Goodbye to 2013

It's unlikely I'll be wearing any other bibs in the coming months so I figured I'd take the time now and look back on the year. Being an engineering dork though, I always have to comb through the numbers...

	2012	2013
Miles	1,575	1,613 (to date)
# of runs	166	137
Time	275.5	327.5 hrs
Calories	195,636	180,905
Elevation Gain	77,600 ft	141,397 ft

I'm not sure I buy all that data. How do you run more miles over more hours and burn fewer calories? Run backwards? How about that elevation though?! Holy sh$t. Almost double the amount of climbing over last year.

I couldn't be more happy with this year. Yes it was a lot of work and yes, I pushed myself beyond my comfort zone but for the most part, had great success with everything I set my mind to. I have a quick recap of my 100-milers below along with some closing thoughts.

Black Hills 100 (race report)
I love running in South Dakota. This course has sweeping views, a well-defined trail and great aid stations. The perfect weather made for an overall strong showing and multiple course records went down. I know I could have done better at this course but I finished strong in 28:20.

34th OA, 5th AG

Hom 100 (race report)
Born out of love and hope, I created this run to support my good friend Tony and his battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and it was a resounding success. That 100 miles not only raised over $7,000 but it rallied friends, family, neighbors and strangers to be a part of something special. Even though Tony lost that battle on September 19th, I will continue to honor his memory through the Hom 100 as long as these legs will let me.

26 hours, $7,000 raised for ALS

Leadville Trail 100 (DNF) (race report)
Winning an entry to the 'Race Across the Sky' was never in my plans but thanks to Strava and those friends who nominated me, I got the opportunity to run some legendary trails and become a part of Leadville family. Despite timing out of the race at mile 60, I am proud to say I did my best and had a great experience.

Mogollon Monster 100 (race report)
I can think of no better way to end my year with a home-grown race right here in my own back yard. A true spectacle of mother nature, this course showcases everything that is rugged and beautiful here in Arizona. Given it was just added as a qualifier for Hardrock should clue you in on how challenging this course really is. One of my most memorable finishes after 33.5 hours.

14th OA, 6th AG

Zane Grey (DNS)
Who would have known that shingles in adults under/near the age of 40 is actually pretty common? That's what it took to bring me down and end my race day before it even began. I had a blast though helping crew for the Phoenix boys. After doing the Mogollon Monster though, I'm not sure I want to go back for this :)

San Tan Scramble 50k (race report)
Being my home course, I was clearly stoked for this race. This was also the first year of the new course that incorporated the Dynamite Trail making for a much improved course that mentally allowed you to conquer Goldmine 3 times, rather than 6. The heat (for this time of year) definitely caught me by surprise. I battled some cramping over the last couple miles to come in with a 50k PR of 6:06.

18th OA, 5th AG

Adrenaline Night Run 65k (race report)
I will never forget the pity party I had for myself during this run. I was mad, pissed off and wanted to quit so badly. I would feel good and then feel like crap. I learned a few things about myself that night despite the warm weather and lack of enthusiasm. It solidified my mental toughness and made me realize that I'm stronger than I think I am. 8:52 later, I was more than happy to cross that finish line.

11th OA, 2nd AG

Mesquite Canyon 50 (race report)
I was not feeling great this day (due to allergies) but decided to toe the line anyway. I was literally in my car with my bib considering handing it back to Jamil...that's how crappy I felt. I had barely made it 17 miles when my vision blurred, I lost my balance and just felt crushed. It was yet another lesson in pushing through the mental barriers and sticking with it. I would finish just under 12 hours - 11:51, a 50-mile PR for me.

14th OA, 5th AG

No Regrets?
By any measure, 2013 was an epic year for me. Numerous ultras between 26.2 and 50 miles along with four 100-mile runs...I can barely believe it myself now that the season is done but there you have it - a new bar has been set and I feel good about my accomplishments. I'm thankful for my friends who have supported and encouraged me in every way along with new friends who continue to inspire me.

I want to particularly thank Jon Nelson for his support this year. He crewed and/or paced me in every single 100-mile race this year and I'm eternally grateful for his support. He is even more meticulous than I am (which has saved my ass more than once!) and a good friend (I adore his family too!)

If there is one regret I have it is the amount of time I've asked my family to give up for me to accomplish these things. My kids don't quite get it - they just know daddy's out running again. My wife however, has set her own endurance record by spending the most weekends ever as a single mom. I say that with a hint of sarcasm but it's the unfortunate truth.

