A Trail Runner's Blog

Gunz Blazin' at the 2012 Austin Marathon

2012-02-25T09:37:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday, I had the great pleasure of joining 18,000+ runners for the 21st running of the Austin Marathon in Austin, TX. This hilly marathon has been on my to "do list" for years, much in thanks to starting and ending in the live music capital of the US. The weather was perfect, the spectators were loud and plentiful, and we all had a great jaunt through the Texas "hill country".

(Austin at night)

I came down a few days early for work, and Austin welcomed me from the moment I opened the cab door with a New Orleans brass band jamming on the corner, one of 20+ bands playing live within six blocks. Just a typical Thursday night in Austin! Such a young and vibrant city. I'm learning that combining a marathon with a work-related trip opens to the door to explore a city beyond it's typical tourist fare, and an excuse to have a few serendipitous nights with its residents. Then maybe I can understand why there is a "keep Austin weird" sign on every block. ;-)

(Beer prices change in real-time on the ticker at the Brew Exchange)

(The cozy Living Room at the W Hotel)

(May my kids someday understand this discovery ritual)

I had a great time spending the evenings testing out a great mobile application called TabbedOut, which allows you to pay your bar tab from your phone (now accepting PayPal!). It's amazing how much simpler life is when you don't have to wait for a check, not to mention the free drink offers. We tried out the Brew Exchange (where prices of beers change in real time based on popularity), Kung Fu (with giant-size Jenga), the Ginger Man (dive bar complete with fist fights), and the Living Room, a comfy meet-and-greet spot at the W Hotel that has a few thousand albums in their browsable library. I pulled down the 80's classic Frontiers by Journey (what 80's kid didn't have that album?) and asked the DJ to give it a spin. All in all, these few days are probably not the best kind of carb-loading for a marathon, but then again, they always say not to change too much of your day-to-day routine before a race! Beer it is.

(Hanging with Bart Yasso at the Stevie Ray Vaughn memorial)

(Dick Beardsley and wife Jill prep us for the shake out run)

(Rain? But there's runnin' to do!)

(The Austin Track Club leads us out)

The morning before the race, Bart Yasso and Dick Beardsley organized a shake out run along the river, and the Austin Track Club (with motto, "Gunz Blazin'") braved the rain to come join us. It was fun for a few dozen of us amateurs to jog with such an accomplished group, and hear about their training towards the Olympic Trials in Eugene, OR, this June. Mexican 1500m Champion Leo Manzano, 800m specialist Lea Wallace, and 4-minute miler Jake Morse were all good sports, talking up how they couldn't possibly tackle a full marathon. We didn't even notice the sheets of rain coming down.

(18,000+ runners ready to go at the Capital Building)

By race morning, the rain had cleared at the LiveSTRONG(tm) colors lined the streets. This was an Austin race, but LiveSTRONG had definitely put a focus on cancer survivors among the crowds, and that yellow tone could be found in race shirts, mugs, and wristbands galore. I jogged up to the start, just in time to hear Lance Armstrong wish us well (and jump into the half marathon) and get a few tips from local triathlete Desiree Ficker, who was out to get some revenge on this course after coming up short in her Olympic Trial qualifier bid last year (she still won in 2:50). I saw super-Master Chad Ricklef lining up for the marathon, so I knew the 40+ division would be tough. At 7am, the cannon sounded and we left the capital building to take over the streets!

(The gorgeous and fun Desiree is ready to crush the marathon)

(On your mark, get set...)

(GO!!!)

The marathon and half marathon started together, so my 6:10 min/mile pace still had me about 50 people back. This was the goal today - head out at a PR pace (2:45) for the first half and see where that gets me. I had set a PR for the half marathon two weeks ago, so if the conditions were right, a marathon PR should technically be within reach. I didn't spend much time studying the course, but the runners around me confirmed that most of the hills are in the first 15 miles. I paced along with the Women half marathon front runners over the bridge, even joining a high school team for a bit, before we turned around (mile 4) and headed back downtown. My camera started flashing "incompatible battery", one of many disappointing glitches from this beat up Panasonic FX-48, but I held back from chucking it into the river in respect for the many miles it did serve. Too bad - the South Congress district looked like a picture-worthy bohemian faire.

(Runners take over Austin, photo courtesy of Rick Kern)

The hills were getting meaty now, and the elevation chart did not do justice to the steepness of these San Francisco-worthy pitches. I was running in the same Spira Stinger XLT's that had pulled me to a half marathon PR, and they felt great on the long descents. I cruised along with Brad Whorton, a former Wake Forest track athlete now finishing up his MBA at UT Austin and trying his first marathon after a 10-year running hiatus. Brad pulled us back over the bridge (mile 8) and to the West side of town (mile 11), before we gave our best to the half marathoners who peeled off for their final kick. We hit the half marathon in 1:22:46 - right in line for a negative split.

(Lance Armstrong joins the half marathoners, fresh off his 2nd place finish at Ironman Panama)

Brad and I could barely make out a runner five blocks ahead of us, and once we were joined by 27-year-old John Doehring, there was nobody behind us either. It was going to be a quiet second half! The front pack of Edward Kiptum, locals Jynocel Bosweti (2:14 here in 2007) and Scott Rantall, and Bartosz Mazerki were all on a 2:23 marathon pace, well ahead of the rest of us. John pulled us through mile 15, where local schools made for great cheering sections among the rather remote sections of the course. I pulled for a few miles to help John with the headwind, and then at mile 20, Brad came around and set a pace we couldn't match on the ample long downhills. Those milers sure can fight the pain!

(One of many great signs along the way)

My local friend Paige Alum ran along with me for a few blocks (in her clogs, natch!), getting lots of cheers from the crowd and runners alike. It was just the boost I needed! Runners would later ask me "if you're getting beers with her after the race, let me know where...there is definitely a party wherever she is going!". Yep, that is pretty much Paige in a nutshell. I dropped a slowing John, and picked up a few spots of cramping runners as I did my best to keep Brad in sight. Once I caught sight of the capital building again, I splurged with a sip of beer at mile 25, and hit the last few hills.

(Nice pic, Brightroom)

That last little hill felt like K2, but I found plenty of motivation from the hoards of half marathoners coming in alongside of me. I crossed the finish line in 2:46:05 for 18th place, about 50 seconds short of a PR, but feeling good about the effort. I had a massage, beer, and shower and came back to the finish to cheer on finishers.

(Edward Kiptum with the win)

(Shannon Bixler brings the crowd to its feet with her win)

(First time marathoners enjoy a well-deserved break at the finish)

Edward Kiptum had persevered for the win (2:22:50), with Jynocel Bosweti (2:23:51), and Bartosz Mazerski (2:25:55) completing the podium. Chad Ricklef won the Masters in an impressive 2:30:57, kicking me down to 3rd in our age group (but I'll take it!). The crowd went crazy when local athlete Shannon Bixler won the Women's division in 3:02:58 carrying the Texas flag, with Inna Vishik and Pia-Maria Molin coming in a dead heat for 2nd/3rd in 3:08:51. (all results) The finish line had plenty of stories of PR's, first time finishes, and new friends made along the course.

Marathon (2012 Livestrong Austin Marathon) from Jordan J. Miller on Vimeo. The time lapse photography starting at 30 sec is pretty cool.

Overall, a wonderful race and fantastic weekend retreat! I now know why they call it Hill Country, the Live Music Capital of the USA, and can appreciate all the "Keep Austin Weird" signs. This is truly a magical place! My thanks to the race directors, volunteers, and spectators for a great time.

- SD

PCTR Pacifica Race on 2/25 NOT HAPPENING - Pass It On...

2012-02-23T07:55:00.000-08:00

This Tuesday, an e-mail was sent out to participants of the Pacific Coast Trail Runs Pacifica 9k/21k/30k/50k scheduled for this Saturday, 2/25, saying the event would not be happening, and instead rescheduled for March 17th. Reprint of that message below.

On Facebook, it appears some entrants for the sold out race had not received the e-mail, so I'm hoping we can help get the word out to those who had signed up so they don't make the early AM drive to Pacifica. For those interested in racing this Saturday, Inside Trail Racing is hosting the Chabot 10k/21k/30k/50k and still has a few openings. Otherwise, it appears your entry is now set for Pacifica on St. Patrick's Day, 3/17, unless you ask for a refund.

