A Trail Runner's Blog

Ultramarathon runners hope to raise their profile, and their prize money (The Washington Post)

2012-05-24T07:10:00.001-07:00

The Washington Post ran an article this morning about the growing demand of trail and ultrarunning, and the desire by its top runners to have bigger prize money. I swear I've read this article a few dozen times already in the last five years, but this one is put together nicely with comments from Karl Meltzer and Anton Krupicka. Be sure to give it a read!

The Naked Fun of the 2012 Bay to Breakers

2012-05-20T14:33:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick photo montage of the 2012 Bay to Breakers in San Francisco, CA, where the local freaks fly their flags high! I ran a quick 49:01 on a beautiful sunny SF day, then walked back through the course to see all the costumes and revelry. It still seems tame compared to previous years, but it's a lot of fun!

(The ape is back!)

(Lincecum fits in a 12k before pitching today)

(Now that's what I call minimalist!)

(The elite women hit the streets)

(Una Broderick, George Ehigiator, Brian "Apeman" Cooke, Meb Keflezighi [finished 6th], Uli Stedl [11th], Direba Merga [3rd], Sammy Kitwara [1st], Tesfy Sendeku [5th])

(Kiss my ass for luck!)

(and we're off!)

(Mile 1)

(Nice view!)

(Crowds were dressing up too)

(Thumbs up from Elvis!)

(Local flavor)

(Hayes Hill is rocking out)

(Grunt)

(High speed joggling!)

(When it comes to drums, size does matter)

(Getting swallowed by the Google centipede, who ended up running a clockwise circle around me for fun on the corner)

(Finish!)

(The Zazzle twins)

(Costumes abound)

(Let that burn into your retinas)

(Lego people!)

(Avengers and the Hall of Justice talk business)

(Bare to Breakers)

(I wonder what he takes pictures of?)

(I feel like a kid!)

(Not a tan line to be found)

(Getting the groove on)

(The fox is stoked, the Joke is planning something)

(Uncle Sam is a bunch of bull)

(The biggest freaks of all...the Jesus Freaks)

(Three flamingos, a cat, and a many-time finisher)

(Ronnie pushes drugs on the kids)

(Out-apeing the apes)

(Wild pack of Elvi)

(TSA folks asking everyone to have their boarding passes ready)

(American Gladiators throw down on Hayes)

(Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker)

(Whoa! A swarm of orange)

(I just can't stop feeling my breasts!)

Sabrina Moran Breaks 24-Hour American Record (147.90 miles)

2012-05-17T07:02:00.001-07:00

Sabrina Moran broke the American Record for the 24-Hour run at a windy day at the North Coast 24 Hour Race in Cleavland, OH. Her total of 147.90 miles beat Sue Ellen Trapp's long-standing record of 145.288 miles, and also garnered her the USATF National Championship. Her entertaining and humble blog entry is worth a read.

Jon Olsen won the Men's division with 158.53 miles, just two weeks after representing the US at the 100k World Championships.

Calfornia's Longest Party - The 194-Mile Relay

2012-05-10T22:24:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, I had the great pleasure of joining 200 teams of twelve runners for The Relay, a 194-mile team race from Calistoga to Santa Cruz in Northern California. Dubbed "California's Longest Party", this was going to be my first foray into the team format, and with the great weather, it was bound to be an adventure!

As we headed up to Napa in Van #2, the six runners in Van #1 were already running their way from Calistoga in 4-6 mile segments on a hot and steamy afternoon. The two vans would trade off every 40 miles or so, going straight through the night. Team "Follow You, Follow Me" was on its way! We were a motley crew of PayPal employees and friends from varying running backgrounds, most of us virgins to the team format and new to each other. Our team captain, Jessi Tran, had every logistic nailed to get us to the finish by Sunday night, and encouraged us all to just have fun.

(Team Follow You, Follow Me)

At first glance, it wasn't clear to me how we would squeeze "fun" out of a 30+ hour road trip with strangers. Honestly, that's a LOT of drive time. Plus they were co-workers, so I couldn't let my ultrarunning freak flag fly too much. ;-) Worries disappeared instantly when we arrived at the first exchange and found rows of decorated vans and hundreds of runners in goofy outfits, laughing and introducing themselves to each other. This truly was a party! The vibe was addictive, and all for fundraising for Organs R' Us, the oddly named but important charity to help match organ donors.

(Van art)

(Jaeson gets a high five from Bob when he finishes a hot leg)

Our teammates from Van #1 looked fried from the 90+ degree heat as they pulled in, and they were happy to hand off to Fang Lin, our first runner and mobile engineer extraordinaire. Van #1 (Michelle Peng, Jaeson Augustine, Bob Angus, Rachel Shey, Leo Castro, and Jessi) then found some shade to catch a few z's in the short 4-5 hour break they had. Not that it was really 4 hours, since they had to drive to go meet us...sleep breaks were 2.5 hours at most.

(Fang takes the baton!)

