tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50924641507596821072024-03-05T05:46:07.434-08:00Jestem Maszynąmatt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-3310495395437277002021-08-29T14:49:00.000-07:002021-08-29T14:49:18.867-07:00Why do I run?<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">By no means have I had a shitty life. Despite all the little fights I’d have with my brothers during my teenage years, my family was pretty close . My parents loved us and I learned plenty of things I’m still grateful for: good work ethics, right and wrong, caring about others, cooking, cleaning, how to be a person. Sure there were hardships. I’m the oldest of six boys who ate a ton of food. Having three of my own ravenous little monsters now, I don’t know how my parents afforded to feed us on such little money. I know I complained about stupid things like how my friends had cool shoes and mine were always from Payless. I remember thinking and probably mentioning that I had wished they hadn’t had so many kids. Then we could’ve afforded more things. Thinking about it now, I’m embarrassed that I was so selfish.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-c17c49b4-7fff-72fc-9985-a429031cdc57"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As far as my personal life, I never used any drugs or drank or smoke at all. I lived a very vanilla life. I didn’t have any bad influences in that manner. We had family dinners at least once a week on Sundays. Although my mom would frequently tell me that my dad was never happy with how much money we spent on groceries, we never went hungry or anything remotely close to it. My parents allowed us to play team sports. I still don’t know how they managed six kids on five teams with all the games and practices all over. My dad even coached several of the soccer teams and baseball teams some of us were on. Saturdays were spent at the field all day. I look back at it and am glad that I played those sports but don’t feel nearly as compelled to do that for my own kids. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My mom made me (almost literally) get a job when I turned sixteen. I didn’t want one. I wanted to hang out with my friends and stay up all night watching movies or playing video games like our Street Fighter II tournaments. My mom knew a lady that worked at the Walgreens around the corner from our house and put in several good words about me. I finally got around to handing in an application (because the Internet didn’t exist yet) and waited for a phone call. I scheduled the interview during my algebra 2 final at the end of my sophomore year. I didn’t have to take the final as my teacher knew how well I understood the class’s topics. So I walked across the street in my t-shirt and shorts and had my interview. I worked weekends and weekday nights. I don’t remember how many hours a week I worked and don’t remember if California had a rule on that at the time. I do know that I was supposed to be off the clock at 10 pm but frequently stayed later to help. All summer my friends would go to the beach or something else that I wanted to do. I felt a little upset that they were out having fun while I had to work. It didn’t help that it always seemed like the fun stuff happened while I was working (though I know that wasn’t the case; it just seemed that way).</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When it came time to go to college, I chose what I felt was the cheapest one I could find. I didn’t want it to be such a hardship on my parents to pay for it. My dad paid for my first year, but then I got a job at a grocery store at the end of that year. I worked nights so it wouldn’t interfere with my scheduling of classes (just never slept, which was a lot easier when I was twenty). It also provided me with an extra dollar an hour and hardly any customers (they just got in the way of work). I worked 40+ hours a week for four years of nights as I finished college with 15+ credit hours each semester. Somehow I also managed to find a girlfriend (not that I was looking) and married her. Due to how much we worked during the week (and my hours at school), our “dates” were spent sleeping together all weekend so we could keep the candle burning during the week. With both our incomes, we easily paid for my final four years of school. I say easily because $3,500 a year wasn’t too difficult.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After a “teacher’s dozen” (as I like to call it), I had had more than enough of this nation’s education system. I frequently came home frustrated and had to run for an hour just to get my mind off the dregs of the day. Sometimes I came home in tears and shared with my wife the next new item that was being required of us (teachers). A dear friend suggested to me, several years earlier, that we should both quit teaching and become firefighters. The reason being that we were physically fit and wouldn’t have to deal with the broken education system any longer. I very much liked the idea. However, that would require me to take classes and change my way of life. And change is hard. I hit a few little snags along the way that made me feel like I was gonna be stuck teaching forever and would just have to come to grips with that. But then I had one horrible year. I made it through the year by writing poems describing the shit we teachers had to deal with and how I felt about it. I would then print them out and hand them out to several teachers on my off-period. I felt that we were all kinda united in our despair and that those poems sort of helped us continue on for another week and feel like each individual wasn’t really alone in how they felt. By the end of the year, I was dropping off poems and little candies to a lot of teachers and I felt like they couldn’t wait for me to stop by and chat for a minute.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The career change started during my last year of teaching. I had one class that required me to be gone two nights a week for five hours each night. That lasted for four months. There were also some weekend classes and other outside of class events that necessitated me being gone. Later that year I was gone for two weeks straight. It was quite the financial challenge (I could only use a couple days off before I wouldn’t be paid for the remainder of the two weeks) and a mental challenge to be away from my family. But upon completing all that, a department had a hiring test a few weeks later. And a couple weeks after that, I started that new job.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I look at my life, I don’t feel like it’s been so hard. This is especially true when I hear stories of friends and their upbringing. Life is meant to have hardships in it. They make us stronger (as long as we push through them and figure things out and don’t give up). I still don’t have many things in my life that I’d consider terribly difficult. I love my job and love going to work. In four years I haven’t used a single sick day and don’t know that I ever will have to have a mental health day like I so often needed with teaching. And because my life seems to go so seemingly smoothly, I have to create artificial hardships to make me a better and stronger person.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Running 100 miles isn’t easy. I know I’ve done it very successfully over the last ten years and most people tell me (jealously?) that I make it look so easy. But it’s not easy. Even the ones that I’ve completed a handful of times. There are always moments when I question why I do this to myself. Some of the moments last a few miles. Some last a few hours. Why can’t the race just be 30 miles? Or 50? Or 83? Why did I sign up (again) for the longest race. If I did one of the shorter ones, I’d be done right now and comfortably sitting around. Most people would still be really impressed with being able to run that much. However, those distances are never the original goal. And although my goals frequently change from the ‘A’ goal to ‘just finishing,’ I rarely allow myself to not at least accomplish that final goal. Being able to endure to the end is such a mental drain. I know my body is physically capable of it. It’s also my opinion that most people are physically capable of traversing 100 miles, even in their current state of physical (un?)fitness. The overall time doesn’t matter. Enduring matters. Not quitting matters. Pushing yourself to the limits matters and winning the fight against your brain as it continually wants to quit and make your life easier. All these long races I’ve done have strengthened me.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The mental toughness is what I really care about. It refines my brain and my control over it in a way that I haven’t had many opportunities in my life to do. Over the last ten years as I’ve completed many ultra marathons, it is my opinion that they have allowed me to become a better person. Not that I needed saving from any horrible life. But I am certain that I’m a better person now than I was ten years ago. And if you want to know what I’m talking about, sign up for a 100-mile race and promise yourself that no matter what, you won’t quit. Find friends and family to help you. They’ll walk with you. Infect them with your making-yourself-better spirit. It’s worth it. Future you will thank you many times over.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-33336533856068275322019-02-22T14:58:00.000-08:002019-02-22T14:58:35.832-08:00I broke my own rule! Rookie mistake. I was having the time of my life. I was running 10-minute miles. Nothing was hurting. I had settled into a routine that I felt could last all weekend. Nutrition was great. I wasn't tired or sleepy. At midnight, 15 hours into the 72 hour race, I had 79 miles completed. Then my right Achilles tendon started to feel weird. I had to slow down. Then I had to walk. Then I had to get off my feet to hope the pain would go down and I could go back out. After each break, I did 7 laps, then 4, then 3, then half a lap before it started to hurt too much. Is this what it's like to be human? Rule #1- Don't get hurt during a race. My goal of 250 miles was not going to be happening. I was at 90 miles when the sun came up. It took 9 hours to get those 21 miles from midnight so I could at least have 100 miles. As I came in one lap, I told Rob about my Achilles. He said that's what happens expletive expletive expletive when you just ran 200 mountain miles 10 days ago. Then he said a word that I didn't understand; I had never heard it before.<br />
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Rob- "That's what happens with overuse." Me- "I don't get it. What's that?" I decided that some things were more important than getting to 250 miles, winning a couple competitions against some friends, or getting a huge belt buckle. I am done, 48 hours before I'm supposed to be done. <br />
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Amy told me we were NOT going to El Paso next year to do Franklins 200 mile or 200k or Lone Star 100 mile or 100k. Today I told her that she made her opinion clear on the subject and that I agreed, finally. If I cut out that race, I can be fresh for next year's 72 hour race and do what I was supposed to do this weekend.<br />
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Here's what my left (normal) and right (a little swollen) Achilles look like. Hopefully it's good enough to run to work on Wednesday.<br />
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matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-874950779435282582018-09-05T15:32:00.000-07:002018-09-05T15:32:51.922-07:00If You Don’t Like the Heat, Just Finish Sooner<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s Not My Fault If You Choose To Follow My Husband’s Advice
Issue #8
If You Don’t Like the Heat, Just Finish Sooner
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">I had a race this past weekend and after I finished, I had an apostrophe. Lightning struck my brain. I told Amy to text me so I wouldn’t forget it. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/JN0BXeA3W6xjqcq14qzJwtiaRrEbfov6FAUd0vdRPo0ncqq9y6MGMZ78hw54BsRrv7OAqfGbKJsSfjYeJxGy3yTGz57T8NEdO1pP-FtalpYhhFMM85LjnoNY9t-aQ-FHDdQ3DjXz" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/JN0BXeA3W6xjqcq14qzJwtiaRrEbfov6FAUd0vdRPo0ncqq9y6MGMZ78hw54BsRrv7OAqfGbKJsSfjYeJxGy3yTGz57T8NEdO1pP-FtalpYhhFMM85LjnoNY9t-aQ-FHDdQ3DjXz" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="174" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The race started at 6am in San Antonio. It was a cool mid-to-high 70s morning (cool for us at least). I had never been to this park so I took the first lap easy (6 laps of 5.4 miles each). Then, after I saw how much fun the course was in its entirety, I ran a bit harder the 2nd through 4th laps. The sun started getting higher and hotter during my 5th lap (10am) and a lot more during my 6th and final lap (11am). It was during my last lap that I realized how glad I was to not have to run any more laps. Not just because being finished is a great feeling, but because it was getting a lot warmer. I sort of felt bad that so many others running the 50k (31 miles) had to be out there all afternoon to complete the race while I had it easy finishing before noon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I will also mention that this logic applies to the dreaded/awesome Habanero 100. It starts at noon and you must be finished by 6pm the next day (30 hours). You’re gonna have a lot of sun time no matter what the first day. But if you don’t want to be in the sun ALL day the next day, just finish as the sun is coming up and then you can skip the heat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, in conclusion, if you don’t like the heat, either you must run faster or move to some northern state that thinks 80 degrees is hot. Or just suffer through the heat and hate those jerks that finish early. Just understand that they know that the ones who endure the long hours of exposure are the real crazy tougher than nails runners.</span></div>
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</span>matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-63558439928980942492018-08-02T17:41:00.001-07:002018-08-02T17:41:05.472-07:00Make Races a Family Event<div style="text-align: center;">
It’s Not My Fault If You Choose To Follow My Husband’s Advice</div>
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Issue #7</div>
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Make Races a Family Event</div>
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When I was in high school running track and cross country, those sports were listed as team sports, and I loved my team, but it always felt like an individual sport and I helped contribute to a team. Now, when I have a race, it’s usually most of the day or all day or a few days of nothing but running (and walking and sometimes sleeping). And since I have a family, I don’t feel right about telling my wife to take care of the kids while I go off and party all weekend with a race. So, they come along.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl40WepJTrBFLUVSPTZv_vmKi5Jto3MuWxk_RTWqupNvJwvKEoxvOZnXCOlx8W89KQeS4Yf0QnChZsp0OeZ8FQBCWmx_CgaYDY-A9TBCvsWpOP5bcnXG5x-h_AgaGuZwf-nx_O7xLlnA4/s1600/FB_IMG_1521935804441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl40WepJTrBFLUVSPTZv_vmKi5Jto3MuWxk_RTWqupNvJwvKEoxvOZnXCOlx8W89KQeS4Yf0QnChZsp0OeZ8FQBCWmx_CgaYDY-A9TBCvsWpOP5bcnXG5x-h_AgaGuZwf-nx_O7xLlnA4/s320/FB_IMG_1521935804441.jpg" width="240" /></a>From my first 100-miler when we only had two kids (4 and 2) and it was 30 degrees outside, my family has always come to my races. They cheer me on throughout the day and give me so much to look forward to when I start getting close to an aid station. I love their high fives and “Go dad” and trying to keep them out of the way of other incoming runners.<br />
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Now that my kids are getting older, my wife and kids will also sometimes run the shorter races. I love being able to see them on the course and give them high fives as we pass. It’s so fun hearing others tell me that they saw my kid out running and what an inspiration that was and how they need to get their kids (or grandkids) out on the trails.<br />
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One of my favorite parts of being on Team TROT is that I’m one of the few that has a family. I like showing that running isn’t just for singles. It’s totally a team sport. The team may consist of your actual team members, other runners you meet, or all the volunteers at aid stations. But my favorite part of running is my family team.<br />
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matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-25889516799660434752018-07-04T14:51:00.000-07:002018-07-04T14:58:13.570-07:00How Do You Get to Work?A year ago I was kinda forced into a horrible situation. My wife was at work and wouldn't be able to take me to work in the morning. Here's the story and why I'm a better person because of it.<br />
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Back in my other life when I was a teacher, I biked to work. It was 10 miles round-trip and 6 miles round-trip for the two schools I worked for. It allowed us to have just one car. My students would ask why I didn't drive. Was it to save the planet? Get exercise? Save money on gas? My answer was always yes. But the real reason is because I'm cheap and I don't like being like everyone else. What family only has one car? It makes me different.<br />
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When I switched careers, Amy woke up early to take me to work and would then go back to bed. We did this for about six months. I really was wanting to up my mileage but sometimes (meaning always) I'd feel too lazy and would only end up doing much less than I felt like I should be doing. Last year I worked on July 4th. We were going to have our families up at the station and that involved Amy not working that night. She worked the night before instead. The dilemma arose as to how I was going to get to work. I could bike, but I always worried about getting flat tires. And then it hit me and the problem was solved.<br />
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I mapped out my course that I would follow to run to work. Almost 10 miles. Then to figure out my pace so I would know how early I'd need to leave. Then to add on my shaving and getting ready for the day. We got a plastic tote that I could leave my clothes and all inside so that I could shower when I got to work.<br />
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I have run 86 times to work (best schedule ever!) over the last year. Rain, windy, hurricane, thunderstorm, hot, cold, whatever. I wake up at 3:30 a.m. and leave my house at 4:00 to run 10 miles to work. I love it. It has made me more determined when the sucky moments arise in my races and the voices tell me to quit.<br />
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Thanks to my sponsors that provide my necessary gear. <a href="https://www.nathansports.com/peak-insulated-speeddraw-flask-4876n" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Nathan</span> </a>for the Peak waist pak that holds not only water (since it's nice and hot even at 4 am here) but also my phone and mp3 player. Also for my favorite handlight, the <a href="https://www.nathansports.com/zephyr-fire-300-hand-torch-led-light-5091" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Zephyr Fire 300</span></a>. <a href="https://aftershokz.com/collections/all" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">AfterShokz</span></a> for the headphones that 1) don't block any outside noises so I can still hear cars and other stuff around me but also 2) have already survived many sweaty hours and still work great. <a href="https://www.altrarunning.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Altra</span></a> for my new favorite shoes. I've put tons of miles on them and they still feel wonderful. <a href="http://www.drymaxsports.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">DryMax</span></a> socks for some pretty cool foot protection. I haven't had blisters yet. <a href="http://victorysportdesign.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Victory Sportdesign</span></a> for bags to organize my extra clothes that I leave at work. And <a href="https://www.trailtoes.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Trail Toes</span></a> for anti chaffing cream to keep my thighs happy after running in the heat and humidity.<br />
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<br />matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-36904438898026414082018-06-29T14:01:00.001-07:002018-06-29T14:01:35.810-07:00Tapering is a Sin<div style="text-align: center;">
It’s Not My Fault If You Choose To Follow My Husband’s Advice</div>
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Issue #6</div>
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Tapering is a Sin</div>
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I always read people’s week-before-a-race comments about how they need to cut down the miles and make sure their body is all ready for the race. And I guess if you’re an elite pro, that might be kinda important. But for the rest of us, why are you killing yourself on all those other weeks? Enjoy your “training” (happy Marc?). Run nice and easy all the time and you have no need for prepping for a race because you’re already ready.<br />
