Or, simply www.footfeathers.com as always!

During an email conversation with a friend from CA today about the positives and negatives of blogging and how ultras have changed “BD and AD” (before Dean and after Dean – his term), he was commenting on running gadgets like garmins and ended the last email with:

“i don’t track my miles or my workouts.  i don’t track anything, really.  if it doesn’t help me adjust my training, why bother.  i already know that i don’t run enough and would rather spend time with my son than run.  i have never been nor will ever be a great runner.  i can be a great dad, however. “

BTW, the man has been running ultras for 15 years and has won Miwok 100k…

He’ll probably kick my butt for quoting him but luckily he doesn’t like or read blogs!

So here we are near mid December and it’s dry and warm.  They (whoever ‘they’ are, some farmer’s almanac type folks I imagine) had predicted a drier and warmer winter for us this year.  I know things will change eventually but I’ll take this motivating weather while I can!

Starting back up on Dec 2 after an extended rest period of 3-4 weeks, I’ve slowly been getting back into the swing of regular runs.  It’s crazy how quickly fitness dissolves.  A month ago I was racing 62 miles on a Saturday.  Last week’s total mileage was 50.  The “run” up Green with Jeff and Aron on Monday left my quads sore (very sore) for three days afterward.  Must have been some settled toxins or something deep in the muscles after the concentrated racing miles I did in the fall because I’ve never been that sore after going up Green.  The rest of the week was fine, getting out for around an hour a couple days and then 15 miles Saturday and 12 miles yesterday.

My appetite during the rest weeks wasn’t like it normally is (like a baby elephant), so I stayed pretty lean, though definitely lost muscle mass.  This weekend is the Chubby Cheeks 50k in Ft. Collins.  Probably not the best idea to jump into a 32 mile run climbing over 7,000 ft. of vert, so I’m thinking of doing the abbreviated version (or Junior Varsity version as they’ve named it).  Mostly, it’ll just be nice to get out with the guys who always inspire me throughout the year.

Enjoy the week.

Official press release from McDavid (the part about 217 miles should say, “raced 3 races totaling 217 miles in 42 days”.  Brownie has already nicely pointed out to me that I must be an animal by averaging 5 miles a day…)

Back to training beginning last week after a nice 3+ week rest.  Got out last night for a run up Green Mtn with Jeff and Aron.  Chattered nonstop.  Great company and beautiful night views from the summit.

At some point I’d like to go over the purpose of this partnership and discuss the specific products I like and use from McDavid for all aspects of training, competing, and recovery.

First off, and I’ll write a full post about it soon, I signed an “athlete endorsement” agreement with McDavid USA that began 11/22/10 and runs through the last day of 2011.  I truly enjoy using the clothing and feel the benefits of it through every stage of my training, racing, and recovery.  The forward thinking of McDavid is refreshing and, unlike other compression clothing companies, McDavid comes from a medical and sports medicine background, so they aren’t just making tight clothes and selling them at outrages prices; they have the research and knowledge to design gear specific to the intended use while keeping the final price reasonable.  I’m proud to be a representative of this Chicago based company and plan to do my best in terms of performance and positive exposure.

With the partnership with McDavid, I’m able to participate in more events in varied locations.  Here’s the schedule as it stands now, certainly ambitious for me but I’m committed to training like I’ve never done before to do well.  I’ve taken some time off since the 100k earlier this month and am eager to start building fitness again.

2011 Race Schedule:

Jan 8^th:

Bandera 50k Trail Run, Bandera, TX

Feb 12^th:

Cool Trail Run 50k (34 mile) Trail Run, Cool, CA

Mar 25th:

Antelope Island 100 Mile Trail Run, Salt Lake City, UT

Apr 15^th:

Grand Canyon rim-to-rim-to-rim Run (double crossing), AZ

May 14th:

Ice Age 50 Mile Trail Run, La Grange, WI

May 25-29^th:

Sunki Mountain Running Camp, Leadville, CO

Jun 17th:

Bighorn 100 Mile Trail Run, Dayton, WY

Jul 8th:

Tahoe Rim Trail 100 Mile Trail Run, Carson City, CA

Aug 6th:

Copper Triangle Cycling Event, CO

78 Mile loop cresting three mountain passes

Aug 20th:

Leadville Trail 100 Mile Run, Leadville, CO

Sept 23rd:

Bear 100 Mile Trail Run, Logan UT (finishes in Idaho)

Oct 15th:

Boulder 24 Hour Run, Boulder, CO

Nov 19th:

JFK 50 Mile Run, Boonsboro, MD

Motivation by Tool (around 6:45 into it is amazing):

Took this at work; have to walk .2 mile to the machine. Take this almost daily just to freak out the out of shape folks at work.

Oh, and I received my Wolverine buckled from the Bear 100 miler…. that took place September 24th.  Sorta anticlimactic.

Hope Pass

Tim Waggoner and I have been building this idea for months and would like to gauge interest from potential participants.  We both know what’s involved in endurance events and take it seriously.  We’re not saying you won’t have great fun (you will) but we, and you, will put in serious work to get you ready for your big event and make you a better, more prepared athlete.  We both like the idea of all-inclusive camps, so the participants can focus 100% on the training content, so we’re including everything right down to transporting the folks to the camp (you just have to get yourself to Boulder).  Please email us with questions and/or to solidify your spot.  We’re limiting the camp to around 8 people.

Tim Waggoner:  jogdaddy @ gmail.com
Tim Long:  tim @ footfeathers.com

The Sunki Mountain Running Camp (Sunki is Hopi Indian for “to catch up with”) is focused with the higher elevation ultras, specifically 100 milers in mind but what is gained transfers to and benefits any endurance activity.  The first camp will be held in Leadville Colorado and includes the following:

What we offer:
Organized trail runs each day with provisions/aid, ranging between 20-30 miles each day.
Run every part of the Leadville 100, including the elusive Hope Pass

Classroom presentations:

-building a solid endurance foundation
-gait, ascending (when to fast hike, when to run)
-gait, descending (preserving quads while gaining speed)
-nutrition/fueling and balancing hydration/electrolytes
-how to recover quickly (nutrition, ice, rest)
-meeting the goals of your next race (breakout with individual consults focusing on your specific event)
-video analysis of all aspects of your running technique

-Camp runs Wednesday 5pm through Sunday 12pm (dates TBD)

-Sleeping accommodations included

-Homemade breakfasts and dinners included

-Lucho’s fancy performance test(s) to determine strength and where development is needed

-presentation and Q and A with a special guest (a world class ultra runner!)

-A special memento upon completion of camp, likely something to do with pottery and/or metal

-Ability to try various products on the market (gels, drinks, compression clothes, packs, waistbelts, hand held bottles, etc)

-A training plan for the month following your camp time with us

On the "beach" around mile 43. Photo: By incredible photographer, Greg Norrander.

The Antelope Island 100k trail run popped up on calendars a few months ago. I knew Jim Skaggs puts on great events (Buffalo 50 Miler and 50k) and it had been nearly two years since I enjoyed his wife’s buffalo chili, so I decided to run this new event of Jim’s. Not to mention I had a deep interest in getting two monkeys off my back: 1. I dropped out of Miwok 100k in May, so still needed to complete a race of that distance and 2. I dropped out of the 50 miler on Antelope Island last year. DNFs are miserable and I’ve learned it’s best just to finish if possible (Miwok was a serious injury that could’ve lasted a long time if I pursued finishing, by the way…).

The 100k was supposed to be a follow up , six weeks afterward, to the Bear 100 miler. Due to my impatient and spontaneous nature I registered and ran the Deadman Peaks 50 Miler two weeks ago. I bounced back from that quickly, so I thought. A few days after Deadman I started feeling weak and achy with the anterior ankle/shin pain, brought on by the Bear race, emerging to round out the maladies.

Regardless, I was registered, rearranged my work schedule, and was trying to earn some sort of sponsorship that matched my needs and beliefs in company sponsors, so I had to race this weekend.