(Van #1 catches a snooze)

We drove along the course with Fang, stopping every mile or two to offer water and some C&C Music Factory blasting from the speakers. Her segment was ranked "moderate", but those hills seemed pretty steep to me...gulp, what does that mean for my "very hard" segments?!?

(Kate, Connie, and Jessica share a laugh)

Fang passed our baton (actually a wrist band) to Connie Wu, who also had a hilly section through the wine country. Connie also works at PayPal, and had joined the running team just a few weeks before to fill in for a sick runner. She tackled the hills and heat with gusto, pointing out the wineries along the way. We were all noticing new window graffiti on our van...we had been tagged! Thank god it wasn't one of the super crude tags like "I have a hard third leg" that we were seeing everywhere. We looked for every opportunity to return the favor.

(Mmmm...chorizo)

Connie finished strong and handed off to Jessica Wager, who had come all the way from Omaha, NB, to get her first glimpse of the wine country. Her persistent smile was evidence this was the start of her vacation, and she would return to Napa for a week of wine and restaurants as soon as the race was done. Nice!

(Jessica gets it done)

Next it was the "old guy"s turn (ie, me), and I lucked out that the sun had already started to come down and give me a break from the heat. It was hard not to "race" with all these runners just a few hundred yards ahead, but I threw in some fun by drinking beer instead of water for all my aid station stops. I swear, it makes you go faster!

(Enjoying a beer mid-segment)

(Kate takes the hand off)

Kate Janes took the baton from me and flew out of Petaluma with an effortless stride that showed her Division III cross country and track roots. We had a ringer! She didn't even mind added a few extra miles with an unexpected detour through downtown Petaluma. Not bad for someone who joined the team less than 48 hours before we started. ;-)

(Running by moonlight)

Scott Chow was our closer, and he pulled us into the next van exchange just as the sun went down. Wow, we're done already? The time does really fly. We wished Van #1 the best of luck, and headed to Fairfax for some dinner and a few hours sleep. It donned on me how much I was getting to know my teammates as we spoke about growing up in the midwest, Scott's upcoming wedding, and those golden college days (recent for most of these characters). I pulled the old guy excuse when seeing our choice of lawns to sleep on and got hotel rooms for a short break and an oh-so-delicious shower, despite the fact a local rock band would be playing yards away from us the whole time. Aaaahhh....then RING!!!! 2am, time to get moving again. Good Lord.

(Sleep when you can)

We picked up at the Golden Gate Bridge, where Van #1 told us of humming cows, drunken revelry from Mill Valley locals, and long stretches across open space lit only by the moonlight. They were ready for some sleep! We rotated through our runners, going through the Presidio, down Hwy 1, and watched the sun come up along Skyline Blvd above Pacifica. My segment was a short one that pulled us into my hometown of Woodside, and I convinced the team to have breakfast at Buck's and crash at my pad rather than sleep in the gym at Canada College. Old guy excuses again!

(Scott Chow cruises down Canada)

My dogs Ace and Martha were thrilled to have sleepy, salty strangers show up. After some tail-wagging and excited greeting, they soon joined the runners to crash on the couch for an afternoon snooze. Two hours later, time to get back on the road! Oy.

(Beautiful day in Woodside)

Van #1 got us all the way to the top of Hwy 9, with Bob Angus and Leo Castro taking the brutal 3-mile legs straight up the hill. There weren't many other runner vans at the exchange, and for good reason...we were in last place! That would explain why all the volunteers were so glad to see us. ;-) The organizers suggested "parallel running" where we tackled a few legs at the same time, and we soon caught up with the last few teams as we went through Boulder Creek and Ben Lomond. I had a great "very hard" section that cut into the redwoods to a rock quarry, and then joined Kate for her "very hard" section which was quiet, graceful, and amazing.

(Leo tackles the hill that never ends)

(Van #1 gets it done!)

Before we knew it, Scott Chow was coming down the finish chute near Davenport, CA, around 6pm, and the whole team joined him across the finish line. 30 hours and change for 195th place! What an adventure! The winning team had started six hours after us, yet still finished five hours earlier...incredible. But I wouldn't trade our finish for anything. Despite offering to cover any segments that folks didn't want to do, they all pulled through with style.

(We did it!)

(A happy team!)

My state of mind was similar to after a 100-miler...more tired from sleep deprivation than running, but feeling alive and thankful for the opportunity to experience so much beautiful country in the presence of good people. The beer and pie at the Whale Beach Grill tasted fantastic, and I toasted my new friends on their accomplishment. I was super proud of us. It's a strange format for a race, but what great stories we will tell! I highly recommend you all try it!

Micah True's Death - Turns Out It's Heart Disease

2012-05-10T09:47:00.000-07:00

USA Today put out a story this week saying the autopsy reports for Micah True, known to many as Caballo Blanco from the book Born to Run, has found that heart disease was the likely culprit for his untimely death while trail running last month.

(Micah True with friend Mike Nutall)

Seize the day, my friends. If your last day is a surprise, wouldn't you want to be trail running at the time? Micah would...and did.