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Here’s what I do the week before a race:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Run every day- however much and for however long I feel is good</li>
<li>Don’t eat anything new/weird that I don’t know how my body is going to respond to it</li>
<li>Try to sleep a lot all week (especially if I know I’m gonna be up all night racing)</li>
<li>Cut my toenails about a week before the race (so they’re not sore from cutting them too short)</li>
<li>Make a list of the things I will/might need during the race and after the race (it sucks when you start freezing post-race due to calorie deficiencies and you only brought tank tops and shorts cause it’s hot outside)</li>
<li>Charge all my head/hand lights (or bring spare batteries)</li>
<li>Double check that I am bringing my water pack</li>
<li>Make sure I have directions to the park</li>
<li>Sleep in a tent at the park the night before the race so I don’t have far to go in the morning and can sleep all night</li>
<li>Don’t get hurt (<a href="https://marathonsareforwusses.blogspot.com/2018/06/dont-get-hurt.html" target="_blank">see Issue #4</a>)</li>
<li>Make sure your family comes to the race</li>
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matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-44329338990275264162018-06-15T10:08:00.000-07:002018-06-15T10:08:59.617-07:00Training Plans Are Dumb<div style="text-align: center;">
It’s Not My Fault If You Choose To Follow My Husband’s Advice</div>
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Issue #5</div>
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Training Plans Are Dumb</div>
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A long time ago I was running a 100-miler, Rocky Raccoon, for my third time. Some university was doing a study and we could volunteer to be a part of it. They sent us some questions pre-race and videoed us running by the spot where they set up camp for two days. This spot was of course where you needed to run because you didn’t want to be the one they all secretly laughed at when they rewatched the films- “Hey look at this guy walking...again!” But the point of this is one of the pre-race questions they asked: “What do you do for training?” And that got me thinking. What do I do for training?<br />
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<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/XrHVFV3IgQoz3b-zCDThbTVdZ3AABsil_Is94Rx31fuL2tpTQ1asel3saEB8oDXv4NGcp46W4oX-LHTnvAbnZCCWHUM0KADHGATuCK5UeugTDle1xFridZlsof36g3cJnuUPnYU0" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/XrHVFV3IgQoz3b-zCDThbTVdZ3AABsil_Is94Rx31fuL2tpTQ1asel3saEB8oDXv4NGcp46W4oX-LHTnvAbnZCCWHUM0KADHGATuCK5UeugTDle1xFridZlsof36g3cJnuUPnYU0" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="281" /></a>To me, training involves having a schedule of things you need to do beyond just going out and running. Monday- run 20 400s with 30 second walk breaks on the track. Tuesday is long run day- 8 miles at x:xx pace. Wednesday is a 5-mile tempo run- keep pace between x:xx and x:xx. Thursday is weights blah blah blah blah etc. etc. etc. Ever since I was helped into discovering how amazing running long distances is and found out how I could get my body to fairly efficiently do this, I never had a training plan. I just went out and ran. I simply liked running. It didn’t matter how long (as long as it was at least a mile) and it didn’t matter how fast (even if it was walking). I just had to go outside. If I felt good, I might pick up the pace a bit. Or not. If it was hot, let’s slow down so I don’t melt. Sure, I log all my miles, my pace, anyone I ran with, the weather, temperature, which shoes I wore, how I felt, the humidity, the loop- all that’s shown in the table below. (FYI-I almost always feel great. It’s easier to run when you don’t feel bad.) But all that information is for some future study that will need to know how I became the runner that I am. It’s my proof that what I do and say works. I don’t do much with the numbers.<br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-952d39c7-ef2f-461b-adaf-105b84b546d7"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="118" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/RL6NaphR6V-Hunp8xiOeeIFFLOxPkmUeVDEouEmT3UdWTZmxxdISnvAAUMdsS_zE065pMWtAfDF8Vz0cX0b-hFfuGtmrT8Rd9h2EyMdcFb8yKat3FQ4bz5nzqHvop_8VwtW4yZaI" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="400" /></span></span><br />
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So when I answered the researchers’ question about what I do for training, I replied with “I don’t consider anything I do as training. I just go out and run. If I feel good, I go faster or longer or just keep the same pace. If I feel bad, slow down. When I step out of the house, I think, today I’m gonna run 10 miles cause I feel this. Or I’m gonna just do this small 3 mile loop cause I feel that. Other than getting out of the house and running, I don’t have any other preconceived plan about what I’ll do.” That’s not exactly what I told them, but that’s the spirit of it.<br />
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A few other tidbits about my “training.” I run almost exclusively on the road or paved trails. The only time I get on non-paved surfaces is when I race. I live near Houston, and there are quite literally no hills. I might gain/lose 100 feet over 10 miles, and that’s if there’s an overpass I need to go up and over. The only hills/mountains I run on are when I race. My daily running is always done in road shoes. And unless it’s going to be raining, I wear my road shoes for race day too. I carry a watch that I got when I was in junior high so I can track total time while running. But I never look at it while I run until I’m back home and stop the timer. I don’t have a heart rate monitor. I don’t buy new shoes until they have a couple thousand miles on them. I never stretch or use a foam roller (wouldn’t even know how to use it correctly). I don’t do weightlifting (although I occasionally do this now--not for running but for my job as a firefighter). I don’t listen to music (although I do listen to books). When race weekend is coming up, I don’t do anything different in my “training” like tapering (which is also dumb). And in spite of all these things, I’ve never been injured and have had a rather successful (in my opinion) running career that is still in its infancy.<br />
<br />matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-8576520115408928852018-06-07T13:56:00.000-07:002018-06-07T13:56:12.418-07:00Don’t Get Hurt<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
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It’s Not My Fault If You Choose To Follow My Husband’s Advice</div>
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Issue #4</div>
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Don’t Get Hurt</div>
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This seems to go without saying. But some people just go and do it anyway. And there are several aspects that go into making sure you don’t get hurt.*</div>
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<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Don’t go fast </b></span>When a course has some slightly to horrendously technical sections, going fast is the best way to go if you want to hurt yourself. You’ll move a loose rock you just stepped on more than at a slower pace; you’ll have too much momentum going when you hit that little divot that rolls your ankle; you'll be kissing rocks with your knees or your face when you trip and fly ten feet. Just don't go fast. Run slow. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #cc0000;"><b>Choose the longest distance </b></b>If your race has multiple distances to choose from, choose the longest. That way you won’t be able to go fast. And if you do, you won’t for long. And if you don’t go fast, you won’t get hurt. I’m not saying you won’t trip and fall, but it won’t be as bad as that fast guy falling.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><b>Drink lots of water </b></b></span>I once made the mistake of not taking water with me for the last 40 miles of a 100-mile race because the temperature was dropping that night. I would drink at the aid stations, but didn’t have my pack with me for continuous hydration. I finished with an amazing time and place. However, when I was done chatting with friends post-race, I was ready to go to bed and got up only to pass out. Then again. Then my wife took me to the emergency room to get some fluids put back in me. I wasn’t seriously hurt, but I wouldn’t ever recommend going long without having a good water supply with you. It’s not worth the risk.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><b>Wear short shorts </b></b></span>Some people haven’t heard the secret of wearing shorty shorts. I won’t be the one to spill the beans, but you should definitely try it. It’s worth it.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><b>Don’t follow a training plan </b></b></span>They’re dumb. That’s all I have to say about them for now.</li>
</ol>
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*This is not an all-inclusive list. It also may be an over-inclusive list or insanely under-inclusive.</div>
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matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-37700125838365019552018-05-11T14:45:00.000-07:002018-05-11T14:46:00.394-07:00If Your Shoes Don't Have At Least 2,000 Miles On Them, You Don't Need New Ones<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">It’s Not My Fault If You Choose To Follow My Husband’s Advice</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Issue #3</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I should've bronzed these and put them on my buckle shelf</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’m cheap. I mean, really cheap. I don’t like buying stuff I don’t need (the kids make this a little bit of a grey area as we buy them lots of stuff they don’t need). I don’t like going out to eat at a restaurant. I don’t like buying new clothes. I don’t need a second car. I don’t have a flat screen TV. You get the idea. And I’ve been like this my whole life. Before I was part of Team TROT, I was a runner clothed in whatever was cheapest at Academy (sports store) or Ross. If it was over $40, I didn’t need it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Running is the earliest sport and most inexpensive. It was one of the first things humans did (even if it wasn’t sport) and it required very little, if any, equipment. Just get out and go somewhere. This is one thing that appeals to me about running. And even now that I have sponsors for some of my equipment, it’s hard for me to let go of who I am.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />The way I used to pick out running shoes was to go to Academy, find the section that had running shoes that were between $30-$50, and try them on. One shoe on one foot and a different one on the other. I’d run up and down the aisle, and the winner would go on to the next round. This would continue until I had found my shoe for the next year. I know that early humans couldn’t buy shoes, but at 11 cents per day, I could afford these shoes.<br />It didn’t matter if they were trail or road shoes. In fact, I didn’t know there were such differences when I started running ultras. I was at Cactus Rose 100 going up a hill, and a guy behind me asked if my shoes were road shoes. I didn’t know what to say. “I guess so.” They were road shoes (as I now know), but they worked fine and got me through that and several other trail races.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Anyway, back to the point of this. I never wanted my running habit (as I was running more and more and racing more too) to become expensive. I knew that running shoes were expensive. Companies tell you to replace your running shoes every 300-500 miles. But I couldn’t afford to buy a new pair of running shoes every month and a half. So I wouldn’t. And I found out that nothing happened. So I kept running in them. And running. And running, until they literally fell apart. I remember the first time that happened and I recalled a pair of running shoes that I used in high school. I had them from sophomore year until i graduated. All the rubber on the bottom was worn off, duct tape surrounded both toe boxes, and they were comfortable as hell.<br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For the last 3-4 years, </span><a href="https://www.altrarunning.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Altra</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> has been a sponsor for the team. And although it took me a little while to get onboard with running with these shoes, I really love them. They have a wide toe box, zero drop soles (heel and toe at same level), and a great selection of trail and road shoes with minimal to maximum cushioning levels.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYrkLHra5S9z8qAqLnTHv4WUkjMoVnYwpCT-1ajYaAgVHHDsfVMg2Mq5LniUos1_eeJTi1QdJkkJ-scgtWRO_XedPxx3ypdXoavsCvm-rBJKSeXUia3BKU2I7zmrZmy-MnahzINDyOXU/s1600/Untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="329" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYrkLHra5S9z8qAqLnTHv4WUkjMoVnYwpCT-1ajYaAgVHHDsfVMg2Mq5LniUos1_eeJTi1QdJkkJ-scgtWRO_XedPxx3ypdXoavsCvm-rBJKSeXUia3BKU2I7zmrZmy-MnahzINDyOXU/s320/Untitled.jpg" width="287" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, I don’t know if I have some perfect stride or the perfect foot strike or whatever and that this is the reason for me not getting hurt while putting a ton of miles on each pair of shoe that I own. But I can tell you that I’m never injured. I’ve been tracking my shoe miles since 2010 and the table shows when I purchased and retired the shoes with how many miles each have. Form your own opinions. Share them if you so choose. Experiment on your own. Just don’t get hurt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">#ZeroDrop</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">@altrarunning</span></div>
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matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-5048857698432777622018-05-04T14:43:00.001-07:002018-05-04T14:43:30.896-07:00Talk to Other Runners<b style="font-weight: normal;"><div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-4f772740-2d1b-2525-1129-bc390af2254f" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s Not My Fault If You Choose To Follow My Husband’s Advice</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Issue #2</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Talk to Other Runners</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m not a very outgoing person, especially if I don’t know you. I don’t typically like meeting new people and stepping out of my comfort zone. This very much includes talking to complete strangers. However, running ultras has sorta changed that part of me. I still don’t talk to lots of people, but I race-chat a lot more now than I ever did when I started this back in 2011. And I really enjoy it. The talking may be just for five minutes while our paces match or it may end up being 85 miles (a 15+ hour date!). There are so many different reasons for race-chatting. I’ll try to get all the angles on why you should talk to other runners while you run. They are in no particular order, except when I quiz you on them at the next race.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pass the time</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Talking to others will keep your mind off the pain, suffering, boredom, low points, etc. that you might be enduring. Before you know it, you’ve gone 10 miles and it happened so effortlessly.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">They feel better</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can’t confirm this one. And I know what assuming does, but I’m assuming that they feel good too since I do.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You know you’re running the right pace</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When you can carry a conversation without constantly losing your breath, you’re going at a pace that can be continued for a long time. One of my hugest advices is to run at conversation pace.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You get to know someone new/make friends</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now that we’re adults, we kinda suck at making new friends. You may never hear from this person again. You may end up being bff’s. They may be a name you’ve heard of but now can put a face to (unless you’re a Facebook stalker). Maybe you already sorta know them, but now you can find out something more. And maybe you like them enough that you want to spend the rest of your life running with them and Rob Goyen marries the two of you after you finish your first 50-miler as a couple.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gives you a break/picks up your pace</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes we’re silly and don’t correctly pace ourselves even though we know better. This can be your opportunity to slow down and give your muscles a chance to recharge. Or it might be that someone faster came by and you picked up your pace to run with them for 10 minutes and that got you out of your walking rut.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You’re not gonna win anyway, so have some fun</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With the exception of a few people in each race, none of us really expect to win. We’re out there to challenge ourselves. Going a little slower at one point isn’t going to ruin your race or be a pace killer. It might be just what you needed when you’re at a low point at your race and you reflect back on this fun memory that your new friend shared earlier that day.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You get to see that your race/distance is not the only one out there</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Races with varying distances usually have staggered start times so not everyone is crammed onto the narrow trails in one spot at one time. Maybe you never knew of 50-mile or 100-mile races. Talking to one of these “crazies” might spark your curiosity and cause you to discover what your real limits are and become one of these normal people.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You feel better (aka-the selfish reason)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">According to a show I used to watch, there is no such thing as a selfless act. The real reason why you are nice and talk to others while running (whether you think of this or not, but now you will) is because it makes you feel better. And races are so much easier to endure if you just feel good all the time.</span></div>
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<br /></b><br />matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-30472221946744189062018-04-25T08:22:00.001-07:002018-04-25T08:24:59.658-07:00Running and Ice Cream Will Solve All of Your Problems<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
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It’s Not My Fault If You Choose To Follow My Husband’s Advice</div>
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Issue #1</div>
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Running and Ice Cream Will Solve All of Your Problems</div>
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After some races I get to talking with people and my goofy advice always comes out. And just recently, I decided that I would like to share why my advice isn’t as goofy as one might think.</div>
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But I feel like I should preface this and every article that I write with one my wife’s favorite sayings at races: “It’s not my fault if you choose to follow my husband’s advice.”</div>
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Feeling sick? Headache? Lonely? Depressed? Anxious? Tired? Hungry? Stressed out? Getting over a bad break up? Don’t want to get out of bed? Overworked and underappreciated? No coffee? Frustrated? Kids driving you crazy?</div>
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Whatever it is, running can solve it. You might not be at a time in your life when physical activity is as easy as it was when you were 15, but that’s ok. You gotta start somewhere. Go outside. Walk. Jog. Run. Whatever you want to call it is fine. Just go out and do it. You might only be able to go for 10 minutes before you call it quits. Maybe you can’t run 3 miles without walking. So what! Don’t make excuses. Just get outside and do what you can. Don’t hurt yourself by pushing yourself to limits that shouldn’t be explored for several months or years down the road. But go outside and do what you can. It doesn’t matter if it’s in some beautiful forest or your favorite hiking trail or on the sidewalk around your neighborhood block. Getting outside and running (or whatever) will help with the problem. I won’t tell you how. You get to figure that part out only if you make the commitment to yourself to consistently get outside and run. Don’t take any headphones or music. They won’t help you solve your problem. Go out and just run. Do it several times a week. Make it a priority. Find your answers. And since you’re out running, you might as well reward yourself with some ice cream. Don’t make it boring vanilla either, unless you’re having a rootbeer float. Try rocky road unless you’re allergic to nuts. Then just give it to me.</div>
