12hr Run At Inks Lake

I got an email today on the HCTR email list about a 12hr night run out at Inks Lake. I've never run a 12hr run, but this sounds like a good first-time experience. It's at a great park (home of the Rocky Trails Marathon), it's at night, there's gonna be a bonfire and grill, and they'll make us breakfast in the morning. It's also for a good cause, the American Cancer Society. Oh, and we get to run for 12 straight hours in big circles. Does it get any better than this?

Here's the information I got. If anyone wants more information, you can contact Brad Quinn at bradtquinn@hotmail.com. Hope to see you all out there. I'll post more info when I see it.

Hey TJ,

It was good to get your email. The event will be held at Inks Lake State Park, which is approx. 10 miles outside of Burnet. It will be a charity event will all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society. This will be a 12 hour trail run/walk starting at 730 pm, Saturday July 8th and ending 730 am Sunday July 9th. The course consists of rocky hill climbs and run-able forest trail (single track), approx. 7.0 miles with two main aid stations 3.5 miles apart (with a possible un-staffed station at mile 5).
They will be fully stocked with the usual ultra food and beverages. The start/finish is located at the youth camping area (off Hover Valley road; approx. 2 miles from the park entrance) which has ample parking and over-night camping available (no additional charge; no utilities). The camping area has a brand new bathroom facility, a large bon-fire ring, picnic tables, and grills. This area will also serve as the First Aid station and for personal drop bags. Staff will be cooking breakfast Sunday morning. This new and secluded youth area should be ideal for our over night race time needs. The cost will be $60 with any additional donations appreciated. Awards will be given for the most laps/mileage completed by 730 am (3 deep male/female and masters). Our website and registration form should be up in the next 2-3 days, including additional information.

Our main goal for putting on a race like this is too raise awareness and funds on a local level for cancer research and prevention, while participating in a fun and healthy event with family and friends. Please feel free to pass on this race information to anyone who might enjoy participating or volunteering in an event like ours. I will email you a link to our website by the end of the week and/or check Hillcountrytrailrunners.com for further information. TJ, thanks for your interest and support. Please email me with any questions or concerns.

Best regards,

Brad Quinn

ps 7/10 will be a full moon, should be fun!

The Loop 30K

On Sunday I ran the Rogue Loop 30K at Emma Long Park. It's a great trail generally only for motorbikes, but once a year it is opened up to runners for this race. It turned out to be a great day. I've mentioned before that I'm searching for The Perfect Race, and this was almost it... Almost.

I started in the back, which was a huge mistake. I was busy talking to some friends when the gun went off, and I was stuck in the back. The course is almost entirely single track, so the first mile ended up being a single file line where I was doing more walking than running. Some people like to go out slow, but I don't, so this was really annoying. I should know better than to get stuck in the back, but I slowly made my way through and after about 15 minutes I was free to run my own pace.

The first two loops went by very quickly and I felt really good. I finished the first loop at about 60 minutes, mostly due to the slow first mile, but the second loop took about 53 minutes so that was a lot better. I tried running with a group of 3 runners for awhile, but they were faster than me on the uphills and gawd-awful slow on the down hills, so I eventually left them. It was too hard to adjust my running style for them. g

The third loop went great for 5 miles. Right around mile 5 there is a downhill and I was flying down it like I usually do. Then, my left foot stuck to a rock. There was no time to catch myself, my body just went horizontal and I flew. When I hit the ground, everything stopped. I hit it completely flat. I actually cut up both knees, thighs, elbows, hands and even my stomach. I have no idea how I managed to land completely flat and cut myself in all of those locations but I did. I layed there for a minute, then got up to one knee. Just then a runner came up right behind me and ran by. He didn't say a freaking word to me. Not a "are you ok?" or "need some help?" or anything. I would have told him I was fine anyways, but I couldn't believe he just ran by. So I decided I was going to catch the bastard and beat him to the finish line... Just as soon as I caught my breath and walked off the pain a little. After about 2 minutes, I was off.

I spent the next 10 minutes trying to catch him, but just when I finally saw him in the distance, I heard the crowd at the finish line. It was too late, and I finished 20 seconds behind him. But I should thank him, had he not pissed me off, I probably would have just shuffled to the finish line after the fall, and not pushed it to the end. I'm still gonna burn him on the next race though.

Hills

I got a new workout from Joe P, so Jim and I decided to make a weekly workout out of it... It was really tough hill repeats. I'd compare each hill to running up Jester, just a little longer. My legs were destroyed at the top of each hill, which I attempted to run hard. But walking/jogging back down allowed for a quick recovery before the next hill.

All you Austin runners out there, you need to check this out. The course starts at Valburn and Ladera Norte. Head down the steep hill on Ladera Norte to Far West. Run up the hill on Far West to North Hills. Now turn around and run back to the beginning. Repeat until your legs fall off.

