Indian Runner

Report:
Very slow run overall but I spent a lot of time dicking around on the beach and at various points on the trail. Every now and then I just felt the need to stop and smell the farts.

Seriously though, this run went much better than expected. I felt like I could go further but I didn't want to make things worse by over-doing it. So I kept trying to tell myself to play it safe and to just go with the plan. And for the most part, that's what I did. The run itself wasn't too exciting. Except for the four trips, three deer, and one fall. Yep. I tripped four times. Three were early in the run and the fourth was near the end. All were because I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. The three deer scared the crap out of me. One I damn near tackled as I ran around the corner. He bolted so fast he nearly fell over. And the fall was thankfully not that bad. I was stepping over a downed tree branch and my foot got caught in a vine. I was walking so I was easily able to catch myself with one hand. Still felt like it came out of nowhere though.

The beach was nice as usual. The swamp was draining out and the tide was low. I got there early enough to see the foam still frozen on the beach. The early morning frost made the boardwalks extra slippery but I walked them all to ensure I didn't slide too far if I fell. Although many of them snapped, crackled, and popped when I walked on them. Guess they were a bit cold since it certainly had nothing to do with my weight.

The Beach. You may be able to see the frozen froth/foam in some of these.

The Trail.

Trying to strike a pose like Lauren.

Weather:
Temps were 25F at the start and maybe 40F to 45F when I finished. Frost on the ground for the first mile or two with some still left in the shadows by the end. Sun was out in full. Not really any wind.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was a burrito, egg, yogurt, and iced coffee. During the run I had a bottle of Hammer Fizz that I finished and plain water in my hydration pack (which I finished about half of). Recovery was Hammer Recoverite followed by lunch which was another burrito and an iced latte.

Aches and Pains:
My left Achilles felt tweaky but I think that's because I haven't used it much and I was trying to grind up the hills with a bit of a different form than normal. Beyond that, felt okay. Upper respiratory system didn't like the cold air or the effort but it survived.

Gear:
Wore my new arm sleeve coach with the map of the trails. Worked great. Took my recorder but didn't use it. Took lots of photos with my GoPro. Nothing else too extra ordinary beyond that. Although I did wear my neck gator as a hat instead of a regular hat. Worked great.

Codename - Indian Runner
The first deer I spooked wasn't very close but the second was close enough I could see he had four points. The third one I was able to pretty much sneak up on although that wasn't my intent. I was running softly and quietly enough to scare the shit out of him. Made me feel good that I wasn't clomping like a horse (like I've been known to do in the past).

Splits:
None. So suck it.

Garden Update

For those that don't know, we'll be starting a garden in 2013. Nothing major, just a small 4' x 4' garden. We've dabbled a bit in the past with growing things but never seem to have had much luck. So this will be our first "serious" attempt. Hopefully it can hold my attention through next winter and we can actually grow something beyond weeds.

Prep has been pretty slow but also very deliberate. William helped pick out the location of the garden with some general guidance by me. He also helped construct the raised box we'll be using (it was a cheap purchase from Home Depot). I added some weed fabric to the bottom in an attempt to keep most of the weeds at bay. Again, we'll see how that goes.

Anyway, this past weekend, he helped me mix the dirt. Which is to say, he watched me mix the dirt while he ate some pretzels and drank some water. I used the formula from Mel Bartholomew's All New Square Foot Gardening book. His formula is 1/3 compost, 1/3 peat moss, and 1/3 vermiculite. So on a recent trip to Lowe's, I picked up the desired items and let them sit for a bit until I could mix them.

I used our little garden cart for mixing and just dumped everything in there. The peat moss and compost (or "poop" as my helped kept reminding me) were pretty thick and dense. The vermiculite was very light and helped air out the other parts. It kind of reminded me of kitty litter but much lighter. Almost like styrofoam balls.

Anyway, once it was mixed, I dumped it into the planter and spread it around. In a bit of a pagan ritual, my son and I were the first to water the dirt. He used water, I used beer. Hope it brings us good luck.