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matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-87695607387912730542018-01-07T18:00:00.000-08:002018-01-07T18:01:46.227-08:00Here Comes The Sun (do do do do)<br />
There are two things that bug the bejesus out of me while trail running. The first is seeing trash on the trail (or anywhere for that matter). Ask my kids what their new punishment is. The other is as follows:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwE6icw-rT7M1IOSjM2WDN-TgFY4dOgVp2UbCtkgvVcrFUlmE2zuq8zyfdNu4bIcxXyD3gxz9y4mi1kQPXMAIm_TAm9PJdxcLhy8SDY4uf31_Q-JzN2OuNvJWer0EjKWs-AAAAbGhEFio/s1600/bright+light.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="577" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwE6icw-rT7M1IOSjM2WDN-TgFY4dOgVp2UbCtkgvVcrFUlmE2zuq8zyfdNu4bIcxXyD3gxz9y4mi1kQPXMAIm_TAm9PJdxcLhy8SDY4uf31_Q-JzN2OuNvJWer0EjKWs-AAAAbGhEFio/s320/bright+light.jpg" width="320" /></a>While finishing the last 20 miles of my race, I had to bring out my light so I could see since the sun decided to go down before I could finish. My current location on the course contained two-way traffic. Over and over, as a fellow runner came toward me, this was my view (unless they had a pacer, then double the lights). Now, as fun as looking into the sun and then attempting to keep running while blind for a few seconds may sound, I really hate it. This caused me to reflect back to my early days of running ultras and the lights I used. My first headlamp was about $10, used one AA battery, had two itty bitty LED lights, and (now that I look at the output) I swear was only good for reading a book while not moving at all. I don't know how I could see the trail as I ran through rooty forests or up and down crazy rocky hills with that tiny little candle on my forehead. Fast-forward a couple years and I bought a brighter one which worked much better until it got too temperamental to be trusted anymore.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYxqGGk3YBgWHfvQr_hTKZclWM-73MDMozHIGhm90pXG_str-QQlL0byyrovLSJmPmp_EfN2GHq2NpNhIJftkUnhNc6H4QDmfTKbDt-tUvY4P9xP3enMtWGnMRDrI1zXMxjXjVke-GH8/s1600/ns5091-0015-00.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="768" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiYxqGGk3YBgWHfvQr_hTKZclWM-73MDMozHIGhm90pXG_str-QQlL0byyrovLSJmPmp_EfN2GHq2NpNhIJftkUnhNc6H4QDmfTKbDt-tUvY4P9xP3enMtWGnMRDrI1zXMxjXjVke-GH8/s200/ns5091-0015-00.png" title="Zephyr Fire 300" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.nathansports.com/zephyr-fire-300-hand-torch-led-light-5091" target="_blank">Zephyr Fire 300 (link to product)</a></td></tr>
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What I currently use isn't a headlamp. It's a hand torch (flashlight) from <a href="https://www.nathansports.com/zephyr-fire-300-hand-torch-led-light-5091" target="_blank">Nathan</a> (click for link to product). I have never liked having anything in my hands while I run. My hands are happiest when they're empty. So I was a little hesitant to get the hand torch. However, as you can see, it has a little wristlet doohickey that allows you to hold it without needing to really grasp it. (It's also great for when you trip over roots so you don't lose your light.) The light is already angled downwards. This allows you to see all that you need and allows oncoming traffic to not be blinded. I've used it through most of the night before, even though the webpage claims only 6 hours on low.<br />
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Now, I'm not saying you need this particular light. But please remember that when your mini sun on your forehead is fooling the squirrels into thinking it's morning, every oncoming runner you encounter is getting blinded because your light isn't angled properly. Please be courteous to your fellow trail nerds.<br />
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matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-74367271187179790472017-05-09T08:46:00.000-07:002017-05-09T08:46:09.675-07:00Wildflower Race Recap OR How to not end up walking at the end of an ultramarathon<b style="font-weight: normal;"><div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-1c43d43c-ede1-85e9-a56f-6b5577dcc1f3" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">So I ran </span><a href="http://www.trailracingovertexas.com/wildflower-half/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Wildflower </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">this last weekend and I told myself it’s just a 50k and it’ll be over before I know it. But the other part of my brain told me that since it’s shorter, I’ll have to run faster. And I hate running fast. And before you think that, the terms ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ are all relative. Your fast is someone else’s slow and vice versa. And your slow at the beginning of a race may be lightning fast at the end of your race.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">How to run right (according to me)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Let me preface this all with what a gold shiny friend once said about me: “He has been known to make mistakes...from time to time.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m too cheap to get a Garmin or Suunto or whatever. I learned to run by listening to my body. It might sound like I’m some Zen man or whatever, but it’s the only way I know how to describe it. And I use this to help me with my long 50-100 milers. Maybe the same concept works with shorter runs. I don’t know. Try it out. So here’s what I’ve learned that works great for me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If you go too fast for too long, your muscles will die out before you’re mentally ready to quit. So you have to slow down at the beginning. It’s a little annoying because you feel so fresh and you just want to go at the pace you feel comfortable with. But believe me, ‘future you’ is gonna open a can in about three hours down the trails. And it won’t be pretty. Lots of people will be ahead of you and the competitive devil inside you will try to convince you to speed up. But for most of us, we’re not out here trying to win. We’ve all got various reasons for why we torture ourselves (as others consider it). You need to keep your body’s work output lower than what it can produce from your “energy reservoirs” and the awesome aid station all-you-can-eat buffets. Otherwise you’re using up energy faster than you can produce it, ‘future you’ becomes ‘present you,’ and then Pandora’s Box is opened. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">How do I know when I’m going to fast? Again, I never even look at the watch I carry. It’s strictly used to keep track of overall time when I finish my run. You could use a heart rate monitor and do whatever calculations keep you below your max heart rate. But that’s a lot of work. I feel that heart rate is closely connected with breathing rate. All I need to do is listen to my breathing rate and that doesn’t cost me a fancy anything. If I’m breathing hard and fast, my heart is beating too fast, and I’m running too fast. And ‘future me’ tells me to slow down. My favorite pace is what I call ‘conversation pace.’ I’m pretty sure I got this from the Bible*. It states that if you’re running too fast to hold a long conversation with someone, you’re running too fast (for a long endurance run). </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My race recap from this last weekend’s </span><a href="http://www.trailracingovertexas.com/wildflower-half/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Wildflower 50k</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> at Bastrop SP</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">There were five 10k loops. My times were 55 minutes, 53, 56, 59, and 61. Consistency goes along with paying attention to your breathing. I know I could’ve ran a much faster first and probably second lap, but then my other laps would’ve been incredibly slower. I have found that consistent pace with a jog is better than a fast run followed by slow walking. I found a pace that felt slow enough that I’d be able to hold it throughout the race. I was by myself for a lot of the time- sometimes this can be difficult because there isn’t anyone to encourage you, but it can also be good as you won’t get sucked into someone else’s race pace. I vaguely remember stopping at the aid stations to refill water, pick up some pbj’s and gels, get a sponge of ice water over my head, and then be on my way. But I know that the volunteers helped get me back out on the course a lot faster than I could’ve done on my own. Huge thanks to all of them.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Gear Used</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Shoes:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><a href="https://www.altrarunning.com/men/lone-peak-3-neoshell-low" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Altra Lone Peak NEO</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- I’ve mentioned this before but I’ll say it again. I don’t think this was the purpose in the design for the shoe, but there were plenty of sandy spots on the course and after finishing the race and removing my shoes, I had NO SAND at all in my shoes. Just sayin’.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Water:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><a href="https://www.nathansports.com/peak-insulated-speeddraw-flask-4876n" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Nathan Peak waist pak</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- The aid station was only 3-3.5 miles away and the insulated 18 oz bottle was plenty large enough to keep me hydrated and keep the water colder for longer.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Gear Bag:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><a href="http://victorysportdesign.com/?product=kodiak" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Victory Sportdesign Kodiak</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- I love the moveable dividers on the inside. I also like to put another one of my Victory bags (the </span><a href="http://victorysportdesign.com/?product=bear-iii" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Bear III</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">) inside of the Kodiak for even more organization.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">*The Bible being referenced here is “Born To Run” by Christopher McDougall.</span></div>
<br /></b><br />matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-70076901948568277392017-05-09T08:43:00.000-07:002017-05-09T08:43:31.449-07:00Brazos Bend 50- April 2017<b style="font-weight: normal;"><div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-94e4d81e-edce-040f-8bd6-40031049847d" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I had just tied my shoes and was finishing up my breakfast which consisted of a small handful of granola from Katie Graff, when all of a sudden I heard Rob Goyen counting down "5, 4, 3, 2, 1, GO!" and I thought to myself, "Well, I should probably put my drop bag by the aid station and start this race." It's one thing I love about ultra running- there is an overall hurry but a minute or two lost here and there don't really make much of a difference. </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/dC72U2-pNlgpCl9HphTGi9rURNc7Cx5SpMPCBBj3zYSe8g4eycSCXfCcaDCnmyZeymqi0A=s400" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/dC72U2-pNlgpCl9HphTGi9rURNc7Cx5SpMPCBBj3zYSe8g4eycSCXfCcaDCnmyZeymqi0A=s400" width="176" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The weather was beautiful for a long run, but I knew it wasn't gonna stay that way and was ready for the upcoming heat. I had my Nathan 4L water pack which has two 18 ounce water bottles in front and I put a 2L empty bladder in the back in case I started going through water too quickly. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I took pbj's at the first several aid stations so I could have some real food for fuel before I switched to gels. And this is about all I ate throughout the whole race- I was promised a certain ice cream truck was gonna stop by but I must have missed him.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I ran the race by myself the whole time. Usually I like to find people to talk to and run with for awhile, but I didn't do that this time. I got to spend the morning entertaining myself. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The race has an out-and-back section with a turnaround at 4 miles before the finish. This is my least favorite part as it seems to get longer and longer each next time you run it. On my first of three laps I counted runners ahead of me. I was in 13th place. I didn't know what to expect, but decided to go about this one like every other race: find a nice sustainable pace and maintain it til I finish. I think it's the best way to run ultras. It's not easy as you have to run slow when you have plenty of energy. But the tradeoff is that at the end, you'll still be jogging instead of walking. And walking sucks (at least to me). It takes a lot of patience to know that there are people ahead of you and that you could easily pick up the pace and catch them. But I've done this enough times to know that patience pays off. Eventually. It just took a couple hours til they slowed down and I passed them.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/xEcg-ZXkwF7Ivi9gbEouQw7q6oBM4rNpqCTT8V_laIWOy5Nuphjx2qtV-j1Ttv2nSmgQdQ=s400" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/xEcg-ZXkwF7Ivi9gbEouQw7q6oBM4rNpqCTT8V_laIWOy5Nuphjx2qtV-j1Ttv2nSmgQdQ=s400" width="212" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">By my third and final lap, there were runners from other distances on the course and I had a hard time knowing exactly which place I was in. So I stopped worrying about it and just kept running. But the goofy me saw two opportunities to have even more fun than just running 50 miles. With about 100 meters to finish my second lap, I saw Bhakti Chavda up ahead. I got close to her and them with about three steps to the finish I jumped between her and her friend and said "I beat ya Bhakti." I still had another lap to complete and didn't dint at the aid station long enough to let her yell at me for scaring her. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The other opportunity for fun presented itself on the dreaded forever-long out-and-back section. I had seen another friend, Lisa Decker, a number of times on the course. This time I got her. I snuck up on her as best as my I've-already-ran-43-miles legs could and I jumped and grabbed her shoulders. We laughed and hugged it out. I might owe her some Fireball now. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Back to the race. I felt awesome the whole time. No down times. And that helped me run the entire time. I never stopped except to pick up my pbj's and refill water bottles. Proper pacing is the key to success. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I used an ice bandana on my neck through the last two laps. I filled up my 2L water bladder with 12 miles left. It was nice not having 4 pounds of water on my back for most of the race. </span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/IVJJySAS2dL6MhgwK1zk_Khgl_lT18BYu5TCGrS8ksoatc9IvCmu9Y5D-Xw8UBrm56FK4g=s400" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/IVJJySAS2dL6MhgwK1zk_Khgl_lT18BYu5TCGrS8ksoatc9IvCmu9Y5D-Xw8UBrm56FK4g=s400" width="176" /></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I saw Luis Murillo coming back from the turn around, just a few minutes ahead of me. I never caught up to him, but was glad that I was almost done. I came into the last aid station and gave Rachel Adamson her last sweaty hug and thanked the volunteers for being there for us. My middle son Drew was waiting for me to race me to the finish with 100 meters left. He beat me. And then I was told that I was 3rd place. I really didn't expect that and had long since lost count of my place. I finished a few minutes behind my TROT teammate Luis Murillo for the second race in a row. I didn't beat my time from my first time out here, but it wasn't a bad time. I finished in 7 hours 15 minutes (8:42 pace). I was able to enjoy the rest of the afternoon talking with friends and hanging out (another great part of trail racing).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Four things I learned about the alligators in the park: don't feed them; don't approach them; don't annoy them; don't molest them. I'd have to agree with the last one.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Shoes: Altra Torin 2.5</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Water needs: Nathan 4L Krar vest</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Gear bag: Victory Sportdesign Kodiak</span></div>
<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></b><br />matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-88900298330652099092017-02-05T12:00:00.001-08:002017-02-05T12:00:57.477-08:00Why?Since 2011, I have raced in several 100-mile races. And with the exception of one that has foiled me twice, I feel I have done fairly well while racing. For a few reasons, I did not compete in this year's Rocky Raccoon 100. It was a very hard decision to make as I have raced it very successfully over the last six years. A friend of mine decided that he was going to run his first 100-miler at Rocky. He completed the Habanero 100 (100k) for his first ultra. And since I was not going to be racing, I felt that I should ask if he wouldn't mind if I helped crew and pace him for the last forty miles. I never dreamed of how much this would affect me.<br />
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His first two laps were what I expected. The third was much slower. As I waited for him for two and a half hours, the lazy part of me wanted him to have already decided to quit because I was getting tired and wanted to go to sleep. He came by and I happened to see him. I quickly got up and ran over to him. He was very upbeat and ready to go out. My sleep would have to be put on hold for a while.<br />
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I have never paced anybody so I could only guess how I should handle this. I know how I like to be paced, but I did not know if the same would apply for him. We talked about various things, joked around, and avoided root snakes. For the most part, I stayed about 10-15 paces ahead of him. It felt weird, but my thoughts were that he would see me start to run and then he would just follow. I could be his voice in his head (I am the good angel of course) urging him on. It worked very well. We worried a little bit about making the cut-off times, but it all worked out and he finished.<br />
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But that is not what I really wanted to talk about. I was thinking about why I race 100-milers and love them so much. They remind me about life. Some parts suck or cause you pain and you just have to get through them. Sometimes you are on the top of the world and nothing can stop you. You get a reward for persevering to the end. There are countless people, most of whom you do not know and will never see again, that are part of your life for a little while and you get to share your life with them before they disappear, sometimes forever. No matter how great or seemingly insignificant you are, there are tons of people pulling for you to be successful. You are never alone. The amount of time that you are out there varies for everyone. To be successful, you need to learn from your mistakes and hopefully share that knowledge with others. Sometimes, no matter how well you prepare, your plans fall apart and you need a Plan B or C. Sometimes you fail, so you try again and again until you figure it out. I'm sure that I can add more if I ponder it during my next race.<br />
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I am so fortunate to be a part of Team TROT and the other running families that my family has met. Never in my life did I ever expect to have so many wonderful friends that I can consider family. I cannot imagine a life without running. It is truly a necessity in life.matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-3651942282940197182016-02-01T16:02:00.001-08:002016-02-01T16:09:38.730-08:00How Can I Possibly Train for an Ultra if I Have a Family?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNbZUEtaka0ehjh4P6IIgIZHBdsWb-v_CGuP3pY1-lwIw8CA_jOZGBnrgS8nQx0VkgXGj3A6e5eIazWXxOq-4P83nLL3aR8355HwyIEzAdvn2NnnER6MNbrviCEmBpWfXRlM3s9ry564/s1600/DSCN5398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNbZUEtaka0ehjh4P6IIgIZHBdsWb-v_CGuP3pY1-lwIw8CA_jOZGBnrgS8nQx0VkgXGj3A6e5eIazWXxOq-4P83nLL3aR8355HwyIEzAdvn2NnnER6MNbrviCEmBpWfXRlM3s9ry564/s320/DSCN5398.JPG" width="320" /></a>Spending time with my family has never detracted from my
running. Or is it that even with the few thousand miles I log each year,
running has never stolen my family time? However you put it, my family is part
of my running and vice versa. I have been running ultras since 2011. At that
time, we had two kids and the oldest was almost four years old. However, this
was not when the ‘crazy’ long runs started. I had been logging long runs on the
weekends for over a year by this time. At the time, this was training for birthday
runs since I had no idea the ultra world even existed. With two young kids, I wanted
them to be a part of my runs and to raise them seeing how fun running could be.