Does Excess Training Lead to Mental Decline?

2012-05-07T07:14:00.002-07:00

Runner's World reported on an interesting study that measured effectiveness on mental tasks after a hard couple of weeks of training. No surprise, effectiveness goes down. But it's nice to see it returns during the taper!

Good to factor in on that training plan. ;-)

Scott Jurek Profiled in Team Clif Bar Video

2012-04-30T12:35:00.001-07:00

There's even a cameo from the late Micah True...

Kenyan Marathon Olympic Team Selected - Mutai, Makau Won't Go

2012-04-25T19:57:00.002-07:00

Oh, to have the problems of Athletics Kenya. With multiple world record holders and sub 2:05 marathoners to select from for the men's team, choosing the three to represent Kenya is a tricky thing.

The news has unofficially been released, with recent London champion Wilson Kipsang (with a near-course record run of 2:04:44), world champion Abel Kirui, and 25,000m and 30,000m world record holder Moses Mosop all making the team. Passed over were three world class athletes - last year’s world #1 ranked marathoner Geoffrey Mutai (who won Boston and NYC in 2011, both in course record times), world record holder Patrick Makau, and 2011 London champion Emmanuel Mutai. Makau dropped from London with a hamstring injury, and Mutai dropped from Boston...those drops may have cost them each their chances to head to London. Such a shame that the world's best won't be able to compete at the Olympics.

The women’s team, comprised of the first three women home at last Sunday’s Virgin London Marathon – Mary Keitany, Edna Kiplagat, and Priscah Jeptoo – is likely to be less controversial. Keitany has won the last two editions of the Virgin London Marathon in runaway victories. Kiplagat won the world title last summer and was second in London, while Jeptoo was the silver medalist behind Kiplagat at the world championships last summer and came third in London. That's a top notch squad.

It's going to be a stellar competition on Aug 5th/12th of this year. I'm booking my vacation time now to stay glued to the TV. ;-)

- SD

The Scorching 2012 Boston Marathon

2012-04-22T18:26:00.004-07:00

Last Monday, I joined 22,535 die hard runners for the 116th Boston Marathon, which will go down in history as the hottest Boston on record. The temperature gauge hovered just below 90 degrees for most of the day, but thanks to awesome support from local spectators and a volunteer team more than ready for the tough conditions, we all had a great time. Now we can say "we were there in '12 for the hot one!".

This was part two in my two-race-two-coast-in-two-day extravaganza, having jumped on a flight immediately after a 3rd place finish at the Presidio 10-Mile in San Francisco, CA, to arrive just in time for the Patriot Day celebration in Boston, MA. I just can't get enough of this race (this is #8!), in particular meeting all the first-time Boston runners decked out in head-to-toe shwag. Great stories of triumph abound when you ask about their qualifying races.

The weather made for more nervous runners this year, but only a few hundred took up the Race Directors on the offer to defer to 2013. I hoped my race number (#911) wasn't a premonition on my race! I hovered with the other runners in the unusually hot Athlete's Village at the start, as everyone helped each other apply sunscreen and anti-chafing cream. I got my usual pre-race massage (still the best kept secret at the race start), and spent most of the next hour handing out over 30 little bags of S!Caps electrolytes and sharing ultrarunner tips on dealing with the heat. The conversation usually went like this:

Put away the watch. This is not a PR day. It's not macho to DNF with heat stroke when it's 80 degrees at the start...it's just stupid. Just enjoy the experience and listen to your body. There's always another race to go fast!
Bring some sunscreen. That's great you have it on, so bring some more for the halfway mark to reapply to your nose, ears, neck, and shoulders. There are free 1-2oz tubes at the Village. Nothing makes you feel overheated like a sunburn kicking in around mile 18, so nip that in the bud.
Drink at every opportunity, and stay on your electrolytes. If you miss a water stop, don't just wait for the next one. Let the spectators help with their water and ice. If you feel overheated, slow down and find a hose. And stay on your electrolytes - Gatorade or plain salt is not enough. And keep moving!
Have fun! If you find the right pace, there's no reason you can't finish this. You've done the work. Be a part of one of the epic Bostons!

(Getting warm at the start)

(Derek Bolyard checks his shades, while Derek Schultz checks his 'stache)

(...and we're off!!!)

By the time I got up the first corral, the temp was already hitting 80 degrees, and I didn't even bother setting my chrono. So different than shivering together in garbage bags to avoid hypothermia like most years! I ran into ultrarunner Derek Schultz, who is donning a cool 70's era mustache these days, and we counted off the last few seconds before heading out of Hopkinton. It's ON!

(Here we come! Photo courtesy of Damien Strohmeyer)

(One of the many bands crankin' out tunes along the way)

(Mark Lantz passes me by)

As the masses spread out a bit, you could see the snake of runners going from one patch of shade to the next. It's important to get that 1000-watt heater off you anytime you can! The spectator support was phenomenal, with many locals armed with hoses, ice, water guns, and Otter Pops. It was a fantastic show of support! We made our way through Ashland (mile 4) and Framingham (mile 7), using the cheering crowds to pull us through the treeless sections.

