Riddle Run 13 Race Report

I took the bull by the horns, and wrestled it to the ground!  I showed that damn course who's in charge! Riddle Run is now my beeyatch!

On Saturday, January 28, I did the informal "Riddle Run" 28-mile fat ass trail run.  It was the 13th running of the event...and I've run them all. Tom, a fellow buffalo runner, and I even received a special prize for being the only two individuals in the entire world to have run all previous 12 events. The race director gave us tube socks.  Apparently they are old school compression wear, arm warmers, gloves, snot rags, etc. Cool. I enjoy being recognized for persistence. Twelve runs, twelve finishes. Today would be #13. Sixty-one people toed the starting line.

We had fairly good weather this year, especially considering this is the end of January in central Illinois. This time of year often has temperatures in the single digits with snow and ice, but we started with cloudy skies and 27 degrees...with strong winds from the west. Just a dusting of snow on the 4-mile loop made the trail quite runnable. Soon, the sun came out and the temperatures warmed to the mid-30s...but that darn wind kept blowing strong all day.

In addition to the wind continuing strong all day, this little runner managed to stay strong too.  I ran each 4-mile loop consistently and felt good all day.  At mile 17, my left knee started to hurt quite a bit, but it got better (or numb) by mile 20. I kept going. While most loops were completed at about the same pace, I actually ran a negative split for the race...with my very last (uphill) mile being my fastest of the day!  I finished in 4:38.  My best time ever on this course. I was stoked. Sat in a chair by the fire, chatted with friends, and drank a couple of beers to celebrate. Recovery had begun. The winners, Brandon and Elliot, finished in 4:01. Since ties are not allowed, they had to flip a coin to proclaim a winner. Brandon won. Of the 61 starters, only 9 finished the full 28 miles.

Considering I hadn't run longer than 12 miles since last October, I am very pleased with this performance.  Maybe it's the run streak?  Maybe it's the Maffetone (low heart rate) training? Whatever, I'm happy.  I think this bodes well for the rest of the year. I just need to stay the course and keep putting in the miles at easy paces.

I ended the day with a personal record for the race. Over thirty minutes faster than last year (which was my previous best). Plus, I added to my total "Riddle Run" miles--I now have 305 total miles in this event! Can't wait until next January and Riddle Run 14.

Details of the run can be found on my DailyMile entry here:

http://www.dailymile.com/people/Chris71/entries/12490470

Reverse Running Bucket List

We all tend to look toward the future a lot. I often think about races I'd like to do next month, later this year, next year, before I die.  Bucket list kind of thoughts. Sometimes I feel inadequate and sad about not achieving more in my running.  Not being where I think I should be. I should be faster. I should be running longer races. I should be knocking off "dream" races. Probably so. And I did post about my bucket ultra races in this January 7 post last year. Those races are still "wanted" and I have plans to start knocking them off. I'll probably add a few more non-ultras to that list too.

Instead of looking forward and wishing what might be, how about looking backward?  How about appreciating and respecting our accomplishments from the past?  As runners, we've all achieved great things. Just running on a regular basis is pretty darn notable. Ever finish a 5K race?  Excellent!  Marathon?  Even better!  Looking back on my past running history, I've had a few failures...and plenty of successes. I'm particularly proud of several running feats in my past.  Here are a few "reverse bucket list" running-related successes from my past:

• I was on my local running club's board of directors for 2 years...and then president for 2 more years.  That's not something many people can boast about.  During that 4 years, we made serious and substantial advancements in the club's activities and the local running scene.  Good people doing great work.  I was proud to be part of it!
• I started and directed two trail races (Buffalo Trace 5-mile and Clinton Lake 30 Mile ultra).  It's not easy directing a race, and it's even harder getting them off the ground in the first place!  Both races still exist under new RDs. Feels nice to look at those races and know that I started something that still continues under new leadership.
• I ran 303+ miles in one week. Let me repeat, I logged over 303 miles of trail running in one single week.  That's more than most elites have ever tried to run. Sure it was only one week, but it was epic! I took the week off from work, "advertised" an informal stage race (Buffalo Trace 7-Day Stage Race) and found out how many miles I could do by running all day for 7 days (nights were mandatory time off). I'm proud of breaking the 300 mile mark.
• I completed my first 100 mile trail race on my first attempt...under less than ideal circumstances.  Two running buddies of mine accompanied me to Rocky Raccoon 100 miler in 2004 to run all day and night.  It wasn't pretty. All three of us suffered, but we all finished.  I didn't have the greatest training, it was a cold night, and I had serious chaffing issues...but I finished my first hundred.  It was a major milestone for me. I felt like a real ultrarunner that day.  I still do. 
• I signed up and ran the Canadian Death Race in 2010.  I gave it what I had...and ended up with a DNF because I was pulled from the course for not making the cut-off at 65km.  Unfortunately, they pulled runners 15 minutes earlier than anticipated and I would have made the stated cut-off by a few minutes. About 20 other runners were in the same situation. Not sure if I would have finished the race, but it would have been nice to have continued and given it my best shot. Oh well. Shit happens. I'm still proud of attempting this difficult race. It took a lot of effort just to get to the starting line in the remote mountains of Alberta!
• I've run barefoot. Not just around my house, but on roads, bike paths, and trails.  My longest barefoot run has been 7.5 miles.  I hope to extend that to a full 10-mile barefoot run. For many, this achievement would be seen as silly and not worth mentioning.  For me, it was a major breakthrough and a game-changer.  My whole mindset was altered and I became a true believer in minimalist footwear and running more naturally.
• I ran 95 days straight last year. It ended with me limping in pain...but that's not the point!  I had a good streak going and it showed me I could run more often than 3-4 days/week. Most people don't run at all. Those that do run, might do 2-3 runs per week.  Those that are serious, might run almost every day.  But they probably haven't streaked for more than 10-14 days. Very few individuals can claim they've run 30 days in a row.  60 days?  90 days?  Doubtful. I'm proud of having made it 95 days. It inspired me to try and hit 100 days this year. I'm currently at 65 days.
• As of today, I've completed 15 marathons and 59 ultramarathons. Hell, that's a great achievement.  How many people around the world have finished that many long races?  And my tally keeps going up every year!  I plan to add one more ultra to that number this weekend at the 13th annual Riddle Run fat ass 28-mile trail run.  It'll be my 75th marathon or ultra. Whoops, that's looking to the future...this post is about the past and being proud of what I have already achieved.
• I've kept this running blog going since October 20, 2007.  That's a freaking long time!  This is post #642. I started it to augment the Clinton Lake ultra race, but it eventually evolved into my personal running journal. Most bloggers stop in less than a year. Among those that keep going, few post on a regular basis.  I've never had a lapse of more than a week. While many of my posts are less than Earth-shattering, they are still mine and I'm proud of them. People tell me they find my posts interesting and motivating. That's pretty cool. I'll keep posting...hope you keep reading.

Well, these are some of my proud "bucket list achieved" items from the past. I'm sure there are other "points of pride" from my running past, but I don't want to get too big headed patting myself on the back. I've done some good things.  I plan to do more. Hope you can look back with pride on your running achievements.  And plan for more in the future.

60 Day Milestone

Today was day 60 in my planned 100-day running streak. Not sure why this seems so big to me, but it does. 60 days. 2 months. 60% done. It's all good! Once I hit 90 days, there will be no stopping me...unless this turns out like last year when I died at 95 continuous days. Yikes. Gotta keep humble. No speed sessions on the treadmill. Just good old basic running. I'll keep under control with the assistance of my fancy Garmin GPS watch and heart rate monitor...and a soon-to-arrive matching foot pod (so I can track indoor workouts and running cadence). Technology will save me this year. Below is my Day #60 run of 8-miles on a combo of roads and trails (clickable for more details).


