Team Single Step

My fitness numbers

2013-04-18T11:48:00.000-04:00

Well, here I am successfully in week 3 of my training program with about 20 weeks until the big race (Hallucination 100) and one week until my first race of the year (Trail Marathon). I still have some training hurdles ahead of me (namely 18 days in Asia), but I'm still feeling good about my plans for the year. Last week I participated in a study for a health sciences student at SVSU and went through a series of fitness tests. In addition to the simple fact that I like data, I thought this might be a fun way to track the impact of my training program. I get retested in a few months so we'll see if there is a difference. Here are the interesting factoids about me. Ratings (excellent, good, poor, etc.) and percentiles are based on some charts that they gave me at the fitness test and based on age.

Blood pressure: 126/78 (prehypertensive, ug)
Weight: 137.7 lb
Height: 66.1 inches
BMI: 22.2 ("normal weight")
Total cholesterol: 220 (borderline high, also ug)
HDL: 38
Glucose: 89
Skinfold (body fat): 15.7% +/- 3-4% (75th percentile and excellent)
Total Grip Strength: 84 (Poor)
Sit-ups in one minute: 41 (Excellent, in fact I only needed 25 for excellent)
Push-ups in one minute: 36 (Excellent, in fact I only needed 30 for excellent)
Walking test (VO2): 51.3 (80th to 90th percentile)
Sit and reach: 29.5 (Good)

First race of 2013

2013-04-05T12:44:00.002-04:00

Well, I am officially registered for the Trail Marathon 50k at the end of April. In order to accomplish the "No Wimps Challenge" I'm going to run the half marathon, which is held the day before. I thought it would be a fun way to kick off my training for the Hallucination 100, in particular since the races are on the same trails. Actually, this week marks my first week using an actual training plan. I picked up a copy of Brian Powell's Relentless Forward Progress: A Guide to Running Ultramarathons. There is a 70 mile/week 100 miler training plan that I am going to try to follow. This is at the high end of my weekly mileage (historically I vary from 30-50 miles/week) and I'm a little uncertain as work/family/life has typically kept me from following a formal training plan. On top of this, I'm not certain how I will get my miles in during my trip to Asia. Still, I really want to finish the Hallucination 100 and, ideally, finish without falling apart in the last 25-40 miles as has been the case in previous races. I also see it as a bit of a test of my self-discipline. We'll see. In either case, I am really looking forward to my first race of the year. I've had a couple 20 mile runs and one 25 mile long run so I think a slow 50k shouldn't be too much trouble even following a half marathon. My mantra will be to go slow. I'm not sure that anyone is keeping track, but I have also switched from Daily Mile to Endomondo and put up a new widget here that accurately lists my total mileage for the year. This is really just because I have dropped using my Garmin and started using the GPS on my phone.

International marathons?

2013-02-09T16:41:00.000-05:00

Despite a bout of illness and a lack of any formal training plan, I think that I am grooving along pretty well and have a solid base. With the exception of sick week, I'm averaging 30-35 miles per week with a few 15 mile long runs. I'm hoping to get a 20 mile run in soon, perhaps tomorrow. I'm intrigued by the "No Wimps" challenge that is part of the Trail Marathon at the end of April. Basically, this just involves a half marathon on Saturday followed by a 50k on Sunday. Sounds like fun so that is my short term goal with the Hallucination officially in my sights for the fall. Besides, who doesn't want a "No Wimps" t-shirt? In May I will be traveling to China, Taiwan, and Japan so I have kicked around the idea of running 3 marathons in 3 countries in 3 weeks. That might be a bit much given our travel itinerary, but it is fun to dream. Perhaps I can get one marathon in there. It's been nice to be back in the groove and have some goals in sight. We'll see about the international stuff, but I think I can definitely be ready for the "No Wimps" challenge, which is notably on the same trail as the Hallucination 100.

2013 Plans

2012-12-31T08:38:00.001-05:00

Well, I haven't followed through very well with my plan to blog more. Work, family, and life in general just gets in the way and it is hard to make it much of a priority. That's just the way it is and that is okay. More importantly, my return to running is going relatively well. With only a few exceptions, I've stuck to 30 miles/week for somewhere around 2 months. I wanted more long runs in there, but I did get one 16 miler and there have been plenty of 10-12 milers. I feel like its a pretty solid base. I just need a goal now.

