The Lumberjack

The 7 Deadly Sins

2012-02-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

As I was running one day, I began to ponder the seven deadly sins. And how many I suffer from. And how many will kill me.

Envy.Yep. I suffer from this one. I envy those with a better life. More money, more sex, better jobs, better houses, better cars, everything. I envy those people. Not bad enough to do anything too stupid, but I do feel completely incompetent around people that are better than me. And I envy them at the same time.

Gluttony. Are you shitting me? Have you ever seen me eat? I had two servings at dinner tonight. One full serving more than I needed to have. And I'm pretty sure I'll have a snack later tonight too.

Greed. I think I'm greedy to a degree. But I do know that if I were rich, I'd give it all away. Well, not all of it but enough of it to make sure I could live a comfortable life will still improving the lives of those around me.

Lust. Not even going to discuss this one. Too personal. So let's leave it at that.

Pride. I'm extremely proud of my running accomplishments. Proud as a peacock. I love telling people how far I've run. About my past races and future plans. Yes, that's right, I do brag sometimes. But I at least try to humble brag.

Sloth. I'm sitting down for work and for rest. I'm a total couch potato. There are days where I could stay in bed forever. For many reasons. But it's days like that that going to the bathroom are about the only reason I leave the bed.

Wrath. I am spiteful to some degree. I have some extreme thoughts when it comes to people committing certain crimes. Even more so when it comes to punishing stupid, ignorant people.

Isn't low self esteem fun? And so many of these feed off of each other. Gluttony and sloth. Pride and envy. God am I so messed up.

Podcast - Mile 20 - Across The 8-Tracks

2012-02-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

In this episode, I cross the tracks. As in, I've now put 20 episodes out there into the wild and have yet to hear from anyone. And I'm okay with that. As I reveal more and more of my personal life, I think I'd prefer to remain anonymous. Although becoming ultra-famous does sound appealing.

Anyway, this episode covers two main topics. First, the movie Across The Tracks staring Brad Pitt and Rick Schroder. It was a decent movie but was pretty interesting to watch as a fan of running. My amateur analysis tells me that Schroder can't run but Pitt can. Second, I worry about my upcoming race, the ICY-8. It's an 8 hour ultra and some big dogs are coming to town. Specifically Steve Spiers and Andy O'Brien. While both are supremely nice guys, they will grind you into the ground when you compete against them.

So there you have it. I know I'm late in getting this episode out but work is, well, work. And with my race coming up on Saturday, I've been shitting bricks. So just hang with me while I stick it out.

Give it a listen here.

Yesterday's Run - Numb

2012-02-01T09:34:00.001-05:00

Report:
Felt super sluggish for this run but I knew it needed to be done. The weather was great but man did it get hot. Scary to think that 60 some degrees is hot but when you're used to running in weather cold enough to freeze your kibbles-n-bits, anything over 50 is hot. My legs, back, and just about everything else were about as flat as Nebraska.

Weather:
Temps were about 60F to 65F. Wind was moderate. Sun was out in full.

Fluids and Fuel:
This was a lunch-time run. Breakfast was an egg, toast, coffee, and yogurt. I had a few glasses of water after that. First lunch was salad. During the run I had one Hammer Gel and one bottle of Hammer Fizz (way under-hydrated based on the temps). Recovery was spinach and artichoke dip with bread and an orange soda (no caffeine).

Aches and Pains:
Everything was unhappy today. Legs, back, arms. Pretty much just felt blah. No sharp pains though.

Gear:
Wore my Hammer visor for the first time and it barely fits (I have a huge head). Will also be the last run in these particular Kinvaras.

Codename - Numb
Yet another numb run. Just didn't feel much of anything. Meh.

Splits:
Outbound - 20:14
Inbound - 20:22
Finish - 40:36

Yesterday's Run - Weight, What?

2012-01-30T06:00:00.000-05:00

Report:
Today was a nice and brutal run with Kris D. We set up a run "date" and planned on anything greater than 13. Turns out she's never done anything longer than a half marathon. So I was happy to oblige and we ended up cracking out 16+ miles. We started at the usual meeting spot at mile marker 4, ran down to mile marker 8, came back for a quick pit stop, then headed down to mile marker 0 and back. All in all, 16 miles and a good half mile or so on the bypass made for a solid run.

We chatted here and there, mostly early on in the run, but has sporadic conversations as we moved along. You never know when you run with people if they like to talk or not. I know with Biddi W. you can make her slow down by getting her to talk. And I know Catherine loves to talk. With Kris, it was a bit of both. Talking slowed her down a bit but at the end I think it kept her going a bit too. I could sense we were both slowing down but talking seemed to ease some of the pain and distracted us (well, me at least) enough to finish strong.

The trail was it's usual self with plenty of rocks, pine needles, and everything in between. We saw a couple out walking their dog and three deer. Aside from that, it was pretty quiet out there!

Weather:
Temps started out around 35F but warmed up quickly into the 40s and topped out around 47F by the end. The sun was out in full. Had a slight breeze that wasn't too bad.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was coffee, eggs, toast, and yogurt. I took an e-Gel before starting the run and a second one at mile 4. The first 8 miles I took my hydration pack and had a bottle of Hammer Fizz. I finished the bottle but still had a ton of water left in my pack. At mile 8 I ate a Honey Stinger Waffle and half a bottle of water to wash it down. For the next 8 miles I had a bottle of Hammer Fizz and another bottle of Hammer Perpeteum mixed with coffee instead of water.

Gear:
I wore my cycling jersey over my Under Armour shirt. Turns out I could have done without the thermal layer but I'm still glad I had it. I wore my gloves for the first 4 miles and put them back on for the last 8 miles. I also ditched my hat at mile 4 and stuck with my headband. I wore my Nathan Hydration pack for the first 8 miles then ditched it to run with just my handhelds for the last 8 miles. Aside from that, didn't really have any other special gear on me.

Aches and Pains:
My right calf started to cramp up a bit around mile 8. My left hip started to hurt around mile 10. The ball on my left foot started to hurt around mile 10 as well.

Codename - Weight, What?
So I rarely disclose everything I talk about with others during a run. It's like Vegas and Des Moines, what's said on the run, stays on the run. And while Kris and I didn't exactly share our deepest, darkest secrets with each other, there were a few conversations that should stay on the run. But I have to say, when we started talking about weight (hers, mine, and that of others), I damn near tripped. She told me how much she weighed and I swear she had to be lying. I could have sworn she was 20 pounds lighter. And even if I was a poor judge of weight, she had to be at least 10 pounds lighter. So keep that in mind Batman. If you ever need to whisk her to safety with your Batpulley, she claims to be heavier than she looks.

Splits:
Mile 1 - 10:38
Mile 2 - 11:10
Mile 3 - 13:42 (includes gun range bypass)
Mile 4 - 11:25
Mile 5 - 12:36 (includes my pee break)
Mile 6 - 13:38 (includes gun range bypass)
Mile 7 - 11:28
Mile 8 - 11:29
Aid Station - 3:25
Mile 9 - 10:38
Mile 10 - 11:37
Mile 11 - 11:43
Mile 12 - 11:45
Mile 13 - 11:51
Mile 14 - 12:07
Mile 15 - 12:26
Mile 16 - 11:52
Finish - 3:13:37

Podcast - Mile 19

2012-01-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

Feel free to waste a few minutes listening to me talk in my latest podcast installment. Yadda yadda yadda.

Today's Run - Cautiously Optimistic

2012-01-24T10:30:00.000-05:00

Report:
The bad news is that I had another SOUR run. The good news is that I had another sour RUN. See the change in emphasis? Yeah. That's about where I am today. Work killed me last week and isn't going to do me any favors until mid-April. But it puts food on the table and affords me a flexible schedule. So I'll try not to complain too much. As expected, I didn't want to run this morning but I forced myself out the door. Thankfully I didn't roll my fat ass back into bed. Thankfully I fit my fat ass into some Large tights. I mean, these things say Large but I think they're for guys built like a Large fucking twig and the label should really read Smallish-Medium. But I smuggled my grapes in there and even managed to keep all the seam intact during my run. Probably because I didn't have to bend over or anything.

So I cruised down the road in the pre-dawn light wondering if I'd ever want to run again. Still don't have that answer. Well, that's not true, I do want to run. I just can't motivate myself to put down the bag of chips and get outside. And seeing as I've been fighting this feeling for a good week or more, I feel even worse because of all the weight (real or imaginary) that I've put on.

Anyway, enough of the pity party. The run. I ditched a bottle about a half mile from home and would pick it up on the way back. I over dressed for the slightly warmer weather. I was literally chased by a dog. Sort of. Dog 1 and Dog 2 barked at me from a porch that was a good 6 feet off the ground. Thinking I was safe, I ignored them. Until I here clinking behind me and Dog 1 was at my heels. Not nipping but certainly showing some interest. Guess I stunk too bad since he didn't chase me more than a few steps. Dogs 3, 4, and 5 gave a solid go at barking but no chasing. Was passed by many people going to and from work. Even got a "look out" as I was making my return trip up the massive hill. Coming out of the gully, there's a few blind turns and a blind hill and a single lane wooden bridge that all add up to a scary drive if you go too fast. And what comes up behind me? A bus. The kid at the stop just ahead of me gave me fair warning though that a car was coming the other way so I safely jumped the ditch onto the berm. I got a few more strides up the hill until two more cars came down. This time there was no berm but I had a rock that was perfectly placed. Phew! Aside from not getting creamed, I was happy to be able to run up both hills without stopping. Whee!

After that, I snagged my bottle and went home for a shower and some breakfast.

Weather:
Temps were about 45F. No sun. Heavy clouds. Heavy humidity. No fog but it was murky enough to make you think there was some.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was a yogurt and water. During the run I had two bottles of GU Brew. I finished a little more than one by the end. Recovery was oatmeal, eggs, toast, and coffee with a hint of Ensure.

Gear:
Wore my Petzl MYO RXPheadlamp this morning with a RoadID Firefly light on the back. The headlamp straps rub the tops of my ears a bit so it may be annoying if I had to wear it for a long period of time. I also wore my super-small Large tights which thankfully stayed intact. I wore my Brooks vest, which continues to prove itself as a viable layer in the cold. No iPod this morning as I wanted to go a bit naked.

Aches and Pains:
Not really any to speak of. Had a few small rocks in my shoes but nothing I couldn't ignore. My back is a bit stiff after the run but I think that's just from sitting too damn long at work and not using my log roller.

Codename - Cautiously Optimistic
Rarely am I optimistic. In fact, many consider me pessimistic. In reality, I'm realistically pessimistic about my optimism. As in I plan for the worst while I hope for the best. So as I showered today I felt just the fringes of hope. Just a glimmer of a shadow that there may be happy times ahead. Maybe. Hopefully. Who knows. Maybe I just stood in the hot water too long and cooked my brain.

Splits:
Outbound - 20:51
Inbound - 20:28
Finish - 41:19

Yesterday's Run - Hubba Hubba

2012-01-20T06:00:00.001-05:00

Report:
After my session with Stephanie, I headed over to the Y. I knew I'd have plenty of time before work started so I headed out for a run. It was the first since my disaster of a run last Sunday. I hate to taper before a race but I think after Sunday's run I needed a break. My mind was so far from the game I needed to go watch something else. Anyway, I headed out into the frigid air with plans of running a few laps on the 5k loop. Turns out I did better than I expected.

My first lap was a regular loop. I had to stop about a half mile into the run to put my balaclava on since I was insanely cold. I then headed out for a regular run on my old stomping grounds. After the first lap, I made a quick pitstop for the bathroom and a water refill. I headed back out for an altered lap and ran four miles instead of the standard three. I also needed another bathroom break halfway through. I then made another stop to refill my bottle again and headed back out for yet another lap, this time just a regular 5k. I had a bit of a head start on the group run class, which turned out for the best since Chatty Kathy dude was there. Never before have I been so glad that somebody runs faster than me. After this lap, I was done.

Almost. I headed into the gym and stretched out before doing my push-ups from yesterday. I've been trying to stick to the 100 push-up plan again but keep forgetting despite the reminders I set for myself. Oh, and I realize why I prefer to run outside. Yes, the treadmill is insanely boring. But I think the real reason is all the eye candy in there. What the hell ladies?! Put some slobby clothes on, please! It's too easy to undress you with my eyes.

Weather:
Temps started at about 27F then got to a whopping 35F by the end. Except the last lap had some stronger winds, which I'm sure kicked in the windchill to drop the temps. Sun was out along with a few clouds.

Fluids and Fuel:
No recovery drink after my workout with Stephanie. Started my run with a bottle of Hammer Perpeteum and another bottle of Hammer Fizz (grape). The grape flavor was great in the Fizz. The Perpeteum was beyond the ideal shelf life (it was about 4 days old but was kept in the fridge). Both appeared to work great through the entire run. After the first lap, I had half a bottle of each left so I topped them off with water (thus diluting them more). After the second lap, I had finished my Fizz and topped off my Perpeteum bottle (diluting it even more). I finished that by the end of the third lap. Recovery was an iced latte, fish sub, and jalapeno poppers.

Aches and Pains:
Nothing really hurt but my quads were tired. One minor update. After my run, I hit the showers since it was absolutely necessary to clean the funk of 3 hours off me. It wasn't until then that I discovered a new level of pain. I've suffered from Monkey Butt before and have learned to treat it with Body Glide or other methods. Today, I suffered from Monkey Nutt. Ow ow ow.

Gear:
Wore my Brooks vest and took my iPod along. Listened to music the entire time. Vest worked great. Also had to switch to my balaclava for the first lap. After that I was able to get by with a regular winter hat.

Codename - Hubba Hubba
Seriously ladies, please look as ugly as you can when you're in the gym. Or at least when you're in my gym. Or at least warn me your smokin' hot ass is going to be squeezed into some tight tights while your top is going to show enough cleavage to make me want to ski the Twin Peaks.

Splits:
Mile 1 - 12:11 (includes equipment adjustment)
Mile 2 - 10:54
Mile 3 - 10:47
Aid Station - 6:16 (includes pee/poo break and water refills)
Mile 4 - 10:13
Mile 5 - 10:57
Mile 6 - 11:28 (includes another pee break)
Mile 7 - 10:44
Mile 7.1 - 1:11
Aid Station - 4:05 (includes water refill)
Mile 8 - 10:20
Mile 9 - 10:51
Mile 10 - 9:56
Mile 10.1 - 1:01
Finish - 2:00:59

Wind Blows

2012-01-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

Or should I say "wind sucks?" Guess it depends on which end you're standing.

Anyway, thought I'd share this nugget of fun. A gumball got embedded into one of our pumpkins. I know what you're thinking, and yes, we did leave our pumpkins outside. But we're recycling, right? Beats tossing it in the trash. And yes, the gumball really is stuck into the side of the pumpkin. And that folks, is why I don't like running in the wind. Makes spitting too dangerous.

Podcast - Mile 18

2012-01-18T06:00:00.000-05:00

Mom's Trip, the latest podcast episode, is now live. Go over and give it a listen. And if you have any ideas, tips, or cash you'd like to share, we'd appreciate it.

Sunday's Run

2012-01-17T06:00:00.001-05:00

Sunrise at the end of the trail (which was actually my halfway point):

Sunday's run sucked shit. It's as simple as that. And before you start patting me on the back and telling me it'll be okay, stop. Just stop. This run sucked because I let it suck. It's all my fault. And no, I'm not just saying that to look for more sympathy. I don't want your sympathy. Seriously. Everything that went wrong during this run was something I caused. Don't believe me? Then keep reading.

First, I didn't get much sleep. Now, in our house, that's pretty much the norm. I'm used to getting up at least once during the night for some reason. My son needs the bathroom. My daughter had a bad dream. My dog needs to go outside. I need to pee. My wife is snoring (sorry sweety, but you do snore sometimes). So while many of those factors are out of my control, it's really up to me to go to bed on time. And I didn't. So I shorted myself on sleep. But I don't think this was really that big of a deal when it came to Sunday's run. In fact, it probably didn't contribute too much of anything to the overall suckiness.

Next, was my shoes. And this was a serious issue. Thankfully, it wasn't the shoe itself. At least I'm pretty sure it wasn't since I've had no issues with my Altra Lone Peaks in the past. No, the issue was after my last run in them, I didn't clean them. So all that mud I ran through the last time came with me this time. Which turned out to be a bad idea. The mud was inside my shoe. And it started rubbing me after 4 or 5 miles. Craptastic. Thankfully I was able to manage the pain and avoid blisters. What a story that would have been; blisters from dry mud.

Then there was my fuel. Another serious issue. I underfueled. Again. Like a dumbass. I had plenty with me and instead of doing what I normally do, I had to get the last little bit. Gah. You see, I bought large bottles of Hammer gel figuring it would save me time and money to just fill my little flasks as needed instead of taking packs of it with me. Turns out the packs are so much easier to use. Squeezing the gel out of the bottles is like squeezing crystallized honey out of that damn bear bottle. So what did I do when I got the last dregs out of the bottle? Added some water to get even more out. Damn penny pincher that I am ended up screwing myself. How so? all my fuel for a good 10 of those miles was seriously diluted. Diluted well beyond what I'm used to and I didn't realize it until it was too late.

There were other minor factors as well. The cold being one. I think I was slightly under-dressed but managed to do okay. It didn't really hit me until I stopped to take some of mud and rocks out of my shoes. That's when I got really cold. Speaking of rocks in my shoes, I didn't take my gaiters. What was I thinking. And I forgot to grab my iPod when I left. And, well, enough of that laundry list.

All of these issues, both big and small, added up. But they didn't stop me from running13+ miles. No, what stopped me was myself. My own negative thinking is really what did it. Could I have kept going another 8 miles? Absolutely. I even had a dropbag in place to help with fueling and fluids. But no, I quit. I literally quit. And that, that is what really pisses me off. Yes, I knew I was going for a long run. I had planned for nearly everything. Everything except the bad thoughts. Those just kept hitting me like a sledgehammer. So I quite. I gave up. I gave in. I caved. I wimped out. I got back to my car, threw my water bottle in disgust and anger, and left.

What have I learned from all of this? The continuing theme that not every run can be a great one. Or even a good one. I learned that not only do we have bad runs but we need bad runs. Yes, that's right, we need them. We need them to help us remember that it isn't always going to be sunny and happy and fun. Sometimes running is work. Sometimes things go wrong. Sometimes we need that smack in the face to remember to respect the distance. To remember that planning can only do so much. To remember to just suck it up and deal with it.

So there you have it. My crappy run form Sunday. I hate them. But it's done. There's a lot of positives I can take away from this run and I'm doing my best to grab at them when I think about them. And I'm slowly getting over myself. I'm just another cog in the wheel of life and I need to remember that I'm doing pretty damn good compared to a lot of others. So excuse me while I go rub some dirt on my ego and find Stella so I can get my groove back.

Medical Update

2012-01-16T06:00:00.002-05:00

So I went for my annual physical last week and had positive results from my tests. Not positive like I had a disease, but positive like things were good. I will tell you that I'm not disclosing everything but I will share some of the more important stuff. If it will help inspire people to live a healthier life, then I'm okay sharing. I'll also tell you that my doctor's visits were physical, not mental. I already know I have issue upstairs, I just don't feel ready to ask for help with that. Yet. One thing at a time.

Anyway, my results. First up, my weight, blood pressure, and heart rate. In late December 2009 I went for my regular physical. My weight was 239 pounds. Last week I was down to 231 pounds. I'm not too concerned about that since I was wearing clothes and I don't really consider it my "true" weight. At least that's what I tell myself. My blood pressure back in 2009 was 130/82 and my heart rate was 68 bpm. Last week was 112/74 and my heart rate was 56 bpm. To give you a better view, here's the break down between 2010, 2011, and 2012.

2010
- Weight = 239
- Blood Pressure = 130/82
- Heart Rate = 68

2011
- Weight = 234
- Blood Pressure = 134/80
- Heart Rate = 60

2012
- Weight = 231
- Blood Pressure = 112/74
- Heart Rate = 56

As you can see, slow but steady progress. And it's progress that I'm very happy with. Moving on to the lab results, you'll see the same thing. Progress.

2010
- Bilirubin = 1.6 MG/DL
- Cholesterol = 217 MG/DL
- Triglycerides = 199 MG/DL
- HDL Cholesterol = 33 MG/DL
- LDL Cholesterol = 144 MG/DL

2011
- Bilirubin = 1.2 MG/DL
- Cholesterol = 191 MG/DL
- Triglycerides = 114 MG/DL
- HDL Cholesterol = 41 MG/DL
- LDL Cholesterol = 127 MG/DL

2012
- Bilirubin = 1.2 MG/DL
- Cholesterol = 164 MG/DL
- Triglycerides = 95 MG/DL
- HDL Cholesterol = 41 MG/DL
- LDL Cholesterol = 104 MG/DL

Wow. Look at that Cholesterol. From 217 to 164. The normal range is 125 to 200. Nice. My Triglycerides went from 199 to 95 (normal is under 150). Again, very nice. HDL Cholesterol (that's the healthy one, just remember the "H" is for "H"ealthy) went from 33 to 41. Not a big job but still moving in the right direction (the normal range is 40 or higher). My LDL Cholesterol (normal is under 130) went from 144 to 104. Sweet. Oh, and that Bilirubin number went from 1.6 to 1.2 (normal is 0.2 to 1.2).

Now. None of this was easy. And as you can see, it took me two solid years to get here. I'm sure my numbers were worse prior to late 2009/early 2010 but I don't have those results handy. Now, there are three main factors in how I made such great progress. Diet, exercise, and Mega Red. The diet and exercise are so simple yet so hard. You have to work every day at the exercise and three times a day (often more) at the great diet. It sucks. It's hard. You constantly want to quit and go back to the easy life you had of eating a bag of chips on the couch. But once you see progress, you want to see more. You love seeing the weight drop. You love it more than that bag of chips.

Oh, and the Mega Red? I firmly believe it's responsible for at least half of my improved cholesterol numbers. I didn't start taking it until late 2010/early 2011. And I feel that it works. It's easy to take, it's a small pill, and it doesn't taste or smell like fish. You can read more about it here. Oh, and you can get it at Costco.

So there you have it. Progress made. If at least one of you reads this and is inspired to make progress of your own, I'll be happy. Beyond happy.

Yesterday's Run - Drawing a Blank

2012-01-13T06:00:00.001-05:00

Report:
Lunch time run. I was going to take it easy today and catch up on some miscellaneous crap but it turns out the weather was just too nice to ignore. With temps nearing what I'd expect for spring or summer, I opted to go out in shorts, t-shirt, and gloves. The shirt lasted half a mile before it came off. Oh yeah! You missed it ladies, I ran topless. Be thankful. I look like about as pale as Conan O'Brien and as hairy as Zach Galifianakis. Careful there, don't choke on your lunch as you puke it up.

Anyway, it felt awesome to get out there and feel the wind in my hair. Especially when I lifted my arms.

Okay, okay, I'll try not to gross you out too much. The run went well. Nothing terribly exciting other than a few angry dogs and a few people giving me the "what the hell is his problem" stare. Like I said before, I didn't plan on going out but I'm glad I did. Tomorrow's schedule will be a bit hectic so I need to focus on work and other things to make sure I'm squared away before the weekend. Nothing like cramming on Fridays.

Weather:
Temps were about 60F with a slight wind. Sun was out in full with only a few wispy clouds in the sky.

Fluids and Fuel:
I already posted my breakfast in my other workout. I had nothing after that meal except for some water. Right before my run I took an e-Gel. Durin gmy run I had a bottle of NUUN and a bottle of water. I finished both by the end. Recovery was some chocolate ZICO, cheese, and potato chips (healthy, I know).

Gear:
Had to clip my iPod to my shorts as I wasn't wearing a shirt. Seemed to work just fine. Also wore my XL North Face shorts. Seemed to work just as well as my Larges.

Aches and Pains:
Nothing in particular that I can think of.

Codename - Drawing a Blank
I had one, actually two, while I was running but couldn't remember them by the time I got back. Guess I flushed out too many toxins on the run.

Splits:
Outbound - 33:01
Inbound - 33:09
Finish - 1:06:11

Lumberjacks vs. Ultrarunners

2012-01-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

Today's assignment class is to compare and contrast lumberjacks and ultrarunners.

As I was chainsawing my way through the woods in my back yard, I began to think about how similar, and dissimilar, these two groups of people are. You see, my nickname is The Lumberjack. That's not actually what I do for a living. If I did, I think I'd last about a month or two before I cut a limb off my own body instead of the tree. I know enough to get myself in trouble. While I'm much better with an axe, I still have a lack of appreciation for just how sharp that axe can be. At least I will until I take a toe off.

I wish I smelled like a man when I ran. Instead I smell like a bear that forgot to wipe.

So as I thought about these two groups of people, I began to realize how much alike they are. They both go out into the woods for hours on end. They both sweat as they toil. They may even drink and eat whatever they feel like to fuel their massive energy needs. Both groups are lean and stringy with muscles and can work for hours upon hours before taking a break. They like to work hard but also like to party hard. They live life to the fullest and don't have time for crap. Both use trees as their bathroom when nature calls.

I really dig these hats. Might need one for my birthday.

Yet these two groups are also entirely different. While ultrarunners tend to be vegetarian or even vegan, lumberjacks tend to eat meat like it's going out of style. While lumberjacks cut down trees and are poorly stereotyped for not caring about the environment, ultrarunners lean the other way and try to preserve the environment they run through and have a bad stereotype of being hippies. Ultrarunners dress in technical fabrics that fit to their form while lumberjacks wear denim and canvas and flannel. Lumberjacks wear big boots with steel toes and ultrarunners were trail shoes with ultra-thin soles. Ultrarunners worry about bears, running out of water, and getting lost. Lumberjacks worry about tree hugging hippies, running out of gas, and spiked trees.

So as you can see, both lumberjacks and ultrarunners share a lot of similarities. And while they may work hard at what they love and bring home small paychecks for their efforts, they are two distinct groups that may not get along well in the local bar.

Today's Run - Morano Mountain

2012-01-11T20:23:00.002-05:00

Report:
Today's run is brought to you by my sheer desire to run a new route. And to make use of some free time between doctor's appointments. Now, I could go on and on about how I got two hernia checks in one day but I'll reserve those gory details for my blog.

Meanwhile, after my first appointment this morning, I headed to the local YMCA to ditch my street clothes and head out for a run. It's not my normal Y so I wasn't exactly sure where things happen. Turns out as I was getting ready to head outside, I saw a group of runners (all ladies) getting ready to go on a group run. I asked how far they were going and they said they were doing speed work. Yuck. So I excused myself like a pretentious bitch and left to run by myself. I headed down a very scary road (Smith Station Road for you locals, specifically between the Ron Rosner YMCA and the large neighborhood with the waterfall). A short bit later, I was in a nice subdivision with sidewalks and slow traffic. Whee! I cruised around a bit here and there, tried not to stare in peoples back windows, and generally felt good. I felt slow but it felt good to get outside, even if it was raining and chilly. Once I started to run low on water, I headed back to the Y on the same scary road. Yikes. Rarely to I have to jump into a ditch but I ran a good 40% of this route (in both directions) either in the ditch of well off the road and onto the shoulder.

Anyway, the run was decent and it felt refreshing to do something positive between two doctor's visits. Not that the appointments were bad, they were good actually. But like I said, you'll have to run over to my blog in the near future to get the details.

Weather:
Temps were about 34F. Sky was cloudy with no sun. Winds were light to none. Rain was light, enough to know it was there but not enough to soak you through.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was water and a yogurt. During the run I had one bottle of water. Nothing for recovery immediately after my run but I did have to souffles and an iced mocha from Panera after I showered.

Gear:
I wore my North Face jacket and it did a good job keeping me warm and dry. Maybe a bit too warm but it was chilly out. I also used an old Drymax sock to keep my phone dry just in case the weather turned sour. Sadly, the sock worked better on my phone than on my foot.

Aches and Pains:
Not really any to speak of.

Codename - Moreno Mountain
As I ran outbound from the YMCA, I saw a CD on the ground. I snapped it up. Turns out it was cracked and scratched beyond use but it was Karina Moreno. Yeah. Never heard of her either. So I deposited the disc on the highest point of my run. Feel free to go find it!

Splits:
Splits are from RunKeeper so are subject to some minor errors.
Mile 1 - 10:17
Mile 2 - 10:22
Mile 3 - 12:49 (includes a short walking break)
Mile 4 - 10:42
Finish - 46:24

Video Hilarity

2012-01-11T06:00:00.001-05:00

I know it's already made it's way around a few other blogs and websites but it's just too funny to leave it alone. So I'm sharing with you. And yes, I have/do/will think these thoughts.