Family matters most

So here's to enjoying some down time and letting my body rest. I'm looking forward to having a few beers with friends at the park or even staying up 'late' to watch SNL with my wife. No training schedule means I can revel in those few extra hours of sleep on Saturday morning :)

Thanks for reading and for following my adventures this year.

Mesquite Canyon 50K race report

I had mentally prepared myself for the most difficult race of the series as I arrived at the White Tank Regional Park yesterday. I had reviewed the elevation profile several times and knew there was going to be some climbing and scrambling.

The race started out like many others - I set my own pace while many folks shot ahead...mostly the elite runners along with first-timers who perhaps didn't realize how long a day it would be. I felt really good out of the gate despite some potential risky gear choices. (1) Compression shorts that have rubbed me the wrong way in the past and (2) a 'newer' pair of my INOV-8's (turns out that old Roclites have been the root of my ankle issues - so it was either deal with old issues or take a chance with newer shoes).

Well, about a mile into the race, I happened to step on a rock just right and stretch out the arch on my left foot. It felt like I had torn my fascia and re-injured my foot. Though somewhat dejected at the pain, I kept moving hoping that the trail would find a way to be more forgiving and less rocky. Turns out my foot would be fine but the terms 'less forgiving' and Aravaipa Running never seem to go hand-in-hand.

I will say that of all the parks we've run at I think White Tank is the most scenic of them all. Sweeping views, massive canyons and the shear magnitude of this park was very awe-inspiring. The trail hugged the side of the mountains and held a gentle incline through about mile 10. I was moving at a pretty good clip and enjoying the mild weather as the sun continued to stay veiled behind a thin layer of clouds. My hopes of the weather staying cool would also be dashed.

After descending some steep trail, we hit the aid second aid station and turn-around at about mile 13. As I tended to some hot-spots on my feet, 2 things happened that I did not intend. (1) I handed my Camelbak to a volunteer and asked for ice and water. What I got was ice and lemon-lime Gatorade. (2) I took both Endurolytes and Speed Legs. (I typically don't take Endurolytes but it was starting to get hot and my face was pretty salty).

Turns out that if you want to get bloated and feel like s*it, take these 2 supplements at the same time. I struggled back up the mountain. I was overheating. My heart rate was skyrocketing. I was massively bloated. I eventually took my shirt off starting splashing the ice water from my pack onto my head and neck...but, oh wait - it's now ice water/lemon-lime Gatorade. Dammit.

Eventually I made it to the peak of the second big climb. My legs were feeling really good and my GI eventually calmed down. I took one final break at the top and crammed down a gel. OK legs, time to run. By now, it's hot. And I had to walk a thin line between using my water/Gatorade for cooling myself down and actually drinking before I reached the next aid station 9 miles away.

I refilled my pack with water at the next aid station (I would have dumped it out if I still didn't have ice sloshing around), grabbed some partially melted M&M's and took off up another climb. In my head, I know that the rest of the trail is downhill but I had no idea that the space in between would be steep, sharp and treacherous. Ford Canyon (partially seen below) is part wash and part massive boulder/outcropping of pure white rock (limestone?) in the middle of this canyon of black and brown rock. I would have loved to take more pictures but I was more focused on getting done with this race.

The massive white outcrops below the abandoned damn in Ford Canyon.

I exited Ford Canyon with a crusty head of hair (from the water/Gatorade cooling baths) and a pretty good sun burn. There was just no way to escape the desert sun this day. At the Ford Canyon aid station, I downed half a jelly sandwich, more Gatorade, chips and filled up my pack with water. It was 3.5 miles to the finish but I was not going to take any chances.

Thankfully, the trail between the aid station and the finish was nice and smooth and perfect for cruising into the chute. Though I could tell I was on the verge of over-heating, my legs felt great and I crossed the finish line in 7:38.

As races go, this one turned out pretty good. I can honestly say that I have more discomfort today from the sunburn than from the run itself. Plus, my hair has a refreshing lemon-lime scent. Bonus :)

The overall results are here. My personal Garmin stats are here.

Deep (running) thoughts

Not a whole lot to report this week.

We're back from a short weekend in the mountains of northeastern Arizona (8,500' in elevation). I managed to stay healthy but lost some sleep due to the high elevation. The dryness and thinner air really felt weird. My breathing was labored and felt like someone was standing on my chest. By the 3rd day, I was feeling better but not after losing sleep and feeling completely wiped out.

