ACROSS THE YEARS 2011

There is something interesting about running a timed event compared to a distance event.  They are a completely different animal than the typical race and one must go in with a different mindset.  I have run both a 12hr and a 24hr event prior and have come up short on my expectations both times.  I made crucial mistakes and haven't exactly been satisfied with my results and so I was on the lookout for another one before the end of the year, so that I can practice some learned lessons and shoot for a mileage PR. 

I had decided that I would run the CTR group's New Year's One Day but as the weeks and months went by, a few people that I know posted on Facebook that they were going to Phoenix  to run the Across the Years event.  There were 72hr, 48hr, and 24hr options, and they were all signing up for the 72 hour option.  There was no way I was signing up for a 72 hour race after the fiasco of my 24 hour event but after reading up on the race, I decided that I would opt for their 24hr event.  Vanessa had recently moved down to San Diego to live with me and it was easy to convince her that this would be a great event to wrap up the year.  And we somehow convinced her sister Eli as well as our friend Carlos to join us.  Road Trip!

The race starts at 9am but we decided that it would be best to get there as early as possible the day before in order to pick out a spot to set up our small tent, although we would be staying a couple miles down the road at a hotel.  Vanessa and I had started a plant based diet  and the tent would be where we store all of our prepared foods and drinks in case the race had nothing that we could partake in.  It would also serve as a place to catch some sleep if attempting to run that long overwhelmed us.  We didn't really discuss a strategy for tackling the event and figured we'd just dive in and take whatever the day gives us (ignoring a lesson I learned in a previous event).

The drive down to Phoenix is a long one.  Vanessa, Eli, and myself had done most of our packing the night before and woke up at 5am to shower and get ready for the drive.  I had told Carlos that I wanted to leave at 7am and he showed up promptly on time, cramming his stuff into whatever space remained in my tiny car, and we were off.

ROAD TRIP

The drive to Phoenix is rather boring but everyone was high in energy and played various games to keep occupied and have the miles go by.  I did all the driving and was fueling myself on Rockstar energy drinks.  I was pretty amped on the caffeine and had no temptation to nod off while all of my passengers eventually tired of their games and fell asleep.

The trip was pretty uneventful with the typical stops along the way to stretch an empty the bladders.  We came across a small place called Dateland that advertised the world's greatest date shakes and since I had to use the bathroom again, we decided that we would stop and check it out.  Even though the shakes had dairy in them, Vanessa and Eli decided to try a shake just to see if they were as good as advertised.  We also bought some snacks that consisted of worms and crickets to try out later.  I had earlier made the decision that I would stick to the diet as much as possible and so the bugs were out, to be tucked away until the plant-based diet experiment is over.  However, I had to taste the date shake and took a small sip.  It was good but way too sweet for my tastes.  I was hoping to pick up some raw dates that could be used as race fuel but this was an obvious tourist trap and way too overpriced.  Oh, and the coolest thing about this stop?  Having someone call out my name and turning around to see Adam and Stacy, two running friends of mine from San Diego.  They had spent their vacation break in Arizona and were now heading back to San Diego.  Weirdness!  

WE MADE IT!!!

Eventually we made it to race headquarters which was at the spring camp facility for the Dodgers and White Sox.  It was a giant park with immaculate baseball fields and a flowing stream that we would get to run around for 24 hours.  We headed over to the aid station tent to check out the foods and noticed that they had a few fresh fruits available but little else that we would be able to consume.  Good thing we came prepared.  We then went to say hi to some of the runners who would now be on day 2 of their 3 day event.  We found Jason Robillard but weren't exactly 100% if it was him and decided not to say anything when he ran past us.  We also spotted Ed and Yolanda, two record setters who run just about every single race in existence.  A little while later we saw Jason coming by again and decided to call out to say hi and take some pictures.  We also stumbled upon Pat Sweeney who had decided at the last minute to come down and run the 24 hour event as well.  He was still nursing an injury and wasn't too sure how he'd fare but was hoping his body would hold up for 100 miles.  After saying hello to everyone, it was then time to unpack the car and set up the tent.  We had intentionally failed to mention the hotel to Carlos and led him to believe that we would be spending the night in the tent and that he would have to sleep out on the grassy field since there wasn't room for him.  Every once in awhile, one of us would slip and make mention of the hotel and cause the others to shush them or give them the evil eye.  And while chatting with Pat, he kept asking if we were giving up on the hotel and sleeping at the race site instead.  We did our best to ignore him and if Carlos ever figured things out, he never let on.