Today's Run - Trail Head

2012-01-10T12:33:00.001-05:00

Report:
Mixed results with today's run. I really, really, really didn't want to run. But I managed to not only get out of bed but also managed to get my running clothes on. So that felt like an accomplishment by itself. As I made it out to the trail, I was sluggish heading out and didn't feel like running much when I was chugging through the first few miles. In fact, it wasn't until I got to the gun range bypass that I started to feel a little excited and a bit more peppy. Maybe it was the single-track. Anyway, as I headed back to my car, I felt better. A little chilly here and there but overall, feeling much better. The last mile felt awesome and I flew back to my car. As I finished, I suddenly had the thought of heading back out for a little more. I had 6.5 in the bag and had 10 planned but knew I wouldn't get the full 10. So I pulled myself back out onto the trail and got 2 more miles in. Score!

Aside from that, the only other excitement during the run was finding a used condom at the trail head (heh heh) and seeing a ton of ATV activity (which isn't allowed). Oh well. Can't do much about it beyond report it to the trail owner.

Weather:
Temps were 35F and barely warmed to 40F by the time I finished. Heavy fog was present even though the sun was out (just not visible). Slight breeze.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was water and a yogurt. Right before the run I took an e-Gel. During the run I had a bottle of Nuun (orange ginger) and a bottle of Gatorade. After the first 6.5 miles I refilled my bottle with plain water and attempted to eat another e-Gel but could only choke down a little bit.

Gear:
Wore my Saucony windbreaker jacket and have learned that I love the chest pocket but hate the zippers. The zipper lockers are insanely deep which leaves you fishing around for the zipper. On top of that the jacket doesn't breathe well, so I was left a sweaty mess when I was done. I also took some hand warmers and used them for a few miles.

Aches and Pains:
None really. Although I did step on a rock that twisted my ankle. It wasn't a bad twist, but was awkward enough to make me take two strides with my left foot.

Codename - Trail Head
It's disgusting when people litter. Even more so when it's on a nice trail. Infinitely more so when it's a damn used condom. I mean, really. You can't take that shit home with you? You can't do that at home? Gah. The worst part of it all? Trying not to laugh uncontrollably when I think about trail head now. Thank you Russ, Gary, and Carl.

Splits:
Mile 1 - 12:20
Mile 2 - 12:49
Mile 3 - 15:54 (includes pee break and gun range bypass)
Mile 4 - 14:11 (includes gun range bypass)
Mile 5 - 12:19
Mile 6 - 11:00
Aid Station - didn't time it but was likely 3 minutes or so
Mile 7 - 10:46
Mile 8 - 10:40
Finish - 1:40:03

Podcast - Mile 17

2012-01-10T06:00:00.002-05:00

As my podcast moves forward with little to no listeners, I'll continue to cross-post links to the latest episodes. I generally try to put a new one out on Mondays since the "normal" day in the industry appears to be Fridays. Nothing like bucking the trend to get listeners, right? Right.

And I continue to go against the grain by recording my podcast without any fancy theme music, editing, or guests. It's a solo show for now and the only music you'll hear is what I hear as I record. All that ambient noise has got to drive people crazy. Oh, yeah, and since I don't edit my episodes, any flubs or errors will stay there. And my recording studio is the outside world so you get to hear a lot of that annoying ambient noise. Cars. Other people. Dogs. Heavy breathing. Water sloshing. Fabric rustling. Everything.

With that said, here's the link to my latest episode, Mile 17. I review two books by Patrick Lee. The Breach (full review here) and his latest, Ghost Country, are both solid books that are easy to read and certainly entertaining. Give them a try if you haven't already.

My Stalker

2012-01-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

First, this is a post that may upset some people. Or more specifically, one person. For that, I'm sorry. But I just have to talk about the situation. You're a nice guy and I love to talk about running. But sometimes you just cross the line into the zone of freakishly abnormal social behavior.

Second, while this specific person may not like what I'm going to say, I'm going to be polite enough to not say his name. Some of you may know who I'm talking about and I would appreciate it if you respect his privacy the same way in the comments.

Third, in this post I will call him my stalker because that what it feels like to me. I no way do I think he's really a stalker. If I felt that way, I would have filed a report with the police and his employer and made it abundantly clear to him that I will protect myself and my family by any means necessary. That being said, he has freaked me out a few times with his plethora of knowledge. But always in a benign way.

Okay. With all the warnings, apologies, and whatnot out of the way, let's get into this.

Strange things started to happen about a year and a half to two years ago. I am a frequent shopper at our local running store, let's call it Sweet Feet, and I've come to know many of the employees there. Not personally mind you, I'm very much a socially awkward penguin so I only know their faces, not their names. There was Curly Hair, The Black Guy, Pierced Girl, and a few others that I'd see on my many visits there. I would frequent Sweet Feet for shoes, socks, clothes, and to just feel at home among other runners and the gear we wear.

I had recently finished my first 50k ultramarathon when I went in for some item or another and ran into a new employee, Chunk. I made the mistake many people do when they see a hefty person in a running store and assume they're there to restart their life by getting into shape. Well, after a bit of small talk with Chunk, it turns out he used to train for ultramarathons. I was instantly interested in learning more from somebody that was not only a big guy like me but also had the same interest in running insanely long distances.

I don't remember how many visits it took before I actually started talking to Chunk but I knew his face well enough to recognize him when we first exchanged words. By the time our first conversation was over, I already felt bad for stereotyping him into the "fat guy" category. Yes, sure, I'm positive he'd qualify for the arbitrarily discriminating running category of Clydesdale, but I can qualify too. I hate that label and refuse to use it. I'm big. He's big. Who cares if we can both run?

Anyway, we talked a few times before he made his first creepy comment. And oddly enough, it didn't feel creepy at all. In fact, it made me feel like a hero. Like a freaking super hero. He knew my time from my first 50k. He even knew there were photos and knew that I was in a lot of them. How awesome is that? I mean, this guy knew more and cared more about my first big race than my wife. I was on cloud nine!

Over the next few months, we'd talk shop whenever I went into Sweet Feet. He would be working most days I was there and I didn't really have many issues with him. He was just another cool runner that liked to talk about running. Perfect. Then things got a bit weird. My wife started to take up running so we went to Sweet Feet to try on some shoes for her. We knew they would take the time to get you fitted into the right shoe and we had rarely experienced bad customer service.

Until Chunk came to help. Now, there are always three sides to every story. Your side, their side, and what really happened. In this case, there were four sides. My side, my wife's, Chunk's, and what really happened. From my side of things, Chunk was a bit rude to my wife by ignoring her needs as a customer. I work in the customer service field so I know what you should and should not do. Chunk did some stuff he shouldn't have. Namely, ignore my wife. Granted, he doesn't have the experience I do with my wife, but trust me, don't ignore a woman when she's shopping for shoes. It's like putting a pillow over her face when you're having sex with her.

So Chunk ignored my wife. Not good. But, to make matters worse for my wife, he talked to me. That was fine with me, I love talking about running. I love when people pay attention to me. It's just that every time I tried to steer the conversation back to my wife who was sitting in the chair trying on shoes, Chunk would steer things back to me. Awkward, a bit rude, and not quite the super-hero worship feeling I had from previous encounters.

Fast forward a few months and we start to get close to my second ultramarathon, the next running of the same 50k from the previous year. I had planned for the race much better this time around and knew more about the race course and what to expect. Again, I'd see Chunk in the store and we'd talk running. But now we started talking about this race. I told him I was doing and it was no secret with my friends and family. At some point he decided he was running it too so our conversations began to go into more strategy and planning. Again, I love to talk about running so everything was cool.

Over the course of these months leading up to the race, I had made more friends through a certain social networking site. Through these friendships, I had come to discover that a particular friend, Honey Bunny, also had encounters with Chunk. Those encounters were a bit creepy for her so we did the only thing we could think of, we talked about him behind his back. I never claimed to be a good person so I'm not proud of that but when somebody knows a bit more about you than is socially acceptable, you get a bit weirded out.

As race-day approached, I had no thoughts of Chunk's inappropriate behavior. I was focused solely on the race and finishing. And I did. I shaved a solid hour off my time and felt awesome for doing it. Chunk, well, he didn't fair so well. He pulled a DNF. My wife was at a few of the aid stations to help out and to cheer for me and she said he didn't look so good. I really hated to feel happy that he DNFed but a little part of me was glad to see him taken down a notch. You see, over time, his tone had taken on a bit of a tone that made you feel inferior to him. I'm sure it wasn't intentional but I have self-worth issues without help and he just made it feel like he dug my hole a little deeper. So knowing that I was able to crawl out of my hole and he wasn't able to crawl out of his gave me a little satisfaction. Add to that the fact that he didn't talk to me much at Sweet Feet after the race helped ease the sense of unease that I had about how much he knew about me.

Until a few weeks ago. When he said something about my running the ICY 8 hour race. Now, granted, I had not made it a secret or anything. I had posted it here and mentioned it elsewhere but I didn't make a big deal about it and don't think I mentioned it to anyone at Sweet Feet. But he knew I was running the race. Yeah. Awkward. I began to wonder not only how he knew but also why he knew. Seriously. I'm not that important of a runner. In fact, I'm kind of a shitty runner in the grand scheme of things. But yet he knew. I went from thinking things had chilled to thinking things were back to 11 on the Huh?! meter.

Why have I waited so long to talk about Chunk? Well, because I couldn't quite process everything. I mean, sure, I know that certain runners ran a certain time or certain place in a specific race, but those are elite runners. Even those runners that aren't elite by most people's standards, they're still pretty damn good. For example, I know a runner who is sponsored by a few companies but isn't considered an elite runner. But he has won marathons and ultramarathons. That may not be elite by a textbook definition but that's pretty damn elite to me. Do I go around spouting off his times or places or make him feel awkward? No. Or at least I hope I don't. I know I'm more introverted than Chunk and that's probably why. But it's taken me this long to process all of my encounters and to think of a nice way to talk about him without making things too awkward between us. Plus he's no longer working at Sweet Feet. Well, he may work there occasionally but he's picked up work elsewhere.

I'm glad he's found a better job and I wish him the best of luck. I even feel comfortable enough to say that I hope to see him at a race in the future. He doesn't scare me. He just annoys me sometimes and makes me feel special while doing it. That's why I called him Chunk in this post. He's like Chunk in The Goonies. He's a little annoying, he's a little bigger than normal, and yet he makes me feel special.

So there you have it. I have/had a stalker. I loved it and hated it, all at the same time.

PS - If you're out there Chunk, I hope you don't have hard feelings over this. And while I have your number, please don't expect a call. Not because of everything I've said here but because I hate talking on the phone. It's not a lame excuse, I just seriously hate it.

Today's Run - Teach Me How To Dogue

2012-01-07T21:24:00.003-05:00

Report:

You might just want to skip the crap I typed between the breaks. Might be easier on your brain.

****************************

Not sure if this was a nice long run or if it was just a long run. Parts of it were wonderful, parts of it horrible, but overall, it was pretty nice. I got lost and found again. I ventured into the unknown only to find the known. It was deep and shallow. Cloudy and clear.

Yeah. Gibberish. I know. My mind is a bit blurry at the moment but I feel good. Not quite as hazy as some of my longer runs so I guess I'm more numb than dumb. Anyway, enough blather. Today's run started from my wife's school. She brought home a jungle's worth of plants over the holidays so today we took them back to her room since the weather was nice. And boy was it nice. I guess I should back up even more.

*******************************
Okay, clean start. Today started with an early alarm and not enough sleep. I had to get lab work done this morning and I am terrified of needles. Absolutely terrified. Terrified. So I was nervous all night. So not enough sleep. And the labs required fasting so I didn't have coffee or breakfast before I left so I was even crabbier. Once at the lab site I was lucky enough to have a great phlebotomist that listened to what I had to say and did a great job making it as painless as possible. You see, I'm nervous enough about needles that I know I need to chug water before the test, that I have small veins and need the black needle (the pediatric one), and that my right arm does the best at giving up blood. Yeah.

After that, we got breakfast, a haircut, groceries, lunch, then back home. I was amazed that we made it home, had the groceries unloaded, and were damn near close to leaving again by 1300 (that's 1 pm). We dropped off the plants at school and my wife and kids rode their bikes while I headed out for my run.

From the school I headed towards the old elementary school and down Millbank Road. I've never run on this road and found it to be a bit hairy in the early sections but later it straightened out later. I took a side road, Powhatan, down to Port Conway. For those in the know, this is Dogue. For those not in the know, it's pronounced DOE-g. As in the word "doe" and the sound "g" makes. This was where I got lost. I knew where Millbank went but had no idea where Powhatan went. Until I saw the stop sign that I turned around at. Then I knew where I was and knew I needed to high-tail it back home before it got dark. Yep. I forgot about sunset being so early.

So I doubled back on Powhatan, ran down Millbank to Gera. I knew Gera would take me to the mid-way point on my usual YMCA route and that would spit me out at the Sheetz. And the Sheetz would be a great place to pick up fluids and it was only 4 miles from home. Once there, I was in the home stretch.

As I got close to home, I took a side road to tack on some more miles because I was feeling so good. Might pay for it later but screw it. I was high on life and going for it. I knew I'd be over 13.1 if I just went home but I ended up with nearly 16 miles in the end so I think I made out pretty good.

Weather:
Temps were 65F to 70F when I started but chilled a bit at the very end to maybe 60F. Clouds were out in force but there were some openings for the sun every now and then. There was a light breeze here and there.
Aches and Pains:
My knees started to hurt after about 10 miles which makes me think my shoes are about ready to retire. My right quad cramped a bit around mile 5 which told me I needed to ramp up my fluids and electrolytes. Once I did that it settled down until the very end. My right calf (that outside portion that's like the ITB) locked up a few times at the very end. And my left calf (the regular part) hurts now.

Gear:
No fancy gear. Took my Nathan HPL 020 and one Amphipod bottle. It worked out fine to haul water in the Natahn and my Hammer Fizz in my bottle. It would have been nice to have more electrolyte drink along the way but it was doable.

Fluids and Fuel:
I pounded a good quart of water before my lab work. Breakfast was a power sandwich and souffle at Panera along with iced coffee. Lunch was half a roast beef and asiago sandwich and half a cinnamon crunch bagel from Panera along with iced tea. Right before my run I had half a bottle of Gatorade. During my run I had half a plain bagel during the first few miles. I took two small bottles of Hammer gel and finished them both. I'd say there was about 4 to 6 servings total. I also finished two bottles of Hammer Fizz. And I had about a liter and a half of plain water. I had to pee three times so I think I did a decent job hydrating. I need to increase my electrolyte intake a bit though, especially towards the later parts. I also had a small can of Starbucks double espresso at mile 10. That shit was like rocket fuel and was directly responsible for me feeling so damn good at the end. With the gels, I learned two things. First, I need them about every half hour for the first hour to hour and a half then about every 20 minutes after that. I also learned that I can suck some water into my mouth and backwash it into my gel flask to rinse out the last little bits of gel in there. Sounds gross but if you really want some more fuel, it's an easy way to get the dregs.

Codename - Teach me how to dougie
Lame play on words, I know but I was very surprised to see where I was in my run today. That was part of the joy though, not knowing where I was or where I'd end up. I had a preset time limit that I needed to follow and I was edging close to it when I saw the stop sign way ahead of me. So when I saw it, I knew I'd make it there and turn around. I just didn't expect to be there.

Throwing the Lumberjack gang sign in Dogue:

Splits:
Splits are from RunKeeper and may not be entirely accurate.
Mile 1 - 10:32
Mile 2 - 10:40
Mile 3 - 12:36 (includes pee break)
Mile 4 - 10:55
Mile 5 - 12:18
Mile 6 - 11:10
Mile 7 - 12:17 (includes pee break)
Mile 8 - 11:58
Mile 9 - 11:41
Mile 10 - 14:39 (includes pee break and stopping at Sheetz)
Mile 11 - 10:29
Mile 12 - 11:26
Mile 13 - 10:49
Mile 14 - 10:05
Mile 15 - 10:52
Finish - 3:00:29

Today's Run - Gambling Man

2012-01-06T14:16:00.003-05:00

Report:
If you listen to @3nonjoggers, then you're familiar with the term "gambling." This means you'll get the gist of where this is going. If you don't listen to Russ, Carl, and Gary, then you need to.

I headed out for my run after working out with Stephanie. I try not to double-up on things like this but since I had a busy day ahead of me and knew I had some free time before my dentist appointment, I opted for a run. I was pooped from the start after working out for an hour but dealt with it. The weather was cold this morning but it was warming rapidly so I opted to wear a short-sleeve under a long sleeve with shorts. I misjudged the light wind and the chill it brought and damn near turned around to finish with just a wimpy mile. I had 6 miles on my plan but knew that wouldn't be possible due to my dentist appointment. I mean, it's bad enough they stick their fingers in my mouth, I'm sure they don't want to gag on my body odor after running 6 miles and skipping a shower. So I knew I'd only get in 3 miles but at least I'd have time to shower and shave.

So after convincing myself I could make it 3 miles instead of just 1, I headed across the road to run my usual route that I've neglected for some time. It felt like putting on an old pair of shoes that were slightly musty. They fit great but I didn't much like the smell. Turns out, I probably should have cut it to a 1 mile run. As I neared the furthest point, my gut decided to say HEY! WHAT'S UP FUCK FACE!!!! Just. My. Luck. I'm as far from the bathroom as I can get and I need one. Badly.

So I gambled. I didn't win. But I didn't lose. It was more like a draw. Somewhere around mile 2 or so I realized I really, REALLY should have gone to the bathroom before I left. But I focused on mind over splatter and dealt with the pain.

"Gamble gamble gamble. Win win win. These are nice socks. Don't use your glove. Just keep running." These are the thoughts running through my head faster than I could shuffle along in pain. Turns out I learned that you really can push your body beyond what you think is possible. It just hurts like hell.

In the end, I finished my 3 miles without losing. After I cooled down a bit, I did my push-ups and took a nice, long shower before going to the dentist.

One side note. As I took my shower, these signs were posted everywhere. Scumbag gym rat appears to be confusing "shower" with "shitter."

Weather:
Temps were about 40F to 45F with a light breeze. Sun was out in full.

Fluids and Fuel:
One bottle of water and one bottle of Gatorade. I also took an e-Gel right before I started my run. Recovery was a bottle of chocolate Zico followed by a giant lunch of a salad, jalapeno poppers, and two mini-burgers. And an iced latte.

Gear:
Nothing fancy today. Just my iPod shuffle (which I think I'll be naming Babe, but I'm still brewing on that one).

Aches and Pains:
My right calf hurt a bit as I ran. Felt like the outside portion, kind of like the ITB on your quad but on my calf instead.

Codename - Gambling Man
Like I said, if you don't listen to 3NJ, you need to. They're funny. Of the 10 or so podcasts I listen to, they have the best chemistry out there. Plus you'd understand the joke and it's deeper meanings.

Splits:
Mile 1 - 10:42
Mile 2 - 11:08
Mile 3 - 11:19
Finish - 34:14

Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi...

2012-01-06T12:00:00.001-05:00

Earlier this week, I asked for help in naming my iPod Shuffle. Today, I'm asking for help in what to do with some Christmas money. I've pretty much decided I'll be buying a third pair of Altra shoes (review here). I love the shoes, they fit my feet, and frankly, my toes have never been happier. So I want more in my closet to help build up my rotation before my Saucony shoes get retired. I have a few already nearing the end of their running career.

So what do I need help with if I've already decided I want another pair? I need help in decided which ones to get. I've ruled out the Adams just because I'm not quite ready to run in shoes that are that minimalist. That leaves the Instincts and the Lone Peaks. I have a pair of each already. The Instincts are a great road shoe and I can always use more. The Lone Peaks are a great trail shoe and after seeing how dirty my pair are right now, a second pair in the wings would be nice to have while the first pair dry out.

My dilemma is that the Instincts come in grey or black. I already have a pair in grey and I don't like black shoes. The Lone Peaks come in one color, which I already have. So I don't know if I should go with a different color in the Instincts to make it easy to tell them apart of if I should just get another pair in grey. Same problem with the Lone Peaks except I could get them in a half size smaller since my current pair is a size 11 and I wear a 10.5. So they'd be the same color but different sizes.

Argh. I don't know where this post is going. I guess I'm trying to talk myself into facing my own obsessive compulsive need to have shoes in different colors just so I can tell them apart to make tracking my miles easier. Feel free to chime in with any ideas or suggestions on how to handle things. Besides looking for a therapist. I already know I need one of those. Thankfully running is cheaper.

There is a small glimmer of hope on the horizon though. Altra is now asking their fans what colors they'd like in 2012. A glimmer. I'll take it and run. Meanwhile, I'll be awaiting your suggestions.

This little piggy went wee wee wee

2012-01-05T21:03:00.003-05:00

It hasn't been a good day for me on the food and motivation front. Hope tomorrow goes better. And as much as I hate to complain, it feels good to whine sometimes. When I try to fight the funk and the darkness, it gets so hard that sometimes I just need to sit there in it. Just to wallow around a bit. Kind of like a pig in the mud, getting a solid coating all over to protect yourself from the bright and cheery people that surround you. People so damn happy they burn brighter than the sun.

Now don't get the wrong idea, I'm not depressed or blue or whatever else you want to call it. I just had a bad day. I ate the wrong food, I didn't run, and I feel like I slept too much. It's all my fault. But I can deal with it and try to have a better day tomorrow. It's okay and I'll survive.

Meanwhile, here's a bit of annoying humor to keep things cheery.

Podcast - Mile 16

2012-01-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

My podcast welcomes you to 2012. Trust me when I say you'll be thankful this is a short episode.

Follow up on my 2011 Goals

2012-01-04T12:53:00.000-05:00

As you can see from my original posting here, I had some pretty damn ambitious goals coming into 2011. I will make no such goals for this year. In fact, I have no goals for this year. At all. Yes, I do have races on my schedule and some waiting in the wings. If I run them, great. If not, I'll survive.

Why no goals for 2012? I don't know. I think I'm tired of them right now. I need to focus on running, family, reading, what I eat, and a few other things that are also important like work, family time, and not stressing out. I was stressed and pressured by my goals in 2011. Some of that pressure was good. Some wasn't. So no goal list for this year. I already know it'll be busy enough without trying to get everything checked off before December rolls around again.

So how did I do with my goals last year?

run 1 marathon - COMPLETE - Richmond Marathon in November.
run 2 half marathons - COMPLETE++ - DRHT Trail (Feb.), MCHH and Run for the Dream Half (both in May), and VA Runner Half (Dec.).
run 1 sprint triathlon - INCOMPLETE - I opted out of triathlons altogether.
run 1 50k ultra marathon - COMPLETE - DRHT 50k in August.
run 35 miles by my 35th birthday - INCOMPLETE - Totally bailed on the project and the idea.
raise money for the Friends of the DRHT (Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail) - INCOMPLETE - Again, totally bailed.
run on the DRHT (or any trail) once a week - PARTIAL - I'd say I kept to this about 80% of the time.
set a half marathon PR (2:35:06 set on 12/12/2010) - COMPLETE - VA Runner Half in December with a time of 2:19:03.
set a 50k PR (8:42:52 set on 8/8/2010) - COMPLETE - DRHT 50k in August with a time of 7:47:32.
lose 5 pounds (231 pounds on 12/22/2010) - ONGOING - I'm steady at 222 pounds but I peaked at 220 before Thanksgiving.

As for my other goals, I achieved all of them except for buying a road bike since I'm not doing triathlons and sticking with my cross-training plan. I did okay but it was just too easy to focus on running instead. And those 2012 goals I mentioned in the post? Scratch them all. I'm just going to do what the hell I want to do and not stress out about it.

Ruez Underwear

2012-01-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

Ruez. I can't even get the little funny dots over the U. I wonder if that's because your grapes aren't supposed to do that? Honest, I'll try to keep this review as clean as possible but there's only so much I can do.

That being said, I actually like these underwear. Well, the boy-short model I like. The bikini brief model doesn't quite fit my needs. What makes these underwear special? Aside from the pouch, I don't think anything makes them special. A pouch you say? Yes. For your junk. Your banana and prunes go in there. Or grapes if you're like me. While their site doesn't have a great picture of how things are designed to fit into the pouch, it's pretty easy to figure out. Imagine putting on a pair of regular boxers. You know that slit in the front where stuff can come out? Make the hole larger, then attach a piece of fabric in front of that to keep things from flopping around like bunny ears. Oh, and make the whole thing out of a nice, performance-type fabric that will wick away moisture.

My clean drawers in my drawer's drawer:

I know, I know, I'm not describing it very well. But be at peace because I'm sure as hell not posting a photo of me modeling how they work. Not even how they look on me. If you want to know what they look like or want to get an idea of how they work, check out their site. I'm sure a little imagination is all it will take to fill in the blanks. And their pouch.

As for their fit, I'm about a 36 or 38 waist and average sized everywhere else as far as I can tell. I ordered the larges and they fit just fine. I got one of each model and like I said before, the bikini briefs felt odd. I think it's because I haven't worn that style of underwear in ages. Plus they leave things open to chafing. The boy short model fit great and I had no chafing issues.

After a run:

Oh, and for the more delicate things stored in the pouch? It feels bizarre, but after a few runs in them it'll feel normal. The hardest thing to adjust to after the funny feeling is how to access your equipment when you need to go to the bathroom. I still struggle with it sometimes. But they keep things warm and while things shrink in the winter, things didn't shrink nearly as much as they do when I wore the Ruez. In other words, they kept my grapes from freezing. And there was no chafing in that area.

Overall, I'd say they're overpriced but they work. So maybe put them on your wish list or save up and buy a pair for races. I doubt I'll buy anymore unless the price goes down. In the meantime, I'll survive by using hand warmers and socks if I need to stay extra-warm.

Today's Run - Donkey Spit

2012-01-03T14:19:00.000-05:00

Report:
Cold. As. Fucking. Shit.

Those four words describe my run today. I'd like to add a few more colorful adjectives but I think that pretty much sums it up. As I loaded up the family into the car this morning, I took note of the low temperatures but didn't think too much of it. I figured it would warm up a bit after the sun came up but it turns out it got a bit colder since the wind picked up dramatically. Who knew that something so gentle as a puff of air can feel as solid as a brick wall.

Weather:
Temps were 35F to 40F but wind chill took things to between 20F and 30F. Winds were easily 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Sky was clear with a handful of clouds and a lot of sun.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was eggs, two English muffins, yogurt, and coffee. Pre-run fuel was half a Twix bar. I had the second half at about mile 2. During the run I had a bottle of water and a bottle of Gatorade. Recovery was a bottle and a half of Ensure followed by a lunch of Ramen noodles with left over steak.

Gear:
The only special piece of equipment I took today was my North Face jacket. I rarely wear a windbreaker but I'm thankful I did today. I would have frozen without it and likely would have called it quits after a mile. I never unzipped my jacket more than an inch or two. Yeah. Cold.

Aches and Pains:
My right hip hurt a bit for the first mile or two. My right knee hurt a bit for the last mile or two (I sat down last night and gave it a funny twist - nothing major but I can feel it). My cheeks and nose hurt on and off for the whole run due to the cold.

Codename - Donkey Spit
As I was headed outbound on the route, I suddenly heard a loud, awkward noise behind me. I could tell it was an animal but I had no idea what kind of animal would make a noise like that. I whipped my head around to make sure it wasn't a rabid bear or wiener dog and saw nothing. A few strides later and I heard it again, this time a bit clearer thanks to a break in the wind. The sound repeated a few times giving me a chance to realize it was a donkey. And apparently he was upset.

On the inbound leg of the route, I was chugging along doing my best to avoid the wind. It would range from a strong cross wind to a strong head wind but I had my music on and did my best to block it out. Then I spit. Now, keep in mind, I'm a regular spitter when I run. It's bad enough that sometimes I wonder if it's my OCD creeping into my running habits. Anyway, I've learned to never spit into the wind. So with today's wind, I took special care to note the wind direction before spitting. As I was coming back home, I spit with the wind in a generally downward direction. The wind had other plans though and my spit instead went above my head in a nice little parabolic arc. Scary to see gravity lose to wind.

Splits:
Outbound - 33:05
Inbound - 33:16
Finish - 1:06:22

Name My iPod Shuffle

2012-01-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

It's silver. It's small. Name it please. Obviously I'd love to hear something along the sci-fi or lumberjack or running genre but right now, I'll be happy with anything. No idea if I'll have a prize or not for the winning submission. Just throw some names at me. Come on. I know you have some.

Today's Run - Unicorns?

2012-01-01T20:19:00.002-05:00

Report:
Nothing terribly exciting about today's run other than the weather was super-nice out. Nicer than I expected. I swear I looked out the window this morning and saw frost but when I went to get the newspaper shortly after sunup, I was toasty warm, almost hot, in my winter coat and hat. It was then that I decided to go for a run today. Since I'm still on vacation and in recovery mode, I'm not pressuring myself into doing heavy miles. Don't get me wrong, I was looking forward to some double runs and some nice long trail runs over my vacation. But that was before I got sick.

