Crafting a candle

Running on fresh legs due to tapering is nerve racking and possibly one of the hardest parts of training. Websters definition to taper off is "progressively narrowed towards one end". I think of a candle stick when I read this and its relation to running. You build your base, over time you grow, and as you approach the end of your goal the tapered shape helps ignite your efforts. Building your candle isn't easy. The base requires hard work to build a foundation, growth period allows a routine but encourages self challenges, and tapering your craft to a point to be ignited. When race day comes you want to light your candle with confidence knowing it will endure the race. I want to light my candle and get this race started. But I'm not there yet a couple more days till race day (Sunday). Tapering will be necessary for successful ignition. In a craft that promotes rewards through physical efforts it feels almost counterintuitive to taper off. Don't run, don't train, and rest might be the most beneficial but also the hardest.

WM 100 check point menus

2014 WHITE MOUNTAINS 100 Checkpoint Menu has been posted.
From http://wm100.endurancenorth.org/
There will be food at each checkpoint, as well as at the trail shelter and the finish line. The food at the checkpoints is intended to provide racers with a warm dish and a few snacks.  The grub at the checkpoints is not intended to be the racers’ only food source while they are on the race course.  Racers need to be considerate of the racers coming behind them.  While a few items can be carried down the trail, we didn’t plan for racers to stuff their pockets.  There will be unlimited warm water and a lot (almost unlimited) of Gatorade or Tang and hot cocoa and coffee.The following is what you can count on (unless there is a disaster with one of our snowmachiners), but please note that the checkpoint volunteers reserve the right to cut racers off at any time if they think you’re getting greedy.

Checkpoint 1 (wall tent – Mile 17):Most racers blast past this outdoor checkpoint quickly, so here we will have just water, hot cocoa, Gatorade, trail mix, cookies, candy, chips, and pretzels.

Checkpoint 2 (Cache Mountain – Mile 40):Ready for real food and a jolt of caffeine?  The baked potatoes are here!  Power up for the slog over the divide with a potato with all the toppings (cheese, bacon, butter, sour cream, ketchup).  You will also find water, hot cocoa, Gatorade, coffee, Coke, cookies, candy, and chips.

Checkpoint 3 (Windy Gap – Mile 62):Feeling chilly?  Warm up, hydrate, and fortify with some hot meatball and rice soup (available with just the veggie broth and rice for vegetarians/vegans) and pre-made PBJ's.  As usual, find water, hot cocoa, Gatorade, coffee, Coke, cookies, candy, and chips. Look for homemade brownies here!

Checkpoint 4 (Borealis – Mile 80):Are we tired yet?  Wobbly legs?  Wobbly stomach?  Ramen noodles and broth go down easily (varied flavors, some veggie) along with a hunk of bread and butter. For those in the mood for breakfast there will also be instant oatmeal packs (various flavors). Pre-made PBJ's, crackers, salami, and cheese, and will also be on hand to provide power for those final 20 miles.  As usual, find water, hot cocoa, Gatorade, coffee, Coke, cookies, candy, and chips.

Trail Shelter (not an official checkpoint – Mile 91):It's not an official checkpoint, but just in case you need help getting through the last ten miles, hardy volunteers will be here with water, hot cocoa, Gatorade, coffee, pretzels, trail mix, chips, cookies, and candy.  We’ll also have a few chicken-noodle cup-o-soups for folks struggling with salt/hydration issues.

Finish Line (wall tent):Hooray, you made it!  Maybe you're waiting for a ride, or just recouping enough to be able to drive yourself home.  Either way, kick back and enjoy a hotdog or brat off the grill (veggie dogs available) with all the toppings, a warm bowl of chili from the crockpot, or a bagel with cream cheese or peanut butter.  Salty snacks and hot and cold drinks will be available.  Look for homemade brownies!

Class room

 Today I had an awesome opportunity to share my passion for running with the 5th grade class of Auke Bay Elementary school. Mrs. Weed, the 5th grade teacher, asked if I would share my experience growing up with a learning disorder, how I set goals for myself, and what I'm attempting to accomplish now. I mentioned my sponsorship with the local business Tongass Substance Screening. Their support has given me the opportunity to challenge myself and to push through to reach the possible. I wouldn't have any of this if I allowed drugs to control my life. 
     It was impressive how well behaved the kids were. I was very thankful for their time and keen attention. I also bragged about the community we share and I found myself reinforcing the theme "anything is possible." I left the class room feeling excited and amped about the whole experience.

A dog day of fun!

What a totally unexpected fun day! Started out with a fun Gezzer run. Down Thane road and back to equal 8 miles. So many runners showed up for the run. I had the smart idea to run both Gage and Diego (two dogs) at the same time. It took several miles to calm them down but running therapy always prevails!

