Luc finishes his 1st Marathon!

My trail running friend, Luc finished his first marathon last weekend!!

Stroll over to his website and read a great race report. Luc couldn't run an easy, flat marathon for his first, no, he had to go out and find a nice trail marathon to run on!

Congratulations again Luc, welcome to the club!

Glad I forgot the Bra

Well that should get the readership interested...I went out to my car to get my gear bag in the afternoon..had everything but the running bra. Sigh. I had to postpone the run until I got home.
As soon as I got home, I changed to get out the door quickly. This actually was going to be titled "New Gear" Run, since I had new shoes, new visor, new socks, and new headphones.

Check out the shoes!!



Aren't they purty?? I was doing a gear check for Mohican (yes I am actually thinking about training for this race) and realized about all but two of my shoes are beat to crap. And I usually find this out while running on roads somewhere. But I must say, I am impressed with all this nice green on the Saucony!



I also had a new visor, from Runjunk.com where I had also bought new water bottles. (Again, checking my gear ahead of time!)




These two pics cracked me up. A different dog in each pic as I moved the camera.

I also ran in my new DryFit socks, but can't really review them, since my feet stayed dry and out of puddles.

Ok, I had a great run! Since the weather was perfect, somewhere in the high 50's it was a bit cool, with a bit of wind blowing. This kept me from getting hot. Maybe the energy drink I sucked down on the way home helped, but I was keeping a very good pace for myself. I had told the husband I was going on my longer 'loop' but I didn't really remember how long it was since the last time I had gone on this particular route was January..



It's a bit greener out there now. Just a nice, solid, good pace effort for me. I was actually running all the small inclines (still walking the big hills!)




Two dogs were waiting for me as I finished a nice 10 mile run...and the Shepherd gets her own pic since she's so gorgeous..

I wanna train!

Ohmygod that Mohican run did me a world of good. I want to run! With others! I want to run a race this weekend (like Promise Land...except I am working) I was even thinking of next weekend, running the Pig. I think after having such good company with Mike and the Fresno Running Club, I am just craving ultra running contact!
I was seriously looking for a race next weekend, but tempered that with the fact that I would not be able to leave town until 330pm on Friday..and I would be better off getting a 30 mile run in around here, than driving forever for a race.
But the enthusiasm is back! I'm looking forward to the Mo Training weekend, and seeing lots and lots of runners out there!

Maybe it's spring. Who cares what the reason is. I got my happy running feelings back!

Mohican Run Today!

Wow, what a nice day to run. Mike Keller, myself, and the rest of the "Fresno Running Club" came out to run Mo today-Rich and Wendy Babcock, and Gabe "Mr 150 McNaughton Finisher" Rainwater and his "100 mile pacer extradonaire" Regis Shivers. We got started about nine thirty, and started up the Red Section from the Covered Bridge.

The Red Section now starts on the Mountain Bike Trail, which is just about 10 feet from the edge of the parking lot at CB (on the opposite side from the parking.) Look for the white PVC tubing with the MTB100 at the start of the trail. The Red Section is now on that mountainbike trail, and after a climb, with switchbacks (not straight up the freaking hill) it turns into a nice scenic runnable singletrack. Good small climbs up and nice downhill sections. This new section is at least 1 or 1.5 mile long. It then dumps you back on the traditional Mohican Trail.
Trail is in very good condition. Only a few spots of mud. It was a nice hot day out there, but low humidity. We all enjoyed the water crossings and probably stood there a few seconds longer than neccessary to enjoy the cool water. On a few horse folks were out there on the weekday, so we had about the whole trail to enjoy to ourselves.

A few trees down, nothing you couldn't hop over, until a tree down about 1.5 miles out from the CB. This is right after you run by the JD facility off in the trees. A newer road has been put in here, and some clear cutting down around a gas well. A big tree has been felled, but if you go to the left around it you'll see the tree right away.

I will be at the training weekend in May and look forward to seeing old faces and new friends!

/End official Mohican post. Rest of the chatty stuff:

What a nice day to run!! I have a cold; or maybe just suffering from really bad allergy with the pollen explosion. I almost thought about bailing on Wednesday from the run, but then thought I should suck it up and run even if I don't feel good-because I won't feel good during the run at some point anyways!