So today's run was easy going, no rush, no pressure. I've done the route before and didn't really have much else going on so it didn't take a lot of thinking to make the run happen. I took my voice recorder to try to get a podcast in and we'll see how it sounds when I get more time.

Outside of that, the only thing that really stuck out on today's run was the serious plethora of beer cans at the end of the road. Within feet of a sign that says littering will bring a fine or a year in jail. How nice some people can be. Oh. And I swear I saw a unicorn. Seriously. Good thing Debbie B. wasn't there or she may have tried stealing the statue.

Weather:
Temps were about 50F to 55F. Skies were clear. Winds were light going out but cooled things off a bit coming back.

Fluids and Fuel:
This was a lunch time run. Breakfast was yogurt and coffee. I took an e-Gel before I started the run and took a bottle of Hammer Fizz and soda flavored water. Recovery was a small bottle of Ensure, some iced coffee with a little Ensure in it, then some left over pork roast and Wheat Thins.

Gear:
Nothing special or new along the way.

Aches and Pains:
It took a few minutes to get my stride into the swing of things, but I'm noticing that's pretty normal when I wear my Altras. I think it's the lack of cushion that alters things a bit (but not in a negative way).

Codename - Unicorns?
Yes, I swear I saw a unicorn. Maybe Michele S. can confirm my sighting? And to make things crazier, I swear there was some sort of floral altar around it. Maybe I shouldn't have had that second drink last night.

Splits:
Outbound - 34:27
Inbound - 34:22
Finish - 1:08:49

Today's Run - Horse Shit

2011-12-29T16:57:00.001-05:00

Report:
As I was changing my clothes after my run today, a couple pulled up and parked next to me in the lot. The cute, young lady got out of the Jeep and asked me if I had a good run. My response was "I survived. And I only fell once so yeah, I guess it was good."

But that only sets the scene through a pinhole. You see, I was covered in mud. I don't think I had any higher than my knees, but my shoes and calves were doused. In fact, my shoes were so bad that when I got home, my socks were muddy. And so were my toes. So yeah, I guess it was a good run.

As for the falling part, it was on my first lap and I missed a rock or root and took a spill. As I run more trails I'm becoming more familiar with falling. And I don't like it. I used to pride myself on staying upright. Maybe I shouldn't have made that comment to myself about never falling. Oh well. Nothing was broken, bruised, or twisted. The impressive part of the fall was that I managed to do half a roll. I tripped with my left foot and stumbled and half caught myself with my left hand. As my right hand was reaching out to catch myself, I somehow changed my reaction and landed on my forearm and rolled a bit onto my right side. As usual it happened insanely fast and incredibly slow. If you've fallen before, you know what I mean. Anyway, the half a roll helped slow my momentum and I got up, dusted myself off, and had a little laugh to myself. As I thought about moving again, I looked right next to where I fell and saw a heaping pile of horse shit. And it was fresh. Somehow I missed it. Thank God. So I snapped a picture and got back to running.

Here's the pile of horse shit I narrowly missed rolling in:

The first loop was decent but muddier than I expected. Bad enough I had to skirt many of the sections on the extreme edges of the trail. And it's apparently normal because there was a beaten path in many sections where other hikers had done the same thing. Even the horses skirted some of the worse parts, or at least tried to. But I didn't feel too bad about slipping since the horses slipped plenty too. I guess four-hoof drive can only do so much in thick mud.

My muddy Altra Lone Peaks after my run. Gnarly.

My Altra Lone Peaks worked great. I had no issues with the mud other than nearly losing a shoe once or twice. The mud only stuck to the sides of the shoe and only stuck to the bottom treads for a stride or two before coming off. I did get some mud inside my shoes but I expected that since the toe-box has a mesh-like fabric to let your toes breath. If air can come out, mud can get in. My only complaint is the lack of velcro (or a surface to adhere velcro to) on the heel of the shoes to allow my gaiters to stay put.

The second loop was just as muddy and a bit hillier. There was a section that run under a power line but that added some hills to the mix. I tried to keep my aid station stops short and managed fairly well. Refilling is easy but finding the motivation to punish yourself a little more is harder. The final loop was a repeat of the first but with a bit more added on. I somehow missed a turn on the first loop so went back to see what I missed so I wouldn't get too lost during my race. Did I mention this was a dry run for my next race? Sorry, it is. Was. Whatever.

The Lone Peaks have a "rudder" on their heel but clearly it doesn't keep the mud from spraying up your legs.

Overall, I felt good. I didn't have everything dialed in like I wanted but did a fair job. My hydration was good seeing as I peed at least twice. My electrolyte levels were okay but not as good as they should have been. I think a few electrolyte tabs at the aid station would have helped. My fueling was lower than it needed to be. I was doing okay the first two laps and had a decent amount of gel going in. But the last loop I didn't take in enough solid food so I started to lag behind on pace and energy levels.

My muddy toes. Obviously before my shower. And yes, I have hairy Hobbit feet.

Weather:
Temps were around 40F when I started and 45F when I finished. Moderate cloud cover with some sun. Light breeze coming off the lake when I passed by or was out on a peninsula.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was two breakfast burritos and an iced latte. During the run I had some Hammer gel along the way (two flasks that had maybe 4 gels total), one e-Gel at the start, one bottle of water, two bottles of Hammer Fizz, and one bottle of flat soda. I also had a Honey Stinger waffle. Recovery was a chocolate Zico followed by a Joey Jr. at Moe's Southwest Grill (with chips and salsa).

Gear:
Nothing special for the run. Continuing to use my new iPod. Had continued success with my Altra Lone Peaks.

Aches and Pains:
Since the trail was so muddy, I had to deal with tons of ankle twisting and wobbly strides as I adjusted to rocks, roots, and mud. Nothing really hurt as I stayed loose but after an hour or two I could feel things getting sore. Near the end I could feel my legs protesting but nothing major. Knees are a bit sore right now but again, nothing too terrible. I did step on a few stingers (sharp, pointy rocks) and managed to kick one or two rocks (which always hurt). Beyond that, things felt okay.

Codename - Horse Shit
There was tons of it out there. You couldn't go 25 feet without seeing a pile of it. It was in various stages of decomposition; fresh to stale. I only managed to kick one pile when I wasn't looking and avoided the rest as much as I could.

Splits:
Lap 1 - 49:07
Aid Station 1 - 3:23
Lap 2 - 49:59
Aid Station 2 - 4:46
Lap 3 - 1:26:26
Finish - 3:13:42

Today's Run - Homage

2011-12-28T20:22:00.002-05:00

Report:
Finally. Some semblance of getting back into my groove. Sort of. Maybe.

Today's run almost didn't happen thanks to some bad timing. Wife and I agreed that I'd run this afternoon instead of this morning so we could spend the day shopping together while the kids stayed with my in-laws. Gotta love free babysitting, especially when the in-laws and the kids have a blast with each other. So we shopped around town, ran errands, had a nice lunch, and picked up a few groceries.

But by the time we made it home, it was nearly sundown. I hate it when winter decides that the sun goes down so early. So I scampered around, got dressed, and booked it out the door while I still had a few stray beams of sunlight. I ran one of my usual routes instead of running at the local state park since I was short on time and sunlight. And I'm glad I went when I did. The sun was just below the treeline when I got back and cars were starting to scare me when they drove by without their headlights. But I made it safely and generally enjoyed myself. I recorded another podcast, listened to some podcasts, and did my best not to kill myself with a faster pace. Since I came back alive, I guess I was successful.

Weather:
Temps were about 45F, sky was clear with a few clouds, and the winds were steady around 10 or 15 mph.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was eggs, toast, and coffee. Lunch was a giant ceasar salad with grilled salmon. During the run I took a hit of Hammer gel around mile 1 and another hit around mile 2. I took one bottle of water and one bottle of watered down flat soda.

Gear:
I took my new iPod and wore my Brooks windbreaker. It's bright as fuck and I'm glad I took it to cut down on the windchill. My face was pretty cold the first half mile as I ran by open farmland. On the gravel road the winds were lighter but the jacket still helped keep me warm. I also wore my new pair of Kinvara 2 that I've had stuffed in a box waiting for another pair to retire.

Aches and Pains:
Not really any to speak of except my left knee felt a little twingey around mile 4. I think this was mostly due to the new shoes.
Codename - Homage
I think I gave UltraDad a run for his money with my intro to the latest podcast episode. Guess we'll see how he likes it. Too bad I can't do a Canadian accent, eh?

Splits:
Outbound - 30:12
Inbound - 30:12
Finish - 1:00:18

Today's Run - Christmas Run of Shame

2011-12-25T15:35:00.002-05:00

Report:
Today's run was ... unpleasant. I've been non-running for a week now and I hate it. It's like cabin fever creeping into your joints and exploding. It's like a bad jingle stuck in your head refusing to come out until you perform a lobotomy with a rusty spoon. It just plain sucks. And as my fellow runners have told me, I just needed to suck it up.

So I did. My meds have had time to work their magic on my sinuses (and my GI tract) and I felt well enough to run today. Actually I felt well enough yesterday but didn't want to push my luck. SO I waited until today. I tried to wait until tomorrow but it just didn't work. So I ambled out the door on a very short run today. Very. Short. But it felt like a marathon. Well, no, it didn't. But it felt longer than it actually was.

And despite all my complaining, I survived. And I feel pretty good. Not great but well enough to try another run. Hopefully tomorrow. Maybe by then my memory of today's run will have faded enough to let me enjoy it. Today was a long slog. I felt out of synch. Very rusty. Almost broken. Not like a broken bone but like I forgot how to run.

Enough negativity. The positive side of today's run was that I only took two, very short breaks. Less than 30 seconds a piece. And I got to run with my new iPod Shuffle (a Christmas present). I have yet to name it so keep an eye out for a contest or something shortly. But I made it back safe and sound and I'm ready to go again. So I guess my brain has healed. At least a little.

Weather:
Roughly 51F with heavy clouds and just a hint of sun. Moderate breeze that I only felt on one little section.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was a beast. Two giant cinnamon rolls that had to be at least 500 to 750 calories a piece. Plus some coffee. Pre-run snack was a few tidbits of Chex mix and a few swigs of GU Brew. On the run I had flat soda from Wegmans. Recovery was a small bottle of Ensure and some water.

Gear:
I'll be retiring this pair of Saucony Kinvaras (150 miles now). And of course my new iPod. Everything else was standard issue.

Aches and Pains:
Everything hurt. Not sure if it's because of my shoes being so worn or just my body recovering from being sick. Likely a heavy dose of both.

Codename - Christmas Run of Shame
Because I felt shame for eating such a large breakfast and for not having run for so long.

Splits:
Forgot to hit my split button so don't have one.
Finish: 16:38

Old School Lumberjacks

2011-12-23T09:00:00.000-05:00

I've long been a fan of Shorpy and the awesome pictures posted there. In fact, I respect their work well enough that I'm not even going to download and post their image. Yes, they are that awesome. So if you aren't familiar with the site, go check it out and subscribe for your daily dose of nostalgia.

Meanwhile, here's two photos of old school lumberjacks getting the job done.

A Big Load (click to view full size)

I'm a Lumberjack (click to view full size)

Podcast Hiatus

2011-12-22T09:00:00.000-05:00

My podcast will be on hiatus for two weeks as I celebrate the holidays. I suggest you do the same.

And as an early Christmas present to you, I'm formally coming out of the closet as the voice behind this podcast.

Drymax Socks

2011-12-21T09:00:00.001-05:00

For those in the running industry, Drymax Socks are a well known brand and often endorsed by elite athletes running some serious races. In fact, it was because of these prominent ads and frequent endorsements (you can see ultrarunning phenom Andy Jones-Wilkins in his Drymax ad here) that I bought a few pair to try out myself. I figured if they were half as good as these people say, then they may work for me.

Turns out they didn't work for me. At all.

Now before you completely dismiss my opinion as sacrilege, keep in mind that this is my opinion. And even though I'm a bit picky when it comes to socks, I did give them an honest try. In the past I've had issues with my feet. In fact, I still do to some extent. Specifically, my big toes do not bend at the knuckle. They bend at the ball joint, but not the knuckle. No idea why. They never have as far back as I can remember. Then there's the toe next to the big toe. Those are the ones that have given me issues since I've started running longer distances. And like most distance runners, those issues manifest as black toenails. Over time, I've treated my toenails with clippings, trimmings, filings, more trimmings, and even one instance of pulling the dead nail out with pliers. Yuck. While trimming has helped, the best treatment for me has been larger shoes.

In addition to the bad toenails, I've also struggled with blisters. It wasn't until months after my worst blister incident (which was also my first ultra race) that I realized that my socks were causing the blisters. I used to wear Asics socks primarily because they looked cool and my local running store had them in stock. It turns out they were probably the worst socks out there to wear. After I came to this realization, I began searching for the best sock out there. I settled on my Saucony socks just because that's what I had and they seemed to work.

Turns out, they've been the best so far. Yes, it's already been proven that I'm a Saucony snob. But really, check your running socks. Turn them inside out and look at the seams. Those seams on the Asics socks are what gave me blisters. The Saucony socks didn't have any. And the Drymax socks? Well, I ran into different issues with them.

Yep. I got a hole in them. From my big toe. On both feet. On all pairs. Over the course of a few months. Now, surely it looks like I need to trim my toenails, right? Only a toenail long enough and sharp enough could slice through a sock like that, right? Wrong. My toenails are trimmed on a regular basis. I've learned from my black toenails that if I don't trim them, I'll pay for it. Dearly. And while the nail may be sharp, they've never cut through my Saucony socks. Nor my Asics. Not even my junky Champion socks. Must be the sock.

As further proof, the heel portion of the sock is wearing thin. Already. I've had a pair of bamboo Feetures that have done the same thing but that was over a year of wearing them. But from wearing socks a few months, I'd never expect to have the fabric wear so thin.

If you're curious how much I've worn the Drymax socks, it has been as much as my other socks. They received no special treatment beyond an extra run or two in wet weather to test how they handled moisture. I've done blazing hot summer runs to cold winter runs. I've done bone dry runs to full immersion in water runs. I've worn a variety of shoes, run on a variety of surfaces, and have not modified them in any way. And despite all this, the socks failed me.

I think what bothers me the most about this is that I really, really wanted them to work. I don't know if it was the "cool" factor of wearing the same gear as the pros or just finding a sock that was super awesome. Regardless of wanting them to work, they didn't. And as much as I hate to write a bad review of a product or company that has a large following, I feel it is my duty to report the truth. No lies, just facts. So I will be ditching my Drymax socks once they wear out. Like my Feetures though, I'll find a good use for them. From sun glass storage to headlamp storage, I'll find something for them to do besides go in the trash.

Sunday's Run - Suck Fest

2011-12-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

Report:
Oh. Dear. God. What was I thinking. 20 miles? Really? And not only that, but with women? That are faster? I must have had too much to drink this weekend. Or maybe I hit my head in the shower.

Okay, enough with the whine, let's get on with the show. I'll try to keep it objective. Try.

We started our run with introductions. Kris D. brought along a friend, Julia. Bidi B showed up shortly there after whipping her car into the parking lot. Her need for speed would last the entire day.

After introductions, we were off. We met/parked at MM 4 on the trail so we headed west toward the train cars and MM 0. It was an easy run at a decent pace. We chatted, ran by some people walking their dogs, and generally had a good time. At MM 0, we walked a bit, talked more, then turned around and headed back.

Gradually Kris and Julia pushed the pace a bit but not too terribly. I was still able to keep up and didn't want to slow people down too much. I love how people always say they run slow then crack out a fast pace. It's all relative. On the way back to the cars we saw the same people walking their dogs, talked some more, and finished up the group run.

And while I often complain about how fast people run and how slow I am, I also know it helps me push myself faster. It was great to see some new faces and hear new stories. Just hope I didn't scare anybody off too much (I even managed to keep my shirt on).

After we got to the cars, Tabitha and I reloaded our gear for another run. I harassed her about taking too long in the aid station when I should have had a giant cup of STFU and filled my own hydration pack instead. More on that in a bit.

So Tab and I pushed on for another leg of the trail. This time we headed east and agreed to run to MM 8 before deciding if we'd go further or not. If we turned at MM 8, it would give us 16 miles total. More than the 14 miles on my plan but I've already determined I can't stick to the plan to save my life. So pushing to 20 miles (turning around at MM 10 instead) was fine with me. I wanted more miles and so did Tab. Little did I know how much it would cost.

On this section I felt decent. Until a half mile in. When I realized I didn't refill my hydration pack. I ran with it for the first 8 miles. I generally only last 10 miles with my pack. So even though I had sucked down some fluids at the car, I knew right off the bat that I would need to ration my water. I did have the smarts to grab one of my handhelds but it was only half full. My lack of fluids would end up being the source of my demise. I would eventually run dry with only half a mile to run but the entire 12 mile run was a constant battle to not drink as much as I wanted or needed. I felt like I was in the desert or something conserving my water. I felt like a complete idiot for going into this race without a plan. And that lack of a plan, truly the lack of respect for the distance, is really where I fucked up bad. Aside from screwing up my fluids, I didn't really factor in my fuel or electrolyte needs. I just ate what I wanted when I felt like I needed it. No nutrition plan at all. Same with electrolytes. I knew I'd run low late in the run so I grabbed some pills but they only helped so much due to the lack of water in my system. And I took no source of caffeine even though I had a giant bottle in my car.

In case you couldn't tell from my tone so far, the wheels fell off. Then the axles. Then everything else. The first 4 miles our were okay. The 2 miles after that I could feel myself slowing down but again, I felt okay. I was 6 miles out so far and doing okay. We turned around and I slowed down a bit more. With 4 miles left, I knew my tank was empty. But I dug deep and pushed on. I continued to push until my hamstring cramped up. I pushed until my calves cramped. I pushed until my gut screamed bloody murder. I pushed until my head started to hurt. I was such a zombie that I knew Tab was saying things to me here and there but I couldn't quite understand what she was saying. My mental faculties were not quite up to par. How far gone was I? Far enough that I knew if Tabitha dropped her pants and flashed her boobs I wouldn't have even noticed. My head was down and every time I stopped to walk it sucked. Not because I had to walk but because it felt so good and I knew it would really suck when I started to run again.

Yay me.

In the end, I somehow found enough in me to make it to the car. 20 miles. Well, technically it was more like 21+ with the detour. I don't know how, but I did it. Maybe it was the magic rock Tab gave me. Maybe it was some switch that I flipped. But I think what really kept me going was that I knew the faster I finished, the faster I would be able to stop. The Richmond Marathon didn't hurt this much. My last 50k didn't hurt this much. I was beyond fried and even now still a bit foggy. And no, I'm pretty sure it wasn't the half a beer I had when we finished.

Weather:
Temps were 40F to 45F. The sun was out for a bit at the start but heavy clouds moved in later. Slight sign of snow at the very end. Light wind for most of the run.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was yogurt, coffee, and a small bottle of Ensure. Before the run I took an e-Gel. During the run I had my hydration pack which ran dry at about mile 19.5. During the aid station break I took in some water and some Hammer Endurolyte Fizz. I also had some bagel with salt on it. During the second leg of the run I had two Honey Stinger Waffles and some of my Hammer Gel (I think I had some during my first leg too). Recovery was half a beer courtesy of Tab (it tasted like ass but I was thirsty enough to drink some), some flat Coke, and the rest of my salty bagel.

Gear:
The only gear to take note of was my Ruez booty short underwear (no chafing and no freezing of the nibbles n' bits). I'll review them when I can find some time to do so. I also tested a replacement for my whistle's necklace. It seems to work just fine.

Aches and Pains:
Feet were sore. Right hamstring start to cramp up with 6 to 8 miles to go. Calves started to cramp up with 4 to 6 miles to go. Head started to hurt with about 4 miles to go.

Splits:
Mile 1 - 10:46
Mile 2 - 12:24 (includes pee break - only one of the run)
Mile 3 - 10:53
Mile 4 - 10:25
Walk Break at Turnaround - 3:52
Mile 5 - 10:25
Mile 6 - 10:45
Mile 7 - 10:41
Mile 8 - 10:39
Aid Station Break - 12:52
Mile 9 - 10:35
Mile 10 - 11:19
Mile 11 - 15:40 (gun range bypass)
Mile 12 - 12:16
Mile 13 - 11:15
Mile 14 - 11:44 (turnaround point)
Mile 15 - 14:10
Mile 16 - 10:41
Mile 17 - 14:03 (gun range bypass)
Mile 18 - 15:05
Mile 19 - 12:48
Mile 20 - 14:13
Finish - 4:17:42

A Lumberjack Goes Into the Woods

2011-12-19T11:00:00.000-05:00

Today's Run - Naked Running

2011-12-15T14:20:00.002-05:00

Report:
Went for a naked run today. And before you jump to any conclusions, please keep in mind I ran naked, not nude. There's a difference. Check out The Naked Runners for proof (they have an awesome podcast too).

Here's the Silas and Dave at a recent TEDx event:

Anyway, it was these guys that inspired me to run naked today. Granted, I did wear shoes, but I ditched the distractions. No watch, no phone, just me and some water bottles. The wind was blowing pretty hard so I had two distinct encounters with it. First, on the outbound portion the wind was at my back and blowing pretty good. How good? Well, it was strong enough to make leaves chase me. And pass me. I know I run slow but that made me feel even slower. I got passed by a leaf. Second was on the inbound portion where the wind was blowing the little seed pods off the trees and into my hair. Looked like snow but wasn't as slippery. Or as cold.

Aside from that, it just felt nice to go for a run. I caught myself checking my wrist a few times thinking about my time and pace. But I forced the feelings down and kept my focus on the run itself. Me, Mother Nature, some heavy breathing, and a good amount of sweat. I can only hope she was as satisfied as I was.

Weather:
Temps were about 55F. Sky was partly cloudy with a decent amount of sun. Wind was the biggest factor as it cooled things off and made the inbound portion difficult at times. Wind was easily 15mph to 20mph.

Gear:
Took my North Face wind breaker with me and had to ditch it after a few minutes. It worked great at blocking the heavy winds but it was warmer out than I thought and I was starting to sweat. Also ditched my winter hat at the same place. Had a major failure with my Drymax socks as I put a giant hole in one of them. More on that later.

Fluids and Fuel:
Took two bottles, one with water, the other with Hammer Fizz. Finished about two-thirds of each. Recovery was an EAS drink. It was okay but tasted just like Ensure.

Aches and Pains:
None to speak of.

Splits:
N/A

Anything is Possible

2011-12-14T11:00:00.003-05:00

Just when I think life has finally broken my back, just when I think things can't get any worse, one of two things happens. Things really do get worse, thereby proving that things really aren't as bad as I thought they were. Or things get better, thereby proving anything is possible.

I don't even now how to introduce Buffy to you. I could rattle off her impressive running record. I could tell you she has an awesome drive. I could wow you with her wonderful attitude. But nothing really does justice to the fact that this little girl ran a half marathon. So when you think it can't be done, just remember anything is possible. If this little girl can run a half marathon, anything is possible. If my fat ass can run a 50k, anything is possible. The only thing holding you back is you.

Today's Run - Candid Camera

2011-12-13T17:00:00.000-05:00

Report:
Very slow run as I spent a lot of time running back and forth in front of the camera. And lugging the camera around also made things go slower too.Beyond that, pretty boring run. Saw some really neat frost and some steam rising off the little pond off the trail. Hope to edit and post the video at some point but work is more pressing.

Weather:
Temps were about 25F to 30F. Even when the sun came up it wasn't that warm. Sky was clear and the sun was out (eventually). No wind.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was a glass of water. During the run I had a bottle of water and a bottle of Hammer Fizz. Recovery was a small bottle of Ensure followed by a breakfast of eggs, toast, yogurt, and coffee.

Gear:
Wore my Ruez underwear and I'm quickly enjoying them, but not so much the bikini briefs. Think I'll save those for when I wear shorts. Also lugged my camera and Pod around. Awkward. I'll also be formally retiring my Saucony Exodus shoes. I loved them when they worked for me but I'm now officially a full-time minimalist runner. I swear I was running in a pair of high heels out there.

Aches and Pains:
Calves are still stiff but not really painful. Just feel like an old man when I get up to walk around. Beyond that, everything else was fine.

Codename - Candid Camera
Felt bizarre taking video of myself running. A little nervous to watch it but I'm excited to edit it. Assuming anything is usable.

Splits:
Mile 1 - 16:47
Mile 2 - 18:36
Mile 3 - 14:14
Mile 4 - 15:41
Finish - 1:05:20

2011 VA Runner Blue & Gray Half Marathon

2011-12-12T17:45:00.001-05:00

Report:
Must be Christmas time because everyone is getting PRs today. Including me.

After reviewing last year's notes and the route again, I had a decent idea of what to expect for today's race. Going into the race I also had the expectation of just going along at my own pace and not really racing. Turns out I can't do that. I can't run in a race without racing and without giving it my all. I thought I could make this a training run but it turns out I can't. Oh well, I tried.

Anyway, I didn't have a goal for this race other than to assess my time as I neared the end and push for a PR if I was close. Beyond that, it was just a question of how cold I'd be and how much I could tinker with my fluids and fuel. After an early alarm this morning, I hopped in the shower and got dressed. I headed down the road and downed a small coffee. I made a pit stop at Wal Mart, then another one at another one, then drove the course. Once I got a bead on the water tables, I decided to run with just one water bottle, something I rarely do since I drink like a horse when I run.

Once at the start, I had to park down by the 13 mile marker and hoof it to the start/finish area. I got my chip, chatted with some local runners I knew, then headed back to my car to warm up. I had dressed in shorts with calf sleeves but had pants on over top just in case. I ditched the pants but kept my extra top layer on, grabbed both bottles, grabbed my fuel, and headed back to the start. Talked to my dad (aka my personal photographer) for a bit, then meandered around a bit trying to stay warm.

With zero nerves going into the race, I lined up, stripped off a top layer and started. I ditched one of my bottles and my extra layer at my car and did my best to stay warm. The first mile made my fingers hurt. Hurt enough to make me want to look for extra layers of clothes that people may toss on the ground. Nobody really tossed any layers so I had to deal with the pain. Mile 2 was downhill and like the Lumberjack that I am, I tore off down the hill like a jack rabbit. Down the small hill on Cowan and the bigger Hospital Hill left me tired with sore feet. But I pushed through to the canal trail.

On the other end of the canal trail we head through some snaky turns before heading over to the gravel road around the ball fields at the college. I was doing okay, taking on fuel every 2 or 3 miles or so, avoiding the ice as much as I could, and drinking when I thought about it. My right hamstring would cramp up a bit but would get better after I pushed fluids for a mile or so. At the gravel loop, I peeled off to take a leak behind some sheds until I saw that the road turned enough that people in front of me could see me. Not much to see but I'm not that brave. So I went a little further until I saw a tree that worked well enough to hide behind. Slipping on the frosty grass, I got back into the race but felt off my rhythm. But I continued to push through and refilled my bottle as needed.

As I cruised through the same real estate I had already run through, I felt okay. I'd walk every mile or two for no more than a minute. I knew from previous races that a 1 mile run followed by a 1 minute walk would get me through a marathon so I used the same routine loosely today with similar success.

As I clicked off the 10th mile, I fly down a short hill and back to the canal trail doing math in my head. It took me a good mile to finally figure out that not only was a PR an option, it was easily within reach. The only question was Hospital Hill. I've run it several times before but I didn't know how much energy I would have left in the tank. So I ramped up my fuel intake before the hill hoping to power through. I walked up the steps to the bottom of the hill and ran the first little portion before crawling to a walk. I did a mental reboot of sorts and started running again. I had turned my music on around mile 8 and had found a solid groove. Shortly after doing this, I began passing people. Nothing major, but it was easier to reel people in. Back at the hill, I found this groove again and started running. And ran to the top. Passing people the whole way. I've walked that hill many times and know what it feels like. It hurts. It sucks. But it's just a hill and you'll eventually get over it.

Once to the top I walked a bit to refill my bottle and take a short break. From there, it was running to the end. Even up the more evil hill on Cowan. Hospital Hill is a mile long. But it just knocks you down. The hill on Cowan kicks you in the nuts while you're still down. But I powered through the hill continually checking my watch to see where I was on pace. I amazed myself with my time on Hospital Hill but knew I still had to finish. Past the store fronts, ditching my water bottle at my car as I ran by, then a full on sprint to the finish.

A new PR was born. Unofficially about 10 minutes. Maybe 11. I'm certainly happy with my time and I enjoyed my finish. I felt good, finished strong, and was happy.

But I wasn't done.

You see, there's a local running legend that was also running today's half. Her name is Buffy but her real name is Elizabeth. The same name as my own daughter. In fact, they're both 7 years old. That's right, a 7 year old girl ran the half marathon today. So after I finished, I stopped at my car for a drink, then headed back out onto the course to find her. She wasn't far behind me and I picked her up about a half mile or so from the finish. I ran with her to the final turn before letter her cross by herself to enjoy the moment. She had fun and enjoyed it. Her parents didn't push her into it. She was tired but not in any danger health-wise. I congratulated her and her dad after the finish.

