This Saturday I'll be running the Gnaw Bone 50K for the third time. It's one of the Dances with Dirt series of races. The first two times I did Gnaw Bone I was really psyched for the event. This time...I couldn't care less. Maybe my attitude will change as the weekend approaches. I'm doing it with two fellow running buffalo from central Illinois (Pat & Gregg). I hope that once I pack my bag, get in the car, and head over to Indiana on Friday afternoon, I'll start to get pumped up. It's a great race. Very difficult with lots of hills and mud. This year I'm even staying at a cabin in the state park close to the race start. No driving 30-40 minutes from the hotel early in the morning. I should be excited.
Here are example previous posts about Gnaw Bone...
I've Got Gnaw Bone Fever! (April 29, 2009)
Gnaw Bone 50K Race Report (May 11, 2008)
Just reading those old posts of mine, I'm starting to get a little excited. Maybe this will be a fun weekend after all. I better shake this laissez-faire attitude or the trail will eat me alive. I think I'm in pretty good shape so this could turn out to be a good race for me. Of course, after this run, I have the CRUD 8-Hour run, then the Buffalo Trace 7-Day Stage Race. No rest for the wicked! Good thing I'm still sort of on my "devil's training plan."
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Buffalo Trace 5-Mile Race
On May 22 there are a plethora of trail running options for us Illinoisans. I will be running the CRUD 8-Hour trail run at Jubilee College State Park near Peoria, IL. First time for this timed event. Others may be close to Chicago and doing one of the new Des Plaines River Trail races. Another first year event. For those in central Illinois, I encourage you to run the Buffalo Trace 5-Mile Trail Race. I started this race back in 2003 and it has been going strong under different race directors ever since. It's held in Mahomet, IL at the Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve. Nice 5-mile trail. Not too hard, not too easy. Perfect first trail race.
So, what trail race are you doing on May 22?
The Lake of the Woods trail is also the site of the Buffalo Trace 7-Day Stage Race (May 30-June 5).
So, what trail race are you doing on May 22?
The Lake of the Woods trail is also the site of the Buffalo Trace 7-Day Stage Race (May 30-June 5).
Monday, May 3, 2010
Across the Years 72-Hour Race
I'm screwed. I'm stupid. I'm in trouble. The results of the Across the Years race lottery came out over the weekend...and I made it into the 72-hour race! I signed up in the lottery on a whim thinking I had no chance of being selected. I've never done the race or volunteered there (those groups get extra chances in the lottery). I have been interested in the event for at least 5 years...just never felt up to actually registering so early. This year, with the lottery, I figured I'd leave the decision to fate (the running gods?). If I didn't get selected, so be it. If I did get chosen, I guess I'd run the darn race. Well, I got selected for the 72-hour race. I need to make my final decision this month and then pay the full registration fee. If not, then my spot goes to a person on the wait list. Probably someone more deserving then me. What to do?
Why am I in trouble? Two main reasons. First, I'm not sure I'm really up for a three day race. I've run my informal "Buffalo Trace 7-Day Stage Race" for the last 2 years and will do it again this summer. I know I can get quite a few miles in over several days. Of course, a 500m dirt loop is different than a 5-mile trail course. Also, I tend to drop my mileage when winter comes and I'm not sure I'll have the high mileage base needed come the end of December. The distance (time) scares me enough that I think I'd be ready for this event. There's another issue.
The bigger concern is my wife. I've been telling Sharon that I'm cutting back on running...especially running crazy events (like the Death Race, 7-day stage race, etc). I think Across the Years 72-Hour race fits into the type of thing I'm supposed to be cutting back on. Plus, it is in AZ on New Years Day. That means significant travel costs and me being away from home during the holiday period. That's a double-whammy. It would suck for both of us to be apart on New Years. Maybe if I promise to only run races in Illinois next year I can get away with one more crazy event that straddles the years? No big road trips or crazy events in 2011. That sounds reasonable. Combine that promise with great Christmas gifts, some new furniture, and a few vacations before the end of this year...that could be the ticket. Not to mention a couple of impromptu short vacations this month? I better start planning an extended weekend trip to Chicago soon!
Across the Years is a top-notch event. They have 24, 48, and 72-hour races run concurrently. In my wacky brain, it seems a waste not to do the 72-hour race since I have obviously been chosen by the running gods to complete this task. It's best not to spurn the gods. It's likely not a good idea to spurn the wife either. For now, I'm still stupid, screwed, and in trouble. I'll let you know how things turn out. The deadline to confirm and pay registration fees is May 30.
Why am I in trouble? Two main reasons. First, I'm not sure I'm really up for a three day race. I've run my informal "Buffalo Trace 7-Day Stage Race" for the last 2 years and will do it again this summer. I know I can get quite a few miles in over several days. Of course, a 500m dirt loop is different than a 5-mile trail course. Also, I tend to drop my mileage when winter comes and I'm not sure I'll have the high mileage base needed come the end of December. The distance (time) scares me enough that I think I'd be ready for this event. There's another issue.
The bigger concern is my wife. I've been telling Sharon that I'm cutting back on running...especially running crazy events (like the Death Race, 7-day stage race, etc). I think Across the Years 72-Hour race fits into the type of thing I'm supposed to be cutting back on. Plus, it is in AZ on New Years Day. That means significant travel costs and me being away from home during the holiday period. That's a double-whammy. It would suck for both of us to be apart on New Years. Maybe if I promise to only run races in Illinois next year I can get away with one more crazy event that straddles the years? No big road trips or crazy events in 2011. That sounds reasonable. Combine that promise with great Christmas gifts, some new furniture, and a few vacations before the end of this year...that could be the ticket. Not to mention a couple of impromptu short vacations this month? I better start planning an extended weekend trip to Chicago soon!
Across the Years is a top-notch event. They have 24, 48, and 72-hour races run concurrently. In my wacky brain, it seems a waste not to do the 72-hour race since I have obviously been chosen by the running gods to complete this task. It's best not to spurn the gods. It's likely not a good idea to spurn the wife either. For now, I'm still stupid, screwed, and in trouble. I'll let you know how things turn out. The deadline to confirm and pay registration fees is May 30.
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