It's BURNING RIVER WEEK!!!

This week is all about the inaugural 100 mile trail run in Northern Ohio..the Burning River 100.

I am pacing my man, Mike to his first 100 mile race. We'll cross the finish line in Cuyahoga Falls and then jog two miles back to his house. I'll even let him shower before me...

Really looking forward to the race, and the experience. This is my first time on the "other side" as a pacer, and a aid station worker for a 100 miler. I talked to Wendy for some time tonight, she is pacing Gabe, who is going for his 2nd Ohio 100 miler of the year. So is Josh !
There are actually many others, who ran Mohican and are running Burning River. I think this might end up being a convenient 100 double for folks; hang onto that endurance honed for Mohican and use it up for the Burning River!!

It's a good experience for all the northern Ohio ultra runners. Many others have commented on what a good community of runners we have, and I have to agree. It seems if an ultra runner is not running this event, they are volunteering somewhere out on the course.

I'm working Happy Days Aid Station Mile 65. This is great for me, because this is where I can pick up Mike at; this is the first place to pick up pacers. So, if you are pacing and picking up your runner here, please say hi to me; I'll be the trail goddess among the other NEO Trail Runners at our aid station

Taming the Rottweiler

20 miles this am in 3.57 a very good run.

Cool but very humid out. I started the run at 545 am, amidst alot of fog. This was my run to town and back. I was very curious to see whether the Rottweiler was still around. I tucked a large dog biscuit into my waist pack just in case.

Sure enough, he starts barking as I climb the hill, he can hear me talking. (I was also talking into my recorder for posterity, in case it was my last recording.) He trots off his property, into the road, but I am ready for him. "Hi buddy!" I chirp and toss the dog biscuit into the road, away from me. He goes right for it, and then moves off as I praise him and call him a good dog. So the Trail Goddess tames the large puppy...I will have to remember to bring a dog cookie when I run this route..

I encountered another critter on my run, but he was much less threatening Since we're into naming critters on runs, he quickly became Sam (for Sam the salamander. Although I doubt he is one, maybe a newt??)

I got to the gym at 0755 and it wasn't open. So I decided to not do my 4 mile loop, since I now needed to go buy water or Gatorade. I spent 5 minutes in the gas station, in line, while the guy in the car in the drive-through kept making the poor clerk try to find Pepsi-Max or something like that..buddy, how bout you get your lazy ass out of the car and come into the store and get it yourself?--and the other person in front of me couldn't decide on what scratch off lottery tickets she wanted...I finally got some Gatorade and headed back toward home.

The first two miles out of town is usually my cranky time, since I am on the state route and don't have much berm and everyone drives about 70 MPH.Today though, the drivers were courteous and there was great cloud cover, and it was great! But then I discovered all the idiots were taking the back road I was running....no cars at all going the other way, and they were giving me, oh about one foot of courtesy clearance. Thanks drivers!!

I gave my Saucony ProGrid Triumphs another shot. They seemed fine today. Maybe the soles were just stiff. Maybe it was just me. Maybe my form was off during the week, because I didn't feel my feet slapping the pavement in them on this run, so they are keepers after all.

Saturday

I knew there was a reason to get up early. I might have glossed over this
blog entry:

"my attraction to adventures where transcendence and great physical outpouring is present. long mountain bike rides. long trail runs. it's not about just spending time, it's about the speed and rhythm of the task as well. just hiking won't do it. the rhythm of carving single track on a bicycle and moving with the earth rather than against it. single track that is animal made or older than modern trail making always seems to flow with nature rather than some man made dedicated single track bent on entertainment rather than function.

i guess on one hand, there is not such thing as bad single track. but go run by a flowing river or old animal path and see where your mind goes versus riding the twisty dedicated single track of a "park" "


I guess my thought patterns will be in a different mode since I'm running roads this am. Yes, a neccessary evil at times. I'm taking a dog biscuit for that big Rottweiler this time.

Happy as can Be

Freaks we be....

Just getting the rest of my stuff together for a long run in the am. Getting up at 4am, seeing how soon I will get out of here..probably not till 530am, but that gives me time to eat oatmeal, drink lots of coffee and catch up on blogs..still won't be light, but I might take my light with me (running roads don't really need lights unless I trip on road kill..) just to test it out...Burning River next weekend!!!!

Still, what kind of freaky people is happy, making sure they've got their clothes together, food ready, just got some $$ together for a potential fast food stop on the run tomorrow. Now I wish I could find my Garmin, but I'm happy just finding the iPod.

Yep. Looking forward to the 20-25 miler. Freak. Life is good. :)

Where I have been

I feel like I'm MIA, although I've been right here.
Mainly fighting with technology.

