Traumatic Brain Injury and Running

Patrick, a deacon out in Colorado, is planning on doing 20 20K runs in the month of September to promote awareness of traumatic brain injury and raise funds for his web site and blog that helps those suffering from brain injuries.  I don't know Patrick personally, although he is a regular poster to our Google Minimalist Runner Group.  I've enjoyed his thoughtful posts and I am continually inspired by his barefoot trail runs in the mountains of Colorado...all while overcoming traumatic brain injuries!  I wish Deacon Patrick well in his twenty 20K runs. Whenever you are looking for reasons to run, check out his web site/blog, there are fantastic pictures and great stories of perseverance that will get most people off their couches and onto a local trail.  One of Patrick's sayings is to go "as fast as we can, as slow as we must."  Whether you are suffering from a disability or not, that's pretty good advice for running.

New Balance Minimus Shoe Video

Lots of minimalist shoes are on the way to the market, here is a video of Anton Krupicka advertising the new Minimus trail shoe...

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP5Og7ruNhc




Pretty cool to have a real ultra runner help develop, test, and advertise a minimalist shoe! We are making progress. The shoe is due out in early spring 2011.

Putting Running in Perspective

Running hasn't been going very well for me lately.  Bad races, bad training.  Today I felt like a real runner again.  I ran 10 miles this morning on my local trails...and I ran fairly hard.  Nothing super fast, but much quicker than my normal ultra shuffle.  It felt nice knocking off miles by myself at a good pace. Sweat poured off my face, morning dew soaked my shoes and socks, and my heart pumped hard as I ran up the hills...this was good stuff!  I was back.  Running felt good again.

My iPod is set to random shuffle and it always surprises me how a song can come on and make me think about my current running, or work, or family.  It's been a rough month with lots of changes, a couple of running failures, one surprising promotion at work, and the death of my mother. My mom's death helped put my running in perspective.  Races are just that...events where you can challenge yourself...sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.  Neither outcome really changes your life.  It's just running. 

Anyway, this Kid Rock song seemed to summarize my feelings on the run today as I thought back over the last few weeks (only last section of song quoted here):

...People don't know about the things I say and do
They don't understand about the shit that I've been through
It's been so long since I've been home
I've been gone, I've been gone for way too long
Maybe I forgot all things I miss
Oh somehow I know there's more to life than this
I said it too many times
And I still stand firm
You get what you put in
And people get what they deserve
Still I ain't seen mine
No I ain't seen mine
I've been giving just ain't been gettin
I've been walking that there line
So I think I'll keep a walking
With my head held high
I'll keep moving on and only God knows why.

[Kid Rock, "Only God Knows Why" from Devil Without a Cause]

I plan on staying closer to home for a while.  I'll keep running and walking, and those miles will eventually lead to a good race result... but I'm staying closer to home.  No long weekend road trips to trail ultras, no crazy trips to Canada, no hiking the Appalachian Trail.  I'm lucky to live near a nice 5-mile trail.  I'm blessed to be in a state that has a lot of great ultra races.  I know people can get down on the Midwest, but it's more than "fly-over" country.  We have plenty of excellent ultra runners with lots of race choices. Here are a few ultramarathons in Illinois:

Riddle Run 28 miler
Windburn Six in the Stix 6-Hour
McNabb 50K Fat Ass
Lake Mingo Fat Ass 28 miler
Clinton Lake 30 Miler
McNaughton Park 50 & 100 Miler
Des Plaines River Trail 50
CRUD 8-Hour
Sunburn Six in the Stix 6-Hour
Howl at the Moon 8-Hour
Rock Cut Hobo 50K
Farmdale Trail 30 & 50 Miler
Chicago Lakefront 50K/50M
McNotAgain 30 Miler

Not a bad collection of races for one land-locked state in the middle of the country!  You could have a nice year of ultra racing and never leave the state.  Hmmm...that may be my plan for 2011.  Hang in there fellow Illinois ultra runners.  We have miles and miles of excellent trails for training and quite a few ultras.  Hope to see you at one of them in the near future.  Whatever you do, keep running in the proper perspective.

