Buck Mountain Half Marathon

On October 13, 2012 I ran a local half marathon in the small town of Free Union, Virginia.  Though the course was challenging, it was not much more challenging then any other stretch of roadway in central Va.  That is, it was hilly as any half marathon that you will come across, however it was not as menacing as its title might imply (The Buck Mountain Half Marathon).  This race was named for its panoramic views of the beautiful Buck Mountain sitting off in the distance, as opposed to a 13.1 mile race that climbs said mountain :-).

 This race intrigued me a bit with a certain level of mystery.  I learned about it only 6 days prior while at a rainy pre-sunrise Sunday run.  It was brought up in casual conversation.  I learned the needed details (place and time) at a bit of a runner's social breakfast.  The curious thing is that when I searched for more details online, I found nothing indicating the race would even happen in 2012.  However I did learn that it was a race that had been going on for nearly a decade and that the race course had been fairly competitive with more than respectable times. It amped me up.  It was as if I had stumbled upon a secret by-invitation-only race that has featured some pretty fast runners.  Adding to the mystique was no entry fee, no t-shirt, and no medals.  This race was just about the race, no frills.  Just a pure old-fashioned foot race.

I showed up at 5:30 am for a 6:30am race.  The rural town of Free Union and its surrounding area was unlit.  The parking lot was a farmers field, roughly a half mile from the starting line.  People in the know showed up with head lamps, so I made nice with a few of them as they progressed to the starting area.

Once we arrived at the starting area the down-and-dirty no frills sense of the race was reinforced.  The starting line was a single line of white chalk spanning the width of the road.  There were no bibs and no timing mechanisms.  They announced that the course was measured accurately, and that we would be responsible for keeping our own times.  No results would be recorded.  The organizer likened it to a training run on steroids.  Though there was no bag check.  I had a bag and some warming gear to strip out of (due to a 34 degree start temp), so I asked the organizer about options for leaving it.  He offered to ferry it to the finish line.  Then, he called us to the starting area, wished us all a good run, and said good bye.

One person and I shot off into the darkness and ran parallel for roughly half a mile before I spoke to him, asking a simple question.  What are you gunning for today?   He replied, "1 hour 22 minutes."  I knew that he was my only competition and that if he was serious about that time then he was above my caliber.  It would be foolish for me to press the issue of a race.  So rather than pressing beyond my sustainable pace, I let him drift away and expected that I would manage a second place finish at best.

The sun was peeking over the horizon and began to reveal a silhouette of the mountains sitting in the distance. The view across the mist covered fields of this horse farming community was intense, almost enough to completely distract from the difficulty of the rolling hills running throughout this course.

In mile three I began to hear footsteps.  They trailed me for quite sometime, but without a doubt they were gaining on me. By mile four I had a new companion to run parallel with.  I learned that he had grown up in Africa.  We traded a bit of background and made idle chat about the enjoyable course that we were sharing.  He noted that I was not wearing my watch and offered to call out my time for me if he was at the finish prior to me.  He was a strong runner, a cut above me enough that he stopped at the self service water stops as I breezed on.  He did this three times catching me each time.  Around mile seven he began attacking the hills very aggressively.  It was clear that he was ready to create some separation.  I have not raced such a short race in a while and I am accustomed to preserving my energy and waiting for a later moment to truly exert myself.  I did not choose this moment to pursue.

Once again the race was just me and the scenery.  Colorful foliage, the occasional horse, distant mountains, rolling terrain, and fencing that went on for miles.  I pressed forward, passing mile nine with a sense of urgency.  I felt my pace was solid and it was time to become a bit more aggressive to try to beat my PR of 1 hour 35 and change.

I felt no pain and realized that I had too much left in the tank. I had waited too long; I would not meet my potential, but I still felt I could manage a PR.  I pressed solidly through the last miles of the race and heard my buddy from mid-race call my time: 1 hour 36 minutes 49 seconds (not a PR).  I was the third person across the line :-) and had run a respectable time.  

Like the rest of the race the finish was a non-event, just a chalk line that indicted the finish and a handfull of runners milling about and supporting the other runners as they finished their runs.

This race was a truly beautiful course, it had a good level of difficulty and felt like a race that was put on for the sake of giving runners a chance to race. I would do this one again, and I would pay for the privilege to ensure its future existence.

 I would like to thank The Charlottesville Track Club for hosting this exceptionally low key, yet awesome, event.

I would also like to thank the good folks from Ragged Mountain Running Shop for their tireless efforts in support of this event and the runners of the community.

