I Just Saved 6 Hours A Year

Christmas 2009

The past few weeks I’ve been adjusting to life without soft drinks. I’ve decided to stop using diet sodas to meet my hydration needs. I had been drinking diet sodas since college and I could easily drink 3 cans a day. Honestly, so far the only difference that I can tell is that I seem to have even less energy than before. So between the lack of sleep and the lack of diet Dr. Pepper, Nicole says I’ve been walking around in a haze. And to come clean, I have had a few drinks of the good stuff (probably averaging about one a week) but nothing near the amount that I was drinking. So I’m weaning. And this is good because I’m really trying hard to score well on my December health tests. 

So far this month I have had some blood work done. Seems like I’ve been tired more than usual lately so I want to make sure nothing is amiss. I also give myself a pat on the back for killing two birds with one stone. I was at Safeway the other day and noticed they had a Vita-Stat machine next the pharmacy for blood pressure testing. I checked to see how much the test would cost me and didn’t see any slots for money or a credit card. The pharmacist confirmed what I thought was too good to be true. “No, it’s free!” I am now a big fan of socialized medicine. So I took about a minute and had my blood pressure tested. I mean what’s the downside? Here are the results: 

• Systolic = 132
• Diastolic = 73
• Pulse = 43

The downside is that I’ve learned I’m at risk for hypertension and am currently hovering in the Prehypertension range. So I need to do a little bit of work in this area. I immediately tried to work on some calming techniques as I waited in the longest line at Safeway. After I patiently waited my turn and was about to check out, an older woman steps right in front of me as though neither of us notice the line stretching halfway down the aisle. I counted to ten (in my head), let my blood pressure subside, and thought about my options: Look completely insensitive and kick her out of line or say nothing and feel guilty for not offering to help her in the first place. I opted for not looking like a jerk and said nothing. 

I’m still waiting for my lab results. You might think that in this modern age of the personal computers, faxes and email, results would be able to be transmitted electronically instead of following the old paper trail. But when I called the lab to have the results sent to me or even read to me, they said they could not release this type of information to me due to HIPAA and I would need to contact my doctor. I mean is this an excuse for someone not wanting to do their job or what? How is releasing lab results to the patient, a violation of the patient’s privacy? 

We spent our Christmas together, the three of us. It feels like we hit the reset button on celebrating the holidays with family. A couple weeks before Christmas, the attempt at our family Christmas photo still hadn’t come to fruition. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and this picture is worth at least that many. So on a Sunday, with only two weeks to go before Christmas, we drove up to Dutch Flat when it was snowing and decided to take a picture. Obviously, all three of us needed to be in the picture so we had to use a tripod and self-timer. But it was snowing so hard we couldn’t leave the camera exposed. So we backed up the Jeep and opened the tailgate to cover the camera and tripod. Nicole running back and forth and sliding on the snow. Both of us trying to convince Dylan to smile as the timer counted down. Nicole tried a few different shots and we were happy with this one. 

Nicole has stepped into the photography business. She has already had a few photo shoots as she tries to build a portfolio. She definitely has talent and an eye for capturing images. You can see her work at http://nicolecookphotography.smugmug.com. 

As we reach the end of the 2009 calendar, there are so many memories to look back at and so many dreams that need to be formed into goals. RAAM was something I don’t think that I will ever forget. Thanks again for all those who were there along the way. My name missed being selected for the Western States run in 2010 but that might be for the best. I find it harder and harder to pull myself away from the family for a 3+ hour training run on a Saturday or Sunday. I am trying to remember to capture the moments as they happen and even try to have a camera with me for those unexpected moments. My favorite gadget addition in 2009 was my phone, the Motorola CLIQ that comes with a 5 mega pixel camera. And then there was this morning at 1 AM, Dylan woke up and I stood next to his crib as he fell back to sleep, and as I looked out the sliding door there walked a huge bear out in front of the cabin, trudging across the snow-covered street. I thought for a second I was seeing things. I looked again and the bear was still there. I half shouted and half whispered for Nicole to look out our window. If only I could have captured that moment with a picture. 

On the work front, we’ve been getting ready for our major quarterly release and this means a little extra stress. Last count there are about 200 enhancements and fixes going into this release. Linda, my trusty companion on the Ascend project, has resigned. We are going to miss her as she has been instrumental on the hospital side of Ascend. I hope our paths cross again in the future. We are going to miss you. 

Finally, how did I save 6 hours in a year? Well, Nicole’s Christmas gift to me this year was upgrading my Garmin 305 watch to the new and improved 310 XT. After just a few runs with the new watch, I’m hooked. Satellite acquisition is just a few seconds whereas on the older 305, I would need to stand out front with my hand over my head, perfectly still, for at least 1 minute. So if I run everyday for a year, and I save an average of 1 minute per run just on acquiring my GPS signal, I will have saved about 6 hours in a year!