But I still wasn't done.

I went back out on the course. I cheered people on as they passed me and headed toward the finish. Many were in their own zone but many said thanks and smiled. It was great. As I got a little over a mile from the finish, I refilled my bottle at the final water station and caught the last runner. She was walking and obviously in pain. I stayed with her to the finish. We walked. We talked. We were quiet. I never introduced myself, never pushed DailyMile or anything else on her. Never told her to train more or to give up. I tried to keep positive, encouraging, and helpful. I carried some Gatorade for her for a bit and just kept her company to the end. As she neared the finish, I stopped to let her go the last little bit by herself. She said something like "thanks for getting me this far." My response was something like "I didn't get you this far, you did it yourself. Enjoy the finish. It's yours."

So with that, I hope I gave her and Buffy a bit of an early Christmas present with my presence. Not that I'm a big deal but I've been there before. I've been last and I know how much it sucks. I hope I took just a little bit of that suckiness away for her. And I hope I distracted Buffy enough to enjoy the race just a bit more.

Weather:
Temps were about 25F to start and warmed to about 40F by the time I finished. Maybe 45F by the time I finished walking in with the last runner. Winds were light but noticeable in some areas. The sun was out but you never really felt it. Ice was present in some areas, especially the water stops.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was a small can of Starbucks Double Espresso and a little GU Brew. I took one e-Gel before the start of the race. During the race I didn't start taking gels until mile 3. I had two small flasks with about 2 or 3 servings in each. I took a small swig of gel again at mile 5 I think, then again around 7 or 8. Around mile 9 I started going every mile with a small swig. My single bottle had Nathan Catalyst in it and I refilled it with more water and more Catalyst around mile 6. After that I refilled my bottle as needed, which was around mile 8 and 11 I think. Recovery after my race was chocolate flavored Zico followed by more water. Lunch after that was a sandwich and cinnamon roll and iced tea.

Aches and Pains:
My ankles hurt the first few miles from pounding my fat ass down the hills. After that, they felt okay except for the occasional cramp in my right hamstring. That appeared to be easily cleared up with more fluids. But right now my calves are stiff and sore.

Codename - Anything is possible
If my big butt can do a 50k and if a 7 year old girl can do 13.1 miles, then you can do anything you put your mind to, just like Doc Brown said.

Splits:
Start - 0:23 to cross the start line
Mile 1 - 9:43 (downhill)
Mile 2 - 9:53 (downhill)
Mile 3 - 10:48
Mile 4 - 10:55
Mile 5 - 11:02
Mile 6 - 10:59
Mile 7 - 11:45 (includes bathroom break)
Mile 8 - 10:14
Mile 9 - 10:47
Mile 10 - 10:31
Mile 11 - 10:14
Mile 12 - 11:18 (Hospital Hill)
Mile 13 - 10:09
Finish - 2:19:03 (a new PR by nearly 12 minutes)

Altra Zero Drop

2011-12-06T14:50:00.002-05:00

Back Story
I first heard about Altra Zero Drop on Twitter and DailyMile through the usual sources of fellow runners that had their hands on a pair of their shoes before the rest of us normal folks. While I envy these people for getting so many products to review, I don't envy the work that goes into reviewing them. It's taken me months just to craft this one post.

Anyway, I heard about the company and wasn't terribly impressed. After all, I've long been a Saucony snob and doubted I would ever convert to something different. I had finally boarded the minimalist bandwagon and was really enjoying my Kinvaras and Peregrines. Then I started reading more and more about the Altra toe box and how much larger it was. This caught my interest because I've had issues with my toes in the past and the prospect of eliminating those issues was oh so tempting.

So I finally broke under the weight of my own self-induced peer pressure and bought a pair of the Instincts from a friend who happened to work out a deal to become a distributor. I was hesitant to buy shoes from such a new company but that temptation of healthy toes just wouldn't go away. I'm sure anyone out there that's had a black toenail can attest to how annoying and gross they can be.

After wearing the Instincts long enough (more on them in a second), I opted to try their Lone Peak trail shoes. These were the ones I was most excited about since most of my toe issues stem from trail runs, especially the long ones. I feel that I've now worn both shoes long enough to write a respectable review of each.

The Instinct

Specs:
I have the grey pair (or "gray" if you're an American like me but doesn't use the English spelling). I call them my "space shoes" or my "Spaceman Spiff Shoes" depending on how I feel. I do not like the looks of the black ones and really wish they'd get some bright orange ones. I'd even settle for lime green. Mine are size 10.5, the same size I wear in my Saucony Kinvaras. I could give you the nitty gritty on weight, length, etc. but I'm sure somebody else has done that so I'll skip it. In the box, you get two pair of insoles. I immediately went with the thinnest pair. I also opted to use the "modified" lacing they have on their site but only the top portion. I didn't do the funny stuff where you skip crossing over. These shoes also have 75 miles on them currently.

Fit:
They fit like nothing I've ever worn before. But when you think about it, that's pretty obvious. How many shoes out there have an oversize toe box? None that I know of. But I will say my toes were happy. They had plenty of room to party and weren't cramped. There were no toenail issues and only one very minor blister on the end of my toe after running the Richmond Marathon. The top of the shoe is tight. The alternate lacing appears to help some of that but I've found it's more of a technique to get them laced than other shoes. It's almost like there's little to no give in the laces and the upper. So too loose and your foot slops around. Too tight and your foot falls asleep (or it feels like a giant is standing on your foot). The alternate lacing at the top appears to alleviate some of that pain.

Joint Test:
As a zero-drop shoe, there's obviously not going to be much cushion underneath them. So after longer runs, my knees and hips were hurting. But I'm notoriously a heel-striker so I'm not too surprised they hurt. I've tried to adjust my stride and cadence but when I stop thinking about it, I fall back into old habits. Generally around the 10 to 15 mile mark is when things really start to be noticeable, but that's about the same as my Kinvaras that have 150 miles on them. I'm sure if you're used to a minimalist shoe or have a proper foot strike pattern, you won't notice much difference.

Toe Box:
As I mentioned before, the toe box is the real selling point with these shoes. I started running in Saucony Rides, size 10 wide. After some black toenails, I upped it to a size 10.5 regular and have been fine since. But my longer runs, especially on trails, would see those black toenails crop up again. Not so with the wide toe box. The best analogy I can think of is the regular shoes out there are like ballet slippers while the Altras are like bedroom slippers. One is very constricting while the other is roomy. This is the make-or-break feature for me. If Altra was a conventional shoe with a conventional toe box, I wouldn't buy them.

Overall:
Buy them. There are some things I don't like but they are overshadowed by the things I love. I'm not a fan of their colors. The top of the shoe fits tight. The heel is a little loose sometimes. But I love the large toe box. I love the overall feel of the shoe (lightweight and breathable). And I love how engaged the company is in their customers.

The Lone Peak

Specs:
In almost every aspect the Lone Peaks are just like the Instincts. The primary differences are the lugs on the bottom, the little "rudder" on the heel, and the lack of a second pair of insoles. With that said, I opted for a size 11 in these just to give myself an extra little bit of room for my toes. I'm not sure if this was wise as my foot slides sometimes. Kind of a mixed bag right now but I'm thinking my next pair will be size 10.5 and I'll compare them to see which is best. Who knows, maybe the size 11 will work well later in my ultras when my feet are swollen. This pair has 25 miles on them.

Fit:
Like the Instincts, they fit tight on the top of the foot and have plenty of party room in the toe box. I tried the alternate lacing I mentioned above but for today's run I went traditional and it felt a little better. I'll try switching my Instincts to see if it improves but overall it doesn't appear to impact performance in any way.

Shit Hits Fan:
I've thrown everything I can at this shoe except ice and snow. Mud, small rocks, large rocks, sand, water, dirt, branches, leaves, roots, and then some. Nothing has slowed these shoes down. My trail running consists of two primary types of trails; single track dirt and old railroad beds. On the single track trails the shoe offers great grip and doesn't cling to the mud. The lugs are wide enough apart to let the mud come off and the sole is large enough to give you plenty of traction. On the railroad bed I'm faced with ballast that varies from soft pine needles to large pointy rocks. The rock plate in the sole kept my feet happy through short and long runs. It easily out-performed the Saucony Peregrines in my shoe rotation. In the sand it gripped easily but didn't kick up as much sand as I expected. In the water, I was impressed. More impressed than I am with the grip of the shoe. I took a giant leap across a small creek and managed to look like an idiot by landing in the middle of said creek. Knee deep in cold water, I slogged out and was impressed by how quickly the shoes drained. Within minutes, portions of the outer were drying. In the next mile to mile and a half, a good 85% of the water had drained from inside the shoe. The only thing that felt wet was my sock. I only had a quarter mile of the lead-shoe-syndrome after taking a full soaking. After that, things drained and dried pretty fast. Faster than I expected.

Shit:
Time for the bad news. The areas where this shoe could be made better. First, the "rudder" on the end of the heel. I have no idea what purpose it serves but it feels like a waste. Maybe over time I'll change my mind and since trimming it off would take more time than it's worth, I'm not going to mess with it. Second, the top of the shoe could use some padding. Again, this is a bit of a grey area. Too much padding means too much water retention or too much weight. But a tad bit more would help protect your feet (or even your toes) from those sneaky sticks that try to stab you on the trail. Third, gaiters. Most trail runners I know wear them. This shoe isn't designed for them. At least not the Dirty Girl Gaiters I use. I applied the Velcro to the heel and it lasted about 5 miles. Plus there's no d-ring loop on the toe to hook your hook. While I know I can hook my hook to the laces, it doesn't hold as well. This is the only clear advantage my Saucony Peregrines have over the Lone Peaks. Finally, color. Yes, again with the color scheme. I know this is a new company but these colors are blah and drab. And when I run in the woods, I don't want to blend into my surroundings, especially during deer season. Bright colors could save my life. Plus they look cool and have no impact on performance.

Final Analysis
Buy a pair of these. Either type or both. I'm not paid to endorse these shoes or this company. In fact, I paid them for the shoes. And I'm going to do it again. These guys pay attention to the small details other companies don't bother with. The box itself is a wealth of information and is built like a brick shit house. No flim flam here, these are solid shoes with a big toe box.

The Instincts are like the Kinvaras I'm used to but with that large toe box and less cushion. The Lone Peaks are like the Peregrines but with better traction and more toe room. So all in all, they're the best shoe I've got in my rotation right now. I'm not saying that they're perfect by any means. There is certainly room for some improvement. But this is a young company and I'm sure there will be changes down the road. But in the end, they're the best I've got right now.

Molly Roohi - Ironman Triathlete

2011-12-01T10:20:00.000-05:00

A local running legend ran Kona this year after a very impressive Ironman finish in France earlier this year. While I've never really met her, she did teach me that I pretty much can't swim worth a shit. No, she didn't say that, but I could read between the lines. And I'm fine with sticking to running. Maybe some time later, much later, I'll attempt triathlons.

Anyway, she was invited to compete at the Ironman World Championships this year. An amazing feat in itself. What's really amazing is how well she's handling a poor performance. I was shocked at how poorly she did but then I realized, she's just as human as everybody else. And the fact that she was not only invited but also finished the race, tells me that she is a bit super-human.

Her splits were 1:10:35 (swim), 5:54:21 (bike), and 7:17:58 (run). Her swim was okay, she felt good about it. Her bike was rough with the wind and a flat about 2 miles from the end (so she just ran it in instead of changing). Her run was horrible (her words, not mine). I can't imagine walking a marathon but I'm amazed at how well she did despite the hardships she faced. Overheated, sunburned, dehydrated, under fueled, and totally exhausted. But I'm still amazed and impressed that people can do this and do it so well. While her 14+ hour finish time may not be as awesome as she had hoped for, it's pretty damn awesome in my book.

The Richmond Marathon

2011-11-14T11:56:00.005-05:00

An in-depth analysis of a first-timers marathon.

First, this report (and the one I link to in a moment) isn't for normal human consumption. If blood, sweat, tears, chafing, and swearing aren't for you, leave now. If they are for you, then you're just as messed up as every other runner I know, including myself.

Second, let me link to my race report over on DailyMile. It's a long read but it will give you my initial impression of the race and how I did. Once you've read that, then come back here to read more about those topics I forgot to mention or needed more room to talk about.

My DailyMile race report.

Okay, now that you've read that long, beast of a report, here's everything else.

VENUE

Aside from this being my first marathon, this is also my first race in Richmond. Living close to the city, roughly an hour north, meant I could have stayed at home in my own bed. I opted to make it a weekend event and instead booked a hotel for both the night before and the night after. Based on a poor experience earlier this year running a half marathon in Williamsburg, I knew this would be a great chance to enjoy the moment.

The city of Richmond came across as fairly unique in my eyes. I've been through, into, and around the city nearly my entire life. But I never saw this much of it. And for the most part I liked it. There were many times where I felt like a country-bumpkin, especially with the number of homeless people and my lack of skills at city driving. But overall I liked the city. There were a ton of bikes on the road and most cars respected them, despite my disdain for a good 80% of them not using protective gear like helmets, lights, bright colors, etc.

I picked the Hilton Garden Hotel since it was close to the race start and since it had better reviews than the race hotel, the Omni. When race morning came, it was a short 2 or 3 block walk to the start line. By race morning there were already a steady stream of runners moving in that direction so it was easy to just join the crowd and enjoy the walk. Despite it being cold as all hell. Even after a few years in the Snow Belt of north-western Pennsylvania, I still don't like the cold that much. Although when it comes to running, I'd rather it be cold than hot. Anyway, it was easily in the low 30s and there was a steady wind that made it even colder. Not fun but I knew it would shape up nicely. Plus you can't really change the weather, only endure it.

With the finish line only an extra 4 or 5 blocks from the hotel, I knew it would be an easy walk back when I was done. I was half right. The distance was easy but there was a steady uphill to fight. I didn't know that until race day when I ran down to the finish to see how far it was. Things look a lot closer when you look at a map than they do in person.

One of my biggest complaints about the venue was the location of the expo. Having little experience in big races like this, I just assumed the expo and packet pick-up were close to the start/finish area. They aren't. You could get there by bike, but it would be a while. Even driving took longer than I would have liked but I managed. The expo was the typical race expo I've seen at other half marathons before. Lots of vendors selling their junk. Some of it is funny, some of it catches your eye, but as a whole it looked like junk. The only exception were the other races advertising and the local running store. You can always count on those to put out some quality stuff. I did like that there was a bib check system that let you walk across a timing mat to make sure your timing chips worked. I did not like that said timing chip was on my bib, but I'm just weird like that.

Another complaint was the lack of amenities after the race. Yes, they had water, my medal, a foil cape, and food, but I expected a little more. Maybe I'm spoiled by our local half marathon that dishes out hot soup and hot food along with the rest of the fancy swag. Oh well. Oh, and my first medal was losing the ribbon. The seams were coming out so I promptly went back for a replacement. Thankfully the 12 year old kid didn't give me any grief. Guess that thousand-yard stare makes people think you're crazy.

They also had no finish-line photo opportunities that I could see. There were a few spots on the course where you could tell photographers were set up, but none were labeled. Again, I must be spoiled by other races because the Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon does that. They label their photographers on the course and give you a chance to pose for photos after you've finished.

EQUIPMENT

From head to toe, I had the following gear:
- Saucony beanie hat
- Under Armour visor
- Switch sunglasses
- #DoEpicShit tech shirt
- Saucony arm sleeves
- Saucony gloves
- Generic tech jacket from Kohls
- 3 hand warmers (1 in each glove, 1 in my shorts)
- 2 Amphipod handheld bottles (large)
- 2 Amphipod flasks (small)
- chapstick
- RoadID
- Timex watch
- whistle
- Gatorade drink mix
- Nathan Catalyst drink mix
- BodyGlide
- North Face shorts
- Saucony calf sleeves
- Saucony socks
- Altra Instincts (shoes)

Overall, everything performed great. I pre-treated my feet with some Mission anti-chafe cream and that helped. I didn't feel any chafing on my feet until the last 5 miles or so, but by that point everything was hurting. I did end up with a blister on the tip of my left toe (the one next to my big toe) but I always have issues with that toe on both feet. And it was a small blister that was easily treated after the race and barely felt during the race.

I also pre-treated my primary chafe zone (my crotch) with BodyGlide as well as my armpits (a new chafing point in the past few months) and my nipples. Thankfully nothing really chafed that bad during the race. I reapplied BodyGlide to my nipples once around Mile 10 and my crotch about 3 times at various points. I also did not dump water on myself until very late in the race and did so sparingly to my head and neck. I knew from past races that this was a great way to cool my body off but also a great way to inflict serious pain from chafing.

My shoes worked out great. They're fairly new to me and only had a few miles on them but they have a wonderfully wide toe box. And for longer races where my feet swell, this is exactly what I needed. The minimal cushion was a bit hard on my knees but I expected that. My shorts weren't an issue, nor my shirt, hat, etc.

With the temperature starting out so cold, about 35F or so at the start, and ending so high, about 60F by the time I finished, I knew I would need to dress in layers. In fact, that's how I knew the race had started because there was suddenly a strip show taking place in front of me as people were suddenly flinging clothes to the side. Sure enough, I ditched my cheap and old jacket before the first half mile. Next came my beanie hat around Mile 5 or so. The bad news is it developed a hole at some point in the past month or so. The good news is I had no qualms in ditching it because of the hole. The ugly news is that I have yet to find a company that produces quality running hats that fit people with giant fucking heads like mine. At Mile 10 I was noticing that my sleeves were accumulating sweat. Which means my body is warming up and I need to ditch them. So I stripped them off. I was sad to see them go but I wore my old ones just for this scenario. Last to go were my gloves. I tossed those around Mile 14 I think. My hands are always cold so when they started warming up I knew it was warm enough to lose them. Again, these were older gloves so I was okay to see them go.

A bit of advice for those running their first marathon. Be prepared to ditch clothes at some point. Most marathons don't have the option of a drop bag like you'll find at ultras. So be prepared to lose your clothes. Dress accordingly. And cheaply.

Another bit of advice for your first marathon. You can show up in just your shoes, shorts, and shirt, and run without any other equipment. Richmond provided water every two miles and then every mile after Mile 20. That's plenty of water stops for most people. And each water stop also had Powerade (which I can't drink, but that's another story). They also had two gel stations. Not enough to run a marathon but I could have easily started a running store with the amount of clothes and gels I found on the road. Yes, many were squished or empty, but many gels were unopened (and un-stepped on). There were enough there to run the whole race without bringing any of your own. I never expected that. And while I expected to see clothes ditched here and there, I didn't expect the sheer number of items. Enough that it looked like empty cups at a water stop at times. And speaking of water stops, in the later ones be prepared to have sticky shoes for a bit. Some people can't run and drink.

REGRETS

Another thing for first-timers to look at is the course and the amenities provided. While I was disappointed to know where I was on the course when I got to Mile 22, it was an even trade with knowing where I was at Mile 10. But knowing what the race will provide for fluids and fuel was vital to me in this race. Had I gone and drank their Powerade, I would have barfed and likely not finished. Thankfully I took the time to test Powerade on my own and found that I didn't like it. Thus my need to carry Nathan Catalyst and Gatorade. The Catalyst was easy to use although it takes practice taking a tablet out of the tube and dropping it in the bottle without making a giant mess. I'd suggest you take the tablet out of the tube, close the tube, then put the tablet into an empty bottle. That way you won't splash and if you do, it won't ruin the rest of your tube. And if you use tablets like that, expect the shaking to produce a lot of gas in your bottle which may cause it to squirt out. Be careful. Also wait until all the fizz is gone or that gas will end up in your gut. Trust me, you don't want that.

The same tests took place with the fuel offered on course, Accel Gel. Thankfully I could stomach it. And thankfully I brought my own. I split my fuel between PowerBar gels and Hammer gels and they both worked. I wish I had taken more though. As I got into Mile 20 through Mile 26, I could tell I was running low on fuel. I did my best to take as much as I could but I didn't plan well enough for the later part. In fact, I had to take an extra gel on course and some beer and some pretzels to help close the gap in fueling. It helped but it wasn't enough. I also wish I had consumed more electrolytes during the race. As the temperatures rose and my body began to overheat, I could cool down some but I was still losing too much salt. While I could feel it on my face and could feel my pace drop, I think if I had pushed more fluids as soon as I noticed this, I might have done better.

Aside from the fluid and fuel deficit, my next biggest regret was music. I should have taken some but I didn't want to carry the weight of an old-school iPod or my phone. Plus, messing with earphones isn't something I want to worry about at Mile 20. But I think I could have pushed through those tough moments if I had my music with me. I'm a firm believer that music makes me run better, especially later. Same goes for flat Coke, but I can only do so much.

Other regrets include not taking in my surroundings more. There were a lot of wonderful views that I missed because I was so focused on running by them. For me, the best way to do a marathon is to do it two or three times. This way the first time you can focus on finishing and the other times you can focus on the view. I also wish I had exchanged more info with other runners. Which means I also wish I had simply talked to other runners more. A few exchanges here and there just weren't enough to replace the lack of music.

RECOVERY

My recovery was way different than expected. I fully intended to be in so much pain I could barely walk the next day. Or even later the same day. It turns out I recovered just fine. My old high school cross country coach warned us to never get into a hot tub after a race. Apparently he knew some students that did and they turned themselves into limp noodles that could barely walk. And I'll agree with him, but only to a point. I think they likely overstayed the suggested time in the hot tub. A friend of my wife's ran with me a bit the week before the race and suggested my wife and I sleep in different beds the night before and that I should get into the hot tub after the race. I followed both suggestions and came out the other side much better. Not only did I have a good night's sleep (not really but at least I didn't toss and turn so much that I kept my wife awake) but I also had a faster recovery.

After the race, I went back to the hotel and loaded up on salty foods. I knew I was low so I recovered as best as I could. I put my legs up for 10 minutes or so, then rinsed in the shower before getting into the hot tub. The hot tub felt great but I kept my session to only about 10 minutes. I stretched some, then got back into the hot tub later that night after dinner. And dinner, by the way, was wonderful. Best damn burger ever. Do not overdo it on soda though, it'll keep you up when you need to be sleeping.

The next morning I was stiff and sore, but easily back to 80% health. My run that morning was short and slow but it felt great. I could feel all the kinks working themselves out and the muscles warming up. I should have gone longer but figured some down-time was well deserved. Now that I'm a couple days beyond the marathon, I still feel good. A bit stiff when I wake up, but easily moving like normal soon enough.

THE SECRET TO MY SUCCESS

In my full race report, you'll see that I ran pretty even splits through the entire race. My second half was only about 5 minutes slower than my first half, and that's after a PR on the first half. And if you want to crunch numbers and do research, you'll see that I've been getting faster. How is that possible? Easy. I have a secret. The most well-known secret there is. I trained and I lost weight.

My training was pretty simple but haphazard at times. I tried to focus on my long runs and did my best to not skip them. If I had to skip a run, I'd try to skip the shorter ones. I did no pace work, no repeats, no speed work, no hill work, no fartleks, nothing. Yes, some of the routes I ran were hillier. Yes, some of the routes I ran were on trails. Yes, some of my runs were with faster people. But nothing was organized or planned. I just trained naturally and went with what felt right at the time. I listened to my body.

My weight loss is another well-known secret. I watched what I ate and exercised. All those fancy books out there with diets, revolutions, and everything else is a bunch of shit. You want to lose weight? Eat right and exercise. And by the way, eating right includes eating healthy foods and controlling your portions. I simply cut calories and lost the weight. And that weight loss helped me get faster. I never thought I could run as fast as I have in the past two months. And that confidence boost feeds even more weight loss. I guess another way to explain it is to think of it this way. Imagine running a marathon with a 5 pound dumbbell in each hand. It's going to hurt like a bitch and you'll be slow. Drop those weights and that's how I ran faster.

CONCLUSION

I thought I yapped long enough it would probably make all those English teachers out there happy if I put a Conclusion in here to let you know I'm done. Richmond was fun and I'd easily suggest it to anyone looking for their first marathon. The venue was nice and the route was scenic. People were pleasant and I had a great time. Focus on your training, gear, and weight. The training will teach your body what to do in the race. Dropping weight will help you go faster. And the gear will make things easier for you. And don't forget to have a recovery plan in place. Know what you're doing when you finish or you'll stand there with an addled mind until they close up shop. It helped that my wife was there to guide me back to the hotel but it was also nice to know that I could make it back if I needed to. And have fun. For crying out loud you're running a marathon. It shouldn't be work, it should be fun. So have fun! And try not to have any regrets. But if you do, use them to put forth a better effort in your next marathon.

New Followers

2011-10-17T16:04:00.002-04:00

I understand there may be some new followers out there, and I'd like to take a moment to say welcome. I don't post here as much as I'd like to but if you take a gander over in the side bar, you'll see that I can also be found on Twitter (@thetk42one) and Dailymile (tk42one). I frequent many other sites but these two are the most likely to produce results. Or drop me a comment or email or text or whatever you'd like. I'm sure I'll find out about it.

The Marathon Family

2011-10-13T10:00:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, our family ran a marathon. No, we didn't each run 26.2 miles. We ran, combined, over 26.2 miles. So I guess that makes us an UltraMarathon family.

To start the adventure off, I ran a 20 mile race. It was my first time at this specific distance (automatic PR!) but I've run over 20 miles in the past. I wasn't terribly worried about the distance but I was more than worried about the cut-off. The forms said 14 minute miles. And I think last year it was 12 minute miles. While I'll spare you the gory details, I will share the fact that I was happy to finish. Before the cut-off. And before a few people. Yeah for me not being last! Oh, and if you want to know the gory details, go here. But be warned. There's poop talk involved.

That was Saturday. The next day, we all carted ourselves to the local YMCA for another string of races. This time I was the head crew, cheer, and pace person for the rest of the family. Yvonne and Elizabeth took off for their 5k race. Both were decked out in some bright colors and both did an awesome job. Yvonne scored a new PR by running sub-40 (and nearly taking my head off when she chucked her water bottle at me at the finish - no worries, I had a good laugh over it). Elizabeth scored third place in her age group and she was only 15 seconds slower than her first 5k race. Both did a great job and were happy with the end result. I had a great time cheering them on as they started and neared the finish and had a blast cheering for a few other local runners I know.

Then it was William's turn. He ran the kid's 1 mile race. As expected, he came in last but he has consistently shown that he doesn't enjoy the longer distances much. And that's fine with me. I'm pretty sure he'll be a wrestler or football player anyway. And like I do with Elizabeth, I try not to push him too much and instead try to focus on the fun aspect. Well, he was sad when he didn't get a prize like his sister. And that's what I'd expect a 4 year old kid to do.

So, with my 20 mile race, Yvonne and Elizabeth doing a 5k, and William doing a 1 mile race (with me pacing), we racked up 27.2 miles over the weekend. As a family of course. Pretty damn nice.

My Rebirth

2011-09-01T19:00:00.003-04:00

I'm in a fog. A deep fog. I haven't run in days and I feel like I'm slowly approaching death waiting for the Reaper to swing his scythe around and end it all. But through the fog, I hear the horn. I hear the horn of Dailymile calling to me. My pores scream out in pain from not breaking a sweat. My body craves the endorphins of a long run. My mind needs, absolutely needs, to go for a run.

And so today I'm hoping to make it through the frog in the coming days. I've had good news, even though I'm still overloaded by the bad. To start with, you'll notice that big fat zero over there for my training. That's because I fell. When my exercise ball burst. With me on it. So I fell a solid 2 feet to the floor. On my ass. Without catching myself or rolling away. Which has left me in some pretty damn good pain. Like up to a 9 out of 10 when it happened. Thinking I broke my tail bone, I went to the doctor. After a solid round of x-rays, the results are in. No break. The only anomalies were a button from my shirt and "minimal anterior endplate osteophyte formation at the inferior endplates of L1." Whatever the hell that means. So even though the pain has dropped down to a 3 out of 10, there's no break. Good news out of the bad news.

In other good news, my wife will be teacher to Stephanie B.'s youngster (from Dailymile). Not sure I like having people know me (long story), but I'm glad they can all talk about me and how crazy I am. My wife will also be teaching the son of an old childhood friend. I started kindergarten with him and now his son is in my wife's 1st grade class. Neat that we live in such a small world.

Back to more bad news, my injury has left me without the drive to run. Instead, I'm confused about everything. But I'm making headway into my own head and hoping to get back in the saddle. But without sitting down because my ass still hurts like hell.

So I'm hoping this is a bit of a re-birth of sorts. I've gotten rid of the mohawk and I'm hoping to make this my new start. A rebirth if you will. I've been trying and trying to make so many changes for the better and I can only hope this will be my launching point for getting things nailed down and focused on where I need and want to be.