The Buck Mountain Half marathon was a good race for me and it has upped my confidence at this distance. I now feel comfortable with taking a more aggressive approach in my next 13.1 mile outing.

Columbus Day Exploration

This year, Columbus Day fell on 08 Oct 2012.  If you are a federal employee you know this as a non-work day.  I am certain that I am not the only one unable to think of any tradition or ceremonial way to celebrate this holiday held in honor of Christopher Columbus's discovery of the "New World".

This year I could not let it pass by uncelebrated.  As a runner I have become familiar with heading out on expeditions.  Okay, okay... mine are not necessarily uncharted lands.  And, I must admit that I or someone with me usually knows the route.  However, I find adventure and discovery every time I set out on a new trail.  With this in mind, I knew how to celebrate the day of discovery this year.  It was time to take a voyage, something that would take me somewhere that I have never been before.

I enlisted the company of my friend Mac who takes pride in finding trails and routes to explore and make his own.  He had his eyes on a particular trail and had been wanting to try it for quite a while. So off I went to pick him up while he reviewed the trail map.

Our destination was the Stone Mountain Winery.  It included an awesome gravelly mountain drive called Wyatt Mountain Road. As we drove up, I knew the mountain vistas and colorful display of leaves would be our reward for the pending changes in elevation.

When we parked we could see for miles from the vantage point of the winery, our starting point for our mountainous trek (approximately 1,700 ft above sea level).  With a bit of rain and a steep grade we were off to a slow start for the first two miles.  I began to suspect that we might get caught in a torrential downpour but I wasn't gonna be the one to mention it. Soon enough the rain receded and the mountain's grade relented. Having reached the highpoint of the trail, we soon found ourselves making quick work of  a rolling descent that fed into a fire road and an exceptionally colorful non-technical stretch of the Shenandoah trail, connecting us to the Blue Ridge Parkway.  Once on the Parkway, we saw ridge lines from miles away and peeked down on valleys below, like the view from a low flying plane.  The long straightaways in the roadway made it runner friendly, with low speed limits and unobstructed views.  We were only on the Parkway for a couple of miles before we came to one of the labeled overlooks that drivers stop at in order to appreciate the view.

The overlook seemed to be a good place to turn back.  As expected the return trip was full of awesome views and well worth the difficulty of the grade of the trail. This sociable nine mile out and back is now on my fall season must do list.

Of course a trip that begins at a winery had to end with a tasting and purchase of some excellent wine.  I hope that others make this trek, even if they don't experience it the way that I did.  The drive to the winery, the wine, and the overlook from the winery itself are experiences truly worth doing.

Like I said previously, I am not certain of how one is expected to celebrate the discovery of the New World.  But I think I found a pretty good way to not waste this federal holiday.

I would like to say thanks to Mac for researching the route and sharing it with me.
Also thank you Christopher Columbus for discovering the New World  :-)
Oh, and thank you Federal Government for declaring a holiday and giving me a day to play!!!

The Ultra Race of Champions

I have read many blogs from competitors of the Ultra Race of Champions.  They are absolutely amazing reads. I would recommend to anyone that is interested in this event to look into these writings.  My entry will reflect on this world class event through my eyes as a volunteer.

The Ultra Race of Champions (UROC) defined:  The race that brings the world's most elite ultra distance runners together on a 100K (62 mile) mountainous terrain based trail race that is intense enough to test them properly.  This creates a world championship event.  As if that wasn't enough, they then opened it to the public and let ultra run enthusiasts join in the fun by starting an open division that would begin 15 minutes after the elites left the starting gate.

As one would expect, the race drew from runners around the globe.  The elite were aggressive and confident on the course and all had ambitions of winning their share of a $20,000 purse and the right to be recognized as the best of the best in the world of ultra running.  The open division runners ranged from ambitious runners that were trying to make a mark, get a PR, or just trying survive their first attempt at this distance.

My role in this event was not as a competitor but rather as a volunteer, a race perspective that I have never had before.  My assigned location was in the mountains at elevation 2,800 ft called Slacks overlook starting at 8:30 am. I helped runners find their way into the correct trail head and ensured that they were physically okay to continue.  I was not an aid station and was not well equipped, but I made the best of it.  By opening the hatch on my van and playing music that could be heard from a fair distance away, I hoped runners might gain some sort of boost as they came past. When the elites came across they were looking insanely strong for having just traversed 22 miles of rocky mountain trails.

