Bear Chase 100k Race Report

Speed inspired by the pack

The announcers voice boomed as I was 50 feet from finishing my first 12.5 mile loop at the Bear Chase Race, "Here comes Trevor Davenport from Gilbert, Arizona!! He's currently our 3rd place male for the 100k distance!!!"

I exhaled deeply, rolled my eyes and let out a huge sigh filled with mixed emotions as I made my way over to my drop bag.

I was there to race but I knew before I even heard that announcer's voice, that I had gone out too fast. An 8:30 pace was way too fast for me to keep up for another 50 miles and I knew it...yet, the cooler Colorado temperatures, the beautiful lake and extremely runnable trail made the prospect of PR'ing such a temptation. As I took off for my second loop, I decided to just let it ride. Let's see what happens...

About 3/4 the way into my second loop, the dry air and warm Colorado sun started to really made me think twice about my current race plan. Sure, 80F isn't so hot to this Arizona boy but damn, with no clouds and slightly higher elevation I could feel my hamstrings starting to cramp at about mile 20. Desperate for electrolytes, I was shooting salt packets like nobodies business (if only I had tequila and a lime!). This got me back to the start/finish line but not before a lot of walking had taken place and my overall psyche had taken a few dings.

Crisping at the lake

Before starting loop 3 I made sure to sit down and eat solid food, take some salt tabs (generously donated by an aid station volunteer) with a few Tailwind chasers. Feeling refreshed and full, I took off running only to clutch my side as a cramp reared its ugly head. It turns out that salt, followed by more salt isn't great on the stomach. I tried to make a run-walk strategy work over that 3 miles but I was still unable to relieve the stomach cramping. Finally, a series of burps turned into vurp's and finally a vomit - releasing both excess salt and a Stinger waffle in the process. Best thing I could have done. Instantly feeling better, I was off and running again.

The best part of the course - 3 water crossings

After that, I was able to dial in my salt, nutrition and hydration to the point where I was running everything save a few of the meatier climbs.

Yes, my legs were hurting.
Yes, my body was crisping from the sun.

I was finally at peace with the heat and continued to plug along over loops 3 and 4. Ultimately, all that summer training in the desert helped me endure the heat of the day while others dropped due to dehydration.

As I started out on my 5th loop, I had not even considered my finish time. It was 'just get to the next aid station' mode...even though I was tired and fully willing to take some walk breaks, I was also not willing to leave Colorado without giving it my very best effort. So I continued to run.

With the heat of the day almost gone by now and the shadows getting longer, I wasn't worried about pounding salt but rather keeping an even pace and staying fueled to the very end. I was also focused on this guy in front of me who had picked up a pacer for the last loop and was always 2-3 minutes ahead of me. We had been leap-frogging for several miles and though my only goal was to try and beat the 12-hour mark and have a daylight finish, he apparently thought I was trying to catch him. I ran solid those last 10 miles ignoring everything my quads were screaming at me and simply trying to beat the 12-hour mark (although secretly, I was trying to catch him) :)

Coming into the chute, I could see that I had done it. Had I dallied another minute somewhere along that last 10 miles, I would have just missed it.

11:59:21 - good enough for 3rd in my age group, 5th male and 7th overall. 19 of 47 starters would finish. This is nearly a 5 hour improvement over my previous 100k time.

Daylight finish

The dude I was (not) chasing, came over to me after the finish and thanked me. He too was chasing that sub-12 hour mark and said he probably would not have pushed as hard had I not been 'chasing' him.

I had a really good time on this course and would encourage anyone that's new to trail running to check out all the distances they offer as part of the Bear Chase weekend. Everything from 5k to 100k is pretty impressive...it's well staffed/sponsored by Runner's Roost, lots of volunteers and ample things to munch on at the aid stations.

McDowell Mountain Race Report

McDowell Mountain Regional Park is quite a haul from the east valley so I was up at about 4:30 am, had some breakfast and then headed out to the race. That early in the morning, there is zero traffic so I arrived just a little before 6 am - time to check in.

The start was fairly uneventful though I did get the chance to speak with a couple guys whom I learned this was their first 50K. I also think this crowd was a little bit larger than the last race at Pass Mountain. In either case, the gun sounded and we were off.