Here's the planter before adding the mix. It has a thin layer of mulch in the bottom to weight it down but to also keep the weeds out:

The vermiculite, peat moss, and poop all mixed together:

The final product:

B-Rabbit

Report:
Kind of in between Great and Blah on this run. I'm feeling the leading edges of a sinus infection coming so I felt really lazy and sluggish but somehow managed to fight the urge to climb back into bed and dragged my sorry ass out the door and down the road. The cold air did wonders for my lungs and made me feel like I was climbing Mt. Hood or something while breathing through a straw. And that was the 20 foot hill a quarter mile from my front door. The big hill, all 100 feet of it, was a bit easier somehow. Must have been the warm-up getting there. Or the break at the bottom I took posing for pictures. Either way, I somehow managed to run up most of it, something I rarely do even on a good day.

I skipped my stretching and opted for a warm shower and shave. Glad I did. The rest of the day will be catching up on all my photos, podcasts, and blog posts. And work of course.

Weather:
Temps were about 50F. Sun was out. Only a light breeze.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was yogurt, a burrito, an egg, and part of an iced coffee. During the run I had a bottle of plain water. Recovery was a banana and the rest of my iced coffee.

Aches and Pains:
My chest, nose, sinuses, and everything related to breathing felt rough around the edges. Thankfully they weren't on fire from the effort.

Gear:
Wore my Tab (T-Star Running) shorts over my Ruez. No pants. Wore a thermal top under my vest. Wore mittens and a winter hat. Took my GoPro for pics. Mittens suck when trying to use your fingers but they do keep your fingers warmer. The Ruez and T-Star shorts worked great.

Codename - B-Rabbit
Had a dead rabbit in front of my car this morning. No, I didn't run it over either. It looks like it was left there as a sacrificial offering. When I snubbed it and went back inside, the pagans must have come back to take it to another God because it's now missing.

Splits:
Outbound - 10:59
Photo Shoot - 2:14
Inbound - 10:51 (impressive since the return leg is all uphill)
Finish - 24:05

One Sock Club

Report:
Pretty slow and crappy run. Mostly hiking but at least I was moving. Took some photos and video just to test the new settings on the camera but haven't checked them yet. Will do that in a few for my blog post.

Anyway, the views were great, the weather a bit chilly, and the trails were in good shape. My mind on the other hand wasn't in it today. I really, really wanted to go for a nice long run but magically when I woke up this morning I felt like doing nothing. Go figure.

Weather:
Temps were about 35F at the start and maybe 40F by the end. The sun was out and there was some early morning fog. Even a little frost on some plants and on the boardwalks (which made them extra slick). There was some wind near the river that made things a bit chillier but further inland it was pretty nice.

Fluids and Fuel:
My GI has been off its normal schedule since Richmond and today I think it's finally back to normal. Breakfast was a burrito which I ate on the way to the park and some water. During the run I had my hydration pack full of plain water and a bottle of Hammer Fizz. I barely touched the water and finished about half the Fizz. Recovery was Hammer Recoverite mixed with chocolate ZICO. That was followed by two eggs, yogurt, and iced coffee when I got home.

Aches and Pains:
Nothing to really speak of. My mind was just absent making it hard to really enjoy things.

Gear:
Wore my hydration pack which ended up being overkill. Took along my GoPro camera. Wore a vest for the first three miles then took it off. Also had a t-shirt over my thermal shirt and shorts under my pants. Wore gaiters, gloves, and a hat. Also took off my ear warmers with my vest.

Codename - One Sock Club
The first rule of the One Sock Club is that you don't talk about the One Sock Club. The second rule of the One Sock Club is that you remember to pack paper towels so you don't need a sock.

Splits:
Unknown since I didn't take my phone. Distance is also an estimate but pretty close.
Finish - 54:20

Sock Hop

Report:
Wow. Guess three days on my ass leads to a nice, solid run. Didn't care much about how fast I was going but I was surprised to reach my turn-around point so quickly. I was also pleased to hit the finish that fast. Again, wasn't aiming for speed here, just running on effort. And it was worth it. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't tough either. The mental part was the best part. Wasn't quite floating on air but I felt good during and after the run. Something that doesn't always happen.

Oh, and I did Week 1, Day 1 of the #100PushUps program again. Maybe, just maybe, this time I can finish it.

