Zane Grey 50

Funny how quickly you forget how to pack for a race when you haven't done it for so long. My last race was back in October so the idea of packing for, during and after the race had me a little flustered leading up to the 26th running of Zane Grey up in Payson, AZ.

I packed a couple bags full of cold weather gear, hot weather gear and everything in between...not to mention actual race clothing, nutrition, rain coats, gloves and oh, yeah the kitchen sink. It felt like enough stuff for a week at summer camp. Surely, I wasn't forgetting anything (more on this later).

GG and I make the road trip up to Payson early that Friday afternoon to avoid traffic and pick up my bib number. Super stoked to see that a hazardous weather warning has been issued for race day...wouldn't want to make this race any easier than it already is!

We stuffed ourselves at Chili's and made our way back to the Super 8 to chill out and get ready for race day, pacing and the weather. After dozing off at about 8:30, I woke up at about 2 am realizing that I had forgotten to pack my primary shoes...DOH!...which made me toss and turn wondering what the hell else I'd forgotten. Turns out, that was the worst of it :)

The race start was uneventful. I wasn't nervous. I was just tired...and glad to have a pair of backup shoes (as-in, brand-new-worn-once-shoes). Suffice it to say, about 3 miles into the race it felt like I had small rocks wedged between my shoe and my heels. Try as I might to adjust my socks, the rock wouldn't come out. Eventually, I sat down to empty my shoes to ensure I wouldn't get any blisters.

Too late. Pulling back my shocks revealed two dime-sized blisters already cracked open and raw - one on each heel. Waves of pain flashed through my feet with every step. Try as I might, there was no escaping it. I finally made it into the Geronimo aid station (mile 8) and was able to tape up my heels to help the continuous rubbing from my new shoes.

Turns out, the conditions for 98% of the day were splendid for running. Low-to-mid-60's. Mostly cloudy with just enough moisture from the previous night to keep all the dust and pollen down. Aside from some discomfort from my blisters, the miles were ticking away and slowly but surely I ran past the 15 mile mark...exceeding my longest training run prior to the race.

Let me be clear. There is no "easy" stretch on this course. I should have learned my lesson from running the Mogollon Monster...it's decent up until Washington Park but then the trail goes to sh*t pretty quick. The Hell's Gate aid station is literally like leaving one ring of Dante's hell and venturing onto THE worse part of the Highline Trail. Boulders, hardened undulating elk tracks and washed out trails seriously make you question what the heck you're doing out there subjecting yourself to an insane amount of torture. I continued to wonder how much punishment my ankle could take...

Now don't get me wrong - the views are incredible. Truly unique for Arizona. Beautiful and cruel all at the same time. But if you pause to look up at the scenery and take your eyes off the trail, you're bound to land on your face.

Photo credit: SweetM Images

I freely admit, going into this race I expected to roll my ankle many times and be satisfied with calling it a 'training run'. I would make the "smart choice" at Fish Hatchery (mile 33) and call it a day. I wavered for 10+ miles..."should I save my ankle or just get it done?" I pondered. Coming into Fish Hatchery aid station, I was pretty much decided that I was done. But then it hit me like a ton of bricks...if I dropped, I'd regret not finishing and ultimately would have to come back and run this race (trail) again. Aside from that, GG would mock me FOREVER...ain't nobody got time fo dat!

So without hesitation, I reloaded my pack with water, Tailwind, gels and wafers for the 11-mile stretch to the See Canyon aid station. It was pretty much a blur - except for that big f-ing hill we had to climb.

It. Just. Would. Not. End.

Sweet 8-pound baby Jesus...after that however, the trail turns (relatively) nice and smooth. I remember hitting a couple low spots but only because I wasn't fueling properly. Soon enough we hit See Canyon and began the last stretch of 6 miles to the finish.

Photo credit: SweetM Images

Again, the trail is a bit nicer in this stretch but still filled with random rocks and washed out sections that take sideways running to a whole new level. About 2 miles out of See Canyon, you could see the rain rolling in. Flashes of lightening were quickly followed by claps of thunder over our heads. It felt like that scene from the The Great Outdoors. I was just waiting to be struck by lightening in the head (66 times!)

The temperatures dropped and the rain started to fall steadily over the course of the last 4 miles. It would occasionally turn to hail but nothing like last year's snow-pocalypse. It was a wet and miserable 4 miles. Like the Highline Trail needed anything else to make it more miserable...puddles, mud slicks and wet rocks are definitely enough for this dude.


