Thanks to Becky (and Advil)

Ran the Clinton trail yesterday with Gregg. My calf still hurt, but felt much better thanks to Becky's advice about wrapping it with an ace bandage. Thanks Becky. I wrapped it tight, took some Advil, and hit the trail for an easy run. The weather was perfect and the trail was in good shape. We crossed paths with Pat, Jodi, and Julie at the half-way point. I'm feeling well enough this morning to possibly do the trail yet again at 8am--this time with Bill and some other buffalo runners. I keep thinking I should rest the calf (especially since we have the Body n' Sole New Year's Eve run at 4pm today), but then I think about the 72-Hour Across the Years' runners still going strong (including our own Tracy & Brian). I can do a short 10 mile trail run if they can do 200 miles in 3 days! The ATY web site has live results, web cam, and a place to send greeting to the runners. Pretty awesome race...maybe I'll add a web cam to the top of one of the Clinton race hills. Problem is...which of the 33 hills would I use?

Sore Calf on Clinton Trail

Just got back from running the Clinton trail with Jorge from Chicago area. Becky and Jack ran well ahead of us. Bill was doing two loops and started earlier than us. Jorge and I ran the flats and walked the hills. We finished in just over 2 hours. Not bad for a guy with an injured calf. After breakfast the calf muscle was even more sore and tight. I'll need to take it easy for a while. Gregg and I may walk/jog the trail Sunday morning. I'll take Becky's advice and wrap the calf to keep it warm and provide some support. The trail is in nice shape even after yesterday's rain. Just a few slippery spots. I can't wait until we have our first official race training run on January 12. I should be injury free by then and we'll get a big group for that first run. Looks like next weekend's Siberian Express race will be a slow and fun one with the buffalo rum runners. I won't be racing anyone.

I had a great time running with the newbie (Jorge). If anyone is registered for the race and wants to do a training run, let me know. The buffalo runners are at Clinton a lot and I'm happy to run almost anytime. I love running the trail with new folks. That's why I started the race--to show off my favorite area trail!

87 Runners

We now have 87 registered for the race. Maybe we can hit 90 by the new year! And 100 shortly thereafter? The race registration list is usually updated once/week. Check it out to make sure your name is on it (if you registered). If you haven't registered, what are you waiting for? We have people from 14 states: IL, IN, IA, MI, WY, GA, MO, CO, NE, OH, WI, TX, KY, FL.

Simple Joys of Christmas

This simple Frazz cartoon captures the essence of running. Ian and Ollie both sent this to separate running lists--great running minds think alike. Extra bonus that there is a full moon in the picture! I still have my injured calf, but with my new tiger tail roller I may be back in business soon. Until then, I can relax by watching my new Massanutten DVD and reading my new "The Cutting-Edge Runner" book (see all my running books on Library Thing link on left side of my blog). Those gifts are in addition to SportShield roll on, Sportslick skin protector, Zombie Runner lip balm, trail running calendar, ginger chews, Pro-Tec knee brace, and insulated Ultimate Direction water bottle (all available at Zombie Runner). Gotta love Christmas and wives that support your running.

And you can't fully enjoy running without some new indie rock tunes: Rilo Kiley "Under the Blacklight," The White Stripes "Icky Thump," Arcade Fire "Neon Bible," and Modest Mouse "We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank."

May your Christmas be introspective and non-commercial.

Annual Christmas Eve "Run"

I think this is the 5th Christmas Eve Clinton Lake trail run I've done. Mostly with Jeff in the past. Jeff is out with foot/ankle injury so today it was Tony & Don running while I hiked about 5-6 miles with my injured calf. The trail is in very good condition. All the snow has melted and the ground is frozen hard. Good traction. The leaves are starting to decay so you can see the trail better than just a few weeks ago when it was completely covered with fresh leaves. I'm going to take it easy this week and try to jog the trail next Saturday (Dec 29). We'll have a runner from Chicago area joining us. All others are welcome too--start at 8am from the CANOE access parking lot. That's our regular training run starting point--different than the race start. A series of official race training runs start on January 12. They encompass different local trails. The three at Clinton Lake will also start at the canoe access parking lot.

I hope everyone has a nice Christmas and a happy new year!

Half Moon Run

Just finished full moon run #94 with Rob. Actually, it was a half moon run--we only did the outer trail loop (2.6 miles). My left calf has been killing me since Thursday and it's not getting better. It's not the Achilles' tendon. The pain is in the middle of the calf muscle itself. I think it's from speed work on the treadmill Thursday morning. Speed kills! Fortunately, Rob didn't care that we were cutting it short or going slow for the moon run. The weather was cold and very windy (wind chill around -1). A few clouds obscured the full moon, but we got a few good glances during and after the run. I hope to hike Clinton trail tomorrow with the buffalo tribe. I've been doing Clinton Lake trail on Christmas eve for the last few years. My regular Christmas eve running partner (Jeff) is still sidelined with foot & ankle problems, so I'll have to hang with the non-Mahomet buffs.