I have a lot of big races on my calendar and I may have to drop them. Once I was able to come to terms with that, I was able to move on to the next step of recovering. I don't want to drop from these races, but I think I can live with myself if I had to.

Thank You

2011-08-09T10:51:00.004-04:00

I'd like to take a few lines here and send out a thank you to all the sponsors of my recent 50k. But keep in mind that these are not sponsors that pay me to speak on their behalf. In fact, most of these have gotten money from me. That's right, I get no monetary gain from their support and often have less money because of them. Not that I'm faulting them for anything, I'm just telling you that I support these individuals and companies freely.

Family
I wouldn't have been able to do this race with out my family. My wife, my kids, my father, even my mother who was miles away. Everyone helped push me, cheer for me, and love me. It was a long race but without them I would have had nobody to share it with.

Friends
I have very few friends in the real world. It's sad but true. Most of my friends are virtual and I remember them mostly by their avatar pictures or their online handles. Even those I've met in real life I still struggle to use their real name (I'm talking about you Melli and KL). But there are a few friends I'd like to call out specifically. Not because I like them more than somebody else but because they helped me during this race. Logan, thank you for inspiring me to do epic shit. I don't think I'd have continued down the dark path of ultras without you and your adventures. Andrea, thank you for the gift. Rarely do I get real mail and even more rare are gifts from the heart. Because of you I will know it is always inside me.

FIT for This World
Stephanie was my personal trainer leading up to this insane adventure. Without her I would have been a weak blob of fat. But thanks to her I'm a strong blob of fat and muscle. I've had 24 sessions with her (23 were before the race) and I can honestly say that her contribution to my performance has been immense. I can feel core muscles work when I run, I can feel the legs flex and power through tough trails, and I can move logs like they were twigs with my upper body.

Saucony
I'm a self-labeled Saucony Snob. I love their shoes and their gear. So my shoe of choice during my race was the Saucony Exodus 2.0 (in black and orange). I also wore my Saucony calf sleeves. Both helped me survive the long run by saving my feet and my calves.

The North Face
I debated long and hard about what shorts to wear during my race before I finally settled on my North Face Cardiac shorts. They don't chafe and they have pockets. Two key points for me during long runs. I loved how they performed and would choose them in a minute if I had the choice. Unfortunately I only have two pair.

Drymax
I've long been skeptical of any company that guarantees anything. So when I read that this sock company could prevent blisters, I wasn't buying it. Even after reading reports from many other runners, I still wasn't willing to buy them. But I eventually caved in and got a few pair. They feel funny with their odd texture but sure enough, I have had no blisters. Even when my feet felt horrible and I was sure I had blisters, I had nothing but some chafing. No blisters at all and I loved it.

BodyGlide
BodyGlide is one of the best tools you need in your gym bag. It works for so much it's scary. I've used it in some pretty dark places and it has saved my ass many times (literally and figuratively). I've even used it on my hands when I work outside. Simply the best. If you don't have it, get it.

Crank Sports
Like everything else, I had to be patient and find the right gel for my long runs. I've used GU in the past and like many of their flavors. Even recently discovered 2nd Surge from PacificHealth Labs has been great. But so far, nothing quite tops the e-Gel by Crank Sports. Not even the Hammer Perpeteum could keep me going quite the same.

Mission Skincare and King of Shaves
Like BodyGlide, my Mission products save my skin. From their sun block to their muscle rub, I love it. And while Mission saves my skin, King of Shaves makes me look good while I run. Well, as good as possible with this ugly mug. But their razors and after shave at least make me feel like I look good.

Shear Elegance Hair Studio
Pam was nice enough to dye my hair. And even though I was hoping for an orange so bright it would peel paint, the ginger color I ended up with is just as much fun. I got a few stair from my mohawk before the race but with the red mohawk I got even more. I loved that my family could eaisly keep tabs on my through the race as I was the only fool out there with a gingerhawk. Thanks to Pam for making it so easy.

2011 DRHT 50k - Take Two

2011-08-04T10:59:00.003-04:00

This time last year, I was gearing up for my first ultra marathon ever. And like most virgins, I had no idea what I was in for. There was much pain, fear, emotional lows and highs, and in the end tears of joy. I was seriously under-trained, under-prepared, and under-informed. But I learned.

This year I go into things with more training. Still not as much as I want but certainly more than last year. I even ramped things up a bit and got a personal trainer to beat me into shape. I've trained on the course at least twice a month all year long as well as logged a few miles on other trails on the In the end, I'm going into this year's race feeling much better about my training and my overall knowledge of the course and distance.

There are certain things I'll be doing differently for this year's race in an effort to keep my head in the game and to keep my load light. First among them, I'm going to try to keep things brief so you can go about your merry way.

- Last week I got a mohawk. This afternoon I get it dyed orange. As in Saucony ViZi-PRO orange. Or DailyMile orange.
- Tonight I go to packet pick-up at VA Runner.
- Tomorrow I may run a mile or two at the most. My training plan has me down for a rest day but I think I'm going to be very jittery.
- Tomorrow night, I'll be attending a DailyMile meetup for dinner at the local Vinny's. I doubt anyone will show so it'll likely be my family and myself.
- After dinner tomorrow night, it's off to the trail meeting. As in the volunteers that take care of the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail (DRHT). Bedtime will be whenever I can convince my brain to shut up enough to go to sleep.
- Race day, Saturday, will be me driving by myself to the race. There will be NO live updates from the race. I might get a tweet out (http://twitter.com/#!/thetk42one) but nothing is certain. I will NOT have my phone with me on the course. If I need music, I'll listen to my iPod. I will be running shirtless and will only feel slightly sorry for those running slower than me (my back is pretty hairy). My shoes, shorts, and socks have already been picked out. My drop bag and gear is nearly ready to go.
- I will NOT have a crew. The race is two out-and-back sections and has plenty of aid stations (about every 4 miles). This should meet my water needs and I'll have plenty of gels and other stuff to choose from. I'll be able to go past my drop bag twice so I'll be able to take/leave what I need.
- My cheering section will be my wife and two kids. I specifically asked for them to be at this race since they weren't there last year. They'll try to catch me a few times on the course then at the finish. The course isn't terribly safe or easy for two young kids to watch the runners.
- My father will play the role of my official race photographer. He was there for me last year and did a great job.
- If you want to come cheer for me (or the other runners), go to the race website for details on where and when to be (http://www.racetimingunlimited.org/raceinfo/DU11Info.aspx).

Goals - This list is mostly for me, but feel free to keep reading.

1. Finish.
2. Set a PR (faster than 8:52:42 - set last year).
3. Run under 8 hours (15:30 pace).
4. Run under 7:30 hours (14:30 pace).
5. Run under 7 hours (13:30 pace).
6. Fly through the aid stations and don't waste time.
7. Keep steady, consistent pace.
8. Keep hydrated and fueled (don't bonk).
9. Have fun.
10. Finish.

Egg Shell Syndrome

2011-07-31T10:11:00.003-04:00

As you may have read earlier, I hate the taper. Just like most runners, tapering is one of the hardest things to do leading up to a race. You've trained and trained and now you suddenly feel like you're stuck in mud. Personally, I think I'll be skipping the whole taper thing after my next race. It just doesn't sit well with me and it makes me go a bit mental. And I don't think it will help me that much. However, I do think a recovery week will help me rest a bit and heal a bit before a race. But that's a future experiment.

Today's post is about the odd phenomenon I've discovered that I go through in the days leading up to a race. Especially a big race or one that I'm very nervous about. It's the Egg Shell Syndrome (ESS). ESS is nothing more than the sudden increase in paranoia that anything and everything you do could injure you in some way. An injury to your feet, legs, toes, or something along those lines that will take you out of the race. With ESS, everything becomes a potential landmine. Legos on the floor. Socks on the kitchen linoleum. A careless kid that steps on your toes. A hidden divot in the yard. Any sort of cough or sniffle or sneeze.

ESS almost entirely mental. Yes, there are certain hazards that we are required to deal with in our daily lives. Some deal with more, some with less, but they are always there. That hose waiting to trip you on the sidewalk has been there for a month. But in the days before a race, ESS makes that hose look like a military obstacle course.

Unfortunately, I've found no treatment for ESS. Just like tapering, it happens. There's no way I have found to conquer the sudden change in mental state. No medications, no therapy, no treatment. You just have to deal with it and push through. It's just part of training.

Treg loper

2011-07-25T17:15:00.003-04:00

I'll be using the #tregloper tag on my tweets between now and my 50k. Maybe longer. But the real reason for this post is because of my mother. It seems she wants a picture of her son. Specifically, her son's haircut. Because I told her what I did this past weekend. Because my wife blabbed.

Not that I was keeping it a secret or anything. In fact, it's rather difficult to keep it a secret. Hell, I got stares left and right everywhere I went this weekend. I got a few comments about losing a bet (including from my barber). My barber even asked if my wife knew what I was doing when I went in for my do. Amazingly she not only approved, she even gave me the green light to allow William the same should he want to be like dad (he declined).

The real reason for the new style is to do something wild. Something that will keep me sane while I struggle through my taper. Something so shocking that those working the aid stations will remember me as I pass through. Oh, did I mention that I'm getting it dyed bright orange next week? Yeah. I'm going for that level of shocking.

So here you have it. My new haircut. And yes, I know my head looks a bit pink. I'm working on my tan and got a bit too carried away yesterday.

PS - That's all you get to see for now.

Mid Year Review

2011-07-18T12:44:00.002-04:00

No, not the dreaded mid-year review you get at work. I'm talking about a mid-year review of my running goals. Or just goals period. What ever you want to call it, I think it's time to review and reassess where I stand and what I want to accomplish. You can see my original list of goals here. Updates below are in Red.

My running goals included:

run 1 marathon (already registered for Richmond in November) - Still the only full marathon I have on my calendar.
run 2 half marathons (already registered for DRHT half in February, MCHH in May, and Williamsburg half in May) - Done. And then some. Ran the DRHT Half, the MCHH, and the Williamsburg Half. I also have the VA Runner Half in December that I'll run. I also have several 13 mile+ training runs that I've finished.
run 1 sprint triathlon (this will likely be in February) - Nope. Not going to happen. Triathlons are officially off my radar.
run 1 50k ultra marathon (this will be the DRHT 50k in August) - Just a few weeks away!
run 35 miles by my 35th birthday (October 3rd) (this is my #run35 and #tregløper project) - Not sure about this. The fundraising portion isn't going to work and the whole 35 mile run may not work since I'm on a wait list for a 100k the week after.
raise money for the Friends of the DRHT (Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail) - Seriously slacking on this but I have been volunteering and attending meetings.
run on the DRHT (or any trail) once a week - Pretty good on this. Maybe 80% completion.
set a half marathon PR (2:35:06 set on 12/12/2010) - Did this twice. My trail half time was 2:33:35. My MCHH time was 2:30:55. Sweet!
set a 50k PR (8:42:52 set on 8/8/2010) - Hopefully this will still happen.
lose 5 pounds (231 pounds on 12/22/2010) - Really struggling with this. My food consumption hasn't changed too much.

Other goals included:

improve core strength - Thanks to my trainer, I'm doing well.
run more on trails and uneven surfaces - About once a week I'll hit the trails.
avoid the treadmill at all costs - Going strong!
shop for and maybe buy a road bike (assuming triathlons are in the mix for 2012) - Nope. All triathlon stuff is gone, so no new bike.
do more stability/balance work - Again, thanks to my trainer, I'm doing well.
adhere to the cross-training in my training plan instead of sleeping in - Once again, the trainer has been helping. I still slack on doing some of the cross-training on my own, but I'm still hovering around 60% on that.

Tip Tap Taper

2011-07-13T09:37:00.002-04:00

I hate the taper.

It leaves me feeling weak and slow. It's purpose is to rest your body before the big race. The big race may be a 5k or a 100k. For me, it's my second ultramarathon. My second 50k. My second time running the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail race. I ran it last year and finished. Last. But I finished. My pacing was way off. My training was way off. My respect for the distance was completely missing.

So this year I took things more seriously. I hired a personal trainer. Twice. I trained with higher mileage. Both longer runs and more miles per week. I've done well so far but I fear I've over-trained a bit. My left calf has been bugging me for weeks now and I'm starting to get nervous. I have roughly 3 weeks left to prep for my race and I've bitten the bullet to begin my taper.

And I hate it.

But I'm hoping the extra rest will heal my calf and heal my mind a bit. I'll continue to run during my taper but will ease off my LSD (Long Slow Distance) runs and ease off my overall mileage. Right now it sucks. I hate it. I want to go run. I have trails I want to explore, I have routes I want to test, I have fuel and fluids that need to be worked out. Instead I'm stuffed inside. At least I'm missing a lot of the heat.

Meanwhile, I'll continue to prep for my 50k. Mapping out the route. Planning my drop bag. Doling out my fuel and fluid needs. We'll see how it goes.

Run For The Dream Half Marathon

2011-05-25T12:30:00.000-04:00

I'll warn all the readers up front, this will not only be a detailed review of the entire race weekend, but it will also be long-winded and potentially graphic.

Friday
Friday morning was spent paying my debts. In other words, I had to clean the bathrooms before I could go out to play. Once that was done, I packed up my gear, loaded the car, and went on my merry way. About an hour or two down the road, I realized I had forgotten my gels. Feeling like a dunce, I nearly turned around but decided to just go with the flow and pick up some gels at REI, the race expo, or a local running store.

As I headed south towards Williamsburg, I made a pit stop in Richmond to shop at REI. I think the biggest think I don't like about the company is they don't have a store close enough for me to shop there more often. But then again, that probably saves me some money. Needless to say, it was very difficult to NOT buy all sorts of little gadgets and equipment while I was there. I stuck with what I originally went for, another Amphipod hand held bottle. Amphipod is currently my default bottle now when running. Mostly because it's lid is easy to take on and off. I'm still not 100% satisfied with it, but it's the best I've found out there (and yes, I tried the others that REI had and didn't much like any of them).

After REI, I made another stop at Panera for lunch, then headed to Williamsburg. Check-in at the hotel was 4 pm so I cruised around a bit before parking in the Visitor Center lot. They were having a car show so I walked through on my way to the race expo. Nothing too exciting to see since most were street rod customs.

The race expo was a serious disappointment. I know this is the first year for the race and I can only compare this expo to the Marine Corps Historic Half (MCHH) expo from this year and last year. Both MCHH expos were quite large, although this year felt smaller for some reason. The Race For The Dream (RFTD) expo was exponentially smaller than expected. As in maybe ten vendors. At most ten vendors. And the area reserved for the expo was just as large as the area reserved for packet pick-up and race information. Yeah, small. But I got a Fuel Belt pouch for my wife and the gels I'd need for the race as well as all the other goodies I could manage to scrounge.

I went back to my car to paw through my freebies and discovered I didn't get my Colonial Williamsburg ticket as promised. So I headed back over to the expo, got my ticket, and signed up for the shuttle that would take us to the starting line. By the time I finished I was able to check into my hotel room. I unloaded all my junk and headed to the Market Square area to find some grub. The desk clerk at the hotel suggested the Retro's Good Eats as a good place for a burger and fries. Turns out, it was the best meal I had while I was there.

After dinner, I went back to my room and chilled out. There wasn't much to see in the historic area since nearly everything shuts down at 5 or 6 pm. But the crowds were light so that gave it a nice atmosphere. The downside was my hotel room wasn't exactly what I was hoping for. Granted, it was one of the preferred hotels for the race, but I was hoping for a bit higher class. Guess I should have opted for the other hotel that cost more.

That's not to say the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel wasn't a nice place because it was. It just wasn't as fancy as I wanted it to be. The beds were okay, the sheets were clean, the bathroom was clean, and the customer service was great. They even let me stay an hour after check-out just so I could shower after my race. But the room wasn't terribly fancy. So I guess staying on a budget meant nothing fancy. Including just basic cable on TV and hardly any open plugs to charge your cell phone. Nothing fancy also meant a shower curtain that took a shower with you unless you pushed it outside of the tub to drip water on the floor. But there were no roaches or bugs and the A/C worked and everything looked clean.

Saturday
Saturday morning I woke up early to head out for a run before cheering on those running in the 8k race. So I made it up and out the door super-early and managed to find a very nice trail to run on. My only issue with the trail was that it was well hidden and I took the wrong shoes. I didn't expect to have a dirt, single-track trail to run on so I took road shoes. Turns out I should have brought my trail shoes and gaiters. Lesson learned.

The trail itself was quite nice. Plenty of hills in both directions, steps, bridges, and nearly all single-track. Finding it is a trick though. If you can find the Williamsburg Inn, you're very close. Go to the end of Basset Hall Road and you'll see a tiny sign for the trail. It's about a mile and a half long (one way) and was a ton of fun to run on.

After my jaunt in the woods, I headed back to the hotel for a shower and breakfast before heading over to the Palace Green to cheer on the 8k runners. I knew a few of the people running so it was nice to ring the cowbell and take some pictures as they went by. And if you don't know about Steve Speirs and his running exploits, you need to. He's a pretty damn amazing athlete and has inspired me to think about doing some crazy stuff. Imagine running a seriously fast race just two weeks after a 24 hour ultra.

After watching them go by I hoofed it to the finish line and got to catch the finish. This was also the Masters race so a ton of the top finishers were over 40. Astounding. I got to meet some new people from DailyMile which was awesome. From there, I went back to the hotel to drop off the cowbell before meandering around the historic section of town again. Managed to see a few things here and there but nothing terribly exciting. I think if they did more living history stuff I might enjoy it more.

There was a smallish parade of sorts which was a Call to Arms I think. Basically a bunch of fife and drum crews came from across the country and Canada and marched down the street. It was a lot of fun to listen to and watch but a lot of people kept jumping out to take there pictures, thus blocking my view. And there were no bagpipes. I like bagpipes.

Lots of walking later, I grabbed some lunch at Seasons Restaurant which was just okay. The burger there was bigger and more expensive than the one at Retros but not as good. Then it was back to the hotel for a nap. Getting up so damn early plus all that walking took a toll on me. Once I got up I poked around a bit in the hotel room before heading to breakfast. I was going to stay close to the hotel and eat at Huzzah Pizza until I saw there menu. Just pizza. Boring.

So I managed to grab a spot at the bar at the Blue Talon Bistro. It was decent food but a bit overpriced. Not as overpriced as Trellis (which was $20 to $50 a plate) but enough to make it more worth while to go back to Retros. Seeing a trend? Yeah. Next door was Baskin-Robbins so I splurged and had a milk shake. Then it was back to the room for some sleep.

Sunday
Race day. I rarely sleep well the night before a race and this race was no different. So getting up early didn't really matter much at this point. I took a shower and grabbed a couple of bananas and coffee before heading to the shuttle. I learned a valuable lesson here, don't eat two bananas before a race. It doesn't agree with the stomach and I should have known that. Luckily the eggs weren't ready yet or things may have been worse.

Heading to the shuttle, I realized it wasn't where I thought it would be. Instead of leaving from the normal shuttle spot, it left from the group drop off area in the parking lot. I was afraid I'd be late for my scheduled shuttle but they didn't bother checking your wrist bands at this early in the day there were plenty of spots on the bus.

During our ride to the start line, the driver told us where to pick up the bus going back. Then he dropped us off a good two or three blocks from the start line. I was thinking we'd be closer but after I thought about it a bit, it was just like they do at the MCHH. I walked over to the start area and meandered around a bit. Met another person from DailyMile and made several trips to the bathroom thanks to my two bananas.

The runners were led into the starting corral (which was labeled and organized based on your bib number - fast runners up front, slower runners in the rear) by a fife and drum corps. We listened to the announcements, heard the starting horn, and were on our way. The first two miles or so went through the historic district which was nice. You were still fresh and had plenty of time to look around. Thankfully there was a bathroom at the end of mile one (thanks again to the bananas) and thankfully that was the end of my GI issues. You can read a full race report here.

After the race, I promptly headed through the finish area, the after-race party, and made a bee-line to the bus back to the Visitor Center. The best part of the after-race party was the chocolate milk. Awesomeness. And everyone was super-polite and great at cheering for you well after you finished. But the bus wasn't coming as quickly as I wanted and there was a huge line, so I walked (and jogged a bit) back to the hotel. I asked politely (and was granted) a few extra minutes to shower after the race so I could smell nice as I drove home.

The drive home was long. Way long. Like I just wanted to stay in the cold shower and put my legs up. And maybe take a nap. And maybe take another cold shower. It was so damn hot. Thankfully the race had aid stations every two miles or so with water and Gatorade but both liquids were rarely as cold as you wanted and some of the aid station workers were surprised when I'd show up and want my hand held bottle refilled. I was also surprised that they had no fuel of any sort on the course. No pretzels, no gels, nothing. The course was very well marked though and the course marshals were great. Finishing in the stadium was awesome. It felt great to cruise through the finish with people cheering you on in the stadium.

Bottom Line
Overall, this was a decent race. Not great, but by no means horrible. I went into this really unprepared but survived. Running the MCHH the week before took a lot out of me but the worst part was not knowing about all the hills and getting over heated on the course. There's only so many variables you can control in a race and the rest is just something to deal with. There were some things I wish that were done better, some things that were awesome, and everything else was just fine.

I haven't decided if I'm going to run this next year. My thinking right now is that running the 8k race is the better thing to do so you have plenty of time to walk around and sight see for the rest of the weekend. But I think I'll reserve my final decision for when it's closer to race day.

Chasing The White Rabbit

2011-05-04T06:00:00.000-04:00

Today I had yet another epiphany while I was running. Slogging my fat butt down the road has quickly become the primary source of wondrous thoughts and flights of fancy. It used to be the shower but I'm now spending more time in my running shoes than I do lathering up. Although the shower still offers a bit of a refuge from the crazy world of real life.

Today's run was no different than any other except for the epiphany. Just an easy 5 miles on my usual stomping ground. The epiphany was based on my previous run, a 12 mile jaunt through the woods on the local trail that's a former railroad bed. The epiphany was that I live for LSD and continually chase after the high I get before, during, and after. For you non-runner types out there, LSD is what us nerdy runners call a Long Slow Distance run. In other words, our long run of the week. The exact distance isn't so much a factor as much as the effort for each individual. Your LSD may be longer or shorter than mine. You may take yours in the morning or overnight. None of those factors matter. What matters is the high you get.

Yes, many of us have heard of the proverbial runner's high. It's just as common as people saying "you're almost there" or "it's all downhill from here" when you're running a race. But unlike those annoying phrases, the high is real. Just like hitting the wall, these token phrases have real weight out there for the runner. And like a drug addict, I feel like I can only keep my life together long enough for my next high, for my next hit of LSD.

Having never done drugs and being a very, very light drinker (as in a 6-pack of beer will last 6 months in my house), I can't relate to drug users. I don't know what it's like to snort, smoke, or inject anything illegal into my body. But I can tell you what it's like to go for a long run and feel the high you get. The excitement you feel before the run, the jitters that are nearly as bad as pre-race jitters, the excitement of spending hours in the woods with only yourself and the talking trees. I can tell you what it feels like to suffer through the long run, to feel the pain in your feet, your knees, your hips. To break through that pain and suddenly feel the rush of owning your body and owning the run. To feel the power of the dirt beneath your feet coursing through your body. And I can tell you how wonderful it feels to finally put an end to the pain and suffering at the end of a run. To throw your hands in the air even though there isn't a finish line. To feel the rush of emotions in knowing that you have conquered a distance that seems to far, even driving a car. To feel the aches and pains the next day that speak volumes about the effort you put forth.

All of this went through my head during today's run. A measly 5 mile run that just couldn't match the high I just had from a 12 mile run. I can only imagine it's like a whiff of cigarette smoke to somebody that's just quit smoking. You just can't resist the pull. And so I wanted to push through, to go further than my plan, to throw everything away just to get that LSD high again.

I was finally able to reel myself in and stick to what my training plan called for. I just broke the 30 mile per week barrier and I didn't want to put my goals at risk. I knew if I pushed too hard I would eventually score an injury instead of a high and wind up on the sidelines with no chance of running for weeks (or longer). That fear of losing the runner's high kept me cautious. It kept me sane, though barely. It kept me focused on the long term goals I have set. Some are firm, some are soft. Some are just so insane I'm afraid to even think about them. But I know that with each of these goals, comes a high twice as strong as the LSD high. You see, there's another level of runner's high when you run races. And when you combine a race with an LSD high it's triple strength. And since many of these goals are races AND long runs, you can imagine the excitement I have. And best of all, even if I completely fail at the race, even if I don't finish, I know I'll have a ton of LSD runs under my belt. All those weeks of getting high every weekend as I run down the road or through the woods. All those weeks of chasing that white rabbit.

One final note. I had a second, smaller, epiphany during my run today. So I'll leave you with a new slogan. Bask in the glow of a mind addled by coming down from an LSD high:

No Run
No High
Know Run
Know High

Minimalism Cynicism

2011-04-15T09:31:00.002-04:00

People have long seen me as a pessimistic person but I prefer to think of myself as more of a realistic person. Why plan to win a million dollars when you only play the lottery once a year? Be realistic and plan to never win the million and instead hope to win the million. Better yet, hope to win two bucks, that's even more realistic.

So my motto of sorts has always been "hope for the best but plan for the worst."

And that's what I used when I jumped onto the minimalism bandwagon last year. Saucony came out with a super-cool shoe called the Kinvara and not only did it get rave reviews from runners, it simply looked cool. I mean, bright orange shoes, how can you beat that? Anyway, I read BORN TO RUN by Chris McDougall and loved the book. It transformed me into the runner I am today. And while many people, both fans and critics, say the book is nothing more than a veiled advertisement for minimalistic shoes, I saw it more as a man on a journey. His journey just happened to take him down the path of running on shoes with little or no sole (but plenty of soul).

After reading the book, I knew about Vibram Five Fingers and the various other shoes that have little to no heel-toe drop. I knew about the various injuries that have been caused by running on shoes with a very large heel-toe drop. But seeing as am a bit of a skeptic, I didn't believe everything I read. You see, being skeptical is part of being realistic. You've seen those emails before that you've won the lottery for a million dollars and all you need to do to claim your prize is send your credit card info to a Nigerian prince. That's something we're all skeptical about because we're all realistic in knowing we didn't win the Nigerian lottery.

And that's how I felt about the whole minimalism movement. I mean, running in shoes with barely any cushion can't be good for you, right? After all, we all have tender feet, so let's protect them from all the harm that's out there by wearing shoes with plenty of cushion. Sure, there's scientific data that supports minimalist shoes, but there's scientific data that supports super-cushiony shoes too.

So where is this all going? My back injury from last month. As I was watching the HAT50k race in Maryland (which ironically Chris McDougall ran in), I was having a normal day. I watched the start, walked around to watch some more runners, and in the mid-stride WHAM! I doubled-over in pain. I felt like I got stabbed in the back. For days I wondered if I had gotten shot but the lack of blood convinced me I hadn't. It took me a week to recover and another week of running with a sore back before I was back to where I was before the injury.

From the date of the back injury up to yesterday, I've been racking my brain about what caused the injury. I didn't do anything special when it happened. I wasn't running, jumping, twisting, or moving in any abnormal manner. I was carrying a bottle of water and nothing else. I didn't step in a hole or trip or anything. Just walking and BAM! As I made my way down the road to recovery, I had tons of advice from my friends at the local YMCA as well as my faithful training partners on DailyMile. Everything from baseball bats to chiropractors to space aliens was suggested as the cause or remedy. Nothing worked beyond some muscle relaxers and pain pills and lots of rest. And the mystery cause was still unknown.

Until yesterday. During an 8 mile run I started to feel some mild discomfort in my back again. Something I hadn't felt in weeks. I nearly panicked. But I managed to keep my cool and went through a self-systems check to see what was different. I had just run a 9 mile race a few days before so the surface and distance weren't the problem. I was well hydrated and well fueled. Clothes were fine. Stride felt a little off. Foot strike felt a little off. So I played around a bit and nothing felt right. I finished my run, stretched and noticed (after having worn these shoes for many miles) I had them laced wrong. Hmm, shoes. I wonder if my shoes are giving me problems.

In the past I've run into (no pun intended) injury problems when my shoes get worn out. Many people claim the magic number is 300 to 500 miles on a pair of shoes before you need to replace them. Well, it's more like 250 or less for me. But it got me thinking about my shoes. In the past when I've had an odd injury, new shoes have helped. I checked my records on DailyMile and sure enough, my 9 mile race was in my Kinvaras while my 8 mile training run was in my Ride 3s. What was the difference?

The Saucony Ride 3 is a great shoe. I've been in Rides since the Ride 1. But they have about a 14mm heel-toe drop and weigh about 11.5 ounces. The Kinvaras sport about a 4mm heel-toe drop and weigh only 7 or so ounces. And even though I laced my Ride 3s incorrectly, my other Ride 2s are laced correctly and mimic the same specs as the Ride 3. So the big difference between them is the weight and the heel-toe drop. In other words, the minimalist shoe worked better.