And here is my latest "Training Load" data from a great Sport Tracks plug-in:

Pretty cool information. Blue is my "chronic training" fitness effect (more is better), the red line is "acute fatigue" (low is better), the green is "training stress balance" (positive is good). The bars going up from the bottom are individual runs and their "training impulse"--higher means a more difficult run (higher "impulse"). Notice the two that reach "epic" levels--those are my last two 50K trails races. Indeed, they were epic!  I only installed this plug-in yesterday, so I'm still figuring out what it all means...but I'm enjoying it none-the-less. It'll be my secret weapon as I approach races.  You can set target race performances and the software will suggest tapering and peak workouts. I only have the free trial version of the software... might need to upgrade to the full version soon ($12). There's no stopping me now. Woops, gotta stay humble. Don't taunt the running gods. One day at a time.

Stop Censorship of the Web

We need to keep this blog free and open...and all the other web sites that are awesome and meaningful to us all. Sign the petition to stop censorship:

https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/

Let's end piracy, not liberty.





I probably violated some kind of copyright by posting the above graphic from Google! Yikes. Oh well, at least I'm circulating something they believe in and giving them credit. That ain't so bad, right? Steal as much as you want from this blog...give me credit if you think I deserve it. Sign and circulate the petition link. Thanks.

Are Running Streaks a Joke?

Are running streaks really an achievement...or are they simply a joke?  Does running one mile per day for multiple days in a row matter? Below was today's run #53 in my current streak. It was 4 miles long on snowy trails. Longest run for the entire week. Not my greatest run or my best running week. But better than logging bunches of zeros.



I suppose it depends on who is doing the streak and how long it lasts. If you are running a minimum of 2 miles per day for 30 years, then you've got a real thing going there! It may be self-centered and egotistical, but it's certainly REAL.  And it's a major achievement. I've been thinking about running streaks lately because my little run streak (currently at 53 days) has become a bit of a joke. This whole week has seen me running easy 2 mile runs. I've not been feeling well and I wanted to put in a "minimal" effort to keep the streak alive. Guess that's fair (my stated minimum run was 1 full mile). It just seems kinda cheesy. Does a 1.6 mile run at 10:30 minute pace really count? Is it real or a just a joke?

I have an answer. It is real. It is an accomplishment. It's not easy and it counts.

Here are some of my personal reasons:

• Running 2 mile when you are sick is not easy. Much easier to sit and watch TV. It takes some discipline and courage to slap on the shoes and go out for a couple miles... especially when it is 15 degrees, windy, and snowy!
• My little run streak has motivated others to also streak...or at least run more than they would have otherwise. If the streak helps get me out for a run..and encourages others to do the same, then that is the real deal!
• Looking back on the last 53 days, I feel a sense of achievement. I feel successful. I feel good. It wasn't easy, but I've gotten out EVERY SINGLE DAY and run. That feeling of accomplishment leads me to believe this is real and not a joke.
• I've stayed in reasonable shape over the last 7-10 days of this sickness. I'm better off today having run each day then if I had wallowed in my illness and laid on the couch. If I maintained some fitness, it must be somewhat real.
• Even after 53 days, I still look forward to running tomorrow. Especially since I've weathered illness and bad weather. Tomorrow will be better...partly because I ran today. 

My running streak is pretty darn modest. But it's still a streak. I'm proud of it and hope to keep it going at least 100 days. Friends have joined me and they are doing well too. Not sure what happens after 100 days, but I can wait until March 3 to make that decision. Running streaks can be great motivators. I hope this one takes me into spring and gives me confidence, along with a sense of humility, that will lead to strong and consistent training and racing throughout 2012.

Best Shoe of 2012

I know the year is still young, but I have a candidate for SHOE OF THE YEAR...the New Balance MT110. This could be the BEST TRAIL SHOE EVER. Seriously, it is very good. I need more runs before I throw out all my other shoes, but this sucker has massive potential. Lightweight, 4mm heel-to-toe drop, rock plate, good tread, wide forefoot, snug heel, firm midsole, no extra cushioning or support, regular and wide versions (D or 2E), and reasonable cost (retails for $85). I've been looking for, and dreaming about, a perfect trail ultramarathon shoe...the New Balance MT110 may be the answer to my prayers. I have ten trail ultras planned for this year, including one at the end of January, and this shoe will be with me all the way.