I definitely miss the ultramarathon scene and need one big race. Given my 2010 DNF at the Hallucination 100, I think that would be an excellent place to start. Also, I heard from Dirt Dawg that the organization and aid provided at Hallucination is much better than it was in 2010. The thing is, I have two ways to ramp up to that. My first option is that I schedule a few marathons such as the Trail Marathon, the Martian Marathon, and the Carrollton Maraton leading up to the Hallucination. Option two is that I run Hallucination as the fourth race in the Midwest Grand Slam, a series of four 100 mile races throughout the Midwest. I think that option one is definitely doable. The Midwest Grand Slam would definitely be a challenge both in terms of physical effort and logistics. But gosh, it just sounds like fun...

I'll decide for sure next year. Happy New Year everyone!

Two weeks in...

2012-09-18T10:01:00.000-04:00

Running continues to be a bit irregular. Any miles are better than no miles though. Last week I only ran twice--one 7 mile run and one 6 mile run. I've also started a pattern of push ups and sit ups. I really liked doing Cross Fit this winter and even though I'd rather spend my time running, I thought it would be good for me to mix it up a bit. I've changed some of the gear that I use also. After years of running in Brooks Adrenaline, I started running in Hokas this year. I did a marathon in the spring wearing them and they seem to be working out. I've also dropped the Garmin GPS and the mp4 player and started carrying my phone and using a Bluetooth headset. I now track my miles with the Endomondo app, although I am still posting to www.dailymile.com. Remodeling our basement is still eating up a lot of my time, but it is good to be getting some miles in. Weather is good today so I will definitely be hitting the road with Oliver, Casey, and the good old Tike Tech stroller this afternoon. I wonder how many thousands of miles are on that thing by now? Still going strong.

Running again

2012-09-04T16:27:00.001-04:00

After a summer of essentially zero running, I am at it again. Between traveling to China, taking care of two kids, and finishing the basement running was just not much of an option. In the scheme of things I think it was probably good for me to have some time off. Still, running has always been one of my favorite ways to relax and do some thinking so I am glad to be back at it. I don't have any particular race goals or training program so we'll see how everything plays out. I do like the idea of another ultra in 2013...

Blogging again

2012-08-16T08:31:00.001-04:00

I've been on a bit of a running hiatus after a spring marathon. However, with school starting again and, in particular Elliott headed for the 1st grade, I'm hoping to get back in the swing of things. I also miss blogging and am thinking about making it part of my running routine again. Stay tuned...

Thanks for your support at Relay for Life!

2011-04-19T21:03:00.000-04:00

First, I would like to thank everyone for their support and donations leading up to SVSU's Relay for Life on April 8th and 9th. At last count, we raised $3,285 dollars. That's an incredible amount of money and part of a record amount raised at a SVSU Relay for Life event. Thanks to my wife and son, my mother and father, my mother-in-law Denise, the Management Staff of Genetron Engineering, my cousins Eddie, Sandi, Herman, and Simon, my brother Dave, all of my uncles and aunts, my friends Chris, Karen, Beth, Mike, Erin, Brian and Heather, Dave and Terry. You generosity came so quickly and in such volume that I am likely missing some names. I deeply appreciate your outpouring of support.

The event itself was wonderful and I'd like to thank Jon Ward and the rest of the dedicated SVSU students that put the Relay together. At last count the event had raised $51,000, had almost 700 participants, and 53 teams. That is a major undertaking.

It was really unlike any other event that I have participated in. It was more of an all night party than any sort of race. After the opening ceremony, my mom and dad, Holli, Elliott, Denise, and I walked a couple laps together as Team Single Step. Then, as the crowd loosened up and groups headed back to their team sites I started jogging. It was a little crowded so I had to do a little dodging and weaving, but I wasn't in a hurry so that wasn't a problem. I felt a little funny since I was the only one running, but as Holli reminded me early on, that's what I was there to do.

Minutes turned into hours and the laps faded by. I didn't bother counting laps and just enjoyed the spectacle of college students raising money for a good cause. There were pie eating contests, tug of war contests, a cross-dressing date auction, and more entertainment than I typically encounter on a run. Elliott discovered a giant, inflatable obstacle course that was, no doubt, the highlight of his evening. There were even some very memorable laps jogging around with my mother.

Elliott, Holli, and Denise headed home to get some sleep and Team Single Step dwindled to my parents and I. At one point, my dad took over walking and I relaxed at our campsite and chatted with my mom. It really was both entertaining and a great time to just relax and spend time with love ones. As time passed, I began to overhear comments like "Is that guy still running?"

