Thru Endurance We Conquer!

It's a frequent statement by runners - I can't play pickup basketball with MJ or throw a football with Manning, but I can run with the elites! And that statement then gets interpreted to mean that races should be actively seeking out the various elite runners and catering to them. After after all, having the elites there will attract more every day runners so they can rub shoulders with their idols. Having the elite there will inspire the every day runner through talks and photo ops. And so the race will benefit from having the few fast people there, getting all the attention and the press. But really? Is that honestly what happens? I don't think so. I think the races that devote the time and money to the every day runners rather then the elites are better events and more in tune with what runners want. I also come at that observation from a very different perspective then most runners. I am looking at this from the perspective of a once elite/sub-elite runner. I have had...

Life is stressful - there's no denying that. We are rushing from one appointment to another, chasing our tails doing errands, work and still trying to play. In the age of instant communication, we don't like waiting for anything and allow frustration to overwhelm us when we have to wait. The stress and frustration builds and builds, creating discontent and anger. The people closest to us become the targets for our frustration, regardless if they are the source. More often then not, it's a missed placed anger at people who are doing the best they can under already stressful conditions. I noticed that first hand last week when I was doing some errands and getting two prescriptions for Nick. One prescription was ready, but the other still needed a few minutes. Instead of getting mad that I had to wait, I took care of some other shopping and came back - a far cry from the reaction of the guy in front of me who became irate that his drugs weren't ready. After all, the do...

This is the second half of my thoughts about Stories. Warning - this collection gets a little more philosophical! Forward Momentum I'm fond of telling my athletes "continuous forward momentum". It's a common refrain in both ultra running and cycling. But what does it really mean? It's easy to think of it as a purely physical idea - one step at a time, one crank revolution at a time, no matter how slow the pace is. Just keep moving. Physical is easy to grasp, that one step at a time aspect. But it's so much more then just physical - its a mental mindset of perseverance, determination and moving forward. Positivity, approaching the miles and the time with the attitude that you'll be able to push beyond is the key. Forward Momentum keeps you looking at the ever shrinking distance between you and the finish line. It doesn't drag you down with how slow you are covering that distance. This was a good lesson to learn this weekend. There were plenty of time...

I don't think I can write a traditional race report for Stories. After all, it was so much more then we started, we ran the red loop in the dark, then the green as the sun rose, then blue and red and repeated throughout the day, into the night and again as the sun dawned for the second morning. No, that's not how I remember the day. Instead, it's a collection of moments and of experiences. The community surrounding the race, made clear by every encounter on the trail. The dedication of the crews and volunteers to keep runners moving as best they could. And so, instead I present this collection of short stories about the race.

It's dark and cold. The wind is gusting, driving the temperature down even further. The bustle has died down, leaving the night in silence. Then in the distance a glimmer of light. It gets closer, but oh so slowly. The miles and hours are getting long and everything is slowing down. But that glimmer of light. Finally! People are close by. While I'm sure the other runners at Stories Ultra had similar experiences - seeing the lights of the aid station appearing on Acorn Alley, this short story isn't about us. No - it's about the volunteers, the unsung heroes of this crazy sport. While we are out running in the dark and cold, the volunteers are huddled around a fire, trying to stay warm and stay awake. There is nothing to do but wait for a runner to appear on the hillside above the campground. Every race requires an army of volunteers to run smoothly. From course marking and set up the day before the race and runner check in and other pre-race activities race morning, to...

In less then 12 hours I will be taking the first step in this crazy journey. The Stories Ultra 30 hour race starts at 06:00, in the pre-dawn chill only a February morning can provide. I have the pit set up - hunting tent, heater, the full gamut to do this right. I know the course - Cheyenne Mountain State Park is practically my backyard trails. I know where to expect mud, where the packed snow will be and where there is ice. I have a piece of my heart watching over me on Purple. If I am not ready, it’s too late to worry. What is done is done and what will happen is to be written over the the course of 30 hours. I have one major goal and one dream goal. I have to hit 100k, but damn - that Teddy Bear Buckle is just adorable! Regardless, I need to remember one thing. Keep smiling. It’s so easy to get trapped in the darkest areas of the mind - especially when the 2:00AM demons are lurking, the temperature is sucking the life out of you and the last thing you want to do is one more lap. I...

After dropping down to run the Game Day 5k last year, I was looking forward to another go at the Super Half Marathon. Unlike in prior years, the Super Half wasn't the target race. That didn't mean I wasn't hoping for a decent time, but just that the training hadn't been targeted towards the flat, fast running on the Santa Fe trail.so I had to temper my goals and expectations leading into the race. I figured that I’d be able to run about 7:15s easily so used that as the starting point. I also wanted to be more comfortable running at that pace without looking at my watch. Before the GPS watches, I was able to consistently hit a target pace during races. I knew what the pace felt like and ran at that effort. But now, I’ve noticed I’m second guessing my internal speedometer and adding stress to the race by constantly looking at the watch. So that was my other goal - only look at my watch when I hit the mile markers. Otherwise just run on feel and make an effort to run smart...