After getting things ready for race day we decided we'd go grab a bite to eat.  We found a Sweet Tomatoes place (salad buffet) about 30 minutes away and decided to go there since we were all hungry.  Afterwards, we drove to the hotel explaining to Carlos that we needed some ice for the cooler and that we'd distract the clerk if he'd go find the ice machine.  It was getting pretty hard not to laugh at this point but like a trooper, Carlos went around searching for the ice machine while Vanessa and I checked in.  Carlos came back explaining he needed something to put ice in and so we then let him know that we got a room that houses 6 people and he was actually going to be sleeping indoors for the night.  The room was quite nice, with 2 queen size beds and a fold out couch.  Once the bed situation was taken care of, it didn't take long for everyone to fall asleep.

RACE DAY

The 6:30am alarm didn't take long to rouse us awake and we rushed to get ready and go down and see what the hotel's free breakfast consisted of.  Vanessa and I opted for fruit only but Eli and Carlos tried to make waffles and ended up breaking the machine, causing batter to flow out all over the counter.  While they were futilely trying to fix the machine, I ran off to get the hotel assistant who became wide-eyed when she saw the mess the wonder twins had created.  What made the situation even more comical was that while the lady was trying to clean up and get things back in working order, Carlos was pretty much elbowing her out of the way so he could finish making his waffles.  He gave up when he noticed that we weren't willing to stick around for him and we all piled into the car and headed off to the race, laughing at the morning's escapades. 

The bib pickup went without a hitch and we ran into Pat and posed together for a few race day photos.  The next person we ran into was Ed who was sitting down.  He mentioned that he thought he may have a stress fracture and was doing the safe thing and quitting.  Very bummed for the guy since I had thought that he was going to win the 72 hour event.  I knew this was killing him inside since earlier this year and had hurt himself and decided to continue racing events in a boot.  The dude is hardcore.  Later in the day Ed would commence running again, discovering that the timing chip was on too tight, causing the discomfort.

The race started and Vanessa and I decided we'd stick together as long as possible.  We settled into a 11:00 pace which felt a tad slow but very comfortable.  I told myself that I would fuel and hydrate after every 5 laps (1 lap = 1.05 miles), which consisted of an electrolyte mix by Vega as well as 5 spoonfuls of an energy pudding that I made and brought along, recipe from the Thrive Diet book.  The half marathon point came and went and we were still feeling great and surprised by how quick it had snuck up on us.  We were already doing calculations in our head fooling ourselves that we could knock out 100 miles in under 20 hours.  

Shortly after we passed the marathon distance, my right achilles started acting up.  I had aggravated it the previous weekend during the Operation Jack marathon by running in Sketcher GoRun shoes.   I ended up having to settle for a 1/2 marathon that day.  I knew with the way my achilles was behaving that there was no way I could even sniff a 100 miles and so I decided I'd shoot for a 100k instead.  Eventually my body wouldn't let me go more than 3 laps before I'd have to sit down and rest.  This wasn't all in vain though Jason was taking lots of breaks and I had someone to chat with.  We ended up going on a beer run during one of our breaks so that we could have cold beer to drink while we weren't running around in circles.  Now why didn't I think of this earlier?  The beer was quite tasty and we even had Pat join us on a couple of our breaks.  Good times!

When I got near the 30 mile mark my body had told me that enough was enough and so I hung it up for the night.  Vanessa and Carlos were swapping leads but eventually Vanessa started slowing down and Carlos caught a second wind and started putting in some good laps.  We decided to call it a night with Eli finishing with 32 miles, I had 40.9 miles, Vanessa had 52 miles, and Carlos had the lead with 65 miles.  Carlos claimed that his body was done and he called his relatives that lived nearby, deciding that he would sleep in a cozy bed for the night and meet back with us in the morning.  Everyone was wiped out and tempted to go to sleep but all agreed to suck it up in order to ring in the new year.  Finally the countdown commenced and everyone walked one more loop and then immediately hopped into their sleeping bags.

Sometime in the early morning hours, I heard Vanessa climb out of the tent, thinking she was heading out to use the bathroom.  I dozed off again and when I woke up I noticed she still wasn't back and knew she was out there putting in some more miles.  I decided to get up to use the bathroom and see how she was doing.  I didn't see her and decided that I would try to jog around the track and take the long way back to the tent and was surprised that my body felt ok with it.  I managed about 3 laps before encountering Vanessa.  Her goal was to make it to 100k and she only needed a couple more laps to achieve it.  I would have liked to reach the 50 mile mark but there was no way my body could accomplish that with the time we had remaining, and since I was just 2 laps away from the 45 mile mark, I decided to stick by Vanessa's side and help her reach her goal.  Meanwhile, Jason was out there running some speedy loops striving to break the 200k mark before time elapsed.  Very impressive since the night before he was barely able to make it around a single loop before having to sit down.  Soon the race countdown commenced and the event was over.  Jason had made his goal as did Vanessa.  I was content with my mileage with all things considered.  Eli had completely blown away her previous longest distance run of a marathon with a whopping 43 miles.  And Carlos still had the most miles of the 4 of us with his 65.