Ever Ate A 20 LB Turkey And Drank A 2 Liter Bottle of Warm Coke Before A Marathon?

The Hungry 3:10 Pack at Mile 20

Somewhere along the way to today, my train went off the track. But when life is a little chaotic, sometimes it’s hard to tell when the road is just bumpy or if I’ve actually veered off the road, especially when I’m running around in the dark at night. I’ve also realized there are two ways to learn the lessons life wants to teach me: the hard way and the easy way. I’ve come to the realization that I prefer learning my lessons the hard way. Let me fill you in on a little secret: sleep isn’t overrated. I’ve told myself for a long time that sleep is highly overrated and when I need to squeeze more things in, I can just sleep less. I’m discovering that the lack of good sleep is probably important. The past few weeks (well let me be honest and say the past couple years) good sleep has been difficult. Even a couple weeks ago on vacation, I felt like a walking zombie. The yawn is the first thing out of my mouth in the morning. What in the world is wrong with me? When my head hits the pillow, usually around 11:30, I’m out before I whisper “Goodnight”. Am I just getting older? I need to go to bed earlier. Dylan was going through a bit of a rough patch with our constant travel schedule and seemed to be waking up the past week around 2 AM then again a little after 5 AM for good. He gets his naps. However, no such luck for me on the naps. So sleep lately seems to come in 2 1/2 to 3 hour spurts through the night and never a solid, deep sleep.  

What does any of this have to do with the California International Marathon today…  

This week, the body just never felt right. When I went for a run I felt OK but it felt like I had just ate a huge Thanksgiving meal and and drank a 2 liter bottle of warm Coke just before I started my run. And that’s how I felt all day today, like I was running on a full stomach. You ever had the sloshy stomach sound when you run? That was mine from the start to the finish. Not a great feeling. Swish. Swish. Swish. Sounded like I was running with a CamelBak bladder under my shirt. All I had for breakfast was a cup of tea. I ate rice and oatmeal yesterday. Very simple. So I point to the lack of sleep as the culprit. It can only be his fault. And on top of that, I lost my mind somewhere in the afternoon yesterday. I forgot my bib and timing chip at home. I’ve run dozens of marathons and never once forgot either. This marathon I forgot both! Never underestimate the importance of that checklist.  

But all in all, things could have been much worse. The legs? The legs felt fresh all day. I had a great group of runners with me for most of the marathon. Conditions were good, cold and dry although we did battle a headwind during some sections. Temps dipped into the low 30’s at the start and never made it much higher. Usually, during many of the marathons I develop a quick side stitch or maybe a tight muscle but run through it and it goes away. Not so today. Right away I could hear my stomach sloshing around. I waited and waited for it to improve until finally at mile 15, my stomach felt like it was a bottle of Coke on the verge of exploding. So I asked one of the guys in the group to carry the sign for a stretch and I ran up ahead to find a port-a-potty. As I found my seat, my watch stopped. I had it set for Auto-Stop by accident and so now I didn’t even know the clock time. (Kevin reminded me later that I should have sat on the toilet waving my arms back and forth to keep the watch going!) A minute or two later I emerged and chased after the group. It was actually nice to see this huge pack of 40+ runners staying together so late in the marathon. Around mile 21, many of the runners started to drift ahead but about 10 or so hung with me for the last few miles. Between mile 25 and 26, I sent the remaining ones ahead and held back for a couple runners working hard. I finished around 3:09:40 and suddenly all the blood must have flooded back to my stomach because I started feeling worse. I congratulated some of my new friends and heard about a few PR’s but I kept the conversations short fearing I might throw up on them at any moment and ruin their prized bib with whatever was sloshing around in my stomach. Then I found Nicole and Dylan and after some hot chocolate, things began to settle down.   

Really enjoyed running with the group today. A lot of strong runners in that 3:10 pack and even with the headwinds, a few ran PR’s. Well done. Now, it’s almost midnight and it’s snowing outside and I really need to try for a few hours of good sleep.  

For you data junkies, here’s the data from my Garmin watch. 

Hi Michael,

Just a quick note to thank you once again for the awesome pacing.  You were by far the best pacer I ever ran with and I couldn’t believe how steady you were.  I most definitely would not have run a PR without your help!!!  I didn’t make 3:10 but I did not do bad for a 40 year old Canadian girl.  Ended up with a 3:12:39 and stayed with you up until about the 22 mile mark.  Legs just weren’t co-operating anymore and I sure did miss the pack once I fell off the back.  In fact, I thought the entire race was just a big crowded mess until I realized it was just your big pack.  Once I fell off the back, I was all alone.

