy in Five Fingers, Josh, for the next couple miles as we enjoyed the trails and the real estate. The course was great: flat, mostly smooth and a good mix of double and singletrack. It had a ton of turns, but was marked flawlessly. We passed another runner around 3 miles and at right around 5 miles, I was behind Josh but starting to feel that race itch. I may have been pushing him a bit as he jammed his right foot hard on a rock. Remember those Five Fingers? He slowed quite a bit, and I jumped around telling him that "I'd let him cry by himself." About a quarter mile, I found myself really opening up my stride and moving at a pretty respectable pace once I hit a dirt road. I was just getting a great rhythm up, when I hit a boggy, rocky, wet section, which was probably a sign that I needed to dial it back. I cruised comfortably into the finish a very distant third as the first place man and woman were already posing for pictures with their awards. Plus, the majority of the stronger runners were running the longer distances, so the place was irrelevant. I was just happy to feel so comfortable and smooth. My calves felt the best they'd felt yet, and I'm already thinking about incorporating more trails back into my runs.
The rest of the day was a blast. I broke out the camp stove to grill up sausages and sketchy turkey burgers. Jamie and I may have downed a beer or two. I definitely got sunburnt. Hats off to the Trail Animals for hosting a terrific event. Hopefully, we'll get to another of their races soon. Of course, I wasn't just there to get fat, as I was race crew for D. She finished her third 50k battling a completely shut down stomach for the last 10 miles. She ended up 4th woman in 4:52. The Trail Monsters were well represented with Erik in the 10k; Brenda, Christine, Kate and Ann in the marathon; and Blaine, Nathan and George in the 50k. I hang out with some awesome people.
 |
| Post-race. Post-sausage. |
Trail: 5
Road: 24
That's a lot of words for a 29-mile week, but it's great progress. On top of that, I've also been semi-regularly getting the core work in. I can't get to the 4 times a week range, but I'm averaging twice a week. I hate it. I do believe the knee is behind me, and I'm looking forward to a continued easy ramp up of the mileage. It's really nice to be running again.
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