Here is the note on Facebook from PCTR Race Director Sarah Spelt:

"I just learned that we can't hold the rescheduled Pacifica race this Saturday, February 25th, due to a technical glitch in our online reservation. This is not the park’s fault - something misfired when we entered the reservation weeks ago and it apparently did not "take" and, since then, a conflicting event was scheduled for this weekend by another party. I am very disappointed, as I know that you are (especially after MdO went so perfectly just 10 days ago). I've spoken with my contact at the San Mateo County Parks, as well as the Park Superintendent, about other dates. I've reserved Saturday, March 17th for this event. No other races, including those on July 7th in Pacifica/San Pedro Valley Park, are affected by this situation. I am very sorry for the inconvenience – just like you, I was all set for and really looking forward to this event – and I thank you for your patience with the Pacifica event.

Sarah
Pacific Coast Trail Runs"

I'll leave the debate on "collecting entry fees for races where you don't have permits" to other posts...please pass on the news to anyone you think might have signed up.

- SD

Lance Armstong Announces 2012 Ironman Ambitions

2012-02-11T16:11:00.000-08:00

This week, Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong announced his ambitions to race the Ironman World Championships in October, 2012, and his plan to get there. His will race the Ironman Panama 70.3 event on Sunday, followed by the Memorial Hermann Ironman 70.3 Texas, Ironman 70.3 Florida, Ironman 70.3 Hawaii and Ironman France in an attempt to pick up enough qualifying points to race the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.

The 40-year-old Texan is no stranger to triathlon, having won the US Sprint Triathlon series over 20 years ago, and placing 5th at the XTERRA Triathlon National Championships last year (and 23rd at Worlds, after crashing and suffering a head injury). Craig Alexander, the defending 3-time Ironman world champion and two-time Ironman 70.3 champion, welcomed Armstrong to the sport:

"It is exciting to see Lance Armstrong, one of the greatest-ever endurance athletes, coming back to race triathlons in 2012."

He's going to rip it up!

[Update - Lance made a helluva debut at Ironman Panama, getting 2nd overall in 3:53, just 40+ seconds behind winner Bevan Dougherty. His swim split was right in there, and his 2:10 bike split was second only to Chris Lieto, whom he passed in the run to lead the race for a short period before Bevan caught him with a screaming 1:12 half marathon (vs. Lance's 1:17). Lance later said, "There was a time I was a great runner and I need to get back in touch with that. [Bevan] can run low 30's in the 10k...there's no way my old ass is keeping up with that."]

- SD

New Half Marathon PR at the Kaiser SF Half Marathon

2012-02-07T22:23:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday, I joined 10,000+ runners for the 29th running of the Kaiser San Francisco Half Marathon on a gorgeous sunny day, and somehow managed to shave a few seconds off my half marathon PR. Looks like my training is on track!

The Kaiser SF Half is a mostly downhill course that zigs through Golden Gate Park and ends with an out-and-back along the beach on Hwy 1. It's put on by the fabulous Pamakids Runners Club, is the RRCA Western Region Half Marathon championships, and always attracts a fast crew. It was a perfect place to get a status check on my training for my first "A" race in two weeks, the Austin Marathon.

As I jumped on the bus to the start, I did a quick mental check on how the day might pan out. Training? Going well. Rested and ready? Sort of...a bit jet lagged from flying in from London, but that was offset by the welcome 55 degree day that was far more welcome than the English tundra I had just left. The goal stood as planned - use the hills to beat up my legs for the first eight miles, then tempo run the last five miles at marathon pace minus 10 seconds per mile. Oy, this was going to hurt! But a good kind of hurt, right? ;-)

(No need for fancy sleeves - just cut the toes off some socks and you're good to go!)

(Hanging with Jady Palko at the start)

I met a few new friends, and had a chance to catch up with ultrarunner/Ironman Jady Palko who looks more fit than ever. We did our warm ups, and I squeezed my way into the front line for the half marathon. There were lots of familiar faces there - former Inov-8 teammate Sam Robinson, super-master Verity Breen, Napa Marathon winner Chris Mocko (now famous for gaining 10 lbs in two hours to maximize his prize of "your weight in wine"), Chikara Omine (looking healthy after a tough year of injury), and the ever-present Crosby Freeman who has run as fast as 1:04 here in the past. The gun went off, and we charged down the first hill.

The 5k runners took us out fast, but split off about a half mile in, allowing us to settle into an more conservative tempo. Mile 1 went by in 5:20, and I reminded myself that the downhill is worth about 10 sec/mile. Don't think of it as banked time since we have to turn around!

By mile 3, there were two packs ahead of me containing ~10 runners each and going fast! I hung on with two runners as we crossed the 5k mark in 16:30...super quick. I was tempted to ease up, but that wasn't the goal today...time to dig into that pain cave a bit.

We exchanged cheers with other half marathoners as we doubled back on the course and made our way towards the beach. I made the most of the downhills, quite comfortable in my new Spira Stinger XT running shoes that seemed to suck up the pavement with ease. They have these crazy springs in them that seem to take the edge of the downhill pavement, for sure. We hit mile 6 in 34:50, and picked up the pace a bit more. I heard the encouraging cheers from Will Gotthardt, Caitlin Smith, and Sumi Kim from the sidelines and kept on pushing.

(Cruising down Hwy 1)

The beach came into view at mile 8, and the course flattened out along Hwy 1 for a two mile out-and-back. Losing the gravity boost slowed me to just under a 6 min/mile, and I did my best to focus on my fragile form doing it's best to slow me down. Two runners caught me, and one said "join our pack!", and I hung on through mile 10. My watch said 58:22, a new 10-mile PR! Hang in there!!!

My body (and stomach) gave me the 2-minute warning just as I hit the last hill with a half mile to go, so I pulled my visor down and surged to the finish. I looked up to see a finish time of 1:16:23, a mere 17 seconds faster than my PR here two years ago. Phew! It's so nice to know PR's are in reach even as a Master, and Sophie will love the age group win medal and RRCA Masters plaque (they end up on all the Barbies or part of play houses). But I also felt good and held my pace, meaning there's a chance at a sub-2:40 at Austin as well. The Spira shoes had plenty of spring and will make for a PR-worthy marathon shoe - glad to have found those. The proper ingredients seem to be in place.

(18-year-old Guillaume Hansel decimated the 19-and-under with a 1:15:24, much to the delight of papa, Yves)

(Pamakids coach Andy Chan gets 3rd in 40-44 age group with his 1:18:27)

I caught up with winner Chris Chavez (1:07:15), Crosby Freeman (1:08:25), Sam Robinson (4th, 1:09:48), Chikara Omine (11th, 1:13:58), as we cheered on Tyler Stewart (Women's winner, 1:17:09), 48-year-old Lisbeth Sunshine (4th Woman, 1:18:54, best age-graded performance of the day), and the 250+ runners who made the most of the day to go sub-1:30. Amazing performances! (all results) And best of all, a gorgeous day. After a few days in England and Ireland, I am forever thankful to be able to run a February race on the beach in my singlet and shorts. We are truly blessed!

My thanks to Pamakids, RhodyCo, and all of the amazing volunteers on another successful Kaiser SF Half. You make it easy to strive for a PR!

- SD

Alberto Contador Gets 2-Year Ban for Doping, Loses 2010 Tour de France and 2011 Giro D'Italia Titles

2012-02-06T16:03:00.000-08:00

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) handed Alberto Contador a 2-year ban this morning, applied from the date of investigation, and effectively stripping him of his 2010 Tour de France and 2011 Giro D'Italia wins. He will also miss the Tour for 2012, plus the London Olympics. The CAS suspended the three-time Tour champion after rejecting his claim that his positive test for clenbuterol was caused by eating contaminated meat.

One would think the most excited folks to hear the news would be Andy Schleck, who now gets bumped to 1st after his epic duel with Contador in 2010, or perhaps Michele Scarponi, who gets the win for the 2011 Giro D'Italia, but it appears neither of them are too excited with the news and the 550+ days it took to reach a verdict. In fact, that seems to be the reaction of the sport in general. Even the comics at The Onion are wondering if their mock story was perhaps more true than false.

Andy Schleck summed it up well:

“There is no reason to be happy now. First of all I feel sad for Alberto. I always believed in his innocence. This is just a very sad day for cycling. If now I am declared overall winner of the 2010 Tour de France it will not make me happy. I battled with Contador in that race and I lost. My goal is to win the Tour de France in a sporting way, being the best of all competitors, not in court. If I succeed this year, I will consider it as my first Tour victory.”

UCI President Pat McQuaid said: "This is a sad day for our sport. Some may think of it as a victory, but that is not at all the case. There are no winners when it comes to the issue of doping: every case, irrespective of its characteristics, is always a case too many."

Somewhere on the back pages of all of this, there's a little footnote that says the US federal case against Lance Armstrong has been dropped. Well timed, Armstrong PR team!