Though the elites were impressive it was also awesome to see the resilient spirits of the more mortal on the field.  I did my best to run out to each of the runners, check on them, and offer assistance.  I jogged them by my station with as many positive/energetic vibes as I could offer.  At this point in the race, most did not seem to need it, but were appreciative to have such an enthusiastic volunteer.  I think :-)

By mid afternoon the elites had already progressed back through my location which was now the 51 mile mark.  They still looked just as strong as they did at mile mile 22. (Simply amazing.)  I directed them into the final trail head -- a four mile stretch to an aid station that would direct them into the final 8 mile stretch that would be a tough stretch of asphalt that featured some pretty tough changes of altitude. 
Though the elites are insanely impressive, one must also have enormous respect for the open division.  The heart and unstoppable spirit of these skilled individuals, there to conquer the mountain without regard to recognition or monetary reward, is simply awesome.

The same as before, I found myself running out to meet the runners.  However, I ran much further than before as I navigated the same mile or so of trail over and over, running the participants in one runner at a time.  I fed them information, checked their condition/ability to continue, encouraged them to look strong for the camera, and offered them water.

Around 10:30 pm, the last group passed through my section at Slacks overlook with a sweeper following close behind.  This was my cue to break down the equipment in my section and take it to the finish line where the equipment trucks were prepared to be loaded.

On my drive, I noticed several runners on the final stretch.  They were all far removed from one another. This was something that I noted as they emerged at the 51 mile mark as well.  They experienced a long hard, lonely day of running, that was a personal journey more than it was a race.  What really punctuated this was when I witnessed the runners cross the finish line.  They were welcomed only by a photographer, a race director, and maybe a family member or friend if they were lucky.  Very unceremonious, but perhaps the happiest or most relieved they'll ever be to reach a finish line.

The first elite male (Max King) representing "Montrail"  finished  in 7 hrs 57 min 14 sec.
The first elite female (Ellie Greenwood) representing "Montrail" finished  in 9 hrs 04 min 19 sec.

I am uncertain of how the open division turned out, but I salute each and every person that completed this course.

I am impressed and amazed by the elites and their super-human execution of this course in unbelievable times.

In a separate way, I am equally inspired by the run enthusiasts that trained hard and survived the mountain and overcame the despair that it presents.  The time cap on this run was 19 hours.  This type of race is only accomplished by a very small percentage of the population, people with the mental fortitude, strength, and resolve to never stop progressing until they find the finish line.  These people put the word endurance into the sport.  Though they are not top competitors, and were not contenders for the championship, I would say that they are seriously elite compared to the millions of people that have ever taken up running during the course of their life time.

Thank you Bad to The Bone Endurance Sports (BTTB) for giving me a unique glimpse into this amazing sport.  I have truly never witnessed anything as awesome as the Ultra Race of Champions.

Down on the Boardwalk

 This week I experienced the Virginia Beach boardwalk the way that everyone should, with the one I love (my wife Kristin). 

Though I had been to Virginia Beach many times, I had never traversed the entire length of the boardwalk.  I was under the impression that it was a bit longer. Turns out that it is a short yet beautiful three mile stretch of concrete pathway, approximately 28 feet wide that is paralleled by a an asphalt bike trail on one side with sand and ocean on the other.  At various points along the path you find an assortment of statues representing the beach front culture that spans from ocean life, heroic memorials, mythological characters of the sea, and surfer life style.  I hope that anyone that visits that area makes time in their schedule to make the out and back journey in its entirety, the way it was meant to be experienced.

I decided mid-week that I would be running the boardwalk during our visit with our family that lives in Virginia beach this weekend.  When I presented the idea of making it a bit of a couple's outing by taking the bike and experiencing the boardwalk together. I was happy to learn that Kristin really liked the idea of it being an "us" thing and not just a "me" thing.

On Sunday morning 23 Sept 2012 we woke up with the beach front journey on our mind.  We packed a bag with sweatshirts, water, and a towel and made the short 15 minute drive to the beach.  Upon arrival we think that the parking was expensive ($10) but we were blessed with wonderful weather--overcast and 55 degrees, with a bit of wind.  I knew that it was going to be an amazing outing.

 

We unloaded the bike and made our way to the beginning of the boardwalk near "Rudee Inlet".  Before starting, we took a few pictures of the ocean, ourselves, and the surfer statues that longingly stare at the ocean.  She mounted the bike and I began to open a stride. The first thing that became evident as we began our trip was that the wind at the beach was definitely stronger than what it was in town and it was the perfect embodiment of what we all know as a headwind.  It affected Kristin a lot more than it affected me.  It seems that the runner has less of a challenge than a biker does when wind is involved. In fact it was almost the same type of advantage as up hills give to the runner.