I'm not sure if it was the week that I'd taken off or the breezy cold (read, 42 F) conditions prior to the race but that first mile (a) felt like a eternity and (b) felt like my quads were going to explode. I'm going to go with the cold and breezy conditions Monty.

The first 5 miles of the course was mostly groomed trail and a lot more undulation terrain than I was expecting. Not that it was bad, but compared to Pass Mountain (which was mostly flat the first 5 miles), this got the blood pumping right away.

I had really checked myself this time...not wanting to blow my legs up too early, I managed to keep my pace down near a 9:30-10 minutes per mile. With the undulating terrain, it wasn't that hard. My legs were starting to warm up but still, I could feel the muscles at the very core of my quads just screaming for relief. Miles 5 through 10 seemed to be this gradual uphill climb that just went on forever...nothing too technical, just a long, shallow grind.

Beyond this, I don't remember much until the descent to the Dixie Mine aid station - which is about 10 miles into the race. It is a decline to be sure but it really didn't seem to be that bad. I remember thinking as I was running back up it - "Is this the worse part of the course?" Certainly if it was, the remainder of the course had to be easier.

Beyond the Dixie Mine aid station, the time seemed to pass by pretty quickly. The terrain was either flat or slightly downhill (SWEET!) but there were no real climbs to speak of. Between miles 11 and 21, I had found a groove and was keeping a reasonable pace somewhere between 10-11 minute miles.

Mile 22: Wall #1 - The first real signs of pain had arrived. I stopped several times to stretch and loosen up the legs but things were definitely starting to hurt. My nutrition was great and the feet felt good but my quads were aching something horrible.

Mile 26: Wall #2 - The course takes you through the Start/Finish line before heading out for the last 5 miles. I walked up to the aid station here and my legs almost buckled. I was seriously doubting my ability to go out and complete 5 more miles. So I took my time and ate some potatoes, M&M's and a banana, chased it with a few cups of Dew and Coke and resolved to keep it going.

Now at this stage, I'm thinking that I have a shot at PR (personal record). My previous 50K's have been in the neighborhood of 7:58 and 7:43. This was the only thing keeping me going. In my mind, even if I walked the last 5 miles, another 1.5 hours would put me in about 7:30 which would be enough for a PR (eh, a PR is a PR right?!). Of course, walking and succumbing to pain is not how I roll so I sucked it up and ran the flat and downhill stretches during the last 5 miles.

Somewhere in the last 5 miles, I came across this sign.  My  nickname in college was T-Bone.

There was a lot of grimacing during this last stretch. I was doing my best to ignore the pain but dude, the downhill stretches felt like I had knives sticking out of my quads. In most cases, the uphill climbs were actually a welcome relief (did I just say that?!).

Even still, I made it back around and across the finish line - 6 hours and 32 minutes. A new PR (by a lot I was thinking). Comparing this race time to Pass Mountain, I had crushed my previous time by more than an hour! Turns out though, my inaugural 50k race at San Tan Mountain last year would be the bar to beat (6:43).

The not-so-good-news: I did not crush my PR.

The mostly-good-news: I improved massively from Pass Mountain to this race. Different course I know, but the clock doesn't lie.

The all-good-news: I have a new 50k PR. I beat the San Tan time by about 10 minutes.

Yes, I'm already thinking about the next race (Coldwater Rumble, January 21). I mean, look at the profile - how can you NOT be a little concerned about that elevation?!

PF Chang Marathon Race Report

It's been approximately 5 years since the crazy idea of running a marathon first crossed my mind. Since running the Portland Marathon back in 2007, I have been haunted by my time and the issues that came up that day which prevented me from meeting my goal.

PF Chang 2011 was all about setting those demons to rest and trying to capitalize on 9 months of prior Ironman training to carry me through this race. Literally, I was banking on that "Ironman Spirit" to keep me going and mentally power through the final miles knowing that my training over the last 3-4 weeks had not been sufficient.

Out of the gate, I felt really good. Of course the energy, music and announcers are there to get you pumped up and everyone is having a good time. I will freely admit that I was pushing the first half of the race. I was trying to stay within the 8:15 to 8:30 range (erring on the faster side of course) for the entire race. Between miles 0 and 15, this felt very achievable. I was pacing with the 3:40 group at this stage in the race.