14 hours and 29 minutes later that day, I would pull into the finish line pretty much on the cusp of being completely soaked through my rain coat. Without hesitation, I collected my finishers jacket and put on some dry clothes thankful to be in one piece and unscathed.

I can honestly say it's going to take something special to get me back onto that trail. I love the location, scenery and majesty of what Arizona has to offer but the thought of running that trail again makes my sphincter pucker.

Here's to Joe for putting on a great race. Kudos to the aid stations and volunteers for making sure everyone was once again safe.

Peace out Zane Grey!

Let the healing begin

3 weeks in a cast was an eternity. And boy, am I glad to be out of that thing...the only good thing to come out of the whole experience was the de-dazzling job the neighbor kids bestowed on my hardware.

The bad news is that those jewels come off...in your bed. I won't tell you all the places I found them in the morning.

But now that the cast is off, the walking boot is on for another 3 weeks according to the doc. There was a time when I hated the walking boot...but just like so many things in life, it's all relative. And compared to the cast, I'll take the walking boot ANY DAY!

I can actually go up stairs using both feet.
I no longer have to get dropped off in front every store.

I don't get the same sympathy points as being the cast but still there are some pretty sweet perks about being in a walking boot.

For starters, I get to drive. FREEDOM! I don't have to bum rides from my wife any more...I know for a fact she was tired of dragging my cripple ass around town to all my appointments. I guess the only other one is that I get to wear matching socks again. OK, maybe the perks aren't that great.

At least they match...

I thought it would be a lot easier to hop out of the cast and just start walking around but boy, was I wrong! Pressure, weight and stress are all things that ankle hasn't dealt with for a long time and it took 3-4 days before it felt 'normal' to walk on. Take a look at this side-by-side of the atrophy that occurred in my right calf. Pretty sad.

But look on the bright side...no more cankles!!!

The other bad news is that I probably won't be able to run Old Pueblo in early March. I'll be lucky if the doctor let's me start running in mid-February. Even then, preparing for Zane Grey in April will be a stretch as well...sigh.

But here's the deal - I'm actually following my doctor's orders. As much as it sucks, I'm doing what I'm told. Following orders. Making sure it's done right this time.

I miss spending time on Strava and wasting hours trying to synch my Garmin...but I'll be back. Healthy and ready to take back some course records. Watch out!

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.

A dose of what matters

As a runner, have you ever:

• Cut work a little short to go for a run?
• Slipped in an extra $50 to the family budget to buy GU's?
• Skipped the kids swim class to go for a run?
• Obsessed over your training schedule?
• Reviewed your race logistics over and over and over?

Guilty. As. Charged.

I personally have been going pretty hard with my training and was really looking forward to my schedule this summer/fall. Then it happened.

Shingles.

I didn't become a roofing professional, I came down with shingles. It is a pain I don't wish on anyone.

The point of this post is not about shingles. It's that so often we become obsessed with training. With racing. With stuff related to running that we don't look up to see the rest of the world or really appreciate what others go through to support our crazy obsession.

I'm not a fan of injuries or sickness, nor do I wish that on anyone. But often times we are so consumed with our passion for running that it literally takes something like injury or sickness to slow us down and forces us to step back, refocus and evaluate our priorities with running, life and family (not necessarily in that order of course).

Missing Zane Grey sucked. But being up there and crewing reminded me that supporting your ultra-runner is just as important as preparing and training for the race itself. I was re-invigorated seeing familiar faces, helping out and taking pictures. As a runner, it was a good dose of, "it's just not about me"...

I'll be helping out at the Sinister night run this weekend also...adding some karma to the ultra-running bank.

So don't wait until you get injured or sick to assess your priorities or place in this running world. Get out there and give back to your fellow runners...it's fun, cleansing and good for your mental (running) health.

My date with varicella zoster

I started last Friday morning out with a visit to my doctor. After self-diagnosing on WebMD all week and contemplating whether to start Zane Grey, I was hoping to finally get some answers and hopefully make my decision to race an easy one.

It was an uneventful appointment as we went through the motions - vitals, questions, where does it hurt? How long has it hurt? Turn your head and cough.

"Hmmmm", said the doctor. "I don't feel anything like a hernia."

"Perhaps it's a femoral hernia", I said with the confidence of my honorary online WebMD doctorate.

"Possibly. I'm going to send you for an ultra sound just to rule it out", said the doctor.

"In the meantime, I'm going to write you a script for some anti-viral medication called acyclovir. I think you might have shingles."

For some reason, I've always associated shingles with the elderly and leprosy. I'm almost embarrassed to tell people that I have shingles. Turns out, it's a lot more common in folks my age than I believed - people just don't bring it up in casual conversation because (1) you get a rash and (2) the rash can occur in unmentionable places.

