I'm a Skechers Man

GoBionic

I buy a lot of running shoes. No need to confess how many I have in my current "rotation."  It's more than 10. Maybe 20. Let's stop there. The point is, I am always searching for that next best shoe. The one. The shoe that will transform my running. The shoe that will let me go farther. Go faster. Remain uninjured. Complete the next trail ultramarathon with a personal record. My tastes change over time and my "it brand" also changes from year to year or season to season. BUT FOR NOW, I'm a Skechers man. They have really improved their running shoes over the last year. With Meb Keflezighi as their professional sponsored runner (for their "Performance GoRun" line), they have credibility. With me as their non-sponsored middle of the pack ultra runner, they have working man's cred. I would say street cred, but I run very rarely on streets. Which makes these shoes even more impressive! I own 3 different Skecher running models, all "road shoes," yet I run 90% trails and they work well for me.

GoRun 2

Why do I like them? They are all lightweight, flexible, have minimal heel to toe drop (4mm), and wide toe boxes. They fit well and don't have extra bells and whistles. They let you, and your feet, run. They don't interfere with natural motion. Another plus? They are fairly inexpensive. Normally, they retail for about $75-80, but you can often find them on sale for about $65. Pretty good value for well-made running shoes. If you like color choices, Skechers has more options than any other running shoe brand!

I own three Skechers performance running shoes:

• GoBionic--most minimal of their shoe line. Very lightweight, extremely flexible, no support/motion control, and a modicum of cushioning. These are great short or middle distance race shoes and faster training shoes. I am comfortable running 10-12 miles in them. Good ground feel.
• GoRun 2--sort of the middle child of the shoe line-up. Still lightweight, still flexible, but now with extra cushioning. Still not heavily cushioned, but much more than the GoBionic. I can easily run 12-15 miles in them and feel fine. After about 18-20 miles, they start to feel at their limit (for me). An ideal everyday trainer. You can go fast or go long. Nice combination of ground feel and protection.



GoRun Ride

• GoRun Ride--Fairly lightweight and still flexible, but now with "maximal" cushioning (for a regular running shoe). I haven't reached my long run limit in these yet...but plan on running in them at my next 100-mile race in early April. I should easily get 25 miles in them, maybe 50. Because they have a pretty good slab of cushioning, they are fairly protective on trails. Rocks and roots are absorbed. Not the greatest ground feel, but they still feel light and responsive.

NOTE: I am also entranced with Altra Zero Drop shoes. I own their Instinct, Superior, and Torin models. All very good. They are heavier and more expensive than Skechers, but otherwise they stack up well. I'll review them soon.

Why an Umstead 100 PR?

I have less than 20 days until the Umstead 100-Mile Endurance Run on April 6 in North Carolina. I've told friends, family, and co-workers that I was going to set a 100-mile personal record. In fact, I was bold enough to state I'd break 24 hours! Whenever someone asks "How long will that take you?" I respond with, "My plan is to finish in 23 hours, 59 minutes." Pretty bold statement. Some would say too confident...maybe even arrogant. I actually have no idea whether I'll even finish the race, but I'm going to give it my all, and if things go well, I have a chance to break 24 hours. Here's why.

I am older and wiser. Not exactly smart, but wiser than I've been for past 100 mile attempts (several of which I have DNFd). I have a lot more miles on my feet and a lot more discipline and patience. Umstead will be my 85th marathon or ultramarathon. That's a lot of running and racing experience. When I ran my first 100 miler (Rocky Raccoon in 2004), it was my 25th marathon/ultra. I've learned a lot about pacing, persistence, fueling, drinking, and running through the night since that race. I'm older, but wiser. Slower, but more determined. In long ultras, age is an asset. With age also comes the realization that you only have so many PR attempts left in you. If Umstead doesn't translate into a personal record, I'm not sure how many more hundreds I have left in me.That realization gives me extra motivation.