I did break the cardinal rule of race day however...nothing new on race day. Duh. I was looking for every advantage I could get so I wore some new CEP compression socks with my relatively new Newton's. This would not work out in my favor around mile 18. I could feel the socks shifting at the balls of my feet and blisters starting to well up. Each step was starting to hurt with the additional pressure.

Mile 20 would be the first aid station I actually walked through. I could no longer hear the bands playing or the kids yelling. My quads were on fire. The feet were half-numb. It was me and the lines on the road at this point. The 3:40 pace team was gone and all I could hope for was to keep up with the 3:50 pace team.

"A marathon is 20 miles of hope and 6 miles of guts..."

The mile posts seemed like there were getting farther and farther away. Just when you'd think you were reaching another mile marker, it would actually be one of the kilometer signs (damn!). The joy and buzz had left the faces of many at this point in the day. Folks were shuffling, panting and groaning all around me. Just git'er done.

Still determined to make my goal, I was run-walking from mile 21 through the end. I stopped a couple times to stretch out my calves and quads. The signs of under-training were becoming oh-so-evident between miles 22 and 25. I had a fleeting moment of enthusiasm at mile 24 crossing over the Rural/Scottsdale Rd bridge. As I cursed the slight elevation I realized that this is the same bridge we crossed during the bike (and run) of the 2010 Arizona Ironman. I only wish the elation and joy had stoked the fire of that "Ironman Spirit" I was trying to rely on, but it didn't.

Sometimes motivation comes from the strangest places. During the last 3-4 miles of the race, there was this older man - let's say mid-60's to be fair - who kept leap-frogging with me. I'd catch him running and then I'd stop to walk for a while. Running again, I'd catch up to him again. The only reason he caught my attention was because he was a thin little man wearing a pink pair of women's Newton's. There was really no way I was going to let him beat me to the finish (but let me be the first to say that he has my respect for running a respectable time at his age).

Not to be outdone by pink-shoe-dude, I stepped up the pace for the last 1/2 mile to ensure I widened the gap and finished ahead of him. Motivated? Perhaps to save my pride more than anything. What ever it takes though, right?

So what was my goal you ask? Sub-4 hours.

I smashed my previous 2 marathon times by an hour. I'm happy with my performance and time (3:50) but again, I know that with the proper training and motivation, I could do better.

Here are my splits in case you're curious. Try to ignore the final 2 splits - I walked around the athlete area for about 15 minutes before realizing I had not turned off my watch (happens all the time).

Thanks to everyone who was there to support and push me through to the end. Perhaps PF Chang's in 2012? I guess we'll have to see. Thanks for reading.

Feeling good, feeling fast

Yes, it's the time of year where cookies, candy and anything made with butter tastes better than a grilled chicken breast and veggies. I have not been immune to the subversive beckoning of these evil goodies over the holiday season but I have managed to keep a fairly good running schedule as I prepare for the PF Chang Rock n Roll Marathon on January 16th.

I also feel very fortunate to be in good health still. Many of you I follow have been plagued with post-IMAZ injuries. I wish I could help each and every one of you get past your hurdles...I hope you take the time to recovery instead of trying to push past it.

Anyway, on to the blog.

Running is going well. I just hope there is enough time left to meet my goal at the PF Chang's marathon. I have been focused on increasing my distance while keeping a target pace (8:00 minutes/mile) in order to achieve a 3:30 marathon time.

My long run last Friday was actually a PR - I'm not jumping up and down (yet). Just trying to keep it in perspective. There is a long way to go after 13.1 to try and keep that pace. I hope I can build up to maintain that pace for the entire 26.2...

Today's run was pretty aggressive. In part, I was running away from the sugary snacks and prime rib left in the fridge but at the same time, really trying to see how far I can push myself. In all, it felt great and I continue to show impressive times (compared to last year).

Hot Springs Firecracker 10K

Bonus post today -

As part of the motivation we knew we'd need while being here in South Dakota, my wife and I signed up for a race on the 4th of July. For her, it would be her first 5k. It would be a great training run for me.

Now I've been to some small races but this one has to take the cake (actually, pie as I'll explain in a minute).

