Scott and I running into the finish. My first 50 mile run.
And this video illustrates what happens if you don't make Mr Electrolyte your friend. This shouldn't be part of your race plan. Watch, enjoy, and hopefully learn from my suffering.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Finisher Video Antelope Island 50 Miler
Finisher Video at the Antelope Island Buffalo run 50 Miler
Scott and I running into the finish. My first 50 mile run.
Scott and I running into the finish. My first 50 mile run.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Antelope Island Buffalo Run 50 Miler
Antelope Island Buffalo Run 50 Miler
All I can say is "whew"! That was a long run. Here are a few shots of my first 50 mile run.
Here I am on the Elephant Head Trail section of the run about mile 10 (notice the smile).
A little farther down the trail at about mile 21 (smile fading)
No smile, but feeling real good. Pretty day, nice course. Mile 26
Time to refuel at the Aid station Mile 27.4
Mile 40. Just moving along.
Right here at about Mile 48, the wheels are still on, and I am still pushing to be done. Mr Electrolyte and I have not been close enough friends. Not too long after this shot I blow chunks. Electrolytes are your friends. Hows that for a learning experience?
All I can say is "whew"! That was a long run. Here are a few shots of my first 50 mile run.
Here I am on the Elephant Head Trail section of the run about mile 10 (notice the smile).
A little farther down the trail at about mile 21 (smile fading)
No smile, but feeling real good. Pretty day, nice course. Mile 26
Time to refuel at the Aid station Mile 27.4
Mile 40. Just moving along.
Right here at about Mile 48, the wheels are still on, and I am still pushing to be done. Mr Electrolyte and I have not been close enough friends. Not too long after this shot I blow chunks. Electrolytes are your friends. Hows that for a learning experience?
I do however finish a very well organized 50 mile run at Antelope Island smack dab in the middle of the Great Salt Lake. Great weather great people. Specail thanks to Scott Kunz for the photos and pacing. I am forever indebted to you for your patience.
It was all I expected it to be and much more. I learned a lot and look forward to my next 50.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Never, never, never give up
Here is an article that I had saved on my computer, I regret not knowing whom to give credit to. It is however not written by me and I get no credit for it nor do I want any, just spreading the good word. I am sure I came across it while surfing the web and saved it for future motivational reading. I really like the point it makes. I hope we can all follow the advice given.
Never Give Up
I have frequently read about Winston Churchill's final speech. He was in his 90's, in very poor health, and had agreed to speak to his former high school pupils. On the day, when introduced in glowing terms, Winston Churchill slowly made his way to the podium, looked at the assembly and said, "Never give up; never, never, never give up."
It's a quotation you will find in many books and often used in training manuals and by motivational speakers seeking to inspire their audience. Winston Churchill spoke from a position of age and experience. There were many times throughout the course of his long-lived life that it seemed all over for him. In 1940, in the darkest days of World War II when Britain stood alone, he became the Prime Minister. His sentiment then, and later in life, was never to give up.
It begs the question never give up on exactly what? I intuitively know he means never give up trying, but upon personal reflection it's about never giving up hope. When you buy a book on self-improvement, on well being, or on weight loss, you are not buying a solution, you are buying the hope that the changes you seek may be realized.
I recently read about an experiment where 40 mice were put in an aquarium tank with no way to climb out. After two hours, whilst they paddled on the surface, 20 were removed at random and were then put in space where they could dry off and eat. They were then tagged and returned to the aquarium and left there. It was noted that the mice that had never been taken out of the tank, drowned within a few hours, but the mice that had been given a chance to dry and eat, continued in some cases up to three days before they drowned. The conclusion was that the mice who were taken out of the tank returned to the aquarium with the hope that they could survive, the hope that they could get out again. The other mice tired and without hope or a positive expectation – gave up.
I know several high altitude mountaineers and explorers and others who have been in survival experiences. They all agree that once hope is removed, it's very easy to give up, and at that point dying becomes the likely outcome. There are books that recount people who defied the odds and survived when the situation seemed hopeless; when their companions simply gave up and quickly passed away.
How often have you told yourself, "That's not fair," and the feeling of being a victim of circumstances made you feel like giving up? Not too often, I hope. If you focus on the negative aspects of the past or the present, it's easy to imagine that nothing will change. It's also the perfect reason why you must focus on a positive future, take actions that give you the hope and belief that things are going to be great, and never, never, never give up.
Never Give Up
I have frequently read about Winston Churchill's final speech. He was in his 90's, in very poor health, and had agreed to speak to his former high school pupils. On the day, when introduced in glowing terms, Winston Churchill slowly made his way to the podium, looked at the assembly and said, "Never give up; never, never, never give up."
It's a quotation you will find in many books and often used in training manuals and by motivational speakers seeking to inspire their audience. Winston Churchill spoke from a position of age and experience. There were many times throughout the course of his long-lived life that it seemed all over for him. In 1940, in the darkest days of World War II when Britain stood alone, he became the Prime Minister. His sentiment then, and later in life, was never to give up.
It begs the question never give up on exactly what? I intuitively know he means never give up trying, but upon personal reflection it's about never giving up hope. When you buy a book on self-improvement, on well being, or on weight loss, you are not buying a solution, you are buying the hope that the changes you seek may be realized.