I picked up two of the members of the exclusive Fresno Running Club-Gabe Rainwater and Regis Shivers. Gabe finished the 150 mile McNaughton Race! Regis was his 100 mile pacer! I asked Gabe if it was harder to run a 150 miler than a 100 miler "No" so now you know! (Note to self: not planning on a 150 mile run anytime soon). I learned that the Babcocks, the other members of the Fresno Running Club would be joining us. Wendy was now well rested from her Boston Marathon Race and needed a good trail run.

Mikey was there at the Covered Bridge waiting for us. Mike took all the pictures, so I am waiting for those from him! And after about the first four miles, we all separated into our groups: Regis and Gabe, Wendy and Rick running together, and Mike and I bringing up the back.
I had a great run with Mike. We caught up on old news and gossip, created a new running nickname for Rob (don't worry Mike will let you know what is in), discussed books and blogs and personal stuff-I luv running with Mike! He even made me run fast a bit, as he was trying peeing on the run, and I did not want to be peed on!

Great day to be out there. Hot; but the humidity was low. I had stashed water at Sand Hill (about mile 9) Cemetery but I think also a gallon of water at the Fire Tower would be a good idea. Mike and I were both pretty much out there, and it would only take a minute to stash a gallon there.

Oh yeah, the biggest news! I found a Morel Mushroom! Right on the trail!! And Regis, mushroom hunter, that he is, confirmed it. So I now know what to look for, having correct identification for a morel mushroom!

Next time back to Mohican will be the three day training weekend of May 9 10 11. I'm planning on camping out there Friday and Saturday nights. Come out for it if you are thinking about running Mo. It's free, the veterans will be out there, and you will get good time on the trails!

New Episode of Trails and Tribulations is Up!

This is a very cool interview-60 minutes with Tim Twietmeyer!
Episode 18 is an interview with Tim Twietmeyer, whose name is usually synonymous with the Western States Endurance Run. And why not, when you've won it five times, and finished it 25 times in under 24 hours! Tim also holds the masters record on the course: 17 hours 17 minutes. Unbelievable. Oh, and he also mentions in the interview that he just finished his 28th running of the American River 50 Mile Race the weekend before we interviewed him!

So check it out. Tim was so easy to talk to, we didn't want to stop the interview!

Trail Run Today

Where the Trail Goddess gets Smacked Down



My own dumbass fault. I go for a run in Salt Fork State Park. This is a route I run frequently, probably 8 times a year-or so? Anyways, I start out everything is fine. I'm feeling like a fat cow out on the trail, but some of that is disgruntled hormones, the rest is just fat cow feelings.

So I get about one mile or so into the run. This route is a loop, it takes me right down to the lake and then back to my vehicle.

I'm not feeling the trail love today, just kind of the fat cow feelings, so I decide to take a short cut-hey it's a loop, I should come across the trail on the other side, right? I find a deer path and feeling all smug, going to find the trail on my own. I do note that I am running west, right into the sun.

As I go on, the deer path deteriotes into multi-flora rose thickets. Not familiar with this?



"Multiflora rose is extremely prolific and can form impenetrable thickets that exclude native plant species. This exotic rose readily invades open woodlands, forest edges, successional fields, savannas and prairies that have been subjected to land disturbance. For these reasons, multiflora rose is classified as a noxious weed in several states, including Iowa, Ohio, West Virginia, and New Jersey. "



In Ohio, you can spot the multi-flora rose since it is now lightly greening. I kind of wind my way through areas of this. I am noticing now the sun is moving over and getting lower in the sky. Okay, this was a stupid idea.

I decide I need to turn around and find the trail again. This is not as easy as it sounds. I am trying to keep the sun on my back, but the multi-flora rose makes me detour. I realize I am quite stupid for going off-piste at 5pm in the afternoon. Sure, a nice morning romp through the woods is fine. Eventually, I would find a road. Now I am out in the woods, in a tank top, capris, with a 1/2 bottle of water and a Halloween Size PayDay bar. I'm not feeling any trail love, just extremely cranked off at myself.



I find the trail! Okay, which way to go? I pick a direction. Nothing is really looking familiar. I haven't been out here in a while. The trail always changes every season. I finally get to the high point and see the lake down below. Great. I know where I am. I can either run forward and finish the loop, which is at least 2.5 miles, or run in reverse.