Now that we're back, I'm gearing up for the Mesquite Canyon 50K at the White Tank Regional Park this Sunday.  Once again, I am not feeling great about the mileage I've put in for my long runs but I discovered a couple things yesterday that have given me a confidence boost and a bit more mojo to push me through the finish at this final race of the DRT Ultra Series.

For starters, I discovered that the issue I've been having with my right ankle is likely being caused by my shoes. They have well over 1,000 miles on them and upon closer inspection, have excessive wear on (only) the outer right edge of the right shoe. I can only surmise that the wear is causing a change in my gait and foot-striking position and causing strain on my ankle. Good thing I have a couple extra pair of my INOV-8's. I'm not sure whether I'll use a new pair this weekend or not.

The second thing I realized is that my standing in the DRT Ultra Series is well, I'm actually *in* the standings! I am 18th OA and 5th in my AG. The shear virtue of finishing 3 of the 5 races so far means that I've accumulated more points than at least 122 other runners participating in the series. It's conceivable that if the top 4 men in my age group don't run this weekend, I could end up in the top 3 for the 30-39 male AG. Now that's worth running for! Of course I'm not delusional and realize that these guys at the top are seasoned runners but even if there's a chance to improve my standings, you know I'm going to give it everything I've got this weekend.

My focus is staying healthy through the remainder of the week and avoiding any pre-race pitfalls. See you on the other side of the finish line!

Hip flexor perplexor

I am still being aggravated by my right hip flexor. Either I'm just not getting enough strength training or it's actually hurt...my bet is it's the former. I'm running on flat land most of the time and really not putting my hips, glutes and upper quads through their paces like I am when running actual elevation on the trails. Aside from that, I sit on my ass all day working. Not the best position for core and hip flexors.

The problem is that when I am out on the hills, my hip flexor is really acting up and making steep inclines a huge pain in the butt. As if the climb isn't bad enough, dealing with pain in your hip flexor makes you doubt your ability to really go the longer distances.

The good news is that I feel like I've been pushing myself with each run. Though the distances have been impacted by my hip, my pace has improved and I'm mentally conquering many of the long climbs I couldn't before. I feel that my endurance and legs are doing fine - it's just that darn hip flexor. Once it goes, my entire cadence and form go to hell.

Mesquite Canyon 50k elevation profile

I've incorporated a number of strength exercises into my stretching routine at night in hopes that every bit helps. I also think I'm going to start riding my bike again (post-Mesquite 50k). In the meantime, I'm getting psyched for the last ultra race in the Araivapa DRT series - Mesquite Canyon. Everyone says it's the toughest course of them all and I believe them. It will be a challenge for sure even without some of my current issues.

I just need to complete my set of Araivapa beer pints :)

Dialing it in

Since my reality check a couple weeks ago at the SanTan Scramble, I've come to realize the humility of the situation and resolved to go after the Mesquite Canyon 50k with inspired vigor. There is nothing quite like a DNF to get you motivated.

So while the running has been going well, there are several other things I feel pretty good about.

Weight

I've always felt my ideal 'fighting' weight was down near 160. Since Ironman Arizona (2010), I've managed to hover around the 170-175 mark...which is not ideal, but comfortable. Over the last week, I've been tracking my calories and trying to keep myself at 2,000 a day. First, it's been an eye-opener when it comes to serving sizes and portion control. Second, my mindset has changed from eating everything (justified by running a lot), to eating only what I need.

Allergies
I've long struggled with ear/sinus infections that always seem to coincide with the peak of my training. Consultations with my ENT seem to indicate that allergies (and a slightly deviated septum) may be causing a constriction in my sinuses and an imbalance in my Eustachian tubes. Rather than jump straight to a surgical procedure, I've gone through allergy testing and discovered that I'm very allergic to several Arizona grasses and desert sage. I start taking oral allergy drops today to build up my resistance to these irritants. We'll see how that goes.

Family Time
I've been able to cut back a day or two in my training schedule and not be gone so much. Not only has it brought down my anxiety (and guilt) but I also think it's better on the body. Along with being (re)motivated to attack Mesquite Canyon, I've been focused on approaching every run with a purpose (and goal). Running the same trail at the same pace every other day was/is part of my funk. By mixing it up, focusing on the goal of the run, I actually get more out of it and enjoy the experience more. Being focused has really helped me get out of bed in the morning, get my run done and have more quality time with the wife and kids.

So, here's to a better month of training. I'm really looking forward to closing out the Aravaipa Ultra Series with Mesquite Canyon and securing my final DRT beer pint :)