It was time to hit the showers and clean up.  The shower facility was pretty sweet since it was the locker room of the baseball players.  Too bad the name tags were removed otherwise we'd be fighting to change in the same place as a famous major leaguer.  The showers had run out of hot water so I had to settle for a mildly cold one which was refreshing.  After that it was time to hit up the award ceremony where we would get our mugs for participation.  Quite a few people, Jason included, crossed the 100 mile marker and were presented with belt buckles.  Kimberly Miller had run the 72 hour event and got her very first buckle, and I am willing to bet that this won't be her last.  Our group were one of the last ones called since our mileage was fairly low compared to most of the others, and yes, they called out every single participant and read off their mileage.

Lessons Learned

The biggest thing I learned is that I am still not a fan of timed events.  They are very tough mentally since it is so easy to stop and rest whenever you pass near your "home base".  Dropping out on, forgive me for this term, a "real" ultra event is much harder since it is usually easier to suck it up and keep going rather than waiting for race officials or volunteers to get you back to the start.  Consider this, would it be easier to quit on a run where you have to run past your car every mile and ignore its beckoning call of respite, or would it be easier to quit a race where you park your car and are told you have to run the full distance prior to seeing your car again, knowing that if you quit early, you still have to figure out some way to get back to your car?  It's a no brainer.  These timed events continue to entice me with their challenge and I hope that some day I will have the mental fortitude to suck it up and make it to the goal I have set for myself.

WHAT'S NEXT

It’s a New Year and we already have a pretty full schedule planned out starting with the Disney World Goofy Challenge.  Before the end of the year, we both hope to have a 50 miler and a 100 miler under our belts, and even to be semi-efficient in the fastpacking world.  One of the coolest events we have on our schedule is to run the Grand Canyon R2R2R with Gordy Ainsleigh.  

Loving the Night Life

I love the night.  Some people crave the sunshine but it has always been the moon that has offered me peace and tranquility.  I tend to blame it on the fact that the moon rules my astrological sign but whatever the reason, I'm mesmerized by the moon and always have been as long as I can remember.
I spent a good part of my youth growing up in the middle of the desert at a place called Hinds Pumping Plant.  Go ahead and look it up and tell me if you've ever seen a more remote and foresaken place.  Some of my fondest memories were of us kids spending the night on the lawn in our sleeping bags, staring up at the crystalline sky, watching the stars and searching for UFOs until we fell asleep.  Other times we'd grab our flashlights and go hiking out into the desert, a few times even camping out.  I even remember the little red fox that would hang out near street lamp and jump around trying to catch the bugs.  Before nightfall we would set out a bowl of cat food for him and squeal with delight when he would partake of it.  He was our little pet.  Mind you I was still in elementary school at this time.  Was I afraid?  Perhaps a little, but the moon was always there to light the way and ensure I remained safe.
Now that I am what some would consider an adult, I'm not as fearless as I once was.  Perhaps its because I don't wander out into the dark as much as I used to.  Perhaps it's because the world is just not as safe as it once was.  I still enjoy exploring the night but find that I am a bit jumpy more than I wish I was.  A rustling of a nearby bush or reflective eyes staring back at me is enough to get me looking back over my shoulder just in case something or someone is trying to sneak up on me.  Maybe someday I'll find that fearless little boy inside of me that didn't mind wandering all alone at night but for now I welcome the company of others on my night runs, finding comfort in their camaraderie.
But what is it about running at night that is so appealing?  For me, it is a variety of reasons.  It's a time to relax after a stressful day at work.  It's taking ownership of the night, knowing that everyone else is sitting at home and you have the trails all to yourself.  It's viewing things from a different perspective, a feeling that the trails are alien and new even though you may have run them numerous times before in the daylight.  It's about becoming primal once again, being at one with nature, hearing your footsteps, your heartbeat, your breath, with no input from  the sleeping civilization nearby.  It's about the fear of the unknown, about what may be lurking behind the next bush or just around that next bend.
With my race schedule ramping up and the race distances getting longer, I will have to incorporate more and more late evening and night runs into my training just to rack up the training miles.  Just make sure Vanessa and Ginger are there by my side.