Man, talk about a sport in trouble.

PocketFuel - My Latest Product Obsession

2012-02-03T01:30:00.000-08:00

I get a ton of free samples sent my way, and every once in while a product works its way into regular rotation on training/events. The latest is PocketFuel, a nut butter-based snack in a pouch that I've found perfect for both fueling and recovery. But most of all it just tastes reeeaaally good.

PocketFuel is the brainchild of Mark and Heidi Ribkoff, two athletes based out of Hood River, OR. It started as a search for something better (and less messy) than sugary gels, and quickly led to a selection of natural ingredient blends like "Chia Goji and Honey", comprised of blended almonds, chia seeds, goji berries, and electrolytes. Each blend is a squeezable concoction in a 3-ounce bulletproof pouch worthy of camping or ultrarunning, and can easily be stashed, stored half empty, and refilled from bulk supplies.

Discover PocketFuel Video from PocketFuel on Vimeo.

I tried each of the flavors, then placed a refill order for a case of my favorites, "Chia Goji and Honey" and "Chunky Coconut Cherry". I primarily use them for a quick shot of recovery carbs and protein after a run, since I can easily stash them in my car or backpack. The Chia pouch gives a nice boost of energy thanks to the the chia seeds and goji berries, so it's good for morning post-workout fueling. The Coconut Cherry is satiating with it's rich mix of fats and protein, so I like to have one between the 5pm workout and the seems-like-eternity-to-eat-dinner 8pm meal. Both are have plenty of electrolytes, are vegan, and gluten-free, a welcome alternative to those with dietary constraints.

If you like what you see, place an order or help them raise seed funding for their company by making a donation on Kickstarter. I think you're gonna like it!

- SD

[Note - For those not familiar with Kickstarter, it's a great way to raise funds from peers for a new idea or venture. Ryan Mills, for example, has just 31 days to complete his fundraising for an 8-day run across Death Valley to raise awareness for healthy lifestyles, and would love your help!]

New Trail Goodies for 2012 Spotted at the Outdoor Retailer Show

2012-01-28T15:33:00.000-08:00

Cielestia Calbay of Competitor Magazine has a great recap of the hot products spotted at the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City, UT, last weekend. Be sure to check out the whole article (Part 1 and Part 2).

A few of the things that look impressive to me:

Pearl Izumi’s $180 Ultra Barrier WxB Jacket which not only looks comfy, but has a few new features like an abrasion print on the shoulders to keep your pack from moving around. What a great simple innovation!

The $80 Eton Mobius solar charger for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S fits on the back, and lets you know when you're fully charged. Genius. (video review)

Instafire is a new innovation in fire starting that allows you to carry fire in your hands! Owner Gary Banner says, “It’s a mixture of volcanic rock and wood pellets. The rock absorbs seven times its weight of our burning elements. A cup of InstaFire will burn from 20 to 25 minutes, with a flame 10 to 12 inches high.”

The New Balance Winter 110 training boot has a flexible, water-resistant gaiter that you can fold down or up in changing conditions. Sounds perfect for snowshoeing.

Goal Zero's Sherpa 50 portable battery has been reduce in weight to a half a pound, meaning campers (and aid stations!) can now power refrigerators, laptops, stereos, and more absolutely noise free. Well, except for the stereo, of course. Sounds like an aid station must! I vote for the beer fridges at every aid station, and we do the ultra version of the beer mile.

Columbia is now using their thermal reflective Omni-heat technology in footwear, such as in the Master Fly multisport shoe. I bought Christi one of the battery-powered heated Columbia jackets for the holidays (it is called the "Snow Hottie", after all), and it's lined with the super-warm, water resistant Omni-heat layer. The jacket is a little spendy, and a tad bit Tron Goes Skiing, but you thank your lucky stars when you get six hours of delicious battery-powered warmth seeping into your bones. Another aid station volunteer gear must!

Fria has a new pack for dogs...think they make them in pug sizes?!?

The new Zipfy Mini Luge super-fast sled. Yeah? Oh, hell yeah. I can see it now...Zipfy + GoPro Camera = a whole new genre of blooper/crash videos.

Photos courtesy of Competitor.com and Salt Lake's City Weekly.

The Inaugural Brooks Falls 50k

2012-01-24T22:47:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday, I had the great pleasure of joining ~100 trail runners for the inaugural Brooks Falls 50k put on by Inside Trail Racing. A little rain, a little wind, and a lot of smiles made for a perfect start to the 2012 season!

The Brooks Falls 50k is a hilly monster that climbs over 8,000' vertical in a two loop format in San Pedro Valley Park in Pacifica, CA. The weather had been challenging the few days before (my house had no power most of the weekend thanks to storms), but fate intervened just in time for our 8:30am start and gave us a relatively clear day to get our groove on. This was certain to be one of those races where the volunteers were the true heroes for braving the weather while we gallivanted about - so nice of them to give us an excuse to have some muddy fun!

(Tim Long gives us last minute instructions)

(Racers prepare while Jason Wolf shoots the duck)

(Ultra Runner Podcast's Eric Schranz capturing the inaugural event)

(Hanging with teammates Gary Gellin and Sarah Lavender Smith)

(Jill Homer, Beat Jegerlehner and friends keeping it fun)

I was stoked to see many familiar faces ready to put in some miles while the rest of the San Francisco area was gearing up for the NFC Championship game between the 49'ers and the NY Giants (sorry 'bout that, Niners). My Inside Trail Racing teammates Gary Gellin (tackling the Half Marathon) and Sarah Lavender Smith (30k) were ready to blaze the shorter distances, while ultra regulars JR Mintz, Darryl Haber, the wicked fast Leigh Schmitt, Beat Jegerlehner, ultracyclist Jill Homer (also UTMB-bound!), and recent ultra-convert Jason Wolf joined two dozen others for the 50k. At 8:30am, the Tim's sent us off for the first big climb.

(Jason hams it up)

(Sarah charges the hill)

(Scenic single track)

(The foggy trees were really cool)

It didn't take long for us to settle into a rhythm through the dense foliage along the creek, and I tagged along with Jason Wolf, Darren Young, and a pack of 30k runners as we zigged up the single track. Views of the ocean caught our glances, while the wet rocks would snap us back to attention with little slips here and there. As we broke out onto the fire road near the top, Gary Gellin and Jonathan Gundersen were already returning, setting a crazy pace for the half marathoners.

I got some flack from the other runners for donning my "moon boots", the Hoka One One Mafetes, but I have to tell ya, there's something very interesting about these shoes. They don't seem to make me faster, but they cut my recovery time in half and make the downhills a lot of fun to bomb. I was curious to see if they had enough traction to hold up in wet and muddy conditions, so this was a good race to try them out. A short sleeve wool shirt, sleeves, and ear warmers seemed to be enough to fight off the wind and rain, while Injinji wool socks kept the toes warm.

(Levitating in my moon boots)

I ran into the first aid station along with Ultra Grand Slammer Franz Dill, who was telling me he had his name drawn for Western States for a third time in a row. Geez! I felt like taking him down to 7-11 to buy some lottery tickets. Darren Young joined us for the next double-hump loop, after stopping to move some course markings that had led a few astray, and we braved the rainy wind that got a little bit stronger with each pass.

(Franz Dill, trail runner and daddy extraordinaire)

(Darren Young bears the number - and stride - of The BEAST!)

It was fun to catch up with Franz and hear about how his family cheered in the New Year from the emergency room, thanks to his son taking a fall at the playground (all is fine). Ah, daddyhood...one of the few things scarier than the Ultra Grand Slam! Franz led us back to the aid station, then bid adieu to finish the 30k while Darren and I went back up the big mountain again. The volunteers were holding on tight to the aid station canopies threatening to take flight with each burst of coastal wind.

(Volunteers hang on tight!)

My climbing felt strong, and I suspected it was the weekly 10x800 routine giving my legs some pep. It appeared I was in 4th place behind a raging fast Leigh Schmitt, Jason Wolf, and Jan Rohde, a runner from Hamburg, Germany, who had relocated to pursue research at Stanford. Leigh and Jason were a solid 20 minutes ahead, so I paced to catch up to Jan, and then embraced my Moon Boot Powers to pass him on the descent. The rain started to come down harder, so I stashed the camera and put on the iPod when I got to the aid station.

I caught Jason Wolf just before hitting the fourth climb, and he was walking back citing some knee issues caused by slipping on the mud. I nodded, knowing I had skated into a few of the switchbacks myself. Too bad - Jason has really done well in his first six months on the ultra scene, including a 7:02 at the Last Chance 50-miler. I think we'll be seeing lots of him this year!