I like the inscription inside the shoe heel: "Tested by the Flatirons of Boulder, CO...Approved by the Flatirons of Boulder, CO." Guess that's a shout out to Anton Krupicka who helped develop and test the prototypes. Well done Tony!

NOTE: I have no financial interest in NB and I paid full price for this shoe...no freebies for me!  More intense testing and reviewing coming soon. I'm excited.

Best Running Purchases of 2011

As runners, we make tons of running-related purchases.  Some are needed, some are desired, some are just made. As usual, I bought a lot of running crap this year.  Probably less than previous years (I think I'm reaching a point of saturation). Among the new gear, there were a few stand-outs worth mentioning. Here are my favorites for 2011:

Patagonia Nine Trails Jacket

I already had 5-6 running specific jackets, but never felt I had the "right" one for most runs. All of mine were a bit too much--too bulky, too warm, too heavy, too unbreathable, too much. When it's really cold, I do need more than a lightweight jacket, but on the vast majority of days I simply need a simple jacket. That's where the Patagonia Nine Trails jacket fills the niche. It is EXTREMELY light weight (~4 ounces), extremely breathable, blocks wind, sheds rain, and fits very nicely (trim fit, but stretchable). I've had my eye on this one for a while, but like most Patagonia gear, it always seemed too expensive. The list price is $99.  I bought in this fall during the Patagonia clearance sale for $45. It works very well. Packs to the size of my fist, drys quickly, breathes nicely, yet still blocks wind and light rain and never becomes clammy. It has a full front zipper, but no pockets or hood. Unfortunately, seems that the Nine Trails jacket is being phased out or replaced with a newer model. Almost impossible to find in stores or online.

Garmin Forerunner 305

From year to year, and sometimes from month to month, I go back and forth between logging every detail of my runs to logging absolutely nothing.  Lately I've tried to do more heart rate based training, especially Maffetone inspired aerobic runs. I already had a heart rate monitor...but for some reason, I never consistently used it. Enter the Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS/HR watch!  Last summer I was gearing up (mentally and literally) for the August Howl at the Moon 8-Hour race. I decided I needed a little extra motivation to keep running in the heat and humidity that typified central Illinois. The Garmin 305 was my choice for external motivation. I bought it on Amazon for $125. It now sells for around $175-200. How can older model watches sell for more over time?  I have really enjoyed logging all of my miles, tracking routes, heart rates, paces, elevation, etc. It seems fairly accurate (95-99%)--doing better on roads and open trails. Accuracy decreases when you have twists and turns, frequent elevation changes, and dense cover. Overall, I am happy with the general features, long battery life, and ease of data download. The watch does all of the "work" and I simply download via USB port to my computer. There are several free software programs that will grab the Garmin data and display/analyze for your viewing pleasure.

SportTracks Running Software (plus FellRnr plugin for DailyMile)

Well, if I got myself a Garmin GPS/HR watch, I best get myself a good run log program too!  I checked out various reviews on the "interweb" and found a few people favoring SportTracks software.  I laid down about $30 and got the full-featured program (there is a free limited trial version too, now the full program costs $35).  It was worth it.  The program has quite a few plugins (many free, others low-cost) that enhance the overall analysis and usability. How cool is it to download my Garmin data into SportTracks and have the weather, splits, and heart rate zones automatically calculated and displayed?  And my FellRnr plugin grabs the data and uploads to DailyMile with one click (adding his own "efficiency" calculations and a few other cool stats). You can analyze daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly data and split it according to your own preferences. Very cool. This and my Garmin watch motivate me to log more miles...and then actually look at the pretty data pictures.