Weather:
Temps were about 50F. There was a light wind that I felt here and there but nothing too terrible. Sky was overcast and it felt like it was going to rain but it never did.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was small iced latte, a good breakfast burrito (it was very hard to resist the bad burrito but I did it), and yogurt. During the run I had a bottle of water and a bottle of Hammer Fizz. I finished both. At the halfway point I also took a Hammer Gel (chocolate). Since I was between breakfast and lunch, I felt like I needed something. Recovery was one scoop of Hammer Recoverite in my iced coffee, a giant salad, and some wafer cookies.

Aches and Pains:
None really. Stepped on a few pointy rocks but nothing too bad.

Gear:
I tested two new pieces of gear today. The first was a pair of UnderArmour gloves. I liked that they fit great and that I could zip/unzip them to help put them on as well as control the temperature a bit. They passed the test and will be part of my regular rotation. The other gear was a pair of socks. I've worn the brand before in the past and after 20+ miles they'd give me blisters. But, now that I'm in different shoes and actually like a little extra padding, I figured it was worth a try. Plus they were free so it was kind of hard to turn them down.

Codename - Sock Hop
Kind of fitting that I get free socks right after my kids got to celebrate the 50th day of school with a sock hop. Amazing that it's been 50 days already. And it's amazing that teachers these days still remember the 1950s.

Splits:
Outbound - 30:36
Inbound - 30:56
Finish - 1:01:33

Podcast - Mile 47 - Getting Screwed

Yet another failed attempt to not only bring you a podcast but also a video (aka v-cast or vlog). Seems that I just can't win with my fancy new camera and rig setup. Guess I need to keep trying. I'm hoping the third time is the charm. In the end, I got screwed by my camera. Again.

Which means while you listen, just pretend you're watching a video of me running on the trail. In some cases, you may need to pretend really hard. Other times, you'll need to pretend really, REALLY hard.

In the meantime, I think I need to sit back and think about how to do the podcast I want. I have yet to really find my voice beyond just rambling on and on about some inane shitty crap that's going through my head. I think my dearth of self-confidence is screwing me. Hard.

So, I'm going to go out on a limb and ask for suggestions. What do you want to hear? What suggestions do you have? I know many podcast fans (in general) don't like the whole run-cast theme (meaning running while recording) but it works for me. So that's likely to be the one thing I won't change. Outside of that, I'm open for suggestions. Maybe I should go back and listen to some of my earlier episodes to see what creeps to the surface.

Oh, and did you notice that the mile number on this is wrong? Yep. Got my numbers mixed up and said 46 when it should have been 47. Screwed yet again.

I hope everyone has a nice holiday and prepares accordingly for the coming year. Stop by Podbean to give this episode a listen or download directly here.

2012 Anthem Richmond Marathon Race Report

Report:
I know you've all been waiting for it, so here's the long story of this year's 2012 Richmond Marathon. So grab some coffee because I'm sure I'll be long winded enough to make you want to fall asleep.

The weekend started with my in-laws arriving to keep an eye on the kids while my wife and I enjoyed a weekend in the bright lights of the big city of Richmond. Last year my wife did the 8k, nearly froze, and watched me finish my first marathon. This year my wife did the half marathon, stayed warm, and limped over to give me a hug after I finished my second marathon. Last year we stayed downtown while this year I was late in booking a hotel so we had to stay out by the airport. Still a nice hotel, just made parking on race morning a bit.....exciting.

My wife put about 5 miles or training into her debut half marathon and frankly, I was worried. Would she finish? Would she beat the cut-off time? Would she go out too fast? Would she have GI issues? Turns out she finished in about 4:15 and aside from the expected sore muscles only had a big blister to deal with. After some hot tub therapy and some TLC from the medical crew at the finish line, she's pretty much back to normal. She walked nearly the whole race and had no GI issues. I'm so happy, proud, excited, and more for her and what's she's done. I knew she'd do her best but I had no idea she would do this well.

Here she is about to embark on her first half marathon!

Now that I'm done bragging about her, let's start trash talking me. Race day morning and we got up, showered, dressed, and made it downtown by about 0630. Just in time. Or so we thought. We found a nice little gravel lot, parked, looked at the map, then decided to try to find something closer to the finish. What a mistake. We ended up stuck in gridlock for a good 20 minutes before finally, somehow, making it back to the exact same parking lot. Somehow, through magic or something, we even found one of the last parking spots. Holy shit was that a nerve-wracking drive. I thought we'd be stuck in traffic for hours. So for future reference, book a hotel EARLY and make it downtown. Second, if you stay at the airport, park at the lot on 3rd Street and Leigh. It's right off the interstate. Yes, it's a hike from the finish but you'll at least be able to park.