The only thing that kept me sorta together were your words at the start which I kept repeating the last 4 miles.  “It’s all mental”!!!

Good times, hope to be back again one year.  Thanks again I had a great time – went for short run in Napa before the wine tours started on Tuesday and am no worse for wear.

Thank you,  Carmen Pavelich #5082

PS  Just so you know . . . .  I was not in 3:10 shape but I picked you because I decided if I had to run behind someone, he may as well be good looking.

Hey Michael,   

Just wanted to say thanks for the help in the race this past Sunday.  The pace team was awesome and turned out to be a huge help.  I feel behind you guys around 19 but did manage to PR by 3.5 min (3:13:46).  It was not my day for Boston, but it was an amazing race and I will be back next year! 

Thanks for the help, 
Rusty

Hello Michael,
 
I’d like to thank you for being my pacer in the marathon on Sunday. In large part thanks to you I got a new PR of 3:09:35 (my previous PR was 3:23:45 in Berlin this year).

Although I ran slightly in front of you for most of the race, during the last 3 miles you caught me up. If it wasn’t for your encouragement over those last couple of miles, and especially over the last mile I certainly wouldn’t have broken 3:10.
 
I still can’t believe how consistently you ran the course! When you were running you hardly seemed to be using any effort. If you don’t mind my asking, what’s your PR?!
 
Thanks again for helping me qualify for Boston in 2011!
 
Cheers,
Richard

What Is The Amazon Archer?

This week Nicole and I celebrated 15 years of marriage and I’m certain nothing in my life compares to this achievement. It’s too easy to wrap myself around the other stuff in life and take her for granted. We’ve had so many journeys in our life, tasted hard times and been blessed with good times and good friends. We’ve come through together and I hope that speaks for itself. Speaking of concrete and built to last… 

 

Amazon Archer

You’ve read the Noah’s Ark Story. Maybe you’ve seen the movie “Field Of Dreams”. Now let me introduce you to another visionary handyman neighbor: Kenneth Fox.

 

Kenneth Fox is an ordinary dentist, well sort of. He’s a dentist by day but he will leave his work behind in a much bigger way. You might have passed his work on your way to Lake Tahoe. Usually, once a week, I pass a few of his statues during a run through the streets of town. If you look at my training log you will see an entry for Amazon Archer and probably wonder what the heck is an Amazon Archer run? Well, let me try to show you. Just so you can picture the scale of some of his statues, these are not 10 feet pieces from Home Depot, sitting in an obscure courtyard, these are giant concrete sculpted dinosaur size statues that you will see towering around Auburn. If you have ever driven by Auburn on Interstate 80, you can’t miss his 45 ton gold miner statue that sits in Old Town just a few feet from the Interstate.

 

Gold Miner

Fox started forming his monument family in the 60’s but since some of the figures do not sport clothes, the people in Auburn didn’t immediately take to his expression of art. Legend has it that school buses were rerouted so that kids avoided passing the nude statues. The Amazon Archer must be his largest and probably is over 40 feet tall and stands next to a couple other statues that tower next to his dentist office across the street from a 7-Eleven in town. So once a week, usually my route will take me through the streets of town and I will pass three different pieces of his work:

 

The Chinese Coolie

 

•  Created in 1972
• 22 Feet Tall
• Contains 1 Mile of Reinforced Steel Rebar
• 35 Cubic Yards of Concrete
• Weighs 70 Tons

The Amazon Archer

 

• Created in 1973
• 42 Feet Tall
• Contains 1.5 Mile of Reinforced Steel Rebar
• Weights 120 Tons

The Gold Miner

 

• Created in 1975
• Designed after Claude Chana (1811 – 1882). He was the first to discover gold in the area on May 16, 1848.
• Weighs 42 Tons
• Sold for $8,000

The scope of his work is pretty amazing. So next time you pass through Auburn, take a few minutes and explore some of the statues that stand around town. Here’s a guy who built these in his spare time. Makes me question what am I doing in my spare time? Right now, I’m learning how to build Android applications.

 

 

Meet Your 3:10 Pace Leader for the California International Marathon

We recorded some video a few weeks ago for each of the California International Marathon Pace Groups at Lee’s place. Although CIM is a downhill course, the first half has some rollers. A few times this marathon has felt almost effortless (ALMOST…). Hopefully this can be one of those years. Running with this group is a fantastic way to finish off the year.