Here are some tips I recommend for night running:
1.  Know the route - Its easy to get confused and disoriented when running at night.  Some things may seem a bit familiar at first and then get completely alien a few minutes later.  Try running your route during the daytime paying attention to markers that you can identify when it's dark.  Another option is to run the route with someone who is familiar with the route.
2.  Be visible - Always try be be seen, especially if running where there is vehicular traffic.  For trail runners, don't forget about the mountain bikers.  They enjoy the trails just as much as you do.  Almost all running gear these days include reflective patches on them.  Ensure your's does and if not, consider running in a reflective vest.  Try not to wear light colored clothing if possible.
3.  Bring a light -  Whether you prefer a headlamp, a chest lamp, or a handheld flashlight, its best to have something along to light your way.  For myself, I prefer a headlamp so that the beam follows wherever I look.  Some people do not enjoy running with these as the shadows they create can take some getting used to.  For this reason, some prefer their light source to be more at waist level.
4.  Lift the feet - The shadows caused by flashlights and headlamps can throw off your depth perception.  For this reason, you will see a lot of people tripping and stumbling while running at night.  As a barefoot runner, I am used to lifting my feet so this was actually fairly natural for me.
5.  Leave the music at home - You want to stay alert during your night runs and the headphones will only serve to distract you.  Your sense of sight is already impacted so you will want to use your sense of hearing as much as possible.

Nanny Goat recount

I actually wrote this a while back but lost it when I cleaned the blog up so thought I'd repost it once again for tracking purposes since it was my first 24hr attempt.

I first found out about the Nanny Goat ultra when my friend Jeff posted that he was going to try for 100 miles in 24hrs.  I thought it would be kinda cool to join him and Terry for the day and possibly help out where I could and maybe run a few laps with him.  For some reason the 24hr time didn't register and I thought I could make the drive Sunday morning and help out then.  The problem was that the race was to end at 8am Sunday morning.  Hmmm.

A couple days before the race I went to the website where I saw that they also had a 12hr option.  Having just done 40 miles in 8.5hrs at Mind the Ducks a couple of weeks ago I figured I'd enter the 12hr option and shoot for my first 50 miler.  And then the brain started playing tricks on me.  What if I finished the 12hrs and wanted to keep on running?  How possible would it be for ME to shoot for 100 miles?  With a distance PR of 40 miles, could I even run for 24hrs?  And so I sent an email off to Steve Harvey the race director.  Since the entry price is the same regardless the option you want to run, Steve informed me that if I quit before the 12hrs is up I would be credited for the 12hr option.  If I run after the 12hr option is up, I would get credit for the 24hr option.  Simple.  And so I decided to go ahead and sign up for the 24hr option.  I later got a facebook message for Jeff congratulating me on signing up for the 100 miler.  What?  A finger slip or was my sub-conscious telling me to shoot for more?  Whatever!  My brain is always fucking with me.

I have no idea on how to tackle a 100 mile attempt but realized that I couldn't just wing it like I did MTD.  I wouldn't survive.  And so on Friday I did some math and figured that I would try to run 4 laps at a 12:00 pace and then do 1 lap while drinking fluids.  Every 5 circuits of this I would stop and eat as well as take a couple of salt stick tablets and then just wing everything else.

And yes, I was scared shitless.

For nutrition I decided I'd go as paleo as possible and bought some cans of sardines, a few avocados, some veggies and fruit, and a bottle of tequila.  Yes, tequila.  I thought I'd make it a party and celebrate every 10 miles with a shot of anejo.  Have I ever mentioned that my brain is out to do me in?

I planned to drive up race day morning thinking I could leave at 5am and make it there in time for the 8am start.  I woke up at 1am due to anxiety and couldn't get back to sleep.  Got up around 3am and packed everything.  Maybe too much.  Guess there is no such thing as too much when you are talking about running an ultra though.  Got bored and decided to leave the house at 4:30am, stopped at 7-11 for some coffee and drove up to Riverside.  Uneventful drive but I could feel that the lack of sleep was going to kick my ass later in the day.

I met Terry as soon as I arrived.  They had an elaborate setup with a sweet tent and a canopy.  I set my stuff out in a section of theirs and decided to try to figure out the course I'd be running.  I made it halfway around and met up with Jeff.  Neither of us could figure out the course and decided to head back.  At the camp I met up with a few others I knew.  Ed "Fancy Pants" and "Jo-Jo Starbucks" are a couple guys I have met before.  I also recognized Yolanda Holder and Endorphin Dude from previous races.  A FB friend named Kimberly also introduced herself and her husband to me, recognizing me from the kilt I was wearing.  

After a quick speach from Steve, we were off!  The first 10 miles went off without a hitch and I gladly took my shot of tequila.  Whoa!  The next lap was interesting.  Lots of belching and my stomach started going sour.  A couple miles later and I was normal once again.  At mile 20 I was a little hungry and so I opened a can of sardines and grubbed.  The heat of the sun was starting to impact me and the sardines were a tad difficult to get down.  Chased with a shot of tequila of course.  The next couple of miles were very interesting.  Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.  It was at this point that I switched from the Luna sandals over to the Vibram Treks.