I recently read about an experiment where 40 mice were put in an aquarium tank with no way to climb out. After two hours, whilst they paddled on the surface, 20 were removed at random and were then put in space where they could dry off and eat. They were then tagged and returned to the aquarium and left there. It was noted that the mice that had never been taken out of the tank, drowned within a few hours, but the mice that had been given a chance to dry and eat, continued in some cases up to three days before they drowned. The conclusion was that the mice who were taken out of the tank returned to the aquarium with the hope that they could survive, the hope that they could get out again. The other mice tired and without hope or a positive expectation – gave up.
I know several high altitude mountaineers and explorers and others who have been in survival experiences. They all agree that once hope is removed, it's very easy to give up, and at that point dying becomes the likely outcome. There are books that recount people who defied the odds and survived when the situation seemed hopeless; when their companions simply gave up and quickly passed away.
How often have you told yourself, "That's not fair," and the feeling of being a victim of circumstances made you feel like giving up? Not too often, I hope. If you focus on the negative aspects of the past or the present, it's easy to imagine that nothing will change. It's also the perfect reason why you must focus on a positive future, take actions that give you the hope and belief that things are going to be great, and never, never, never give up.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Moab Red Hot 50K+
On February 14th Valentines day (yes can you believe that? Cupid was not present, he's not a runner) I got to run the Moab Red Hot 50K+. The plus is there because it is 3 miles farther than a regular 50K (31 miles) so this was a 34 mile event and it was a beauty. As you can see from the photo it was a perfect day to run. We ran Gemini Bridges road to Metal Masher trail, to Gold Bar rim trail, Golden spike to Poison Spider. Very tough trails and one of the most scenic runs I have ever had. It was a great day of running I felt good and best of all I had a great time and kept my spirits up and not once did I get down and feel emotionally drained. A lot times in long races I have gotten discouraged because of time goals or not feeling great. In this race I felt good physically and mentally. I didn't run terribly fast 7:18, but the terrain was insane, I had not trained for such craziness. There were times we were literally scrambling up nearly sheer slickrock faces, and bombing down 60 degree downhills, if there was level section, it was sand. And it was a blast. Here I am on a real nice stretch of Gold Bar rim trail. 
Wasatch 100
It is final my name has been pulled from the hat and I have been selected to run in the Wasatch 100 mile endurance run. I am very excited, scared and cautious. Now pretty much all the events I am planning on doing will be in preparation for the Wasatch event. I have to prepare mentally and physically for the demand that will be put on me. I know it will be very, very hard, but I know I can get it done. My friend Scott also got in, it will be his third.
Monday, January 5, 2009
2009 Goals
As I look forward and see 2009 looming before me, I ponder my goals for the upcoming year. I am not one for resolutions, but I do like to make improvements on what I have learned. 2008 was too much fun and I really learned a lot about myself and what I can do if I want to. I also saw areas for improvement, and recognize that I need to make goals this year to be a better person, runner and cyclist.
When I look at all the events I could participate in, the list is seemingly endless. I am already signed up for a couple of very challenging events. These are part of my goals this year. As part of this trek to self improvement I decided to send off my entry to the Wasatch Front 100 mile endurance run. Not totally certain I will be selected to participate in this event, I am going to apply for it anyway. To me this is the ultimate test of will and phsyical challenge. The thought of it scares me, plain and simple, I get a lump in my stomach thinking about taking it on. But I also believe I can get it done. The preparation is a little worrisome as it will take time and committment from me. Time is always a luxury these days. So that brings the first goal:
Balance- Moderation in all things we are told. This will be a challenge as I want to do everything. For me to accomplish this goal I will have to allot time for all in my life. Most importantly my kids and my wife.
Work- I want to be the best I can be and learn much in my new employ. 2009 will be year for all of this, there are changes a coming and I want to be able to be the best employee I can be.
Personal growth- Through training, dedication and positive actions, my goal is to be a better athlete, husband and father.
I think that is enough for 2009.
Now which races to run? There are just not enough days in the year. I want it all.
When I look at all the events I could participate in, the list is seemingly endless. I am already signed up for a couple of very challenging events. These are part of my goals this year. As part of this trek to self improvement I decided to send off my entry to the Wasatch Front 100 mile endurance run. Not totally certain I will be selected to participate in this event, I am going to apply for it anyway. To me this is the ultimate test of will and phsyical challenge. The thought of it scares me, plain and simple, I get a lump in my stomach thinking about taking it on. But I also believe I can get it done. The preparation is a little worrisome as it will take time and committment from me. Time is always a luxury these days. So that brings the first goal:
Balance- Moderation in all things we are told. This will be a challenge as I want to do everything. For me to accomplish this goal I will have to allot time for all in my life. Most importantly my kids and my wife.
Work- I want to be the best I can be and learn much in my new employ. 2009 will be year for all of this, there are changes a coming and I want to be able to be the best employee I can be.
Personal growth- Through training, dedication and positive actions, my goal is to be a better athlete, husband and father.
I think that is enough for 2009.
Now which races to run? There are just not enough days in the year. I want it all.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Christmas present to me
Frazz is one of my favorite comics.
Jef Mallett is a runner and Triathlete. He has this one right.
Give yourself a present Christmas morning and go out for a nice quiet run. Some of my most memorable runs have been early morning, first through the snow runs. The quiet stillness is amazing.
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