Whoa. Running with a race number? Twice?

As usual, it’s been a little too long since my last post.  Like everything though, the hardest part is just getting to the starting line.   And hey, I’m running again! More than twice per week!  Wow! ;)

Having spent the last year or so focusing on avoiding those silly, nagging injuries, less falling down (that still happens…),  and better/more consistent training, I've actually been having a lot more fun.

Finally managed to shove myself into a couple races with numbers pinned to my singlet (that’s a “tank top”, for you ‘youngins’.)  Yes, it’s finally sinking in that I’m not 23 any longer - I’m a…uhhh….”Master’s Runner...?” now… Yep, 40+ and facing the reality of adjusting expectations and goals. Still won’t stop me from trying to run fast though.  

The two recent races:  BlackCanyon City Trail 1/2 Marathon in March (Point to point, epic views, amazing single-track, ~1,800 of “upness”, superb race organization, and BEER at the finish.  Fully approve of that!)  And the 3^rd annual Run for the Thirsty 10k at Reach 11 in North Phoenix in May. (Flat, packed dirt, fast, yet it was getting a tad warm for racing in the sunny desert.)

BCC 1/2:  I had run the BCC 13.1 the prior year on pretty weak training, plus one of the worst head/chest colds I’d ever had.  No refunds? No missing the event then - I’m stubborn like that.  I updated my emergency contact info and ran a decent effort without death.  Good enough for 37^th overall and 5^th in my age group in about 1:57 .   The 2013 run was different – still the same epic/fun course, though much better preparation - consistent training, fewer injuries, and a couple new excellent trail buddies (Chris and Jenn, both inspiring and dedicated Ultramarathoners – and not to mention, “fast!”) .   

Race day: Some bigger (aka “faster”) names on the entry list this year vs. last also made me focus a little bit more than I usually would.  Wanted to see if I could come close to some of these rockstars.  Being 37^th OA last year, I was shooting for a top-20 finish, and at least 6 to 8 minutes faster.  The race started out a little quick (for me) down the fire road, but not too horribly fast like I usually do (this was mostly to avoid the bottle-necking single-track after approximately the 1^st mile - you get stuck, you're screwed.). Don’t get me wrong, the course is amazing. Just really hard to pass on that single-track sometimes...  I managed to wind up 18^th-20^th place or so going into the 2^nd mile and pretty much kept a steady, good-effort pace the entire way while passing at least 1 or 2 runners every few miles.   By the time I’d reached about mile 9, those near me were at least 2 minutes ahead or behind – so I pretty much ran solo for the final 4 miles to the finish (not including the last mile where the 9k racers merged with the 13.1 folks).   Final results:  13^th overall, and 3^rd in my age group in 1:47. A full 10 minutes faster than last year.  Being that the 2 fellas ahead of me in my AG were named Ian and Jason (that would be “Torrence” and “Ford”, two kick-ass 40+ year olds with super impressive running resumes), I was stoked to take 3^rd out of the 38 in the 25-29 age group...I mean...40-44 group. Topped that off with a celebratory beer at the finish.  Happy Day! :)

Run for the Thirsty 10K:  Racing a 10k? Wait, what?  I don’t have the leg turn over for that!? (I ran 27 miles in training a few weeks before for a Boston Marathon tribute along the canal – I don’t run fast, I run far….)  After receiving a comp entry from the #FurtherFasterForever gang (on Facebook/Instagram) I couldn't pass it up.  Good cause, flat-as-a-pancake course, cool shirt, and out and back on a gravel/dirt path.   Was hoping to run sub-40:00 based on my training, but had no idea how that would go.  Figured I’d shoot for 6:15-6:20 pace and just see what happens.  

First mile: 6:18 (though I wouldnt know it at the time as I don’t wear a watch, and my iPhone (w/ Strava recording every exciting second) was in my little “manny pack.” (Hey, don’t laugh – it’s so small it was under my singlet and no one knew it was even there. J).   The leader took off like a mad-man – obviously knew what he was going – running around 5:30 pace.  See ya.  So I stuck with a group of 3 others the first few miles and figured the race was for 2^nd place. I just didn’t want to end up a train-wreck with everyone pointing and laughing as I hobbled through the finish line with puke or and/or drool all over the front half of my body.   Other than an unleashed dog nearly taking out the guy next to me, the rest was pretty uneventful – just a steady pace, trying to hang on to my pace as long as possible.  Two of the guys in my group eventually pulled away and I just couldn’t hang on.  Ended up finishing strong in a 39:05 (6:18 pace).  Good enough for 4^th overall and 2^nd in my AG.  Hey, I’ll take it.  J

Back on the Trails. Again. Yay.