I have to say happily, though, the missing iPod docking station for my vehicle has been found!! Whee, without spending $70 for a replacement! It's been missing since Monday, a rather inoppurtune week for me.

I did get some running in this week. I have to say though, the Saucony Pro Grid Triumphs are not working for me. There is something different in the sole construction. I feel like my feet are slapping down on the pavement. On two different runs, they left my shins tight and calves tight. Eventually, on the longer run, the muscles eased, b ut on the shorter run..well I cut it short my shins were hurting. I think I am going to have to go back to my standard, the Saucony Trigon Rides version 6 or whatever they are..

I'm going to a 9 mile round the block tomorrow, followed by a 25 miler (or 4 hour) ish run on Saturday morning early, just to have time on my feet. I think I will then slack off-I mean taper like, and rest up for the Burning River festivities to come!

The podcast that Andrew and I are creating is coming along. I've been working hard on the website/blog portion, and Andrew has been learning about editing. It's alot of fun and a bit of hard work, so that's where some of my spare time has been going this week. We may ask some of you to listen to our introductory podcast and give us some feedback!

Badwater

My secret (or not so secret anymore, I tell everyone) crush David Goggins finished third at Badwater, in 25.49.50. Any other year, good enough to win!

Not this year. Two people ran under 24 hours. Unfreaking real.

Valmir Nunes 22.51.29
Akos Konya 23.47.47

Someone please tell what their pace was for a 135 mile race!!

Trail Rash

I went to the doctor today. When I took my
spill last Monday, I cleverly aimed my body away from the hard dirt trail over to the cushy green vegetation. Which was ripe with..either poison oak or sumac. I doubt it was poison ivy, since that stuff is rampant over our estate.
The rash started last week, but more and more itchy bumps started breaking out over the weekend. I used the diluted bleach solution (make a very weak solution of water and bleach) and dabbed that on. The calamine lotion helped a bit, but with the looks of the rash spreading-it was on my right arm and right leg, which is what I landed on during the tumble-to the left leg, I thought it was time for a doctor visit.
My doctor concurred with my professional opinion of contact dermatitis. He offered a prescription for a topical steroid cream to try first, rather than oral steroids, since he knows of my aversion to taking anything that can lead to a weight gain.

At the pharmacy, the pharmacy technician offered me some Poison Ivy Soap. She says this has been working well for people. I bought a bar of this, to just use on the rash areas. So between that and the steroid cream, I should be done with the itchies soon.









Now I have been counseled about the dangers of trail running. I've heard one doesn't get rashes like this out running on the road.



Except for maybe road rash, which looks worse to me than a little bit of itchiness!

How to Make Kim Run Faster

I was really hoping it was going to be a nice day..it started out that day, with being able to get into a pair of pants that hadn't fit a few weeks ago. That's enough to make a woman's day right there!
Then I got a surprise gift at work..



Is this not the greatest T-shirt or what??? I'm going to wear this to the pasta dinner Friday night before Burning River to put everyone on notice.

It was a perfect day for a run. Blue skies, big white cottonball clouds, 72 degrees...



Now occassionally, or actually very regularly, the Trail Goddess has to venture out on roads to get her miles in. BUT this is the type of country I get to run in. Am I lucky or what? This is part of my 'around the block' loop from the gym.


So I paused at the top of the hill, and decided to set the camera on a post to do the obligatory self-portrait. As I place the camera down on the post, I hear a humming. And I take a closer look at the post, and noticed the rubber wrapped wires...hey this is an electric fence...maybe I should take my camera and go play somewhere else..

Oh, yeah the blog heading-How to Make Kim Run Faster-
I followed this road, instead of turning right, to its end. It dumped me back on the four lane highway, and I knew my turn off was about 2 miles away.
SO I was running sub 10 minute miles-the first mile was 9.39; I really did not want to be on this road! This was funny. Maybe I should make this part of my route, to coax me into some quicker speed along the way.

Besides the camera, I was carrying my digital recorder. Andrew and I will be broadcasting a podcast soon, about ultra running. We are still working out details and testing equipment and such. So I thought I would take my digital recorder and see how it sounds out in the field.
So, you might not only be recordered for the blog, you may end up on the podcast too!!

Mike I almost forgot-wore the new shoes-Saucony ProGrid Triumph 4s



The obligatory post run pic:

New Shoe Trail Run

I left work a bit early before I committed justifiable homicide...as soon as I hit the trail head and the woods, I felt the tension flow out of my shoulders..if I could bottle trail running as a drug for tension relief, I would be a billionaire.

Today's route was my short route around the golf course. Nobody ever is on this trail. It seems reserved for myself always. I wore the new Mizuno Trail Wave Ascends. I really like them, they are light, but I could feel a hot spot in the same area, around my heel that I was also getting with my NB 872s.

