Undefeated Running

LAKE SONOMA 50 Mile Race Review

2013-04-22T15:10:00.000-07:00

What do I get out of running? I realized (or at least reaffirmed) the answer a couple weekends ago at the Lake Sonoma 50 Miler. I get mental strength. Sure the physical conditioning is great but the mental stamina and fortitude is what keeps me going. Lake Sonoma 50 is a TOUGH race. It's a rough course, w some major climbs and descents and lots of rolling hills. There is really no flat/gentle

Deeper into Training; Lake Sonoma 50 and Western States 100

2013-03-25T10:21:00.001-07:00

This weekend I linked up with a running group from the Auburn, CA area and ran 36 miles on the Western States course (an Out and Back from Drivers Flat/River Crossing up to Foresthill and back). Last weekend I ran the Lake Sonoma 25 mile training run and the weekend before that I ran Way Too Cool 50K. I'm feeling really strong and loving all of the miles on the trails I've been able to get in.

Back on the Trail

2013-01-02T07:30:00.000-08:00

...to where? I don't think anyone knows but it's not about the destination... it is about the journey. Any true runner worth their salt (and we know how valuable salt is in running) will tell you the same. Signing up for races or having a running schedule that you can stick to is a beautiful part of running. Even on your way to a finish line you know it is not the end. It allows you to tune-in

Dick Collins FIRETRAILS 50 MILER Race Review

2012-10-31T12:34:00.000-07:00

On October 13, 2012 I ran the Dick Collins Firetrails 50 Miler (I fell off the blogging wagon for a bit so I'm writing this at a later date)... "Firetrails" is an awesome ultramarathon that is run on an out and back course through the East Bay Hills in the San Francisco Bay Area. I live in San Francisco so I woke up at about 5am and sped out to the East Bay to check in and make the 6:30am start

Tamalpa Runners HEADLANDS 50K Race Review

2012-08-31T12:12:00.000-07:00

As I was running downhill to Stinson Beach on the Matt Davis Trail my foot caught an old steel peg that used to hold a wooden stair in place. I was airborne going head first towards a tree. Everything slowed down. Was this my life flashing before my eyes? If so, I wasn't seeing anything? I had time to contemplate how this was either going to end. Result A) me unconscious on the trail of the

Tahoe Rim Trail Thru-Hike 2012; 165 Miles Around Lake Tahoe

2012-07-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

This post is not about running. It is about endurance. June 30 - July 13th, 2012 my girlfriend and I thru-hiked the 165+ mile (29,500' +/- of elevation gain and descent) TAHOE RIM TRAIL. This is a truly sensational trail that weaves through the mountain peaks that surround Lake Tahoe. I have a background in endurance races particularly on trails. I am a runner that mostly runs trail races

SPEED WORK

2012-06-20T22:38:00.000-07:00

Speed work, it's a grey area in running... but it sure as shit shouldn't be :) The track is more packed than ever these days but its mostly packed with training groups that are either just logging miles and cross training or skimming the surface of speed work. Don't get me wrong there are definitely some serious track clubs out there that some of the best non-professional runners belong to

Quicksilver 25km Race Report

2012-05-31T16:13:00.004-07:00

On May 12, 2012 I ran the QUICKSILVER 25 km race near San Jose in the Almaden Quicksilver State Park. This race is a small part of the well known Quicksilver 50 Mile Race which is also held on the same day. The race was well organized. There were about 100 people in the 25km. It starts out with some steep climbs for the first couple miles on fire trails. Note that this part of the trail is

The Dot Com Death Run

2012-05-07T22:22:00.000-07:00

I've been making it a point to get outta the city and hit the beautiful hilly trails that surround us in the San Francisco Bay Area. This time of year the weather is great, wild flowers are popping and the trails aren't quite so saturated with the summer crowds. Last weekend I embarked on what I have since dubbed "The Dot Com Death Run", a 15 mile run with 4200' of elevation gain and descent

Pacific Coast Trail Runs WOODSIDE 17KM Race Report

2012-04-25T15:47:00.000-07:00

A couple Saturday's ago (4/14/2012) I had the good fortune to run in Pacific Coast Trail Run's Woodside 17km Race. For those who do not know, Woodside is a beautiful small town located about 30 minutes south of San Francisco. It's nestled up against the Coastal Range (I think generally it's the Santa Cruz Mountains) with some horse ranches, vineyards, Redwoods and some bad-ass-hilly-windy trails

Running Exercises and Conditioning

2012-04-10T22:41:00.002-07:00

I don't often write posts about running advice but after coming back from an injury I have been focused on what makes my running engine run smooth. I think one of the most important things about being a successful runner (successful = healthy and running as much as possible) is to keep as versatile a training schedule as possible. Mixing up the terrain that you run on, the shoes that you wear,

Brooks Cascadia 7 Review

2012-03-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

Best. Shoe. Ever. I have loved the Brooks Cascadia since the 4th edition. There is something about these shoes that makes them stand out. Maybe its the combination of simplicity and durability or maybe its the light weight, non-bulky-ness that allows you to be nimble on ANY type of trail. That is something a lot of trail running shoes cannot lay claim to. I have reviewed the cascadias before