I made it to mile 30 and things started falling apart.  Between the heat, the dust, and the sardines/tequila, I wasn't feeling it.  Plus the monotonous 1 mile loop was getting on my nerves.  I was bored with this adventure and mentally checked out.  This is a problem I have that I really need to work on since once my mind checks out on a race, I have no initiative to continue on and come up with all sorts of lame excuses to quit.  Every little ache and pain multiplies 10-fold.  Today I whined about the dust and smog screwing with my breathing.  Saying this out loud made it even more so.  Yes I could have continued on but I really didn't want to.  And so I sat in my Sweeney Chair (Thanks Pat!).  

Every once in a while I would get up and run a lap but then would quickly sit back in the chair.  I was probably only running one mile for every hour of sitting around.  Pathetic.  I was so mentally checked out on this race that I didn't even remember to swipe my badge on a couple of laps.  Maybe I would feel more motivated after the sun sets and it cools down?

Right before sunset I decided to give it another go.  I had run over 35 miles and physically I felt great but for some reason, I still didn't feel motivated enough to continue on.  On one of the laps I encountered a gopher and I nudged it with my foot to get it off the trail.  Afterwards I turned to continue on and felt a small pop in the left foot near the 4th metatarsal.  I continued on but was very nervous with this and upon arriving back at the start I decided to call it quits.  And so I turned in my badge and received my medal.  I counted 38 laps but think I'll only get credit for 36 since I know I didn't swipe the card a couple of times.

Wrap - up:  Even thought I didn't accomplish what I initially set out to do, overall I had a good time.  Just didn't enjoy much of the running aspect of the day.  It was great hanging with Jeff and Terry for the day.  I also met Mary Lou who was camped next to us.  Very remarkable lady who never quit and just continued running into the night.  Jeff didn't have a very good day out there but as always, his perseverance and willpower was amazing to witness.  Ed was amazing as well, with his colorful outfits he never slowed down.  And he is always quick to high five and shout inspiration to everyone he passed.  Very happy that Dr Liu came out to run a couple laps with me.  Am also very happy that Rachel had offered to come out and run through the night with me (I texted her and told her not to bother though).  The running community never ceases to amaze me.  These people are genuine and will go out of their way to support and care for those they know and even those they don't know.  Most times I feel unworthy to be included amongst them.  I am blessed to know such amazing people

 

Paleo Challenge

This image is a good depiction for how I felt last week.  Monday I ran up the stairs at work and was saddened by how much jiggling was taking place.  It's amazing how much weight you can gain when you let down your guard and "reward" yourself that just one more.  As an active runner I like to grant myself a cheat day after a hard run, namely a nice serving of some good Mexican food and some type of alcohol.  The problem with these rewards is that one always leads to another and pretty soon the entire week turns into one big reward.

I have always enjoyed trying various diets to judge their impact on me and earlier this year fell in love with the Paleo diet.  I had some great success on it and was able to get my body weight down to 155lbs and earned myself a sub 3:30 marathon time in the process.  My only beef with Paleo (pun fully intended) is that it is gaining in popularity and with popularity comes the marketers.  Everyone seems to have jumped on the bandwagon and are trying to sell their books and products.  There are now so many people trying to convince others the proper way to follow the paleo diet that it is just ridiculous.  Lean protein vs high fat.  Low carb vs moderate carb.  Starch vs no starch.  Fruits vs no fruits.  Nuts/seeds vs no nuts/seeds.  Dairy vs no dairy vs some dairy.  This diet is so simple that it shouldn't even be considered a diet but rather a lifestyle and these people are making things overcomplicated.  And then there is the group that prefer to let their meat spoil a bit before consumption.  

Anyways, I have my own rules regarding Paleo that I like to follow which worked for me just fine earlier this year.  Hey, maybe I should write a book about it!  But this time I tend to go a bit more strict on it and go as organic and grass-fed as much as possible.  Luckily I found a farmer a couple hours a way who sells beef, goat, and sheep.  He is islamic and all the meat he sells is halal and is exceptionally clean.  And he has a few fruit trees that he graciously lets us pick from as well.  Well worth the drive and money spent in my opinion.

Vanessa and I have discussed the 30 day Paleo challenge and decided we'd start it immediately following Monday after the Noble Canyon 50k.  I actually plan to follow it a few days longer just so I can be 100% Paleo going into the Los Pinos 50k.  It shall be interesting to see how we fare for the next few days.

Our guidelines:

• No grains
• No legumes
• No corn
• No soy
• No dairy (unless raw or fermented)
• No processed foods (including foods with unecessary additives)
• No sugar 
• Grass-fed as much as possible
• No calorie counting!

If I am unwilling to eat a food in it's raw natural state, then it has no business being on my plate.

I feel we should be taking photos of ourselves for a before/after comparison but I'll spare the world that vision and just post my beginning stats instead.  Both measurements were taken on my personal at home scale.  Although it may not be the most accurate method, at least it gives me a comparison point.