After the run Cecile opened her home up to us for an amazing breakfast. I ate good food and enjoyed great company. Geoff Rose was there and joined us for a run that morning.

After the morning run, my friends John, Dan, and I along with Diego and Gage decided to put more mileage in. So we ventured up Perseverance Trail and snow shoed. I'm not a fan of snow shoes but that was the only way. We took pictures and traveled 8 miles round trip. Yetty and Buster (two more dogs) got there run/ walk today too.

So today I ran my dogs and myself. Run'Em Crazy to Lazy strikes again with an awesome day of dog running!

Running Dog Errands “literally”

Tuesday’s workout was in consideration of saving gas and putting in some mileage. I parked my truck at my first dog location, a neighborhood close to Mendenhall Bridge. As I leached Gamby, a standard size poodle, I rap another leash around my self, for plans to pick up a second dog during this leg. Gamby and I ran for three miles to a neighborhood a little past Spaulding Meadows to pick up my next client. We picked up Chester a small labradoodle (he's the dog on my facebook profile picture). These two dogs are so different in size but are hilarious to watch play. They animate one another and are filled with so much energy that I can’t put on their leashes fast enough.

So we hit the road until we get to Auke Lake trail to have some trail fun. I could smellthe scent of some low hanging tree branches. It was like Mother Nature's call. After disposing Mother Nature’s calling (poop) we head back to Gamby’s house. Gamby completed 6 miles in little over an hour. Chester and I said our goodbyes and retraced our steps back to Chester’s home. There I cleaned him up and said goodbye. I was up to 9 miles so I decided to run to Back Loop Road to run/walk a new client of mine, a very pretty sheltie named Xena. Xena and I were still warming up to each other being this was only our second run/walk. So we took a 30 minute jog around Montana Creek area. We got in 2 miles and time was up. I returned Xena home and finished my run through Back Loop to Mendenhall Road back to the neighborhood I parked my car totaling 20 “productive” miles.

This "errand running" started when I became burnt out from mileage counting. The long mileage or even short days along with large loads of errands to do felt like a burden. I realized I could start returning my DVDs to Blockbuster by running there. And I get more reward out of my run. Even though I look pretty goofy running in the valley with a DVDs in each hand, I kept thinking about the gas money I'm saving. Then at the end of the day of running and running errands I would add up the mileage. Running errands changed my view on running. Not only will I run for my future race goals but to get stuff done. I’m all for that!

Sunday's Run

Sunday run
I started out this week hitting the snooze button too many times. I did count on daylight savings but didnt realize I wouldnt have another 5 more minutes to snooze. I got in my tempo run catching up to The Smoken Old Geezers. It was the first run without our greatest friend and club member Glen Frik. With just days after his passing, this Sunday we had a large number of runners despite daylight saving and the weather. We put in 8.5 miles from UAS out past Auke Rec and back recalling "Glen memories". As tradition we follow the run with breakfast at Donnas but this time one cup was poored and untouched along with a empty chair.
After my coffee and pancake I said my good byes to the group. With the reality of his absence hitting what felt like the first time.  I thought the only thing for me to do is to run. Most of my millage goals evolve around meeting my clients dogs. The dog I needed to run lives in Douglas. With only three weeks before my next race, this maybe my last chance for a long one. I ran 22 miles from Donnas to Douglas and back to total 30 miles for the day. I dont like to carry more then I think is needed for a run. I stop in buinesses I normally do buisness with to have some water or sometimes coffee. ACS doesnt seem to mind and I thank them for it with my cell phone bill. But the last two miles I felt the dreaded "wall". Luckily my emergency two dollars comes to mind when passing Brizze Inn. I sit down on some fire wood for sale while drinking a Gateraid just to take a minute  to be off my feet. Finishing the run im relieved to get home out of the wet running cloths into something dry. My recovery, I made a kale, banana, kiwi, chai seed rice milk smoothie and with hot tub therapy.

Post Susitna 100

The morning was warm, trail packed with snow and ice. My sled was heavy from six visits to REI the days before. I didn't want to finish the race and have my sled be under weight but I could feel every pound going up and down the hills. Going down hills with a 30 pound sled on skis made it a little dicy. The sled that I created was great at finding every trench on the trail to topol over during a bad strech of trail. I lost my patience. Thinking to myself I'm only at 15 miles, I yelled out a word I'm not proud of. After that an idea hit me, I realized I need to switch modes. The only way to get out of this bad strech of trail would be to push the sled. The poles I used to pull were stiff enough to push and ster the sled out of there. After a mile I was in the clear, trail condition improved and I went back to pulling the sled.