Team Single Step was down to me by 11:00 or so. I was still feeling pretty good since I'd been keeping a slow pace and taking periodic breaks to chat with friends and family. The crowd at the event was going strong and it was around that time that many college students, who exist on a much different clock than the rest of society, began to show up. The energy in the gym made running easy. At one point one of my students sent one of his team mates running after me to sell me a cupcake, which provided much needed sustenance. John and Pat, my son's former swimming teacher, joined me in jogging for several miles as we swapped running stories. At one point several students formed a human tunnel for me to run through. There were also a couple very moving ceremonies during the night that broke up my running.

Around 4:00 AM several teams had packed up and the energy in the room was starting to diminish. Similarly, my energy was starting to diminish. The long run was starting to wear on me. I sat down in a lawn chair and even dosed off for about 10 minutes. I took another lap on sore and stiffening legs, but didn't really have it in me so I put on my sweats and decided to call it a night. I'd been in motion, on and off, since around 6:15 PM the night before.

Pat, who had been running with me earlier, stopped over to check on me and I told him that I was calling it quits. After chatting for a minute, Pat moved on. Much to my surprise he came back a couple minutes later to tell me that he had decided to finish the run for me. At that point there was about an hour and a half left in the event. Team Single Step lived on. Despite having not run for 3 months, the newest member of Team Single Step finished the race in style.

Thanks again to all of you for your support. If you would like to read more about the 2011 SVSU Relay for Life, check here: http://orgs.svsu.edu/clubs/vanguard/stories/3237

SVSU Relay for Life

2011-04-05T19:56:00.002-04:00

Three days until the 2011 SVSU Relay for Life and at $2,100 in donations. Our team has slipped from 3rd place in terms of fundraising and we won't reach the goal I set when we started fundraising. That's okay. I'm fairly certain that our donations per capita are the best of any team. ;) Still, I'm spending the evening taking one last shot at picking up more donations.

As one of the event organizers pointed out to me, EVERYONE is impacted by cancer. EVERYONE knows someone who has been impacted by cancer. In some ways it would seem that this makes asking for donations easier. For me, it just makes it more intimidating. The issue of cancer feels so ubiquitous that I feel we are inundated with messages to donate. Perhaps we even become numb to it at times. I'm sympathetic to that.

But I'm also grateful that my mom's surgery and chemotherapy were, by all indications, successful. I'm grateful that Mike's surgery a couple years ago was successful. I'm happy that my good friend's mother survived her breast cancer. I'm glad that my grandmother's skin cancer many years ago was successfully treated. I'm saddened that my other grandmother's cancer was not. I'm sure that I am missing other friends and family. I wish it had been harder to generate this list.

So, I urge you to go to www.teamsinglestep.com and click on the "I'm a proud supporter of Relay for Life" button on the right. Please donate. I don't really care how much. Heck, donate to someone else's team or at another Relay for Life event. Don't donate because it will cure cancer--it won't hurt, but unfortunately our individual actions rarely carry such power. Donate for the people you know who are impacted by cancer. Even if your donation does not cure cancer, it can demonstrate your gratitude for and appreciation of these people.

Land Between the Lakes 50 Race Report

2011-03-15T21:30:00.000-04:00

Well, I successfully finished the Land Between the Lakes 50 this weekend. I was reminded how ultrarunning often forces us to be honest with ourselves. I was only marginally trained for the run and definitely not ready for the hills or the 60+ degree weather. That being said, I finished in 10 hours and 35 minutes and met my primary goal of qualifying for the next Western States lottery. Perhaps most importantly I still had a great time.

I headed south on Thursday and spent the night at my parents' place in Ohio where they were kind enough to treat me to a delicious Thai dinner. The drive was long, but it was nice to see everything get greener as I went south. It's been many years since I've been to Kentucky and I was reminded how much I like the rolling hills and forests in the area. The race starts and finishes in a very small, tourist-oriented, town between two large lakes. The race would involve four loops on single-track trail between the two lakes (er, hence the name of the region).

Despite memories of the snow that I had driven through on the way from Michigan, I decided to start the race in shorts and a t-shirt with only a handheld bottle. My plan was to do a 15 minute run-5 minute walk combination. The 10-5 combination I did at the Fall 50 in October went so well it seemed like a good plan. Unfortunately, the unexpected number of hills (nothing high or steep, just relatively unrelenting in a way similar to the area around Pinkney, MI) and the congestion of the first loop made this difficult and I quickly settled into a constant run.