Weight - 170lbs

BF% - 20%

Today is day 3 and I am starting to feel better already.  My belly didn't jiggle as I ran up the stairs this morning.

A few links on the Paleo lifestyle:

• http://paleodietlifestyle.com/
• http://robbwolf.com/
• http://paleohacks.com/
• http://paleodiet.com/
• http://cavemanforum.com/
• http://samsnyder.com/2010/07/28/low-carb-and-paleo-diet-links/
• http://www.marksdailyapple.com/  (not exactly paleo but a great resource)

Noble Canyon 2011

I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Noble Canyon.  Or rather I should say a hard spot, perhaps you could even call it a callous.
The Noble Canyon trail has always been a thorn in my side.  Almost every training run I've had out there has been a personal failure and so it was no surprise that the 2010 race resulted in a 9:40 finish time.  Well, actually it was a little surprising with how bad I did out there that particular day.  But in my defense, it was my first 50k and I had no clue as what to do for nutrition AND the temperatures were well over 100 degrees (115 I believe).
Now enter 2011.  I got my yearly injury out of the way early on and managed to stay relatively healthy for the summer.  Due to past performances, I recognized that my huaraches or Vibrams were not going to get me through a 50k painfree and started experimenting with a couple other minimalist shoes.  I settled on the New Balance MT101s for various reasons (shoe review will happen some day).  I wore them for a few training runs on the Noble Canyon trails and my feet have always come away in pretty nice shape.  I am not saying I survived the training runs in nice shape though as I'm usually the one doing a very slow crawl on the final miles.
Leading up to the day of the race I was getting a little excited due to the expected temperatures.  The forecast was calling for a low of 45 with a high of 71.  This was awesome considering last years heat wave!  But the course still had me on edge since I know how easily it can chew you up.
Race day morning quickly snuck up on us and we had ourselves a 4am wakeup.  We were expecting our new friend Kimberly at 4:45 for carpooling and wanted to be ready to go as soon as she arrived.  I showered, got dressed, and then packed a gym bag with a change of clothes as well as a cooler filled with drinks (including beer), and another bag full of dry goods to snack on.  Note - upon returning home later in the day we discovered that I had left the bag full of dry goods on the front porch.
Kim showed up right on time and we all hop in my car and make the drive out to Mount Laguna at the Al Bahr campgrounds where the race would start and finish.  We make pretty good time, arriving not shortly after checkin had opened up.  But holy crap was it cold!  Temp gauge was reading 47 and we decided to stay in the car with the heater running a bit longer.  Eventually we got out to go check in, pick up our race packet, use the bathroom facilities, and say hi to friends and acquaintances.  At 6:45 we all had to congregate in the main room for the race director's pre-race speach.  It was the usual chat about the route, what to expect, how many ultra virgins were running, etc.  After that, everyone heads out to the start line to get ready to run.  Damn it's cold!  I was wearing a kilt for this race and had contemplated going commando underneath but the cold temperatures convinced me otherwise.
Mile 0 - 13.2 (elevation: 5600' - 3500')
The start of the race wound through the campground leading to an asphalt road which we stuck to for the first mile.  We were then herded onto a narrow singletrack that was too narrow to pass at the beginning.  I was running with my friend Jennifer and we got stuck behind a few slow runners.  I was perfectly content with this since my game plan was to go slow for the first 4 or 5 miles in order to acclimate to the elevation and then pick up the pace once we start heading down the canyon.  Jennifer had other plans and she darted around at the first chance she got and went on ahead.  I was happy where I was but eventually my bunny appeared to be slowing down and so I darted around him as well.  At mile 4 we hit the Penny Pines station which is the entry for the Noble Canyon trail head.  This trail would be our home for the next couple of hours.  The next couple of miles involved some rolling hills but miles 6 - 13 was downhill and I was able to pick up some speed and pass a few people.  I was even able to catch and pass Jennifer, who would in turn pass me near the bottom and take the lead for the rest of the day.
For the most part, I felt pretty good in this section.  I did make one BIG mistake which I would pay for later on.  Last year there was an aid station at what would be near the 9 or 10 mile mark of this year's course and I was relying on it.  I was carrying 2 water bottles and that was it.  I had a small baggie of  Navita snack bites but wanted them later on.  Instead I was going to rely on the aid station offerings.  Anyways, I had plenty of water by the time I reached the Big Tree 1 aid station (mile 6.5) and so I just yelled out my bib number and ran through, with the idea of stopping at the next one to grab something to eat and to refill my water bottles.  Upon reaching the area where I thought the station would be I stopped in shock and did a silent WTF?!  I realized that the next station would be at the bottom of the hill at mile 13 and more than likely I would be starving and out of water.  Time to HTFU and get going.
I soon started running out of energy and I was rationing the water to make it last.  My "fun run" was starting to get bleak and I was being passed again and again.  But I eventually made it to the aid station and handed off my bottles for a refill.  I grabbed a couple of drinks and chugged them and grabbed some fig newtons figuring they'd fill me up quickly and revitalize me.  I grabbed my water bottles back and headed on back up the hill at a slow jog.
Mile 13.2 - 19.6 (elevation: 3500'- 5200')
I soon realized that I just didn't have the energy to run and decided to start walking.  I encountered Vanessa on her way down, gave her a quick kiss and wished her luck.  The way I was feeling I was certain she was going to catch up to me.  But at least I can walk relatively fast and so that's what I did...walk as fast as I could on the uphills and jog anything resembling a downhill.  This worked for the most part but I was frustrated with myself since it was still early on in the day and I didn't want this race to best me two years in a row.
From miles 15 on was a complete hell for me.  I was bonking hard and wanting to drink a lot of water but afraid to due to fear of running out.  Everytime I crossed a stream I would stop and pour water over my head and ensure my shirt and bandanna were soaked, just trying to keep my body cool.  It was a challenge keeping my mind clear of negative thoughts and so I resorted looking at nature and taking pleasure in the scenery around me.  Runners were passing me going up the hill while bikers and hikers were passing me going the other direction and I was saying a hearty "hello" and "good job" to as many as I could.  I did somehow manage to pass one guy who appeared to be struggling just as bad as I was and wished him the best.  Right after I passed him I came across another stream crossing and spent a few minutes soaking.  I saw him right when I was finishing up and never saw him again.  I suppose he took a cue from me and decided to cool off in the stream as well.