Varcella zoster is the virus that causes chicken pox. If you've ever had the chicken pox, you still have the varcella zoster virus in your body. It lays dormant in your nerve roots until stress, age, injury or disease somehow wake it up...

Characteristically, it begins as tingling, itching or pain that can be localized anywhere on the body but typically is near the chest/waist/groin area. A rash may or may not appear in this area but the unique thing about shingles is that it typically only occurs on one half of the body. Mine for example, started in my right groin and extended up my hip and around my waist to the top of my right butt-cheek. And then it stops right at my spine.

It basically hurts to walk, lay down, cross my legs, stand up, sit down, climb stairs or sneeze. Heat and ice are the only thing that temporarily help reduce the pain. I have a few small bumps from the rash - starting the medication early seems to have limited the effects of the virus...but it still hurts like hell.

As you may have guessed, the ultrasound came back negative for a hernia.

I did take some time on Friday to sulk and feel sorry for myself since I had to formally pull out of the race. While it wasn't an easy decision, I know it was the right decision. I have way too much respect for that distance and trail to attempt it while injured.

I made the decision to head up Friday afternoon and help out where I could supporting friends, taking pictures and crewing when possible. I had a good time and was able to refocus my energy on enjoying the view from the other side of the trail for a change.

Zane Grey will be there next year. And so will I.

What is 50 miles worth?

This has been one of the tumultuous weeks ever for me and here's the kicker...I haven't run once. Not a single mile. Zero.

After returning from Vegas last Friday, I was able to get in a meager run (10 miles) out on the trails. It wasn't until Monday that I really noticed a strange sensation creeping up the right side of my groin and wrapping around my waist at the top of my bum. It was more annoying than anything - like pins and needles creating a strange sensitivity to the touch.

That evening, Carvor and I went for a short run at Cadence Running Company to honor those folks in Boston who were struck by the awful tragedy several weeks ago. During that run, the annoyance was tolerable but still noticeable.

Over the next couple days, I committed to stretch it, push it, roll it, smash it, chiropractic-it, Rolf it, ice it and heat it...all with no change in the symptoms. It's possible I aggravated my hip flexor more than it was to begin with (if that actually is the problem).

Clearly, I switched to present tense because here we are on the eve of the Zane Grey 50 and I am still debating whether to start this race given my current condition. I meet with my doctor in the morning to determine whether or not the issue is medically dire or not.

Even if it is not, I have a decision to make. Do I toe the line of the hardest 50-mile race in the country with an impediment/injury and push my way through it or do I swallow my pride, DNS and get healthy for much larger goals?

Even as I write it out, the direction seems obvious. But to just wipe away months of training, countless hours on the trails and the sacrifices of everyone around me seems like a waste.

How much is 50 miles worth? I don't know the answer to that yet. I'm going to sleep on it and let you know tomorrow.

Off

I have not taken a weekend off from running in a while. I did not go into the weekend with that intention but that's how it worked out.

I'm still struggling with knowing the difference between illness and allergies. There are times when I wake up in the morning and feel like I'm coming down with something (like this weekend). Erring on the side of keeping myself healthy, I opted to skip my long run(s) and sneak them in at a later date (if that's possible). Even this morning I bailed on my run because (a) I was excessively tired and (b) I just felt off.

On the bright side, it's great to get up on the weekend and have a full day to hang with the kids and contribute to the housework, shopping and cleaning (something I know my wife would say I don't do on a regular basis).

Also, I'm travelling to Las Vegas this week for work - yes, yes...someone has to do it :)

Not the greatest place to be a couple weeks out from Zane Grey but I plan to behave, eat well and shy away from the booze (mostly).

I don't want to gamble (ba-dat-da..get it?) with my health so close to this race. It's already going to be tough enough without any sort of ailments.

Sometimes plans change

First light from Pine, AZ

Given my upcoming schedule for the next couple weeks, I really wanted to head up north to Pine, AZ for one of my long runs. It would serve a couple purposes:

1. Long run
2. Training at elevation

Pine, AZ is at about 5,400' and many of the trails extend well into the range of 6,000-7,000 feet. It is home to some of the most infamous notorious  toughest trail runs in the country...Zane Grey 50 and the Mogollon Monster 100. Both of which are on my race calendar this year.

I'm going to do my best NOT to plug Motel 6 but I thought I'd be clever and drive up to Payson on Friday night and get up early to go hit the trails. Turns out, the walls of the Payson Motel 6 are paper-thin and I could hear every sound from my less-than- thoughtful neighbors.

