LetsRun.Com

For those that don't know, I'd like to introduce the single best running site on the web...LetsRun.com. It's not a running store, but rather a synthesis of running information, commentary, discussion boards, news, photos, & videos. It is updated daily with the latest running news and commentary (their discussion board is lively, entertaining, and brutal). If you are looking for information about competitive running, this should be your first bookmarked site. And if there are major events coming, this is the site to keep an eye on...Olympics, World Championships, major track meets & marathons...they stay up-to-date with results, summaries, and critiques.

I wish ultramarathons got more attention on the site, but they aren't completely ignored either. In addition to LetsRun, here are a few other running web sites I check out fairly often:

• UltraRunning Online Calendar
• Zombie Runner
• Chasing Kimbia (and Kimbia.Net)
• Running Barefoot
• PoseTech
• ChiRunning
• LogYourRun
  

And my three running clubs:

• SLUGS
• Second Wind Running Club
• Kennekuk Road Runners

New Race Date for Rock Cut Hobo 50K

The third race in the Illinois Trail Ultra Grand Slam has changed its race date from Sept 21 to Sept 28. The Rock Cut Hobo 50 will now be on Sunday, September 28, 2008. The 25K race will be held the day before. Registration is still not open, but you can keep an eye on the race by visiting the Rockford Road Runner web site. I'll post an announcement on this blog too. I have mixed feelings about breaking up the 25K and 50K events. It was nice in the past to bring friends that would run the 25k while I did the full 50K. That won't work now. On the positive side, it should allow for greater parking and fuller support of each race. At times, the Hobo run has been criticized for inadequate aid stations. With less overall runners on each day it could be a great opportunity to provide comprehensive and tailored support. I hope Larry can find volunteers for both days! The course is a nice 15 mile loop across a variety of terrain and the race has the potential to be one of the best in the Midwest.

Note that this race date is now the same as the Kennekuk Wild Wilderness trail run. I was planning on running both races since they each have their own "Grand Slam." My big goal this year was to run both Grand Slams:

TUGS: McNaughton Park, Clinton Lake, Rock Cut Hobo, Farmdale
KRR Slam: Siberian Express, Mountain Goat, Lake Mingo, Wild Wilderness

What do I do now? I "organize" the Trail Ultra Grand Slam (and my dear Clinton Lake race is one of the events). This is probably the only year I could complete the TUGS--I even ran my own race this year! But I've run every KRR event this year...including two ROAD races (Mountain Goat and Memorial Day)...do I give that slam up? Hmmmm....

Howl at the Moon is Next

My next race is the 8-hour Howl at the Moon on August 9. That gives me all of July to relax (train?). I'm still recovering from the 7 day event--I have some lingering ankle pain, but things are progressing well. I know I can go for 8 hours, even in the sun and heat. Now I need to work on a little speed so I can increase my steady run pace to something that will get me close to 50 miles in 8 hours at Howl. The 9:36 pace per mile seems easy, but that includes breaks for food, drink, change of shoes, socks, etc. Figuring in breaks, the actual running pace is substantially faster. And 8 hours in the August heat, humidity, and sun of central Illinois breaks you down. Whatever my training encompasses, I only have 39 days until race day. Better get going.