I've also figured out a few things related to eating and drinking. I have two new sports drinks (HEED and Tailwind) that seem to work well for me. Also, I've experimented with taking a Pepcid AC before long runs and races to help settle my stomach. It's worked well so far. My longest test was "only" a 50 mile night run, but it worked!  On Umstead race day, I plan on one Pepcid with breakfast and another around 6pm--that will hopefully get me through the day and the night in good order. I still need to make smart food choices and drink early and often (in small amounts). Similarly, I believe I'm much better at figuring out electrolyte needs during long races. If I can eat and drink throughout the 100 miles, I stand a good chance of succeeding. My stomach has turned on me in more than one ultra--often at distances less than 50 miles--so this new tactic is a major change I'm relying on for a positive outcome.

My shoes choices are better than ever. Over the last few years I've become more minimalist in my shoe choices and also developed a better stride. I think I'm more efficient and also gentler on my feet. This should go a long way toward 100 mile race success. Even though I might prefer lightweight and thin shoes, I'm not stupid. I'll need more cushioning for the 100 miles. But I also realize I need to stay fairly lightweight and maintain good form--which means a low heel to toe drop, flexibility, and a wide toebox. My plan is to race in the Hoka Stinson Evo for 50 miles, move to the Skechers GoRun Ride for 25-50 miles...and have the Altra Instinct or Altra Superior for the last miles (if needed). Four shoes, but hoping to only utilize two pairs.  Along with the better shoes, I have better socks too!  I'll start with Injinji toe socks, then switch to Drymax socks in the evening. Both tend to be blister free and comfortable.

Chaffing has been a major issue with me at longer ultras (50 miles and beyond). My most sensitive areas are upper thighs/groin, buttocks, and testicles. Yeah, it ain't pretty. I have two strategies for reduced chaffing--Road Runner Sports compression shorts and TwoToms SportsShield lubricant. The compression shorts have worked well on long runs and SportsShield is much better than BodyGlide (my previous lube). I also plan on changing clothes in the middle of the race--completely fresh compression shorts, running shorts, shirt...and fresh lube. I've noticed that sweat really wreaks havoc as it settles into your body's nooks and crannies...and rubs them raw! With the stop for new clothes, I can also "freshen-up" with some wet wipes, then re-lube and be ready for another 50 miles.

I've suffered from calf issues in the last couple of years. Most stresses and strains seem to come on when I push the pace too hard. But I'm afraid the calf problems may resurface with extra long runs too. One hundred miles qualifies as "extra long." I'm planning on minimizing calf issues by wearing compression sleeves. They've felt good on longer training runs, so I'm hoping they'll perform well in this race too. In addition to the compression sleeves, I have scheduled a 60 minute deep tissue massage for 4 days before the race. That should loosen up those darn calves!

The above changes make me confident that this 100-mile race will go better than previous ones. What else makes me confident? My training over the last few months has been steady and progressive. Nothing too spectacular, but no real set backs either. I've gotten in an all-night run, a 50 mile run, and plenty of 18+ long runs. Most runs have been fairly slow--but that's good for fat-burning! At some point, solid training should equate to good racing. I'll find out on April 6th...and April 7th.

One last confidence booster...the Umstead 100 race is known as one of the "easier" 100 mile trail races. It's a 12.5 mile trail loop without much elevation change and no technical trail sections--just a wide, fairly smooth, gently rolling trail. It's well-known for awesome aid stations and racer support. Knowledgeable and supportive volunteers make a huge difference in a race--particularly at night. Because the trail isn't technical, the night time portion of the race should not be as tricky as past events where rocks and roots have slowed my pace to a walk. If the weather changes, or my shoe/sock/clothing choices go bad, I have access to my drop bag and car once every 12.5 miles. That's comforting.

I'm older, wiser, better trained, and better equipped. On race day, I hope to be better fueled as well. If I can remain patient and persistent, I have a great opportunity to set a new personal record for this distance and cross the finish line before 6am on Sunday morning. On Sunday, April 7, I'll let you know how it went. Heck, I may even post twitter updates during the race!