Illinois Trail Ultra Grand Slam

Just a quick reminder that the 2010 Illinois Trail Ultra Grand Slam (iTUGS) is only half over--there are two fall races yet to go. If you ran the first two races (Clinton Lake in March & McNaughton Park in April), check out the current Grand Slam standings. Ellen and John have good leads for now, but anything can happen with two races to go!  Over the summer I often forget that the Grand Slam is still going.  Now that summer is ending and fall is almost here, it's time to refocus on the iTUGS races. Hope you consider running both of these ultras: Rock Cut Hobo 50K and Farmdale 30 or 50 miler. The 50 miler is new this year.

Rock Cut Hobo 50K will be run on Sunday, September 19 in Rockford, Illinois. In addition to the 50K on Sunday, there is a 25K on Saturday morning and a night-time 10K on Friday evening. If you do all three races, you get a special "triple crown" award (and tons of goodies). Pretty cool!  Here is a link to their calendar of races which has information and registration links to all three events.

After the Hobo run in September, we have the final Grand Slam race: Farmdale Trail 30 or 50 miler on Saturday, October 9 in East Peoria, Illinois.  There's also a 10 mile race, but it doesn't count toward the Slam. October is a great time to run in central Illinois and this race is a good one. Those participating in the iTUGS can grab your finisher award right at the end of the race (assuming you did all four). Similarly, the male and female champions of the Slam will be awarded at the end of the Farmdale trail race.

I've already retired as race director of the Clinton Lake ultra...I may retire as director of the iTUGS too...better finish this sucker while it still exists!

My Worst Howl Ever

This past weekend I "ran" my 10th Howl at the Moon 8-Hour race in Danville, IL.  It was terrible.  Well, the event was awesome (as usual), but I was terrible.  It was easily my worst Howl ever.  I only got in 33.9 miles.  Over the last 9 races, I have averaged 43 miles and have reached 47 miles twice.  I dream of knocking out 50+ miles one day...but not this past weekend.  I just wanted to survive.  The last 2 weeks have been hectic and emotional--an undeserved DNF at the Canadian Death Race, my mother passing away, and a job promotion at work (with lots of extra duties and little extra assistance).

I intended to turn this race into a memorial run in honor of my mom, but I was too drained.  After 20 miles, I had enough.  The tank was empty and my stomach was turning on me.  Even though I was thirsty and hungry, I was fearful of consuming anything that might further upset my queasy stomach.  I walked, I sat, I utilized plenty of port-o-potties.  Nothing seemed to help. Several times I wanted to call it quits. This "low point" lasted about 3 hours.  Finally my stomach started to feel better and I could consume some coke and water.  Then an electrolyte pill and iced tea.  Then chocolate milk...things were looking up!  Walking and chatting with friends eased my condition.  I actually jogged much of the last hour of the race and felt OK at the 8 hour mark.  If this was a 12 hour event...I probably would have suffered for an extra 4 hours...but in my mind I dreamed of coming back and running strong for another 4 hours.  Maybe next year.  

I thought a lot about my mother and sister during the run.  I put their initials ("SM") on both of my hands so I would be reminded of them with every arm swing. I imagined getting extra energy from them...it didn't happen.  Obviously, I was too tired physically and emotionally from the last couple of weeks to be inspired by anyone or anything.  At least I didn't drop out.  That's success.  I still miss my sister Sandy--it's been 4 years since her tragic car accident.  And I miss my mom too--even though it's only been a little over a week.  Who am I supposed to call to brag about my running prowess?  Or my running failures and mistakes?  I'm sure both of them would have thought I was stupid for continuing in the heat when I felt so bad.  That's what big sisters and mothers are supposed to do--they worry about you.  I'm fine today and already considering new adventures and races.

Even though I had a terrible day, I was glad I completed the full 8 hours and hung out for post-race eating, socializing, and awards.  At the awards ceremony, I was surprised to find out I was inducted into the race's inaugural Howl "Hall of Fame" (actually I found this out race morning from Marc the RD).  What a cool deal!  I had my worst race ever, but then it ended on a high note.  I was humbled to be among the first few Hall of Fame inductees.  Over the last 20 years, the race has seen some very impressive performances and I am truly honored to be included among such great runners--including several of my buffalo friends!

Even though we had pretty warm temperatures and extreme humidity, the clouds hung around for a good portion of the race and made it bearable.  One day we'll actually have cool weather, low humidity, a nice breeze, and overcast skies...and on that day I'll be ready to bust out a 50+ mile run!  No matter what, I'll be back next year for my 11th Howl. Registration for the 2011 event opens up on April 23, 2011.  The race will be on August 13.  Mark your calendars.