I found the pace to be a slow grind for the full length of the boardwalk, which ends at 48th street.  But it did allow me great opportunity to take in the sights.  We even took a break just long enough to get a few pictures.  The statue of King Neptune is definitely the most photographed sculpture along this path, so much so that it was actually hard not to get tourists posing next to it in our pictures.

The funny thing about Kristin's wind disadvantage is how quickly it turned to an advantage when we turned back for our return trip.  It is a good thing that I saw all that I need to see on the trip down, because she worked me by averaging just under 7 minute miles all the way back to the inlet.  I am so glad that I was embracing the moment during the first half and not taunting her in her difficult times.  Though I think that she took some joy in knowing that she worked me over with what was a comfortable peddle for her.

I hope that we get a chance to traverse some miles together in this way more often.  I really enjoyed her company and am glad that we experienced this route together.  She made it an absolutely unforgettably enjoyable 6 mile jaunt.

USAF Marathon

Every year runners from around the globe descend upon the city of Dayton, Ohio to take part in the USAF marathon that is hosted by Wright Patterson AFB.  The annual event will always take place on or as close to  18 September (USAF's birthday) as possible.  It makes for one amazing birthday celebration.  This year the event fell on 15 September and utilized the B-2 spirit (aka the stealth bomber) as its central theme to rally around in honor of the USAF's 65th birthday.

The event featured more spectacle and event atmosphere than any race that I had ever been a part of.  The running convention had all the usual suspects as far as gear distributors, race directors and fund raisers pitching their products or events. However, it also had many things that are not normal such as a whole lineup of elite professional runners that gave speeches, clinics, and held Q&A sessions.

On race day, the trafficking and parking of thousands of vehicles was accomplished with what seemed like extreme precision.  The walk to the starting area was a bit far, but with excitement and anxiety beaming out of each of the participants, the air was electric with pregame energy.  The sky was overcast and the temp was 50 degrees.  You could tell by the amount of clothes we all wore that it was a lot colder than what most of us had become accustomed to during the summer training months.  However, we knew that we had got a lucky break with weather that would be conducive to running a marathon.

The start and finish area were one and the same.  It housed venders and visual spectacles like vintage aircraft lit billboards and various static displays.  It also had plenty of bathroom facilities for runners to use prior to the big run.

The opening ceremonies included an inspirational speech that echoed USAF heritage; thank you messages to sponsors, runners, and volunteers; and the playing of the national anthem that faded out just in time to direct your attention to the approaching B-2 (an amazing wonder in  flight).

At the starting line, I lined up with a pacer that would run 8 min 12 seconds per mile for the duration of the race to achieve a finish time of 3 hours 35 minutes.  I planned on running with this group at a comfortable cruise then pulling away from them late in the race with the goal of breaking 3 hours 30 minutes (my current personal record).

When it was finally time, instead of a gun, a horn, or whistle, the race started with the roar of a one-of-a-kind B-2 spirit motorcycle produced by the famous Orange County Choppers.  As it pulled away the runners began the 26.2 mile journey.

Me next to the B-2 spirit chopper from OCC on Friday

My pacer was very chatty.  If you have ever trained with me, you know that me saying this is like the pot calling the kettle black.  But, THIS was not training.  It was time to get down to business.  I was trying to set a new personal record.  Not only did the constant narration from the pacer annoy me, I did not feel as if I was running with the gait or form that I had trained to run with.  So, I opened up a bit and slowly pulled away.  I felt really solid.  In fact, I had not felt this good since the Charlottesville marathon, way back in April. I began to close on the pace group that was running a 7 min 49 sec pace looking to finish at 3 hours 25 minutes.

Though I knew that catching this group meant that I was performing beyond my self-perceived potential,  I felt good and was not ready to settle.  Slowly but surely I pulled away from them and by mile 17 they were but a memory.  Mile 18 did not bring the anticipated pain that I have come to expect at that point in the run.  This race still felt good.  I tried to ignore the fact that I was way ahead of my projected finish.

Finally, my comfort began to fade, but I had no cramps or real pain.  I was just not getting as much bang for my buck.  I felt as if my effort had stayed the same but my speed had slowed drastically. This feeling of falling off of pace was confirmed as the 3:25 group passed me around mile 23.  At mile 25 I was able to gain a bit of new life as the half marathoners that had started an hour after us were merging onto the course and heading to the finish.  It gave me people to target and pass as I grew closer to the finish.  Then, at last, I could hear the announcer over the speakers, a clear sign that the end was near.  So one last quarter mile push was all that was left.  I don't wear my watch during races, so I was uncertain of the exact time on course.  But I felt as if I had a shot at my personal record.  So I dug deep and gave one heck of a final kick towards a strong finish.