I decide to retrace my steps, because I'm not in the mood for the shoe sucking mud which is down by the lake. I'm definitely cranky and not having a typical wonderful trail goddess experience.

I get back to my vehicle, 4.67 miles in 1.49 hours! At least Garmin worked! Oh well, it was time on my feet!!

Run with Elena

Elena is running across the United States. Check out her route, she's just made it into Ohio. She would love to have some company running on her route!

I thought I would be able to run with her, but I forgot about this little thing called "my job". Ooops.

Wednesday Run

Or I should really call it a jog. I went to the park for a shake out run. The first 1/4 mile was horrible. It felt like my first time running. I felt like the Tin Man, needing oil around all my joints.
I finally warmed up around 3/4 mile, and felt much better. I tested the IT Band on a sharp downhill slope-it just twinged a bit. I did stretch right after the run. I can feel the IT Band this morning, so another short run this afternoon and stretching.

Another Day of Rest

I can't ignore it any longer. The pain is back-on the outside of my right knee, right where the IT Band comes onto/into the knee. I must stretch. Walking is painful. It felt better earlier last week! It's just catching up with me now.
So I think Monday is going to be a stretching day-a real session of stretching, maybe a good run on Tuesday.

Goggins has finished!

Won the 150 miler at McNaughton, from the timing page. Wow.

Incidentally, I had a dream about Goggins at the McN race. In this dream, there were shorter races going on, like a 10K and such. I wasn't running because I had just done my 100 miler.
I kept bugging people about, 'did he finish? did he finish?'
Then I heard the people start cheering, and everyone rushed to see Goggins come in.
But in my dream, he was white! ???? WTF? A big tall, blondish-redheaded Irish looking guy. Still very tall, but not built like David Goggins.
I did manage to congratulate him after the race (in my dream) and he was wearing a big goofy earring that looked like a coat button in his ear.

So what kind of interpretation can I get from a weird dream like that?

Attitude Readjustment

I got a really good reality check this am. I'm done whining about my situation for awhile.
I was part of the code team that worked on a 2 month baby this morning. The baby didn't make it-it may have been SIDS before she arrived at the hospital. Since I wasn't doing much at the code, I was trying to console the young mother. yeah. I'm not the best-or most comfortable-at empathy-but no one was available. Codes are bad enough, but children, and babies, are the worst.

Umstead Splits

Splits for Umstead, 2008 vs. 2007

Lap 1 12.5 miles 2.45 (2.47)
Lap 2 25 miles 3.05 (3.36)
Lap 3 37.5 miles 3.56 (4.10)
Lap 4 50 miles 3.27 (3.44)
Lap 5 62.5 miles 4.33 (4.31)
Lap 6 75 miles 4.02 (4.57)
Lap 7 87.5 miles 4.10 (4.27)
Lap 8 100 miles 4.06 (4.27)

It's obvious that I struggle right after mile 50, although I seemed to pick it up this year in 2008 and got back on track better. I really thought Lap 5 was about five hours this year, I was rather relieved to see 4.5 hours. I think Lap 6 in 2007 speaks of inexperience with running through the night and being tired, even though I had a pacer in that loop. Having more experience eating and staying on the caffeine probably helped a great deal here.

They start running soon!!

It's 9am here in EST, the McNaughton 150 mile racers will be beginning in 3 (or mebbe 4) hours!

Good luck to my friends Josh, Tom, and Kurt, and everyone else running out there. I'm working all weekend, so I can at least be glued to a computer browser and watch the updates!

Funny Poem

Click here to read it, on Steve's blog, very funny!

It reminded me of Mikey!

Things Learned From Last Race

• Pack my drop bags more effectively. I wasn't sure which light was in which bag, for example. I am usually more organized than this.
• Get my feet in good condition. I did try to get rid of some of the calluses off my feet, but I am going to go into a big foot pampering extravaganza for the next two months and get them in good shape.
• Actually formulate a plan to execute for Mohican. Carry a card with me with the cutoffs. I did not need this for Umstead, since I knew the final cutoff, and I knew I needed to run the first 50 in under 13 hours. But I am going to go back and look at my old splits and runners-like-me from Mohican and make an actual plan.
• Positive attitude trumps all. Around mile 52 or so, I said to myself "wow I'm getting tired" and then I immediately replied to myself "yeah, you idiot, you just ran 50 miles you aren't going to be all that fresh for the whole race." I really had a good attitude for about the whole race,didn't let things like blisters or being hot bother me.