My Friend, Time

Time to dream a new dream
To work a little harder, breathe in deeper
To learn a new language in a fresh voice
To chase a different night’s star
Time to feel more of your day and less of what I know
The hand keeps ticking, turning our way
I think he knows how much I’m trying to squeeze up ahead
Now is the time to start living from the deserts to the mountaintops
from this side to the other
To cover us in all the colors of daybreak to nightfall
To take the time to look around and extend my hand
Now is not the time to be getting older

- Written the night before I turned 39.

Semper Fi

Seems like every city has a marathon these days, but few can beat “The People’s Race” also known as The Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC. I paced the 3:10 group last year and this year had the 3:20 group. I flew on a Friday red eye after taking the day off and spending the afternoon in San Francisco with Nicole and Dylan. While in the city, we had to make a trip to Chinatown and visit a true hole-in-the-wall little restaurant named Sam Wo. We hadn’t been there in probably 15 years so it was a relief to see the place exactly like we left it, even with the same 1994 prices.

Normally, we travel everywhere as a family but this trip was so short that we decided not to have Nicole and Dylan fly out with me. Although last year we had the best time exploring the sites in DC, staying less than 36 hours this trip was just too much effort for too little time. But we will definitely be back. Nicole loves the big city life and I’m more of a Green Acres (mountain style) kinda guy but I think we will spend six months or a year of our life in the DC area when Dylan’s rapidly multiplying brain cells can really absorb the history.

After landing on Saturday morning, I met the team at the hotel for breakfast then tried to get a couple hours of sleep before walking over to The Mall and strolling the paths of The National Botanic Gardens under gray and wet skies.

There’s just too much to see in DC that you need a week not an afternoon, but that’s all I had. I had to work the CLIF booth at the Expo from 3 – 6 PM then we enjoyed a hearty pasta dinner and had the team meeting in the evening. After the meeting, I had a few hours so I grabbed my camera and went out for a night run through the city. These 90 minutes were amazing. The monuments impress during the day, but it’s a completely different experience in white lights and under dark skies. I tried to hit all the big sights. The empty streets are a welcome relief from the buses and cars during the day. I had forgotten to pack a tripod for the trip and this is a necessity for capturing those night images. Next time! Click here to view my pictures.

Sunday’s 5:15 AM wake-up call rang 15 minutes late which seemed to be the average among the other pacers. Mitchell Layton took pictures of us so we can have updated profile pictures on the CLIF Bar website. He’s a photographer for the Washington DC pro sports teams and with his two Nikon cameras and enormous lenses, he looked the part. During the subway ride over to the Pentagon, I talked to him and couldn’t believe when he said for just one game he’ll normally shoot around 1,500 pictures.

Compared with the cloudy, windy and wet weather on Saturday, the Marines ordered perfect conditions on Sunday. Clear skies and no wind. Unlike last year when we were sprinting to the starting line to make the cannon, this year we lined up with a good 20 minutes before the start. Two Osprey flew overhead and buzzed the crowd. There’s nothing like seeing a few hundred Marines in their fatigues to motivate.

Boom, that cannon sounds and the handcranks go. We have another 10 minutes and then the cannon fires for the rest of us and we are off. The first few miles of this marathon go through the city streets of Virginia before you run through the bright golden trees and fall colors and quiet woods and then cross the Potomac for another few miles along the river before reaching the Georgetown crowds. It’s a beautiful and peaceful part of the course. The miles were marked but often each mile also had two soldiers shouting the time as we passed. Everywhere along the course, every water station, the soldiers volunteered and worked, shouting encouragement to all the runners. For the next few miles, I shared stories with a runner who was doing his 65th marathon this year! This guy had already done 254 marathons in his life.

I had forgotten to ask the group to ignore their watches during the marathon and just follow the balloons. I had told them we would likely come in around 3:19:00 – 3:19:20 and to relax and trust the pace. Undoubtedly, there’s always some wise guy yelling in the pack, complaining each mile that the last one was too fast or too slow. And the last few marathons, you cannot trust the GPS. Having GPS is a wonderful aid, but more often than not it will report miles sooner than they are marked on the course. It is not 100% accurate (and neither are some courses). If you only relied on the watch, you may think you are running a 7:38 pace but you might really be running a 7:45 pace.

I had a huge group of 50 or more runners through the first half and out to the point along the Potomac River across from Reagan International Airport. The group ran strong back to The Mall where the crowds were deafening as we zig-zagged around the Washington Monument. At the Washington Monument, if you look left you can see the White House across the lawns. These are fun miles as we passed one site after another before leaving The Mall and saying goodbye to the Jefferson Monument and then crossed the Potomac River for the last time at mile 20.