The morning I was to leave for Utah I sat on the edge of my bed debating whether or not to go. Even for the first four hours of the drive I nearly turned around a few times.

Pippit obviously did not want me to go to Utah.

Finally I made it to Layton, UT and showed up on race morning simply going through the motions, no nervousness, no fretting, just going about things as though I was getting ready for a day at work.

I wandered over to the start just as Jim was counting down, and we were off!

In my scattered state of mind I left my headlamp at the house I was staying at for the race, so I was now in for over an hour and a half in pitch black darkness. A loose group of four of us made our way up the long first climb. I just ran behind and off to one side of different guys, borrowing their light. This worked fine on the ascents and flats but was useless on the steep, rocky descents. I just did the best I could running soft-footed and rolling my ankles about every fifth foot fall.

Finally, we made our way down to the “beach”. I put it in quotations because “beach” conjures up fine, white, warm sand under full glowing sun with the soft scent of the ocean’s waves lulling you into a dreamy smile. This beach is on the Great Salt Lake. It was still black night out, cold, and the stench (somewhere between dead fish and salty sewer) would make you gag if you weren’t already too preoccupied with trying not to fall over or lose a shoe in the gloppy muck that enveloped nearly up to your knees. An hour and a half into an entire day of running and my legs were soaked with the smelliest, coldest water imaginable. I considered quitting right there but then figured the other two guys I was with, Brian Beckstead and Scott Dickey, were in the same mess, so I’d just see how it played out for a while.

Sunrise around mile 10 with Scott leading, then Brian, and me tagging along (Photo from Brian Beckstead's blog)

Scott slipped away on the giant climb up from the beach (“beach”). Brian and I ran within 100 meters of one another for the next ten miles, then he pulled away while I busied myself being miserable with body aches and general bad attitude. I was a bit surprized to reach the halfway (50k) point in 4 hrs 40 mins with Scott having just left and Brian just leaving the aid station as I entered it. For some reason this still didn’t light any competitive fire in me like it normally would. It did, however, coax me just enough to continue on for the 2nd half just to see what would happen. I dropped off my McDavid arm sleeves and gloves, grabbed my gels and bottle of secret mix and meandered off in listless pursuit of Brian.

Approaching halfway (31 miles) aid station. Photo: Sandy White

Leaving 31 mile aid station and starting second half of race. Photo: Sandy White

It was uneventful for the next 25 miles, albeit abnormally hot with the sun beating down and the lake stench triggering my gag reflex. I kept getting splits from the abundant aid stations. Scott, in the lead, had 15-17 mins on me and Brian had 6-10 mins. I didn’t really care through those miles but like doing the math of splits and pace and distance to go.

At mile 53 I got a split on Brian of about 10 mins up on me. At mile 57 I saw him at the aid station and timed his departure and my arrival – only 1 min 30 secs elapsed. Within three minutes I was right behind him and then he pulled off the trail and sat on a rock. I offered him salt tablets and gels but he said he already took them. So, I ran off now in 2nd place. My only interest now was to make sure Brian’s gels and salt tabs didn’t kick in enough to enable him to catch me before the finish.

Cramping uncontrollably, I crossed the finish in 10 hrs 23 mins, a full 55 minutes behind winner, Scott Dickey’s great run. My second 50k took me an embarrassing 5 hrs and 43 mins…

Just after the finish...

McDavid compression sleeves caked in sweat salt.

I consoled myself with three helpings of Mrs. Skaggs’ buffalo chili and Jim’s home brewed beer while catching up with friend Aric Manning and chatting with Scott and Brian, both great guys and runners.

Thanks to Jim Skaggs for putting on quality events. Thanks to the kind folks who gave me a comfortable place to stay. Thanks to McDavid for the compression gear that has enabled me to race a 100 miler, a 50 miler, and a 100k in just the last six weeks. Their compression clothing has won me over for sure.

What’s next? Maybe the North Face 50 mile Championship in San Francisco in four weeks. I’ll have to evaluate things in a few days to figure it out.

I’ll get a reasonable length race report up tomorrow.