Episode 17 of Trails and Tribulations is up!!

Check this out! We talk to elite runner, Mark Godale, in this episode of Trails and Tribulations. This man trains for his races!! It's a very cool episode. Mark also talks about the Sparthalon Race in Greece, where he placed 16th overall.

Umstead 100 Race Report

Short version: I had a very good race. 28 hours 44 minutes.

Longer version: I was not very enthusiatic about this race. I was undertrained for it. My long run for it (as I joked) was my DNF at 80 miles at Rocky in early February. Since then, I had gotten a 18 mile, a 50K, and a 26.4 mile in as long runs. So I just wasn't feeling all that confident, and really didn't want another DNF at the 100 mile distance.
The Umstead Endurance Run is both a 50 mile and 100 mile race though. You can always drop down to the 50 mile distance (or drop anywhere after 50 and will still get credit for the 50 mile race) which is both good and bad. Good, in that you get something to show for your efforts; bad in that there is the temptation to stop.

Race day was not very cool and muggy. We had been expecting big storms for the race, and it was nice to start out without rain. We were off, in the dark, out for the airport spur out and back. I ran into Debbie, whom I had met in West Virginia on the North Fork Mountain Run. Debbie was attempting her first 100 miler, and I tried to give her some advice (such that it is from my 1 successful 100 miler). I got out of the Aid Station at mile 6.9 ahead of her, but would continue to see her just slightly behind me for quite a while.

The Umstead Race is 8 loops of the 12.5 mile trail. This trail is a 10 foot wide bike trail, of crushed limestone. With all the rain that the area had recently, we were not getting the limestone grit into our shoes like last year.

I really went into this race with no goals other to finish. And since last year ignorance was bliss, I was trying to do the same thing this year. But ignore race strategy as I could, one fact seeped through: you really needed to get through the first 50 miles in under 13 hours to give yourself a fair shot at finishing. And I did remember I did get through the first 50 miles in 2007 in less than 13 hours. So I did well on the first 50. I hit Loop one in less than three hours, loop 2 and 3 in almost dead on 3 hours, and hit 50 miles in 12.31. I was really having a good run. I was a bit warm, but I am usually overheated. It was maybe only about 70 degrees, and a light drizzle began about 1 pm, but I was still hot. BUT I was eating and drinking. And smiling. I was greeting everyone with a big hello and smile, and when people asked me how I was, I said "great!" because I was. I don't know whether it's the endorphins, or what, but I had gone to my happy place, and was just enjoying being out on the trails, in the woods. Nothing was hurting. None of my normal aches and pains had come to life. I was hungry, I was able to eat, and the body functions were all working properly-life is good!
The wheels started to fall off a bit in Loop 5. I was expecting my pacer, Jason, who lived in the area, after the basketball game, which I figured would be midnight or so. I picked up my music for this loop, and that helped for awhile. But then the rain increased and fog moved in! It was so disorienting. After running loops on the same trail (and the year before) all of a sudden I couldn't tell where I was. I stopped for water, at an unmanned water stop, and as I continued on, I thought I was gotten off on a side trail and somehow missed the AS where they would log me in. (Just another function of brain deadness around mile 68 or so).

Serge Arbona, the winner of the race, went blasting by me in this loop, running up the hills. His pacer, Tom, lightless, caught up to me. His light had died. Serge had gotten wind that a female was only 6 or 7 minutes behind him, and took off and dropped poor Tom! I gave Tom my spare light and he then paced me in for a few miles. Then I dropped Tom also, as he stopped to chat with another runner, so Serge and I have something in common now, we've both dropped the same pacer.

I start the next loop, and my pacer Jason calls me before I hit the AS#2. He's on his way to the park.Woohoo!! We exchange several phone calls as I keep stalling him. Uh, it's going to be at least one hour before I get to mile 11 on this loop. I think he's a bit puzzled, as it's only 5 miles or so, but I tell him not to even start out to meet me for another hour.

In fact, I stall him off even more as I stagger through AS#2 and on. We meet up around mile 11 of the loop, and then both of us head back into the HQ to start loop 7.