After ducking into the Payson Walmart at 3 am to get a blanket, I headed to the Pine trail head to try and get some sleep before the sun came up. Turns out, my Camry is not comfortable at all and I did not get any sleep while hanging out in the dark.

As a metaphor for racing, sometimes you have to change your plans and make the best of things. Starting late meant that I was even more time constrained given I needed to be home before 2.

I started up the Pine trail and it was clear within the first half mile that my ability to climb and use less oxygen was also going to hamper my distance goal for the day. After going 5 miles in 1.5 hours, I resolved to do a couple ONB's on the Pine and Arizona trails and just enjoy the time out on the trail (as you can tell from all the pictures)

To say that these trails were challenging would be an understatement. Having run the San Tan trail for so long, I can honestly say I've been pampered with the wide smooth trails and easy climbs. The Pine trail was covered in rocks, treacherous elk tracks and overgrown with thorny bushes that scraped the arms and legs at every turn.

I was truly enjoying the views and the varying terrain of this area. One minute you're on rocky trails, the next you're on a forest trail covered in pine needles. I may have taken more pictures during the first couple hours than I did running :)

After bumping into JeremyD (RD for the MOG100), I headed back to the trail head to refuel and get stocked up for the next 10 miles. I crossed over Highway 87 and headed up the Arizona Trail.

After covering a couple miles on the Arizona Trail, I realized that the Pine Trail was only a warm up for the feet-bashing and knee-knocking rocks and boulder-hopping. It's been a long time since I've felt this beat up from a 20-mile run.

The sweeping views and amazing sights from many of the climbs almost make the harsh trail conditions worth it.

With my water bottles slowly draining and the heat of the day bearing down on my, the pressure I felt in my chest and the thumping in my ears made it clear to me that the altitude, trail and heat were a combination that was going to be a tough to overcome for Zane Grey and MOG.

I had a great time up north and really enjoyed this run even though my ankles, feet and knees still hurt today. Here are a few more pictures from the run.

Rough grade and rocks on the Arizona Trail

Critters

Looking east toward Highline from the Arizona Trail

In bloom

Oak Spring

Fear is the mind-killer

For the first time in a long time, I am worried about a race.

I typically have a very even-keel approach to most races and sometimes have way too much confidence even when I shouldn't (i.e., haven't trained enough). The funny thing is that I feel like I'm ahead of the curve with my training despite some of the randomness and gaps in mileage.

Only sci-fi buffs will get the connection with this blogs title

So why all the gloom regarding Zane Grey? I think it's just the "shop talk" from everyone else...

"Oh, it's going to eat you up"

"It's sooo rocky, your feet are going to be hamburger"

"The altitude is a killer"

Though I'm not completely sure what to think at this point, I do know that I've been up to this area (at least part of the Mogollon 100 route which I though was part of the Zane Grey route...) Either way, I don't remember it being that crazy. I was however, in peak condition prior to Lean Horse so that may skew my perception.

I'll be heading up there on Saturday to see if my memory is good or if I blocked out all the elevation. It will be a good gauge on what to expect and where I'm at.

Either way, I've had a good week and feel really strong. I'll be close to 70 miles and roughly 5-6,000' of climbing. Not too shabby, but still work to do as I prepare for the Mesquite Canyon 50 here in a couple weeks.

When it rains, it pours

For the last couple of weeks, my schedule has looked like this:

Monday - off
Tuesday - Run 8 (or sleep in)
Wednesday - cycle
Thursday - off
Friday - Run 10 (or sleep in)
Saturday - sleep in (or recover from too much wine)
Sunday - sleep in

I've got a pretty bad case of the lazies...while I'm trying to get out at least once a week, even that is proving tough. I have the best intentions but this sleep thing beckons me back to my pillow if I get up too early. While the mornings are starting to cool down nicely, sunrise isn't until at least 6:15. This puts a serious damper on the duration of my workouts (my boy starts rustling around about at 6:30 and is ultimately up by 7). My wife usually works late so I hate asking her to get up early with him while I'm out frolicking on the trails.

I'll figure it out.

So I just signed up for Zane Grey yesterday. It's supposed to be the toughest 50-mile race in the US. We'll find out in April. As I marked this on my training calendar, I realized that I've already got quite a few things coming up and should probably get serious about logging some miles.

I committed to pace for the Javelina Jundred here in 3 weeks. I also just got asked to be on an ultra team for Ragnar Del Sol. Oh, and I'm signed up to run the PF Chang Marathon in January.

Damn. I got busy in a hurry.