There weren't more than 100 people at this race. The start and finish line was the service entrance to the local Park near the old cemetery. The volunteers where sitting at picnic tables under the pavilion getting folks registered, taking their money and giving out the swag bags. The humorous thing about that scene was that each picnic table was marked with black marker written on a paper plate.

Having driven an hour to Hot Springs from Rapid City, we barely had enough time to get everyone ready and to the starting area in the 15 minutes we had let alone deal with my 4-year old son and his disdain of the number 595 for some reason (maybe because 593 is a prime number, who knows!?!). We barely had enough time to stand in line for the restrooms/out-houses before the lady organizer started shouting instructions from her bull horn.

Now we apparently didn't catch that the start of the 10k/5k was first and then everyone else doing the mile run/walk should wait until 8:15 to start. So while my wife and I take off running, Nana starts walking with the 10/5k-ers.

********************Pause********************
I have to say that I'm very proud of my wife for running her first 5K. It wasn't for time. It wasn't for glory. It was to finish. And that she did. I can't say that she has a passion for it like I do but that's not necessary. It keeps her fit and it's something she can do without going to the gym. Oh, and it keeps her sane by getting out of the house for 30-60 minutes at a time. I love you babe.
********************Resume********************

So apparently Nana and the kids apparently walk to the 1 mile point and turn around to head back. She relays that either it wasn't marked or she didn't see the half-mile point. So as Nana is finishing, my wife comes running up behind them and they all finish together. They find out later of course that the mile walk hasn't even started yet and that the course goes the opposite direction.

In the meantime, I am having the run of a lifetime. There are rollers, steep climbs and curvy roads all nestled in between on the most beautiful valleys I've ever had the chance to run. Imagine these blazing red cliffs surrounding you. A creek running at capacity only 3 feet away from the road. Perfect conditions - not too hot yet a slight breeze on your face.

I felt strong the entire way - strong enough to turn in a PR, which I'm very proud of.

After I finished my race, we hung out for a little while and relaxed. My daughter decided that she wanted to do the mile walk (again). So we all saddled up and went out for the actual mile walk they should have done in the first place. The irony of the day is that basically everyone did (at least) a 5k.

As we were leaving, we noticed a table full of brownies, pies and desserts. Yes, they held a drawing for all these homemade pies (and treats) made by the race volunteers. Each of the kids won one. Awesome.

It was a great day. A great race. A day we'll never forget. Thanks Hot Springs, SD.

The highs, the lows

If you've been keeping up, my previous post about feeling awesome really did reflect the natural high I had after finishing a major milestone in my long road to recovery and overall Ironman Arizona goal. It was the cap to a challenging week and a performance that was inline with where my race season ended last year.

Hence, the high.

Enter the new week. I knew deep down that pushing a few extra miles on my Sunday run would probably have consequences...and of course, it did. My calves were knotted up pretty good and my hamstrings were really tight. Several nights of stretching didn't help provide any relief. Hell, I even had a massage on Monday and that only seemed to spread the soreness around to places that previously felt great!! Subsequently, I did not work out on Monday at all - between post-brick soreness and post-traumatic-massage-disorder, I opted to lay low on Monday.

Tuesday morning was another one of those "I need sleep more than another workout" mornings. I felt horrible about skipping that morning.It had been a while since my last swim and I really needed to get back into the pool. I was determined to get in a workout that day however...until I realized I was booked for a meeting at my normal afternoon gym time. Dammit.

Turns out, my meeting got canceled and I was able to bust out of my over-heated office and go for a bike ride. Normally, I try not to ride in the afternoons around here - hot Arizona afternoons don't bode well for the skin, respiratory system or water bottle temperature. Being that it was sub-90 and breezy however, I figured it would be fine.

I only had an hour for my ride so I decided to make it a good one. I was reminded of what a buddy of mine has always maintained, "The faster you go, the sooner your get home (in reference to his kids, wife, etc)". Let's give that a shot.

I couldn't be happier with my performance -  I was able to maintain a good spin, strong cadence and a relaxed aero position. I was hauling ass. In fact, my time (56:13) for 20 miles yesterday is a PR. It's great to see improvements in performance.

In my mind, I've negated all the previous 'lows' of the week and am focusing on creating new 'highs' - as small as they be. Everything counts.