(Darryl Haber getting it done)

The rain picked up again, but it couldn't wash the ear-to-ear smile from my face. Something about this event was bringing me back to the humble roots of why we love this sport. No sponsors on my shirt, no 500+ people at the start, just a gaggle of outdoor enthusiasts making the most of a great winter day. No one captured this spirit more than Chris "Russ" Thomas, who had come all the way from Overland Park, Kansas, to join us for the 50k. You could NOT get the smile off that guys face, and every time I saw him, I found myself grinning for miles. The volunteers would later tell me that he used to weight 400 lbs and caught the ultrarunning bug last year...that guy is my hero!

(Beautiful Pacifica below)

I made the most of the last lap, slowing a bit to navigate the muddy sections, before arriving in 4:54 for second place. Leigh Schmitt had won handily (4:32), with Jan (5:10) and Darren (5:17) coming in soon behind me. Audrey Reyes (5:39) won the Women's division, as did Sarah Lavender Smith in the 30k. Gary Gellin put down a huge time winning the half marathon (1:34).

As I warmed up with chicken soup, it donned on me that I had finished ~20 minutes faster than doing an easier course here four years ago. I'm not sure if it's the training or the crazy shoes, but something is working well! With that, I said my thanks to the volunteers and headed home to watch some football.

Bravo to Inside Trail Racing for a great inaugural race (and nice t-shirts!). They have plenty more races on their agenda for the year, so if you're in the mood for some low-key outdoor fun with great people, this is the place!

Jan 22 Sun	Brooks Falls	10K, Half Marathon, 30K, 50K	San Pedro Valley Park	Pacifica, CA
Feb 25 Sat	Chabot	10K, Half Marathon, 30K, 50K	Lake Chabot Regional Park	Castro Valley, CA
Mar 18 Sun	Rodeo Valley	8K, Half Marathon, 30K, 50K	Rodeo Beach, GGNRA	Sausalito, CA
Mar 24 Sat	Woodside Ramble	10K, Half Marathon, 36K, 50K	Huddart County Park	Woodside, CA
Mar 31 Sat	Redwood Peak	10K, Half Marathon, 30K, 50K	Redwood Regional Park	Oakland, CA
Apr 28 Sat	Folsom Lake	10K, Half, Marathon, 50K	Folsom Point	Folsom, CA
May 6 Sun	Big Trees	10K, Half Marathon, 30K, 50K	Joaquin Miller Park	Oakland, CA
May 20 Sun	Tilden Trail Adventure	10K, Half Marathon, 30K, 50K	Tilden Regional Park	Berkeley, CA
June 3 Sun	K2 Summit	10K, Half Marathon, 35K, 50K	Cool – Auburn	Cool, CA
Jun 16 Sat	Pacifica Foothills	10K, Half Marathon, 30K, 50K	San Pedro Valley Park	Pacifica, CA
Jun 30 Sat	Inside Trail Endurance Challenge	50K & 50 Miles	GGNRA & Mt. Tamalpais	Rodeo Beach, CA
Jul 7 Sat	Mt. Diablo	10K, Marathon, 50K	Mt. Diablo State Park	Clayton, CA
Jul 22 Sun	La Sportiva Table Rock	25K	GGNRA & Mt. Tamalpais	Stinson Beach, CA
Aug 4 Sat	Santa Cruz	10K, Half Marathon, 30K, 50K	Henry Cowell S.P.	Santa Cruz, CA
Aug 25 Sat	Big Trees	10K, Half Marathon, 30K, 50K	Joaquin Miller Park	Oakland, CA
Sep 9 Sun	Auburn Trail Run	10K, Half Marathon, 35K, 50K	Cool – Auburn	Cool, CA
Sep 16 Sun	Marsh Land Trail Run	5K, 10K, Half Marathon	Coyote Hills Regional Park	Fremont, CA
Sep 30 Sun	Redwood Peak	10K, Half Marathon, 30K, 50K	Redwood Regional Park	Oakland, CA
Oct 7 Sun	To be announced soon	5K – Half Marathon
Oct 14 Sun	Briones Crest	10K, Half Marathon, Marathon	Briones Regional Park	Lafayette, CA
Oct 28 Sun	Falcon Crest	10K, Half, Marathon, 50K	Folsom Point	Folsom, CA
Nov 4 Sun	To be announced soon	Half Marathon – 50 Miles
Nov 11 Sun	Mt. Tam	10K, Half Marathon, 30K, 50K	GGNRA & Mt. Tam	Stinson Beach, CA
Dec 15 Sat	Woodside Ramble	10K, Half Marathon, 36K, 50K	Huddart County Park	Woodside, CA
Dec 30 Sun	Rodeo Valley	8K, Half Marathon, 30K, 50K	Rodeo Beach, GGNRA	Sausalito, CA

Oldest Ultrarunner in the USA? (Meadville Tribune)

2012-01-23T17:07:00.000-08:00

The Meadville Tribune has a great article on Francis Albaugh, whom at 90 years young continues to race track, road, and ultras. UltraRunning Magazine says he may be the oldest active ultrarunner in the US, and he has 446 races under his belt even after starting late at age 57. It's a fun read - check it out here.

My favorite quote:

“When I run, I feel good,” Albaugh said. “If I would stop running, I would just slow down physically and mentally. When I run, I’m awake and alive.”

The fountain of youth! And check out his pic...this guy looks good. Who else can sport a midriff and tattoed arms at 90?

Chrissie Wellington Says "No Ironman" for 2012

2012-01-17T14:00:00.000-08:00

Four-time (and current) Ironman World Champion Chrissie Wellington is taking 2012 off from Ironman to "pursue other interests", citing an interest in charity work and promoting her new book. Wow! That's a serious champion who can walk away with the current world title, world record, and a perfect record in the sport (13/13). I know a lot of Ironman fanatics, and asking them to part from their beloved sport is like asking them to change religions.

I thought for sure she was announcing a plan to get to the Olympics, a la Chris McCormack in 2010, but it sounds like she has even greater ambitions. Wishing her all the best...

- SD

Goodbye and Thank You, Team Inov-8!

2012-01-15T08:28:00.000-08:00

Team Inov-8 for 2012 was announced on their blog yesterday, and it appears I'm no longer on the roster. Sigh! It's been a wonderful five years and I have had a blast racing with so many talented runners. The 2011 team in particular was simply amazing, and I loved racing with Yassine Diboun, Gary Gellin, Sam Robinson, Katie Caba, Jim Johnson, and others as they all had exemplary seasons. Thank you for a "good run", Inov-8, and I wish you the best for 2012 and beyond.

So should I pick up another sponsor? Maybe Skechers? They seem to work well for Meb Keflezighi yesterday when he won the 2012 US Olympic Trials in a PR 2:09:08 at age 36, joining Ryan Hall and Abdi Abdirhaman (his 4th Olympic Team!) on the 2012 Olympic Marathon Team. Or perhaps Nike or Brooks? Their champions did well in the Women's division, with Shalene Flanagan setting an Olympic Trial record of 2:25:38, and Desiree Davila and Kara Goucher coming in soon after to complete the team. It was great to watch on TV yesterday - this is easily one of the strongest marathon teams the US has ever put together.

Let me know if you have suggestions for a new sponsor (scottdunlap [at] yahoo.com). One of my 2011 sponsors told me that the logo on the blog and boost in Google PageRank was worth $70k in advertising to them...you'd think that would worth some free shoes. ;-) As long as it's a brand I love...but looking at my overpacked garage of shoes and apparel, I don't think that limits it much.

Dave Mackey, Ellie Greenwood Win UR Mag's UltraRunner of the Year

2012-01-12T10:28:00.000-08:00

In one of the tightest votes in the history of UltraRunner Magazine, Dave Mackey won the UltraRunner of the Year for 2011, while Ellie Greenwood picked up the Women's award. Dave had a stunning season, with wins at Miwok (CR), American River, Where's Waldo (CR), Bandera (CR, USATF Champion), a Top Ten finish at Western States, and more. Ellie dominated Western States, American River 50, Chuckanut 50k, and others. Lots of detail about these guys and other top finishers at UltraRunning Magazine.

Check out how close it came on the 21-voter panel (numbers in parentheses show the number of #1 votes). You know you're kicking ass if Michael Wardian comes in second...that guys never comes in second. ;-)

BTW, reminder to set your DVR's this Saturday at Noon on NBC for the Marathon Olympic Trials so you can watch Max King, Josh Cox, Chris Lundstrom, Michael Wardian, Devon Crosby-Helms, Caitlin Smith, Chris Lundy, Sopanga Eap, Joanna Zieger, Mary Coordt, Jenn Shelton, Kasey Enman, Tyler Stewart, Kim Dobson, Susannah Beck, Megan Lund, and many other trail/ultra speedsters. Rip it up, you guys!