Actually, I wanted my wife to have a few hours to herself while I was off ‘playing.’
We had previously purchased a double jogging stroller and if it knew how many
miles that I was going to expose it to, it would have convinced its former
owners not to sell it on Craigslist. I wore through one set of tires and ended
up putting about 2600 miles on the stroller overall.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64mB_bcw1EqvWbOr9VJA5XXJ1K8swWuvC-Zin6SqOwyRTf0ah_FQea6RHHRQHEbYbxacUwSpDuJO8xVvZyiHU1dTOPflC506YCI8xYIkfbGAV5Tz47g9bonNAK4ZpWgLU_iwut4YO5-s/s1600/DSCN7371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64mB_bcw1EqvWbOr9VJA5XXJ1K8swWuvC-Zin6SqOwyRTf0ah_FQea6RHHRQHEbYbxacUwSpDuJO8xVvZyiHU1dTOPflC506YCI8xYIkfbGAV5Tz47g9bonNAK4ZpWgLU_iwut4YO5-s/s320/DSCN7371.JPG" width="240" /></a>The boys were 2 ½ years and 6 months old when I started
recording that I brought them with me on my runs (though I am pretty sure I
started much earlier than that). At first, they would cry, sometimes for very
long stretches. But I just kept pushing them trying to ignore the awful
screaming. Eventually they got used to it and I would take them out with me
every weekend on two to three-hour runs. If it was cold outside, we made sure
to bundle them up and cover them with blankets. When it rained, we clipped a
clear plastic table cloth around the stroller. When it was dark, we had little
flashy lights. They had toys to play with, sippy cups, and even some snacks
when they were older.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRasgZ9oDypgN_ZevL9fQtBnf4VVB5SIH7cLYUy3rgy1Q94u73owsjF6nV44m5s9i3s1DmTURoA9cwMqYwH6Y4CwjEgj67Cjqh1jss5AsXU8BATdiWy9mCLqVSdzbSb_5XTRdeHo5d938/s1600/DSCN9563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRasgZ9oDypgN_ZevL9fQtBnf4VVB5SIH7cLYUy3rgy1Q94u73owsjF6nV44m5s9i3s1DmTURoA9cwMqYwH6Y4CwjEgj67Cjqh1jss5AsXU8BATdiWy9mCLqVSdzbSb_5XTRdeHo5d938/s320/DSCN9563.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
We had also purchased a bike trailer that my wife would
use to bike with me while pulling the kids behind her. I remember a time that
we took a paved park trail out ten miles and then had a little family picnic
before we turned around and came back home.<br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Once I discovered ultras, my family was right there to
support me. At that time, my wife had a hard job of crewing for a rookie and
taking care of two crazy boys. But I think she understood how important running
was for me and was willing to help me in any way possible.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4bjV-ZR5uy0vGFFbYz88ClPY_AQS6osjEr3mWiqilZf5FElL_x98o1JvMN6_6KB64cPFNEY75NQzDherrR_zANrZ897aQWXJRB32VVZWsWMLoygM1T7MFRiAIbs7u9e1YAvsuyazLI0/s1600/DSCN5861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4bjV-ZR5uy0vGFFbYz88ClPY_AQS6osjEr3mWiqilZf5FElL_x98o1JvMN6_6KB64cPFNEY75NQzDherrR_zANrZ897aQWXJRB32VVZWsWMLoygM1T7MFRiAIbs7u9e1YAvsuyazLI0/s320/DSCN5861.JPG" width="240" /></a>As the boys grew, pushing the stroller became more
difficult, but I just figured it was my weight training since I hated going to
the gym. And then we had another kid. Right from birth (well, maybe a week
later) she was stuck into the double jogging stroller with her two older
brothers. They would care for her while we went out running. And if you’re
wondering how three kids fit in a double jogging stroller, the middle kid got
the pleasure of sitting on the foot rest in the front. We both learned some
good lessons. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned that stopping quickly was not good for him. He learned to keep his feet up off the ground or
he might get run over.<br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
These almost daily stroller outings continued for about
two years. As time passed, the kids kept growing and it seemed like they were
growing so quickly. It got to the point that it was really difficult for me to
turn the stroller or even keep it going true (straight) as it would constantly
pull to one side. Maybe the stroller wasn’t meant for carrying a 6, 4, and 2
year-old at the same time. I did a lot more solo running for the next year.
Occasionally, my wife would take the boys in the bike trailer and I would push
the youngest in a jogging stroller.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Then the magic happened. Our (then) 7 year-old learned
how to ride a bike. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within the next year
the (then) 6 year-old learned. Then within the next year, the (then) 3 ½ year-old
learned. Now the youngest is four but can ride a normal-sized kid bike just
like her two older brothers. I often take all three kids throughout the
neighborhoods. They learn bike safety and get to show me all their ‘tricks’
like riding with no feet or with only one hand or something else really goofy.
When my wife needs to sleep in on the weekends, I like to take them a couple
miles away to a nearby park. There is a paved half-mile trail around a
playground and I will run three to six miles while they run around and play and
say hi to me every time I pass. Then we will go back home. Sometimes my wife
will come too and they will all ride bikes next to me for five miles. Then they
will let me continue on while they turn around and head back to a park. I will
get my miles in while they will get biking time and playground exercise. And
all is well.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBzecARp69j0HMJldvzio3FieHKnm8_UH2TDZzCTq3A03j9-p7iXxYSqPLGBGhyphenhyphenkwMBaJXPiKHJVOOuCpwJTmgzPiC1gg5wcyQQ52S_qmPoI6iV81Y1gSV8Ep9RM0D5eRs9WgqEDLqjgg/s1600/2014-02-01+16.46.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBzecARp69j0HMJldvzio3FieHKnm8_UH2TDZzCTq3A03j9-p7iXxYSqPLGBGhyphenhyphenkwMBaJXPiKHJVOOuCpwJTmgzPiC1gg5wcyQQ52S_qmPoI6iV81Y1gSV8Ep9RM0D5eRs9WgqEDLqjgg/s320/2014-02-01+16.46.02.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This may not work as easily for everyone. My wife and
kids are readily supportive of my running and have no aversion to camping for a
couple days while I get all sweaty and smelly. I try to make it up to my wife
by taking her on dates to various musicals, writing a silly poem, or just out
to dinner. I want her to know that I truly love her participation in my
seemingly crazy runner’s life. The ultra runner’s life may require a lot of
compromising. But try it out. It might just make you a better person. </div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQs5qZJpiQkS2yvkpyQr2bjimhXs0BsYKUfn56yMegjZPjNjY8kjVlSgL6uSw2XqJgezYk5xf6b406K5pKwC4hlPz8zjMpv6-uEy_0yqUTHD3pCSWqzFIRnVo9ish069c7SdRnmnmPRc/s1600/2014-02-01+16.43.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQs5qZJpiQkS2yvkpyQr2bjimhXs0BsYKUfn56yMegjZPjNjY8kjVlSgL6uSw2XqJgezYk5xf6b406K5pKwC4hlPz8zjMpv6-uEy_0yqUTHD3pCSWqzFIRnVo9ish069c7SdRnmnmPRc/s320/2014-02-01+16.43.45.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-82257929795940843982015-11-24T15:10:00.001-08:002015-11-24T15:10:53.186-08:00Franklin Mountains Trail Run<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Franklin Mountains Trail Run</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 2015</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzaGuVWtVzh8w_qUvXwWW_o3miRdQ3BjDQ-sAKWdQsHG4cT6cKTeN3AUtDhNv0AOA8LOOCgA7V9wQHThaNtR96CrtpZIwAQbLNtTNXWo29M3wDpKParCLYy4e3VSpGC8E8MlweG2h1TlY/s1600/12246727_10100176155500521_2786204408181890301_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzaGuVWtVzh8w_qUvXwWW_o3miRdQ3BjDQ-sAKWdQsHG4cT6cKTeN3AUtDhNv0AOA8LOOCgA7V9wQHThaNtR96CrtpZIwAQbLNtTNXWo29M3wDpKParCLYy4e3VSpGC8E8MlweG2h1TlY/s320/12246727_10100176155500521_2786204408181890301_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the peak of North Franklin Mountains</td></tr>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve only run one mountain race before and I was so excited when the planets aligned and I found a way to get out to El Paso to run a mountain 50k in Texas (of all places). The 760-mile drive out there was long and with two people I never met before (but got to be super good friends with by the time we got home--thanks Robyn and Brian).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwzhF6dSoSQQsHCPBXvlOUItRV_jp2SYjXFBydq0lGQeOo_xTr1MKW98xCbh2G_SxOr_j6w_IYJqy5Fh3AWK4him69Fili68Scsw4qnk12tONlqGVvH-E6nB2328tkMIRZEMhMXkPepc/s1600/12241340_1715137888720837_4746657881392025670_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwzhF6dSoSQQsHCPBXvlOUItRV_jp2SYjXFBydq0lGQeOo_xTr1MKW98xCbh2G_SxOr_j6w_IYJqy5Fh3AWK4him69Fili68Scsw4qnk12tONlqGVvH-E6nB2328tkMIRZEMhMXkPepc/s320/12241340_1715137888720837_4746657881392025670_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">Packet pickup was interesting. A ton of people came by to hear the legend Gordy Ainsleigh, who was going to be running his first ultra in Texas. It was way cool to hear him speak even though I had no intention of actually talking to him or anything like that. Just being in his presence was pretty cool.</span><br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The night before the race I went through my packet pickup bag and put whatever I was going to need into my race bag. I woke up around 4:30 am to make sure we got to the park by 5 am and got a close parking spot. I was just walking around by myself because that’s what I like to do before a race, and I realized that I didn’t have my ankle timing chip on. So I went back to my drop bag to get it. It wasn’t there. “Hey Rob? I’m a big dummy. I forgot my chip back at the hotel.” “Remind me when you finish. It’ll be all hectic, but we’ll make it work.” I kept wandering around ‘til we were told to move over to the starting area. I wasn’t anywhere near the front, which is fine for me. But I didn’t realize that the single track for the first few miles was unpassable single track. Cactuses (or cacti for you grammar nazis) and other pokey plants lined the trail. I was stuck behind a long and slow caterpillar line. I could pass the guy in front of me, but I’d have to do that again and again seven more times. So I just waited and crawled along with the caterpillar. The trail joined up with another and this was an ATV trail. I took advantage of the extra space and basically sprinted by everyone that was anywhere close so I wouldn’t get stuck again. Although I have come to enjoy running with someone and talking, I still really enjoy being all by myself during ultras. It’s so peaceful and I love the feeling of being alone with my thoughts for extended periods. All alone is how I spent basically the next 29 miles. I saw people, but ran alone.</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNz-_vr_F8rMJzXhS0V7czkphQcxEH6OQIAlyfhTlTOyQXcpJ3NkHC82OYyLoRUMbYyWXiSPIfNZJIL5aoMOPg5cNY_qc5E_P_QA3YKW_pYyacfK1OAivMbUkn-UKtuO1BjbqQ69RmQ4c/s1600/12244292_1715147798719846_7040860044500239696_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNz-_vr_F8rMJzXhS0V7czkphQcxEH6OQIAlyfhTlTOyQXcpJ3NkHC82OYyLoRUMbYyWXiSPIfNZJIL5aoMOPg5cNY_qc5E_P_QA3YKW_pYyacfK1OAivMbUkn-UKtuO1BjbqQ69RmQ4c/s320/12244292_1715147798719846_7040860044500239696_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the peak. 7100 feet.</td></tr>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The trek up most of the mountain had a lot of switchbacks and was very runnable and I ran most of it. I had to walk as it got steeper because I was not going to spend a ton of energy when I had most of the race still ahead of me. Getting to Mundy’s Gap was great. After arriving at that aid station, I just had two miles of hard climbing to get to the top and then I was on easy street ‘til the end. The front runners started coming down as I was heading up. My lower back started to hurt, but I kept hiking up, knowing that the hard part was almost finished. Having counted the runners that passed me as I went up, I knew I was about 22nd (I lost track a few times as my mind wandered). </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br /><b style="font-weight: normal;"></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arriving at the top, I received my summit bracelet, shook Santiago’s hand, and began the fun descent. I stretched out my arms and pranced the whole way down.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbBCvRc0ZxuF8OIOB3HB-jnKx5hO3Ewuh3WXSWuekxC34ZeERql_x7HiwU-bpXVimcLdmXhoYTNBRtlO8xO03xVpxmmbaQJwc4JRtdMsvfZcmVCne_m4kM2oaX-UWXTLZNd4Ns07UjXQ/s1600/12241495_1715147848719841_229782695644580201_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbBCvRc0ZxuF8OIOB3HB-jnKx5hO3Ewuh3WXSWuekxC34ZeERql_x7HiwU-bpXVimcLdmXhoYTNBRtlO8xO03xVpxmmbaQJwc4JRtdMsvfZcmVCne_m4kM2oaX-UWXTLZNd4Ns07UjXQ/s320/12241495_1715147848719841_229782695644580201_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prancing downhill</td></tr>
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Skipping back down to Mundy’s Gap, I passed about four or so people. I had such a fun time coming down. The rocks all over the path didn’t slow me down much at all; I just plowed right on down. I passed another couple and enjoyed that the downhill wasn’t over yet. But like all good things, the downhill eventually leveled out. The girl I passed a while ago (Alisha Edmiston) caught back up to me on this little hill. Once it leveled out, I passed her again. My water was getting low and I hadn’t eaten anything since before I left Mundy’s Gap to go up to the top. That was coming up on ten miles ago. I couldn’t wait to get to that next aid station. All I could think about was getting there, eating a bunch, refilling my water, pocketing some gels, and moving on. Finally it came into view. My passing buddy caught back up to me as I was leaving and then passed me again as we went up over the pass. Once I was over the pass, it was clear sailing for about four more miles. I finally caught back up to her and re-passed her again. Going up one last pass, she almost caught me again. At the top, I could see the next aid station. I just needed to go downhill--my favorite, minus the tight switchbacks.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Leaving the last aid station, the marathon was over. I had only six more miles. A few miles in I passed my new super friend Robyn on her way to volunteer at the aid station I just left. “Man! You look great!” That’s how I like to run though. I don’t consider myself a very big competitor. I like to do well, but I don’t like pushing myself. When I feel like I have to start pushing the pace into the uncomfortable, I don’t feel like I’m having as much fun, and that ruins the race.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKXuCILU8OB0-1B0iM-8Jke7aLVKGz3G0NAgzH0LuZS4GSGba0UZuJNfbKlJfmbYPHS1UcdZ572IrNERgDmbCjWOkN0NVQx-JivtrUr9bVAlAnLfWgJAUO75z-svE_HpHuj_MOPpGH8w/s1600/12249611_1715140478720578_2296075367027389746_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKXuCILU8OB0-1B0iM-8Jke7aLVKGz3G0NAgzH0LuZS4GSGba0UZuJNfbKlJfmbYPHS1UcdZ572IrNERgDmbCjWOkN0NVQx-JivtrUr9bVAlAnLfWgJAUO75z-svE_HpHuj_MOPpGH8w/s320/12249611_1715140478720578_2296075367027389746_n.jpg" width="251" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just a couple more miles</td></tr>
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My key to every race is to go out at a pace that I will hold the entire time. It’s kinda hard at the beginning because you always feel great and that you’re going way too slow. But having to crawl the last half of an ultra because you spent everything in the first half is not the way I play. I had been feeling really well for the last many miles and I was fully planning on continuing this pace all the way to the finish and then sprinting downhill through the finish line. I finally saw what I figured would be the last runner I could pass before the finish. When I got up to where I last saw him though, I could see that the downhill finish turned out to be an uphill finish. Surprise! I tried pushing the rest of the way in, but no one was close to me and I didn’t really care if I saved twenty seconds because I ran instead of walking a bit.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I crossed the finish line, I had to remind Rob that I was sans an ankle timer so that I could get an official finishing time. I talked with my other <a href="http://www.trailracingovertexas.com/team-trot-athletes/" target="_blank">Team TROT teammates</a>, all who had finished before me. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikiGbZT7JRVdyz0KXz1kkSbRxpT-XZuhIA-W-yeE17wTJlcvtVRg5YyS6vacxDPE-_e6cHECM7kImhUmudqv2-78-qQE1N62m772i_aB4dlnhMJikp29fYoOgV9zmGDfT2bIr-r2a78Oo/s1600/12239981_10153704200620409_4460576668020184199_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikiGbZT7JRVdyz0KXz1kkSbRxpT-XZuhIA-W-yeE17wTJlcvtVRg5YyS6vacxDPE-_e6cHECM7kImhUmudqv2-78-qQE1N62m772i_aB4dlnhMJikp29fYoOgV9zmGDfT2bIr-r2a78Oo/s320/12239981_10153704200620409_4460576668020184199_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team TROT</td></tr>
