2016 running wrap-up

I have been and always will be a nerd so not showing the numbers from 2016 would be a crime.

I can honestly say that I'm super-happy with the way things went this year. I was able to get in a number of great races, remain injury-free and have some great experiences in the meantime.

In the clouds of Montblanc near Chamonix

My races for the year included:

• San Tan Scramble 50k
• Black Canyon 100k
• Old Pueblo 50 (PR)
• Hom 100 (charity) - raised $20,500 for ALS
• Tahoe Rim Trail 100
• McDowell Mt. Frenzy 25k

In hindsight, the best thing about running in 2016 had nothing to do with my personal accomplishments as a runner but as a coach, mentor and leader of the trail running community here in the East Valley.

I have come to enjoy the social element of running much more than the actual pursuit of buckles or medals. There is a part of me that wants to continue and train and be fit but the part that's taken over this year was finding ways to bring people together - whether it's for trail work, group runs or Christmas parties. I'm extremely proud of what I've helped others accomplish this year.

May 2016 crew cleaning up San Tan

I'm not sure what 2017 holds for races - the calendar is largely blank. I would like to pursue my coaching certificate and help others achieve their running goals for the year.

Tahoe Rim Trail 100 awesomeness!

I hope the San Tan Trail Runners group continues to grow. I hope new friendships emerge. I hope others are inspired to set new goals for themselves in the coming year.

Happy 2016 to you all.

Goodbye to (road) running

Good news = the 2013 PF Chang Rock and Roll Marathon is in the bag (4:26-ish is fine with me)

Bad news = it is probably the last time I run that race.

Don't get me wrong, up until this year, I really enjoyed the venue. It felt like the support and aid stations had gone downhill this year. For someone paying $135 to run a marathon (I paid much less), I would expect more than water, Gatorade and a couple GU stations. There was no food at any of the aid stations!

I think I've been spoiled by trail/ultra running aid stations. You could have your last supper at a trail running aid station!

So aside from Ragnar next month, I am probably done with road running/races. If nothing else, I just can't afford the gear I need to split my time between the trails and the road...how's that for an excuse! :)

I'm looking forward to the San Tan Scramble (50k) in a couple weeks though. Aside from exacting a little revenge on the only race I DNF'ed last year, I'm looking forward to the new course that incorporates the Dynamite trail and replaces 3 ascents of Goldmine Mountain (who isn't!).

Looking forward to my first trail race of 2013...let's go!

Yeah, I'm tapering...

I'd love to say that I've been tapering the last couple weeks since the Coldwater Rumble...but that would be a big fat lie. Weeks of 7 miles and 11 respectively since January 21 barely even count for working out.

For whatever reason, my heart just hasn't been in it for a while. I've been doing enough to get by and that's about it.

I guess now I know that signing up for the trail series isn't as productive or motivating as I thought it would be. In my head, it seemed perfect:

1. Lots of races at DRT cheap (sorry, bad pun at the expense of Aravaipa there)...
2. Consistent races schedule would instill a solid training regiment
3. 50K's would keep my base endurance solid through early spring
4. Perfect way to see all the metro-Phoenix parks

Aside from #2 (probably the most important), I've really enjoyed the ultra series and will likely sign up for several of them again next year...but probably not the entire ultra series.

I think I'm a long-term-goal-kind-of-guy. Each milestone in my endurance life I've planned out in the future upwards of 6-9 months and worked patiently to that goal. The DRT Ultra series has made me realize that having multiple goals that recur monthly, is not how I'm built. If I was truly passionate about improving my times or crushing my PR's, that might give me a renewed sense of purpose...but again, I'm not built that way.

I race to finish.

Yes, in the back of my mind, I never want to be last but if I am, oh well.

Tapering or not, Ill be heading to the home course this weekend to tackle the San Tan Scramble 50K. Hard to believe it was only a year ago on this very same course that I added the title of 'ultra-marathoner' to my resume.

See you out there.

Summer is coming

After a brief hiatus last week due to an ear infection and business travel to Chi-town, I'm back on the wagon and logging some good mileage this week. I have been mapping out my schedule over the next couple months and am genuinely starting to worry that I won't have the time to ramp up to the mileage I need to run the 50 mile race at the Black Hills 100.

If the course were flat I would design a training plan where my longest run was about 35-40 miles and call it good. The problem with that however is that the 50 mile race in June has over 9,000 feet in elevation gain. This is not trivial. I still have a strong recollection of what 4,300 feet of elevation gain felt like during the San Tan Scramble 50 km run last February...it wasn't that fun. Here is the profile of the 50 mile run in June.

Turn-around point at mile 25

This is going to take some serious miles and hill training. Oh, wait...Arizona is flat. This could be a problem. The key is making sure my long runs incorporate the trail running and hill work all at the same time. While I would love to speculate at my projected time for 50 miles, my goal is only to finish (under the 16-hour time limit of course).