By the second loop, I began to notice the hills and the heat. I even flirted with a little nausea, but it never got particularly bad and I think may have been the result of too many electrolyte tablets early on (I felt better after I stopped taking them). By the third loop many of the shorter distance runners were done so I was able to start the 15-5 combination. However, the hills (and my lack of hill conditioning) required more walking than I hoped and I quickly saw my vague goal of running it in 9 hours slip away. I didn't let the slower pace bother me and focused on enjoying the pleasant scenery and beautiful weather. After being informed that I needed to complete a short 1.2 mile out-and-back (um, I thought I was almost done), I made a final turn towards the final 1+ mile stretch to the finish line.

I'd recommend the race. It was very well managed with well-stocked and frequent aid stations. We received good swag, including a running hat, running shirt, and light gear bag (I'm a sucker for stuff.) We even got a very nice buckle at the finish, although I always feel a bit like these should be reserved for 100 milers. Actually, the buckle is nicer than the one I got at Burning River in 2009. The start/finish was conveniently located near some cheap hotels. I do recommend stocking up on supplies before heading to Grand Rivers as the grocery store in the town is only marginal. As a mini-personal vacation to wrap up my spring break, it was perfect. Thanks to all the race volunteers!

Next big run: Relay for Life

Land Between the Lakes 50 miler

2011-03-08T17:32:00.000-05:00

I'm taking off on Thursday and heading to Ohio. I'll spend the night at my parents and then reach Grand Rivers, KY on Friday for the Land Between the Lakes 50. This is the only formal race I'm planning this year (Relay for Life isn't technically a race and the Macomb Orchard 50 is run Fat Ass style.) This means that Saturday will be my last long run before Relay for Life, the finale of my spring break, my qualifying run for the 2012 Western States, and the start and finish of my 2011 racing season.

The primary reason, of course, is that we are expecting another little boy to join our family sometime towards the end of July. I'll probably take a break from running during the second half of the year. I still remember the chaotic and sleepless lifestyle of having a newborn around so it seems unwise to set any meaningful training goals. I also like the idea of giving the running thing a bit of a rest. Maybe I'll focus on strength training. Maybe I'll find something new. Of course, I only anticipate a rest from running. Not accidentally, Saturday's race does keep me qualified to enter the Western States lottery. I've also noticed that the jogging stroller in the garage has been looking a bit lonely. My initial journey into ultrarunning was certainly assisted by an infant who would only easily nap for me in the jogging stroller. I think that Elliott's record was a 20 mile run in the jogging stroller...

P.S. If you haven't yet donated to my Relay for Life run, click on the link to the right!

Miles of trials

2011-02-08T21:05:00.000-05:00

Holli calls Elliott her baby a lot and I confess that I tease her sometimes about it. In truth, I understand why she does this because the memories of Elliott as a small, helpless infant are so burned into my mind and I am still sometimes shocked to see him run, jump, talk and play as the four year-old that he is. At some point since my mom was diagnosed with cancer I realized that this frozen image of baby Elliott is not something that just impacts parents.

Last month, Holli, Elliott, and I were down visiting and my parents gave me a digital picture loaded with a variety of childhood pictures that my dad had recently digitized. Despite the fact that I had not seen many of the pictures in decades, the images still seemed very fresh to me. It was easy for me to remember what my parents looked like when I was a young child and, even as I followed the old pictures through decades and both I and they aged, they still seemed very much the same to me. They are my parents and they will forever look like my parents, just like Elliott will always look to me like the small infant we brought home from the hospital.

That is why it was such an emotional shock when my mom was diagnosed with cancer. The impact was compounded by the medical issues my dad suffered around the same time. Frozen in my head was the image of them as middle-aged parents rather than the retired grandparents they have become. I know that this shock was not one only felt by me and I'm very grateful for the support, especially from Holli, during those difficult early months. I know intellectually that cancer can impact people of all ages and that medical issues come inevitably to everyone over time. Still, there are times when changes comes so fast and so unexpectedly that it is difficult to catch up or to change with them. It wasn't really on my emotional radar that either of my parents was getting older, much less that something like cancer could impact our family.

Thankfully, the fear and uncertainty of those early months is past us and this is a success story. Tomorrow my mom starts her last chemotherapy treatment. Friday she will have the portable pump for her last chemo drugs removed and she will officially be done with chemotherapy. All signs indicate that she is cancer free. Borrowing a phrase from John Parker in "Once a Runner" I think that she has gone through both a "trial of miles" and "miles of trials." While I am grateful not to be able to speak from first-hand experience I suspect the latter is at least as challenging as the former. In Parker's fictional novel about distance runners, the "trial of miles" refers to enduring through the miles of the current training run. On the other hand the "miles of trials" refers to the necessity of getting up each day to do it again and again and again.