That's right, anecdotal proof that minimalist shoes work. But I'm still a skeptic. I still find it hard to believe that just my shoes can cause pain. I know I've changed over the past year or so. I've gradually gone from a heavy heel strike to a midfoot strike. I've lost weight and improved my running economy. I'm better able to handle the strain of longer runs and have more experience on the road, on the trail, and in the weight room.

What does all of this mean? It means my next pair of shoes will be Kinvaras. They arrive today. And until I see proof otherwise, proof that I can see and feel with my own body, I will continue to run in minimalist shoes.

A little humor

2011-04-10T16:39:00.003-04:00

From yesterday's race, I thought I'd be "creative" with some captions. I know I surprised them a bit when I passed them, but it's a race and I'll pass you if I can.

The Unexpected Rest Day

2011-03-09T15:50:00.003-05:00

As any parent knows, when your child gets sick, they don't do it when it's convenient. Rarely do they get sick when they're off from school and if they do it's during some other important event. Obviously there are exceptions, but you know what I mean. It just seems such a hassle to adjust your schedule but at the same time you love them so much you'd jump off a cliff if that's what it took to keep them safe.

So when Elizabeth developed a fever last night, along with a sore throat and loss of appetite, I knew my run today would likely be postponed. I read about a fellow runner's 14 mile run and felt the urge to "one-up" them with a 15 mile run. As usual, my desire to talk smack ended up badly. Instead of a 15 mile run, I ended up driving a sick kid to the doctor. Turns out she caught the strep throat going around school, scored some meds, a day off school, and lots of rest time.

In the end, 15 miles versus caring for your sick kid is always going to end with me hoping my kid gets better. I don't care if it's the most important race in the world, family comes first. I might do my best to get somebody to help out if the event I may miss is important enough, but my family always wins when it gets to the bottom line of the tally sheet.

So today I didn't much care that I missed my long run. I was more worried about her feeling better than I was getting my miles in. Besides, there's a lesson to learn here as a runner besides being a good parent.

That lesson is adaptability. You can call it flexibility or going with the flow, but in the end, it's how you adapt to what life tosses your way that will define who you are and how well you survive life. And this applies to your life as a runner too. Having a mental meltdown because you forgot gloves or a hat to a race could leave you with a less than stellar performance or, even worse, a DNF or DNS. Break a shoelace? Lose your Body Glide? Any and all of these may seem like events that would end or seriously hamper your race, but they are all scenarios that can be overcome.

That's where adaptability comes in. I know, doesn't sound like a cool word to remember and repeat to yourself as a mantra when you're 20 miles into a 50 mile race. So why not think about MacGyver?

As in, What Would MacGyver Do?

That's right, thinking like MacGyver could save your race and your mind. Those gloves you forgot? No worries if you have a spare set of socks. No Gatorade or liquid carbs to take in during a long run? No worries if you have access to a coffee stand (no, don't drink the coffee, instead add some sugar and salt to your water). Get the idea? It's all in how well you can adapt to the situation that will determine how well you survive your run and life in general.

So today, when life tossed a curve ball, I adapted and moved my long run to Friday. And if I can't get it in then, no worries, I can do it Sunday. Or next week. Missing a long run won't hurt, but how I adjust to the change can help later on in my training.

Why and How Did You Run A 50k?

2011-02-28T06:00:00.001-05:00

I was recently asked "omg how on earth (not to mention WHY) do you run 50k????" by Amy. My answer of "Why/How a 50k? Not enough room to answer that in full. But it's a great experience, regardless of the pain" just didn't carry enough weight behind it to make others understand why I would attempt something so insane.

Let's define a few things first, namely what a "50k" is and what an "ultra" is.

A "50k" is 50 kilometers or 31.0685596 miles. Or just 31.1 miles. It is ten times longer than the standard 5k (3.1 miles) race that many communities have. So imagine doing a simple 5k race ten times and that should give you a bit of insight as to how long it is. Or, if you prefer, it is 4.9 miles longer than a marathon. The marathon is 26.2 miles, so run another 5 miles beyond that and you have a 50k.

An "ultra" is short-hand for an ultra marathon or an ultra distance race. It is commonly defined as being any race longer than a marathon. And while I guess a 27 mile race would technically fall into that category, most races go from the 26.2 distance to the 50k distance. Ultras come in many shapes and sizes, but most are run on trails. Ultras are usually broken up into distance races and timed races. The most common distances are 50k (31.1 miles), 50M (50 miles), 100k (62.1), and 100M (100 miles). Common timed events will run 12 hours, 24 hours, and even 36 or 48 hours. These timed events are just to see how far you can run in the allotted time.

So, now you know what a 50k is and what an ultra is. But those are just basic definitions. Each of these has a life of its own and will suck you deep into a dark place if you're not careful. Yes, it's a dark place that these races take you to, but only because you suffer through the event and have such a blast you want to do it again, thus sacrificing hours of your life training for another one. And it's all worth it.

Now let's get into the how and why behind my running ultras. My first 50k (and only ultra so far) went horribly wonderful. That's right, it was both horrible and wonderful. As for this particular 50k, I went into it way under-trained. I had been running low mileage for the weeks and months leading up to the race and I had recently taken a week off from running. Not a good combination. Add to this the fact that I had the wrong shoes and the wrong socks and it was a disaster for my time and my feet. I had huge blisters, sore legs, and I limped for many days after it.

That was the horrible part. The wonderful part was finishing. I may have been last, I may have limped to the end, I may have gone over the unenforced time limit, but I finished. I was in tears at the end because I was so happy. Sure, my feet hurt, but at the moment I crossed the line, I didn't feel the pain, I only felt the glory of finishing.

And as many people that have run before will tell you, they either love it or hate it. Those that love it, continue to run and continue to strive for something new, something challenging. As we all have different limits, your challenge may be running for 3 miles in under an hour while somebody else may find the challenge in running a 5k in under 15 minutes. Just like we all have different fingerprints and DNA, we all have different skill levels when we run. The big difference though is that our skill levels can change over time. Which means with enough training, you may be able to run that 5k or 50k in the time you want.

Aside from all of this is the primal feeling you get when you run an ultra. I'm not sure if it's there in a marathon (haven't done one yet), but I know I felt it in my 50k race. And it's hard to describe. It's you, your body, and your mind out there on the trail and each one is battling it out over who is in control. There were times that I nearly had a mental break down and stopped running just to cry on the side of the trail. There were other times where I felt so happy that I wanted to jump for joy. There were times where I wanted to give up and scurry away like a weakling. So many thoughts, so many actions, so much STUFF goes through your head it gets a little scary. And that's where the primal feeling comes in. You want to leave those demons behind you and just run free. You want to connect with that paleolithic Neanderthal and just run.

So where foes all of this leave you? Probably confused with a side of "this guy is CRAZY." And I don't blame you. An ultra race is not something you can just sign up for at the last minute. You need to plan for it physically and mentally. It's not a joke race and needs to be taken seriously. But with enough training and planning, you CAN finish one. And if you're even thinking about running one, I strongly suggest you pick a race that's far enough out to train for. Then sign up and start training. And while you train, study the sport, follow the athletes that run ultras, and learn everything you can about them. Then you'll understand what I mean when I tell you to "pack some TP in your drop bag in case that walkie-talkie turns into a full blown GI incident."

And while you ponder that one, here are a few links to check out that may help you learn more about the sport and maybe inspire you to run an ultra.

- Anton (Tony) Krupicka - I have a man-crush on Tony despite the beard.
- Dakota Jones - A great ultra runner that is young enough to have quite a future ahead of him.
- Thomas Kennedy - A novice ultra runner that is miles ahead of me in physical and mental strength.
- Davy Crockett - I'm inspired by every race report he gives. Such an amazing athlete.
- Brittany Zale - Yes, even though many are faster than me, women still inspire me to run.
- Ultra Signup - THE place to go to find an ultra race.
- Ultra Running Magazine - A great magazine that's hard to find by gives you a taste of just how popular ultras can be.
- iRunFar, Real Endurance, Run 100s, and UltRunR - A mix of sites that have a bit more info on training, races, etc.
- DailyMile - THE place to go for anything related to running and socializing (think Facebook + Twitter + Running = DailyMile).

Save the Drama for your Momma

2011-02-02T06:00:00.001-05:00

My mom and I have a running joke (one of many) that we both dislike excitement. Why? Because it usually means something bad is happening. Case in point, the past few days and weeks.

- My uncle (my mom's twin brother) has been diagnosed with cancer and the prognosis doesn't look good. I guess cancer is bad any way you look at it, but you get the idea.
- My family history shows some bad signs when looking at my mom's side of the family. Her sister, brother, and father have all suffered from and died from cancer. All in their early to mid 50s. Yeah, not promising.
- My mother doesn't want to go to her brother's funeral. I don't blame her. Funerals suck. If you've ever been to one, I'm sure you'd agree. But I think some effort should be made to do something. Me, well, I don't think I'll go. I want to but I'm not sure it would help anybody and I'm not sure the funding is there.
- And finally, while we're speaking of death, I want to be buried after I die in the Oconto Cemetery in Oconto, Nebraska alongside the rest of the Richard family. But I don't want any services until the following July. Had some relatives do that when they passed and I like the idea. Most everyone can get time off in the summer and by having it planned out in advance, people don't need to worry about making last-minute dashes to the airport. I'll be dead after all, so when you come to see me doesn't matter.
- Moving on, I was working on some laundry on Sunday and heard a crash. Yvonne and I both thought it was the other or the kids or just something that the kids left out. Turns out it was a bottle of laundry soap. A full bottle. And it fell on the cap. And the cap broke. And the soap spilled on the floor. Under the washer. And dryer. Yeah, you get the idea. We spent 2 hours cleaning it up. Thankfully it wasn't this Sunday because we would have left it on the floor instead of missing the Superbowl.
- A few weeks back, Yvonne told me that her new truck was "jumping" when she drove it. I didn't really believe her until it happened to me too. So it's now at the dealer getting the planetary gear replaced. Luckily it's under the manufacturer's warranty. And CarMax was nice enough to give us a loaner while it got fixed.
- The weather has played havoc on all of our schedules. From 2 hour delays to closures to work days to just plain insanity. Sometimes the closures were warranted, but on days like today, they weren't. Not even any rain and we have a delay. Oh well, better safe than sorry.

I'm sure you can see a trend. Lots of drama means a high chance of whining about the bad stuff in life. We all have crap to deal with. It's how we go through life and helps define who we are as people.

But with each low is a high. I think we can find balance in life, but sometimes it's harder to find those positive tidbits to make up for the crap. So in an effort to make up for my whine above, here are some positive pieces of news.

- I think I lost another 5 pounds. I stepped on the scale the other day and came in at 224. Easily 4 to 6 pounds lower than my previous 231. Which is on top of my weigh-in of 235 in early 2010. So I'm happy about that.
- Part of my weight drop is likely due to eating less for breakfast. And working out more. I'm happy to have a trainer that can beat me into submission once a week. I've noticed an improvement in all those odd muscles that I rarely use.
- I'm super-happy to be running on the local rail-to-trail once a week. Sometimes it's a struggle to get there, but it's fun to see something new every time.
- I'm even more excited that Yvonne is going to the same trainer next week. It'll mean more adjustments to our schedule, but I think she'll have fun. All while getting her butt kicked.
- While tax season is crazy for me at work, I'm happy to report that most of my late nights are done and I have a lovely wife that is willing to bring me food when I'm trapped in my "office."
- William had a wonderful visit to the dentist. That pretty much says it all.
- Elizabeth had a wonderful report card. Again, that speaks for itself.

So. Drama. Not for me and not for my momma. I once thought I wanted to live an exciting life. Now that I'm older and a little wiser, I've decided a boring life is just fine. Meanwhile, I'll try to find those positive things to balance out the negatives.

How to Screw Your Shoes

2011-01-27T21:30:00.000-05:00

This post has two meanings. I'll be starting with the homemade ice spikes first before getting to the retirement of the shoes.

Homemade Ice Spikes

Not to be confused with the official Icespikes or Yaktrax or even Microspikes. No, these are spike that you do yourself. But before we get to that, let's back up a bit.

Some of those products above look quite lovely. And I'm sure if I lived in an area that got enough snow to warrant their purchase, I'd have a fair collection of them (along with some snow shoes). But seeing as I live in the south and snow is rare enough that an inch will close schools, I don't see the point in spending that much money on a product that I'll use once or twice a year.

So once I got a feel for what I was looking for and how little I wanted to spend, I stumbled across a great site that gave some steps on how to make your own spiked shoes for running in the snow. I won't post the link because I can't remember where I found it. And because it's enough to do on your own.

The steps are pretty simple. Get an awl (or ice pick), some small screws, and something to put the screws in with. Mark where you want the screws to go. Poke a hole in the sole. Put the screws in. Go run.

Yes, it's that simple. But there are some words of caution. Like, don't get a three inch long screw to put in the bottom of your shoe. I mean, seriously, use some brains. Mine are short and have a hex head on them so I didn't have to fiddle with a screw driver. They're about half an inch in length (total) and are machine screws I believe. Check the pictures and you'll see what kind I got.

Anyway, you prime the spot with the awl (like pre-drilling a hole) and screw them in. I put them on the higher spots so they'd give me the best traction and kept them evenly placed so I wouldn't have too many in one spot. I also kept them as symmetrical as possible on both feet to avoid any lopsided running. All in all, it went smoothly.

Now, for the running on snow part. I've worn them twice on what artists like to call "mixed media" for a total of about 17 miles. Not quite enough to be a definitive answer on how they work, but certainly enough to form a solid opinion. I'll break down each surface below and give you a run down (pun intended) of how the spike worked.

Asphalt - It felt like and sounded like I was running in track shoes. No, those have spikes in the toes. More like golf cleats. Click clack click clack. No loss of traction, but the feeling of the road was off a bit. It felt just like you would think, like you're running on spikes. The upside was the people in front of me heard me coming and moved out of my way.

Slush - Very hard to run in slush. I think this is mostly because you don't know if the slush is soft, hard, or somewhere in between. The slush itself is a challenging surface and the spikes help. But I did notice this was one of the few surfaces that I would lose a lot of traction on. Not enough to slip, stumble, or fall, but enough to move my arms to balance myself.

Ice - You notice the grip the most on ice. You know the ice is slick and you know you should be falling. Instead your foot slips just a little as you push off with each stride. I think this is mostly because you have less weight over your toes as you push off the ice. Combined with fewer spikes to grip and you have a bit of a slip.

Snow (loose) - Piece of cake. The hardest part was lifting your feet over the top of the snow, but with 4 to 6 inches of loose powder, it was easy enough to run through. No slipping at all.

Snow (packed) - This is where it got a little tricky. Packed snow that's smooth was no problem. It felt and acted very much like ice. However when the snow was packed by a tire, it could result in some slipping. This was especially true with tractor tires that have a very wide and open tread. Smaller car tires (and even truck tires) would pack the snow enough to make for a smooth foot plant. But tractor tires left tracks that would make for a foot plant that had to deal with a high and low every 2 inches. The end result was some slipping, but mostly due to the odd angle on which your foot could land and push off from.

Dirt - Just like snow, very easy to run on. No slipping and no noticeable clogging of the spikes.

Gravel - Just like the dirt, easy to run on but your hear a click or clack every now and then from the spikes hitting a rock.

Mud - Light mud was no issue. There was no slipping and very little build-up on the spikes. Thick mud though was another problem. Not only would I slip worse than the slush, it would cake up your spikes like mad and take several strides before it came off. Assuming you could get out of the thick mud to begin with.

Water - I didn't run in a river, but ran through plenty of puddles and such from the melting snow. The biggest thing I noticed was how the water would freeze or stick to the strides in the snow and ice. In other words, getting your shoes wet may result in them freezing. Having been around snow long enough, I should have expected the reaction, but it was still odd to feel it as I ran. Some strides felt like having Velcro on the bottom of my feet, but the spikes didn't seem to add to or take away from this reaction. If anything, they helped get a better grip on the next stride in the snow and ice.

Overall, this was a cheap and easy solution (about $2 and a couple of minutes work) to running in the snow and ice. I can see no short term impact on my shoes from having them spiked and they run almost like a normal shoe would. I would recommend using a cordless drill for installation and removal since it'll save some time and muscle power. Beyond that, they worked great and I'll certainly be using them again.

Retirement of the Shoes
I have long been a Saucony fan. In fact, I often refer to myself as a Saucony Snob. Their gear is great and I've been running in their shoes for years without complaint.

Until now.

Back in August of 2010 I ran a 50k and totally trashed my feet. I used BodyGlide, changed socks, and even changed shoes. It took some time to finally realize that the shoes were too small. Instead of a size 10 Wide, I should have been in a 10.5 Wide. That extra half a size makes a difference. Since it took so long to realize the source of my foot issues, I still have some size 10s that I run in. Namely my Ride 2s (two pair) for the road and my Exodus 2.0s for the trail.

But my pair of TR 4 that I used as guinea pigs for my spikes just don't cut it anymore and I'm sad to see them go. I ran nearly 20 miles of my 50k in them before switching to my Brooks Cascadias (my only non-Saucony shoe). But after several longish runs in my TR 4s, I have to say that the toe box is just too small. I know the shoe is a half-size too small and that's a large contributing factor. But compared to the Rides or the Exodus or even the Kinvara, the toe box is even smaller than I'd expect. This leads to some toe pains (and sometimes blisters) on the middle toe of each foot. I've experimented with these shoes since the 50k and socks, terrain, speed, etc. don't matter. It's the shoe. And aside form the toe box, the soles just aren't thick enough or sturdy enough for me on the trail. Thankfully the Exodus fills my needs for trail running (and I'm hoping the Peregrine will when it's released).

Which means I now need to decide if my TR 4s will end up as my casual shoes or if they'll end up in the trash. I hate to give up on a shoe, especially from my favorite company, but my toes just can't take it anymore.

MEASUREMENTS:
You can see my measurements in this gallery if you'd like.

My Forrest Gump Run

2011-01-18T17:00:00.000-05:00

This past summer, Yvonne and I visited the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. She did a wonderful job picking our cabins through Asheville Cottages. So wonderful, we wanted to go back again.

The Biltmore House in the snow:

With Martin Luther King weekend looking like the best bet for everyone, we booked our cabin and made our plans. The weather was a bit scary leading up to the trip, but we dodged a few major storms and ended up with cold but sunny days. There was snow on the ground just about everywhere you looked, but the roads were clear enough to be easily passable.

The kids had a great time (so did we) and we enjoyed walking through the house, around the estate, and around the barns in Antler Hill Village (formerly the Winery). I was recovering form a sinus infection that kept me away from running for the week, so I was itching to get out there and get a few miles in. But being on vacation, sleeping in, herding kids, and enjoying the hot tub meant I didn't have much motivation to get out the door in the freezing temps to go run.

Fortunately Yvonne found a way to occupy the kids on a tour, giving me a couple of hours to run around the estate. So I took what I could get and ran with it. Literally.

My run started in the B-1 Parking Lot where I headed up to the Statue of Diana. From there I ran down the open area to the Ramp Douce, across the end of the front yard, and into the gardens. I ran through the gardens, but stuck to the icy trails as much as I could. So I avoided pavement and ended up missing my target trail twice. Oh well. The spring garden had a fun switchback that was fast and slick and I got to run under and across the exit road a few times.

Me at the Statue of Diana looking towards the house:

The garden trails lead to a Bass Pond below the house and I was hoping to take the upper trail that sits on the opposite side of the road from the Pond, but I missed that trail too and ended up running down the paths next to the Pond and nearly took a swim as the path got super-muddy and super-slippery near the edge a few times.

At the end of the Pond is a very pretty water fall that I ran across (on a bridge, not the falls itself) and ended up stuck on the road for a bit. I did my best to avoid the roads since I wasn't really allowed to run on the roads, but it was all I had to run on. I tromped across the cattle guard (actually a deer guard) and made it into an open field where I ran through about four to six inches of fresh and slightly melted snow.

I continued next to the road in the grass (and near a ditch that made me cautious) to the trail that I missed near the Bass Pond before. Along the way I stuck to the game trail that was there and did my best to avoid the acorns and hazelnuts on the ground. No sense rolling an ankle this early into my trek.

Once I made it onto the trail, I got a chance to see the open field where Forrest Gump ran in the movie. It's just a couple of seconds, but if you watch the movie close enough you'll see young Forrest going through that same field. Although his didn't have snow in it. Or a snowman. So as I slogged through the gravel, mud, and slush, I did my best to have fun. But being under a strict time limit, it was hard to unwind enough to enjoy myself as much as I had hoped.

Run Forrest! Run!

I made it to the Lagoon in decent time and enjoyed seeing the bamboo stand there. I don't know why, but I love the stands of bamboo on the estate. Something about them just strikes me as peaceful and beautiful. Once past the Lagoon, I was on a stretch of uncleared but packed snow. Which made for a great test section for my spiked shoes. They held up great on every surface except the slush and the mud. Fresh snow, packed snow, ice, pavement, gravel, water, puddles, and everything else I through at it wasn't an issue. The slush was an issue because it's hard to see if it's slush (and thus soft) or ice (and thus hard) so you're not really sure how you're foot will land. So there's some slop there in your stride as you go through. The mud though, that was just plain slick in some spots. Felt like I was wearing socks on a freshly Pledged hardwood floor.

The trail between the Lagoon and the Outdoor Center in Antler Hill was clear and heavily traveled. The temps were nearing 50 so a lot of people were enjoying the sun and the snow while they could. Fortunately my spikes made enough noise that people heard me coming and moved out of my way.

The clear path near Antler Hill:

The Outdoor Center was my half-way point and an adventure in itself. I ate a banana and took an e-Gel right before I started so it had expended itself once I got to the halfway point. It took me 56 minutes to get from Parking Lot B-1 to Antler Hill with only one bathroom break. I know I went out way fast but it was mostly downhill. Next time I'll run it the other way so my second half is downhill.

The adventure of Antler Hill was two fold. One, I was taking way too long to get going on my return route and two, I had no source of additional fuel. I had to ask directions for the Deer Park Trail (the one I missed back by the Bass Pond and Garden area). I got solid directions and then I asked about Gatorade. None was to be found so I had to add sugar (both raw and refined) to my water (which I had to fill in the bathroom sink - so it was warm). That's right, I ran the second half of this with just two bottles of sugar water. It worked, but wasn't ideal for damn sure.

Once I killed about 13 minutes getting my sugar water, making water, and getting directions, I headed back. At the Lagoon again I saw the wonderful view of the House in the distance and tried to focus on the route directions. I crossed the road and passed two old ladies walking a dog (mind you this was a gravel/snow/ice/slush covered single-track trail). I was impressed with their skill and speed.

At the Lagoon headed back to that big house in the distance:

Once I made it onto the Deer Park Trail (and passed the old ladies) I hit some tough trails. The uphill was hard, the larger rocks made it hard, and the mud made it extremely hard. After a couple switchbacks, I made it to the top of the hill and noticed the little old ladies moving right along on the trail below me. Very impressive.

On I went through a deer gate, across some fields, and to a trail head where I realized my error. In avoiding the Meadow Trail that makes a loop near the Bass Pond, I missed the Deer Park Trail, the one I wanted so I could avoid the roads. Anyway, I nearly skipped across the Meadow Trail and down to the Bass Pond to hit the trail on the other side of the road from the Gardens but realized I would likely miss my time cut-off so I stuck to the Deer Park Trail.

From that trail head, it was a pretty straight shot to the house. Through another deer gate, another clearing, more odd looks from people walking, and I was at the end of the South Terrace. From there it was a short jaunt in front of the house and back to the parking lot where I wiped down with baby wipes and sprayed myself not once, not twice, but thrice with some body spray. You see, my time cutoff was to be back in time to clean up for lunch with the family when they got back from their tour.

Safe, sound, and smelling like Old Spice, I waited a few minutes for them to return and away we went to lunch at Cedric's in Antler Hill where I seriously thought about ordering two courses because I was running on fumes. Literally.

Fluids and Fuel:
I had one banana and one e-Gel right before my run. I also took two bottles of plain water with me. At the halfway point I refilled my bottles with water and added plain, refined sugar as well as raw sugar to them (I used those Sugar in the Raw packs and plain sugar from the coffee condiment area).

Weather:
Clear and sunny. Little to no wind. Most of the wind was confined to the areas around the open fields and near the river. Temps ranged between 30F and 50F.

Splits:
Outbound - 56:00 (approximate time - includes one bathroom break)
Aid Station - 13:00 (approximate time - includes bathroom break, water refill, sugar water mixing, and direction getting)
Inbound - 47:59 (approximate time)
Finish - 1:53:59 (about a 15:00 pace with my break and about 2:00 faster without it)

The Route:
Length - 7.62 miles (approximate)
Elevation - about 2,000 feet above sea level (compared to my home turf of about 200 feet)
Route Gain/Loss - about 350 foot drop going out and 350 foot incline coming back

At the end of our trip, this is the beautiful sunrise I got to see coming over the mountains in the distance:

Product Review - Socks

2011-01-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

Socks, even for minimalist runners, can make or break your run. Even bad everyday socks can ruin your day at work. For me, it took months to find the right running sock, and even when I found them, it was by accident.

You see, when I started running back in 2008, I was still under the spell of my high school running days when I'd pick shoes based solely on their "cool" factor. Thankfully when I visited my local running store VA Runner, they picked the best shoe for me. But that left me itching to pick something "cool" to wear. And man did those "elite" socks look cool. I mean, they're designed specifically for each foot, so it must be good right?

Wrong. Just because the sock has an L for the left foot and an R for the right foot doesn't mean it's the best sock out there for your feet. Granted, those anatomical socks worked well for me until last year. I rarely had issues with them, but I was also running slower and running shorter distances. As my mileage crept up and my speed crept up, I ran into issues. The big blowout was my first 50k race in August of 2010 when I wound up with blisters galore despite using all the BodyGlide I could stand. My problem? The socks. Read on to see why.

Asics (various styles)

FEATURES:
Marking for the anatomical fit (L and R) and a ton of colors to choose from. There are also several variations to choose from as well.

FIT:
They fit great. Tight fitting and anatomical, they fit your foot like a glove. Some of the models have a higher cuff while some have a more sculpted cuff.

CARE:
I washed these like normal socks. Warm water and the dryer. The only thing special I did was I turned them inside out. After they got stuck on some Velcro during their initial wash, I opted to save the outer surfaces in an attempt to keep them intact.

OVERALL:
These were great socks to run in. Unfortunately the key word here is "were." It took me nearly two years to finally figure out the main source of my blisters during my first ultra (DRHT 50k in August 2010). First I thought it was just plain old friction. I had lubed the crap out of my feet with BodyGlide and I felt like I was betrayed for the first time by such a wonderful product. Then I started to wonder if it was my shoes. The trail surface was flat but very rocky (it's an old railroad bed). Maybe my Saucony TR 4s didn't protect my feet as much as I expected them too. Then I began to wonder if it was my stride that was off. After all, I was really hurting when I finished and my knee and hip nagged me for many months after.

Turns out it wasn't the BodyGlide, it wasn't the shoes, and it wasn't my stride. It was my socks. And it was my fault for buying them. You see, I fell for the age-old trap of buying running gear because it "looked cool." And let me tell you, these Asics socks look cool. Cooler than cool.

But alas, it's the construction and design that did me in. Made of basic wicking material, the socks did great at keeping my feet dry. But the stitching and pattern inside created many raised surfaces. So imagine running on braille instead of a smooth sheet of paper. After 20+ miles it's going to eat your feet.

So in the end, they're great socks for a short run. Anything beyond an hour and you may run into some issues. After four hours, be prepared to suffer. After eight hours, you'll be in Hell.

ThorLo Experia

FEATURES:
Super-plush heal and toe. Very cushiony, like the inside of a sweatshirt. There's also a bit of arch support.

FIT:
These fit a little looser than the Asics, but they are not anatomically designed. They are super-comfortable and have a ton of cushion on the heal and toe.

CARE:
Like the Asics, I wash them inside out with my regular laundry (warm water) and use the dryer on them.

OVERALL:
I never thought I'd say this, but these socks have a little too much cushion in them. I think they'd be great if they had a higher top, allowing you to wear them as hiking socks, but in a running shoe is masks a lot of the feedback you get from the road. Maybe if you need to mask the pain or something it would be okay. They also slide a bit when you wear them, so any long distance runs in them could result in some bunching or chafing (or both). Otherwise, these are great everyday socks.

Saucony

FEATURES:
Thinner than the Experia but thicker than the Asics.

FIT:
They fit tighter than the Experia but not as glove-like as the Asics. This is likely due to the fact that they are not anatomically designed (although Saucony does have socks like that available). The cuff is a bit higher than both as well, leading to less bunching and slipping (and less debris when on the trails).

CARE:
Just like normal socks, wash in warm water and dry in the dryer.