(The hoses feel goooood...)

(Crazy Jason Reed)

I ran along with Elizabeth Hiser from Ohio, and we talked about how a warm Midwest Spring had inadvertently helped her acclimate, while my week vacation in Hawaii had done the same for me. As long as we grabbed ice and tossed the occasional water on the head, it was manageable. The many hoses and HazMat spray tents definitely helped too. We approached Wellesley (mile 13, 1:29:00) where I slowed for my obligatory smooches, and Elizabeth felt good enough to kick up her pace (she would finish in an outstanding 3:02!).

(Getting some elbow room)

(Running w/Elizabeth)

(Boston families brought out the big guns)

(Getting some love from the Wellesley girls)

(Plenty of happy faces at the Scream Tunnel)

I soon found a nice rhythm for cooling myself, which was to grab ice where I could and let it melt in my hand until I could throw it in a cup of water, shake it up, and have a nice little cold shower. That and grabbing every popsicle and Otter Pop I could find! They haven't tasted this good since those slow hot summers in Oregon as a kid. Thank you, Boston families!

(Miss you, Rocky!)

(Santa dons his short sleeves this year)

(Aid station carnage)

My new Nikon CoolPix AW100 was getting a full test of its waterproofness, and seemed to be holding up well. The new CoolPix is a few oz lighter than the last waterproof one I've tried, which is nice, but it's too bulky for a pocket so it gets full exposure to those hoses.

(The heat takes its toll on one of 2,100+ needing medical attention)

(Boston College)

(Doin' it the hard way)

(Some would rather watch...)

I got a cup of beer from the Hash House Harriers at the bottom of Heartbreak Hill, which was more than enough boost to get through to Boston College (mile 21). The carnage of walking/stopping runners was everywhere at this point, forming a line on both sides of the road. Hang in there, guys! The medical tents were stacked full as well, and I would later learn that 2,181 runners needed medical help this year (as opposed to ~700 in a normal year). No way around it - 2012 is a tough one.

(Lots of walkin' in the final miles)

(Boylston!)

(The finish!)

(Remus Medley finds a clever way to avoid leg cramps and finishes on his hands)

Before I knew it, we were heading down Boylston St. and I crossed the finish in 3:07:24 for 861st place. How about that? I wasn't paying attention to the time and somehow clocked my fastest Boston yet. It looked like everyone added a few minutes to their expected time, including winner Wesley Korir (2:12:40) who surged late to a decisive win, and Women's winner Sharon Cherop (2:31:50) who made sure she was ready for the final kick this year.

(Kenya's Wesley Korir wins!)

I got a post-race massage, meeting SF-area Ironman champion Kyle Welch, and commenting that "my new definition of an angel is a 5-year-old with a popsicle". I thought my race schedule was tough - Kyle has ITU Worlds, 70.3 Worlds, and Ironman Hawaii coming up. Nice!

(A congratulatory hug from one of the great volunteers)

The good people of Boston really are the stars today, and my thanks to everyone who came out to make our day a little easier. Until next year!

- SD

Crushing the 2012 Presidio 10-Mile

2012-04-19T19:02:00.001-07:00

Last Sunday, I had the pleasure of joining 3,400 runners for the sold out 2012 Presidio 10-Miler in San Francisco, CA. As part one of my two-runs-on-two-coasts-in-two-days extravaganza, it was a fast and furious race through the hills of the Presidio and up and over the Golden Gate Bridge before jumping a plane to the Boston Marathon on Monday. It did not disappoint!

(The GG Bridge brushes the clouds)

It was no surprise that this race sold out once again, now attracting thousands of eager runners for their hilly 10-mile and 10k distances. Everything about this race is done well by The Guardsmen, from ample course markings and smiling volunteers, to free beer and pancakes at the finish. It was voted the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) Road Race of the Year in 2011, and was the RRCA 10-mile championship race again for 2012. It's hard to imagine just six years ago there were only 300 people coming to this race!

(Even the 1%'ers love a good 10-miler)

I lined up near the front after a solid warm up, remembering from last year how that first hill slaps you in the face just a half mile in. The parents of Ashley Dyer, and founders of the Ashley Dyer Foundation for Neurological Research and Support, welcomed us with a sobering story of how their daughter was struck by a car while training on this same road, but allowed others to live through organ donation. Gnarly...but very motivating to make the most of this beautiful day and course. I was feeling rested and ready to seize the day.

(Sharing words about Ashley Dyer)

(3400 ready to run!)

(And we're off!)

The gun went off, and the fast folks quickly sorted themselves out before the first climb. 22-year-old Leon Medina and 30-year-old South African Oliver Ralph were in a class by themselves, flying at a 5:10 min/mile pace and charging the hills. I settled in with a pack of four about 20 seconds behind as we reached Fort Scott and made our way towards the Golden Gate Bridge. With all the twists and turns, there were plenty of opportunities to see where we were in the race.