My mom's miles of trials are finished this week. She went through chemotherapy again and again and again. Soon she will be done. In honor of this, I'd like to encourage you to make a donation to the American Cancer Society by clicking on the link to the right and then clicking on "Donate to Our Team." If you are planning on joining us at Relay for Life on April 8th, please click on the link to the right and then click on "Join Our Team." It should be fun and I figure I'm good to run/walk at least 60 or so miles over the 12 hour event.

Happy 2011!

2011-01-04T20:43:00.000-05:00

Despite my best efforts putting together a training plan about a month ago, that basically fell apart after less than two weeks. Perhaps it was my fault for starting a training plan during the holiday season. That being said, I did get a solid 20 mile run and several 10 mile runs in over the break so I'm probably still on track to be in condition for Relay for Life in April. I'm also planning on going to Kentucky for the Land Between the Lakes 50 miler on March 12 so that gives me an intermediate goal to keep me motivated.

Speaking of motivation, I haven't really had much lately. This is despite that feeling of obligation to set some goals that I always feel at the beginning of the year. Part of that feeling of obligation certainly stems from the talk of New Year's resolutions that permeates the media for the week following New Year's Day. Also, since my birthday is January 5th (yes, tomorrow) I tend to get a little introspective in terms of what I would like to do before another year passes. So do I have any grandiose plans as a 35 year-old?

Not really. I'd like to do a little more cross training. I'd like to finish the Kentucky run under 10 hours and to raise $5,000 through Relay for Life (there is an organizing meeting in a week or two so I'm going to start pushing for more donations soon). I plan on entering the lottery for Western States again, but that's out of my control so I don't really consider that a goal. Honestly, this all feels a little unspectacular when I consider the last few years of my first 50 miler, my first 100 miler, my 50k solo run on the Great Wall, and so on.

Perhaps 2011 will be my year of non-goals. 35 seems like a pretty good age to coast for a little bit--enjoy time with my family and enjoy running just for the sake of running. The only problem is that I'm not very good at coasting and I keep thinking of other new things that I could be working on or striving for...

Why chemo is not like running

2010-12-08T18:27:00.000-05:00

First, I would like to give a big thanks to my cousin Edward for a very generous donation and pursuit of matching funds from his company. I would also like to thank my Uncle Shiu-fun and Aunt Celia for their donation and to Sandi for putting together the excellent logo pictured above. Once I get through the fun of grading 90 research papers and watching 45 student presentations, I'm going to see what I can do about getting t-shirts made. This weekend I had the pleasure of visiting with my parents and my Aunt Edith this weekend who flew down to Ohio from Canada (the roast pork was delicious!). I know that my mom appreciates all the support she is receiving from all of her family members.

I had plenty of time to do some thinking on the drive back to Michigan and, despite the similarities that inspired the team name, I decided to do a blog post on why chemotherapy is not like running. Why? I think that running is sometimes too often compared to very real difficulties. I run willingly because it brings me joy and I find satisfaction in overcoming the personal challenges involved. I benefit through health and wellness and increased fitness levels. Tying on my running shoes and heading out the door is an escape from my troubles and, typically, leaves me feeling more relaxed and at ease. Going to chemo is decidedly not like that.

Going through chemotherapy is not optional. It is not fun. It does not leave one feeling better afterward. It requires a complete reorganization of ones life to deal with drugs upon drugs and even more drugs to deal with the side effects of the first drugs. It is not an exercise that, upon completion, leaves one feeling better. Much the opposite, it leaves one feeling worse. The whole process, which takes months, is a losing battle against fatigue, a declining immune system, and more. The struggle is to lose slowly enough that the treatment can continue. At the end is not a nice clean finish line, but relief mixed with continued uncertainty about the future.

I hope that didn't sound too negative. In fact, I am a fan of running metaphors and do feel that there are very real similarities that exist. However, I don't want to belittle the physically and psychologically difficult, but very necessary, process of cancer treatment by suggesting that it is the same as running, which when it comes down to it is just recreation.

Off and running (and donating)

2010-11-30T10:03:00.000-05:00

It's actually a bit strange to be blogging again after taking a year off. I am very proud to note that Team Single Step has already collected $510 thanks to generous donations by my mom and dad, Denise, Aunt Edith, Simon and Sally, Sandi and Andre. We are already the team with the most donations collected so far! I've decided to purchase the domain name for teamsinglestep.com and will be redirecting it shortly so that it is easier for people to make donations.