Online Registration

I got a call from a runner that registered and never saw his name on the race web site list of registered runners. Sure enough, David wasn't listed even though he did the MarathonGuide online registration almost 2 weeks ago. I found another runner in the same situation (Valdis). They both registered online, but I never got the confirmation e-mail from MarathonGuide (and thus didn't add them to the race web site). Sorry for the confusion. Don't worry, everyone is registered and I'll start checking the actual MarathonGuide site rather than depending on their confirmation e-mails. When you register for the race (mail-in or online) you will receive an e-mail from me (directly from me for paper forms and via MarathonGuide for online registrants). A few days later, you'll be added to the race web site. If you are not on the list of registered runners within about a week, call me and I'll see what's up. Thanks. Keep those registrations coming--we now have over 80!

75 Registered

We now have 75 signed-up for the race. That is last year's limit! Thirteen states are represented: IL, IN, IA, MI, WY, GA, MO, CO, NE, OH, WI, TX, KY. Keep the race entries coming--I want to reach 100 soon. The race fee goes up on February 1, 2008. No entries at all after March 1.

Clinton Lake Training Runs

Badwater Brian and Second Wind will be coordinating 6 official training runs for the Clinton Lake race. I should be at all of these runs too. Everyone is welcome, whether you are registered for the race or not. We often have breakfast afterwards. Here is the schedule:

• 12 January, 8am: 10 miles at Clinton Lake (1 loop)
• 26 January, 8:06am: 12-16 miles on the Mahomet Trails (3-4 loops)
• 9 February, 8am: 18 miles (3 loops) at Allerton Park's Schroth trail
• 23 February, 8am: 20 miles at Clinton Lake (2 loops)
• 1 March, 8am: 21 miles at Lake Mingo (3 loops)
• 15 March, 8am: 20 miles at Clinton Lake (2 loops)
• 29 March, 8am: Clinton Lake 30-Mile Trail Race (3 loops)

If you live in the area and want to carpool, the group meets at the Champaign Home Depot parking lot at 7:15am to head out to the trails. Directions to the trails can be found on the SWRC web site under "Trail Guide" link. As noted in the trail guide, the Clinton Lake training runs start at the north fork canoe access parking lot rather than the boat access lot. This is different from the actual race which starts & ends at the main boat access lot.

NOTE: The January 26 run at Mahomet Lake of the Woods trails is the local "Riddle Run" Fat Ass (28 miles). People are welcome to do the full 7 loops (28 miles) or as little as you want. No entry fee, no aid, no complaining. Jeff usually gets about 75 runners (maybe 10-20 do the full 28 miles). Free tasty cupcake for completing at least one loop.

My 2008 Races

It's almost the end of the year. Several inches of snow is covering the trails and streets. Good time to stay inside and think about the future. I guess that means I should think about 2008. The end of 2007 has worked out well for me. I have combined some speed work with long trail runs and a couple short races. Might as well continue that training and racing into next year. Here is my tentative 2008 race schedule:

Jan 5 Siberian Express 7.5 Miler
Jan 26 Riddle Run 28 Miler
Feb 2 Lake Mingo 28 Miler
Mar 8 Land Between the Lakes 60K
Mar 22 Mountain Goat 15K
Mar 29 Clinton Lake 30 Miler (can you run your own race?)
Apr 12-13 McNaughton Park 100 Miler
Apr 19 Double Chubb 25K
May 10 Long Island Greenbelt 50K
May 26 Memorial Day 5K
June 14 Lake Mingo 7.2 Miler
Mid June 7-Day Trail Run (with 100th Full Moon Run)
June 28 Clear Pond 5-Hr
July = off!
Aug 9 Howl at the Moon 8-Hr
Sept 21 Rock Cut Hobo 50K
Sept 28 Wild Wild Wilderness 7.5 Miler
Oct 18 Farmdale 33 Miler (and IL Grand Slam Awards!)
Nov ? Run for the Library 5K
Dec ? Da Deer Run 8K

I'm a little tired just looking at the schedule: 11 ultras and 8 short races. Bring on the new year. Of course, as buffalo runners go, this type of schedule puts me somewhere in the middle of the pack! Those buffalo brothers & sisters are a bunch of crazies.