Shoes?
2011 was a banner year for minimalist shoes. Lots of good road and trail shoes came out and the trend will likely continue in 2012. I suppose I can't exclude shoes from my 2011 best purchases. The Merrell Trail Glove and the New Balance Minimus Trail were both good purchases and are solid trail shoes...but not spectacular. To their credit, they have allowed me to continue my fascination with minimalist running. Unfortunately, I already had several pairs of running shoes that were just as minimal, if not more so (VFF Bikila, VFF KSO, Feelmax Osma, etc). I was hoping that these two trail specific models would take the minimalism to the trails...but still provide traction and protection. Not quite. They are nicely minimal, but they don't protect on the trails as much as I would like (and need) for trail ultramarathons (or long training runs).  A little more midsole and a flexible protection plate would make them ideal. Very good shoes, just not the dream shoe I was planning for when I ordered them (maybe that dream shoe will be the 2012 NB MT 110?).

Hope you made some wise running purchases in 2011.  Have any products to recommend to me?

Riddle Run #13 Lives

My favorite "fat ass" style run is set to go this year on January 28...after a temporary hiatus last year...although we still did RR12. Here is Jeff's announcement for RR13:

http://jefflovestorun.blogspot.com/2012/01/riddlerun-13.html

Hope to see lots of fellow trail runners come out and join the fun. It's a fairly easy 4-mile trail loop. Do as many loops as you want. No entrance fee, no awards, no official aid. Most people bring some food and/or drink to share with other runners. And Jeff always has the traditional awards for the first male and female runners to complete the full 7 loops (28 miles). Here is my report from the "Not" Riddle run last year. If you search my blog for "Riddle Run" you'll find older race reports with more details.

The Answer is 42

The running streak has hit a milestone...42. It's the ultimate answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything. 42. It's what you get if you multiply 6 x 9.

You did know the answer to life, the universe, and everything was 42, right? Just type "the answer to life the universe and everything" into Google search and see what you get. I ain't making this stuff up. I've made it 42 days and that means something!  Specifically, it means I only have 58 more days to complete the 100-day run streak. Special thanks to Douglas Adams and "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" for the inspiration for this post.

Running Goals for 2012

For 2012, I want to continue my minimalist running focus and add in more completely barefoot running. If I keep my feet strong and run consistently, I think it'll be a good year and I'll run some fast races. Specifically, here are my running goals for 2012 (with my prediction for chance of completing the goal):

1. Run 2,012 miles
It's the year 2012 so I can run 2012 miles to celebrate. I'm pretty confident this will happen. It's a process goal that will motivate me to run more and thus be more consistent. Unless I get injured, this one will be accomplished. I give myself a 95% chance of success on this goal. 

2. Set at least one new personal record
As we age, setting new PRs is no easy task, but I still have a few "soft" records that are ready to be broken. I actually think I can knock off PRs at all of my distances from 5km to 100 miles, but the weakest is my 50-mile PR (12:49). It was set last year at Potawatomi when I was out of shape and the weather was warm. I just registered for the 2012 race and I should break 12 hours. If the weather cooperates, and I'm in reasonable shape, I'd love to break 10 hours. If I don't set a 50-mile PR, it'll be another distance. I give myself a 90% chance of setting at least one new PR.

3. Run 50 miles at Howl at the Moon 8-Hour
This is unlikely to happen. Even if I train well, it's hard to achieve 50 miles at Howl. Unless the weather is cool (less than 80 degrees), I really don't have much chance to make this goal. If I train hard, and things fall into place, it is possible. I give myself a 5% chance of reaching this milestone.

4. Do a 10-mile run completely barefoot
I've run 7.5 miles barefoot...but never hit that 10 mile mark. This is the year to try. By setting this goal, I'll motivate myself to keep going minimal. Running barefoot keeps me "grounded" and reminds me of good running form--bent knees with short quick strides and a mid-foot landing. I give myself a 75% chance of meeting this goal. 

What are your running goals for 2012?