Snow is not just for skiers

Geoff Rose 2009 & 2010 "Ultrarunner of the Year" is putting four running camps for 2015, February 20-26; June 21-27; August 1-7; August 10-16. 
More information on the link below. 
I also put together a video of friends and I on top of snowy ridges, enjoy!

http://akultracamp.blogspot.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHLfOzccaJ4

We run far Alaskan's!

I had the chance to talk with Jessica a writer from I run far about our amazing state and it's five amazing ultra races!  Dispite my scatter thoughts and rambling she really captured The Alaska /Yukon Slam experience.

http://www.irunfar.com/2014/11/werunfar-profile-houston-laws.html

Post Resurrection 100

The first 42 miles was uneventful. Little windy with wonderful overcast skies average 55 f. After running 24 miles I reached the first volunteer who had chocolate and water. Taking her offer I grabbed a couple Dove chocolates for later and dug out my first sweet potato of the race. I sat, ate and talked for a couple minutes. I said thank you for her help and that the chocolates will come in handy in the next 18 miles.

At 22 mile turn around I took 30 mins to take off my shoes sit and eat. I ate my second sweet potato it was delicious! 

I left the 42 mile turn around at 11p. Put on my head lamp to prepare for the 6 hour run in the dark, 18 miles back to the chocolate lady.

I ran the trail at night seeing no one in front or behind me for hours I knew I was on the right course but something stopped me in my tracks. Confronting me on the trail were floating green eyes forty feet away reflecting from my head lamp. And they winked at me.  I thought immediately bear because it didn't back off but it hasn't come forward. Bear spray wouldn't help due to the wind. So I took out my knife and kept my head lamp on him the whole time. I yelled and hollered and flashed my lamp at the pair of green eyes. He stood his ground. Then I thought the eyes look too close together to be a bear. I'm thinking this thing knows I'm bigger, and that's all that matters in the animal kindom.  So as loud as I could I yelled at it and slowly approached the green eyed animal.  I came close to it to scare it away but not close enough to see what it was. But not really caring too much just happy to get back to running. 

Through this run I discovered my food problem. I reflected back to my two worst races, why I had such a hard time holding food down cramping and the common denominator was too much junk in the stomach. I have been over loading my stomach with electrolytes, gels, and other running junk that caused me to throw up. Ress Pass, this race I consumed the least amount of food out of all the four and had the most success. I drank water after food and as needed.  One Nuun electrolyte tablet was involved in a 20oz bottle. I snacked every hour. I slowed my food down made myself a little hungry. That beat feeling nauseous and throwing up on myself.

It might be pitch black but I can look behind me and still see her head lamp. I thought who is this runner? Then I  remembered from our placement on the  trail I thought it must be Shawn. Before the race Shawn wore a jacket that Ultra runners could only dream of. Her jacket was covered in patches from the toughest races in Alaska!  Not only 100 milers but also the ITI and the Ididasport these are 1000 milers! I have to keep my feet moving, I thought if I want to keep my spot in line. Both Shawn and I made it to 72 mile aid station about dawn. An umbrella covered the racers' drop bags also served as a turn around indicator.  I sit down and take off my shoes to enjoy my 30 min break. A short break off my feet helps. For some reason 30 min breaks feel to me the perfect time. Not too long for your legs to get cold but enough to feel the spring back in your step.

I open my box of packed food from under the umbrella. I look at all the food with disgust. I have no hunger.  Shawn sits down and digs through her bag of packed food with the same response. "I'm not hungry for any of this" she said. It kind of sucks doing all this work and not being able to enjoy food I think to myself. She offers me a Starbucks.  I thought what would I do with a Starbucks gift card out here? I look at her and she hands me a can of Starbucks espresso. That looks awesome I thought and thanked her.  I offered her a trade but she said she was fine.

Heading back on the trail dawn broke and I was so relieved to take off my head lamp. With dawn breaking I ran the last 20 miles to the finish reflecting on this Alaska Slam journey. I competed my last 100 miler from the Slam in 2nd place overall with a PR of 21 hours and 47 minutes. 

Sarah Duffy stated it the best. We experienced being comfortable in uncomfortable situation. Throughout these races I ran with everything I had in me. I crossed the threshold from servivial to control. It was such a wonderful feeling being at peace to run my race they way I wanted to. On and off the trail we all will face discomfort but how we navigate through it will determine who we are.

I am so blessed and grateful to have the support from everyone that has been with me the whole way on and off the trail.