NOTE: If I do go the twitter route for race updates, you can see those on this blog (right side bar). It auto grabs my last 4 tweets. Or, follow me on Twitter @chrism42k

Just a Marathon

This past weekend, two friends and I traveled to Kentucky to run the Land Between the Lakes trail race. I was signed up for the 60K event, they were doing the marathon. There was also a 10K, half-marathon, and 50-mile run. Lots of options...and lots of runners. One of the biggest trail races I've ever run: almost 900 runners! The 2 mile road section helped spread runners out just a little bit before we hit the single-track trail. There was congestion as we funneled onto the trail, but people maintained a reasonable slow jog/fast walk for about 1/4 mile. Then we all settled into an easy running pace. It was perfect to keep me from going too fast. My only goal for the day was to finish uninjured. For me, this was a TRAINING run, not a race.

My two friends, Gregg and Jeff, settled into their own paces. Kentucky Ed was with us for a while too. For most of the first 15 miles, I found myself running behind Gregg, but ahead of Jeff. Seemed about right. I chatted with new trail runners around me (there were a lot of newbies) and let the miles and time easily pass. The weather was perfect (40 degrees to start, about 60 degrees at end of race, mostly cloudy) and the trail was in great condition--no real mud or creek crossings. Fairly packed down and smooth. Still, there were roots and I did snag my foot several times--once was a full-blown tumble to the ground! Smashed my knee and hip, but it wasn't too bad.

Eventually, I caught Gregg around mile 15 and we ran together for a few miles. Later, I would get ahead of him on fast downhills, then ease up or stop at aid stations to continue with him. It was a gentle pace and I was pleased. So much so, I decided to stop at the marathon distance and not do the full 60K. It was the right decision. Gregg and I walked in the last 2 full miles on the road section back to town. It was a nice cool-down. I had no muscle aches, no joint pain, and my heart and lungs were having a great day. Just a perfect training run...that happened to be a fully supported race! Some days "just" a marathon is exactly what you need. No more, no less. Gregg and I finished in 5:14. Pretty slow overall, but it was a trail race...so it's not a terrible time. If this was a road marathon, our time would have been 30 minutes faster. We were in the middle of the pack. After showering, we drove home, stopping at a ubiquitous Cracker Barrel for lunch. Even after the 4.5 hour drive home, I felt good--just a touch of stiffness, but no pain. It was a good day.

I now have 25 days left until the Umstead 100 miler in North Carolina. If I can get in 2-3 easy long runs (15-20 miles), I'll be set. Nothing crazy between now and April 6. Bring it on!

How Should I Run Land Between the Lakes?

On Saturday morning, around 6:30am, I'll be running my last tune-up race before the big event on April 6--the Umstead 100 Mile Endurance Run. Saturday is the Land Between the Lakes 60km (LBL) trail race in Kentucky. So, I have 60K (about 37 miles) to test out clothing, drinking, electrolytes, food, shoes, etc. Oh yeah, also my running pace for a longer ultra! I guess the question is--how should I run the LBL race? Fast? Slow? Moderate? Some of each?

The race is essentially a 2 mile road out to an 11-mile trail loop (repeated 3 times), then 2 miles back to the finish. Weather is predicted to be a low of 37 and high of 69, with partly cloudy skies. No rain. Light breeze. A little warmer than I'd like for early March, but still good. Here are three race strategies I'm considering...

PLAN #1:
Run with two friends, Jeff and Ed, on the first loop. That will be a fairly slow and gentle pace. Then pick up the pace on the second 11-mile loop with Jeff (Ed is in the 50-mile event and will probably be taking it easy for all 4 loops). Jeff is running the marathon (just 2 trail loops plus the road out & back section). After loop two, Jeff finishes and I am on my own and could push the pace for the final 11-mile loop and the 2 miles of road back to the finish. This would give me one extremely easy loop, one fairly easy loop, and 1 moderate paced loop. Not a bad plan. Finish time estimate = 7 hours, 30 minutes.

PLAN #2:
Run as I feel for all three loops. Walk the hills, jog the flats, run the downhill sections. I'll likely run a bit too fast to start (getting into a reasonable position for the single track trail so I don't get stuck with "too slow" runners) then settle into a moderate pace. Finish time estimate = 6 hours, 30 minutes.