It was a hot and muggy run, a little cooler in the woods. We had a quick storm come through on Tuesday, and there was a few trees down on the trail. I need to get some of the minions out there and clear up my single track for me.

New Shoes

I had to go to Columbus for a meeting today, then went shopping afterwards. I visited the Columbus Running Company (sorry Vince I never seem to have bizness in Cleveland, otherwise I would be at your store!)

I picked up the Saucony ProGrid Triumph 4 for new road shoes, as recommended by the RoadKing, aka Andrew with the dreamy eyes..they seem like a Rolls Royce version of my old Sauconys. Lots of cushion!!

I also bought a pair of Mizuno Wave Ascends for the trail. Looks like I am about ready to get back to training. It's time to start thinking about a schedule again!

I hurt for dirt

I got antsy for some dirt after the Buckeye Trail race on Saturday. So even though it was Monday I decided a trail run at Salt Fork State Park was in order.
I first visited Hosak's Cave. No worries here, it's just marked "dangerous" not "difficult" so I knew I would be fine. I have no idea why this is called Hosak's Cave. However, they said it was a 0.5 mile hike in which was really wrong..it was maybe a 1/4 of a mile hike in.



I finally got done playing tourist and headed out on the bridle trail. This takes me in a loop right down to the lake. The trail was in great condition, really dry.
The weather was perfect, not very muggy. The woods were deserted-of people. Chipmunks and squirrels scampered about; I scared two fawns into running away. The late afternoon sunshine was creating little green mosiacs in the leaves. There were even a few red leaves falling-isn't it too early for this? I was relaxed and enjoying my world. You know you are having a kickass run when you are smliing. Wait, that's pretty much all my trail runs. As I ran, I was also so happy and grateful that I was so healthy to be able to enjoy this. I was also encouraged that I am a stronger runner now. I haven't run this trail since last summer around this time, and I can see a difference in my running.
The trail turns downhill toward the lake. Now there are some patches of mud still left on the trail. I pick my way through it and then it happens:

My foot sinks into the mud. Deeep!!!! As the right foot sinks I try to lift the left, and I can tell I am going to lose the shoe to the mud. I immediately burst into laughter and pull out the camera and take a picture!
Then I have to figure out how to get my feet free!! I am really stuck. I have to move my right foot around several times just to get leverage, then I have to rock my left foot back and forth to break suction from the mud! I finally extricate myself with much laughter. After that, I don't bother to avoid the mud, just try to pick my way through it carefully.

The lake looks inviting-my original idea was to take a dip in the lake during the run-but I'm probably behind my time due home already--maybe another day, with hotter weather.

The only spill I took was with less than 1/2 mile to go. I started thinking about an ice cream cone after my run, tripped on a root and did one of those slow motion forward falls. I was able to at least turn to my right and land in some nice ferns rather than the hard trail dirt...still.."that'll leave a mark".. I hit hard enough to lay there for a moment, and then check body parts. Evil ice cream!

Post run pic:

Buckeye Trail Aid Station Report

I decided not to run the Buckeye Trail 50K this year. It is held in July, and usually has some of the worst weather of the year-muddy slick trails, hot oppressive muggy weather. So this year it was sunny, cool at the start, dry trails-a picture perfect day to run trails.

I did drive up north with my local ulra-neighbor Gabe. Gabe just ran the Rattlesnake 50K last weekend (along with finishing Mohican) a few weeks ago so he was looking to run along with volunteering.

We helped park cars at the start, then went over to the Boston Store Aid Station. With this being an out-and-back course, we would be the aid station at mile 12 and about 20. Suzanne and I were the bib checkers and split time personnel. Hey now I can say pin your bib number on so it can be read okay!

The Boston Store is siutated right on the towpath, so it is a very busy spot, with runners and bikers and walkers all coming through. So Suzanne and I had a chance to check out all the runners, not just our racers..

Tony came running through with his marathon training group, and Suzanne had to comment on how fit Tony was!

It was both fun and nerve wracking trying to get numbers, especially when the packs came through..and especially as you tried to both write down numbers and shout out to all your friends running!
Mark Godale came through first..he was just smoking. The course was extremely fast and dry this year. Kam Lee eventually beat Mark, with both of them setting new course records with times of 3.55 and 3.56.

As most of the pack came through, things calmed down for a little while, it would take the front runners a little bit of time to hit us for the second time through.
Suzanne and I were chatting, and I started a sentence with "...my husband"
She blurted out "you're MARRIED?"

I started laughing. Ooops, maybe I don't act like I am married? Hmmm...I thought I behaved myself okay out on the trails. Suzanne went on to say all the guys loved me, and she thought I had my pick of any of them!!

