Run! 26.2 Stories of Blisters and Bliss

I'm not really one to be a hero worshiper, but in a lot of ways I would love to be like Dean Karnazes.  There aren't many people in the world who both love to run as much as he does, and can run as far as he can.  My longest races are a slow training run for him.  In his new book, Run! 26.2 Stories of Blisters and Bliss, Dean tells some funny stories of his running life, as well as reporting some of his race experiences (most of which are pretty funny, too!).  Just about anyone, runner or not, will be in danger of catching a bug for running after reading this.

Dean's not without his critics in the world of ultrarunning.  When his name comes up when I'm running with people, opinions will range from awesome to idiot.  Sure, some of his runs might be viewed as publicity stunts, but he's got enough wins and fast finishes in major races to be certifiably great.  He has completed Badwater several times, including a win, and has 11 silver buckles from Western States.  What more does the guy need to do?

When he's not running organized races, he runs forever just for fun.  That's what I like about his feats.  Sometimes he runs organized races, sometimes he runs on his own for a sponsor or charity, but many of his ultras are run alone, for the sake of the run.  This is a guy who sleeps little, needs little time for recovery, and is never as happy as when he's out for a long run.

I know I'll never be the runner Dean is (In spite of his repeated statements that he's just a regular guy, there's no question that the genetic lottery has worked in his favor.), but I want to be more infected by his joy of running.  He has made a life of it, and has included his wife, father, and children as much as possible.  If you don't know much about Dean, or if you have followed his career for years, you'll enjoy these stories.  And you'll have a hard time not going out for a run once you're done reading!

My 50 milers

After my DNF at Palo Duro, I have been reflecting on my ultrarunning record.  I'm slowly crawling out of my post-DNF depression, but still rather disgusted with myself for quitting.  It especially hit home after reading about Bart Yasso's race at Comrades in South Africa and his long history of running through pain (article in Runner's World here).  He has lyme disease yet has continued to race and to inspire others.  But I got a little hot and discouraged so I quit. Wah, wah, big baby.

So here is my illustrious record of 50 milers:

• October 2009, Palo Duro: finished 13 minutes before the cutoff.  I probably would have laid down on the trail and quit if I hadn't met up with Brett, who was also running his first 50 miler.
• February 2010, Rocky Raccoon: finished in just over 11 hours.  Not a bad finish, but my ankle hurt so badly I went and had it x-rayed the next day.  Nothing there, I'm just a big baby.
• February 2010, Cross Timbers: a tough, hilly course, especially compared to the relative flatness of PD and Rocky.  I finished in about 15 hours, close to setting a course record.  The only slower time was set by a man in his 70s.  I probably would have quit this one, but I had to keep going to get back to my car.  I was probably not recovered from Rocky, 2 weeks before.
• March 2010, Grasslands.  I quit after about 19 miles.  It was cold, wet, and muddy.  I still felt like a wimp, even though only 7 of the 70 starters finished.
• October 2010, Palo Duro: quit 1/2 way through.

 Not exactly a steller 50 miler resume.  Part of my problem out on the course is the gradual loss of motivation.  I start thinking, I gave up a whole weekend for this?  I could be hanging out at home, playing with the kids, watching college football, working in the yard or around the house.  I missed soccer or football or judo!  I could take Kelly on a date!  And what's the point anyway? 

So, contrary to a recent post, I'm not going to plan on the 100k in Bandera and the 100 miler at Rocky.  I'm not saying I'll never do another 50 miler.  Part of me still wants to run a 100 miler, to try Western States or Leadville.  But part of me says, too, I could just go someplace pretty and run.  I don't need to pay a fee and get a number just to experience a nice trail.  The trail at Palo Duro is great; I love to run it, and it's got some great views.  But one lap gets you all the views and trails.  The next 3 are more of the same.

I'll start running again soon, and I'll probably sign up for another race soon.  I'm still planning on running White Rock since I'm already registered, but after that, I'm not sure what I'll run next.

Drew Meyer, superhuman!

Drew Meyer has done it!  He's completed the Grand Slam of Ultrarunning!  That means that in less than three months' time, he finished Western States 100, Vermont 100, Leadville 100, and the Wasatch 100.  That's right, 4 100 mile races in a summer.  Did I mention he's 62?  What an accomplishment!

(Photo from Endurancebuzz.com)

The Wasatch Front 100 Mile Endurance Run is in Utah, in the Wasatch Mountains, with a cumulative elevation gain of over 26000 feet.  That's a lot of climbing for a guy from Fort Worth.  Drew finished in 35:27:32.  That's a lot of hours awake, much less a lot of hours on your feet, much less a lot of hours running in the mountains, much less a lot of hours running at elevations up to 10000 feet.  No matter how you measure it, Drew has accomplished what most would never try and what few could actually finish.  Huge congratulations to him, and many thanks for the inspiration!  Way to go!

On the Wasatch 100 course. What a gorgeous place to run. Or walk.  Or sit.  Or anything.

(Photo from http://www.wowasatch.com/gallery/Wasastch%20100.htm)

Another Fantasy Run: Hardrock 100

A few weeks ago I posted about the Western States 100, a race I would love to run--someday.  Another great trail race is the Hardrock 100, run last weekend, July 9-11.  Hardrock, started in 1992, is not as old as Western States, but looks to be much tougher.