And this is where this marathon can get tough. You have a couple miles on the freeway before entering Crystal City for the last few miles. Since about mile 15, I had a runner on my left shoulder in a red shirt shouting “Semper Fi!” each time we went past a Marine. He kept shouting “Semper Fi!” through Mile 18 and Mile 19. When I looked back I could tell he was at his threshold. Sweat poured off his head. Occasionally, he would gasp at the start of a stride. There was no doubt he had reached the wall and was trying to bust through. “Semper Fi!” he kept shouting. “Semper Fi!” He looked exhausted but he had that look in his eye and that strength in his voice. Man, I wanted him to hang on. I would turn around and say “Stay strong” and point my finger to my head and say again, “Stay Strong.” Midway on the bridge, we passed a spectator covered in a black robe, dressed as the grim reaper with a sign “The End Is Near”. A few of us had to smile. Then we made it across the bridge, a few had dropped back but many held together. The young man behind me on the left stayed strong as we entered Crystal City and the last few miles.

Mentally and physically this part can be so hard. The body has probably reached its limit. This section of the course is an-out-and-back so you can see the runners coming back. This can be both motivating and depressing. I would turn around and try to encourage the group with shouts of “Keep smiling. You guys are making it look too easy.” I’m not sure how they took it at that stage. The look on many of their faces was just a shut-up and how much further sort of glare. Then I heard it again, “Semper Fi!” Man this guy is good, I kept thinking. We passed the Pentagon, only 2 more miles to go. A few more dropped. I kept turning around and noticed him starting to slip ever so slightly from the group. So I stopped, turnaround one last time and shouted, “C’MON! You can do it!” Then headed towards Arlington Cemetery and the finish line at the base of the Iwo Jima monument. The final 100 yards was a climb into the cemetery, where friends and family scream for their runner and the soldiers line the course and cheer as you cross the finish. I crossed just after 3:19 and turned around and who is climbing the hill but none other than “Semper Fi!” in his red shirt. I gave him a huge high five and let him know how impressive his determination was the last few miles. Not bad for a guy that then tells me a year ago he was dealing with severe brain trauma. Unbelievable!

Had a great run this morning and I can’t say “Thank You” enough to all the Marines, for their service to this country, for their commitment to freedom and for all their encouragement out there this morning. Semper Fi.

For any data junkies out there, here’s the data from my Garmin watch.

The Red Footprints

The Red Footprints of The Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run

A couple times a week my run will take me along the last mile of the Western States 100 mile run. If I have time for a 1 hour and 10 minute run, I can hit the Western States trail at the Overlook for a couple miles and then catch the last mile from Robie before passing through downtown and heading home. I love this run. And when I take Dylan, we stick to the pavement and connect to Robie after stopping to visit the horses and can be home in 1 hour. Either way, my feet follow the red footprints painted on the street that lead runners home after they’ve run 99 miles, and most of the miles were not easy ones but the kind that leave an impression on your body that it will never forget. About 6 or 7 years ago, local running legend Rae Clark started painting the footprints to help the Western States runners find their way to the finish line at the high school stadium. Most of the runners will take this last mile in the dark and will be so tired at this point, they will not even notice the steps leading them home. Out of 100 miles, only a few are on pavement and this is one of the them. This last mile goes through the neighborhoods and into the stadium and then does one lap around the track before crossing the finish line. It’s an amazing place to be in late June.

Now we are back from Denver where I paced the 3:40 group at the Denver Marathon. Yes, that’s right: 3:40. I was scheduled to pace the 3:30 group but Dave Bea kept pestering me to change times with him and how he couldn’t even run that slow and how he could miss his flight and so I switched with him. Normally, I pace 3:10 and he paces 3:20 (although, yes Dave, you can run much faster), the fastest pace group Denver offers is 3:30. I had a great time pacing the 3:40 group. Denver has a nice course through downtown and then through many of the Denver parks. Weather was perfect (unlike the snowy weekend before) and Nicole, Dylan and I had a good time Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, Dylan ran the kids race and had his picture taken with Frank Shorter.

1972 Olympic Gold Medalist Frank Shorter, Dylan and me.

I guess I should feel lucky even making the trip after Frontier Airlines overbooked our plane and I had no seat on the flight out to Denver. When we arrived at the airport less than 1 hour before take-off, all the seats were taken. But when one passenger didn’t show up to board, I was able to use the vacant seat. From now on, we will always try to check in before even leaving for the airport. Lesson learned.