SD

Planning My 2012 Season

2012-01-09T16:09:00.000-08:00

Ah...it's that glorious time of year to pick out anchor races for the season! The calendar sits before us overflowing with potential for adventure, new friends, and soon-to-be-stories to tell, and all we have to do is choose a path. Few things lift my spirits as much as this annual ritual (see '06, '07, '08, '10, '11). A full calendar of endurance events continues to be the best proof I am choosing to live IN the world instead of ON it.

I was very pleased with my 2011 season, particularly since my "life event" calendar was jam-packed. Baby Quinn arrived (now 10 months old!), as did Ace the Pug, and 5-year-old Sophie Jane is growing up faster than ever now as a kindergartener. My career enjoyed a Silicon Valley hyperspeed tour through unemployment, entrepreneurship, and now a big company job that is surprisingly fun, with a few scares of relocation thrown in for good measure. It used to be that my "life" was fairly predictable, and I looked to outdoor endurance events to inject adventure. Now it seems my race calendar is the rock while my life is in perpetual whirlwind. Either way, I am blessed that all parts of my life feed my soul with new experiences.

So, how to create a calendar of events that will continue to inspire and challenge? Which experiences in the previous year filled my soul the most and where do I need a change? Is this a year to tackle championship events and PR's like 2010, or an exploratory year like 2009? Should I mix in some tri's and cycling events, or just focus on running? Can I even get IN any of the events I want to do? And how can those events keep the blog fresh and interesting?

Here's where you will find me in 2012:

Brooks Falls 50k, 1/22 - The first race of the new Inside Trail Racing event company, and an interesting chapter in trail running for the Bay Area. The entrepreneur in me wants to help any new company that can fill a need, and the Bay Area never seems to saturate the need for trail races. I haven't been to this location since 2007 and am eager to tackle its coastal hills again.

San Francisco Kaiser Half Marathon, 2/5 - Home of my half marathon PR (1:16:48, 2010), and a good speed check before my first 'A' race. I'll be coming off a crazy five country trip from work just hours before, but what can you do? Maybe jet lag is the secret ingredient to going fast.

Austin Marathon, 2/19 - My first 'A' race for the year will be to head to Austin, one my favorite cities, in hopes for a fast road marathon, some good beer and queso, and sampling the sounds of Sixth Street with friends. I wasn't able to get close to my marathon PR this year (2:45, 2009), but consistently ran in the 2:50 range, so I'm going to ramp up the speedwork and see if I can't lower my marathon PR a few minutes. Perhaps I can tap my inner Jean Pommier and continue to get faster through my 40's - he clocked a 5:43 at the Last Chance 50m at age 48!

Robert and Linda Mathis Memorial Run, 2/25 - A casual run in Auburn, CA, to honor two amazing people from the ultra community we recently lost in a DUI accident. No watches, no numbers...just good peeps and closure. It's 9am at the Auburn Dam Overlook if you are interested.

Way Too Cool 50k, 3/5 - One of the biggest and fastest 50k's around, and the first of the "Spring Classics" that lead up to the June/July ultra peak season. I look forward to seeing the backs of heads of many fast people as I return to Cool, CA, and try the revamped course. I find it very helpful (and humbling) to have my ass handed to me by faster people early in the season (that means you, Gary Gellin) to remind me why I need to go deep in the pain cave on regular speedwork days. WTC can be an early season smack down.

Boston Marathon, 4/16 - I'm continuing my streak (this will be #8!) and joining that party from Hopkinton to Boston once again. I never seem to get tired of this one, especially when meeting all the first-time Boston runners who worked so hard to get there. No plans to run with anyone in particular, so let me know if you'll be there!

Providian Relay, 5/5 - A team relay is something I've never tried, and the 199-mile Providian Relay from Calistoga, CA, to Santa Cruz, CA, is one of the best. I've joined up with a team of fellow PayPal colleagues who run the gamut of experience levels, and suspect it will be a great bonding experience. I offered to take miles 100 through 150 so everyone can get some sleep, but apparently that defeats the "relay" concept. ;-) Still, it should be a blast!

Auburn Century, 6/3 - No Western States for me this year, but I can get 100+ miles in the golden hills of Auburn, CA, by tackling the super century cycling event. Much of the course uses the access roads a crew would use for States, which I know are gorgeous and steep. Plus how cool is the shwag? Gotta get that jersey for sure. I'm hoping my usual clan of cycling dudes will be able to join in for a Gentleman's Weekend.

Black Hills 100m, 6/23 - The good folks of South Dakota have invited me out for the second running of the Black Hills 100 in Sturgis, SD, and it looks like a beautiful race that could become a welcome alternative for the masses who don't get into States. I don't consider myself a competitive 100-miler by any stretch of the imagination, but few things get me out of bed to train like having a hundy on the calendar. Christi and I have fond memories of our last trip to South Dakota, and would love to show our kids Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands (maybe finally update my pic atop my blog?), buffalo, Deadwood, Devil's Tower, and...oh, yeah, fit in a 100-mile out-and-back with 18,000 ft of climbing. Can't wait!

Tahoe Rim Trail 50k, 7/21 - One of the most gorgeous trails around, and a race I long for every year. Signed up for the 50k, but may go longer if needed for my next big race.

Ultra Tour du Mont Blanc, 8/31 -Yup, I'm heading to the big showdown in Europe! I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the two sunrise experience at the Wasatch 100m, and find myself yearning for another mountainous multi-morning adventure. Work is going to take me to Europe right about this time, so why not stick around for a 63,000' vertical, 100+ mile, three country tour? This will easily be the toughest race of my running career. I'm super stoked!

CIM Marathon, 12/2 - I'm unsure how much recovery will be required for UTMB, so my schedule is fairly open until CIM in December. I've still never done this flat and fast road race - curious to check it out.

Woodside 50k, 12/15 - No better way to cap off a season than a jaunt in my own backyard. Looking forward to sharing my home trails with all of you!

No tri's on the schedule this year, although I'm keeping options open. I just didn't see any that were a "must do" that fit the calendar. Like most years, I will pepper this schedule with other local races as time permits. In 2011, I had a great time tackling the local marathon circuit with last minute entries (San Francisco, Oakland, Half Moon Bay, Napa, San Jose), Bay to Breakers, and a couple of local 50k's. We are blessed to have so many options in the Bay Area.

Let me know if you're going to be at any of these races, and I'll be sure to get your picture for the blog! Great pictures will likely be the most important yardstick for success for 2012.

SD

Does This Water Bottle Make My Shlong Look Big?

2012-01-05T06:36:00.000-08:00

A little running humor for you, courtesy of Jimmy Fallon. This blog needs a little light humor after the last few weeks. ;-)

If you prefer butt jokes to shlong jokes, be sure to check out what happens to this reporter about a minute into his report...doh!

SD

R.I.P. and Thank You, Robert and Linda Mathis (Ultrarunner.net)

2012-01-02T19:52:00.000-08:00

(Robert Mathis at the 2007 Lake of the Sky 33m)

Last Friday night, Robert and Linda Mathis, founders and race directors for the Ultrarunner.net Race Series in California and Nevada, were tragically killed when struck by a vehicle while crossing the street in their home town of Incline Village, NV. You can read the account of the incident here, with the addition of the comments from family members that acknowledge the victims.

Robert and Linda were two shining stars of the ultrarunning community and we will miss them terribly. If they weren't out running or crewing, they were putting on great races on their favorite trails such as the Rucky Chucky 50k, the Lake of the Sky 33m, the Pony Express 100k, and many, many more. I ran their Series in 2007 and had the time of my life. I will always remember their smiling faces, Linda's famous homemade chili, Robert's crazy addiction to the Disney World Marathon, and the deep friendship they shared with so many in the community.

Their surviving family has arrived in Incline Village, NV, and at this time, there will be no public service. Some runners are suggesting a memorial run on 2/25 (Ed. update - casual run scheduled for 9am on 2/25 at the Auburn Dam Overlook), where they would have hosted their Cool Trail Runs 34M/21M/25K/10K. It would have been the 10th season of their races. If you are interested, please leave a note here or find the Robert and Mathis Memorial page on Facebook. Even if it's not a "race" and we just go out and run together, I'm pretty sure it's how they would want us to honor their memory.

One last request to all of you who knew them - if you have any pictures of both of them, I'm sure the family would be appreciative if you could share. Perhaps they can be used for the memorial run as well. You can send them to me at scottdunlap [at] yahoo.com and I will forward them.