As I walked through what would now be called the finish line area, I consumed anything that I could get my hands on and admired the amazing medal that had been presented to me at the finish line.   After some time I managed to get to the stand that would offer me my official time.  It turns out that I did not get my personal record.  I did manage my second best outing with a respectable time of 3 hours 33 minutes and 22 seconds.

With all of the spectacle, the great organization/execution of the event, paired with a course that flowed the way that I prefer (constant changes in grade and limited straightaways).  I have to say that this marathon is likely my favorite of the 5 marathons that I have finished thus far.

Last season's shoes

Today, I ran for the first time in a pair of shoes that I bought in April.  My pace was fast due to what felt like the perfect foot strike.  My effort was no greater than any other training session, yet the performance exceeded what seems to have become my standard by a notable margin.

I hate to think that an athlete's performance can be so dependent upon his equipment; however this is not really a new thought for me. When I realized that the company that produced the shoes that I enjoyed racing in was moving on to a newer model, I immediately went on a scavenger hunt to find what seemed to be the last pair anywhere.  A salesman at a  local store that specializes in running gear went into the back, and after some time came back with the exact shoe that I had asked for. Though it was not on their shelves, I still managed to get what I wanted.  It is worth noting that this was the fourth athletic shoe store that I had visited looking for said shoes.  Though I was excited to have found this item that I had so unwaveringly sought out, I promised myself that I would not break them out until the USAF marathon.

Well, today was the day.  I took them on a speedy 5 mile test drive.  I will give another solid breaking in session/test drive on Wednesday, but so far they are proving to live up to the amazing first impression that I remembered.  Tools don't make a mechanic and shoes don't make a runner, but the right tool sure can work wonders for a good mechanic.  Following that thought, I think that it is fair to say that the right shoes sure can work wonders for a good runner.

I believe that these shoes are the right tools for me to get the job done.  It is a shame that once these wear out I will likely not be able to find the exact model again. I now know why pro-athletes that show off their closets on Cribs have so many duplicate shoes.  Though it is likely all in an athlete's head, if you have the means to buy in bulk, you might as well stick with the shoes that feel comfortable and inspire confidence.

I think that shoe companies would do well to not stop production on popular shoe models just for the sake of progressing to the next big thing.  I hate being at their mercy, but until I can afford to hoard the shoes that I like, I suppose I am.

Despite the fact that 400 miles or so from now I will have to replace them, I am seriously happy with my footwear for now. 

In the beginning...

This is my inaugural blog post, so I’ll use it to give a short recap of my first year in the world of endurance sports.  My future posts will be more in-depth looks into individual races and training experiences.

I started this year with an aggressive approach, even though I had not given much thought to running since my youth (aka High school track).  You see, like most people I made a couple of seemingly outrageous resolutions on 01 Jan 2012.  However, unlike most resolutions, these did not fade.  I resolved to complete at least one marathon and (as if that weren’t bold enough) run 2000 miles over the course of the year.  (I have accumulated 1,390.83 miles as of 08 Sep 2012)

Well, the marathon box has been checked for sure, and I am still working diligently towards the absurdly large task of getting in 2000 miles in a year.  I hope I didn’t overestimate myself in my second resolution. 

This year I have run 20 races.  I will give you the official times of the big ones (half marathon or larger).

7/14/12 Grant-Pierce indoor marathon (3:53:51) - World record (Fastest indoor marathon completed by a runner wearing a kilt) 

9/1/12 Last track to Boston (DNF) - I learned how stupid it is to attempt a marathon with temps in the mid 90s.

5/20/12 Run for the Dream Half Marathon (1:35:32) - This is my current official PR for 13.1.

5/6/12 Potomac River Run Marathon (3:38:02) - This was flat packed dirt and gravel (just saying).

4/7/12 Charlottesville Marathon (3:30:15) - This hilly course is the home of my current PR for 26.2.

3/24/12 Belmonte Endurance Races 25K (3:31:36) - This mountain trail race is my hardest race to date.

3/18/12 The Shamrock Marathon (3:41:49) - This was my first marathon.  It was an education to be sure.

2/26/12 The Colonial Marathon (1:38:17) - Be warned, this course is hilly nearly as much as Charlottesville.

If you are curious about where else my journey has taken me and how I fared, you can check me out on my Athlinks page  

Watch for my next post, it will be regarding the USAF Marathon that I will run on 9/15/12.

Thanks for reading!!!!!

P.S. Don't forget to subscribe :-)