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They all seemed beat up from the course, though. I was tired, but I had had a really fun time through most all of the course. The rockiness of the trail never really bothered me. The uphills were a little tough, but the downhills more than made up for that. The only thing that got me was the very beginning when I was caught on the single track trail behind a ton of other runners. But I had a great time during this race. Even though next year will have at least an extra 1000 feet of elevation gain, I can’t wait to come all the way to the other side of Texas to run this race.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After I finished, I ended up staying and helping hike out some of the aid station from Mundy’s Gap and it was dark by the time we were done. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gKeJxkRxN2raKTNSA-kbyLZL2l2_p1gv9tXB5CM50eY7TXvssJuetLr2E3Nk8ngNXZX3TC_OSFmmB5U4r0h7P6y6LzDu-YG_T87y2rz7vJVZr8MM200VPmqpizZ6LlCpzR0rYLQNFow/s1600/12235091_1715151502052809_6795151912780402739_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0gKeJxkRxN2raKTNSA-kbyLZL2l2_p1gv9tXB5CM50eY7TXvssJuetLr2E3Nk8ngNXZX3TC_OSFmmB5U4r0h7P6y6LzDu-YG_T87y2rz7vJVZr8MM200VPmqpizZ6LlCpzR0rYLQNFow/s320/12235091_1715151502052809_6795151912780402739_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you for 100-mile ultras</td></tr>
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We got back to the start/finish area and I saw a tall guy doing the I-just-ran-an-ultra walk back to a van and took a shot at shouting out ‘Is that you Gordy?’ I originally thought that just seeing him at packet pickup was going to be good enough for me. I shook his hand and thanked him for running that horse race so many years ago and helping to invent the 100-mile race. I don't know who I'd be if it wasn't for running these races. I don’t know if road running would have changed me (since I don’t do road races). But I feel like trail running is the best thing out there for whatever ailment you may have. As antisocial as I typically am, now I actually talk to people I don't know (at least at races). I love cheering people on whenever I see them along the trail. I love that my kids get to see all these crazy people that are doing something to make themselves better. I feel like I'm a better person than I used to be because I run. Other than my family, running has become the most important part of my life. Every next 100-miler is like Christmas to me. Thank you to my wonderful wife for accepting my lifestyle and supporting me in it. Thank you to Gordy Ainsleigh for providing just what every person needs in their life. Thanks to </span><a href="http://www.trailracingovertexas.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TROT</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for putting on so many races all over The Great State of Texas.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UJOlw-3uyW4ZnryrH9TN0Xpmys8FBVjgOUrP6pfkniNUfU4pzG_DeCxWpmtKxgC2vbOn1pnl50gjRGyUs7pu7zTJALK8AmmU-FiVvNDz266pJZM-UtwG7aLRUh0hqpZgqWhYC4sXLsM/s1600/12184241_1715155158719110_4524409644301598665_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UJOlw-3uyW4ZnryrH9TN0Xpmys8FBVjgOUrP6pfkniNUfU4pzG_DeCxWpmtKxgC2vbOn1pnl50gjRGyUs7pu7zTJALK8AmmU-FiVvNDz266pJZM-UtwG7aLRUh0hqpZgqWhYC4sXLsM/s320/12184241_1715155158719110_4524409644301598665_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nathan hydration</td></tr>
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<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Shoes: Altra </span><a href="https://www.altrarunning.com/men/lonepeak25" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lone Peak 2.5</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hydration pack: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.nathansports.com/hydration/race-vests/vaporcloud" style="text-decoration: none;">Nathan Vapor Cloud</a></span></div>
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matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-83244594330990622692015-09-20T20:38:00.003-07:002015-09-20T20:38:57.622-07:00Racing Season is just 2 WEEKS AWAY!<div class="MsoNormal">
The start of racing season is quickly approaching in the
Great State of Texas. In years past, it wasn’t until the end of October. But
with <a href="http://www.trailracingovertexas.com/">Trail Racing Over Texas</a>
adding a few extra races into the mix, I have two weeks until the fun begins. </div>
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October 3 is <a href="http://www.trailracingovertexas.com/blazing7strailrun/">Blazing 7’s</a>.
There’s a 100k, 50k, 25k, and 10k. Basically a race for everyone. I’ve never
been to this place, but it sounds like it’s going to be a nice and relaxing trail
to run 100k.</div>
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The next weekend is my daughter’s birthday party. Luckily
for her I don’t have a race that weekend or her party might have been at an aid
station. (I’m sure she would understand when she gets older.)</div>
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October 17 is <a href="http://www.trailracingovertexas.com/jackalope-jam/">Jackalope Jam</a>. There’s
a 6-hour, 12-hour, and a 24-hour timed race. The course is a 1-mile loop, and as
I will be competing in the 24-hour race (despite all efforts of my wife to only
run the 12-hour since I’ll be running Cactus Rose the following week), I am
planning on completing well over 100 loops.</div>
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October 24 is the bastard <a href="http://www.tejastrails.com/CactusRose.html">Cactus Rose</a> 100. And if
you’ve ever run it, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It may not have
mountain elevation changes, but it will tear you a new one by the time you’re
done, whether that’s actually finishing or you decide to drop. There's also a 50-miler (which is waaaay easier than the 100-miler) and a 4x25-mile relay. This will be my
fifth time running the race and I’m looking forward to running with a friend
that I recently met (Julie Koepke) at a hellacious race (<a href="http://www.trailracingovertexas.com/habanero-hundred/">Habanero Hundred</a>)
as well as some other <a href="http://www.trailracingovertexas.com/team-trot-athletes/">Team TROT</a>
teammates after they finish the <a href="http://www.ragnartrail.com/locations/hill-country-tx">Hill Country RAGNAR</a>
trail race a few miles away. I’m also looking forward to finishing it as I’ll
be receiving my 500-mile jacket. This also marks the beginning of my fourth <a href="http://www.tejastrails.com/docs/Texas_300.html">Tejas 300</a>. AND this
weekend is also my wife’s birthday party. For the last five year’s she’s been
kind enough to celebrate her birthday by being my crew chief all day long. I
even got her to pace me for 20 miles as a date when the race was actually on
her birthday. At least the kids will be at home with grandma for the weekend.</div>
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I had planned on running <a href="http://www.bigcedar100.com/">Big Cedar Endurance Run</a> 100 as well. But
since I would already have run almost 300 miles (not including whatever I’ll
run in training), my wife helped me realize that I couldn’t run every race. I
was kinda sad about it for awhile. I
really liked the course last year (minus the rain that made the course
interesting, to say the least). We’ll see if we can at least stop by to help
out or pace someone and then let the crazy kids trick-or-treat that night.</div>
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matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-72595461889746489532015-08-24T20:19:00.000-07:002015-08-24T20:23:37.169-07:00Habanero Hundred<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Race Sauron Would've Dropped</span><br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Race Where You Might Consider
Eating a Few Habanero Peppers Instead of Running a 7.2-Mile Lap</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Call the race whatever you like, but
it was hot. And humid. And rocky. And full of biting flies. And hot and humid
too. I don't know where the idea came from, but once I heard about the race, I
was all in and looking forward to the insane challenge. Living in Houston has
exposed me to all the previously mentioned race conditions (minus the
rockiness). I figured I had done my homework and was ready for the test:</span></div>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I ran all summer between 3-4 pm when it seemed to be
the hottest.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I carried water with me (the camel who now carries
water) and wondered how I used to race 100's without carrying any water or
how I even ran 10 miles in the summer with no water.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I found some running shorts (Nike Dri-Fit) at Ross that
left me unchaffed even without any lube and while still running up to 20
miles.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I recently got some Feetures socks that fit so snuggly
that I never needed to double layer socks anymore on long runs.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I forced myself to at least once a week run up to 18
miles at once just to prepare myself for the death march.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So now for the final exam. The
course was set up with an aid station at the start/finish line and then another
at 3.5 miles. Each loop was 7.2 miles and I had 14 loops to complete my fun
little test. The first lap was done before I knew what had even happened. For
the first two laps, I drained my water bottle by the time I reached the next
aid station. I told Amy that I would definitely need to switch from my Nathan
waist pack (which only held about 18 oz (0.5 L)) to my Nathan vest (which held
2 L plus had spots for two water bottles on the front). I still felt pretty
good after finishing the second lap, but was very glad to get the vest and
extra water bottle to douse my head. While I now accuse my previous two laps of
'not enough water intake,' I started gulping down water on my third lap.
Despite thinking that I might be taking in more than my body could handle, it
tasted sooo good that I couldn't stop guzzling it down. By the time I hit the
next aid station, my pack was empty. And when I finished that lap, it was empty
again. I was already feeling back to normal and then was told that my weight
was spot on (and it remained the same every lap until the end of lap 9). My new
decision: drink a shit ton* of water for the rest of the race. This was the one
difference between this race and any other 100-miler I had ran before. And
since I was feeling pretty good (I kept pace at about 1:30-2 hours per lap), I
figured I had this race all figured out and squared away.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">*A shit ton is approximately a
gallon of water for every 7 miles of running </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I finished my 9th lap (64 miles) in
just under 14 hours. The heat and humidity had taken their tolls on me and some
change came over me at that point. My weight was down a bit (3 lbs), so I knew
I had to drink more. I then felt like taking a nap, but when I laid down, my
feet, calves, and thighs would alternate cramping up and I never got any sleep.
Julie Koepke ended up passing me as I lay down. I started to shiver (despite
the 80 degree temp) after a half hour rest and decided I just needed to get up
and out on another lap. My legs no longer hurt. And by this, I mean the
cramping fight disappeared and was replaced by the typical aches of having run
over 50 miles in less than desirable conditions.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My 10th lap was the turning point. A
little after I left the start/finish, I remembered that I hadn't reapplied a
thick coating of Trail Toes (great anti-chaffing cream) along my thighs and
everything within a hand's length above there. Since I was walking so much
more, my arms kept rubbing against my vest/water pack, and they were starting
to hurt. So every couple seconds I had to remind myself to keep my arms out
because every couple seconds I'd forget to do that and they'd rub some more.
The cycle seemed endless. I decided that my chaffing had hurt long enough. If
this aid station didn't have any Trail Toes, I was just going to drop out right
there and walk the cozy road back to the start. And as luck goes, upon arriving
I was told, in answer to my question, "Oh yes. We have a bunch. Here ya
go." So I slathered a bunch of it all over, covering every inch of skin
under my shorts. It did help. My mind was off one problem and onto another.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">During the second half of this lap,
I started calculating how long my next four laps should take. "If I'm
walking 3 mph, then 7 miles will take 2 hours 20 minutes. I have 4 laps, so
that's 2, 4, 6, 8 hours plus 20, 40, 60, 80 minutes. That's 9.5 hours of just
walking and assuming that I'd be walking that pace the whole time. It will be
about 5 am or so when I finish this lap. That puts me finishing 100 miles at
... 5+9=14 which means 2 ... at the earliest 2:30 and as late as 4 pm. And all
I'm going to get is a buckle, a LOT more chaffing, more delirious, and possibly
another hospital trip like after Rocky Raccoon (which would also give me a very
angry wife). I was certain that I was going to call it quits. But I've never
DNF'ed before. I was rather prideful knowing that I've never thrown in the
towel to any race. Maybe I should just keep going. Maybe I could catch up to
Julie and we could 'keep each other sane' for 20 miles. But school starts
tomorrow and I probably shouldn't take off the first day (I'm a high school
science teacher). But.... But.... But.... The debate seemed to continue
forever.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I ran into Julie about a quarter
mile from the start/finish as I finished 10 and she started 11. We both knew of
each other but had never actually met, and it was rather fun to stop for a few
minutes, in the middle of a race, and just talk to each other. I could tell we
were both in the same state, with the exception that she was going to keep walking
and I was done walking. It was a delightful moment in time, especially since I
was just a few minutes’ walking distance from the start/finish.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I finished lap 10, the
calculations won. It wasn't worth it to me if I couldn't run anymore. I don't
know how so many people can continue walking almost entire 100-mile races. I
have always been amazed by them and think that <i>they</i>, not I, are the
tough ones when it comes to racing ultras.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After some much needed naps, A/C,
and letting my emotions of my first DNF wear off, I now feel like I made the
right choice. I am alive and as healthy as ever. I still completed over 100k
and was only beaten to that distance by some of the relay teams. And I learned
a few things for next year (because I ain't about to let this devil race best
me again.)</span></div>
<ol start="1" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I need to start the race with the hydration vest. Not
getting those 4-6 liters of water over the first two laps set me back in a
race that doesn't allow much room for mistakes.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I need to go slower. This is always my recommendation
for anyone trying to run 100 miles (or any race that feels long to you). I
knew my pace for 100's, but I didn't do a good enough job at taking into
consideration the effect the heat and humidity would have on me over the
super long haul.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I need to carry some Trail Toes with me in my vest or
waist pack. Usually, I'm so excited at getting to the next aid station
that I often tend to forget about everything I need once I get there. And
I remember after I'm 5 minutes out and too far to want to turn back. If
only there were some checklist I could carry and edit on the run.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I need to change out of wet clothes more often. Maybe
this is more of a thing here since it's humid and sweat likes to not
evaporate.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Eat some more solid food at the beginning of the race.