I don't have much to say about running. I did a 25 mile run on Saturday to burn off the excess turkey consumption. I've mostly been putting in a few 5 milers and 10 milers here and there with no clear training plan. I confess that I've been more focused on the Western States 100 lottery that is being held on Saturday since this will largely dictate my running in 2011 (I ran the Fall Classic 50 in October as a qualification run.) For those of you who aren't familiar with the race, it is probably the most famous 100 mile race in the country and, due to its mountain terrain and remoteness, it has a reputation as one of the toughest. They use a lottery system since it is so popular and space is limited. Just over 1600 people have applied, which means I only have around a 20% chance of getting in. Keep your fingers crossed.

On a side note, does anyone have any ideas for T-shirt designs? I really like the link between the team name and the Confucious quote so perhaps something Chinese. I, unfortunately, lack any reasonable artistic skill, but I would be happy to send a free shirt to anyone who can come up with a good design.

My blog is active again!

2010-11-15T09:40:00.000-05:00

I'm back and this time I'm preparing to run the 12 hour Relay for Life event at Saginaw Valley State University on April 8th to raise money for the American Cancer Society. I'll make more updates to the blog as I gear up fundraising efforts. However, the first step is that I need a team name. Any ideas? Please post them in the comments section!

Thanks for all of your support these last three years!

2010-02-03T18:01:00.002-05:00

As anyone who has come across this blog recently has probably noticed, it hasn't been very active lately. After spending three years building up Lupus Runners and working with other dedicated runners to raise over $12,000 for the Lupus Foundation of America, I have officially redirected the domain name for Lupus Runners (www.lupusrunner.org) over to Cruz Pitre. These past few years I have been pleasantly surprised at how our group has grown and am glad to see that there are so many runners who are willing to contribute their time and energy fundraising even though my time and energy has been limited this past year.

I look forward to continuing to run in 2010 and have my sights on Burning River again. Tim Smith is also putting together a 50k in November or December to help raise more money to fight Lupus. I would love to make it out for that run. I'll also do what I can to continue to help raise money and heighten awareness. Perhaps in a year or so I will sign back on, but I'll probably take a break for 2010. If you are ultrarunner, I'd encourage you to check out Tim's race at http://www.chemsmith.net/50k.html. If you are interested in helping raise money to fight Lupus, I would encourage you to check out Cruz's blog at http://www.lupusrunner.org. Thanks again to everyone who has supported me and the rest of the Lupus Runners over these past three years. Your money has gone to a great cause and your comments and emails have helped inspire our group. See you on the trails.

Fort Worth Marathon'n For Lupus

2009-10-22T08:07:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since I've posted. I'm afraid that life is somewhat interfering with my running and definitely getting in the way of my blogging. As a quick update, I've had my first DNF at the Hallucination 100. I probably shouldn't have tried a second 100 miler less than two months after Burning River. I want to thank Dirt Dawg for dragging me through that last loop and Nate and Mae for being willing to come out and crew in the middle of the night. As always, thanks to my wife for waking up early, staying up late, and driving around to all those aid stations to make sure I was functioning as well as possible. Also, thanks to my parents for being there to support me.

I've actually decided to write this quick post to ask all of you out there to support another Lupus Runner. Cruz Pitre is running his first marathon on November 8th to help raise money. He has been a tireless supporter of the fight against lupus and he deserves our support. All you runners out there know how difficult those last miles can be and your contributions support a worthy cause and a worthy runner. I'm re-posting information about Cruz's run below.

From Cruz Pitre:

On November 8, 2009, I'll run my first Fort Worth Marathon. My wife, Michelle, my cousin Marisol, and friends (or some of their relatives) have Lupus. I would like to use this occasion to raise funds for Lupus research.

TO SPONSOR MY FIGHT AGAINST LUPUS, simply go to Brian's Firstgiving page at http://www.firstgiving.com/lupusrunners. When you make your donation, PLEASE MAKE A COMMENT along the lines of "FOR Cruz AT FORT WORTH" or something that makes it obvious that your donation arose from reading this page.

There are other Lupus Runners also raising money on this page so don't let that confuse you.

(I should note that we've "followed the money" and any donation will go directly to the Lupus Foundation of America. None of it goes to the Lupus Runners. We are only facilitating the fundraising.)

After you donate, you will be able to print out a receipt page, and you'll also get an email receipt.

If you would prefer not to donate online, you may send money to the following address and I'll donate the money in your name.