We'll do this for a few more weeks, then change it up by easing the uphills and focusing on down hills. I don't lilke speed work, but I love hill workouts. My lungs were heaving, my legs were burning, and we had a ton of fun. Effort-wise, I'd say it was a little tougher than Hill of Life repeats, but without the technical parts since its on the road. Anyone out there interested in trying it out? Let me know, we're gonna do it every Tuesday for the next 3 months.

Matt's Questionaire...

A fellow runner, Matt, has published a questionaire on his blog. I read it and realized I don't think about a lot of his questions very often, so I thought I'd give it a shot and try to answer them. My answers, opinions, and straight up questionable advice is below. But first, let me warn, I am not an old veteran of the sport. I've run a few ultras now, and I see a lot more in my future, but I'm still learning everyday. The only thing I'll say is that my running is very Zen like. If you are into numbers, metrics, and performance, then you'll find my opinions frustrating and perhaps facetious.

Your First Ultra
First off, I consider my 50 miler run at Sunmart as my first ultramarathon. I ran a couple of shorter races before this (50K, 44M), but I always considered Sunmart as the real goal. So my answers will be for Sunmart.

· How long did you train for your first ultra?
I never considered it training… But if I had to bound it, I’d say it was about 4 months from the time I decided to run my first ultra, to the time I actually ran it. I had already run a couple of marathons, though, so it wasn’t as large of a jump as some people.

· How many weekly miles did you run (peak, tapering)?
About 60 miles peak, 45 of those on back to back weekend runs. It’s all about the back to back runs. Those miles are far more important for the beginner ultra runner compared to the weekly miles. And if you work hours like I do, this is your only choice anyways.

· Did you train with anyone else?
I ran my Sunday runs with a group most of the time. It was the Rogue Sunmart group. My Saturday runs were usually alone, although sometimes I would run the first half by myself, then meet up with my friend Jim who was doing Freescale Marathon training.

· What distance did you run in your first race?
50 miles

· Was it trail/road/track ultra?
Trail. Soft, rolling terrain, about as easy as it gets for an ultra.

· How much did you walk during the race?
Not much. The first half I ran the entire time except for very brief stops at the aid station. The second half I used walking for uphills only. The hills were small, but after 6 hours or so, they seemed a lot bigger. I had not planned to walk at all, which was a serious miscalculation.

· Did you include walking as part of your training?
No, but I should have.

· Did you use a pacer during the race?
Nope. But I did run the entire last loop with a friend of mine who happened to be at the same pace. He wasn’t a pacer, but he helped me a lot. You can see my very first post on this blog to see how much I appreciated it.

· Were you satisfied with your experience at the end of the race?
More than I can describe.

· What would you have done differently during your training?
A little more walking, now that I know it’s importance. Not much else, though. I had a great time.

· What would you have done differently during your race?
Nothing. I enjoyed every second.

· What kind of advice can you give for dealing with emotional/mental hurdles during the race?
CFM and PMA. Constant Forward Motion and Positive Mental Attitude. It’s going to hurt, so accept it. Embrace it. But more important than the hurdles during the race, it’s the challenges leading up to it that make it hard. Once you’ve made it to the starting line, its time just to enjoy yourself. I’ve said it before, and I know its cliché, but trail running is about the journey, not the destination. Once you realize this, the joy of running takes over, runs are no longer training runs . Rather, they become cleansing experiences no different than yoga or meditation.

· How many ultras have you run since your first race?

None. I've run many runs over 26.2, but no races.

General Questions about Training/Racing
· During your training runs, do you concentrate mostly on your pace or total time on your feet running?

Neither. I think about how I feel and run until I am finished. The exception to this is when I have things I need to do, which cuts me short. Generally, when I run alone, I focus only on how I feel. With a group, its different. Most people run for a given time/distance, and I’ll just run until they say we are finished. Then again, sometimes I’ll add a little distance if I’m up for it. If you run for enjoyment and health, then why mix metrics like time and distance into the equation? I can't speak for those people out there fast enough to compete for awards, they have other goals, and nothing I would look down on. I admire them. But for me, I run for the sake of running.

· What kind of cross training do you do, if any?
I mountain bike. I’d like to swim also, but never have the time.

· How do you prepare for river/creek crossings? Extra/Special shoes? Extra socks?
I jump in and splash as many people as possible.

· Do you have a favorite piece of gear/clothing that you would recommend to someone new?
Nope. I keep it simple, but others like fancy gear and technical clothing. To each his own.

· What kind of hydration system do you use?
Hand held water bottles from Ultimate Direction

· How much fluid do you take in during an hour/race?
I have no idea. In a race I usually try to empty my bottle before the next aid station, but most runs I just sip at it until its finished. It’s not very scientific for me. I’d probably be better off if I paid attention to it, but that wouldn’t be as fun.

· How many calories do you take in during an hour/race?
Again, I have no clue. I mostly just eat gummy bears. On my 50 miler, I drank a couple of SlimFasts also. My belly just won't take in real food during runs, which is something I'm working on for 50+ mile runs.