IRON WAR: Book Review

2012-02-26T19:03:00.000-08:00

This is a running blog but, like myself I imagine most runners have some level of an interest in triathlons. The common element of endurance is what draws me to it, especially to IRONMAN. So when I heard about this new book coming out, IRON WAR written by Matt Fitzgerald I was excited to get my hands on a copy to review. This is the story of the legendary 1989 Ironman World Championship race

Running Brings Inspiration

2012-02-13T23:10:00.000-08:00

2011 was a hot and cold year for me running wise. I ran a 50 miler (my first ultra) and no other race due to injury. My blogging suffered as well and over the years I've started to notice a direct correlation between blog post frequency and running consistently. I finally enlisted the help of a physical therapist and was healed enough start running again within 3 weeks. That was about a month

UNBREAKABLE Review; 2010 Western States 100 Miler Documentary

2011-12-04T11:38:00.001-08:00

I was fortunate enough (and smart enough to buy a ticket early) to attend the world premier screening of Unbreakable, the documentary of the 2010 Western States Endurance Run. Unbreakable follows (literally) 4 of the worlds top Ultrarunners during what turned out to be one of the most epic ultrarunning races we've seen yet; the 2010 Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run. In 2010, Geoff Roes,

Running to Strained Calf to Biking to Swimming to Triathlons

2011-10-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

Since pulling my calf in June I have sadly not been able to run much. I am somewhat of a (well actually a big) self "diagnoser" and I definitely made my strain worse than it was when it happened. Numerous times I thought it was healed and I tried to run it out only to limp back home. I tried to find respite in heavy rides on the spin bike and strength training, including my legs, figuring

Secret Love Affair with Running and Endurance Sports

2011-10-17T14:29:00.000-07:00

This part of my life (roughly the past 4 yrs) has been one of transitions. As we know from our triathlete friends and high school soccer coaches, "it's all about the transitions". I am 31 now and as I've reached my late twenties and moved into my 30's, whether I am training for a race or just training for the sake of training, it has seemed to take the roll of my secret lover. It seems as

Marathon World Record

2011-09-28T14:43:00.000-07:00

So as you probably know there is a new world record marathon time. And no, it was not set by Haile Gebreselassie... It was set by 26 yr old Kenyan runner, Patrick Makau. Patrick blew everyone out the water and won by 4 minutes in a time of 2:03:38... that is an average pace of 4:43/mile. Fire!!! It should also be noted that a UK record was set at the 2011 Berlin Marathon as well. Scott Overall

"Running On Empty" by Marshall Ulrich; Book Review

2011-09-20T23:04:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel like you cannot get enough of running? Try running 3,096 miles over the course of 52 days. That is what running (ultrarunning) legend Marhsall Ulrich did at age 57. He recounts the experience in his book "Running On Empty". "Running on Empty" is a pretty good read. He gives you a solid look into his life; from losing his first wife to cancer to crying about not being able

San Francisco Marathon 2011

2011-07-31T15:47:00.000-07:00

I signed up for the San Francisco Marathon early in the year while training for the American River 50 which was on April 9th. Being my home marathon and that it was 3.5 months after my first 50 miler I figured it would be a fun run and one that I could push myself to run a PR at. My calf had other plans. After catching a gnarly head cold and not running for a week in mid-June I went out for a

The Devon Crosby-Helms Interview.

2011-06-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling pretty good about my running these days because I was able to catch up with the ever speedy DEVON CROSBY-HELMS ("DCH") for an Interview. Devon is an elite endurance runner. She is a 3 time member of the USA 100K Team (has competed in 3 World Championships) and a recent qualifier for the Olympic Marathon Trials. Although, 50 milers are her favorite. Devon is also a certified personal

North Face Endurance Challenge Road Race... KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

2011-06-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

On August 27th and 28th in Kansas City, Missouri The North Face Endurance Challenge will be hosting it's first road race. Up until now "TNF Endurance Challenge" consisted of only trail races which culminate with the championship right here in the Marin Headlands (San Francisco). The North Face, besides being a bad-ass brand, has been putting together this Endurance Challenge for a few years now.

REST...

2011-05-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

...and recovering from an ultramarathon. Sometimes the best way to improve is by taking a break, for a bit. Taking a step away, letting something heal, letting something get stronger or gaining perspective can give you the advantage you've been in need of. In running, this might mean sleeping more, walking more, working on core strength, upper body or doing some lower body rehab and maintenance

BAY to BREAKERS 2011; the 100th Running!

2011-05-24T18:40:00.000-07:00

aaahhhh Bay to Breakers.... I love Bay to Breakers! (Wikipedia link: B2B)Many people are against it because of all the partying that accompanies it but I think it's awesome. It is a side of running that is rarely seen and a side of San Francisco that is unique to our city and needs to be shared with the world. The important part of Bay to Breakers is the part that falls somewhere in between the

American River 50 Mile Endurance Run 2011 Review, Report, Advice and Knowledge from the Road Less Traveled...

2011-04-14T23:35:00.000-07:00

Last weekend (April 9, 2011) I ran the AMERICAN RIVER 50 MILE ENDURANCE RUN. It was my first 50 miler and my first "ultramarathon". It was awesome. I loved it. I barely slept the night before. We stayed at the Larkspur Hotel in Sacramento which was a 2 minute drive from the starting line. It was clean, quiet and a great place to stay. My girlfriend/crew was yelling at me all night to sleep (i