Snow Running

Ran this morning on my local Lake of the Woods trail in Mahomet. This trail is host to the annual January "Riddle Run" 28-mile Fat Ass (January 26, 2008). We had just less than an inch of snow fall overnight with light snow still falling as I ran. We are supposed to get 5-8 inches by Sunday morning. It was a great run. Slow and easy with just a light wind knocking the flakes into my eyes. I love that temporary blindness when the snowflakes melt in your eyes. Tomorrow should be tougher if we actually get a few inches of snow. At least it's not ice! If the roads are good, I'll try for a Clinton Lake trail run (with a camera). The high temperatures have hovered around 30 degrees for the last couple weeks. I guess winter is here.

Ted Corbitt

I have been so busy this week at work, I missed the passing of Ted Corbitt--one of the best and most influential distance runners of all time. Certainly one of the earliest ultrarunners in the US. Ted passed away yesterday at the age of 88. Nice article in the NT Times today. He was one of the founders of the RRCA and he held numerous US track records at various distances from 25K to 100 miles. He continued to run late in life and recently ran 303 miles in a 6-day race at the age of 82. It's estimated that he finished about 200 marathons or ultramarathons. Pretty impressive dude. I'm putting on my own 7-day trail race in June 2008 and hope to break 350 miles. Corbitt probably would have smoked me even at the age of 88! Rest in peace Ted. The running world will miss you.

68 Runners

We now have 68 runners from 11 states. Both past champions are officially signed-up. The snow and ice has kept me off the Clinton trail for over a week now. I think I'm suffering from withdrawals! Plan to go back at least once this weekend. Second Wind Running Club should schedule official training runs on the course soon--maybe mid-January.

Da Deer Run Run

Finished the Deer Run 8K cross country race this morning in cold and windy conditions over snowy and icy trails...and hurdles. 36:14. 7th place overall. 2nd in age group. Not the best time, but a fantastic placing for me. And I beat my new nemesi: Pat & Lucas. My brand new New Balance 790 trail racing shoes were awesome! (See photo above.) This is now my "go to" shoe for trails. Mizuno Revolvers for the roads and these NB 790s for the trails. They are extremely light weight (6.6 oz) and low to the ground. Reasonable traction and they claim to have a rock guard to prevent foot bruises from rocks and roots on the trail. A fellow buffalo (Tracy) told me about them a month ago and I finally bought them for $50 on the web.

At the post-race raffle, I won some kind of Brooks technical shirt (in size small) and traded Gregg for a Panera certificate good for 12 loaves of bread through 2008. I assume the shirt will go to Lucas...Gregg won't fit in a small shirt. I'm ready to continue a bit more fast treadmill running in preparation for the Siberian Express trail race on January 5, 2008. Lucas & Pat better watch out.

Champions Are Back

Last year's champions are now officially back for the 2008 race! Joel and Christine, both from Wisconsin, are registered and ready to go. We now have 62 runners from 11 states: IL, IN, IA, MI, WY, GA, MO, CO, NE, OH, WI.

58 and Counting

We now have 58 signed-up for the race. The 2 defending champions have told me they are coming back (registrations are "in the mail"). Lots of states are represented--including two new ones tonight from Ohio. This is going to be a great race! Now if I can just get all the buffalo herd to run this darn thing. It's time to start planning your 2008 race schedule. What better way to start the spring than with a nice trail ultra? Run your local Fat Ass for training (we have a great one at Mahomet Lake of the Woods on Jan 26 at 8am), then do the Clinton Lake ultra as your first spring race.

Freezing Rain at the Glen

Yesterday was the reluctant trip to Forest Glen. With freezing rain in the forecast and most of the buffalo herd at Tecumseh Marathon, I was hesitant to drive out on the rural roads to do the Glen. Wes convinced me and the others to stop whining and go run. Danielle, Jack, and I met up with Wes at Home Depot and headed off in dry, but cold conditions. Janet and Tana met us at the Forest Glen trail. We quickly ended up running in 2 groups: Tana, Janet, and me in the front and Wes, Danielle, and Jack in the back. The trail was in good shape--no rain, no mud, and only a few slippery spots by the creeks. The first group finished, changed clothes, and waited for the others to complete the loop. About 20-30 minutes later they came in--after getting lost and doing an extra couple miles. Just as they came back to the cars, the freezing rain began. Not to be deterred, we went off to Two Brothers cafe and had breakfast. As we left I noticed icicles hanging from parts of Wes' truck. The ride home was slow. The slick conditions tossed about 10 cars off the highway. We made it back and Wes agreed I was right to wonder about the trip & weather. But we survived and got in a great run and good breakfast. Someone should start an actual race on the 11-mile Forest Glen trail. After Clinton Lake, it's the best trail in the area.