(Enjoy the flat while you can!)

(Charging that first hill)

(Leon Medina sets the pace up front)

Due to construction, we wouldn't be tackling the single track dirt like last year and instead stuck to the pavement. At first I thought this was going to blow my trail-training advantage that I'm convinced was key to my Masters win here last year, but so far my turnover was pretty fast at around a 5:30 min/mile and I seemed to be hitting the hills harder than the others. One great thing about a fully-recovered body is you feel invincible on those downhills!

(Don't forget, that bridge is a good sized hill!)

(Runners take over the GG Bridge)

I moved my way up to third as we went out-and-back on the bridge (mile 4), doing my best to charge the stairs at the turnaround. It felt like I was gaining some ground on Leon and Oliver, but they remained like a distant mirage on the bridge span. But I was definitely gapping the folks behind me. When we got back to Crissy Field for the last flat 3-miles, I just tucked in and gave it all I had to catch the two singlet-clad leaders.

(We all cheer each other on)

(One last glimpse before heading back)

In the end, it wasn't quite enough to catch them, but was enough for third overall and another Masters win (57:11, PR). Old guy makes the podium! I felt surprisingly good, and suspected it was all of the recovery time I had while on vacation the previous week. With a few beers and pancakes, I thanked the RRCA and Guardsmen for another fabulous race and headed to SFO to get to steamy Boston...

(Sarah Hallis is presented with the Women's Overall trophy for her 1:03:48 finish)

(Suzette Smith celebrates her Masters win with a brew...she also ran the Napa and Oakland Marathons this month!)

(Such a great crew from the RRCA and The Guardsmen)

Thanks again, you guys!

(to be continued)

New Neighbors - Two Bald Eagles!

2012-04-07T19:50:00.001-07:00

(One of two American bald eagles nesting in Lower Crystal Springs, San Mateo County, CA, courtesy of JIayi Chong)

New neighbors moved in down the hill. Bald eagles! The first to nest here in over a century, and they are about eight miles from our home. Welcome!

The nest is nearly five feet wide and one foot deep to hold the couple and their two eggs. If fertile, the eaglets will be here in a couple of weeks! Pretty fun for us Californians.

Caballo Blanco Found Dead In Gila National Forest

2012-04-01T17:34:00.000-07:00

Micah True, known to many as "Caballo Blanco" from the book Born to Run, was found dead in Gila National Forest in New Mexico after not returning from a trail run. Friends and officials have been searching for four days when they found him last Saturday, his body by a cold creek. The cause of death wasn't known Sunday, although there were no obvious signs of trauma.

(Micah True, seen here in 2009 with Jean Pommier when he came to NorCal)

Micah was an incredible voice for the Tarahumara tribe, who quietly and humbly enjoy a simple life in the Copper Mountains of Mexico. They could use his voice now, since unprecedented floods have caused them to only reap 1% of their typical maize harvest. You can donate to help by sending a PayPal to cadena@cadena.org.mx (local Jewish relief org) or on the Norawas de Raramuri web site (founded by Micah).

I really enjoyed getting to know Micah and will miss his big smile and deep spirit. This is a sad loss of a truly original and inspirational trail runner. I find great solace knowing he died doing what he loved best.

- SD

How Do Celebrate Your 90th B-day? Skydiving, of course...(video)

2012-03-31T11:34:00.005-07:00

My great Aunt Bonnie celebrated her 90th birthday last year in style by going skydiving for the first time. ABC shot a great video of it.

Way to go, Great Aunt Bonnie!

As we celebrate her life in her last few hours this weekend, I am in awe of how full her life was. I sure hope I can replicate her finishing kick.

Love you, Bonnie.

Orgasm During Exercise - Introducing the "Coregasm"

2012-03-26T07:31:00.000-07:00

In case you need another motivator for doing your core exercises, a new study headed up by Debby Herbenick says that some women experience orgasm WHILE exercising...dubbed the "coregasm". Love it!

An estimated 45 percent of the women who responded to the researchers' online request for women who had either exercise-induced orgasm (EIO) or exercise-induced sexual pleasure (EISP) said their first experience was during abdominal exercises, followed by weight lifting (26.5 percent), yoga (20 percent), bicycling (15.8 percent), running (13.2 percent) and walking/hiking (9.6 percent). Any exercise that involves the core muscles seems to trigger that sense of pleasure -- chin-ups, climbing ropes and especially the "captain's chair," a rack with padded arm rests that allows the legs to hang free before lifting the knees to the chest. A handful of women said they even had sexual feelings while mopping or walking.

Thank God it isn't the same for men. A lycra-clad gym could be a little...awkward.