Pre Ress Pass 100

Each race in the Ak Slam has had its own unique challenges and lessons with it. Wear an extra shoe size up, pack a variety of food, don't get lost. Some things obvious, some things not. I'm clumsy, forgetful and have poor sense of direction, I consider it a miracle I have made it this far. 
Three down and one to go. It feels amazing to say that! I came from almost quiting my first 100 in 2013 to now completing four 100 milers in seven months. 
Resurrection Pass is an out and back course. Looks like some elevation to consider. But the biggest concern is the few number of aid stations; which is one at the 50 miler turn around. The rest of the course has two drop bag locations that we run through twice.
Talking with Geoff Rose helped put the course in perspective. Its a 3p start meaning a large part of the race will be run during the cooler times of the day. The course also follows water streams throughout the race. Knowing this provided much relief. 
The Race starts Friday 3:00pm at Coeur d'Alene Campground on Palmer Creek Road near Hope. 
Here is to the last race of the Ak Slam! I appreciate all the support! 
http://www.respassultras.org/

Serviving the Sluice Box 100

Slouched in a fold out chair, head rested back, I stare into a sunset that will never set. Beautiful reds and purples fill the sky with color. 
Race staff and my father enter in the mosquito net tent with me to have a talk. "You diverted off course," she said. The gravel road I came down wasn't the course.  There was a 7 mile stretch along the Alaska pipeline I missed. My father later told me my facial expression sunk to a new low after hearing that news. Tony, an ultra runner friend who has ran with me during Susitna 100, said to me, "ask about your options." I am so grateful to hear those words. Maybe there is still a chance I'm in this? But would I be able to accept the conditions to continue this race, I still have 30 miles left.
"If you want to continue the race, I'll drive you back to the last water station where you took a wrong turn. Or you can continue to finish and see what the officials decide."

I put my share of miles in, I thought. It just wasn't the same miles as everyone else did. I was about to leave check station 2 and I asked one last time  about the route. "Around four miles down on the gravel road you'll take a left", I recalled hearing from a staff member. "You'll see it, it's well marked," he reassured me. I only have myself to blame, why didn't I ask more questions? Is there a land mark or is there a street name? I recalled the first fourty miles were well marked. But what the official and myself didn't know was the race markers were a lot closer then four miles and the markers had been blown down due to the construction around the area.

I sat there for another 15 minutes still slouched in my chair thinking of my next move. This wasn't an easy decision. I struggled with my faith in this religion I call running. Should I scratch? How would a post DNF (did not finsh) race-breakfast taste? Would the conversation between my Dad and I be talk of the race and it's impossibility? Would I miss out on that meaningful talk a father has with his son about overcoming obstacles and challenges. What would this mean to me if I didn't finish? I asked myself.

Could I just contiune on, willing to accept whatever the race officials decided? But how would I feel crossing the finish line, I thought. I haven't completed the same course everyone else endured! I have a lot invested in this, there's no room for a maybe completed, maybe not.

Without a response, no gesture, I sat still. Continuing to look at the sunset that would never go down.  My father sat next to me and understood my situation. He said, "I know this has been a tough race, and I know finishing the Alaska Slam means a lot to you. Take your time and rest and see how you feel."
I gave him a head nod and asked for some cup of noodles. I couldn't really express anything but simple words. 
I was hit with amazement how easy it was to eat the cup of noodles. After filling my pack up with more water I felt ready as I was gonna be, to do this next seven miles.

I gave a half-hearted wave and a smile to the truck as I headed on the trail.  I turned on the music and powered through.  I told Dad 7 miles in my condition might take me three hours. But I ran it in an hour and half. Following the pipeline trail the sky was clear and beautiful. They say you can experience an entire life running a hundred miles. I felt like I was being reborn during that 7 miles. I arrived back to the 70 mile check point to wake up the  volunteer campers and my Dad. 

The last 30 miles was about beating off the mosquito's. John Nagel, an ultra friend told me that "mosquito's can fly to 3 miles per hour." These must of been tough Fairbanks mosquitoes because they  not only were faster but relentless. 

When I approached the finsh line my Dad and volunteers were eager to see my arrival. The nurse gave me zolfran to help with the nausea.  I still threw up the hot dog I scarfed down, but after the second round of zolfran I was able to keep food down.
After twelve hours of good sleep, Dad and I had breakfast.  Over hearty meals and coffee we shared more then conversation. We shared something different then what a normal father and son would share. Thirty two hours my Dad was there to help me over came the obstacles and hardship I was experiencing. I love you Dad.