Well, maybe I do, I am the Trail Goddess after all... it was a very nice, if somewhat weird compliment. I love running on the trails with the guys. I will also run with the girls too, but many times I am the only female out there! I'll give any of the guys a run for their money, I might be slow but I can certainly tough anything out!

As the runners started coming back, they were starting to look a little less fresh and a little more tired. We spent more time making sure water bottles were full, seeing how folks felt.

Elizabeth and Melissa return to the Boston Store. As they are running in, this old man on a bike swivels his head around to take a look at them, tangles himself and his bike next to a post, and falls over, THWACKING his helmet on the ground, right in front of us all!
Elizabeth leans over to help, and I tell her "get out of here!! We've got him" or something like that. She's got a race to run and there is plenty of volunteers around to help. They split and we get the old man up--thank god he was wearing a helmet! He was good to go after a few minutes.
He needs to stop watching pretty girls and watch the towpath...

Maria came through the second time, still smiling, still having fun on the trail out there, hardly looking like she ran 20 miles already! (bitch!!)
Red arrived as I was on the phone chatting, and I heard a "I'm going to drop my IT bands hurt" so I got off the phone in a hurry to see what I could do to help. Red had things under control though, in mere minutes she had cute Craig massaging his hands all over her legs. That either helped her or distracted her.
Meanwhile, Debi runs in, still smiling too, looking fresh. They start to settle in here at the aid station, trying to make themselves at home, but we finally tell them to scram. Red disentangles herself from her personal masseusse and they go off for the rest of their fantastic finish!

We start to pack up the aid station about one hour later, and arrive back to see the post race festivities in full swing. Most of my friends have finished, and finished well...the dry course was giving everyone sweet times for their race!!!

I ran into Bob and Jim and Brian, and we had an impromptu unofficial NEO Trail Club meeting where I found I was no longer the token female but still assured of my trail goddess stature. Bob also scolded me for planning to run a road marathon in the fall, so I decided I will run YUT-C instead. Ok, Bob?

I missed Maria's finish because I was sipping adult beverages with the club, but we did wander back over to the finish line to see Red and Deb come in. Of course we waited for you to finish!

Gabe and I headed out not long after that, we had a little drive to go.
It was a really great day. Northern Ohio does have a great community of ultra runners. It was fun volunteering, because I got to see more of my friends this way, and got to give shout outs to everyone as they went through. It seemed most were having good races too.
The talk of the day was the very soon Burning River a brand new trail 100 in Northern Ohio. It seems most the ultra community will be involved in it. If they aren't racing it, they are either volunteering or pacing or both. I'll be at Happy Days Aid Station at Mile 65 before I start pacing Mike at the race. Let me know if you would like to volunteer at my aid station, or any of the others! We can always use more help!

Buckeye Trail 50K Pictures

Hot Women

Friday the 13th-Again

But hey, it's still Friday!!!

A race this weekend..that I am not running..going to be on the other side of the table, volunteering. The Buckeye Trail 50K is Saturday morning. Myself and a neighbor ultra runner, Gabe, are driving up tonight and will be at registration about 530am. Gabe actually wants to run it but the race is capped out. He may luck out into a no-show.
Everyone is running this. If I am at registration and don't recognize you, please introduce yourself-Red, Maria, Brett, ChefBill--I know you Josh, no need for introductions, you can just genuflect in my direction. It looks like good conditions for the race, maybe actually decent temps for a change!

I got a run in yesterday, 4 miles on the bike trail in the local park system. Sometimes a run is just a run. I was feeling anti-social, so I donned both the sunglasses and the iPod. Played with music until I hit Loreena McKennitt. Her music is kind of a Celtic/New Age (hate that term). Sometimes (gasp) it's not all rock and roll.

I really need new road shoes. I've got three pairs of road shoes, and they've hit about their maximum mileage. Now I just have to figure out what version of Saucony I need to buy-I was wearing the Trigon-3 which was discontinued as soon as I found I liked them. Bought the Trigon-4 didn't like the insert so much. Who knows, they are probably know on the 8.76 model, maybe that one will work.

Have a good weekend. I should have pics from the race Sunday!!

Mantis

Trail Run Today!

The temperature was 90. There was a big bad storm heading our way (according to weather.com). I donned the ugliest running clothes I owned and headed out on the trail. Thank goodness the trail belongs to me.

Mother Nature heard the Trail Goddess was going out on her trails today, so she obligingly dropped the temperature a sweet 10 degrees and stirred up a little breeze for me. I was in a good mood. I'd had a rather emotional day (but in a good way) and it was so good to hit the dirt and the woods.
This is my little trail which winds around a hillside; a gem of a little trail right in the town I work in. This trail has everything; hills, a nice technical downhill section, usually deer scatter in front of me. It was one of those nice runs where the endorphins start as soon as I enter the woods
and don't let up. The cooler temps and the breeze was a bonus.