Underdog Endurance

            Alrighty, well even though I've said it a million times on here. Its been  far too long and this has been weighing on my mind far too long. Time to play catch-up. 10 Miles in and sweating like a dog.      Since before my last blog was even written (I was trying to stick to three "events" per post) I had a very harsh DNF at Barkley Fall Classic 50K in September. I felt like I trained well for it. Was regularly doing power hike - climb sessions on the treadmill at 15%, Hill-repeats, and in the previous months had completed a few hard hikes as well as the Pikes Peak Ultra. So walking in I felt pretty confident. Less than two hours later I would feel very, very different about the situation. Having to make the trek from Kansas City to Wartburg, TN area in car ensured I wouldn't drink enough water (who likes to stop every couple hours to have to take a leak?). Hindsight: I should've been chugging water and stopping whenever I...

     Always a day late and a dollar short, but it’s here. And as far as Nighthawk 50K goes. I’m glad it's gone and done. Honestly, I ate a bit of shit on this one. Signed up on kind of a whim as “something to do” that weekend and an extra chance to score another Ultra. And while I feel that I was well enough in shape, my body was not prepared for the humidity (nor will it ever be). It wasn’t wildly hot that night, just humid. And it sucked all the water right out of me. They offered a 10, 20, and a 50K version of the race, meaning either 1,2, or 3 laps out on the trails. First lap went OK. Second lap was where things started to take a dive. Legs started trudging. Stomach started flipping. Food and hydration weren’t going down well. Nearing the end of lap two I wanted nothing more than to be done. Even though it was only 20, I was zapped. And for a race that I signed up for on a whim I had to question how much it meant to me. And sadly enough my frugality is what kept me m...

  What seems to be a normal start to all my blogs recently: “Once again, it’s been far too long.” As always life has just caught up with me and it seems like there is just always something to take up my mind space or time over this blog. But I really do enjoy them and will continue doing them. Even if it takes me far longer than planned to get them out. At last, I left off with finishing Flint Hills 50 and the Wildflower 50K coming up with my twin. Well, about two days before flying to Texas to get prepped with my twin we got word that the race would be cancelled due to excessive heat and lack of places for emergency personnel to get to “downed” runners in case of emergency. Which, I do get. So, they offered a virtual option. And while I don’t typically run virtual races because I feel part of the reason I even do the races I do is for the comradery, the aid stations, and the little part in the back of my head that wont let me quit. Because, well, I paid for it. After deciding whet...

  So. Once again it's been a long time. Far too long would be an understatement. But to be completely candid, I just had nothing good to write. My job was in a weird spot, I was on and off the idea of going back to college (and am back ON! Woo!), I was looking at repairing quite of bit of things with the house, selling it in a few months, and still trying to keep up the mileage. And that’s all it really was for a while. Just putting in the miles. Sure there were good days when I had a blast catching some wintery night runs or bombing some fresh powder trails, but I had no energy for much else beyond the immediate projects and training. On the bright side,  I did come to realization that I could just put in the miles and really just kind of have them tick by, even I was cold and exhausted taking that first step. The bigger picture of my running and health as a whole (and I’m getting that damn hundred this year!) kept me moving, disciplined, and dedicated to stick to the plan as...

  Well, 2021 is coming to a close. I'm sure that just like me, it’s been a helluva year for you all as well. But it’s been amazing to see so many accomplishments from so many people across so many disciplines. This pandemic, as horrible as it is, has given a lot of people a chance to reflect on what’s important in life, how their time is spent, and pick up new crafts and hobbies. Even though many countries are bouncing back and forth between lockdowns and full-blown chaos the unfettered spirit of humankind persevered! It really has been a year that has exemplified the phrase "adapt and overcome." When gyms closed people started classes in parks, parking lots, zoom, and we won't even go into the smashing success peloton had because of this. When home gym equipment became something that could likely be traded on the commodities market people started filling jugs with cement, carrying large stones, and even took over kid’s playgrounds to get them dips and kips in. But th...

  So I guess I'll start with Bear Lake. It wasn't my hundred, but that's ok. It was a good race. All said and done I completed 80.1 miles (78 according to Garmin) in just under 19 hours. With no crew there was a fair amount of "stopped" time filling bottles, using the facilities, and even changing shorts one time; at a certain point you just want clean clothes and a bit of comfort. For most of the moving portions I kept a pretty respectable pace and the heart rate wasn't too far out of range for where I would like it. But, I broke a golden rule in running: never try anything new on race day. I tried increasing my calorie intake, eating new foods that I hadn't tried fueling with, and one that I HAD tried to fuel with and not had good success (it was pizza, I was hungry, sue me). So, in hindsight I definitely know where I went wrong.  And this race was no different than any other in the fact that Ultras are always a series of ups and downs. Things went as we...