One of the other challenges is going to be beating the heat of Arizona leading up to the race. Morning runs right now are perfect. Shorts and a t-shirt are all that is required to ensure a comfortable and cool run in the 60-degree mornings. You can feel it though...summer is knocking on the door and the cool morning temps are not going to stick around for long.

Have a good one and thanks for reading!

SanTan Scramble - 50k race report

“It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.”

- Sir Edmund Hillary

What started out as a very chilly day in Arizona (28 degrees at 7 am) turned into one of the most perfect days you could ask to have for a run. On tap for this perfect day...a 50k (31.07 miles) jaunt through the desert at the SanTan Regional Park in Queen Creek, AZ.

The field for this race was not deep at all. Approximately 28 people deep. That's right, 28 people crazy enough to take on not only the distance but ups and downs of the Arizona desert. My goals for the day were to simply keep my head, enjoy myself, run my own race and not get hurt (right, April?!). For my first 50k, a finish would be just fine.

In typical fashion, I started the race with way more gusto than necessary and completely ignoring my better judgement to conserve and hold back some of the mojo for later. Of course, the first 6 or 7 miles are very enjoyable - the scenery, the smell of the desert and the excitement of a new adventure all mask the impending climb that awaits as you approach the steep and treacherous climb up the mountain. I called it "The Intimidator".

There was really no point in running up the mountain. (A) the rocks, grade and footing were dangerous and (B) you kept a better pace just walking. There were 2 parts to the mountain - the up had a few switchbacks and a moderate slope that was broken up by a few level landing areas. Once you conquered that, there was a short mostly-level connector that led you to the backside of an adjacent hill/mountain that had a much steeper and hazardous descent. This was just pure down. It was hell on the knees, ankles and toes.

...and then you have do it again...and again. Over 4,300 feet of elevation change.

A treacherous descent

I stopped at the aid station at the start of my third loop to change my socks. I had a few blisters on my toes from all the jostling and rock-hopping...I think I can confidently say that I'd rather run up hill than downhill any day of the week.

Miles 19 through 25 proved to be the hardest for me. The uneven trails, the rolling hills and blisters where beating me down at this stage. Not to mention it felt like my heart was going to beat out of my chest. I resolved to walk/run as much as I needed to keep putting one foot in front of the other. That strategy and a little rest at the aid station helped bring me back to life and muster up enough energy to face "The Inimidator" one last time.

I don't think I've ever talked to myself  as much as I did on the final hike up this mountain. Though mostly swearing, I managed to positively reinforce to myself that it was the last time and that once I was down the mountain, there is about 1.25 miles to the finish. What's 1.25 miles after you've already done 30?


I knew my family was going to show up for the race to watch me finish but I did not know what time the were coming. To my surprise, they were waiting for me on the trail leading into the finish chute. It's such a charge to have family there to cheer you on. I have never been able to cross a finish line with them so this was a pretty special moment.

Despite the mountains, elevation, blisters, sand and dirt...I had a great time and really enjoyed the course and all the folks from Aravaipa Running. They're not big and the race is not fancy but they do a great job making everyone feel like a champ. Results from the race are here.

...and yes, I'm now an ultramarathoner...

2011 Plans

A quick update since closing down the Ironman journey. First and most important, I got inked. I knew I would after Ironman Arizona, I just didn't know what it would look like. I wanted something that symbolized the journey, the venue and of course, the universal symbol of an Ironman. I landed on a somewhat simplistic design of the Arizona flag centered in the trademark M-dot. I personal dig it.

The remainder of the days have been spent continuing my run training as I ramp back up the mileage for the PF Chang's Rock and Roll Marathon on January 16th. Aside from the Ironman Arizona marathon, my only other full 26.2 was in Portland (1997).  I've always wanted to revisit that pure distance and try to improve on my time (4:39). There were 'issues' during that race that aren't appropriate to discuss at the dinner table so I'll just say that they were preventable and I intend to bust that time wide open in Tempe on January 16th.

Finally, I've been spending time trying to figure out what events I want to participate in this coming year. After a year of training in solitude, I fell like I've lost some of the meaning and reasons I love to run or cycle (and swim now too). I went looking for events that would still challenge me mentally and physically but would get me back to the root of why I love doing this stuff - for fun. Simple as that. If you can't have fun, then don't bother, right?

So after coming up with a pretty stout list of events , I got contacted by a friend of a friend's friend (did you follow that?) to join a Ragnar Relay team (12-person relay team running 200+ miles in 24-hours). Now that sounds like FUN. I'm stoked. Aside from that, here are few more things I'll be doing in 2011:

1. PF Chang's Rock and Roll Marathon (Jan)
2. San Tan Scramble (50K) Ultra-marathon (Feb)
3. Ragnar Relay: Del Sol (Feb)
4. Tour de Cure charity ride (March)
5. Bike MS Arizona charity ride (March)
6. Pat's run (April)
7. Lake Steven's 70.3 Ironman (Aug)

As we get closer to some of these, I plan to blog a bit more on my progress and share the specifics of the goal and how well I think I'll be able to do against it.

I'm back - just on a different journey for 2011. I hope you stick around.