Cosmopolitan Magazine will probably devote 10 pages to this next month. I'll never look at a spin class the same way every again. ;-)

- SD

Do Muscles Atrophy with Age? It's More Like "Use It or Lose It"

2012-03-20T12:50:00.001-07:00

For those of us Masters worried that aging invariably concludes muscle deterioration, there's some good news from an interesting new study put out by Dr. Vonda Wright and her colleagues. The goal of the study was to examine whether the changes that are commonly associated with muscle aging reflect the true physiology of muscle aging or whether they reflect disuse atrophy. They studied 40 Masters athletes from the age of 40 to 81, and found a surprising lack of muscle loss when comparing active adults at either end of the age spectrum. Non-active adults, however, had significant muscle atrophy. The pictures speak a thousand words.

Note that the 40-year-old triathlete and 70-year-old triathlete have similar muscle make up. And that one in the middle? Put that on your fridge for a little exercise motivation. ;-) Basically, you "use it or lose it" when it comes to muscle atrophy. Add that to this study that says older runners remain economical in their use of oxygen, and it explains why we have 90+ year old super stars like Francis Albaugh and Fauja Singh.

Pretty amazing.

- SD

PS - See you at Woodside this Saturday?!? Inside Trail Racing will be hosting an event, and I'll be running the course backwards to get photos of y'all. BTW, if you're wondering where the pic at the top of my blog comes from, you'll see it on the course on the final few miles.

Still a few spots...click on the link below to get signed up!

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 14 Sat	Knickerbocker Canyon	5K, 10K, Half Marathon	Auburn S.R.A.	Cool, CA
Apr 28 Sat	Folsom Lake	10K, Half Marathon, Marathon, 50K	Folsom Point	Folsom, CA
May 6 Sun	Big Trees	10K, Half Marathon, 30K, 50K	Joaquin Miller Park	Oakland, CA
May 26 Sat	China Camp	5K, 10K, Half Marathon	China Camp S.P.	San Rafael, CA
Jun 16 Sat	Pacifica Foothills	5K, 10K, Half Marathon, Marathon	San Pedro Valley Park	Pacifica, CA

Adam Campbell and Ellie Greenwood Score at Chuckanut 50k

2012-03-18T08:43:00.003-07:00

Canadians Adam Campbell (Victoria, BC) and Ellie Greenwood (Banff, Alberta) claimed victory at the wet and muddy 2012 Chuckanut 50k in Bellingham, WA, this weekend. It was Adam's first victory here (3:48:55), and his late charge was enough to hold off Sage Canaday (3:49:22) and long-time leader Jaxo Schlarb (3:49:59). Ellie took three minutes off her course record (4:09:27) in a decisive 22-minute win. The local Bellingham Herald has a great article about the event.

(iRunFar.com's Bryon Powell got this great shot of Ellie Greenwood charging through the weather, as part of his live coverage of the event)

Nike Apologizes for "Black & Tan" Shoes for St. Patricks Day

2012-03-17T08:23:00.001-07:00

Nike has officially apologized for introducing their "Black and Tan" St. Patrick's Day-themed shoes, citing that some found it inappropriate and offensive. Whereas most of us know it as a referral to the delicious Guiness/Bass beer concoction, it's also the name of a British paramilitary unit sent to quell Irish rebellion against British rule in the 1920s, a strike that led to many attacks on civilians.

"Black and Tan" or "Tan" is still a pejorative term for the British in Ireland. As the LA Times notes, "it would be akin, in some circles, to naming a sneaker the Taliban or the Nazi." Oops.

This isn't the first time a Nike promotion has offended consumers. In 2006, Christians protested their use of a painted cross on the body of soccer player Wayne Rooney, saying it trivialized the sufferings of Christ. The company's 2010 ad, starring a mournful post-sex scandal Tiger Woods in a black-and-white video, also drew ire for its voiceover.

But you know what? These "controversial" ads often end up getting more exposure through PR than a typical media ad buy, so perhaps it is by design rather than a snafu. It could be Nike just found a creative way to move some ugly brown shoes. ;-)

Happy St. Patrick's Day, all! I hope you are enjoying a green run and a green beer wherever you are.

Way Too Fun at The Way Too Cool 50k

2012-03-13T23:38:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday, I had the great pleasure of joining 700+ runners for the 15th running of the Way Too Cool 50k in Cool, CA, on a wonderfully sunny day. It was great to catch up with friends, watch Gary Gellin and Tyler Stewart fly to new course records, and embrace every minute of a leisurely run in the American River Canyon.

My original plan was to go fast at WTC and try and get under four hours, extending my streak of a PR half marathon and near-PR marathon in the last month. But a not-so-funny thing happened on the way to the starting line...the stomach flu (ugh). Not a mild case either, but one of those daycare-concocted ebola strains that strips your body of dehydration faster than running Badwater in a mud mask. By the time race day arrived, I had only managed a few slow jogs in the previous two weeks, but felt good enough to toe the line.

At the start, everyone was buzzing about the near-perfect conditions of the trails and ideal weather. It might even be possible to run the race with dry feet! Unheard of. I warmed up with my Inside Trail Racing teammates Gary Gellin (in peak shape) and Tim Long (fighting a cold of his own), and caught up with UltraRunner Podcast's Scotty Sandow (training for States), top Women's finisher Caitlin Smith, the whippet-thin Will Gotthardt, Oregon's Rod Bien, the always-fast Erik Skaden, Sam Robinson (here for his first 50k), and the army of great volunteers that make this race so special. At 7:30am sharp, one of the biggest ultras in the country was off and running!