As the race goes on, I tend to hate eating most anything but fruits and
Gels. Everything else sits in my mouth for so long and annoys me.</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Habanero Hundred 100-miler 2016: I
SHALL RETURN!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">P.S. - Thanks for the great humility
lesson this year</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">P.P.S. - If it wasn't for my <a href="http://www.nathansports.com/" target="_blank">Nathan </a>hydration vest, I never would have made it as far as I did. </span></div>
matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-11248935603311189832015-04-26T19:02:00.002-07:002015-04-26T19:02:32.062-07:00Brazos Bend 50<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Brazos Bend 50</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
25 April 2015</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
I Guess I Am Human
After All</div>
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<br /></div>
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I get excited for every race that I do. They’re like
opening presents; you can’t wait to open them, but at the same time, you don’t
know if you’re gonna like what you see once they’re open. This race was just
like that. There was a lot to live up to after last year’s race: I was third overall
and finished in six hours forty minutes and felt great almost the entire time.
It’s hard to have another perfect race. And I haven’t felt quite so superhuman
ever since Rocky Raccoon 50.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8oyO_Y8ZAhEQfmZMLFmRdzmQTH9n-I76SF9fJOyrR7_1cLDW4ID2DWo0bV29ItYxpHreCLsPYoCmYPrUIVNoE491nK1YWmWRzf5eSDBu78hGCN8XnlwuWAehTy7AHPaEjZHo69g-SuMc/s1600/img_2299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8oyO_Y8ZAhEQfmZMLFmRdzmQTH9n-I76SF9fJOyrR7_1cLDW4ID2DWo0bV29ItYxpHreCLsPYoCmYPrUIVNoE491nK1YWmWRzf5eSDBu78hGCN8XnlwuWAehTy7AHPaEjZHo69g-SuMc/s1600/img_2299.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mel and I finishing lap 2</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Last year’s 50-miler was when I ran with some random
people at the beginning and Melinda Coen just happened to be in that group. We
started this year’s race together as well. One of my favorite things about
ultra running is talking with people. Shorter races are so fast-paced that it’s
kinda hard to talk to people other than to say “On your left!” before you pass
them. But ultras are laid back and slow, which almost encourages talking.
Conversation pace—If you can’t hold a conversation while running, you’re
running too fast. It’s my favorite way to run. And even though Mel and I didn’t
talk the whole time, just having someone next to you is such a boost. When you
(or they) are feeling like stopping/walking/giving up, they’re right there, not
verbalizing anything to you to keep going, but because they’re still going, you
feel like you probably can too. I’m pretty sure we shared a number of those
back and forth during the race.</div>
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<br /></div>
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There was plenty of rain in the forecast, but I was
hoping that the rain gods would realize that we had a race and then push the
rain back to Sunday. It drizzled a bit over the first eight miles. Nothing
much. I complained that my socks were already soaked (the trails were still dry
at this point) and I considered changing them after this first of three laps. The
rain gods must have heard me and laughed at what was in store for us runners. We
hit the turnaround (11.5 miles) and a little bit later the rain started. And
then it got really dark. And then the wind picked up and the clouds opened and
it poured on us for about twenty minutes or so. There were a few times I
thought I’d start freezing if the wind stayed like that. I heard that it hailed
on others, though I was under tree cover while this storm passed over. The rain
slowly died off, but the trails were definitely not the same. A lot of what was
dry the first time around was puddles for the rest of the race. One section was
really muddy, but small baby steps seemed to do the trick in traversing it. </div>
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<br /></div>
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We came across lap one in about 2:18, and I felt ok. Not
too good. And not looking forward to two more laps. After a few more miles we
saw fellow teammates Jeff Ball and Tracie Akerhielm. They were only doing the
50k, and we 50-milers had an extra two-mile loop that they didn’t have. So we
would see them again as they were coming back heading toward the finish. I told
Mel that if we had also only signed up for a 50k, then we’d be about an hour
away from finishing too. She wondered why she had to be so “bullheaded and
always sign up for the longest race.” I laughed because I knew exactly what she
was talking about. I’d feel like I was less of a person if I didn’t max out
every race. And this is not to say that I look down on those that do the
shorter races. I think it’s awesome to see so many people out on the trails
instead of sitting around at home watching TV. But I just can’t do less than
whatever the longest race is. And when a new local ultra comes up, I have to
sign up for it, even if it means that I run 512 race miles in three and a half
months. I’ll have to see where I’m at for the bombardment this October will
bring (a 100k, a 24-hour timed race, a 100-miler, and another 100-miler).</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXp_jpjGHGYZhzW4-SgLRKZRU8PAXJTw7yDuxJR3e7CXJAh6O7h2sb9qqYGeomWgm2y9S5tmucPSqQizCoTM2cEOhPBF4dAusOCRmvqgHkBKc_QibzTmDlrMGmgvkSmbTigEpQbeCYrgM/s1600/2015-04-25+13.47.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXp_jpjGHGYZhzW4-SgLRKZRU8PAXJTw7yDuxJR3e7CXJAh6O7h2sb9qqYGeomWgm2y9S5tmucPSqQizCoTM2cEOhPBF4dAusOCRmvqgHkBKc_QibzTmDlrMGmgvkSmbTigEpQbeCYrgM/s1600/2015-04-25+13.47.07.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The second lap wasn’t much better than the first. I still
didn’t feel good, but I was able to push along (or splash along) with my
teammate. Knowing that you have another 17-mile loop to complete seems rather
daunting at this point in a race. It’s best to break it up into much smaller
distances. About a mile or two into the last lap, I started feeling much
better. I cheered on Mel and everyone else I saw. I told Mel that saying all
the silly things to people just brings my spirits up so much. And then I want
to cheer on the next guy and the next. And then I realized that cheering others
on is really just selfish because, although it may seem like you’re being nice,
you’re truly just trying to make yourself feel better so you can finish the
blasted race. After another mile, Mel and I said our good-byes and good lucks. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I was now in no-man’s-land—where you see nobody (at least
not running your race distance). I didn’t know where anyone was in front of me
or behind me. So I just kept running. I had many random thoughts going through
my head, and then I saw this lady in front of me, and she kept pointing at me.
Then I realized she was pointing past me. “Did you see him?” And I’m thinking, ‘Who?’
So I turned around and saw the 10-foot gator sunbathing right on the side of
the trail, about five feet from where I had been, and laughed to myself. Surely
I’d have seen him if he was moving.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjand8dUctnPRereraTzwkmpPqUf7OxnJ7xgM7cxtb6EjdVhfVKrYDLRt01WHMeaQwSkvE3BquxHuPPgC4rfwiGKd8ErG6O9opA_pQpEq6wdadq6hkmOgs4fKiY_uwJnUF9EKOTkfwlGPI/s1600/img_2385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjand8dUctnPRereraTzwkmpPqUf7OxnJ7xgM7cxtb6EjdVhfVKrYDLRt01WHMeaQwSkvE3BquxHuPPgC4rfwiGKd8ErG6O9opA_pQpEq6wdadq6hkmOgs4fKiY_uwJnUF9EKOTkfwlGPI/s1600/img_2385.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing that when
I got to the next aid station would mean single digit miles to the finish was
great. At the turnaround, I sponged a bunch of ice cold water over my head (it
had been rather warm for this entire lap) and felt great as I left. As I came
up to a certain corner, I knew that the last aid station was really close and
that feeling was coming on strong. At the final aid station, I only took
right-side tires (just a water fill-up) and was quickly on my way. I was
feeling the best I had all day. Each next spot that I recognized was another
lift (where the other trail came in, the bench, crossing the road, etc.).
Finally, the windmill. This is where I’ve wanted to be for a long time. As I
was about 100 meters from the finish, I saw a kid start running toward me. I
was certain it was my oldest son. Come to find out, he said he was faster than me,
and my wife told him to go prove it. So he ran out to me and we ran the last
100 meters to the finish. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The muddy puddles were done. Finishing time was 7:46:16;
8<sup>th</sup> overall and 5<sup>th</sup> male. Thanks to my wife and kids for
the love and support. Thanks to #TROT for the camaraderie and great races. And to
#TrailToes for keeping a lot of special areas from chaffing. My #UltraSpire
handheld was great to have along, especially when the sun came out. #TROT buffs are great at keeping sweat out of your eyes.</div>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvePwIiuxaFF0FnmlnufoHi2zdmLLP01nzC9AVkVqtwwLGRXM3ImzKZn3ltFbefhY0pamPf6m8rD-UQojNPJj5Y0nn09F0uPML23KJuFFSXy0wqcEm1WPEDgeaw3iwoqLKpqxtQgULbw/s1600/img_2387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvePwIiuxaFF0FnmlnufoHi2zdmLLP01nzC9AVkVqtwwLGRXM3ImzKZn3ltFbefhY0pamPf6m8rD-UQojNPJj5Y0nn09F0uPML23KJuFFSXy0wqcEm1WPEDgeaw3iwoqLKpqxtQgULbw/s1600/img_2387.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks for a fun race, coach</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-87742808802999590842015-03-01T15:50:00.000-08:002015-03-01T15:50:17.721-08:00 Because in Texas, Four 100-milers Just isn’t Enough for a Grand Slam (pt 3)<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From October 2014 through February 2015 (3 ½ months), I
raced 512 miles in just over 100 hours. In addition to that, I ran 670 ‘training’
miles between races. I thought I’d interview myself and let you know a bit
about the races, why I did it, how I got ready for it, and how <i>you</i> can do it too. After answering the
first question, I decided not to post all of it at once. So I will periodically
post new segments. Here are the next two questions.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
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you had just run a 100 mile race 3-4 weeks earlier? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since I began my
never-take-another-day-off running streak a couple years ago, I made sure that
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running more resembled a hobble, but I still would go for a mile. The next two
days were less painful, and I either completed the mile quicker or I would run
2-3 miles. By Wednesday (race was Saturday), I was just fine running my ‘short
loop’ of 5 miles at a more or less normal training run pace. Thursday through Saturday
I could easily run my 9+ mile loops without any problems or worries. For two full
years I had proceeded in this fashion after running 100-mile races. So when I
decided to run one 100-miler per month from the end of October through the end
of January (including a 100k and a 50-miler), I didn’t think it’d be too
difficult at all. By the following weekend I had always felt back to normal. And
there would be a full 3-4 weeks between all of these races (except for the one
week recovery from the final 100-miler to the 50-miler). I felt great going
into each race and I don’t think that I would’ve done any better had I not ran
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What crazy race ideas do you have planned?</span></span><br />
<br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m sure I’ll do this again this
coming fall/winter, unless a certain significant other can convince me
otherwise. I really enjoyed the whole thing this past year. Maybe not so much
in the later miles of each race, but I was always so happy and feeling like I accomplished
something cool when I finished. Plus I have to see if I can do all those races
and finish in under 100 hours (It took me 100 hours and 30 minutes this time.).</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In 2010, before I was a crazy
runner, I put my name on a message board for the <a href="http://texasindependencerelay.com/">TIR (Texas Independence Relay)</a>.
It’s a relay race for 200 miles with teams of up to 12 runners. I had
previously ran a <a href="http://www.ragnarrelay.com/">RAGNAR</a> race with
some friends (the Texas one that only lasted one year) and had heard about the
TIR. I received an email and joined an 8-man team. I didn’t know any of the
team, but we all had a really fun time. But what caught my attention was that
there were two runners who were going to attempt to run the entire relay race
as a solo act. Again, I wasn’t crazy, yet, but I knew right there that that was
cool and could see myself doing that one day. I now see myself in a position
where I have quite a bit of experience running long ultras and want to know how
much farther I can run and how much further I can push myself. In March of 2016 I hope to be running the TIR as a solo entrant.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I don’t know if it was from watching
Forrest Gump or if I somehow came up with the idea on my own. But once it was
there, I knew it would be the best summer vacation ever. I should run across
the entire country. There’s no way I could afford it. Just food and renting an
RV for two months would cost a fortune. Luckily I’m a teacher, so I wouldn’t
need to take time off from work. That’s all I have to say about that.<span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">There have recently been some interesting races
that have sprouted up. One in <a href="http://www.tahoe200.com/" target="_blank">Tahoe </a>and another in <a href="http://www.colorado200.com/" target="_blank">Colorado</a>, possibly a few
others. They feature 200 miles (with no loops) in some beautiful mountains. One
of the only downsides is the cost just to enter the race. But it has definitely
peaked my interest.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-31506377588615045702015-02-22T19:35:00.000-08:002015-02-22T19:35:54.118-08:00Because in Texas, Four 100-milers Just isn’t Enough for a Grand Slam (pt 2)<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
From October 2014 through February 2015 (3 ½ months), I
raced 512 miles in just over 100 hours. In addition to that, I ran 670 ‘training’
miles between races. I thought I’d interview myself and let you know a bit
about the races, why I did it, how I got ready for it, and how <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you</i> can do it too. After answering the
first question, I decided not to post all of it at once. So I will periodically
post new segments. Here is the second question.<br />
<br />
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2. <span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Why did you run all those races?</div>
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Five years ago (2011), I
finished my first 100-miler and it was truly love at first sight. I heard about
Cactus Rose and did that one too, telling my wife that “These two races will be
more than enough to satisfy me.” Then a few years passed and I heard about the <a href="http://www.tejastrails.com/docs/Texas_300.html">Tejas 300</a> and just
had to add Bandera 100k to the mix. “Now I’ll be just fine.” And I was—for a
couple years. Then some new 100-milers started popping up, and I just couldn’t
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basket. I was mesmerized upon seeing them online and knew that I had to run
them all. Not once did I ever think that I couldn’t do it. I was certain from
the beginning that I’d be finishing them all. The short recovery time between
the races (3-4 weeks max) was also appealing. My freshman year in high school I
recall my coach saying to me one day as we were all out running some 7-mile
course through town that I was a machine. During a conversation with a great
friend from that team I mentioned this, wondering if that coach ever knew what
would become of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know if I’ll
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100m dash or the 10,000m run. I just don’t think I’ll ever put in the time and
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So why did I run them all?
