Thursday, August 30, 2007

85 down 15 to go - Hanging in There

After my disappointing drop from the Mt. Disappointment run a couple of weeks ago. I haven't been pushing myself very hard, but have gotten in a couple of good quality runs.


On August 19th I ran 24 miles by Baden Powel (9000+ ft.) to Vincent Gap and then back with about 15 other runners at an AC Training Run. On the way there a group of us were delayed on Highway 2 because a motorcycle rider had gone down and had to be airlifted out. We didn't know it at the time, but it was Gary Hiliard, the race director for the Mt. Disappointment 50. After being in critical care for quite awhile and losing his spleen and I believe a kidney I understand he is doing better, possibly due to his good health through ultra running and tireless hours working on maintaining trails. Best wishes to a successful recovery.


I was fortunate enough to be invited to run with a few guys last Friday night on the last 40 miles of the Angeles Crest 100. We started our run about 6:30 p.m. and arrived at our finishing point in Pasadena about 7:30 the next morning. It was great to see the trail and enjoyed doing my first all night run. My lack of full time running due to my ankle was obvious and I certainly struggled the most of the four of us. I learned many things about night running as well as what the last 40 miles of the AC100 was like, well at least what the trail is like in the dard. What I learned the most is that if I ever do anything like this again I need to be sure to bring caffeine!!!!!!! I ran with Jay Anderson (an outstanding runner and leader of the group), Barefoot Ted (a guy that leaves you in awe watching him run for 40 miles at night, running part way barefoot and the other part in his five fingers or almost barefoot, and I hope he doesn't mind I snagged the picture below off his website) and Robert Schipsi (thanks to him I was able to tag along otherwise I wouldn't have known about the run, not to mention after watching him run, he should do very well on his first 100 miler coming up in 15 days).


Photo by Barefoot Ted

As far as my ankle goes, I continue to rest it plenty disappointed that I am not out on the trails. After an x-ray and then a CT scan, the dr. called to inform me that I needed to see an orthopedic. Apparently the CT scan showed "bone fragments", not sure exactly what that means, but I have an appointment for this next Wednesday... yikes.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

67 Down 33 To Go - Mt Disappintment 50k

For me Mt. Disappointment was a big DISAPPOINTMENT!!!!!!

The event was terrific and the volunteers were wonderful. To get right to the point somewhere around mile 8 my ankle (same ankle that has been hurting off and on since April) begin giving me troubles. At about mile 15 it was hurting too much so I began walking and arrived at the 20 mile aid station hot and depressed. Cindy was waiting there for me to cheer me on, instead I had to make the decision to drop from the race in hopes of lessening the damage and still keep my hopes alive for the AC100.

I went and had my ankle X-rayed but the dr. felt it would not help and she was right... the results showed nothing. I will be making an appointment for a CT scan this week that may or may not show something.

Friday, August 3, 2007

57 Down 43 To Go - JULY Part 1

The month of July was a good month for running bad for blogging.


The month of July started off with a trip to Eric and Cherie's place in Oxnard near the beach along with mom and dad and Cherie's mom and dad. We rode kayaks (picture of Eric and dad) in the canals literally right in their backyard. Sometimes we took the boat (Eric and Cherie) for dinner and other times just for a sunset cruise. We saw a great fireworks show on the fourth right from their deck.


The first day I ran down the beach to Ventura and after about 7 miles stripped off the Ipod, shoes and shirt and went for a swim in the ocean along with a little body surfing.

I learned a valuable lesson... it is important to put socks and running shoes back on the feet without getting wet sand in them. The run home was more difficult and involved frequent stops trying to leave the sand where it belonged. The next days run I brought a camera to get some self portraits and a picture of a shark that had washed up on the beach. Since Cherie didn't believe I had seen a shark, I was determined to get a picture on my run the next morning. After searching for it I realized a fisherman had moved it and had already begun disecting it for some "Ceviche" as he informed me. The visit was great and got in some good running miles... July was looking good... we're off to our cabin in Cold Springs in the mountains the next day.
























Thursday, August 2, 2007

57 down 43 to go - July Part II

There's too much too say about our 3 weeks in Cold Springs. In short, our group we call the Cold Springs Running Club spent many days running around the lake in the mornings and occasionally through the hills of our community. Often times I would run to the lake and meet them there and then run home as a good way to keep my mileage up. One morning Cindy drove me to Kennedy Meadows (a 45 minute drive) and dropped me off with basically water, map, and granola bars. I ran back through the Stanislaus National Forest. The run was approximately 27 miles and the first 20 miles I only saw two back backers that gave me a look of "who is this crazy fool running through the middle of the forest".








We took day trips to Calaveras Big Trees, Bodie, and enjoyed the laid back lifestyle of the mountains. Good friends visited, but we needed to get back by the end of the month to finish out July with a boating trip to Laughlin.

Calaveras Big Trees






Jennie Keeping Us Fed


Bodie Ghost Town


The view just before taking off from Kennedy Meadows

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

57 Down 43 To Go Part III

We were back for just a few days and then we were off to Laughlin. The "fun" started before we reached our destination. Just outside of Needles (30 minutes from our destination) our tire blew out. No problem I will put on the spare. 15 minutes after getting the spare on and lowering the jack, we learned that the spare was flat... it seemed low, but I guess I didn't realize how low. After calling AAA and learning it was going to be 2 hours in the 110 degree hot sun on the side of the highway we thought we would make a few calls to let our friends know we were going to be a little late. Not much longer Mat and Shelly drove by with an astonished look on their faces but due to traffic they weren't able to pull over for about 1/4 mile. No problem, I put on my running shoes and Shelly a 1/4 mile away did the same... we met half way and had a nice chat on the side of the highway. Not much after we met in the middle of nowheresville, Bill and Susan were passing by at 60 mph. We learned later at dinner that night that just before Susan recognized who it was she was announcing in the car, "What num-nuts would be out on the highway in the middle of nowere?!" They also stopped but I told Shelly that there was nothing they could do, and both cars should go on. About 15 minutes later Juan and Shelly (another Shelly) drove by and I saw that same look that I had just seen on Susan's face earlier. Good thing I had my running shoes on, after a quick chat they were on their way. We didn't think anyone else was coming by so we found some good rocks to sit on and had a picnic in the 110 degree weather, and got out the cards to play gin rummy. You know your lucky when you have a wife that is happy having a picnic and playing cards in the desert at 110 degrees on the side of the highway in Nowheresville.



Flat tire in Nowheresville

Cindy at our picnic



Cindy is lucky the tow truck arrived when it did, I was just about to beat her at Gin.



Yes, we finally made it to the lake and had a great couple of days!