OVERALL:
So far, these are the best socks I've found. If you look at the photos, you'll see how they have a smoother and less complicated inner-surface compared to the Asics socks and less cushion than the Experia socks. Yes, I am a Saucony snob and I'll freely admit I have some bias towards their products. But I'm not saying these are perfect socks. These are just the best I've found to far. They still slip now and then, especially when I do cross-training that requires me to use some extreme foot positions. So doing work on the BOSU or something may make my foot slip. But I haven't had any issues so far running in them. I've done over 9 miles on a trail and have not gotten a blister yet.

MEASUREMENTS:
You can see my measurements in this gallery if you'd like.

A Medical Update

2011-01-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

My life is an open book. But like Alan Alda said, "In all things moderation. Including moderation."

So I'll give you enough details to see how far I've progressed in the past year. And yes, it will sound like I'm tooting my own horn. Because I am.

Last year I saw my doctor for yet another regular physical. Nothing major, but I always dread going to hear the same litany of "eat less, exercise more" along with the "high blood pressure, blah blah, blah." Well, last year it hit home a little harder than I expected. A combination of my running more the year or so prior and what I thought was a diet change resulted in the same lab results. High cholesterol. I just couldn't figure out how I could still have such high numbers when I was working my butt off out there on the roads running myself into the pavement.

Turns out I was an idiot for not seeing the obvious. And a genius for fooling myself into not seeing it. And perfectly normal for not wanting to face my fears. Sure, I'm afraid of bugs and snakes and beavers and what-not, but more than anything, I'm afraid of death. We all are to some degree, but it really spooks me when I think about my own end. So when the doctor gave me the bad news that my exercising wasn't cutting it and that I may need to go on medication for my cholesterol if I didn't make some changes, well, you can imagine the nightmares I had thinking about how I was going to keel over eating a greasy burger from the drive-thru.

And there's a ton of other factors too that went into me making changes. Kids, marriage, family, friends, and more. They all went into that proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. Or in this case, my habit of eating shitty food day in and day out. Now that's not to say my wife cooks crappy food. She doesn't. In fact, she's a wonderful cook. Sometimes she's too good of a cook because I want to eat all the yummy treats she makes. But I will admit she is a bit lopsided in her meals. Vegetables are rarely seen. I know she doesn't like them and would rather have fruit. And that's fine. But it wasn't helping my poor choices for my other meals.

So my labs were in the crapper, my eating habits were right there next to them, and the only shining light was my exercising. I finally realized what I already knew. The key to weight loss and good health is diet AND exercise. Gah! So I started to change how I ate. Nothing major. Just skipping that extra breakfast burrito. Or skipping the fast food this week. Or eating that granola bar instead of that bar of chips. Or reading the labels to check fat content as well as calories. Or trying to eat more veggies for lunch and dinner. It was a hard process. It still is a hard process. But those baby steps helped. I still eat shitty foods. Just not as much as I used to. And when I do eat that crap, I try to minimize the damage by eating the healthiest crap I can.

What does this all boil down to? My lab results from this year. They're much better. So much better, I'm happy to crow them from the rooftops. So if you're out there wondering if you can make that diet change, if you can lower your cholesterol, if you can actually lose weight, keep reading. I'm just an average guy living an average life. The only thing helping me is the support of my friends and family and my own drive to live a better life. I've been where you are now. I know how hard and how daunting it can be. You see all those people out there that lost 25 pounds. Or 100 pounds. Or 300 pounds. Well I didn't. I lost just 5 pounds this year. Five pounds. Sounds easy, right? Well, it might be easy for you but for me it was hard. Every pound and every inch I lost this year fought me tooth and nail.

But don't focus on the weight. Don't focus on the diet. Don't focus on the exercise. Focus on a goal. Set a finish line for yourself. You can see here where I've been and where I want to go. So sit down and set a goal. Run a 5k faster. Eat an all vegetarian meal once a week. Lose 5 pounds. Swim 2 laps in the pool without stopping. Put it on paper. Tell your friends and family. Let them hold you accountable. My wife told me her resolutions for this year and I plan on helping her meet as many of them as I can. Will it take time away from my goals? Sure. But you know what, if I have to sacrifice one of my own goals so she can meet one of hers, that sounds like a great deal to me.

Okay, motivational speech is over. On with the number crunching.

2009
Bilirubin = 1.6 (normal is 0.2 - 1.2)
Cholesterol = 217 (normal is 125 - 200)
Triglycerides = 199 (normal is <150)
HDL Cholesterol = 33 (normal is > or = to 40)
LDL Cholesterol = 144 (normal is 0 - 100)
Cholesterol/HDL Ratio = 6.6 (normal is 0 - 5.0)

2010
Bilirubin = 1.2 (normal is 0.2 - 1.2)
Cholesterol = 191 (normal is 125 - 200)
Triglycerides = 114 (normal is <150)
HDL Cholesterol = 41 (normal is > or = to 40)
LDL Cholesterol = 127 (normal is 0 - 100)
Cholesterol/HDL Ratio = 4.7 (normal is 0 - 5.0)

Net Change
Bilirubin = dropped 0.4 (now in normal range)
Cholesterol = dropped 26 (now in normal range)
Triglycerides = dropped 85 (now in normal range)
HDL Cholesterol = increased 8 (now in normal range)
LDL Cholesterol = dropped 17 (still outside of normal range)
Cholesterol/HDL Ratio = dropped 1.9 (now in normal range)

How did I do this? By running. By trying to eat better (but not always succeeding). I was on and off various dietary supplements but nothing that seemed to really help. However, I am currently taking Mega Red in an attempt to drop my numbers even more!

My 2011 Running Goals

2011-01-01T01:11:00.003-05:00

As I type this early to make sure I get everything down while I can, I realize how fortunate I am that I am not only able to run, but I am also able to find the time to run. So take a moment and think about how fortunate we can be and how unfortunate others are.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. It can always be worse.

So, my running/fitness/life goals for 2011 include the follow (in no particular order):

run 1 marathon (already registered for Richmond in November)
run 2 half marathons (already registered for DRHT half in February, MCHH in May, and Williamsburg half in May)
run 1 sprint triathlon (this will likely be in February)
run 1 50k ultra marathon (this will be the DRHT 50k in August)
run 35 miles by my 35th birthday (October 3rd) (this is my #run35 and #tregløper project)
raise money for the Friends of the DRHT (Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Trail)
run on the DRHT (or any trail) once a week
set a half marathon PR (2:35:06 set on 12/12/2010)
set a 50k PR (8:42:52 set on 8/8/2010)
lose 5 pounds (231 pounds on 12/22/2010)

Other goals for this year that aren't really easy to quantify and thus aren't written down include:

improve core strength
run more on trails and uneven surfaces
avoid the treadmill at all costs
shop for and maybe buy a road bike (assuming triathlons are in the mix for 2012)
do more stability/balance work
adhere to the cross-training in my training plan instead of sleeping in

I have other goals that bleed into 2012 as well. They include (maybe):

lose 25 pounds
teach a running class at the YMCA
coach cross country at the High School
begin running in triathlons
learn to swim well

Anti-Chafe Products

2010-12-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

There are a ton of products out there that keep you chafe free. I'll be sticking with the three that I've used on several occasions (note that the photos below include the small BodyGlide applicator).

Mission Anti-Friction Cream

FEATURES:
- Sweat resistant - True as far as I can tell. No issues with it coming off during hot and sweaty workouts in the summer.
- Helps defend and relieve chafing, cracking and chapping - True as well. At least on the "defend" part. Didn't notice any dramatic change with the "relieve" part.
- Preservative free/paraben free - I'm taking their word on it.

APPLICATION:
Just like a lotion, you squeeze some on your hand or finger and apply as needed. It has a distinct odor (like chocolate, probably due to the cocoa seed butter) and a thick consistency (almost like thick toothpaste). It is also greasy so it takes some extra effort to get it off your hand after you apply it. The tube is small enough to carry around as needed and it lasts at least a few hours.

INGREDIENTS:
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, C4 - 24 Alkyl Dimethicone/Divinyldimethicone Crosspolymer Cyclomethicone, Beeswax, C18 - 36 Acid Triglyceride, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Oil, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil, Tocopherol Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Zinc Oxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol

OVERALL:
This is a great product and my number two choice to anti-chafing creams. It is a bit thick and a bit greasy when you put it on, but it lasts a long time, it smells good, and best of all, it works!

Asics Chafe Free - Endurance

FEATURES:
- Marathon tested - I'm sure it has been.
- Waterproof - I'll have to believe them on this one. Didn't run in the water or wear it swimming.
- Soothing - Yep, it feels nice when you put it on.
- Reduces friction - True again, it reduces friction and chafing.
- Helps prevent blisters - I'd say it does just because it helps reduce chafing.
- Suitable for bike chamois and wetsuits - I'll have to trust them on this since I haven't tried it with either.
- Controls and relieves chafing - I know it "controls" chafing but like the Mission cream above, I'm not sure that it "relieves" much chafing.

APPLICATION:
The applicator on this is a bit odd. It's a bit like those giant markers you use to write on car windows with. A giant sponge with a hole in the middle for the cream to come out of. Which means it's a pain to put on because you have to squeeze some out, then roll it around like a paint brush then squeeze more out and roll it around some more. You get the idea. It's nice you don't get any on your fingers, but when the tube runs low and that applicator tip starts to bend around on you, you end up with some on your hands anyway.

INGREDIENTS:
Water, Boron Nitride, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Polyacrylate 13, Polysobutene, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Alow Barbadensis Leaf Juice

OVERALL:
Meh. Nothing exciting here. The only thing that makes this unique over the Mission cream is that it doesn't smell, it has a funky sponge applicator, and their website doesn't freely offer up the ingredients.

BodyGlide Anti-Chafe Balm

FEATURES:
- No mess - About 90% accurate. You can actually over apply this product which can cause a bit of a mess, but that's really your own fault.
- Non-greasy - Not greasy but it is waxy. In fact, it's just like chap stick.

APPLICATION:
The texture is just like chap stick. The container is just like deodorant. Combine the two and you have BodyGlide. I've used the larger applicator and the smaller one and the only trouble I've had is when I get to the end of the tube, the remaining amount tends to pop out. More distressing though is that I'm out of BodyGlide.

INGREDIENTS:
Active ingredients: Allantoin 0.5%
Inactive ingredients: Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, C18-36 acid triglyceride, Capric/captylic triglycerides, Tocopheryl acetate, Tribehnin

OVERALL:
Like Asics, BodyGlide doesn't have the full ingredient list readily available online. Despite that, this is my go-to anti-chafe cream. It's easy to apply. It doesn't smell or stain your clothes. And most importantly, it works. And it works well. In fact, it works so well, this product has saved my ass. Literally and figuratively. I've used it on my feet, my nipples, and my nether regions. It forces my thunder thighs to play nice with each other and it keeps the monkey butt away. The only down side (if you want to call it that) is that it takes a bit of extra scrubbing to get it off. Personally, I don't want to take it off, I want to put more on.

MEASUREMENTS:
You can see my measurements in this gallery if you'd like.

Year End Summary

2010-12-23T14:35:00.003-05:00

I know, it's not quite 2011 yet, but for me, my 2011 training has already begun. Thus, my year in review post that covers my progress this year.

2008
This was when I first started running with more seriousness than years past. It had been 10 years since college and 14 since my last serious run in high school cross country. Time flies when you get old, fat, and lazy. I thought I made a good start and felt like I was making progress. Winning a trophy for third place in my age group really boosted my spirits. I mean, come on! A trophy! In my first race after a couple of months of training?! How can you beat that?!

2009
This was a tough year. Very little progress was made and even though I tried to meet my goal of running all the local Grand Prix races, it never materialized. I also trained too hard and caught a bad case of shin splints. Needless to say, I was pretty crushed this year. I wanted it so bad it hurt.

2010
After such a lousy year, I decided to get serious. Well, more serious than I had been before. And oddly enough, it was so much easier than I expected. But I had three big things that radically changed my training. First, I may have hit rock bottom mentally in 2008, but in 2009 I realized I needed to change my mindset. I needed to be more positive in how I look at myself and my running. Second, I joined a regular running group at the local YMCA. Having a group of people that you see every week helped keep me accountable. I didn't have to pay for the sessions and there was no strict attendance policy. But I gained so much from just having a group to socialize with. Third, DailyMile saved me and my running. In person, I'm very shy. But online, I'm very social. In the past, I've been called a "netvestite" because I'm so different in person than I am online it shocks people. Well, DailyMile gave me a social outlet for running.

So here I was in 2010, poised to do great things. I had my head on straight. I had a group in real life and online that was there to support me. I came up with concrete goals that were both realistic and were a bit of a stretch. I was ready for my journey.

What a journey it was. I learned so much about running and so much about myself, I get nervous sometimes. I was never very confident and quite socially inept. Running has helped me make positive strides in both areas. A few people have commented that I look like I lost weight, but I don't feel that way. When you only show a 5 pound loss on the scales and still have a big gut, it's hard to believe the positive words from others. The only proof that I have is I'm going to need new shorts and pants next year because my old ones are too big.

And best of all, the concrete evidence of my running improvements. Not only have I improved on my times, but also my distances and my stamina. Going out for a 5 mile run is no longer a daunting thing to plan for, it's now something I can do at the drop of a hat and with just a bottle of water. I've set 9 PRs this year, 5 of them in the last 3 months alone. Amazing progress. I can run 5 miles without taking a break and yet I started the year barely able to do a mile without a break. I struggled mightily with a half marathon early this year but easily conquered a second this month. And even though my first 50k was insanely difficult and slow, I learned enough to make next year's attempt so much better.

So where does that leave me to start my 2011 training? Confident that I can meet most or all of my goals. Flexible enough to not get too stressed if I can't meet them. Rested after a week's vacation from running. Excited about what I have on my list of goals for the new year. Anxious about getting sponsorships (more like hopeful but doubtful). And best of all, more centered and grounded than I've felt in ages. A life that was out of control a few years ago is now under control. And while I don't expect to be completely rigid with life and running, I know what I need to do and what I want to do well enough to make the right decision.

And with that, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Product Review - Saucony Elite Arm Warmers

2010-12-09T06:00:00.001-05:00

Saucony Elite Arm Warmers

FEATURES:
- Anotomical Fit - These sleeves (or arm warmers if you prefer) are fitted for the left and right arms. The older models are not, or at least aren't labeled as such, but that is the only noticeable difference. And if you happen to have an older model, keep the Saucony logo readable to others when you hold out both arms (more on this later).

- ViZi-PRO - I can't say enough about this color. If you run or bike outside, especially in areas with hunters or drivers, this color can save your life. The brighter the better.

- 50+ UV Protection - There is some debate as to how much sun runners should get. Personally, I don't count on the sleeves to keep the sun off my skin. I count on the sleeves to keep my arms warm.

FIT:
I got mine in a Large. They are unisex but are sometimes labeled as Women's and sometimes as Men's. You'll find a link to my arm measurements below if that will help. The big thing for me is they don't fall off or slip down my arm. I had some chafing issues early on that were easily cured by folding down the top elastic cuff but I think the real problem was I pulled them up too high.

CARE:
- Machine wash cold with like colors
- Do not use softeners
- Remove immediately
- Do not bleach
- Line dry
- Do not iron
- Do not dry clean

OVERALL:
Two big things to remember when wearing these sleeves. First, the older models aren't labeled LEFT and RIGHT, so put the "S" in Saucony on your left wrist. Second, keep the seam on the under part of your arm. While it isn't explicitly recommended one way or the other by Saucony, I've found this keeps the logos facing out and keeps the seam away from any chafing points, especially the inside of your bicep and armpit.

Beyond that, these are great sleeves. They're tight enough to stay up but not so tight they cut off blood flow. They will leave funny marks on your arms though when you take them off because they will wrinkle and bunch a bit (but not enough to be uncomfortable). And if you want to see them in use, I model them here in a recent race and Heather's take on Saucony's ViZi-PRO line (and arm sleeves).

MEASUREMENTS:
You can see my measurements in this gallery if you'd like.

Light Update

2010-12-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

This is a brief update on a previous post I made for running at night. You may recall the issues I had with the Nathan L.E.D. Safety Strobe. My biggest concern was that it did not hold together very well. The simply design of opening and closing to replace the batteries was a bit too simple. Because of this and the fact that the clip did not really clip to anything caused frequent drops, which in turn resulted in the batteries flying across the road. Not something a runner wants to deal with while a car is approaching in the dark.

So I threw them away and found a replacement. The RoadID Firefly Supernova. Read on.

RoadID Firefly Supernova

FEATURES:

- On/Off Switch - You twist the lens cap to turn it on and off. Works surprisingly well with gloves on. Didn't expect that. There are little knobs that stick out from the lens that gives you some grip. And best of all, you twist it tighter to turn it on so there's no worry of twisting too far and taking the top off. There are two modes, steady and flashing. Pretty simple.

- Clip - The clip works and works well on this. In fact, it's a little hard to take off of a strap when you put it on, but I'd rather have that than have it fall off.

- Waterproof - Again, I trust them when they say it's waterproof up to 300 feet. It has performed well in rain storms though, so the waterproof part I can believe.

- Batteries - This is the biggest weakness I've found so far. The batteries are unique to the device, meaning you need to either make them (if you know how) or buy them direct from RoadID. They are two watch-style batteries that have been attached to each other with some heat shrink plastic on the sides. You can flip the batteries to change between steady and flash mode (another minor negative). According to RoadID though, the batteries will last up to 250 hours in flashing mode.

- Brightness - According to RoadID, the light is visible up to one mile. I have to believe them on this one as I haven't tested it yet. But I have blinded myself while looking at the light.

FIT:
Small, light, and easy to use. You can put them on the back of your hat, a chest strap for your Camelback, or even your shoes. These are very small and very bright and very easy to clip on where you need them.

CARE:
No specific care instructions, but I would recommend drying them out after they've been in the rain.

OVERALL:
Bottom line on these lights is get them. They work, they're light, they're reasonably priced, and best of all, they're bright. I only have the red lens lights but I'd bet you just about use the white lenses to see by if you put them on your shoes.

MEASUREMENTS:
You can see my measurements in this gallery if you'd like.

Cold Weather Running

2010-11-29T09:54:00.002-05:00

When I started running in the fall of 2008, it was exclusively on the treadmill at the local YMCA. The only time I ventured out on the roads was to run a race. As I went through early 2009, I was still shy about going outside but once the weather turned nice, I got some cabin fever and went out for some fresh air. Add to the nice weather a comment I read where a runner said something to the tune of "there are very few races on a treadmill so you might as well train for the road conditions you may have on race day" and I never looked back. In fact, I'm doing my best to avoid the treadmill at all costs. I've run faster on the treadmill and enjoy watching TV while I run. There are no cars to worry about, the temperature is always the same, but I swear I get sick when I get on that evil hamster wheel.

So this winter (2009/2010) I made a very conscious decision to tough it out and go hardcore by running outside no matter the conditions. I think I did okay, but had a few relapses where the wind was just too cold or there was too much rain or too much snow and I wimped out. Those were the runs where I felt lousy when I was done and swore I'd never go back to the treadmill.

My final tipping point was a year ago (almost exactly) when I ran a 5k race in mid-December. This was before our heavy double-blizzard of 2010. Any snow in eastern Virginia is bad. A few inches in the forecast can result in closed schools. So you can imagine what two storms with 14+ inches each did to us. Anyway, my 5k was in mid-December and it was cold and wet. As in just above freezing and raining. Sometimes just a mist, sometimes a downpour. The event also had a half-marathon that started just before us, so those runners were even more hardcore than me. I had no idea how to dress, so I made due with what I had. An old rain jacket, some winter clothes, and a pair of bamboo socks I got at the last minute. By the time I finished I was soaked to my underwear, cold, and wanting to do more. I changed into dry clothes, ate breakfast, and came back in time to see some friends finish the half. They were shivering, soaked, and had an awesome glow. I wanted to be just like them next year (I'm already signed-up for the half in two weeks). So I knew it was time to commit to running outside to not only capture that "hardcore runner" high, but to also prepare for any race-day condition I may have to endure.

While I did take time off during the blizzards (kind of hard to run in 14 inches of snow), I've stuck to my guns and avoided the treadmill. So where does that leave me during the upcoming winter season and running outside? Much more prepared. I've had more time to run outside, adapt to the changing weather, and learn what equipment to use. So from here, I'll finally get into what I've learned about running in the winter. The overall idea here is broken down into a few, simple areas that you'll need to be aware of; weather, equipment, your body, and adaptation.

Weather
I've mentioned it before when I talked about running in the rain, but weather has never been important to me. I worked in an office for years and now work at home, so other than the quick dash between the house and my car, I didn't care. Now that I'm running outside, weather is important. And the forecast for the week can often times dictate when I run and how long I run. For example, they're calling for rain Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Tuesday and Thursday are usually my heavy running days, so now I know I may need to run in the rain or maybe make it a short day instead of a long day on Tuesday and run longer on Friday. This is a big part of adaptation, but more on that later. The big thing with weather though, is to just pay attention. I can't read the clouds and tell you when it'll rain, but I can tell you running down the road where the wind will pick up because I'm next to an open field. Or where I'll have mud on the trail because it rained last night. Or that it may start out at 40 degrees on my long run and warm up to 60 degrees by the time I'm finished. So pay attention to the forecast and plan accordingly.

Equipment
The weather can make your run wonderful or miserable. But it's something that you can't control. Your equipment on the other hand, you only have yourself to blame if you don't come dressed for the occasion. In other words, this can make or break your run. It can keep you going for miles on end or it can turn you into a hypothermic ball of whimpering blubber. And everything matters here. From your shoes to your hat, what you choose needs to be the right thing.

For winter runs, I would keep two key points in mind. First, from Les Stroud, if you sweat, you die. Simply put, dress in layers and remember to strip one off as you warm up. You shouldn't be in danger of death when you run, but the idea is to not sweat if at all possible. Second, the 20 degrees rule. As in you need to dress as if it were 20 degrees warmer out. So if it's 40 degrees out, dress as it were 60 degrees. Obviously everyone is different, so it may be 15 degrees for you. But I'll get into knowing your body in a minute.

The key point is that you'll warm up during your run, so dress with less than you think you'll need. If you're cold when you start, that's good. If you're still cold after a mile or two, maybe you need to add another layer or run a little faster.

For me, I choose from an array of hats and gloves to stay warm. But it's more than that. So I'll just give you an example of what I wore during a recent run. Weather was clear and sunny. Time was between 9am and 11am (2 hour run over 10 miles). Temperatures ranged from 40 to 45 degrees. Wind was light at 5 to 10 miles per hour so wind chill temps were around 35 degrees or so. All of this means that it was cold out and a little windy here and there. From head to toe I wore:

- a winter hat (Saucony DryLete Skull Cap)
- sunglasses (Oakley)
- TRI top (Saucony)
- arm sleeves (Saucony)
- long sleeve shirt (Saucony)
- underwear (Reebok)
- calf sleeves (Saucony AmpPro2)
- pants (Brooks)
- socks (Saucony)
- shoes (Saucony Exodus 2)

Other than the obvious love of Saucony products, what you'll see is a layering system that works for me. While I could have worn a long sleeve shirt under a light jacket, I chose to wear a triathlon top with arm sleeves under a long sleeve shirt. The big reason for this was to have pockets available on the TRI top to carry my e-Gel, but also because it had a long zipper down the front. I knew this would give me plenty of ventilation so I could adjust it up or down as I got warm or cold. So when I started, it was zipped up tight but when I was finished it was unzipped to the bottom. The arm sleeves are another great method for me to control my temperature. They can easily be pulled up or pushed down but they're also easy to manage during a race. pushing them down doesn't really cause a problem, so you don't have to worry about stashing them in a pocket along the way. Plus it gives my body room to sweat and lose heat in my armpits where a long sleeve shirt would seal things up a bit warmer than I'd prefer.

The pants are also a big deal for winter running. I used to be very self-conscious about my body (I still am, just not so much when I run) so I avoided the dreaded tight pants at all costs. Between my big butt and bigger gut, I didn't want to show off all the wrong things. And with cold weather brings shrinkage, so I feared even more sidelong glances. While my body hasn't changed much, my attitude about it has. I'd rather wear something that works and looks horrible than something that looks cool and makes things shrink even more. I'll take function over fashion any day. Which means I wear pants now and I'm not afraid. I'll even wear tight pants. As long as I'm warm, I'm good. But remember that your legs will be doing a lot of the work when you run, so they'll be warm. So even though it was cold out during my run, my legs were never cold.

Your Body
As usual when it comes to my opinions and reviews, your mileage and pace may vary. So what works for me, may not work for you. This is because everyone is different. So part of learning what to wear during winter runs is learning what your body needs. I know I need gloves before a hat. When temps drop into the 50s, I need gloves. For some reason my hands always get cold. But when temps drop into the 50s I can get away with a regular hat or maybe a headband. But when the temps drop to the 40s, I know I need to think about wearing a winter hat. And if it's going to rain when it's, I need to wear something that will retain heat on my head when it's wet. Same goes for socks. I have bamboo socks that keep my feet warm even when they're soaked through. But if I wore them on a summer day I'd end up with baked and blistered feet from all the heat and sweat. So learn what your body needs. This goes hand-in-hand with the weather part. When you see your breath, learn how many layers you'll need. When the car window is coated in a heavy frost, learn what gloves to wear. When the flag on the pole is snapping in the heavy wind, learn what windbreaker to wear. Your body may need more or less, you just need to know what works best.

Adaptation
Adaptation is a huge part of running. HUGE. If your training schedule is so strict that you can't switch your long run with your cross-training or you can't miss a day because you need an extra rest day, then it doesn't sound like you're much having fun. And even if it's something small, like my favorite shirt is dirty, I'll need to pick a different one, the key is to learn how to adapt. This can make or break your run or your race. I recently had to deal with some GI issues during a trail run and I had to deal with them in a more graphic way than I'd prefer. But I adapted to the situation, dealt with it, and kept on going. Just like those layers help during winter runs, you need to plan for the worst, hope for the best, and deal with whatever comes your way. Just like knowing your body, you may realize 3 miles into a 10 mile run that you didn't wear enough layers and need to call it quits before your toes fall off. Literally. Be prepared to do that and not feel bad about it. Things can always be worse, right?

Bottom Line
Learn your body's needs, adapt to changing conditions, wear the right gear (in layers), and watch the weather.

RoadID and Crank Sports Coupon Codes

2010-11-29T08:01:00.003-05:00

Since today is "Cyber Monday," I thought it would be the perfect time to give out some coupon codes I have for RoadID and Crank Sports. For those unfamiliar with either company, they are both worthy of a prolonged gander.

Personally, I wear the Wrist ID Elite. I started out with the Sport model, but after several months of wearing it 24/7, it started to smell a bit (yes, I did clean it in the shower). The Elite model works great and I've had no issues so far. I've also started to use the Firefly Supernova lights during my pre-dawn runs. They work great and haven't fallen off. I'm not a big fan of the batteries (they need to be purchased from RoadID) but the product works well enough for me continue to use them.

Sorry, I only have three coupons, so use them while they last.

RoadID Coupon Code (Valid for $1.00 off. Expires 12/31/2011) = TAF1238
RoadID Coupon Code (Valid for $1.00 off. Expires 12/31/2011) = TAF1239
RoadID Coupon Code (Valid for $1.00 off. Expires 12/31/2011) = TAF1240

From Crank Sports, I use both the e-Gel and the e-Fuel. I can tell you the e-Gel works great for longer runs and has a slower burn than GU or other gels. In other words, it'll give you a slow dose of energy for an hour or so before it wears off where GU will act more like a flash in the pan and burn off in a half hour or less. My mind still isn't made up on the e-Fuel since I haven't tried it enough to make an informed opinion. But what few times I have used it, I've felt an increase in energy while running.

This coupon should be valid for anyone.

Crank Sports Coupon Code (Valid for $2.00 off first order and up to 25% off all orders) = 386304

Product Review - Calf Sleeves

2010-11-22T06:00:00.001-05:00

Saucony AmpPro2 Calf Sleeves

FEATURES:
- Labeled for anatomical fit - You would think the difference between LEFT and RIGHT wouldn't make a difference. And to be honest, I have no idea if they do. Fortunately Saucony takes the mystery out of things by clearly labeling which sleeve goes on which leg. The best part is the labels are part of the sleeve, not part of the label. That's important because my labels were quickly cut out for improved comfort.

- Microban - Um, supposedly this keeps things less microbial than normal. I'm guessing that means I'm less likely to get some sort of odd calf fungus. Since it's hard to measure and plays no part in my performance, I'm not really worried about this feature.

- Celliant - This fiber or additive to fiber is designed to improve oxygen levels and body temperatures. I'm no scientist so I'm not sure if it works or not. Although I have used the sleeves on cold days and it helped keep my calves warm. But then again so would an extra layer of clothes.

