Hit the Dusty Trail

Hmmm, for this race my time really sucked.  The slowest 10K race time I have ever run and 6 minutes slower than my PR.  Ugh!  Oh well, time marches on.  Forgot to take a hit off my inhaler and didn't realize it until the race started.  I think that cost me a little time.  I also ran 18 miles the day before, hmmmm, maybe that had something to do with it as well.  I wasn't able to really get into a running groove until around 3-4 miles, then I felt better and a little quicker until the uphill at mile 5.  Mentally I wasn't really into it either.  I figured that I would just turn the race into a good tempo run, and that it was.  8:32 pace?  Not good.  The legs were pretty trashed afterwards.  I was going to run another 7-8 easy in the afternoon, but baled on it.

Mile 1 - 8:25

Mile 2 - 7:36

Mile 3 - 8:24

Mile 4 - 8:30

Mile 5 - 9:22 (tired and uphill)

Mile 6 - 9:14

Mile 6.2 - 1:33 (7:45 pace)

Ran into work this morning.  Got kind of a late start and didn't get to work until after 7am.  I usually like to get ehre by 6:45.  Time in was ok, around 1:32.  Weather was not bad, probably in the upper 20's or low 30's and clear.  Chance of snow this afternoon.  Hopefully that doesn't happen but it's also supposed to be somewhat windy and that means a headwind (and windchill) for me.  Oh joy!  I can't wait for the weather to start warming up.  I'm ready for spring and the heat of summer.

The run home was great.  I pushed ahrd the entire way and broke 1:20 for only the second time.  Although it's only a sub 9 pace, that included stop lights and crossing busy streets.  Felt really good to push that ahrd and see some results.

Just took it easy at lunch today.  Planning on going to the gym after work.

Was going to run at lunch but decided that I needed to do some speed work.  Did 5 x 1/2 on the trreadmill, each one faster than the previous.  Pace - 6:40, 6:36, 6:31, 6:27, 6:23.  Max HR 162.  Roughly .2 walk/run in between each one plus 1/2 warmup and cool down.

Got my latest issue of Ultrarunning magazine.  Had a couple of articles on Ted Corbitt.  He passed away at the age of 88 last November.  He was considered by many to be the father of modern ultrarunning (post WW2) not only in the US but the world.  A phenomenal runner who set quite a few records even into his 80's.  In his prime he would regularly do training weeks of up to 300 miles and regularly trained in excess of 150 miles/week.   The guy walked 303 miles at a 6 day race in NYC at the ripe old age of 83 (2002).  He commented at the time that if he had known that he would do so well, he would have incorporated running into his training for the race.  How many of us could go 303 miles (50 miles/day) in 6 days?  The article also said that he was a very humble man and would talk to and encourage anyone with their running endeavors.  The unltrarunning community will miss him. 

Ran into work this morning.  Was a little colder than I thought, but not too bad.  Didn't note the time, but it was around the usual 1:30.

The run home was nice, a little cooler but still nice to run home in the sunshine.  I usually get off a little early on Friday's and teh roads aren't quite as busy.  Just took it easy and enjoyed the run.

Had the final official training run for the Antelope Island Buffalo Run.  Had the best turnout as well.  Somewhere around 25 people shoed to run anywhere between 13.5 and 17.2 miles.  The weather cooperated quite well.  A little breezy at times but for the most part very pleasant.  Got to run past a herd of about 30 female bison that were only 50 yards away.  How many people get that opportunity?  Saw a couple of male pronghorns going head to head as well.  All in all, a great run with friends.

Went to the gym after work then went home and got on the treadmill.  Did a 1 mile warmup and then 4 more at 8:00 or faster pace.  After all that I browned about 25 lbs. of buffalo stew meat for the Buffalo Run.  I bought 100 lbs. of stew meat for the race and it's quite the job to get it all cooked before the race.  My wife won't let me do it in the house so I end up in the garage cooking.