Once we parked, we followed the crowds of other runners to the start. We ducked into the Marriot since she needed a bathroom and I knew where that one was. Saw Royanna H. walk by with her husband twice. I thought it was her the first time I saw her but couldn't be sure. The second time I saw her I knew it was her but she never looked over so I never waved. The third time she came up and said hello. Unfortunately neither of us took a picture. Bummer.

From there we made our way to the start where I walked with her for a few minutes wishing her luck. I let her go and headed to the porta potty before finding a nice, warm, air vent to stand over before hopping into my corral. I felt a bit like Marilyn Monroe standing there but it was warm.

Why did I feel like Marilyn Monroe? Because I was wearing a kilt. This was my motivation for the entire race. Every few miles or so I'd get a comment about my kilt and it would help motivate me to keep going. The sad news is, there's a group of people that are smart enough to know the difference between a skirt and a dress but have no idea what a kilt is. Every 5 miles or so I'd get a "nice skirt" or "you're brave for wearing a skirt" comment. By the end of the race I wasn't mumbling under my breath when I'd respond "It's not a fucking skirt, it's a kilt!" Yeah. The good news is, I had plenty of positive comments about my kilt. Several people asked what was I wearing under it (men and women) to which I'd calmly shrug my shoulder and leave them guessing. One guy asked where my sporran was and another asked where my knife was. Got a few questions about my clan and a few drunk college frat guys yelled "FREEDOM!" from their balcony.

For those that have never worn a kilt in a race before, be prepared for those questions. Also, be prepared to be warm. At the start, this was great. It was way warmer than most of my other running clothes. I wore calf sleeves and shorts and my kilt and my legs were always warm. This was great at the start but got a little too warm by the finish. Also be prepared for wind. It wasn't too windy during the race but a few times my bib number flopped over and wasn't visible.

The race course itself changed a bit since last year due to construction. I had heard this but didn't really care much about it. We trucked down Broad and I was flying. I knew it was too fast and I tried to slow down but the kilt and the crowds kept me going. I'd walk a minute after every mile but still felt like I was going too fast.

We made a short little U-turn around Mile 4 and I saw Chatty Kathy pass me. I instantly sent Tab a message because I KNEW she'd want to know. It was also a reminder that this race was so low-key and low-pressure that I felt comfortable sending texts and Facebook messages during a race.

Mile 7 was the crazy long downhill that led to the bridge. I remember this hill from last year because it felt great to go so fast and the crowd at the bottom was awesome. I also remember last year that the bridge sucked because after that there were no crowds and your motivation leaked out of you like crazy. Because of the bridge construction we detoured through some hilly sections before hitting Riverside Drive which takes us along the James River. I loved this section last year and this year was just as nice.

From there we zig-zagged through various roads, neighborhoods, and sections that were a bit of a blur. Around Mile 10, near the end of the river section, I began slowing down and walking more. It felt crazy that my splits were so fast but I was getting tired and wanted to still have a smile on my face when I finished. So I added a walk break about ever 5 or 6 minutes to the routine or I'd walk a hill or an aid station. It slowed my pace some but I still felt good.

This is where things start to get a bit blurry. Somewhere around Mile 14 I managed to score an Accel Gel. It was vanilla. It tasted okay. Then, maybe a block later, a guy was offering Screwdrivers. I hadn't been looking for a stiff drink but I sure as hell wasn't going to turn one down. It tasted great! Until a mile later when the drink finally mixed with the gel and said "dude, what the hell is that?" After a bit of grumbling, I was back to normal. This was also around the time I used the bathroom to pee. The only time I'd pee during the entire race. It made me nervous towards the end but I felt good so I stuck it out.

After my drink at Mile 14, I began actively looking and asking for beer. I saw plenty of signs saying beer was ahead but I never saw any. It wasn't until about Mile 19 that I saw a mini-table set up with shots and a sign that said help yourself. The guy on the microphone there trying to amp up the runners was a bit annoying when he kept asking what was under my kilt but I easily drowned him out with three shots of something. I think it was Jack Daniels. Now that my tongue was numb and the aches were creeping away, I felt well enough to run a bit.