PLAN #3:
Do everything by heart rate, never exceeding 155. I would run solo from start to finish (at least not intentionally running with anyone). This would hold me back at the start, keep the first loop fairly easy, then allow me to push just a bit on the last two loops (I'll be tired, but my HR should be fairly low if I just jog along as the terrain permits). Time estimate = don't know! Probably around 7 hours.

Which is the best plan?

My priority for this race is to finish without injury, feeling confident in my time vs effort, and be recovered within a few days so I can train for 2-3 weeks for the Umstead 100.

NOTE: My friend Gregg is also running the marathon event, but he'll go too fast for me. He's on his own!

Grand Challenge of Running

I've been thinking about this year's running schedule and it has a lot of "grand" plans in it. Running a 100 mile trail race. Running across the Grand Canyon (and back). Pacing my brother at the Redwoods Marathon. Setting a couple of personal records at ultra distances (specifically 50 miles and 100 miles). All grand challenges I suppose...but not really that grand. I need to do more. So I began thinking about what 2014 could look like and what grand challenge I might dream up for next year. It'll need to be inspirational, motivational, and doable. I'd like the costs to be contained too. Something local, maybe?  Something made up, definitely. After a long weekend hike through snow, and breakfast with friends, here are a few ideas that may make 2014 a grand year.

So, from the same deranged mind that brought you the Buffalo Trace 7-Day Stage Race (that would be me), 2014 now has a new ultra challenge...the Grand Challenge of Ultra Running!

I started to count up the number of ultramarathon races within a 90-minute drive of my hometown. There are a lot...

Jan: Riddle Run Fat Ass 28 miler
Feb: Kennekuk Fat Ass 28 miler
Mar: Clinton Lake 30 miler
Apr: Potawatomi 50-100-150 miler
May: CRUD 8-Hour
June: ? (7-Day or 24-Hour)
July: ? ("Last Runner Standing")
Aug: Howl at the Moon 8-Hour
Sept: Evergreen Lake 50K
Oct: Farmdale 32 miler or Forest Glen 50K
Nov: McNotAgain 30 miler
Dec: ? (Tie-Break 8-Hour Midnight Full Moon Run)

That's 10 ultramarathons in one year within a 1.5 hour drive. Certainly, you could run them all. Unfortunately, that's not enough for a GRAND CHALLENGE. I don't like those blank months (June, July, December). I believe it's time to bring back the 7-day stage race in June! If 7 days of consecutive trail running is too much for you, the last day will have an affiliated 24-hour event. That 24-hour event can substitute for the 7-day race.

Now, what about that month of July? I think a "Last Runner Standing Race" is in order! (This came from the crazed mind of Dan while we ran the night portion of the Riddle Run 50 miler.) All competitors start at the same time, run a fixed distance loop, then wait for the next loop starting time. Repeat until only one competitor is left standing. For example, start on the hour, run 5 miles, wait for the next hour and repeat. Again and again. Slowly, people will either fail to finish within the 60 minutes (and thus miss the next wave start) or they will finish, but call it a day. Keep starting the 5-mile loop until only one person is left...when they solo finish the 5-mile loop, they are the winner. With my local friends, I guarantee it'll be more than 25 miles before the last person is declared the winner. There we have it, another innovative ultramarathon that could be staged at our local trails (where there is an easy 5-mile trail loop).

What about December? Well, after 11 months of racing ultras, maybe we deserve a break. No need to race in December....unless there is a tie among "Grand Challenge" competitors, then the "race committee" will need to devise a tie-breaker December race. Maybe an 8-hour moon run that starts at midnight?

Anyone have thoughts on this devilish plan for a "Grand Challenge of Ultra Running"? Who's going to join me? All events are within driving distance--no hotel rooms needed, no flights, just a quick drive, race, and return home. You can even carpool with me! Big prize(s) for all the finishers...and a super special prize for the winner.

How many ultra races do you have within 90 minutes of your home?