Here are my updated Howl at the Moon statistics:
Total Races: 10
Low: 33.9 miles (2010)
High: 47.06 miles (2006, 2008)
Total Miles: 426.08
Average Miles: 42.6
Best Placing: 12th (2005)
Worst Placing: 99th (2010)
2010 = inducted into inaugural Howl Hall of Fame!

[Photo at top, me with beer, courtesy of Janak Patel.]

My 10th Howl at the Moon

I've run 9 times at the annual Howl at the Moon 8-Hour race.  Volunteered at the race once.  Tomorrow (Saturday, August 14) will be my 10th run...and the race's 20th anniversary!  Good luck to the Kennekuk Road Runners (best running club in the world)--I'm sure they'll put on another quality event.  Here are my updated Howl at the Moon statistics through the 2009 event:

Total Races: 9
Low: 37.81 miles (2000)
High: 47.06 miles (2006, 2008)
Total Miles: 392.18
Average Miles: 43.58
Best Placing: 12th (2005)
Worst Placing: 44th (2000)

This will be my hottest Howl ever.  The current forecast is a low of 72 and a high of 95 with a chance of thunderstorms.  I anticipate low mileage for everyone.  Not sure I'll break 40 miles.  At least we've had hot temps for a few weeks so many of us could slowly adapt to the heat and humidity.   I hope I don't set a new personal "low" (currently 37.81 miles).  In this heat, it would be fantastic to achieve my "Howl average" (currently 43.57 miles).  I'll start with a goal of 40 miles for the 8 hours.  I have a feeling everyone will struggle, many will stop before 8 hours, and I may end up doing pretty well in terms of overall race PLACING, even with fairly few total miles (maybe 40 miles will place people among the top 20 runners?).  I hate the heat, but seem to persevere and keep slugging out slow miles.

I wish all the runners well tomorrow.  Let's stay cool and run wisely...the slow turtle will beat the fast rabbit in the heat.  Don't forget your sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, and ice.  Drink plenty of fluids and take in electrolytes.  It's going to be brutal.

The Canadian Death Race Sucks

I've been away from blogging for a couple of weeks.  First I was out of town for the Canadian Death Race...and then a family emergency in New Hampshire.  This last week, I've just been tired. I'm still tired.  In addition to the Death Race disaster, my mother passed away last week.  It's been a tough couple of weeks.

I did not finish the Canadian Death Race.  I didn't drop out either.  In fact, I think I was doing pretty well...but race officials pulled me (and 22 other runners) from the course at the end of stage 3 (of 5 stages) earlier than they should have according to race literature.  They claimed we had missed the time cut-off for the transition from leg 3 to 4.  Unfortunately, the time they used was 15 minutes earlier than the cut-off time they had printed on the 2010 race web site, race bib numbers, and what was mentioned at the pre-race briefing.  I made the stated cut-off, but was pulled anyway.  Very frustrating.  I'm still bitter.  I'm quite sure I could have finished the entire race.  I was well rested and ready to go.  The race director, and other officials, didn't seem to care.  Later, an e-mail came from the RD explaining the situation and offering us a discount on next year's race entry fee.  I'm not going back.  Even if it was a free entry, I wouldn't go back.  I think this race sucked.  It seemed disorganized and lacked the normal support provided at trail ultra marathons.  This was to be my 70th marathon/ultra.  Now I'm still at 69...but the Howl at the Moon 8-Hour is just around the corner!  I anticipate completing my 70th marathon/ultra this weekend...at a race that cares about runners.  We are expecting 95 degree weather for the Howl race, with high humidity, but the Kennekuk Road Runners will take care of us.  The Death Race folks had great weather, but failed to deliver. No excuses.

Oh well.  It was just a race.  I've learned my lesson and won't return to Grande Cache, Canada.  I cannot recommend the Canadian Death Race to any solo ultra runners.  It may be OK for relay teams, but does a team want to pay $350 per person (x5 team members = $1750)?  Seems crazy for a short sleeve shirt, canvas tote bag, and a water bottle...plus a few other crappy goodies.  I wonder if The North Face actually knows what they are sponsoring?

PS:  While I hated this darn Canadian Death Race, the town of Grande Cache and the surrounding area is beautiful.  The folks in Canada are pretty awesome too.  Some of the friendliest people you'll ever come across in your travels.  I'd love to return to Canada and run another ultra.  Maybe the Haliburton Forest 100 miler?  Sinister 7?