Oh wait, did I mention that I had pretty much resigned myself to walking at this point? yep. I was ready to walk the rest of the way in. Then the booze hit. I turned the corned and they had Natty Light at the table. I took two. The beer didn't like the liquor but it didn't make me sicker and instead made me quicker. I managed to shuffle off for another mile or so before completely crashing around Mile 21.

Here I am just before Mile 20 with the Stonewall Jackson statue behind me:

That stupid ass hill sucks balls. But I managed to make the climb over it and dealing with my pain. After all, it was only a few more miles to the finish and I'd survive. I was in full-on damage control mode. Not quite survival mode but I knew I'd finish I just didn't want to fuck things up too badly just to beat the cut-off. I knew I'd beat it if I walked so I just kept walking.

Then the magic happened. Mile 24. I don't know what it was or where it came from but I somehow found a running gear. It wasn't fast, that's for sure but it was faster than walking. So I ran when I could and walked when I wanted. Mile 25 came and I could smell the finish. Mile 26 took forever. I swear they stretched out that last mile just to play games with your head. I checked street names just to see how close I was to the end.

Then comes the finish. Downhill. Last year's finish was downhill and I swear I was going so fast I was flying. This year I was just trying not to hurt when I finished. Since I'm big, I knew my mass would help propel me faster but the hill was so damn steep. Easily twice the grade as last year's finish.

Once across the finish line, the announcer called my name, mentioned something about my kilt, and I did my best to wave and smile. The finish chute was a bit confusing as there was water, then walking, then your medal. Once on the island I had my picture taken, found some grub, and found my wife. We both hobbled back to the shuttle bus after I stretched for a few minutes. Somehow missed Danny W. when he got on the bus until he said my name. We chatted a bit on the way back up the hill a few blocks and then my wife and I hiked (hobbled) the several long blocks back to our car.

Recovery has been, in a word, amazing. I feel stiff and sore but it feel so much easier. I know I was hurting after my first 50k and my first marathon and even my first half marathon. But this marathon felt effortless now that I'm recovering. Yes, my legs hurt but the fact that I could run a 5k with one day of rest after this race makes me feel so much better about my training.

Oh, and I know somebody out there who knows me yelled at me. I have no idea who you are, where you were, or how you know me. But hello right back to you. And no, this person didn't say "good luck Lumberjack" like others did. I expected that. It was on my bib and on my back. But this person said my real name. I didn't expect it. So hello right back at you. Feel free to tell me who you are and where you were.

Weather:
Temps started out around 45F and finished around 65F. Sun was out. Wind was light.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was half a bagel with honey and a small iced coffee. Usually the coffee wakes things up below deck but not on race day. Those doors were closed all day for some reason. During the race I had a bottle of Hammer Fizz that I refilled about six or seven times. I also had my Salomon hydration pack with plain water that I didn't refill at all. I had some of my cat barf casserole during the race but didn't finish it all. Mostly because it was too damn hard to eat. Seems to fall apart when it gets warm. I had two Accel Gels, one at Mile 14 (vanilla) and one at Mile 21 (chocolate). Both were offered on the course. I had one small screwdriver, three shots, and two small beers. These were simply awesome. Although the screwdriver didn't go well with vanilla and the beers made things a bit foamy in my gut. Recovery was half a green banana and half a Powerade at the finish, Hammer Recoverite at the hotel, then a super-high calorie dinner at the hotel (loaded fries, bacon mac and cheese, burger, and mashed potatoes).

Aches and Pains:
Not really any during the race. Just the usual sore muscles from a long run.

Gear:
Wore my black Altra Instincts, Zensah calf sleeves, North Face shorts, Sport Kilt, thermal top (which I took off around Mile 17 since I was too damn hot), winter hat (which I ditched on the side of the road around Mile 10), Dailymile singlet (with THE LUMBERJACK spray painted on the back), gloves (which I kept on the whole race), and Salomon hydration pack. I also used my retro MP3 player and listened to four podcasts and a little bit of radio.

Codename - It's not a fucking skirt, it's a kilt!
I mean, seriously. I may look like a pregnant and ugly Catholic school girl in my kilt but I'm a man. In a fucking kilt. Maybe next time I'll wear nothing under there and then I can flash my ass when I hear somebody say skirt. Or maybe I'll spray paint "IT'S A FUCKING KILT" on the back of my shirt just to make it clear. Sheesh.