I got lost a lot. Which is nothing new my runner friends will tell you. I assure you I wasn't the only one. The course was like a four lane highway, running on auto pilot I frequently missed my exit or took the wrong one to add an extra 6 miles to my experience. To make light of the extra miles I just figured I got more millage for my buck.

My chellenges were not nearly as difficult as others. Eric an ultra athlete, I should say an Army Vegan Ultra Athlete no less who I had just met at the safety meeting the night before who had to back pack out his gear after his sled broke. He finished Susitna 100 with a time of 32 hours! He is nothing less but inspirational.

Sweet potatoes a little messy but was a nice change up to the routine of pro bars and gues. When the station only provided what seemed like junk food, sweet potatos provided me a tasty snack. Baking them before the race provided a heat source to keep my insulated bag, clothes, and food warm. I didn't get nauseated nor loss my cookies this time. Training less with high surgars and eating more soild food helped avoid a three hour layover at an aid station like last year. I noticed I might have been slower but I rested and ate less closer to the end of the race.

I consumed a gue when I felt like I needed a pick me up but no more then two between check points. A rough guess of calories consumed was 1200 hundred calories through 10 miles and 32 oz of Poweraid every 14 miles. Two 1000mg sodium tablets, five Tylenol and five 400mg Bromalin tablets.

What did I learn from this event?
1)Run my own race.
2)I can over come a stressful moment. 3)I had a chance learn from a veteran ultra runner who kicks all the guys butts including mine. "What do you do to prevent your feet from getting slowen or injured? " I asked. "I dont get massages or do anything special she said. "I thought with age symptoms would get worse." but she explained to me her experience running ultras was the opposite. Her body improved with experience. This makes me excited for three more opportunities to improve.

These are post race photos.

The Alaska Slam

2014 I will attempt to complete The Alaska Slam. The Alaska Slam consist of four 100 mile races. Tongass Substance Screening TSS will help me with finacial support to help me get there. I hope to blog my progress and thoughts. These four 100 mile races is what make of The Alaska Slam.  

 

Susitna 100 2/15/2014
The Susitna 100 is ski, bike or run event with open registration. The race begins in Susitna valley two hours north of Anchorage. Runners are required to drag a sled equipped with provision such as a emergency food, a -20 F sleeping bag, foam mat, front and rear light, two quarts of water, and a tent. Racers will be disqualified if their sleds are under 15 lbs or if they don't finish within 48 hours.

 

White Mountain 100 3/30/2014
The White Mountain 100 is a lottery registration, open to 65 racers who can ski, bike or run. It starts 40 miles north of Fairbanks. No equipment is required beside food and water between each check point. Racers will be disqualified if they don't finish within 48 hours.

 

Sluice Box 100 06/28/2014
The Sluice box 100 is a bike, run or relay event and is open registration. It take place outside of Fairbanks. Temperatures range from 32-80 degrees, and there is 22 hours of daylight .There is a high potential of thunderstorms, wildfires and encounters with wildlife. Racers will be disqualified if they don't finish within 36 hours.

 

Resurrection 100 8/9/2014
This race begins south of Kenai and is open registration. Bears and moose have the right away. There are very few stations, so racers have to pack heavy and filter water from streams Drop bags are allowed.

First Blog

I have a blog now devoted to updates and pre and post race thoughts throughout my Alaska Slam experience.  I started running to improve myself, the same thought taken in consideration when creating this blog. I not only want to share my experience but to improve my writing. Elementary to high school I coasted on the ideas that maybe I have a handicap, dyslexia, or some kind of learning disorder. It wasn't until college that I took an active approach to my education. But I discovered how behind I was academically compared to my peers. I struggled in college, academic probation, and test anxiety prevented a clear learning experience. Failure had haunted me and a future with a college degree looked bleak. Four years later, I graduated with an associates degree. I rationalized the length of time as if I was running. I'm not the fastest but I'm gonna finish. Running did not conquer all my fears but it was a start. My anxiety decreased, confidence increased, and it allowed me to conduct my energy in a productive manner. I have created a small buisness running dogs and even taking on the challenge of public writing "bogging" is a brave new challenge for me. I have discovered all of this about myself thanks to running.

This being my first entry I want to convey a message of thanks. I'm thankful for the beautiful place I live and play. I'm thankful for the community of family, my family, friends, my sponsorship with TSS, and Annie my girlfriend. I'm thankful for my readers. Im thankful that drugs don't control my life. Most importantly im thankful for a man named Glen Frik who recently departed. He showed me with his hilarious antics running should be fun, like falsely yelling out "bear!" on a dimly lit trail. He will be missed.