(Racers ready...)

(Catching up at the start with Erik Skaden and Jacob Rydman)

(And we're off!)

The pace was fast from the get-go, with Sam Robinson, super-Master Rich Hanna, Gary Gellin, and AZ's Shaun Martin quickly forming a pack up front. I was in a large chase peleton about 20 seconds back, where Erik Skaden, Mark Lantz, Jacob Rydman, Michael Fink, and Caitlin Smith cruised at a 6:30 min/mile pace. Better get my pictures fast, since I ain't hangin' with these guys for long!

(Skaden says hi, as he paces with Mark Lantz and the gang)

(Hey, where did that lead pack go?)

(The gorilla returns with his new friend, banana man!)

(Michael Fink and Caitlin Smith take us onto the dirt)

We hit the dirt about 1.5 miles in, and the trails were in amazing shape. This was a PR day for somebody, for sure! Not for me though - I was already getting that twitchy muscle feeling like I was already dehydrated. It probably didn't help that I forgot my water bottle at the start too. But I remembered my camera! ;-)

(Conga line down the single track)

(Will Gotthardt starts picking up speed)

(Comin' through!)

The rolling single track was wonderful, and after a few miles, I decided to stop fighting the twitchy muscles, ease up on the accelerator, and just enjoy the fact that I get to spend this beautiful day outside with friends. A sub-7 min/mile hurt, but 8:30 min/mile felt just fine...best to listen to the body and just cruise today. The freedom to choose a pace felt like the greatest gift of all, particularly when juxtaposed with my every-fifteen-minutes-booked weekday reality. Honestly, could there be a better way to spend the day?

(The trees say winter, but the flowers say spring)

(Enjoying the single track, photo courtesy of Pete Beck)

(Jean Pommier passes me up)

(Great cheering section!)

I got a chance to say hi as many runners flew by, including Ironman triathlete Tyler Stewart, Jean Pommier (fresh in from Dubai), Erik Skaden, and a strong Tim Long. We passed by the Cool Fire Station (mile 7) where tons of fans were out to cheer on their runners, then headed down to the river. I had my Nikon J1 with me - heavy artillery as far as cameras go - and was able to spend some time adjusting the settings to get some good shots. It's hard to say which is more fun, going fast or going just fast enough to take great pictures!

(Go photo guy! Pic courtesy of Tim Stahler)

(Trails were PERFECT)

(Hopping a creek on the way to the American River)

(Yummy single track)

(Volunteers get us across Hwy 49)

We crossed Hwy 49 and dropped down into the calm canyon filled with sounds of birds, frogs, and the crazy volunteers at the aid station rocking out to 70's tunes. The runners were spread out along the fire road, all running quietly enough to not disturb the fisherman and hikers. I was so glad I didn't have my iPod this time - if you slow down enough, there is a symphony of nature surrounding you. The morning recital is a well-practiced masterpiece!

(Joe Van De Water heading down into the canyon)

(Gravity good!)

(The peaceful American River)

(The lively volunteers)

By the time I reached the next aid station (mile 14), I was realizing the forgotten water bottle was a big mistake. No problem, said Mike and the volunteers, as they went into their supplies and got a spare. Phew! Thanks, guys! Good thing too, since I would drain half of it by the time we reached the climb up the American River Canyon trail, and all of it well before the ALT aid station. For this race, the bottle is a must!

(Turning up the first big climb)

(Smiling up the American River Canyon trail)

Rory Bosio and a few others made mincemeat of the climb while I slowly hiked up and soaked in all the early blooming flowers. This was definitely where this course sorts out the Men/Women from the Boys/Girls, and I was at pre-teen pace at best. No worries...my body was holding up just fine so I was loving it.

(The super-fun aid station crew at ALT)

(The creeks didn't get much bigger than this)

(Filmmaker extraordinaire JB Benna shows that new daddyhood isn't cramping his training too much)

I got a bite at the ALT aid station (mile 21), and couldn't help but flash back to the 2009 Western States when I came through at 3am and flunked my weigh in. Ah, so much more pleasant this time! Without the out-and-back of previous WTC courses, it felt like we had the trail all to ourselves, and we worked together to get a nice pace going. We came upon a limping Graham Cooper who had twisted his ankle, and it was nice to have the freedom to slow down and walk with him for a bit. He's one of the few guys I know who actually sees this section of the course during Western States during the daylight with his Top 10 finishes.

(Gary builds up speed for Goat Hill)

(Jason Reed shows how to tackle the 25% incline of Goat Hill)

(Not sure if his dentist would approve of this technique)

(Howdy partner! Welcome to Goat Hill!)