What I looked like before the race. Proof that it's not a fucking skirt.

Splits:
Mile 1 - 10:36
Mile 2 - 11:56
Mile 3 - 11:45
Mile 4 - 11:55
Mile 5 - 11:47
Mile 6 - 12:22
Mile 7 - 11:20
Mile 8 - 12:00
Mile 9 - 12:00
Mile 10 - 11:53
Mile 11 - 13:13
Mile 12 - 13:36
Mile 13 - 13:06
Mile 14 - 12:58
Mile 15 - 12:37
Mile 16 - 12:57
Mile 17 - 14:05
Mile 18 - 14:18
Mile 19 - 14:21
Mile 20 - 15:46
Mile 21 - 17:53
Mile 22 - 16:34
Mile 23 - 17:09
Mile 24 - 15:40
Mile 25 - 15:30
Mile 26 - 14:39
Finish - 5:54:07

Podium Finish

Report:
Yes, I ran another race. No, I'm not crazy. It was on a bit of a whim but it was mostly to have some sort of "forced" active recovery. I say forced because if I'm going to run a race, I'm going to force myself to do my best and finish. And that's what I did. Was I fast? Hell no. But I finished and that's good enough for me. And on top of it all, I had a perfect chance to stretch out the legs and recover from Richmond.

Elizabeth finished 2nd in her age group.

But not before playing in the dirt.

Weather:
Temps started out cold but by the time the race started it was about 55F. By race finish it was maybe 60F or even 65F. Sun was out in full. Wind was light.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was a burrito, yogurt, and water. During the run I had a bottle of Hammer Fizz. Recovery was Hammer Recoverite followed by an iced latte later.

Aches and Pains:
Well, two days after a marathon and I was surprised at how well I felt. I was still stiff and sore but being able to crack out a decently paced 5k is impressive to me. In fact, my level of pain after this marathon is a lot like my level of pain after my first 5k. Barely noticeable.

Gear:
I wore a thermal top that I stripped off at Mile 1. Singlet felt much better after that. Did wear gloves the whole time though. No other special gear although my THE LUMBERJACK singlet probably scared a few people.

Codename - Podium Finish
This race was so small, I finished on the podium. And there were only two people behind me. And the last place finisher also placed on the podium. Yup. Small races rock. Was I happy with 3rd place? Meh, it was okay. I was a little disappointed about not getting a medal (only 1st and 2nd got medals) but I was happy to stand on a podium. I've never done that before. Woohoo! Oh, and my daughter also ran the 5k. She placed 2nd in her age group. Double woohoo!

Splits:
Mile 1 - 11:43
Mile 2 - 11:19
Mile 3.1 - 12:02
Finish - 35:12 (I stopped my watch at 35:05 but it turns out I was about 5 steps shy of the finish line. No big deal though, not like I expected to win.)

Podcast - Mile 46 - Self Abuse

As I drove to my 12 hour race a week after my first 100k, I suddenly found my car making the turn for my home for 5 short years of my life. Edinboro, PA. It's one of the few places in the world that I've felt connected to and I know it has nothing to do with location and everything to do with the people I lived there with. Sadly, I rarely talk to those I knew then. We've all grown older and grown apart. The only person I talk to daily is my wife. We met there freshman year and have gone through a lot together. A lot of that "a lot" was in Edinboro.

So as I suddenly found myself driving through the streets of a small town (I'm talking 4 stop lights here folks - four stoplights), I decided to record a bit for a future podcast. It was depressing. You probably can't hear it coming through, but I felt it. There were times I just wanted to stop the car and cry. I wanted to turn the clock back all those years and go back to my dorm room.

I couldn't though. Not only have I changed but the campus has changed. There were bits and pieces that I recognized but it's like looking at a picture of your parents from when they were teenagers. You can see certain facial features that look familiar but it's just not the same.

In the end, I gave myself a pretty hefty case of "the good old days" and felt down for a good long while. I can't wait for my kids to go to college so I can live vicariously through them. I can only hope they make better decisions that I did.

You can look up my kilt on Podbean or download directly here.