Shortly after drinking the last of my water bottles, I finally stumbled into the Big Tree 2 aid station.  Just in time since I was feeling like complete crap.  I recognized two of my friends, Mary Lou and Rachel, both of whom saved my day and got my spirits lifted.  Rachel grabbed my water bottles and Mary Lou was recommending foods for me to eat.  My stomach wasn't feeling good but she suggested watermelon dipped in salt and that turned into a very wise choice.  I also grabbed a couple cups of what I believe was Mountain Dew.  Whatever it was, by the time Rachel handed me my water bottles, I felt 100% better and wanted to run!
Mile 19.6 - 27 (elevation: 5200' - 5800')
I was overjoyed to have this new found energy and ran for almost the entire way to the next aid station, which was only 2.5 miles away.  There were a few uphill sections that I walked but every chance I got, I spun the wheels as much as I could.  The section entering the Penny Pines 2 aid station is mostly all downhill and I felt as if I was sprinting pretty good when I reached it.  I got a great laugh seeing Carl holding up a sign that Carlos drew for me and being able to laugh lifted my spirits even more.
As soon as I reached the tables, Stephen grabbed my bottles and asked what I wanted.  At the previous aid station I had asked for one bottle to be filled with carb drink but it was too sweet and so I asked Stephen to water it down and to fill the other with water.  I then moved over to the food and grazed on some more watermelon dipped in salt.  This was good stuff and something I'll try to ingest at future races.
This next section of trail has a nice long uphill section and I brought along my Creative Labs Mosaic MP3 player to keep me entertained during it.  I give thanks to Patrick Sweeney for hyping up his player and then later sending me a link he found on some refurbished ones.  I am normally against listening to music while running but these things have a built in speaker and fit nicely in my water bottle pouch.  I have a playlist loaded on it containing a mix of Jack Johnson, Matt Costa, Jimmy Buffet, and Amy Winehouse, a mix that I enjoy quite a bit.
I say my goodbyes to Stephan and am out.  The section leading to the hill is a meandering rolling trail that I enjoy.  I turn on the mp3 player and start running and singing out loud...well not too loud since I don't want to scare my fellow runners in case I happen upon any of them.  I see a few people in front of me and am able to catch a couple of them but not all of them.  And then I hit the hill.  I decide to walk almost all of it since I wanted to save my strength on the downhill section.  Also, this section is wide open and exposed and I didn't want to overheat and wear myself out.  Lots of hikers and bikers on this section who wish me luck and tell me I'm looking good.  Still feeling good and am happy to finally reach the crest (6000'!) and begin the downhill section leading to the next aid station called the Rat Hole.
This section is enjoyable to run since there are trees to give you shade and the course wanders around enough to keep me interested and entertained.  Plus I have some great tune playing.  The time flys by and it feels as if I am as well and I soon roll into the Rat Hole to be greated by Jesse and Keira, two new found ultra heroes of mine as well as cover models for Ink n Burn.  Jesse congratulates me and tells me I should win the award for best dressed and Keira grabs my water bottles and asks me why there is music coming from one.  While I am chatting with her, Keith comes out of nowhere and flips up my kilt and starts laughing at me.  I'm more puzzled than anything and just ignore him for the most part and continue talking to the lovely Keira while eating watermelon.
Mile 27-31.2 (elevation: 5800' - 5500')
I thank the aid station crew and head over to the highway crossing where Keith is hiding and say my goodbyes and start running once again.  I got a second wind (or would this be my third?) and am feeling light on my feet and start humming along to a Matt Costa song.  I catch and pass a few more runners and slowed down to chat with a guy running in Vibrams.  I recall him passing me during my low spell earlier in the morning and am happy to have caught him.  I congratulate him tackling the course in Vibrams mentioning that I ran the course in Huaraches last year and ended up with very tired feet.  He tells me he ran it as well and remembered seeing me.  I wish him the best and tell him I'll see him in a couple miles and I take off once again.
When I reached the lake I could see a couple more runners way off in the distance and I decided that I'd try to catch them.  The first one was pretty easy to catch but the second one was a bit more of a challenge.  I guess he knew what my plan was and set a goal for himself because although I gained on him, I was never going to catch him.  About 1.5 miles from the finish line we hit the asphalt and I concede to him, deciding to walk a bit while he kept on running.  This asphalt section sucked all of my willpower out of me.  I was having fun on the the nice single tracks for the past couple of hours and now this?  I soon entered the campgrounds and decide to run a bit more realizing how close I was to the finish line.  But then either the route got kinda crazy or my brain was getting foggy because I was getting easily confused.  I could see the orange flags but weren't sure where they were telling me to go.  I recognized a bridge that we ran over near the start and so I head across it to find another orange flag telling me I was going the right direction.  I ended up walking a bit more trying to figure out where the finish line is and then hear the crowd and start running towards the noise.  I see a row of flags leading to the Start/Finish banner and start running as fast as I can and am happy to hear people calling out my name.  And of course I run the wrong direction and have to have people guide me the right way.  But I finish and can finally kiss that friggin' ugly rat, something I could not do last year since I failed to meet the cutoff time.  Last year's race director is there to shake my hand and congratulate me, hanging the finishers medal around my neck.  He then points to a box of injinji gear and asks me to select an item of my choosing.  Oooh injinji socks!  Wait, a hat!  But I could always use more socks!  He tells me to hurry up and make up my mind and so I grab the hat and head over to where my friends are waiting.  A medic stops me to ensure I'm doing ok and I assure him I feel great.  In fact, I feel amazing!  My legs are a tad tired but I feel like I could continue running.  Wow!
JL hands me a beer and we sit, BS, and cheer on the rest of the runners.  Shortly after, Vanessa sprints in and I'm happy to see that she looks like she is ready to continue running as well.  Soon other friends finish up and join us, sharing stories, taking photos, and cheering on each runner as they come in.  Vanessa and I stay until the cutoff time and then say our goodbyes and head on home.
It was a beautiful day for a run and I am very thankful I got to share it with so many friends and wonderful people.  And I'm looking forward to my next date with the canyon

