Summer fun

I am honestly ashamed that I have been completely absent from this blog over the last couple months. I think it's because my personal race schedule has been pretty low-key (up until now). I'm certain my level of blogging correlates with the number of races on my calendar. No races, no blogs.

Just to bring you up to speed however, it hasn't been a boring summer at all. Please stand by while I bend the space-time continuum and take you back through some of the highlights from the previous months.

June

• Paced GG at San Diego 100. His first hundo ever and he did a stellar job finishing in 30 hours. Night miles are the toughest miles and we learned that GG gets very sleepy at night and needs stories to keep him awake. He also gets grumpy doing 1% incline switchbacks up a mountain in the 80 degree sun.
• Got to spend some quality time on the trails back home in South Dakota. This included running with old friends and setting a PR at the Fat Tire 10k.
• Got to pace JK at the Black Hills 100. His second hundo attempt and I'll be damned if anyone DNF's on my watch. I picked him up at mile 50, ran him through the night and helped him earn that buckle. It was a beautiful night to run and he reached pretty deep to come back from some GI issues.
• 170 miles for the month

The Black Hills of SD

July

Not much to see here except an epic family road trip across 7 states (yes, I ran in every one of them!). 150 miles for the month.

August

• Not a lot going on except the weekly San Tan Trail runners group (Tuesday and Thursday) and the Cadence Running trail run on Saturday. Turnout has been growing and new folks are continuing to show up each week. This makes me happy.
• Got a weekend pass to head up to Payson and hang with JD - race director for the Mogollon Monster 100. I do love that area and the trails are some of the most awesome (and brutal) in all of Arizona.
• A pretty good month considering the heat - 240 miles

Running through the ferns on the MOG rim

September

• Going to be working pretty hard this month to get ready for the Bear Chase 100k in CO on the 27th. I expect some pretty tough weeks and lots of miles.
• Also trying to keep the mileage up in preparation for Javelina Jundred in November.

Above all, I'm on day 171 of my running streak...which I'm pretty proud of. It's been tough through all the races, pacing and vacations. A mile here, a mile there. Through allergies, humidity, hangovers and just plain "I don't wanna"...I've managed to gitt'er done.

I'm looking forward to cooler temperatures of course but about the time it starts to get cool, I'll probably complain that it's too chilly :)

Happy running friends!

Mogollon Monster 100 Race Report

Three weeks prior to the race, I had gone up to Pine for a training run with a buddy. We navigated many of the Mogollon Monster trails and climbed many of the same climbs I would face on race day. We put in a meager 25 miles and my legs were trashed, my lungs on fire (from the altitude) and my shins raw from all the thorny bushes covering the Highline Trail. If you had asked me then how I felt about the race, my abilities and my level of confidence, I would have given myself a 30-50% chance of finishing.

Jump ahead a couple weeks.

I honestly did not have the time to stress over this race or feverishly study the maps like I normally do (due to the loss of a close personal friend). It wasn't until Wednesday before the race that I started to think about the course and mentally prepare for the possible 36 hours I'd be spending on my feet.

The evening before the race, Jon and I were discussing logistics at our cabin. Despite my seemingly uncoordinated and thoughtless race plan, I was enveloped with a aura of confidence about the race. It's difficult to describe...I wasn't being cocky or arrogant, but I just felt like this race was going to go well. I could already see myself crossing the finish line but I honestly couldn't tell you why I was feeling this way. It just felt right.

Straying from my traditional race report, I decided to list out the memorable moments from the race rather than taking you through each aid station (honestly, I don't remember some of them!)

• The acapella Leann Rimes version of the national anthem is amazing.

  

  Descending Turkey Springs
  (courtesy of AP Photography)

• The view descending Turkey Springs was breathtaking. (Just don't gawk while descending - it will end badly)
• Between Geronimo and Washington Park, I remember thinking to myself, "No way I want to do Zane Grey..."
• Where's my crew chief?!
• JohnV gives a great neck and shoulder massage (Houston Bros. A/S)
• Houston Brothers trail has got to be the most wonderful trail in all of Arizona.
• My knees feel like they're going to explode descending into Washington Park. (How am I going to do this again?!)

  

  Coming into Washington Park
  (courtesy of Michael Miller)

• Sitting next to a heat lamp eating a grilled cheese sandwich and trying to change my socks at the same time. Multi-tasking = fail!
• JonN begins pacing duties and we begin the daunting stretch to Buck Springs (via Myrtle). Very little running during this stretch...
• We catch up to Tawnya and spend several hours navigating the 'grasslands' with her. Nice gal, mother of 5 reveling in the fact that she's out here and her husband has the kids all weekend (insert maniacal laugh!)
• Holy crap the climb up Myrtle sucks! Covered in grass and 2 feet away from the edge of the rim makes for a slow and scary climb.
• It's really cold on top of the rim (was that sweat or snot dripping down my face?)
• Back to Houston Brothers at about 5 am. NoahD gives a great neck and shoulder massage as well.
• Sunrise while running down the Rim Rd - spectacular.
• The lyrics of 'Lose Yourself' (Eminem) playing over and over in my mind:

"Here I go it's my shot, feet fail me not...this may be the only opportunity I've got. Success is my only mutha-f*ckin' option. Failure's not."

• MaryK waits patiently to pace me the last 20 miles (goodbye Washington Park!)
• Want to know what you're really made of? Climb Webber after 95 miles.
• Descent down Donahue - first time I've ever felt like my legs were actually made of Jell-O.
• I was waiting for the lights to come on in the tunnel and for it to start spinning
• My son and daughter waiting for me 20 yards from the finish line - "Daddy, let's race..."

33:37 - 14th place overall

Couldn't have done it without these two!

Thanks to my wife and kids for all their support. Love you!

Of the race, I will tell you 3 things:

1. You will not find a race director who is more insanely passionate about the course, the participants and showcasing this beautiful area of the Mogollon Rim to ensure this is the best race you will ever experience. It's top notch and should be on your list for 2014.
2. Some folks talk about graduate-level trail races. These trails, combined with the distance and climbing, requires a Ph.D. It is nothing short of hard. Expect to find out what you're really made of.
3. Some folks believe that the Mogollon Monster is a legend. By just toeing the line, you too become a part of that legend. Finish under 36 hours and you become legendary...