Simply because they were there. If more 100-milers popped up and they weren’t
an incredible financial burden, I’d do them all. I enjoy them. They make me who
I am. I feel like I can accomplish something that most people can’t even fathom
of doing themselves (though I think anyone can complete the distance). The
races push me to mental and physical limits that I can’t find anywhere else and
I feel stronger after completing them. And I’m sure there are tons more reasons
why I did this. They’re probably the same reasons you choose to run your
100-mile races.</div>
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<br /></div>
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matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-953134254695290972015-02-18T18:22:00.000-08:002015-02-18T18:22:29.825-08:00Because in Texas, Four 100-milers Just isn’t Enough for a Grand Slam<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
From October 2014 through February 2015 (3 ½ months), I
raced 512 miles in just over 100 hours. In addition to that, I ran 670 ‘training’
miles between races. I thought I’d interview myself and let you know a bit
about the races, why I did it, how I got ready for it, and how <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you</i> can do it too. After answering the
first question, I decided not to post all of it at once. So I will periodically
post new segments.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>Which race was the hardest?</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l1 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cactus
Rose 100</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
It’s Cactus Rose, and if you’ve
ran it before, enough said. If you’ve only looked at it on paper, it doesn’t
seem too difficult. There’s only about 7000 feet of elevation gain. It’s
basically at sea level and although there are some steep spots, they are short
and there are plenty of relatively flat spots. The webpage does mention the
race as “A very nasty trail race...where everything stings, scratches, or
bites.” It also states that there are “bonus points for blood, cuts, scrapes,
and puke.” It may even mention that there are rocks on the course as well as a
cactus called sotol along the trails. You might have even read someone’s race
report about how tough the course is, thinking “Yeah, but I’m sure I’m tougher
than them.” But you have to experience the course yourself before you really
know what a toll it will take on you. And I’ll go as far to say that you have
to do the 100-miler, because I still feel pretty good after just 50 miles. I’ve
never been as sore after a race as I have been after Cactus Rose. Though I must
say, it seems I have been less sore in recent years. However, that may be due
to forgetting the <s>pain</s> fun I had after a year or two had passed.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: .75in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Big Cedar
100</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; tab-stops: .75in;">
A very
beautiful course. There are wooded sections and open grassland sections. The wooded
parts had numerous switchbacks, and it was fun trying to imagine how they’d
look from above. This inaugural race was turning out to be a great race with
some super weather, in spite of the forecast. But then the rain came. And the
race as we had so far experienced it—was over. The wooded sections were still
fine and very runnable. But the open grasslands turned into the stickiest
shoe-sucking mud I’ve ever had to run through. And by run, I mean trudge,
because there probably wasn’t a single person on the course that could run for
more than a couple steps before their shoes were three inches higher and they
had to stop at every tree along the trail to kick off the mud, only to do it
again ten seconds later. What helped me not even consider dropping out was that
I was already about 72 miles into the race and I only had a little more than a
lap to complete in the mud (whereas others had 2+ laps still to go). I was on
pace to finish in about 18-19 hours, but the fun in the mud turned that into a
22-hour finish. I don’t think I had ever been so happy to be done with a race.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; tab-stops: .75in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: .75in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Brazos
Bend 100</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; tab-stops: .75in;">
A flat race. Literally.
There was one “hill” that might have been fifteen feet tall and a tiny valley that
was about as far down and up. I had no idea as to how to approach this race.
Usually there are hills of some sort that I can walk. But this race was going
to be entirely runnable. And this meant going fast—for 100 miles. I wasn’t sure
I could competitively complete 100 miles of non-stop running. And it didn’t
help that I went into the race wanting a really fast time. The whole race was
nice and smooth, except for the beginning of the fourth lap. I just wasn’t
there mentally and it took me seven miles to get back into it. A tough course
if you’re looking for natural breaks from running. You have to be disciplined
to not go out too quickly and burn out (though this is true of all races).</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; tab-stops: .75in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: .75in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bandera
100k</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; tab-stops: .75in;">
The whole day
was gonna be cold (30°F). I had, for the first time ever, had a slight injury
(my right knee was hurting a bit). And I was a few days past having been fake
sick (I don’t get sick) with some throat illness. My original goal was to finish
in the low 10-hour range. But the conditions just didn’t help with that. My
knee had a dull ache almost the entire race, but it never got worse. That made
me happy and so I just kept running on it. There were a few spots that were
muddy, but it wasn’t anything compared to Big Cedar mud. I kinda laughed as I
went through it. The weather was cold, but not so cold that I would freeze. I
just had to keep moving and not let the cold set in. Upon finishing, I quickly
found a heater, some clean and dry clothes, some food, and headed out. Not the
best conditions for a fast race, but the course was good enough. And even
though the park is full of sotol and rocks, somehow running only 62 miles
through it all just doesn’t faze me much.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; tab-stops: .75in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: .75in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rocky
Raccoon 100</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; tab-stops: .75in;">
This is my
favorite race. It’s nearby our house. We’ve camped there numerous times. I have
the course memorized. And it was my fifth time running it. I always get excited
when it’s time for Rocky. The only hard part is that it’s five laps. And
sometimes it’s hard to run yet another lap. But I made an effort to prepare
myself mentally as I completed each lap so I would not hit a low point at the
beginning of the next lap. I might be biased in saying this, but this was
probably the easiest of all the races.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; tab-stops: .75in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: .75in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rocky
Raccoon 50</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; tab-stops: .75in;">
This was just a
fifty miler, but recovery time was limited to only one week. I needed to do this
race. Not so I could show off, but so that I could be better mentally prepared
for what lie in store for me come this fall when I attempt to run Cactus Rose
100 followed six days later by Big Cedar 100. But back to this race. I wanted
to run this race in seven hours. My first lap was right on schedule for that
pace. A few miles into the second lap and I knew that that pace was gone and it
was replaced by a slower let’s-just-make-it-to-the-end pace. There were a few
times when my legs/tendons really hurt, but I was still running the whole
course (more or less). I wasn’t too happy to start my last lap, but 8 miles
into that lap and I was starting to get happy (and teary-eyed at moments). I
was walking more than I wanted to, but I was still moving and I had a great
friend with me to keep me company and a lot happier than if I’d have been
alone. I don’t know if my mind set aside 50 miles of energy for me, but I was
definitely out of gas when I crossed the finish. My legs hurt. My feet hurt.
And I was done. That race hurt the most.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; tab-stops: .75in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: .75in; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span>So, which race was the hardest? Normally I’d say
Cactus Rose without a second thought. But I think that the mud at Big Cedar may
have edged it out this time.</div>
matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-26963541282780275602015-02-14T13:22:00.000-08:002015-02-14T14:01:39.686-08:00Rocky Raccoon 100 + 50 (31 Jan + 7 Feb 2015)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I Don’t Know Why
He Swallowed That Fly. Perhaps He’ll Die.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I didn't swallow a fly. And I didn't die (though my wife wasn't too happy about my post-race shenanigans). But for some reason, I decided to run both the 100-miler
and the 50-miler (which were on consecutive weekends). Some people call it
crazy. Well, most people call it crazy. But I knew that come this fall, Big
Cedar 100 got pushed forward a few weeks and will end up being literally six
days after Cactus Rose 100. This “crazy” weekend was to be a mental booster to
help me know that I could do back-to-back 100-mile races. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>The 100-miler</u></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZ9TpqvcPuLACxz1EkGeeq4uG9KQCP_sJMwa6_4FdKCcr62vNwgLYEGaIIthK55HYPn2bzozLTWAqaen7JnIBLmFY-ofJDexQVjz_iYi2WbbAt9swW4wwy16ZnXjOeoyfwWnua8vgC84/s1600/10987396_330696883802360_7564663256694848231_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP71y-CGLHgztMkCw3JiCWP6hJfqUWBf52HEZ2Aug6kzSPe_jkuLKp5GgKEhfpNHu_Xhvlvh6EQHQqXEUJJvRJEbyJhZz2PfaAf6sZa32nHIesZ3JswFMq8hp0qUu1KRQaMClQW0kTRJo/s1600/2015-01-31+12.59.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP71y-CGLHgztMkCw3JiCWP6hJfqUWBf52HEZ2Aug6kzSPe_jkuLKp5GgKEhfpNHu_Xhvlvh6EQHQqXEUJJvRJEbyJhZz2PfaAf6sZa32nHIesZ3JswFMq8hp0qUu1KRQaMClQW0kTRJo/s1600/2015-01-31+12.59.59.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>I walked over to the start/finish line with Amy. We once
again didn’t get pizza (my favorite pre-race breakfast), but I did have a
couple EPIC bars and some Hammer Gels. They definitely get some quick fuel into
me for the long haul in front of me. My mom was in town and she stayed at our
house with our crazies. That left Amy and me for another one of our fun
weekend-long dates.<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I found Melinda Coen at the drop bag area and we all
talked for a bit until we had to walk over to the start. We were a ways back
when the race started and got caught in some slower traffic, but it never
really bothers me. I figure that unless you’re trying to break a course record,
an extra ten minutes of getting around other runners (and walking in the narrow
parts) for the first couple miles isn’t going to hurt your race at all. I don’t
remember much of what we talked about, but it doesn’t matter. Just having
someone to talk to and run with you makes the miles fly by. And running with my
teammate Mel for the first 10-15 miles of a race is something that I really
look forward to every race. But then she makes me go run by myself, and the
mental part of the race begins.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfialvhIWgMBglFO7amdM8MtLAgklr8b9_mKPF4ADN-GvlVFbVNHDwRYkw7tkPetVEkghHX0m__inZOyLN4DmYGYJVXQHNVNNOUI1L1pO6FRxXqSbHT1DchAk29M25h8j7cj8FRmMCa5Q/s1600/2015-01-31+15.34.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfialvhIWgMBglFO7amdM8MtLAgklr8b9_mKPF4ADN-GvlVFbVNHDwRYkw7tkPetVEkghHX0m__inZOyLN4DmYGYJVXQHNVNNOUI1L1pO6FRxXqSbHT1DchAk29M25h8j7cj8FRmMCa5Q/s1600/2015-01-31+15.34.05.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>I don’t have much experience running ultras that aren’t
multiple loops. There was a 100k that I did last summer (River of no Return) in
Idaho that was just a single loop. But my experience lies in running the same
loop 3-5 times. Rocky Raccoon is five laps. And it takes some special mental
preparation to get going after you complete a lap. The first lap is always a
breeze, and leaving on the second lap is usually not a big deal. But after
that, leaving for the start of your next lap gets harder every time you come
in. Last year was no exception. The start of my fifth lap was miserable. ‘Why
can’t this just be an 80-mile race?’ I asked myself over and over as I trod on
towards Nature Center (aid station; mile 83) and DamNation (aid station; mile
86). However, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this</i> year I wanted to
be more prepared for this. As I was finishing each lap, I told myself that I
was going to get in, be happy to see Amy and anyone else, and then I was going
to have to leave them and start another long journey before I could see them
again. Nature Center (aid station) was only a few miles away and happiness was
just around the corner. It helped me immensely as I constantly made little
goals: Just get to __ aid station; just get out of the wooded area; just get to
this bridge and then the dam. Every time I got to that spot, I was happier. And
it worked for almost the entire race. There were only a few miles during the
start of my third lap when I felt like I wasn’t mentally into the race.
Otherwise, I felt great mentally and that helped out with how I felt
physically.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnJJvg1KB6jv2WFBnPo5icdkMn0hXOyFkB6pMipHnh4G8Ik2lAR1AK73WO5bipCq8ktOVHd_WutRAcTnv-6XWgqVBiqiggBg4m-MH1HHactE0yCR5NSRIzlsZ9woBLhs4n8ck-zegi3M/s1600/2015-01-31+15.34.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnJJvg1KB6jv2WFBnPo5icdkMn0hXOyFkB6pMipHnh4G8Ik2lAR1AK73WO5bipCq8ktOVHd_WutRAcTnv-6XWgqVBiqiggBg4m-MH1HHactE0yCR5NSRIzlsZ9woBLhs4n8ck-zegi3M/s1600/2015-01-31+15.34.06.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Besides the mental aspect of the race, there were a few
physical things that I did differently. First, I tried to run more of the
hills. My advice to inexperienced 100-milers will always be to go slow and walk
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">every</i> uphill (no matter how small).
But this was my fifth time running this course and my eleventh 100-mile race. I
felt like if I wanted a faster time, I needed to do something different. I was
a little hesitant about running up some of the hills I had walked in past
years, worrying about how I’d handle this hill in a couple more laps. The ‘bigger’
hills I still walked. But as I approached the top, I tried running as soon as
possible. The short walk gave my legs a well deserved break and the quick
return to running helped keep my overall pace where I wanted it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Second, I tried to make sure I ate more solid food.
Peanut butter and jelly quarters were great. And although I don’t really like
them because they seem to just sit in my mouth forever, I really think they’re
a great fuel. I also did take various Hammer Gels along the course. My favorite
is the espresso flavor, though I don’t know why. Maybe I like it because it’s a
really strong flavor (and I don’t drink coffee). Third, I’ve started to carry a
water bottle with me more often. For the longest time, unless it was hot during
one of our Texas winter races, I never carried anything with me (including
water). There were aid stations every five miles or so and I felt fairly
accustomed to running without water (it’s how I run all summer in Houston).
When I got to an aid station, I’d chug a bunch of water, HEED, Gatorade, Coke,
ginger ale, more water, various food/snacks, and then head out again with nothing
in hand. And it worked fine for me. I don’t know if I’d recommend it to anyone
else, but it worked for me through numerous 100-mile races. But as I have
wanted my times to get faster, I felt that perhaps a more constant water and
fuel source would help me achieve that; that I couldn’t just go hard for five
miles with nothing, then chow down, and go again. I believed that taking in the
same food, but doing it little by little, my body would better be able to use
it.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstoxQzCd8YsaGY-8hnMERMhU4WnkIVuGdrMKIGV_-FvHEFzrrYl4yN0xeQ4YDdyzuK8-55XP5bIS1-3dMsY1mv9tsf_rglQOlw6SnBR-dhDoBF8Q7qZg3K_qyOdFXAW4bFV4Ka-KUQMc/s1600/2015-02-01+18.37.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstoxQzCd8YsaGY-8hnMERMhU4WnkIVuGdrMKIGV_-FvHEFzrrYl4yN0xeQ4YDdyzuK8-55XP5bIS1-3dMsY1mv9tsf_rglQOlw6SnBR-dhDoBF8Q7qZg3K_qyOdFXAW4bFV4Ka-KUQMc/s1600/2015-02-01+18.37.41.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awards for finishing four 100-milers and a 100k</td></tr>
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<br /></div>
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And this is how the rest of my race went by. It was very
uneventful (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing). But at the same time, I kept
myself mentally happy by setting small goals and I kept my muscles happy by
giving them enough fuel along the way (and by carrying a water bottle). As I came
in to finish my fourth lap, I was happy to see the timer at 13 hours. I was
definitely going to have my best race for this course today. My fifth lap had
no mentally challenging parts. I took a few extra breaks that I hadn’t on
previous laps, but I quickly got my legs back in action. I continued to make
small happy goals throughout that last loop (as if the 15 miles to the finish
wasn’t enough). As I came around the last turn, I saw my ultimate happy spot. I
forgot to call out to Amy so she could record my finish. But I came through and
was elated (though not enough to want to run another lap). I had now finished
my third <a href="http://www.tejastrails.com/docs/Texas_300.html">Tejas 300</a>,
and along with that I had finished four 100-milers and one 100k in just over
three months. My finishing time was 16:44:16. Although it was about ten minutes
slower than my time a month and a half earlier at Brazos Bend, I felt so much
better during this entire race.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I might have received strong recommendations to go to the
hospital and get an IV for dehydration after passing out a couple times a few
hours after I finished. But that’s not the important part of the day.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>The 50-miler</u></span></b></div>
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I didn’t do this race last year, and this would only be
my second 50-miler ever. In addition to that, I had just run the 100-miler the previous
weekend. But here I was to complete my fun little adventure which included a whole
bunch of races in three and a half months.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lorenzo and I. Photo Courtesy of Jeff Ball.</td></tr>
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At the start/finish, I was alone. Amy was still in bed
with the kids. I wandered around trying to kill time before the race started. I
felt pretty good, considering what I had been through. I was hoping for a
7-hour finish time. With that, I would complete 150 miles over two races on
consecutive weekends in just under 24 hours. I didn’t know if that was good,
but it sounded good to me, and it was what I was shooting for.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There weren’t many people that I knew who were going to
be running this race. But I found one of my favorite running buddies, Lorenzo
Sanchez. We’d missed each other at Cactus Rose and then again at Bandera and he
didn’t run the 100-miler here at Rocky Raccoon the previous week. We got
talking and then the race started. We were closer to the front and didn’t have
much traffic like I had had last week. The course was nice and the weather was cool.