· What kind of food works best for you?
Gummy bears, slimfast, and oreo’s. All of the basic food groups.

· What do you typically put in your drop bag?
I usually have a spare pair of shoes and socks, but I never end up changing them. I did change them once on a trail marathon because they had so much mud in them that it was caking up under my toes. And beer, of course, it really can calm your stomach when its upset. J

· Do you carry any first aid items? If so, what do you carry?
Nothing

· Do you typically use a pacer during your events?
No, but my longest is a 50 miler. I could see using a pacer for 100 miles, maybe.

· Is it better to use a friend versus a family member as a pacer?
I don’t know. I would think a friend because you aren’t always coherent and sometimes you might not be yourself after a long day of running. Better to take it out on a friend who will more easily forgive you. Better yet, use someone who has done this before, so that they can empathize with you and offer advice. I paced my wife, sort of, in her first marathon. I think that worked out well because she respected me as a runner and took my advice, when her head wasn't really screwed on right those last few miles.

My recovery week...

The last couple days have been all about not recovering. After a long tough weekend at the Guads, I was supposed to take a few easy days to recover. But I've found that the only days I recover are the days where I'm injured... Maybe that's why I'm always injured. In fact, maybe that's why my entire athletic life has been filled with pain and injuries. But that's the way I like it, and I don't plan to change anytime soon. So I went out on Tuesday to St Ed's for some hilly, rocky terrain, but mostly just to beat myself up in the heat. It was only about an hour, but it was clear I hadn't yet recovered.

So out of respect for that, I decided to spend Wednesday evening running Hill of Life repeats at the greenbelt. That's always good for rubbery legs. Actually it went pretty well, I ran 5 of them focusing on the downhills (proprioception as Sisson and Joe call it, but I try to avoid the technical terms). The uphills were slow and mostly about recovery. I didn't crash head first so I'd consider it a success.

Before the run on Tuesday, and before I realized I hadn't recovered from the Guads, I also managed ot talk Joe P into coming out with me on Thursday to try out Ken's Loop at Bull Creek. It's right near my house, yet I'd never actually run it. So Joe and I met after work and ran it. It's a beautiful trail, I really enjoyed it. I can't wait until the whole Bull Creek trail opens back up in August so that I can run a 15 mile loop from my house to St Ed's, through Bull Creek, around Ken's loop, then back the way I came. It'll be about as tough of a 15 mile trail as I can get around here, and pretty much out my front door.

So all of this adds up to a pretty good week, but the real prize was Thursday night. After our run at Bull Creek, Joe showed me the hills he used to train on to build up speed and endurance for both uphills and downhills. Joe is a veteran of many mountainous 100 milers, and is about as good of a downhill runner as anyone I've seen or heard of, so I'm gonna take that little secret and start hitting those hills regularly. I've also decided that next month I'll be heading out to Bandera for an attempt at a 50 mile run. It'll tie my longest run ever, and will be a hell of a lot tougher than the previous 50 miler (Sunmart) considering the terrain and the fact that this is not a supported race, only a couple of morons dumb enough to go run 50 miles in the summer heat of central Texas.

I'll keep you updated on my plans for that trip. I might end up running less than 50, but thats my goal right now if the next month keeps me injury free. Gambatte.

The Guads

I went out to the guadalupe mountains this weekend... It was a good series of runs. It reminded me how much I was capable of if I would just quit whining and start running through some pain. About 25 miles into a hardcore mountain run I passed a turn and turned my ankle once again. Instead of limping home like usual I turned around and ran a mile backwards to get to the extra loop I intended to run (Bush Mountain). I stumbled through it at about 2 miles an hour average, but I made it!

By the end it reminded me that we are capable of amazing things if we just suck it up and keep going. The injury didn't slow me down much, and I had a great weekend at the guads. Check out the pictures here.

Slacker

I'm a slacker, pure and simple. No, I've been running plenty, hitting the weights at the gym, eating right, and all of that. I'm a slacker because I haven't taken any time to write about my progress over the past 2 months or so. And it's been a very productive 2 months...

My Pike's Peak training started a couple of weeks ago, and so far its going great. My feet have mostly healed from all of the problems I had. I can honestly say that they haven't bothered me in weeks. I'm recovering from a badly twisted ankle going down the Hill of Life, but I haven't let it slow me down much.

I've lost about 20 pounds in the past couple of months (from 200lbs o 180lbs). No, I'm not on the Atkins Diet or South Beach Diet or anything like that, but I started eating more reasonably (no half gallons of ice cream 30 minutes before I go to bed), and my strength training at the gym pretty much took care of it. This has lead me to get faster and feel better on my long runs. Overall, it's been great progress.

Tomorrow morning at 5am we head out to the Guadalupe mountains for several days of some extreme running. I can't wait. We have a short run tomorrow evening, then 25 and 22 miles in the mountains on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, we'll climb to the highest peak in Texas, Guadalupe Peak (over 8000 ft), for one final journey before heading back to civilization. I'm really anxious to get out of here and hit those hills.