Ran into work thsi morning.  In the low 30's so not too bad.  I didn't pay attention to my time but the run felt about normal.  One thing I noticed is that my legs didn't ache like they usually do after I run in.  maybe I'm finally getting into some sort of shape.  One can only hope.  Daylight savings time meant that my run in was completely in the dark today.

the run home wasn't too bad.  The first 1/2 mile I wanted to call my wife and have her come get me.  I felt really sluggish and tired, but after about 3 miles, I felt fine and the rest of the run went well.  Don't know what the issue was except amybe a lack of motivation.

Did the dreaded speed work on the treadmill.  6 x .5, 6:31, 6:27, 6:23, 6:19, 6:15, 6:11.  Max HR was the highest I've ever managed to get it, 168.  Usually I can't get my HR above around 156-162.  Resting HR is still 42-44.  Didn't get to run yesterday due to too much work at work and work at home getting ready for the Buffalo Run.  Only a week away ans till way too much to do.  If any of you think it would be fun to direct a race, well, it is, but it's also a lot of work, coordination, etc.  In the end I think it's all worth it to put on a well run race and have people really enjoy it and come back year after year.

This is my race report for the Antelope Island Buffalo Run.  This is a race that I started three eyars ago and it's grown every year.  This year I had about 250 runners split between the three races.  The 50 mile (starts at 6am), the 50K (starts at 8am), and a 25K (starts at 9am).  As usual, a tremendous amount of work is involved in putting on the race, beginning about 6 months before race day and it's still not over even a week after.

Two new course records were set this year.  Erik Storheim defended last year's 50 mile win with a new course record of 7:04, handily beating the 2nd place runner by over 30 minutes.  Brad Mitchell also defended his 50K title by setting a new record of 3:49 for the distance.  His win was only 4 minutes ahead of the previous record holder, Kevin Shilling.

Other race winners include Milada Copeland winning the women's 50 mile, Eve Davies winning the women's 50K, Billy Peterson winning the men's 25K, and Jennifer Koldewyn winning the women's 25K.

The weather cooperated again this year.  It was very windy the night before and during the race start, but as the day progressed, the wind died down.  The runners were treated to low 30's at the start warming to the upper 40's by the afternoon.  One of these years, the weather is going to be really bad on race day.

A few things were done this year to improve the race, we added a portajohn to the 50 mile turnaround point, moved the Lone Tree aid station to a different location another .4 miles down the trail, and had canopies for each aid station for a little bit of shelter.

As usual, I had plenty of wonderful volunteers who gave up their day to help out at the race.  Some of my volunteers have been with me all three years now.  As with most races, this race would certainly not take place without the volunteers giving their time to help out.

The race went off without a hitch, there were the usual minor items, drop bags not getting back fast enough, a few 50K runners who elected to drop after 25K.  We did have plenty of food and drink at all the aid stations.  Running out of food/drink is always a big concern of mine during the race because it's very difficult to just run to the store to pick up stuff.  The nearest store (WalMart) is well over 10 miles away.

As usual, I waas exhausted after the day's events and felt like I had run the race myself, but I also felt really good that another race was in the books and I can start planning for next year's race.

If you've never run a trail race or an ultra, give the Buffalo Run a try.  Registration opens in mid October.  This year's race filled to its limit in three weeks, howver, I'm in talks with the park to possibly expand the number of entries substantially.  Check out the race website at www.buffalorun.org

Nothing to report.  This is a catch up entry.

Another catch up entry.  I've really been slacking off, both on the running and on recording it.  shame on me.

My fellow ultrarunning friend Meghan and I had been planning on running today for the past couple of weeks.  With the snow falling, I was going to tank the run and not go, but she told me to get my butt in gear.  We met at the main gate to Antelope Island, drove out and ran a couple different trails.  The Lakeside trail around the north end of the island is always a good time.  Fairly flat but very technical in areas.  If you don't pay attention to foot placement, you'll end up on your face hurting.  The other trail we ran is out White Rock and then the Split Rock loop.  Snow was sticking to the ground up on the bench, but down lower it wasn't.  Pretty muddy in spots, but all in all a good time.  It felt good to get out and do a nice long run in some icky weather and get muddy.  Conversation was pretty good too.