The jet set life isn’t all that it is cracked up to be. Sure the private jets are nice, the 5 stars hotels are a luxury, the all night parties the night before can be dangerous, and you can’t beat all the CLIF bars you can eat in a weekend and a bright pair of Nike shoes. But it always comes down to helping someone finish their first marathon or getting someone to a new PR. When we cross that finish line and see the joy in those red flushed faces, it means we’ve probably been able to tag along on a journey that someone will never forget. Back at the hotel after the marathon on Sunday, we tried to sneak a 30 minute nap in at the hotel before grabbing lunch and then walked around the 16th Street Pedestrain Mall before catching our flight back home.  

Here’s my Garmin data from the marathon.

Reduce Speed Ahead

Virgin River in Zion National Park

If somewhere out there a course exists to qualify for the Boston Marathon that is faster than St. George Marathon, I would love to run it. This was my second time running the St. George Marathon and I must say it is one where the miles can quickly pass and then before you know it the finish line is just ahead. I’d say you could probably knock a good 10, maybe even 15, minutes off your PR on this course. The starting line is 26.2 miles out-of-town in the high desert. We are bused out at 5 AM in the morning to something resembling more Burning Man than marathon: bonfires, loud music, people running off to the bushes, etc. Unlike those who suffered through the downpour last year, this year we had ideal conditions. Although it is always cold at the start (wear something that will keep you from freezing that you can leave at the start), the skies were clear and the temps climbed nicely as the sun came out to greet us. But even with the sun in our faces, I don’t think my lips thawed until mile 9. A good pack of probably 30 or 40 runners followed my 3:10 pace balloons through the early miles, up the Veyo climb and along the gradual climbs to mile 13. The pace was solid the first half and we nailed the half marathon point at 1:35 exactly. Nice pace! There were some slower miles and a couple faster ones but that first half felt just right. And if you’ve run this marathon before, you know what a screamer the second half can be. As we passed the clock at mile 13.1, I gave the thumbs up to the group and said “Now hang on to your hats because this second half can be fast!”

Even with my foot on the brakes and heeding the “Reduce Speed Ahead” signs along the road, the second half can be too fast. It felt like the miles were too close. I’d pass one mile marker only to spot the next mylar balloon mile marker bouncing in the wind up ahead. I had a great group of runners - even a Clydesdale – running strong along Snow Canyon and into mile 20. As we started to descend into the outskirts of the town of St. George, I sent the group on ahead as they were all running strong and I needed to watch the pace the last few miles. At mile 25 I picked up another runner who was struggling the last mile and he hung with me for a bit then had a second wind to the finish. If someone is trying to qualify for Boston and they see me and those 3:10 balloons roll past them, it can be like a kick in their butt. I know the feeling so I always try to shout something encouraging as we come upon one of those runners.

Nicole and Dylan were waiting after mile 25 and Dylan came running out on the course to give me a hug. I gave him ”It’s a great to see you hug” then headed toward the finish and tried to video the last few hundred yards of the race. I apologize for the shaky video. I came in just under 3:09 and shared high fives with much of the group. Everybody had big smiles and some sore quads.

 

Around noon, we connected with my dad and Jody and then we all crammed into our P.T. Cruiser rental car and drove out to Zion National Park for the rest of the afternoon. Had a good time seeing the sights and taking the river walk up the canyon. We didn’t have too much time so maybe we can go back and climb Angels Landing and hike further up the canyon. Here are some pictures of the trip: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mncook/sets/72157622439959389/show/. Also would love to visit Bryce when we have more time. As it was, we had to have the rental car back in Vegas that night and then we flew home the next day. The great thing about the Utah marathons is that they run on Saturday so once you have finished, you still have the rest of the weekend. Although we could have skipped the whole Las Vegas part. The appeal of smoke-filled drunken casinos has seemed to fade. As we wandered the streets and hotels of Las Vegas, Nicole and I wondered why so many people, and families with kids, choose it as their destination. Exactly. What were we thinking?

A Big October Is Just Around The Corner

It’s been a few weeks since I posted. Haven’t had a lot of time (really no energy) and these days the daily toll of life seems to catch up with me faster and faster. Lately, work has left me mentally exhausted by the end of the day. Lots of good things going on but everything takes time and energy. So many intentions. So few results. October weekends are usually extra busy with marathons and this year will be no different. Three marathons in four weekends will mean less sleep over the next few weekends but looking forward to some fun runs.