FIT:
They fit like I would expect compression sleeves to fit. Tight. Not so tight that my toes turn purple, but tight enough that I can feel them when I run. Tight enough that I can see lines on my calf when I take them off after my run. Tight enough that they do help my calves in both active mode and recovery mode. In other words, the fit is just right. I got mine in Large (16" to 17" according to their site) since my calf is 17" at it's largest point. Small runs from 12" to 13" and Medium runs from 14" to 15". Oddly, there's no 13" to 14" so you just have to guess a bit if you fall between sizes. Remember to measure the largest part of your calf. And remember that these are unisex, so gender doesn't matter. Oh, and for those guys with hairy legs, don't worry, you won't need to shave. These are hairy-guy friendly. As you'll see in the photos, my legs are hairy enough but I didn't have any issues.

CARE:
- Machine wash cold with like colors
- Do not use softeners
- Remove immediately
- Do not bleach
- Line dry
- Do not iron
- Do not dry clean

OVERALL:
The biggest secret to these is placement. Following some tweets sent by Saucony, I just happened to discover that the seams go on the inside. Fortunately these are flat seams and don't chafe, so even if you have some serious calf-whip or calf-rub or what have you, they shouldn't pose any issues. Aside from that random nugget of information, these are nice sleeves. They're just a hair tighter than expected but they don't constrict your blood flow. In fact, I think they actually work better because they're tighter. I can feel the support, especially on runs beyond 5 miles. Since these are my second pair of calf sleeves, I've already learned that they go on easier if you put them on before your socks. Not that you can't, it just seems to go easier if you do.

They also feel nice for recovery. I went for a long run, showered, and wore these the rest of the day. My calves felt like I didn't run a step (although the rest of me did). I did notice some binding at the top on my first few times wearing them. I think I was pulling them up too high and they pinched a bit between the calf and the back of the knee. After trying them again without hiking them all the way up, they felt much better. No pinching. My biggest problem with these is they don't come in ViZi-PRO orange, so you'll have to settle for black.

CEP AllSports Compression Leg Sleeves

FEATURES:
Unlike the Saucony sleeves, CEP doesn't list any "features" on their site. So other than some fancy seams, they're pretty plain. They do have a totally different design and you can feel it when you wear them. Comparing the two is difficult because of how different they feel when you wear them. The CEP sleeves aren't as tight and feel more like a sock. This is likely because CEP appears to have moved from the medical industry to the sports industry. Not a huge leap when you consider the benefits of compression on athletes and their performance and recovery.

FIT:
Not nearly as tight as the Saucony sleeves and more prone to stretching. Think of these like you would socks; stretch them out too much and they'll lose their shape until you wash them again. But they still work. I've worn them on long runs (including my premier 50k) and they do help your calves continue to fire long after they should be dead tired. They also help in recovery. After my first half-marathon, I could feel the compression easing my pain. And seeing as they are still tight against the skin, they'll keep out ticks but not aggressive and large horseflies.

There are different size charts for men and women. Because my calf is 17", I fit in the IV Men size (from 15.5" to 17.5"). The III Men's runs from 12.5" to 15" and the V Men's runs from 18" to 20".

CARE:
- Machine wash, permanent press/wrinkle resistant, max. water temperature 105°F/40°C
- Do not bleach
- Tumble dry, permanent press/wrinkle resistant cycle, low heat
- Do not iron or press with heat
- Do not dryclean (their spelling, not mine)

OVERALL:
The design makes these differ greatly from the Saucony sleeves. Not necessarily better or worse, just different. The CEP sleeves feel looser but still offer some level of compression. The unique seam pattern doesn't appear to harm you and may even help with blood flow and compression. Oddly, while they are looser than the Saucony sleeves, the bottoms are tighter, making it a bit more difficult to put them on.

COMPARISON:
Here's a little side-by-side comparison so you can see how they fit.

MEASUREMENTS:
You can see my measurements in this gallery if you'd like. For this particular review, take note that my calves are 17 inches around at their largest point. My ankles are just under 10 inches (above the ankle bones) and the top of my calf (just below the knee) is 15 inches.

Learning to Adapt on the Run

2010-11-11T19:40:00.003-05:00

As a runner, I've learned to adapt to changing terrain, weather, mood, and more. I strive to adapt as well as I can, but sometimes you get a curve ball that's too big to handle so you just shut down and call it a day.

As I've grown older, I've learned that boring is pretty damn nice. Sometimes I dread living a boring life, but those exciting days tend to make me enjoy them much more. So now when I have a boring day, I'm thankful it wasn't full of too much excitement.

Today was a day I had to apply both of these learnings. It was a bit too exciting in some areas, and just exciting enough in others. Since it was a Federal holiday, our babysitter was off which meant I was the babysitter. Yvonne was off too, but because she had some doctor's appointments. So William and I dropped Elizabeth off at school and we headed to town for a day of shopping. I scored a great breakfast at Panera before we headed to Target for some shopping. Nothing too exciting there, so we washed Yvonne's truck then headed to BJ's to meet Yvonne for some shopping. So far, nothing terribly exciting.

Then we headed to Gander Mountain for more shopping. William enjoyed looking at the tents, which was a hoot. Then we went to Joseph-Beth Booksellers where I scored a running and a tri magazine. Can't wait to crack into them. William was being a good sport, so I got a book for him (more on that later). We went down to the local bike shop and I shopped around and tried out a bike. Fit better than expected and was a hell of a lot lighter than expected. It may be love at first sight, but I think that's the bike I want. I'll have to do some more research. I also picked up new bike shorts (woohoo!) and some drink-mix to test out as well.

We met my dad for lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise and then we went to my favorite store, VA Runner where I finally made a decision and bought a pair of Kinvaras. Yes, I'm the proud owner of some Saucony Kinvaras (in ViZi-PRO of course) as well as a pair of Exodus 2s as well. They felt better than the Asics I tried on and feel better than the TR4s I already have.

I had my excitement in the bag with some new shoes so we headed to Wegman's to get some groceries. Since we were just a tiny bit pushed for time, I made sure we were as efficient as possible picking up all of our food. As we neared the end of the list, we waited for our steaks to get sliced and William decided to have his excitement. By barfing all over the cart, himself, and the floor. With a little going on the display and his father, but thankfully none contaminated the food. Ick.

As I cleaned my son, myself, and our cart, the employees at Wegman's were wonderful, nay, beyond wonderful. I had to sacrifice a reusable grocery bag to catch some of the barf as well as use it as a trash bag for the paper towels we were using. So not only did they help clean, they also gave us some plastic bags to use should William decide for more excitement. And, they gave us a new shopping bag to replace the sacrifice. And during the entire time, they kept asking if William was okay as well as asked if we needed anything. Not to mention the meat department guy finished cutting and wrapping the steaks. If you ever want to know what great customer service is like, I suggest you check out Wegman's and Zappos. Both are leaders in awesome service.

So while this all happened, I told Yvonne I couldn't make it to school to pick up Elizabeth, so Yvonne took care of that. And as William and I neared home, she called to tell me to take a detour because there was an accident right in front of our house. Oh boy. More excitement. Turns out some guy was run off the road by a woman in a white Jeep with a black top. She stopped, saw what happened, then took off. The guy that wrecked his truck was fine but his truck wasn't. Tires aren't supposed to point in opposite directions. So I put my new Saucony Epic Run jacket (in ViZi-PRO of course) to good use as I directed traffic around the scene.

So. Police. New shoes. Barf on my old shoes. And I still didn't get marshmallows at the grocery store. Now do you see why boring is good? And why adapting to the stuff life throws at you is important. And with that, I bid you good night.

Product Review - Hats

2010-11-05T06:00:00.002-04:00

If you haven't done so already, you can read the first part of the Hats and Headbands review over here. This is where I cover headbands and touch lightly on how they compare to hats.

Hats

No, not summer hats, these are winter hats. As the temperatures warm up I may cover my summer hats, but for now, these are my winter hats. I need to admit up front that I have an unhealthy obsession with winter hats and I don't know why. Once upon a time I had a crazy jester hat. I've since retired it (or maybe my wife tossed it when I wasn't looking because she hated it) and moved on to the beanie style hat. They fit close to my head and they keep my head warm. I don't have a lot of hair but I do have a lot of melon, so size is an issue (insert crude joke here). I have tried on many, many winter hats over the ages and I've learned that they are made for people with normal sized heads. So unless it's larger than normal or made of some elastic material, the hat usually doesn't make it into my collection.

Columbia Whirlibird Watch Cap Beanie

FEATURES:
Not really any features to speak of. It has a small Columbia logo embroidered on the front, but that's about it.

FIT:
It's super stretchy, so you can put both hands on either side of your head while wearing it without worrying about having room. It also comes down low enough to cover your ears, so there's no worry about them getting cold.

CARE:
- Hand wash cold
- Dry flat
- Do not wring or twist
- Reshape
- Do not iron
- Do not bleach

OVERALL:
I'm not sure where I got this or how long ago, but I love it. It works for running and for casual wear, so it is versatile. I may look like a thug or a bank robber when I wear it, but I like how well it fits and keeps my head just the right temperature.

Penthouse Knits Wool Hat

FEATURES:
No real features to speak of other than it's made from a wool blend so it gets mighty itchy if you wear it for a while. But then again, it keeps your head super warm too.

FIT:
A bit small. It barely comes down low enough to cover my ears. At least to cover them well enough to keep them warm, but the trade off is that it keeps my head very warm. Which means my ears don't really get cold. It's also stretchy enough to fit my head and allow for some extra room.

CARE:
- Hand wash

OVERALL:
This is the warmest of the hats in my collection. And since it's so old (probably 20 years old or so) and since it appears the company is out of business, it'll be hard to find something like it. But with wool still out there for die-hard outdoor-types and variations of wool-like material available (like bamboo and Alpaca fur), you can still find something warm enough to match the heat of this hat. I typically reserve this hat for below freezing days or cold and rainy days because it retains so much heat. Even when soaked through from a heavy rain, it'll still make my head sweat. The only downside is that it will itch like crazy.

Saucony DryLete Skull Cap

FEATURES:
Not really any features to speak of. Hats aren't too exciting like that. But it does come in ViZi-PRO and has some reflective logos, so at least somebody may see you out there.

FIT:
Snug. Not as tight as the Saucony headband, but tight enough that it won't come off. And it's snug enough that you could probably wear it under a bike helmet or some other headgear if needed. And with the curved edges, my ears are covered up just fine.

CARE:
- Machine wash cold with like colour (their spelling, not mine)
- Do not use softeners
- Remove immediately
- Do not bleach
- Line dry
- Do not iron
- Do not dry clean

OVERALL:
Oddly enough, it was raining yet again when I tested this hat. Starting to wonder if running in the rain is going to become a theme of mine. Anyway, it fit nicely. Not too tight, not too loose, but if I had to pick a side, I'd say just a hair on the too-tight side. I was a little surprised at how well it performed in the rain. I had my wool hat as a backup all ready to go and I didn't need it. For the first six miles of my run in the rain (it varied from light to heavy rain with temps in the 40s) my head was warm. It wasn't dry by any means, but it was warm. Around the six mile mark (just over an hour running) I started to notice the wind pick up and I could feel it a bit on my head. It wasn't bad, but I'd say anything more than two hours in the rain, especially if there's wind, and I'd consider packing a backup just to make sure you stay warm for the duration.

MEASUREMENTS:
I've mentioned it a few times already, but I'll make it clear again. I have a big head. For those in the know, I wear a size 7 3/4. That means my head is roughly 24+ inches around. Closer to 25 inches if I include my ears. So size matters to me a lot. You can see my measurements in this gallery if you'd like.

Product Review - Headbands

2010-11-04T06:00:00.000-04:00

First, I'll apologize for the photos you're about to see here. They include my head and face (often times looking drowsy or angry), so consider yourself warned.

Second, this review will be broken down into two main categories: hats and headbands. This portion will cover the headbands while an upcoming review will go over the hats. If you don't already know the difference, a headband is only going to cover your ears leaving the top of your head exposed. In my case, that means my receding hairline is exposed. A hat will cover the top of your head and, hopefully, your ears.

Headbands

I have two headbands that I run with. I've never been a fan of headbands until this year, so they're still a new concept to me. I've always avoided them because I have a giant head (more on that later) and I'm still a bit self-conscious about my hair-loss. But this year I decided to forget about fashion and go with function. So even though I may look like I have a rubber band around my head, at least my ears are warm.

That's about all the headband keeps warm too; your ears. So I recommend using them for those cold days that aren't too cold. Call it chilly, call it cool, you'll know when it's the right temperature when it's too cold we wear a regular hat and too warm to wear a winter hat. One final tidbit of advice, headbands are easy to peel off as a layer. With a winter hat you have to hold it or find a pocket to stash it in. With a head band you can loop it twice around your wrist and keep on running. It's what I've seen countless women do with their headbands and I never understood why. Now I do and it's because it's smart.

Saucony DryLete Headband

FEATURES:
Um, other than the ViZi-PRO color and some small reflective logos, there aren't really any features to speak of. The seams are a bit odd though, as they break the headband into three main parts. Just put the tag in the back and you'll be fine.

FIT:
Small. For me at least. I've popped several seams on this in an effort to not only get it on my giant gourd of a head but to also make it fit comfortably. So instead of a boa constrictor on my head, I just have a loose elastic feel.

CARE:
- Machine wash cold with like colour (their spelling, not mine)
- Do not use softeners
- Remove immediately
- Do not bleach
- Line dry
- Do not iron
- Do not dry clean

OVERALL:
This headband by Saucony is small. Smaller than I need it to be. In fact, if you look in some of the photos, you can clearly see the seams I have ripped from just putting it on my head. And if you can't see, I've ripped a lot them. The headband still works though, it still keeps my ears warm and allows my head to sweat as my body warms up. It's a nice, thin material that does a decent job of wicking sweat away from your eyes. When the time comes to shed this layer, it fits great on your wrist and, best of all, it's still highly visible in it's ViZi-PRO color.

Reebok Cold Weather Running Headband

FEATURES:
Like the Saucony, not really any features to speak of. The bright green/yellow portion is in the back, so drivers should be able to see you, but it doesn't compare to the visibility of the ViZi-PRO.

FIT:
Much better fit and much more coverage. No boa constrictor feel and no headaches after an hour of use.

CARE:
I've since removed the tag and labels with the care instructions, but I wash it like the Saucony headband. Cold water, gentle cycle, Sport Wash detergent, and hang dry.

OVERALL:
This headband is a bit larger than the Saucony and a bit warmer. Since it's made of a fleece-like material, I expected it to be warmer but it was even warmer than expected. The band is also wider and covers more of your head than the Saucony. Maybe this adds to it's increased heat, I don't know. But I would compare the heat from this headband to some of the lower end winter hats out there.

Measurements
I've mentioned it a few times already, but I'll make it clear again. I have a big head. For those in the know, I wear a size 7 3/4. That means my head is roughly 24+ inches around. Closer to 25 inches if I include my ears. So size matters to me a lot. You can see my measurements in this gallery if you'd like.

Night Lights You Can Live By

2010-10-29T14:00:00.000-04:00

It isn't often that I run at night. In fact I'm rarely out of the house before the sun comes up. I am not a morning person so even thinking about getting up, getting dressed, and going for a run before the sun even makes an appearance on the horizon is a rarity indeed.

Which is why I had so much fun on a recent run in the pre-dawn light of a full moon. Although the moon was mostly hidden by clouds, I could see it occasionally. And even though i was decked out in just about every piece of gear that had the bright Saucony VIZiPRO color on it, I still needed some lights to feel safe. And while this isn't a solid review of each light I carried along for my run, it will at least give you a taste of what to look for when you go shopping.

Princeton Tec Fuel Headlamp

Features:
- Elastic Headband- The headband is adjustable, but what I enjoyed most was that it fit my head with room to spare. Which means you can wear it over a stocking hat if you need to. It's also easily washable and the adjustment piece is used to open the battery compartment.

- On/Off Switch - Sometimes a little hard to use, but it's easy to remember where it is when you always put it facing up. There's four settings; Bright, Medium, Dim, and Flashing. I don't recommend Flashing unless it's bright enough for you to see. Otherwise it's like running with a strobe light (yes, it's that bright).

- Clip - I have no idea what they're called, but it's the little clips or retainers used to attach the lamp to the headband. I learned you can also attach the lamp to essentially any strap of similar size. So you can wear one on your head and put another on the chest strap of your hydration pack.

- Waterproof - I've used this lamp in heavy downpours with no issues. The batteries are safe and secure inside the lamp and don't come out easily.

- Batteries - Needs three AAA batteries. Haven't replaced them yet so I'm not sure how long they last.

- Brightness - You can compare Lumens if you want, but in layman's terms, it's bright. Damn bright. Bright enough to see during your run or bike without any issues. In fact, I had to turn mine down during my last run because my eyes had adjusted.

Fit:
As I said before, this fits my head. And I have a big head. As in big enough that most cases of One Size Fits All translates to Snug Fit for me. But the headband is easy to adjust and it fits my big head. And there's enough stretch and room to adjust that I can even wear it over a hat or headband so anyone with a smaller head should have plenty of room. I was able to put it around my chest but it wasn't comfortable so I took it off and attached it to my hydration pack.

Care:
The headband is washable, but I'd put it in a laundry bag of some sort so it doesn't get lost. I'd use cold water, gentle cycle, and make sure you take the lamp off. There have been reports of the lamps surviving a ride in the wash, but I wouldn't risk it.

Overall:
I love this lamp. When you first wear it, it feels a bit heavy, but I have yet to find it uncomfortable. I think my longest stretch wearing it is around two hours and I didn't have any issues. I would like to find an easy way to attach it to my bike helmet or my bike, but that's the only downfall I've been able to find. My wife even uses it to clean out the dog's ears so she doesn't have to hold a flashlight, so anyone can find a use for it. Bottom line, buy this lamp. It's cheap, it's bright, and it works great.

Nathan L.E.D. Safety Strobe

Features:
- On/Off Switch - This light has a million settings (actually just seven, but it's still a lot); Steady On, All Flash Fast, All Flash Slow, Single Flash Slow Down, Single Flash Slow Up, Single Flash Fast Down, and Single Flash Slow Down Then Up. The switch is easy to use but sometimes too easy since it'll turn on or change settings with a light bump in your gym bag.

- Clip - The clip is nice but not really strong enough to attach to something that stays in motion or subject to a small nudge or bump. In other words, make sure it goes someplace very secure or you'll lose it.

- Waterproof - While there is a rubber o-ring around the two halves of the unit, the unit opens too easily. Just dropping it or bumping it hard enough will cause the cover to come off. Which means the batteries and lights are exposed to water.

- Batteries - Needs two AAA batteries. Mine have lasted a few months of on and off use, so I don't have a specific time frame to give. But be prepared to have the batteries fall out or come loose. Just tapping the unit on any hard surface will unseat the batteries which means you have to pry it open to re-seat them. Not fun.

- Brightness - It's not really meant to be used to run by, but more to keep people from driving over you. It's semi-bright and in one of the flashing modes should be bright enough to make cars pay attention to you.

Fit:
N/A

Care:
Don't drop it. That's the best advice I have because if you do drop it, the cover comes off and your batteries go flying.

Overall:
Save your money and buy something else. This was my first attempt at buying and using some sort of light to keep me safe while I ran and I'll readily admit this was the biggest failure. I had hoped for s sturdy product from Nathan (like their other products I use) but instead found a junky light. I do like that there are several settings to choose from but they don't outweigh the negatives.

Saucony USB_LED Light

Features:
- USB - Probably one of the best features is the ability to recharge the light with your computer. After about 20 minutes charging, the light will last about an hour. It may be hard to connect to some USB ports, but shouldn't be an issue on the majority of computers.

- On/Off Switch - Easy to see and use but hard to accidentally bump, which is good. It has two modes, Steady and Flash.

- Clip - A simple spring-loaded clip that has a little bite to it. The small teeth did a good job gripping. Designed to fit into the Saucony gloves, they can also grip hats, shirts, wristbands, and more.

- Waterproof - I'm not sure how waterproof this should be, but I've used it in downpours before and had no issues. But I would recommend letting it dry completely before recharging it.

- Batteries - There are none. Which makes it great because you just pop it into your computer to recharge. But the downside of this is it will only keep that charge for about an hour (actually a little closer to 80 minutes, but by then it's pretty dim). Keeping it on Flash will help, but only so much.

- Brightness - Even with one lamp, this is pretty bright. Not quite bright enough to run by in most cases, but good enough to make cars notice you. And anything up close can be seen fairly easily.

Fit:
N/A

Care:
I would treat this as if it were a water resistant flash drive. It has the USB connection so it needs some care to keep that part functional, but it's small enough to be a hardy little light when in use.

Overall:
For the price and capability of this light, I'd buy several. It's small, cheap, and easily rechargeable. And it's versatile enough to be clipped to just about anything you'd wear while you're out running. It isn't terribly bright so you won't be able to navigate with it, but it's bright enough you can see your feet and cars will see you on the road.

Video:
I took a video of all three products during my last night run. Clearly my camera doesn't like the dark, but it should give you an idea of how bright each light is compared to the other. Distance from the camera was about 30 feet. This sequence in the video shows you the Saucony USB LED Light on Steady then Flash. Next is the Princeton Tec Fuel Headlamp on High, Medium, Dim, then Flashing. And finally the Nathan L.E.D. Safety Strobe which I cycle through a couple of settings as I approach the camera. And no, the video doesn't do justice to how bright these lights really are.

Product Review - Saucony Protection Gloves

2010-10-22T06:00:00.003-04:00

These are the Saucony Protection Gloves in ViZiPRO Orange. They're also available in black, but then who can see you?! They come in various sizes (Extra Small to Extra Large) and retail for $40.00 (direct from Saucony). It's a bit expensive for gloves, but they should last a good while.

This is my third pair of Saucony gloves and I think I like these the best. My first (and oldest) pair is just a light, single layer model. The second pair is a lot like the newer Protection Gloves except they convert into mittens. Turns out I'm not much of a mitten fan so I picked up the Protection Gloves to try out. I like them. A lot. They actually have two layers, so they're warmer than my older gloves. This makes them great for winter runs and when it's windy enough to make you think about wind-chill when you get dressed.

FEATURES:
- Magnets - On the inside of each wrist, there are two small magnets that keep the gloves together. Nothing fancy but not my preferred method of attaching them together. I guess I'm afraid they'd interfere with a compass. Not that I carry one, but I might need to.

- ViZiPRO - This is my new favorite color. Not just the usual bright orange or even fluorescent orange, this is super-bright orange. The fingers and the back of the hand are covered in this magically bright material. I'm sure some planes flying overhead could see you if they really wanted to.

- Reflective Patches - There are a few spots where reflective logos have been heat-transferred onto the glove. There's the Saucony name, the Saucony logo, and some reflective material on the back of the hand as well.

- LED Light - Pretty neat light. You charge it by using a USB port on your computer. Takes about 20 minutes and will last about an hour. There's a little clip that covers the USB part so you can even clip it to a hat, shirt, or something else if you wanted to. Only two modes though, ON and FLASHING. Three modes if you count OFF.

- Rubber Tips - The forefinger and thumb on each hand have a little rubber triangle (pyramid might be a better descriptor) thing that gives you a somewhat better grip on things. Not really much of a better grip to make it worthwhile though.

- Thumb Mop - Each thumb has a terry-cloth-like sweat mop. Works just like those found on many bicycle gloves and it works great. Trust me. I sweat a lot and it works well. The only hinderence I've found is with the LED light. Which just means it's easier to mop with my left hand instead of my right.

FIT:
Overall they fit well. I had to get the XL size since that seems to be the best fit (same goes for the mittens, although the thinner gloves, the old ones mentioned above, I have are a large). Your fingers don't bind and the wrists are loose enough to make room for a watch. The sizing says Women on their website but it's marked as Unisex inside the glove itself. And seeing as I have big gorilla hands, I'd trust the glove.

CARE:
- Machine wash cold
- Do not bleach
- Line dry
- Do not tumble dry
- Do not iron
- Do not dry clean

OVERALL:
I like these. They keep my hands warm. They have a light. They are super-bright. And I can wipe the sweat from my brow. They're a bit tight but I think that's good. You can still get them on but they won't go flying off like hockey gloves before a fight. I think I like the light the best, even though it can get in the way at times when you're wiping your brow. While it doesn't say it's water-proof, I've used it in the rain several times and it came out just fine. But I wouldn't recommend washing it and I'd make sure to air dry it before recharging it. They break wind very well (as in they don't stink when they do it) so they can be used for bike rides in colder weather. I'd recommend these instead of the mitts though, but more on that when I review the mitts.

MEASUREMENTS:
If you're interested in how I measure up, literally, you can go to this photo gallery to see my body measurements. Nothing pornographic, but there may be a fat, hairy guy in some of the photos so consider yourself warned.

Running In The Rain

2010-10-19T16:03:00.005-04:00

Believe it or not, you can learn a lot about running in the rain. Just running outside in good weather can expand your views and give you a breath of fresh air. So why run in the rain when treadmills are so readily available?

Many would argue that there are physical benefits to running outside. I'm sure you've heard them before. For me, running in the rain has it's own rewards that go above and beyond running in the sun. From a stronger psyche to a healthy dose of safety, the benefits outweigh the risks.

First, there's the benefit of that "hardcore" feeling. If you've ever run in the rain, or any adverse weather for that matter, you know what I'm talking about. That feeling of being a bad ass because you just pounded out eight miles in the rain. This is something that's hard to measure, but for me, I feel about ten times stronger when I run in the rain. Stronger mentally and physically. After all, it's hard to dodge all those rain drops so I don't melt.

Second, there is a measurable difference in your weight when you run in the rain. Even though our shoes and clothes add to our workout, we don't think of them as being heavy when we run. In fact, on a nice summer day, that shirt feels nice and light against our skin. But in the rain, that shirt soaks up some sweat and a ton of rain. So do your shoes. In fact, the last time I ran in the rain, I lost eight pounds when I stripped down to my underwear. The next time you run on a nice sunny day, take an eight pound weight with you and see how you do.

Next, there's the clothes. I've always heard that you dress for the weather as if it were twenty degrees warmer. So if it's 50 degrees out, dress like it's 70 degrees instead. And this general rule makes sense because we heat up as we run. But when it rains, you need to adjust that figure by 5 or even 10 degrees. So instead of dressing for 70 degrees, you might want to make it 60 degrees. And in some extremes, like winter, it might be even more.

It just isn't dressing warmer either. It means you have to dress smarter. Think back to when you were a kid and you wet your pants. Didn't your underwear chafe? Mine sure did. So you have to think about ever little thing and how it reacts to a good soaking. Will those socks stay warm? Will that shirt rub your nipples raw? You may not be able to stay dry, but you can still stay comfortable.

Safety is next. And it's a big one. We always want to be safe when we run, especially when we're on the road with cars, animals, and other sources of danger. Think about driving in the rain. You take things a little slower because it's harder to see, right? If it's harder to see the road, it's going to be harder to see that runner. As a runner, this means you need to be much more proactive about your safety and think about how best to make yourself visible. Are you wearing bright colors? Flashing lights? A headlamp or flashlight?

Let's not forget the fun factor. Sure, we're being safe, we're staying warm, and we're feeling pretty hardcore about running in the rain. But isn't it just a little bit fun? During my last two runs in the rain, we had a pretty good soaking. Within ten minutes I could have been drier if I jumped into a pool. So I made sure to enjoy that big puddle near the turn-around. My shoes and socks were already wet so running and splashing through a giant puddle wouldn't hurt. So I let a little giggle out as I reverted back to my childhood.

Finally, there's the recovery from the rainy day run. You learn to take care of your equipment when you get them soaked through. I'm not just talking about your clothes either. Those are simple. Air dry until laundry day. But that headlamps needs to dry out. And so do your shoes. And don't stick them in the drier either. Put some newspaper in them (after you take out the liner) and let them air dry. So it takes a bit of planing to run in the rain. After all, you won't want to run in those wet shoes tomorrow when the sun is out.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Revamp

2010-10-18T15:06:00.002-04:00

In life, things change. How we adapt to that change determines who we become. And sometimes who we become changes, making us adapt even more.

So consider this the beginning of a new chapter. Well, sort of new.

You see, I've been pretty silent on here for some time. A long, long time. But my interests have changed over that time and I've been kept busy with so many things. So instead of closing down this blog and creating a new one, I'm revamping this on a bit. Adding more things that are related to running.

Yes, running. And no, I don't expect this to be a fitness blog. No, I don't expect this to be a running blog. But yes, you will see a heavy dose of running as I start out on this new vein. Why? Because I want to. Specifically, I want a better venue to review products that relate to my running. Google Documents just isn't cutting it. And DailyMile can't handle it. So I'm back here.

Will people read my posts? Doubtful. After all, I'm not a popular guy.

So. You've been warned. Get ready for some running stuff. I'll try to get some family stuff in there too, but don't count on it.