Cruz Pitre Jr.
600 Parkview Court
Kennedale, TX 76060

Upon request, I'll send you a donation receipt for your taxes.

2009 Burning River 100 Race Report

2009-08-13T20:08:00.006-04:00

Well, it's been nearly two weeks since the race so probably about time that I put together a race report. First of all, this was probably the funnest race that I have ever participated in. It was well-organized and scenic and a pleasure (er, relatively) to run. Holli, as always, was the best crew that I could ask for and deserves my utmost thanks and appreciation. I'd also like to thank my parents for coming out to support me and for my brother Dave and sister-in-law Lauren for coming out to help pace. I'd like to thank Dirty Girl for some much needed cups of soup and espresso beans at the covered bridge station, Kevin for his help as I cruised in and out of aid stations, and Mae and Nate for their enthusiastic support. Finally, I'd like to congratulate Dirt Dawg, who has finally chased down his first 100 miler and thank him for his support and company during those first miles.

In truth, there are many others who also deserve thanks. There are Tom and David who I had not met until the covered bridge station, but who both volunteered to pace me through much of the night. David, good luck finishing the Grand Slam--that is an incredible accomplishment. There are the podiatry students who did their best to keep my feet from falling apart at various aid stations. There are the aid station volunteers and fellow runners who magically showed up with mole skin, duct tape, and a variety of other medical supplies when the podiatry students weren't around. Then, of course, there are all the volunteers who just made the whole event happy.

I've decided not to write much about the details of the race itself. Let me say that the first 50 miles went pretty well (11 hours) and I was even feeling pretty good after 60. Then a couple blisters began to form. Then, I made the mistake of removing some moleskin that I thought was bunching up on me (it was, but it was also providing some critical padding). Then it began to rain. Then I had to run through some pretty significant mud.

I finished in just over 28 hours and 30 minutes, but my final pace was a pretty pathetic hobble and my over-riding memory of the last third of the race was largely one of, let us say, discomfort. It was frustrating as my leg muscles held up well and it was really my feet that caused me such significant problems. As you can see from the photo of Holli and I crossing the finish line, she is quite literally pulling me along. Still, I didn't give up and I am proud of that accomplishment. Furthermore, I think the foot problem is something that can be managed. In fact, two days after the race I realized that my toes were so cramped up that during I was not actually moving most of the muscles in my foot. I'm not sure if this was caused by the change in my gait due to the rather large blisters on my feet or the other way around. In either case, it gives me an excuse to buy some new socks and shoes and, perhaps in the near future, to try out some barefoot running to strengthen my foot muscles.

All that aside, here was my epiphany as I cruised through the ups and downs of the race. What if, rather than thinking of all this running as a series of training cycles and races I just ran when I felt like it. I mean, why does something as fun as running 100 miles need to be a once a year event? In fact, it has taken me a couple 100 mile races to realize that I do, in fact, really like to run. Perhaps for people who are training intensely for particular times or to win competitions, the distinction between training runs and actual races matters, but I have typically run races at nearly the same pace that I train. So what is the point of distinguishing between training and racing? This matters because, despite the foot issues, Burning River was just fun and I would like to do it again.

So, I've decided to go ahead and sign up for the Hallucination 100, which is Michigan's first 100 mile race. You are all welcome to join me as spectators, crew, or pacers. The run is a series of 12.5 mile loops and there is a campground on the loop where everyone can hang out all weekend. What else can you ask for in a good time?

Lupus Foundation of America Needs Your Hel

2009-08-13T20:08:00.002-04:00

Lupus Foundation of America Needs Your Help -- Urge Your Senators to Cosponsor S. 1630, the Affordable Access to Prescription Medications Act

Go to http://capwiz.com/lfa/home/

Click on the link "Urge Your Senators to Cosponsor S. 1630, the Affordable Access to Prescription Medications Act," enter your zip code in the box called “Call Now” and click on the “go” button. You’ll then be presented with the contact information for your senators, as well as get talking points for what to say when you call.

Please ask your family, friends and coworkers to call on your behalf as well.