What a difference a year makes:

Finish Line 2010 (9:40)

                             




 





















Finish Line 2011 (6:48)

I'm back

Time for a do over.
I figured I'd revive the 'ole blog and dust off the cobwebs and share my adventures.  I now have a new person in my life who can be found loitering over at Vanessaruns.  I dragged her down to San Diego all the way from Toronto, Canada.  She's an active blogger who has inspired me to give it another try myself. 
Lately, Vanessa has been hooking us up with some freebies.  Therefore, amongst my ramblings I think I'll throw in a product review now and again.  Besides, it seems as if all barefoot runners have a blog and are reviewing items so why shouldn't I try to emulate?  Who knows, maybe some day my blog will be popular and companies will be scratching at my door to do reviews for them!
A short list of items I'd like to do reviews on in the upcoming days:

• Luna Sandals - this includes the Originals, Recylclados, and Catamounts
• Merrell Trail Gloves
• New Balance MT101
• Vivobarefoot Neo Trail
• and a few food items

I would review some Vibrams but it seems everyone and their grandmother own a pair now so it'd be kinda pointless.  Besides, I don't run in mine anymore but rather use them as workshoes these days.

Another interest of mine is to try a few various diets and see what kind of impact they have on me and my marathon and ultramarathon endeavors.  These diets would include things such as Paleo, Vegetarian, Vegan, and a few others as long as I don't think they appear to be nutritionally handicapped or costly.  These diets would be strictly followed for a full 30 days and then blogged about.

Well that's it for now.  Stay tuned.

BTW, my next ultra is the Noble Canyon 50k which is taking place this Saturday.  I have not been following any sort of training or diet so I will use it as a baseline.  Note that this is the same ultra that was my very first and promptly kicked my ass, leading to a 9 1/2 hour deathmarch in 110 degree temperatures.  Ugh!