We miss you, Robert and Linda. Thank you for all you brought to our lives.

[Ed. note - more photos that have been contributed by Jakob Hermann, Chihping Fu, Shelby Jones, Linda McFadden, Susan Spidle, and Bev Abbs]

(Linda Mathis cooks up her famous chili at the Rucky Chucky 50k)

(On the phone with Linda)

Scenes from the 2011 Rodeo Beach 50k

2012-01-01T11:08:00.000-08:00

Just a few photos from yesterday's Rodeo Beach 8k/20k/30k/50k (results), which I'm pleased to say did happen thanks to Inside Trails Racing (ITR). Over 400 people came out to enjoy a wonderful day at the beach, and aside from a few inquiries about refunds for cancelled Pacific Coast Trail Runs (PCTR) events*, most runners were unaware of the back drama. They were just out to have fun! A good reminder as we look forward to the new year.

It was a kick to volunteer at the event and see so many familiar faces. One forgets how hard it is to organize and feed 400 people! The folks at Philz Coffee were kind enough to set me up with coffee for 40 to "add some good karma" (man, that coffee is good). Unfortunately, somebody did steal an entire aid station within the 20 minute window between when the items were dropped off and the volunteers arrived to arrange them. ITR was ready, however, and set up another aid station before runners arrived. Wow, you seriously have to be on your toes to put these races on.

The t-shirt is certain to be a collector, since it has neither PCTR nor ITR logos. Only us insiders will know the truth! Based on the conversations I had, I'm certain the next event will have one logo or the other.

Happy New Years, all. Start it off right! GO RUN!!!

- SD

* As noted in the comments of the previous blog post, be sure to send any requests for refunds for PCTR events to PCTRrefunds@gmail.com.

(A gorgeous California morning! Photo courtesy of Footfeathers)

(And they are off!)

(Only 100 ft to the first climb!)

(Up, up, up...)

(Can't ask for a better day)

(8k runners take off fast!)

(Angela Wagner came all the way from Provo, UT, to place third overall in the 8k)

(Sarah Lavender Smith still has enough energy for a cart wheel on her way to winning the 50k in a new 32-mile PR, photo courtesy of Footfeathers)

(Post-race fun with Tim Long, Brian Wyatt, me, 20k winner Victor Ballesteros, and Dave Mackey, photo by Andy Belk)

(10-year-old Kyra Carney is all smiles after edging out Mom for 5th Female in the 8k, while their crew takes a breather)

The Delicate Fate of Pacific Coast Trail Runs - Will It Survive?

2011-12-25T07:45:00.000-08:00

“To be or not to be, that is the question.” – Hamlet

It was Pacific Coast Trail Runs (PCTR) who first introduced me to ultramarathons in 2001, helping me rediscover a passion for the outdoors with their unique trail events up and down the West Coast. PCTR's fun and low-key “runs but not races” have been a big part of the California trail running community for over a decade (beautifully chronicled here by Sarah Lavender Smith for UltraRunning Magazine in March, 2009). Rarely a month goes by that I don’t recall the fateful day I met PCTR Race Director and co-founder Sarah Spelt managing an aid station for the Purisima Creek 50k near my house, and watched her help a runner finish vomiting, pull him up, and say, “you only have 5 miles to go…so get out of that chair and keep moving forward”. Wow! Runners and volunteers alike were friendly, tough, courageous…a group of passionate people creating adventure just for the hell of it. Like many, I was drawn in by the PCTR aura.

Lately, that aura has had to shine through some dark times. To say that 2011 has been a tough year for PCTR would be an understatement of ultra proportions – cancelled races, a no show for an event, tens of thousands of dollars in refunds in limbo, a rotating door of co-RD’s, and more - any one of these would be enough to set the tombstone on even the best event management company. But just when you count them out, PCTR comes back with dogged persistence. As 2011 comes to a close, they face their toughest challenge yet, and all eyes are on the Rodeo Beach 50k on Dec 31^st to see if the race will occur, and more importantly, if PCTR will survive.

I was lucky enough to be a regular participant in the Golden Age of PCTR, where they held 20+ races annually through 2000-2010, ranging from 10k’s to 24-Hour events, and even birthing the heralded Headlands Hundred. Those who ran knew exactly what to expect – a well-marked course, plenty of happy volunteers, lots of food, and a sense of humility that made even the craziest races (and racers) feel approachable. By 2008, nearly every race was selling out, with a solid mix of regular runners and first-timers motivated by the Dean Karnazes/Born To Run surge. The 10-20k distances seemed to be the cash cow, drawing hundreds each weekend, while the ultras were clearly a labor of love that Sarah and then-husband/PCTR co-founder Wendell Doman both shared with the community they helped build.

The Golden Age got its first shake up in mid-2010, when a “Dear Jane letter" from Wendell to Sarah split the personal relationship that was the genesis of PCTR. Some feared the worst in the face of a divorce among co-founders, but they continued to do an amazing job keeping everything going smoothly. Wendell soon after started Coastal Trail Runs with a roster of even more races that conveniently did not occur on the same weekends as PCTR events. Like the child of divorced parents who now gets two weekly allowances, the trail running community was getting a best case scenario from a challenging personal situation.

2011 started ambitiously for PCTR, with a new co-owner and Race Director Michael Popov, new logos and web site, and a plan to expand into a whole new series of races in the Lake Tahoe area. A newly minted PCTR Race Team was spotted everywhere, with runners like Ian Sharman making headlines with his American Record-setting 12:44 at the Rocky Raccoon 100 trail run. Races continued to sell out through the summer, many in record time, although the Lake Tahoe races had to be postponed due to long permit timelines. Still, they forged ahead, and for most of us, the Golden Age was as bright as ever.

Then in September, 2011, the "train came off the rails", so to speak.

On September 16^th, less than 24 hours before the San Francisco One Day event at Crissy Field, an e-mail went out from Sarah saying the event would be cancelled due to a “personal emergency”. Some runners were aghast, having trained and flown out to be at the event, but most just offered their help and condolences. PCTR does races in rain or shine, so surely they wouldn’t cancel an event unless it was serious? The PCTR Facebook page lit up with concern, personal outreach, anger, and lots of questions.

The following Monday, Michael Popov announced on Facebook that he would no longer be associated with PCTR “due to personal issues and other numerous issues with the co-owner”. Like many, I was shocked, and began asking around with the PCTR runner/volunteer regulars about what might have happened. Many felt it was a shame that Michael had left, saying he had lifted up PCTR with his enthusiasm and attention to detail. Others were much more direct, implying that Michael’s involvement created a precarious financial situation for PCTR, and his personal style had driven regular volunteers away. Whatever it was, the cancellation of the San Francisco One Day, and now this, was evidence that something deeper was amiss.

Then, the unspeakable happened. When racers arrived at the Santa Cruz Mountains 10k/20k/50k the following weekend, PCTR was nowhere to be found. La Sportiva was there to demo their shoes, and a couple of volunteers were eagerly awaiting aid station supplies, so it was clear that no notification of a cancellation had gone out. After hours of waiting, runners disbanded and went right to the Facebook page to express their shock and outrage. Just when you thought a last minute cancellation was the worst cardinal sin of race directing, a no-show reset expectations at a whole new level.

Refund requests poured in by the hundreds, which unfortunately resulted in PCTR's credit card processing company freezing their account and making it impossible to issue refunds. The PCTR web site posted cancellations for the next two races (Montana de Oro and Redwood Park), exacerbating the refund/frozen account situation, but still processed entry fees for future events through PayPal. This confused many, and while some ultrarunners just rolled with it and asked for credits for future events, the short course masses were extremely vocal about their missing funds and took to the Internet. Runners like Oregon’s Casey Hennig blasted PCTR on Yelp, Facebook, and even filed a complaint to the Better Business Bureau, permanently damaging the PCTR brand. Runner Christine Jenior Gorby said on Facebook she was engaging her lawyer, which as we all know means that PCTR would have to be very careful about any public dialogue (ie, there will be little, if any). Another slighted runner, Greg Monaghan, continues to post to Facebook regularly to call PCTR “scam artists”, "criminals", calling Sarah “a thief”, and encourage runners to go to competitive events. Hell hath no fury like a runner feeling ripped off, and with a lack of frequent two-way communication, they let their voices be heard. It was hard to imagine how PCTR would survive.