I heart Jason! I would not have finished this race without him. He had never paced anyone before, and actually, we'd never met before. He was a fan of our podcast, www.trailsandtribulations.com and had volunteered to pace for me. I told him the pacing would be fine, he was there to baby sit me, make sure I ate and drank, ran the tangents, and kept a forward motion. I put the music away when Jason arrived, and we managed to talk and slog our way forward.
Loop 7 was pretty much as I thought it would be. It sucked. I was still being my mainly positive person out there on the trails though. It helped having someone to chat with, and to keep moving forward. I seemed to be doing better with the caffeining, although any sort of food was now kind of getting rather sickening. But I was still stuffing something into my mouth, because I was running a bit on the calorie deficit side. But still, it was better than the year before, but I think I now know what to kind of expect.

Of course, it was darkest before the dawn. It was cold, we were plodding along, but looking at my watch showed I was going to hit the last cut off (8am) well ahead of where I was a year ago. I asked Jason if he would like to do the last loop with me and he said yes! Woohoo!!! Much encouraged, we got into the HQ to fuel up for the last loop. We dropped lights off because the sky was lightening up. The sun wasn't coming up, because now there was a nice light downpour. And it was cold. Good thing I'm hot blooded, because I am still in a short sleeved shirt and shorts. It seems like alot of southerners run this, because there were folks bundled up like a blizzard was occurring.

Forward motion. Forward motion. I was getting just oh so tired. I was not getting much in me in the way of calories at this point. I did grab an energy drink at AS#2 (the only time I used the energy drink) and it seemed to help a bit.

Where I set a goal

We're at mile 10'ish. On the final loop. I look at my watch and see it's 10am. "I could do this sub 29" I say out loud, and then start running (such that it is) down the long downhill at this point. I get to the bottom of the downhill, out of breath, already regretting telling Jason of this goal, cuz now I gotta do it darn it!!
Last time up this hill. Pass the unmanned water stop. Five inclines to the turn off to the HQ. Blech. Look at watch. Keep going.

Then begin to wonder at watch. I never synched it with "official race time". What if it's off? That would suck to come in at 29.01 when my watch says under 29.

Oh well. We go on. We get to mile 12. 1/2 mile to go. I think Jason asked if I was excited here. Not sure if I replied. With about a 1/4 of a mile to go, I told him "hey I need to tell you something personal about me". "I tend to faint after these events. But's it okay. I'll go lay down and put my feet up." Poor Jason! Just what he wanted to hear!!
We start down the last downhill. There are two cars attempting to leave the park. Nope, no way I will give them the right of way. They don't move and congratulate me as I move by!

Down through the mud, and then the final climb to the timing tent and the finish!
Woohoo! A sub 29 hour finish!!



Jason and I






Buckle!

I just had a very good race. I had people tell me how good I looked all day; well, it was because I felt good. I was happy to be there (once it all started!) and having a good time.
The second fifty was not as fun as the first fifty. But having a pacer really really helped. In fact, just knowing that Jason was going to be there later in the night really negated any thoughts of stopping-but I wasn't having those either.

I'm glad I got this 100 mile finish under my belt buckle. 100 miles aren't fun, but I am going to go for it at Mohican again. This has helped buck up my confidence a bunch, and I am going to do both train and lose weight between now and June for that race!

I had a very good race

I finished Umstead in 28 hours 44 minutes, about a 30 minute PR. Race report will be coming sometime soon!

Here in Raleigh

Getting stuff together for the race, going over for the briefing and dinner soon. Weather is nearly 100% rain, with maybe strong storms-that will be different for me!
I will be posting my positive race report-or a short version then-Sunday!

Umstead

Yes I am running Umstead. In fact, I am driving to my parents house tonight, in Cleveland, so they can drive me to the airport, I'm flying into Raleigh on Thursday to rest up before the race.

He did it!!

Flying Brian Robinson, finished the Barkley Marathon in 55 hours 47 minutes setting a new course record!

Yes, that is an average of 33 miles per minute..and it's actually a 100 mile race-or maybe event. Before anyone starts smirking about "anyone can crawl a 33 minute mile" check out the explanation of the Barkley: Matt's Site

Wow! Congratulations Brian!!