(Deja vu...Norm and Helen Klein, Marty Hoffman, and the regular crew of Goat Hill)

Goat Hill was the beast we expected, but we were rewarded with one of the finest run aid stations in ultrarunning (mile 26). I had a huge lunch - soup, sandwich, rice krispy treats, and Coke - and wondered if I was going to end this race up a few pounds. Soon enough Marty boosted me out to make room for others, and we zig-zagged our way through the single track to Hwy 49 again. We can smell the barn door now!

(The Way Too Awesome aid station)

(Enjoying a beer with the volunteers)

(Running with beer on this awesome single track - could life get any better?)

The Way Too Awesome aid station (mile 29.5) definitely lived up to its name, with 80's tunes, costumes, fun and loud volunteers, and a full cooler of beer! Eric Schranz (of UltraRunner Podcast fame) set me up with a very tasty Jack Russell IPA, and I had a toast with the volunteers before hitting the trail with my ice cold brewskie. One volunteer joked "if you can finish the beer before the finish, you can have six more!". You're on! But a few swigs later I realized how hard it is to run and drink beer...I have a whole new respect for the beer mile.

(Running with beer...a beautiful thing! Photo courtesy of Pete Beck)

I did manage to finish that beer, but only because I stopped right before the finish to chug it down. Let's hope that Facchino Photography got that one! I finished up in 4:46:06 for 122nd place, surprised that I still managed to do alright with all that goofing off. My Inside Trail Racing teammates had an amazing day, with Gary Gellin winning overall and setting a CR 3:27:43, and Tim Long timing his sub-4 goal perfectly to finish in 3:59:59.

(At the finish!)

(Gary Gellin hustles in to shave 40 seconds off the CR! Photo courtesy of Pete Beck)

(Frog cupcakes - the best finisher award there is!)

(Will Gotthardt cools down after a 4-hr finish, while Sam Robinson enjoys recounting his first 50k [3:53!], and Caitlin is already updating Facebook)

I got to hear the full story on the front runners while we all stuffed our faces with cupcakes and beer, lounging in the comfy chairs of the Patagonia lounge. In the overall race, Gary said that Shaun Martin set the pace early, while Sam Robinson looked effortless on the flat stuff, and Rich helped push the pace on the hills. Shaun said "Gary was flat out punishing us on the climbs", and when Gary ran the whole length of Goat Hill to build a two minute lead over former WTC winner Rich Hanna, he went right through the aid station and sprinted to the finish in record time (well, record time for the new course). 47-year-old Rich Hanna was 2nd (3:30, a PR for this course), Jacob Rydman closed fast for 3rd (3:34), Shaun Martin was 4th (3:36), and Rod Bien rocked 5th (3:41).

The Women's race was led by Caitlin Smith for the first 12 miles, before she was sidelined by stomach issues and ceded the lead to triathlete Tyler Stewart, who went on to win with a CR 3:49. Santa Monica's Megan Lieb snuck by for 2nd (4:00), and Caitlin held on for 3rd (4:05). The Women get faster every year!

Overall an amazing day, and a fabulous way to usher in the ultrarunning season. I am grateful for the chance to share it with so many great runners and volunteers!

- SD

Stefaan Engels Runs A Marathon A Day For A Whole Year - That's 365 Marathons!

2012-03-08T07:27:00.000-08:00

Belgian Stefaan Engels, already a world record holder for running 20 Ironman races in a single year, smashed the world record of most consecutive marathons of 52 by upping the bar to 365. Yup, 365 marathons in 365 days.

(Engels finishes his 365th consecutive marathon in Barcelona)

Engels averaged around four hours to complete a marathon, and ran - not walked - every one. He said his best time was 2 hours, 56 minutes. That's pretty impressive!

You can read more about his story on CNN and ESPN.

The 2012 Robert and Linda Mathis Memorial Run

2012-03-03T20:31:00.001-08:00

I wasn't able to make the hopefully-first-of-many Mathis memorial fun runs last weekend thanks to a stomach virus. Peter Lubber's did a fantastic job chronicling a great day put on by Jennifer Lee Dicus, Aaron Summerhays, and many others. Be sure to check out his story., complete with words and memories shared by Race Directors and runners alike. You can also still donate to the Robert and Linda Mathis Foundation, where proceeds go to families surviving DUI accidents.

(Family members of Robert and Linda release balloons at the start of the run, photo courtesy of Peter Lubbers)

I did swing by and post a makeshift memorial at the spot where they were last seen alive in Incline Village, NV. It says, "Make Your Life An Inspired Journey. Today, hundreds of runners celebrated your lives on the trails you shared with open hearts. We miss you."

And we do miss you both.

- SD

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 with a New Orleans brass band from the moment I opened the cab door. They were 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 downtown and 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, and the USATF Indoor Championships coming up in a few weeks. 1500m Olympian and Indoor Champion Leo Manzano (and soon-to-be 2012 USA Indoor 1500m Champion - nice work, Leo! Outkicked Centrowitz and Rupp!), 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. No matter what our preference, it was fun to be in good company and collectively jaunt through 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 at the SF Half two weeks ago, 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.