Then, in mid-October, signs of life. In fact, it was more than signs, it was a comeback in the making. Sarah came out of silence to publicly comment on the frozen credit account scenario, promising refunds to all involved and replying to many personally. A new team was hired, run by Tim Long and Tim Stahler (“the Tims”), two individuals with a deep passion for running and hosting events. Tim Long had even relocated from Colorado, and as soon as he hit the ground, the races were back on. The Santa Monica Mountain event on Nov 20^th happened, followed by the Woodside event on Dec 3^rd, in an impressive display of last minute organization and high integrity communication about the race directing experience. I ran the 25k at Woodside, and it felt like the good ‘ole days were coming back, with ample course markings, food, and happy volunteers. A new PCTR Race Team was announced, and I joined up to help in the comeback story. Like an ultrarunner who refused to drop, PCTR was taking flight once again.

Then as fast as the comeback was on, it stumbled. On Dec 17^th, the Tims posted a blog entry saying they would no longer be involved with PCTR, citing the inability to address the confusion and frustration around refunds and money owed. They did promise to host the Rodeo Beach event on Dec 31^st, and assured everyone that food and supplies were ordered. After Rodeo Beach, the blog entry went on to say, the Tims would be creating races under a new event management group called Inside Trail Racing. Yup, that just happened.

A few days later, they updated their post saying they had been contacted by PCTR’s lawyer to stay away from the Rodeo Beach event. Lawyers are involved? Uh, oh. Suddenly, everything seems up the air.

Will the Rodeo Beach event take place on Dec 31^st?

Are refunds coming, or does involvement by lawyers signal signs of bankruptcy?

Will PCTR survive?

All eyes are on Dec 31^st.

One thing for sure, you can't knock the players in this story for a lack of passion about their sport and community. While Sarah and the PCTR crew find their footing, Michael Popov went on to tackle 140+ mile adventures of his own, Wendell created Coastal Trail Runs, and the Tim's launched Inside Trail Racing. In the face of a DNF, they each found within themselves the strength to press on and flourish in their own way. Their persistence is admirable, and for what it's worth, the trail running community continues to reap the benefits.

There is a special place in my heart for PCTR, and I sincerely hope that they will persevere through these tough times. I am ever the optimist, much in thanks to ultrarunning, and can easily picture racing a PCTR event in full PCTR Team gear soon, taking about how glad we are all that refund nonsense is over. It would be yet another epic story of persistence and courage in the face of adversity that our sport creates with welcome regularity.

Keep moving forward, people. Try to be positive for those that are struggling through the race. The finish line is closer than you think.

Peace and courage...

- SD

[Ed. Update - On Christmas Day, PCTR and Inside Trails announced on Facebook that they reached a contract agreement for the Inside Trails team to manage the Rodeo Beach event on Dec 31st. This arrangement is only for this event. It's nice to see they worked something out. Also, I should note that Jeff Makoff, the legal counsel donating his time to PCTR to help them through their current challenges, offered the following official statement in an e-mail to me:

"The trail running community is aware of the difficulties PCTR has faced recently. We appreciate the extraordinary patience of our loyal friends and followers. PCTR has retained professionals to work through the immediate issues and help formulate a strategic plan for the future. Among the urgent issues are the processing of all refunds for past cancelled races. Please look on our Facebook page for real-time updates and further instructions for refunds. This process is well-underway and we will keep you posted. We wish everyone a great 2012 - and we sincerely apologize for the recent difficulties!"

Jeff went on to mention how they are in sorting out who still needs refunds, and who has already received them through their credit card companies, and how best to process them efficiently. It sounds very positive to me.

I'm hoping to volunteer at Rodeo Beach on the 31st to lend my support. Hope you are all doing well, and I look forward to seeing you.]

C is for Chafing (Book Review)

2011-12-21T13:39:00.000-08:00

Mark Remy, known to most of us as the hilarious blogger behind Runner's World's RW Daily, has recently released "C is for Chafing", a funny mock-children's book that captures the irony and inside jokes of the running community. I got a sneak preview copy, and immediately picked up a few more as stocking stuffers.

I love the tone of this book, and we had a good chuckle as we passed it around. Eric Cash does a tremendous job with the illustrations, whether it's Daddy in an ice bath, or a truck driver flipping you off as you "share the road". The first few lines pretty much set the tone:

A is for Against the Traffic, the safest way to run
B is for Blister...Ouch! That's no fun
C is for Chafing, inner thighs are burning
D is for DNF, his GI tract is churning!

Awesome. Still time to get it for X-mas...available here at CreateSpace (owned by Amazon)! Or contact him directly for a signed copy...

- SD

Thank you, Way Too Cool, for wanting me!

2011-12-14T12:10:00.000-08:00

I nearly bottomed out on the lottery karma this month (0 for 3), but Way Too Cool came to the rescue this morning. Phew! I actually had a cry-in-my-beer blog post drafted called "Hmmm...time to find another sport?". I know I shouldn't anthropomorphize and assume causality in what is essentially a random process, but I can't help it...passion for this sport runs too deep!

Here's how it went in my head:

Hardrock, can I climb your epic peaks and kiss that rock?

Nope. Because I know you don't really want to do this race...you're just backfilling in case Western States doesn't come through for you.

Western States, oh love of mine, can I toe the line and be an active ambassador for your magical event?

You're kidding, right? We called you a THREE TIME LOSER and you still can't take a hint. In fact, nobody publicly calls you a loser as regularly as the Western States Endurance Run, yet you keep coming back. You're actually a SIX TIME LOSER, but in order to publicly call you that, we had to get rid of that pesky rule that actually allowed losers in. Get a grip, man. You have some serious dependency issues, and there are lots of other 100-milers out there...one of them may be your true soul mate but you won't know until you move on.

And in case you are wondering, no, there isn't going to be a special belt buckle for ten time losers.

Miwok, my old friend, can I share your epic journey?

Sorry, pal. We're already full with people who are training for Hardrock and States.

Way Too Cool, please tell me I am worthy?

Of course! As long as you bring beer and cupcakes. ;-)

The wise person would point out that karma is likely just showing me the wonderful opportunity to volunteer/crew at these great events, camera in hand, and build an even deeper love for the sport. Ah, yes, I hear it now.

But as I am woefully finding out this winter, if I don't have a 100-miler on the agenda, my motivation to train drops significantly. So the design process begins...~~Massannutten~~? ~~Rocky~~? Black Hills? Bighorn? UTMB? Oh, the places we will go!

- SD

2011 Rock N' Roll Las Vegas Marathon Turns Into Nightmare

2011-12-08T15:59:00.001-08:00

The 2011 Rock n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon, which quickly grew to over 44,000 participants, went from "night run" to "nightmare" this weekend according to this news report and the many Facebook comments. Thousands packed into the Mandalay Bay Hotel at the finish with nowhere to go, stuck for hours, passing out, vomiting, you name it. Now there is a survey posted trying to find the root cause for why thousands have ended up sick.

(Runners stuck in the Mandalay Bay)

For those who love to watch a good train wreck, be sure to check out the Facebook page that is updated every few minutes for the latest accusations. The CEO of Competitor Group, the race organizer, got married with his wife during the race and they both clocked a finish averaging 6:31 min/miles to win their age groups (no split times recorded, suspiciously). No money went to charity, aggravating many. No medical personnel at the finish. Online petitions to boycott the Rock n Roll series popping up. Those who got a finisher medal noted it has a picture of the Seattle Space Needle. Pretty crazy! And mind you, these complaints come in every couple of minutes FOUR DAYS after the event. Many also say they had a great time, clocked PR's, and had no issues, and at least nobody died (yet). But whoa...the haters are out in force on this one.

It gives me a whole new appreciation for the smooth execution of the NYC Marathon with its 47,000+ participants. One forgets how many things have to go right to have these big races run smoothly.

2011 TNF 50 Highlights (Video)

2011-12-05T21:26:00.001-08:00

The Endurables put together a great video of The North Face 50-Miler from this last weekend, where Mike Wolfe prevailed after racing with Dakota Jones until the last few miles. Good stuff!

Turket Trots Post 14% Growth...So Do Waist Sizes

2011-12-01T20:18:00.001-08:00

A survey of the top 20 Turkey Trots held on Thanksgiving last week shows a 14% boost in participation from last year, far exceeding the 1% growth of the previous year. On the day of the year that has more races than any other, some of these are now boasting starting lines over 15,000 runners. Isn't that great?

I have now run the Santa Barbara Thanksgiving 4-Miler for five years in row, doing my best to squeeze in under 24 minutes (and 1000 burned calories) and win a bottle of Martinelli's Sparkling Cider for the kids to drink at the family feast. This race reflects the growth of Turkey Trots, climbing from 300 runners in 2007 to over 700 this year, while retaining it's small town charm. I would like to believe I run it for health reasons, but honestly, I know the motivation is to feel less guilty about the second and third helpings of home cooking that I am so fortunate to indulge in each year.