DC Pierson

Report:
One of the best runs I've had in a while. Probably since my 100k. Can I mention that enough that I've done 100k? Maybe I'll squeeze it in again before the end of this report. Anyway, I headed out the door to the local state park, found the gates closed, so I headed to my backup trail, the local rail trail. Things went well, smooth, and only a little cold.

The trees were nice to look at, the leaves were super loud (you could really tell when you found a spot empty of leaves), and the geese didn't attack. Mentally, I was just kind of floating around out there like the leaves. I listened to Paul Gilmartin and his Mentalpod podcast and just focused on moving forward. Every now and then I'd drop my space-cadet routine and notice something like squirrels, an ATV trail, etc. I even tried to focus on breathing through my nose for a bit (something I read about in Scott Jurek's book). It worked okay but didn't last too long.

Weather:
Temps were about 48F. Winds were about 10 to 20 mph which made the temps feel like 40 to 45F (depending on where I was on the trail). Sky was mostly overcast but the sun would creep out a few times.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was multigrain waffles, an egg, and iced coffee. During the run I had a bottle of Hammer Fizz and half a bottle of plain water. Recovery was Hammer Recoverite mixed into my iced latte.

Aches and Pains:
None. And it kind of concerned me. Maybe I'm over thinking things.

Gear:
Wore my Nathan pack but put my bottles in the back instead of the hydration pouch. Took my phone for photos. Tested out my new Mountain Hardwear gaiters. Well, they aren't new, I've had them forever but never used them. They worked great but the velcro part near your toes didn't work to hot. Pulled my laces back further than I'd like. Also wore my Rudy Project glasses with the clear yellow lenses. Worked great but made my fluorescent shirt look funny.

Codename - DC Pierson
DC was Paul's guest on the podcast. Go support both of them. Especially Paul. He's great at giving you free therapy even though he isn't trying to be a therapist.

Splits:
Warmup - 4:17
Mile 1 - 15:39
Mile 2 - 14:01
Mile 3 - 12:56
Mile 4 - 16:34 (stopped to block the trail a bit so ATV users would illegally use it)
Mile 5 - 11:01
Cooldown - 3:51
Finish - 1:18:23

Note - The Warmup and Cooldown sections aren't really warm ups or cool downs. It's more of the section from the parking lot to the first mile marker which means it's about a quarter mile. In other words, I really ran about 5.5 miles instead of 5. Bah, never mind. Nobody reads this far anyway.

Podcast - Mile 45 - Hallucination Hundred

The title pretty much says it all.

View the episode at Podbean or download it here.

DNA

Report:
Opted for a trail run this morning and couldn't quite decide on which trail to run. As I left the house, I immediately narrowed things down since I missed the turn for one of the trails. So from there I was able to decide to hit the local rail trail. Worst part of the run was the parking lot. Seems to be a local hot spot for some late night hook-ups. Wet wipes and everything. Yuck.

Anyway, the rest of the run was a loose on/off run/walk pattern. I'd just walk when I felt like it, no set time or distance. Overall I felt pretty good. My left knee had some pains near the end but outside of that, most of my attention was on playing with my new toy. Well, semi-new. I've had it a few weeks but haven't had much time to play with it.

Weather:
Temps were about 37F when I started and it warmed up to maybe 40F by the end. Sun was out when I arrived and when I left but during the run it was pretty cloudy. No real wind that I could feel.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was yogurt, water, iced coffee, and a breakfast burrito (which I ate on my drive over). Recovery was Hammer Recoverite.

Aches and Pains:
The heel of my right foot feels funny with my odd, alien growth. It hurts when it rubs and when there's pressure applied. My left knee began to hurt around mile 3 but nothing too terrible.

Gear:
Nathan hydration pack, voice recorder, GoPro Hero 2, Smoothee Steadicam, Zensah calf sleeves (just to make sure they fit), long pants, thermal long sleeve shirt, short sleeve shirt on top, winter hat, and gloves.

Codename - DNA
If you commit a crime and want to get away with it, make sure nobody is willing to collect a DNA sample from your used condom and used tampon. I know I certainly wasn't willing to collect any samples.

Splits:
Outbound - 28:25
Inbound - 26:32
Finish - 54:57

Walking during lunch

Just a short walk today during my lunch break. Nothing exciting but thought I'd share some photos.