Been a while. Been living. Kids, work, moving, etc, etc.  Finally made it out for a run last night.  Embarassed to say...first run in nearly 3 weeks.  At least my achilles, both of them, don't hurt today.  Sure hope that trend continues!

Managed a few pics (viewed on Webstagr.am) from the run too. Check em out if you want.  You might like to see why we're spoiled in the Winter time in Arizona. Even a few from Ironman Arizona.  Oh, and it must have been at least 83* yesterday.  :-)  

Okay, yeah, yeah...I've been slacking again w/ the blog.  Or out running. and working. and living.  A few have asked about the Grand Canyon and the oval stickers for "Rim to Rim to Rim" or "Rim to River to Rim."   You can find them here:  http://www.cafepress.com/rim2rim2rim  and http://www.cafepress.com/rim2river2rim.  If there's another kind/type of sticker you want. Let me know as I may be able to add it.  :-)

Did you do it? Run, hike, mule, crawl? Did ya?

Summer. Hot... Storms.... Humidity...

Can't believe how long it's been since I posted anything here. One thing I do know though. I've been slackin' on the training.  Big-time!  No more excuses about the heat, the storms, the humidity, etc.

How about I get my butt up once in a while actually get out there and do something?  Easier said than done sometimes, but if I'm going to even consider another run at the Grand Canyon this fall (rim to rim to rim), I need to get SOME sort of a base... and that won't happen while sitting on my booty!

(Only a sample - not a REAL "Slacker" Certificate:)

Summer's Over! Yay!

Now that the hellish firestorm we call the "Arizona Summer" is behind us, it's time to take advantage and run a little more - OUTSIDE.  No more night-time lows of 93 degrees and day-time highs of 114.  No more getting up at 4 a.m. to start a run and have it get progressively hotter every minute of my watch.  And no need to run on the "dreadmill" - only by choice once in a while when time is short.

On that note, I'm off for a nice, cool run! (Sorry to everyone who's not in the SouthWest and/or buried under 2 feet of snow.)  :-)

Javalina 12 Hour Run

Okay, pretty sure this means I'm committed. My $50.00 means 12-hours of running? Really? Yep.  The Javalina 12 Hour Run in McDowell Mountain Park.

I've done six of the 48-mile variety in the Grand Canyon (between 13 hrs 50 min to 18+ hrs), but never anything more than 26.2 with a race number pinned to my chest.  Guess that'll change this September.  :-)

Now...to train in the heat of the Arizona Summer for some serious long-@$$ distances.  Time to get my training schedule nailed down and be in good shape - or else!  More to come!

Oops, I Did It Again

Yep, just 30 days removed from my last "rim to rim to rim" I made a last minute (or last second, rather) decision to head North and do it one more time before the Summer heat hits (and the heat hit while I was in the canyon...).  I'll keep this report shorter than usual -you're welcome! ;-)  Left Scottsdale around 10:30 p.m. Arrived at the S. Rim around 2:30 a.m., organized my stuff and headed down just before 3:00 a.m.

Less than 30 minutes after I began, I ran into 3 other guys from Phoenix (Marcus, Joseph, & Jeron) so I tagged along with them most of the way over to the N. Rim.

<--- Marcus (10th or 11th R2R2R) and Joseph - jammin' along.

After Marcus and Joseph kept up a little faster pace up the N. Rim, I was more than happy to hang with Jeron the rest of the way - we separated for a while but met up again back at the Supai Tunnel. He had a very short-lived "suffer-climb" those last few miles of the North (I think a lot of us did, to be totally honest -myself included.) and recovered quickly and was back in business for the trip to the S Rim. I think we were both just happy to enjoy the day and no need to hammer through it too hard (and pay the price on the climb out). Got pretty hot as we headed back down N Kaibab, and instead of running ALL the way to Phantom Ranch we shifted to hike mode from Cottonwood on down.  It had to be 100 degrees in the inner canyon.



Total time was slightly over 18 hrs.  (Marucs and Joseph rocked it in about 15 1/2 hours). Took about 7 hrs 30 min to reach the N Rim and took our sweet time coming back.  While I was going to shower at the campground afterwards and crash in the back of my car (happily), these guys were super-generous and offered to let me rinse off at their lodge (and even offered an extra bed they weren't using - how cool was that? WAY cool.)  I owe them a round or two of drinks!! Marcus, Joseph, and Jeron - you guys rock!

Half way.  At the N Kaibab Trailhead for 15 min of rest, my PB&J and time to head back!  Only 24 hot miles to go!

Jeron headed down N. Kaibab towards the Pumphouse.

~3 miles to go!  Ready to be done!

Done!  And Tired!