Once I had done the race a few years in a row, however, my motivation changed. I see the same faces at this race each sunny Thanksgiving morning, and enjoy catching up with them and watching their kids grow. I find myself inspired by the consistency of 76-year-old ultrarunner Bill Dodson, who somehow manages to do this race with his family and still make it to the Quad Dipsea a few days later (and then the CIM marathon the next week, naturally). Or the evolution of the Allison family, whose daughters Kate and Sammie have grown up from spectators (who scarf the post-race donuts) to runners (who scarf the post-race donuts), and soon enough will leave me and their parents in the dust as their youthful jaunts become graceful strides. Brian Wyatt was the proud father of 5-year-old Cassidy taking on his first race, and 12-year-old Chaia who easily made an age group podium finish and still had enough juice to run back a few miles and join the family. This year also saw the subtle transformation of my friend Kik Armstrong, run/walking this year with that confident glow of humility only seen on those who just completed their first 50-miler.

Consistency, change, transformation...all captured in the time-lapse memory of an annual community event. It's a beautiful thing, really. No wonder they are becoming so popular!

(700 runners take over the streets of Goleta, CA)

(Sammie Allison, a spectator no more, with Dad trying to keep up)

(Moms Kik Armstrong and Jamie Allison enjoy watching the kids run ahead)

(Power assisted running)

(Sure, Honey, I'll watch the kids and dog while you cook...and still get in a workout!)

(Bill Dodson and I stand with the other age group winners)

(Sammie is all about the powdered donuts...is that really the same kid that hung onto Mom in 2007?)

(Ultrarunner Brian Wyatt poses with the newest runner in the family, Cassidy, who crushed his first 4-miler)

Gift Ideas for the Holidays (2011)

2011-11-24T06:08:00.000-08:00

Having trouble finding the perfect gift for the trail runner in your life? Here are a few of my favorites that can help get you started - if you know of others, be sure to add them in the comments!

2012 Tribute to the Trails Running Calendar ($23)

Uber-photographer and trail runner Glenn Tachiyama (along with Wendy Wheeler-Jacobs) has consistently put out the most beautiful trail running calendars to raise money for the Washington Trails Association. The gorgeous full-page shots (check them all out here) compliment a complete calendar of ultrarunning events. This year even includes an entry form for free race entries! Few things can spice up the drab cubicle life like a constant reminder of epic trail runs hanging on the wall. I buy 3-4 each year. You can pick one up at ZombieRunner, Rogue Valley Runners, or other stores for $23.

Unbreakable Western States 100 DVD ($19)

The latest documentary from JB Benna's JourneyFilm captures one of the most incredible races of 2010, as Geoff Roes, Tony Krupicka, and Kilian Jornet obliterate course records in epic fashion. This is newly available this year, and will be a favorite for sure. Pre sales begin 11/25.

Salomon Advanced Skin S-Lab Hydration Pack ($180)

I'm not sure exactly how Kilian Jornet and the gang at Salomon came up with a pack that doesn't bounce at all, but this one has quickly become a favorite of mine. A little on the spendy side, but worth it! Get it at iRunFar.

Moeben Sleeves ($35)

Fun, sexy, colorful, useful...it's hard to go wrong with Moeben sleeves. Now available in kids sizes. Plus it's fun to check out the Web site and see how Shannon pimps out her model-ready boys (Moe, Ben, and now Jet). ;-)

Western States Lottery Tickets ($5+)

Want to challenge a runner to take a leap to the 100-mile? Buy them a handful of lottery tickets to the 2013 Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run and see if fate will put them on the starting line in June, 2013. Go for the premium package by offering to be their crew! Even if they don't win a slot in the lottery, I bet you get them thinking bigger/longer for 2012. Still available via mail until the drawing on Dec 10th. A great stocking stuffer!

Trail Running Coffee Table Book ($15)

If your trail runner is going to open a gift in front of a big group of people, a nice coffee table book is something that can be passed around to get a lot of gasps and admiration. I'm a big fan of Extreme Running by Kym McConnell and Dave Horsely, available at ZombieRunner for $15. For those looking to get into ultras, Bryon Powell's new book, Relentless Forward Progress, is a great one. For the ladies, I would highly recommend Kristin Armstrong's Mile Markers, a witty and adventurous reflection on life and running.

Peppermint Gels from GU ($8.99 for Box of 8)

GU's holiday flavor for 2011 is Peppermint, a great stocking stuffer! Someday they will make the alcoholic Hot Buttered Rum gel, and I will be all over it. Available at ZombieRunner.

Myorope Recovery Tool ($20)

Part roller, part massager, the Myorope is a great way to loosen up a tight back, post-race hamstring, or just about any muscle that is giving you trouble. It fits conveniently in a suitcase/briefcase too, far more so than a foam roller. I like it for post-weights recovery, and the "quad" four ball version is best.

Framed Photo ($15-50)

Did your trail runner have an epic race experience? Go find the photo service that was at the race, and get them a nice framed photo. I know we all rarely buy these things for ourselves, but honestly, how many good photos of yourself running do you have? Unless you are married to a photographer like me, it's hard to get a good shot that can be blown up into a decent photo. Time to splurge!

ZombieRunner Gift Certificate ($10-100)

I can ALWAYS find something I didn't know I needed until I saw it at ZombieRunner. Definitely will prompt a smile. Also an easy gift to buy and send instantly.

Jackhawk 9000 Knife ($100)

What better gift to give a loved one than the Jackhawk 9000? Available at Wal-mart. (Thank you, Ricky Bobby!) I know I posted this last year, but it's just too funny to skip.

Personal Running Tour (Free!)

If you don't have the cash-ola, give the gift of time with a guided trail running tour of your favorite park. Set the date, make a plan, bring some snacks, create a hand-written card that sums it all up...voila, an instant free gift. And one that will certainly be treasured! If you have a friend who is constantly too busy with kids to do those long runs, give him/her some hand made gift certificates for babysitting. They will guard them with their lives.

Lucas Verzbicas Bails on Oregon Track to Pursue Triathlon

2011-11-21T22:15:00.001-08:00

(Verzbicas while running one of two cross country meets, photo courtesy of Ken Moreland)

Phenom runner Lucas Verzbicas, who joined the University of Oregon track team two months ago after a stellar year setting numerous high school records (and becoming the fifth sub-4 minute high school miler in the US), recently quit the team to pursue triathlon and hopefully making an Olympic team.

As quoted in the Chicago Tribune, Verzbicas said "As a triathlete, I could really make an impact for the sport and only have good things happen. As a runner, I don't know. Maybe I could be in the top 20 in the world, maybe the top 10, but I wouldn't make such an impact." It appears his recent win at the Junior Triathlon World Championships sealed the deal, and was probably also aided by the fact that his stepfather, Romas Bertulis, was named head of the Elite Triathlon Academy that began in Colorado Springs three months ago. And if you are Olympic bound and not a US citizen, like Verzbicas, triathlon provides better access than track.

Hopefully he is voting for his greatest passion, for it would be a shame to see such a talent choose a path because it's the easiest way to be "the best" at a sport. I'm sure his team at UofO will feel the loss. But I am sure he will be fabulous at whatever he pursues.

The 2012 Race Lottery Season - Get Signed Up!

2011-11-14T17:47:00.001-08:00

It's that time of year to put your fate in the hands of the lottery gods and see which adventures choose you for 2012! Here are some races that I track, the dates of their lottery, and helpful links to get your name in the pool:

Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run, June 23, 2012 (Lottery Nov 13-26, Drawing Dec 10)

Miwok 100k, May 5, 2012 (Lottery Dec 1-10, Drawing Dec 12)

Way Too Cool 50k, March 10, 2012 (Lottery Dec 5-11, Drawing Dec 14)

Wasatch 100, September 7, 2012 (Lottery Dec 1-Jan 9, Drawing Feb'ish)

Hardrock 100, July 13, 2012 (Lottery Now-Nov 30, Drawing Dec 4)

Badwater 135 (now with 48 hr cutoff), July 11, 2012 (Lottery/app Feb 1-15, Selection Feb 18)

Mountain Masochist 100, May 12, 2012 (Apply Dec 1, Lottery Dec 8)

Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc, (Registration Dec 16-Jan 9, Lottery selection Jan 20 if needed)

Ironman Hawaii World Championship, Oct 13, 2012 (Lottery Now-Feb 28, Drawing April 15)

Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon, June 10, 2012 (Lottery Now-Jan 5, Drawing Jan 6)

Mt. Washington Road Race, June 16, 2012 (Lottery Feb 15-March 15, Drawing March 16)