In early September, we drove down for the Disneyland Half Marathon. I was pacing the 1:40 group and Dylan was running his first race at the 100 meter distance. We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel which proved an attraction all by itself. For most of the weekend, Dylan’s favorite ride was going up and down the escalator in the hotel lobby. The lines were short and with a coffee shop nearby, all were happy with the arrangement. Saturday morning we walked over to the park where the kids’ races ran right down Main Street USA. Other than Dylan having a complete meltdown as the race started, it was a special experience. He’d been practicing for weeks but he’d been training by himself and with thousands of people around and lots of attractions, he wasn’t sure what to make of the scene. So I was one of those parents, dragging their screaming and kicking kid through some athletic event. As I heard them say, “Oh, look at that poor kid and his overachieving, Starbucks drinking parent! What a shame!”

Who's Not Having Fun?

After working in the Clif Bar booth at the expo on Saturday after Dylan’s race, we headed back over to Disneyland to spend the afternoon on the rides and watch the fireworks that evening. The fireworks show was a winner on all our scorecards. Sunday morning I had the half marathon and had a blast running the course. This year the first few miles took us through Disneyland (did you know they have live horses in stables at Disneyland?) then we hit the city streets. Around mile 9, they let us run into the Angels’ baseball stadium and make a lap around the field. A great memory. Then we finished next to the Disneyland Hotel. Other than the LA traffic, it’s a two thumbs up race.

The next weekend Jody (RAAM crew member) and Lily came over and Jody and I rode the Auburn Century, about 110 miles. The route resembled one of my RAAM training rides and took us up the famous Iowa Hill climb. However, since completing RAAM, I think my longest ride has been about 20 miles so my legs and neglected bike were not truly ready for a 100+ mile effort. We put our names on the list of those who would race the Iowa Hill Time Trial (a steep 2 mile climb that hits grades of 20%). I attempted to video my Time Trial effort but the camera kept falling over and the sound of my labored breathing ruins any scenic shot. My time of 16 minutes left me in 2nd place. Maybe the videoing cost me those 5 seconds away from 1st? Here’s my shot of Jody working hard toward the end of his TT.

Jody Finishing The Iowa Hill Time Trial

Had a good time riding with Jody and he even helped identify some sources of a couple squeaks my bike has been making. One multi-talented guy. And Sunday morning we even hit one of my favorite 10 mile running trails in Tahoe Donner. I love running in the mountains during September and October.

The past couple weekends have been crunch time for the upcoming marathons and getting my body used to the longer runs. I’ve been happily running 10-11 miles but needed to put in the time to acclimate to 3 hours of running. It’s pretty funny but mentally as long as I can hit my usual time on a Saturday long run, I think I’m prepared. In Santa Rosa, that was running Annadel from the house and back, along the Lawndale trail. About 21 miles and it should take about 3 hours. These days it’s out to Cool and back. About 20 miles and it should take 2 hours and 45 minutes. So I ran that last Saturday and then went to run it again yesterday. Yesterday, I left the house a little after 8 AM since temps were suppose to reach the 100’s. Along the canal at Maidu, this guy comes racing down the street and hits the trail. We exchange hello’s and introduce ourselves. His name is Ben Hacker from Cool and he is out doing a tempo run. So we run together for about a mile and he finishes his run and I’m just starting. When I hit the Overlook, there is an aid station for the Sierra Nevada Endurance Run and I ask when they are expecting the runners. In about 20 minutes they say. No way. I thought maybe I’d run into Bob Shebest during his race but it would be fun to run together for a bit. But I decide I need to get one last good long run in so I descend the Overlook into the canyon. About a half mile later, I think what am I doing? Just go back, hang out and wait. There will be other days to run this alone. So I go back, call Nicole and let her know I will be home a little later. She’s around the corner at the Farmer’s Market with Dylan so they drive over to say hi and we hang out together until the races arrive.

In a little while, the racers start coming in. One of the early leaders drops at this aid station. You can see that already the conditions are taking their toll. Bob comes running in and takes off without any chit chat at the aid station. So I grab my water bottles and continue my normal Saturday run. Running over to Cool from Auburn is a fantastic run. It’s some ups and downs, mainly singletrack and rewards the runner with some inspiring views of the American River. Bob’s hard working IT Band was acting up and the pain was impacting his performance. I’m sure the downhills didn’t do him any favors. But he kept gutting it out and was determined to finish his year with a strong race.