For comparison, WS has a cutoff of 30 hours.  The winner this year set a new course of 15:07.  Hardrock's cutoff is 48 hours; the winner this year ran it in 27:18.  The elevation range of the WS course goes from 6200 to 8750 feet, with total climbing of 15540 feet, descending 22970 feet.  Hardrock boasts 33992 feet of climbing and the same descent.  Average elevation is 11000 feet.  Runners cross 13 passes of 12000 plus feet, as well as summiting Handies Peak, 14048 feet.  I would never say WS looks easy, but with the additional climbing, elevation changes, and navigation (Hardrock says to brush up on your orienteering skills--the trail's not always clear. . . .), Hardrock definitely sounds like a tougher challenge.

These runners have a long day-and night-and day-and night ahead of them!

I wish Hardrock posted the ages and home states of the runners.  I know some from Texas and other relatively flat, low altitude place states run there; Glenn Mackie from NTTR finished in 32:36.  How do those people train?  Climbing stairs in an office building while wearing a surgical mask?  As much as I'd love to run this--someday--at this point it's hard to conceive.  But with views like this, how could I not want to be there:

I'm not ready to run 100 miles through the Rocky Mountains, but looking at these pictures sure does make me want to pay them a visit.  Excuse me while I start planning a trip to Colorado. . . .

(The pictures are from Blake Wood's online gallery.)

Western States 100 Course Record Shattered

Many runners can run a mile in 9:03.  Some can sustain that for a while; if a runner can run 9:03 for a marathon, that's a 3:57:06 finish.  Pretty respectable.  But to sustain that pace for over 15 hours at Western States, on mountain trails, climbing and descending, that defies belief.  But that's exactly what Geoff Roes did Saturday, his time of 15:07:04 breaking Scott Jurek's course record by 30:37.  And that's not all: two-time Leadville 100 winner Anton Krupicka was only a few minutes behind, clocking in at 15:13:53.  Phenomenal performances by both runners.  Roes, now 7-0 in 100 mile races, and Krupicka, 15-0 in ultras before Saturday, were both first-timers at Western States, but have certainly left their marks.

Another important record was set Saturday by Amy Palmiero-Winters.  Readers of this blog may recall her as the amputee I saw at White Rock last year.  She is now the first and only amputee to finish Western States, finishing in 27:43:10.  Another amputee, Amy Dodson, dropped at 34.4 miles.  Both of these women deserve our admiration.

Two of the race's pioneers started the race Saturday but didn't finish.  Cowman A-Moo-Ha (I'm assuming this is Ken "Cowman" Shirk) dropped at 23.8.  Gordy Ainsleigh made it 98.9 miles, but didn't finish before the 30 hour cutoff.

Closer to home, all three NTTR runners had strong finishes, earning the coveted bronze belt buckle.  Cindy Melder came in two hours before her male counterparts at 27:39:17.  In what must have been a real duel to the finish Drew Meyer edged Fred Thompson by one second!  Drew's 29:39:42 beat Fred's 29:39:43.  I don't know if they stayed together the whole time, but it must have been fun for them to pace each other.

When I was in the throes of my last-place finish at Cross Timbers earlier this year, Drew was manning the final aid station before the finish.  He was very encouraging, expressing surprise that I was running that 2 weeks after Rocky Raccoon.  Yet, according to the NTTR website, he is slated to run the Vermont 100 Endurance Race on July 17.  So two weeks between 50 milers is impressive, but 3 weeks between 100 milers is no big deal?  Good luck to Drew as he recovers and prepares for Vermont.

Western States 100!

This weekend is the running of the Western States Endurance Run.  For ultra/trail runners, this race is Mecca.  The race, a point-to-point trail run through the Sierra Nevadas, winds from Squaw Valley ski area to Auburn, California, up and down through canyons and tough trails.  It's tough to qualify for, tough to get in, and, of course, tough to finish.

I love the story of how this race started.  Starting in 1955, the Western States Trail Ride was started to show that horses could cover 100 miles in a day.  In 1974 Gordy Ainsleigh showed up for the ride.  Legend has it that his horse got sick, so he decided to run the course--on foot!  He finished in under 24 hours, a feat repeated by Ken "Cowman" Shirk two years later.  The first official Western States Endurance run was held in 1977 with 14 runners; three finished.

Today hundreds of runners from around the world compete in a lottery for a spot in this historic race, one of the oldest ultramarathons in the world.  All told, runners climb 18,000 feet and descend 22,000 feet.  Even though every runner in this race is a veteran trail runner, not all will finish.  But those who do will earn the coveted belt buckle!  (That's right, all that preparation, pain, and commitment for a belt buckle!)

One of these days, I'll get there.  I have a ways to go before I'm ready for a 100 miler, much less one as tough as Western States!  Today, a few runners from North Texas Trail Runners are running.  Drew Meyer, who was so encouraging as I tried to finish at Cross Timbers, will be there, as will 2 others from NTTR.  Here's to a strong finish for them!