Disappointment does not mean failure

Today I hit the wall. It wasnt all at once but a subtle onset of noticeable systems. I drink more water then I normally do. I felt like taken more breaks. I found myself on the Treadwell trail at the Eagle Crest and Bonnie Doon fork, struggling to make a decision.
My training run for the day was going to be a little ambitious thinking about it now. I trashed the idea of another Mt Juneau run, it was 10 am and the clouds still hovered low.
So I settled with the idea of doing Mt. Roberts for elevation and run the length of Treadwell around 18 round trip for distance. Once I reached the tram I descended down the trail and crossed the Douglas bridge up Cordova street.  Running up hill on road felt so good, the solid ground help find a suitable cadence. I took the Dan Moler trail up. I came to the fork, left is the cabin and straight is Treadwell.  The thought of checking out trail conditions up to the cabin lingered in my mind for a second, thats all it took to be sold on the idea. After the cabin, ill run Treadwell one way then from from Eagle Crest ill return to Roberts trail where my vehicle was, is what I thought. Made it to the cabin and had so much fun racing down the board walks.  Feeling the spring back with each step. Something I have defiantly missed from winter running. Connected back to Treadwell ditch and pursued my run on the flat but technical terrain. Any other day it would take me under two hours to get to the other side but today I wasnt going for speed, but just to fatigued the legs.
An hour and a half later my legs weren't fatigued but my body and brain was. I packed plenty of bars but I was in such a deficit sugar level it would take more then bars to bounce back.
I continued to take breaks until I made it to the Bonnie Doon fork.  It was so frustrating to feel physical capable to complete my goal to Eagle Crest but mentality exhausted to feel it wouldn't be the safest option.  Taking Bonnie Doon trail would cut off 7+ miles and get me to my vehicle faster but the trail conditions down Bonnie is a challenge.  Unavoidable mud wholes that shallow shoes, roots and windfall trees knee high and technical terrain that can provide ankle hazards. This wasnt my preferred choice but it would be the most reasonable, given my mental and physical state declining by the minute.  
It prove to be the best decision, I made it to the North Douglas highway. With two miles left when I really felt the systems hit me the hardest. Running wasn't an option without throwing up, all I could do was walk. A friend in his truck slowed and rolled his window down it was a Gezzer friend (Sunday running club) Steve Davis in his truck. His first question to me was "how many miles today?" I attempted a smile. I was shocked when I tried to speak. My thoughts were clear but putting it to words was like word salad.  I jumbled and mixed my words to try to only make a scrambled sentence.  He then offered a lift sensing the state I was in. I declined the offer and was able to say no thank you. It was very considerate. Running or racing this is no easy way to the finish. I made it to the truck and immediately pre ordered a pizza. They ask "take out or delivery?" I was confused by that question "ill eat it there" I replied. Is it not normal to pre order?  I thought.  I understand people go out to eat and have conversation before the meal and all of that.  This time was just about eating. Remembering how naisested I was just a short time ago I eat my pizza very slowly but with purpose. 

The Sluice Box 100

I have so far completed the half of the Alaska Slam, Susitna 100 and White Mountain 100. With two summer races left, brings new challenges ahead. 

The course discrimination reads, "the potential for getting lost on the trail is HIGH". With my sense of direction guess im getting lost, was my thought. Definitely going to bring a map. 

I have never ran a summer 100. The Sluice Box 100 is my next 100 miler. This will be three out of four 100 milers to complete this year. The distance is familiar but the conditions will be the biggest challenge. I love winter running. It took two years of year around running before I realized, winter is the most comfortable time to run. There is less chafing, snow trails provide no real concern for footing and Im comfortable breathing the cold air. Developing a strategy how to over come the summer conditions has been on my mind for the last two months.

 My strategy throughout the race is to be comfortable despite the heat. Ill change out clothes frequently, fresh socks and shirts with the help of my Dad Pat Laws as my crew member. The Sluice Box allows people to crew for an individual racer. Racing crew serves a lot like a pit crew in NASCAR but instead of jetfuel ill be digesting gues and bars. A crew can be one or more people. Typical responsibilities would be to refresh the racers water bottles, pack food, change socks, lance blisters etc... depends on what you agree on. I'll probably be doing my own lancing to spare him that enjoyment. Im hoping the frequent clothes change and using something called Blistop spray (kind of top secret and cant really talk about) will prevent chaffing and blisters. 

Second consideration is the terrain i have been training on. My pre race training vs now has changed. I started out 90% road 10% trail for the winter races, now 90% trail and 10% road is my method of training. I like to train in the conditions im racing in. Winter training was normally long runs on the road and sometimes Dan Moler for hills. Now the training will call for speed, foot work and hills. The terrain will be technical,  the downhills will be fast and the uphills will be frequent. To be ready for this shift I have put in a lot of trail running and less into road. As a result my stability muscle will get stronger and hopefully have more runs then injuries. 

My last thought to bet the heat in Fairbanks is sauna training. I need to better climatized to dry hot conditions. While in a sauna I just need to raise my heart rate up by jogging in place to get the affect.  Start off with just a few minutes and a letter of water and gradually increase time. 

Looking at the map this looks to be my most challenging course but I think with the aid of my father out on the course, tons of water stations, and possibly my method of training will lead me to success. 

The Sluice Box will be June 28th.