Bob Shebest Running Towards No Hands Bridge

During my training runs, a favorite place to stop and take a water break is No Hands Bridge before I have another 3 miles of climbing up to Cool. On this day, No Hands Bridge was the finish line for the marathon portion of the course and the turnaround for the double marathon runners. I think a lot of runners, due to the heat, called it a day upon reaching the bridge. After reaching Cool on a hot day, I’ll stop at the local market and buy a Dr Pepper and Gatorade for the return trip. This day was no different. I ran near or with Bob back to Auburn and the Maidu Aid Station then wished him luck and called it the end of my run around 1 PM. Bob had another 20+ miles to go. Nicole, Dylan and I went home, did a few chores around the house, ran some errands and then around 6 PM, Amanda called asking if I’ve heard from Bob. Uh oh…

I figure it could take about 4 1/2 to 5 hours to cover Maidu to the Finish Line. But with the extreme heat, all predictions are off. I say give him 30 minutes, then call me back. Still no word from him at 6:30 PM. The finish line is only about 30 minutes from the house, so I decide to drive over. Just as we are getting into the car, Bob calls and says he lying down in the back of his car, dehydrated and he’s not sounding too good. We drive over to check on him. In 30 minutes, he’s drinking a bit and standing upright. All good signs. With some food in him, later that evening he is returning back to his normal self. By the next day, he looks 100% better. This guy loves to push his body to the limit.

Mt. Whitney

Near Outpost Camp

There’s a race that has been on my radar called the HardRock 100. I don’t know what it is about me, giant rocks, pine trees and mountains, but that seems to be what pulls me outside when I have a free weekend. And HardRock is a combination of running, climbing four peaks over 14,000′ and covering 100 miles, all this while trying to run. It is a race I often think about. So when Jody Stange offered me a spot in his group this weekend to climb Mt. Whitney, I jumped at the opportunity to test my legs and lungs at the 14,000′ level. Jody had reserved 8 single day passes to climb Mt. Whitney (the highest mountain in the lower 48 states) after years of trying to get a Saturday or Sunday spot. I had no idea you needed a permit to hike the mountain but you cannot just hit the trail without reserving a spot with the park services.

I stopped working around 2:30 PM on Friday, said goodbye to Nicole and Dylan and drove down to Whitney Portal via I-80 and then Highway 395 along the Eastern Sierras. The drive from Carson City to Whitney Portal offered some surprisingly great views (Topaz Lake, Mono Lake, Mammoth Mountain and Deadman Creek). I pulled into the Lone Pine Campground and met Jody and the rest of the group around 9 PM. I tried to get some sleep in the back of the Jeep until I heard the others starting to gather around 3 AM. A scale hangs at the trailhead and we each weighed our packs. Mine came in the lightest at 10 lbs while Theo’s tipped the scales at 18 lbs. We were on the trail at 4 AM, hiking with headlamps and flashlights. You start hiking from Whitney Portal at an elevation of 8,365′ and if you make it to the 14,497′ summit, you will have hiked 11 miles up and then 11 miles down for a total of 22 miles. It’s less than a marathon, so I should be able to cover this in about 3 hours, with a little cushion, right? Dream on!

The weather forecast showed a 50% chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. We didn’t want to get caught in any storms so our goal was to make the summit by noon.  The trail is not difficult but you could start to notice the thinning air around 10,000′. About this time my camera started malfunctioning with the lens motor constantly adjusting so many of my pictures came out blurry. Close to 11,000′, our group of 6 started to separate and Jody and I pressed on ahead near the bottom of the switchbacks. Jody started to develop headaches and they only seemed to worsen as we climbed. At the top of the switchbacks at around 13,600′, the trail reaches the crest and starts to follow the ridge north. The views at this spot are unbelievable and these views continued until we reached the top of Mt. Whitney. Not that the views were not good up to that point, but it was like going from sitting atop one mountain to sitting atop a thousand mountains. It was one of the most amazing mountain views I’ve ever seen in my life.

Trail Crest - 13,600 Feet

From the Trail Crest, it’s another 1,000′ feet to the summit but along a ridge and some precarious rocks and trail. The wind started to gently push the clouds in our direction. We were well ahead of a noon summit as it looked as though we could reach the top by 10 AM.

Can't imagine running this at night with a headlamp

 On top of Mt. Whitney, there is a small shelter made of stone that could provide protection during a storm. Thankfully, on this day we were able to enjoy the view, sit outside with the marmots and munch on a CLIF bar for about 20 minutes before heading back down. We wrote our names on the list that marks those who have reached the summit, then we turned around, gave the summit on more look, and made our descent. The skies threatened rain and we felt some drops, but made it back to the car by 3 PM, dry and hungry. Our trip of 22 miles took a total of 11 hours. At that pace it would take me 40+ hours to finish HardRock 100 and that would not do! Next time I would need to hike less and run more.

Mt Whitney Summit

We drove  back to the Lone Pine Campground and I dropped Jody off and then headed back home, stopping at Erick Schat’s Bakery in Bishop to bring some Bread Pudding and Pecan Pullaway bread home to Nicole. Made it home by 11 PM and showed some pictures to Nicole and her parents then my head found the pillow.

View all my Mt. Whitney pictures.