One of my favorite parts of this course is the loop from DamNation (aid
station) back to DamNation. For the 100-miler the loop is six miles, but for
the 50-miler has a cut-off that makes the loop just under three miles. We ran
everything the first lap and finished in 2:22, which was right where I was hoping
to be. A couple miles into the second lap and I was changed. I told Lorenzo, “If
you have any dreams of a good finishing time, you’re gonna have to go ahead, ‘cause
this is gonna be my pace. I can’t keep up that first lap pace.” But he stayed
with me. He wanted to run this with me and see me finish. I thanked him a bunch
and told him that I wished to think that I could be so selfless to have paid
for a race, having had certain time/place goals in mind, only to end up running
a slower race with a friend just to help them through it. I don’t know if I could
do it, though I like to think that I would. But then Lorenzo told me, “You can
think of it as selfless if you want. But it’s me who gets to see you in your
last race as you accomplish this amazing feat. I’m getting a front row seat.”
As we ran the rest of the race, I was nearly in tears many times as I thought
about him running with me and finally being done with this.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The second and third laps had their moments; bad moments
that is. I recently became an ambassador for <a href="http://www.altrarunning.com/">Altra</a> and received a pair of shoes, the
Superior 2.0. Altra is big about their zero drop shoes (the heel is at the same
height as the toes, in contrast with pretty much all other running shoes that
have the heel higher). They even include a little note that mentions something
to the effect of ‘If you’re just trying out your first pair of zero drop shoes,
it may take your body a little bit of time to adjust to them.’ I wore the shoes
the day I got them for the Brazos Bend 100. After 50 miles, my Achilles tendon
was hurting and I had to switch to my normal shoes. But I loved the shoes; they
felt great. Tons of room for my toes and no blisters. They run a bit small, and
my normal size 12 was a 14 with these shoes. But as we all know, size doesn’t
matter. I ran in them around town as much as I could, trying to get my legs used
to them. I wore them for my Bandera 100k race and then again a few weeks later
for Rocky Raccoon 100. I think I should’ve eased into them a bit more, because
my Achilles tendon (especially my right leg) was hurting more than I thought it
should. But Lorenzo and I kept going and kept talking, getting ever closer to
that finish line.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfY2hJP5f145Y7f4NgD23-a99G0C5m02tsJZeoz6_qwP0fDkxJ0WEs6vgQcdXoPpoBXCZLXvISxhhKyUOW8fJqksV4reMBccdWyQFvkiAhxmevyFWwLfkrd7BG3rJxv3vqZ5GAnbdQIo/s1600/2015-02-07+11.56.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfY2hJP5f145Y7f4NgD23-a99G0C5m02tsJZeoz6_qwP0fDkxJ0WEs6vgQcdXoPpoBXCZLXvISxhhKyUOW8fJqksV4reMBccdWyQFvkiAhxmevyFWwLfkrd7BG3rJxv3vqZ5GAnbdQIo/s1600/2015-02-07+11.56.29.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a> </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Amy and the kids were at a couple spots along the course.
I greatly enjoyed the high fives and just seeing them. They help lift my
spirits so much. One time as I came up to where I knew they’d be, the kids
jumped out from behind some bushes to scare me (it’s one of the new things they
like to do). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>I had to act scared and
told them how much they scared me as I got back to running.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
A few people passed me, which was hard for me mentally.
It’s a very rare occasion that other runners will pass me after the first lap.
And now a handful or two had passed me. But I had my own race to run and my own
adventure to finish. As we came in to various aid stations, Lorenzo would
announce to his friends and other volunteers that at the completion of this
race, I would have run 512 miles in 3 ½ months (and then list off the races I
did). After the somethingth time of him doing that I said, “You’re gonna just
tell everyone, aren’t you?” “Well, if you’re not, I will. It’s a great
accomplishment, and people should hear about it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzqzlTZc6Hd4oUoEYGXmJAnFfUYjNCvH58Pa6veA95a1p__pMWUoajbbFPdC0btxYTOYg0pQpOOBlYRBVuEolNcQsUBEFDvs-gLuo8v9T_s8kVfiNYdKNBOoQpZqAGPS93qnK2laRFeU/s1600/1959469_330696843802364_8992884099749167698_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzqzlTZc6Hd4oUoEYGXmJAnFfUYjNCvH58Pa6veA95a1p__pMWUoajbbFPdC0btxYTOYg0pQpOOBlYRBVuEolNcQsUBEFDvs-gLuo8v9T_s8kVfiNYdKNBOoQpZqAGPS93qnK2laRFeU/s1600/1959469_330696843802364_8992884099749167698_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We finally got to Park Road (aid station; mile 46) and
left amidst cheers (because Lorenzo had told them too). I was getting really
excited. Still making all the little happy goals I made the week before, we
finally made it to the two-direction section that led to the finish. About a
mile and a half from the finish, we came up on a walking/slightly hobbling Pompilio
Romero. He had also run the 100 the previous week and a 50k a week or two
earlier. He was just as beat up as I was. Lorenzo told him to come along, that
we were almost finished, and was able to convince Pompilio to join us. We
jogged in the rest of the way together. Pompilio had the idea that we should
all cross the finish together. I had no problem with that. I also wanted my
kids to finish the last few meters with me, but I had no way to communicate
that to Amy before I got there. We made it to the happy corner where once you
turn, you see the finish and a spot to finally relax. All three of us crossed
at 8:07:35. It was an hour slower than I had hoped for, but I was plenty happy
to be finished. The ‘crazy’ journey was finally over and my vacation could now
begin.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZ9TpqvcPuLACxz1EkGeeq4uG9KQCP_sJMwa6_4FdKCcr62vNwgLYEGaIIthK55HYPn2bzozLTWAqaen7JnIBLmFY-ofJDexQVjz_iYi2WbbAt9swW4wwy16ZnXjOeoyfwWnua8vgC84/s1600/10987396_330696883802360_7564663256694848231_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZ9TpqvcPuLACxz1EkGeeq4uG9KQCP_sJMwa6_4FdKCcr62vNwgLYEGaIIthK55HYPn2bzozLTWAqaen7JnIBLmFY-ofJDexQVjz_iYi2WbbAt9swW4wwy16ZnXjOeoyfwWnua8vgC84/s1600/10987396_330696883802360_7564663256694848231_n.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092464150759682107.post-4253617649790223012015-01-13T16:17:00.000-08:002015-01-13T16:17:21.865-08:00Bandera 100k 2015<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Bandera 100k</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
10 January 2015</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
“And I Thought
They Smelled Bad on the Outside!”</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
-Han Solo, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Empire Strikes Back</i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9L0pMRJyBkailyjNij33oLBIN6t-GvB2TTBGWIHNfzpWA6wchpp90bgzwRiuMDl-zCrfUEcXEk_sraoAhvYBOS58AHwBMiobiYLjue_uHIp3gnrWAnuIB03lIAUYZ16tkQ6jOK91l8vE/s1600/2015-01-10+20.00.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9L0pMRJyBkailyjNij33oLBIN6t-GvB2TTBGWIHNfzpWA6wchpp90bgzwRiuMDl-zCrfUEcXEk_sraoAhvYBOS58AHwBMiobiYLjue_uHIp3gnrWAnuIB03lIAUYZ16tkQ6jOK91l8vE/s1600/2015-01-10+20.00.41.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a>Freezing rain mixed with sleet. A 40% chance of
precipitation throughout most of the day with 60% chances that night. A morning
low of 30°F with an afternoon high of 33°F. What better forecast could an ultra
runner ask for? It was like we were gonna be spending all day out scouting Hoth
with Luke and Han. Only they got to ride on Tauntauns like a couple of pansies.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Our tent had a layer of ice on it when I woke up. Luckily
I had plenty of sleep (and it helps when the race doesn’t even start 'til after
sunrise). I was getting my back bib pinned on literally seconds before the race
started. I didn’t have time to chit chat with friends, not that I’d have recognized anyone with how bundled up everyone was.<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I set out for what would hopefully be 100 kilometers (62
miles). I say ‘hopefully’ for pretty much the first time ever. Just two days
previous, I noticed my right knee was hurting, and cut my run significantly
shorter. It still hurt the next day, and I cut even shorter the already short
run. Eight miles in two days is more of a post-race workout. I went to work
Friday wondering how my knee would hold up for 62 miles when 4 miles was making
me want to go home. Strapping heat packs and the like through most of the day
would hopefully provide something positive.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwYE-MYazB3lrAJEg8LsxfMzkORa25fME-uWJSJNZg-CWT8wdvcMBDpw6hCDl7SqlBYC_I7b8xCzYlF_-bNzRXJMciPb_5NjFNesXhEpgXktogTGG8R6JwscYYFdQqUMc79H0cWvXhrs/s1600/2015-01-11+18.30.52--1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwYE-MYazB3lrAJEg8LsxfMzkORa25fME-uWJSJNZg-CWT8wdvcMBDpw6hCDl7SqlBYC_I7b8xCzYlF_-bNzRXJMciPb_5NjFNesXhEpgXktogTGG8R6JwscYYFdQqUMc79H0cWvXhrs/s1600/2015-01-11+18.30.52--1.jpg" height="320" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such a good knee to get me through 62 miles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
After about two miles in my wonderful teammate Mel caught
up with me and we ran through the Texas Hill Country (aka Rock Country) for
about the next ten miles. I’m sure that I’ve said it a few times before, but
having someone there right next to you, whether or not you actually talk, is
such a benefit to your run. But we of course talked almost the whole time.
Religion (or lack of it) happened to be the choice of topic for most of those
two hours. Roughly halfway from Chapas (aid station; 11 miles) to Cross Roads
(aid station; mile 17), Mel dumped me and made me run ahead without her. But
then when I was leaving Cross Roads, I could’ve sworn that she was just coming
in. And I later found out that she was only thirteen minutes slower finishing
her first lap (31 miles) than I was. Okay. I can take a hint.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Back to my knee. It didn’t seem to be getting any worse. At
Last Chance (aid station; 26 miles) I sat down and removed my right shoe to
fish out this rock that had been bothering me for the last ten miles. But I couldn’t
find anything. After I started running again, there it was. The rock was my
foot and I was starting to fall apart. I tried not to think about it, but we
all know that that just makes you think about it even more. Talking (whether to
myself or to a runner that happened to be nearby) seemed to help. I enjoyed the
conversations with an Air Force guy from Clovis, NM; Matt from the Bay Area
(CA) whose friends got him out here to run a 100k; and several others whom I
can no longer remember. But you all really do help out. A race just wouldn’t be
the same without the talkative hippies that make up ultra running. And I was
able to ignore my knee for parts of the rest of the first and second (final)
lap.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDBC12nNjaNZNebVQAGYtmjhFZTilw7BeYA-sZ_9ayxOoIz6r8qpOGHMW4NrTU_YZ1PEzAR0M2yMdFvFvbhfABonP_Ig5PJsQfVUV_OV1-Mq7VcfjKGgkeKtrbEoD1L6eo6K4uvEr5GU/s1600/2015-01-10+19.47.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqDBC12nNjaNZNebVQAGYtmjhFZTilw7BeYA-sZ_9ayxOoIz6r8qpOGHMW4NrTU_YZ1PEzAR0M2yMdFvFvbhfABonP_Ig5PJsQfVUV_OV1-Mq7VcfjKGgkeKtrbEoD1L6eo6K4uvEr5GU/s1600/2015-01-10+19.47.58.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally finishing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOR0_zeE2fENVo9Kiqu6B8t1RUTzPajJrvhJuYkmgRMKWlDWdqEs6RwiEM5xoiIaLcx2m1X-ge8_RQQ_OA_HnUlmfZjgo89NFoJbCCDJrikzO7J_BrwwCpRq-dyUgoVE3EtsnxHFJK2jU/s1600/2015-01-11+20.24.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOR0_zeE2fENVo9Kiqu6B8t1RUTzPajJrvhJuYkmgRMKWlDWdqEs6RwiEM5xoiIaLcx2m1X-ge8_RQQ_OA_HnUlmfZjgo89NFoJbCCDJrikzO7J_BrwwCpRq-dyUgoVE3EtsnxHFJK2jU/s1600/2015-01-11+20.24.44.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Altra Superior 2.0 (plus some mud)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Due to the high numbers of runners and all of their
crews, vehicular traffic was not allowed. You could walk or bike to the aid
stations to crew your runner. Well, with wet and cold conditions, we weren’t
about to bring bikes and I would just make do with whatever I could carry and
get at aid stations. I got to see Amy (wife) for the first time when I finished
lap 1 (31 miles). I was feeling pretty good, but it was still cold as hell (if
hell is cold) and I didn’t want to start the shivers. We walked together for a
little bit and I saw the timer: 6:04:00. ‘Six hours? Holy crap! Did I really
just go that slow?’ But then I remembered that my knee was misbehaving and I was
happy to be where I was at (as long as I got back there in about 5-6 hours). I
said bye to Amy and of course, about five minutes later, I started to realize my
pace. A 6-hour first lap, unless I ran at most a 5-hour second, put me about
1.5 hours in darkness. That meant that for the second race in a row, I might
have screwed myself over by not having a headlamp in a dropbag. One of these
times it’s gonna catch up to me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But my
savior and best head crew member came through. Amy was at Cross Roads with my
headlamp. It nearly put me in tears. I was doing as well as I could and almost
had to rely on some other runner and whatever pace they might be going to lead
me in the rest of the way. I’d of course do it if it came to that, but it’s not
how I wanted my race to end. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfZwMQEtJTjFuDErPgJjAckowzLcuYV0xGLBjOyVaZKM52fMzH8Tp7mGJCMb84Z-sgxMopwEOrXSXNfwwQDTZ55fiuRcbz9gXMsrw6YiyuUwxjRi_e1gY7v4aWb1Q73yl3Rd5QLvUA4w/s1600/2015-01-10+20.12.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAfZwMQEtJTjFuDErPgJjAckowzLcuYV0xGLBjOyVaZKM52fMzH8Tp7mGJCMb84Z-sgxMopwEOrXSXNfwwQDTZ55fiuRcbz9gXMsrw6YiyuUwxjRi_e1gY7v4aWb1Q73yl3Rd5QLvUA4w/s1600/2015-01-10+20.12.24.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying mashed potatoes and broth next to a heater</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I was now at 53 miles and only 9 more to go. It was
getting darker and I was heading for the only place real trees exist in the
park (I don’t consider the mesquite trees as real because they don’t provide
any cover from the sun, not that it mattered today). I was running everything
flat and slightly uphill, only wanting to walk the three really steep hills
(Lucky, Cairn’s, and Boyle’s) and some of the muddy steep downhills. And for
the most part, I was able to do just that. Another plus was that I hadn’t
really given much thought to my knee. It still hurt, but it wasn’t bothering me
(maybe it knew that it had less than 10 miles to go and not 40+ like all my
other races). But in any case, I kept moving. I came into Last Chance (aid
station, mile 57). ‘What do you want?’ ‘Nothing much. I just wanna go and get
done.’ The Cairn’s section was over quickly enough. The downhill before Boyle’s
wasn’t fun with my knee. The Boyle’s section just went on forever, but I was
able to run most of it. Some of those high points during that last 5-mile
stretch got foggy and low on visibility. The downhill from Boyle’s was rather
dry, and I took advantage of that. I knew I was almost finished and pushed it.
I was at Boyle’s (aid station for Cactus Rose) and only had (maybe) a quarter
mile remaining. I gave it most all I had left. As I passed the horse corral, I
shouted ‘AMY!’ ‘MATT?!’ And I pushed it even more through the tiny field and
across the finish line. My knee held up, and I was happy to be done before any
of that rain came.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
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matt zmolekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05569330186636886497noreply@blogger.com0