Webcast of Burning River

2009-07-30T17:38:00.001-04:00

I almost forgot. If you would like to see how I am doing on race day, check out the BR live webcast. I'm bib #68.

http://www.burningriver100.org/webcast.html

Why run 100 miles? Or getting psyched for Burning River

2009-07-30T16:12:00.003-04:00

I am a bit ashamed to admit that I have spent quite a bit of time in the past few days reflecting on why I like running 100 mile ultramarathons. I really have wanted this to be a good post on the eve of Burning River as, after nearly 200 blog posts and raising nearly $12,000, I've decided to take a break from fundraising. While it has been an integral part of my ultrarunning and it is both an important and personal cause, I have only barely had sufficient time to keep the group operating as it warrants. At the same time, I'm still receiving emails and comments from interested runners and getting an average of two-dozen hits per day so I've been hesitant to just let the group disappear and the hard work that we have together put into this fade away. That is why I am happy to announce that Cruz Pitre has agreed to take over management of the Lupus Runners website to keep the movement going and growing. We need to talk about the details still, but some time after Burning River I will redirect the www.lupusrunner.org to a new site. Cruz is adamant runner and been a dedicated member of Lupus Runners this year and I know that he will do a great job as I take a break to focus on other things.

You will, of course, still be able to see what I am up to at my various other websites such as www.brianthesociologist.com and, now that I finally have my hands on a Blackberry, I'm increasingly addicted to Twitter so look for me at www.twitter.com/thomasb7. Also, rest assured, that I will keep running. Which takes me back to the point of this post--why run 100 miles? Since I haven't been able to come up with an eloquent and thoughtful diatribe, I'm resorting to a bulleted list. Here goes.

Why run 100 miles?

It's a great way to get people to donate money to an important cause
The food at aid stations tastes really good after 50 miles
You meet some really great people
Because no matter how hard you train you never know what's going to happen
A central precept of Buddhism is that life is suffering and the key to happiness is letting that go. Running 100 miles involves suffering, then letting that go, the suffering some more, then letting that go, then you finish.
You get to know people really well when you run with them for 12 hours.
You get a cool belt-buckle at the end.
You get to know yourself really well when you run for 24+ hours.
Marathons are way too crowded
It requires more patience that any other sport I've participated in
I was a really bad wrestler in high school
No one ever asks you your time afterward, they just ask "At one time?"
It's a great way to spend time hanging out in the woods
Training with a jogging stroller is a great way to get a toddler to nap
The week before or after a race you don't have to feel guilty about going to a buffet
There is definitely an ego driven cool factor
Did I mention how good certain food tastes after 50 miles?
No one looks at you funny if you walk
It's a great time to listen to audio books (entire novels at a time)
Dawn looks great after 75 miles
Night time is magical when you are in the middle of the woods with nothing but a headlamp
Other things in your life feel more possible, and less stressful, afterward

After my first 50k, I almost cried because I was so glad that I actually did it. After my first 50 miles, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction. After my first, and only so far, 100 miler I was so tired I didn't particularly feel anything other than some mild confusion that I did not need to keep running. In fact, rather oddly, after 50 miles I was glad to be done. After 100 miles I was somewhat disappointed that it was over.

Dayton Daily News Article

2009-07-30T10:39:00.002-04:00

Thanks to all you Lupus Runners out there who have helped get us this far. Also, many thanks to everyone who has made donations--we have collectively raised nearly $12,000 since 2007. I look forward to finally meeting some of you in person at Burning River this weekend. In the meantime, check out this recent article in the Dayton Daily News.

Prepping for Burning River

2009-07-18T14:41:00.002-04:00

Well, ready or not the Burning River 100 is just around the corner. I confess that I am less certain about my preparation this year than last year. Ironically, being in China was not a great problem in terms of my training. However, getting my schedule cleared to go to China and catching up on time with my family and work stuff left me with fewer miles on the road then I would have preferred. Still, I had a few 30+ mile runs, a 40 mile run, my 12 hour Great Wall adventure, and a recent 32/25 back to back run, so I think I still have a good shot at finishing as long as I run smart.

My plan is to start out more slowly than I did at Haliburton and to try and keep a more even pace throughout. Last long run, I used a 10 minute run/5 minute walk pace that allowed me to complete 25 miles in 5 hours, even after doing 32 miles the day before. I ran even splits throughout and felt pretty comfortable at the end so I think this is a better strategy than the 9/1 and 25/5 run/walk ratios that I used at the beginning of Haliburton.

The logistics of Burning River are also slightly more complicated than at Haliburton since it is point to point as opposed to two out-and-backs. However, my parents are going to be joining Holli as part of my crew so we will have additional support. We're also going to try and coordinate crew needs that we didn't really plan well for at Haliburton--namely the need for Holli to sleep and eat at some point during the race. There is supposed to be cell phone service throughout so that should help too. Perhaps I'll twitter the event.

In terms of equipment, I'm planning on using a single water bottle throughout and, depending on the heat and my pace, an additional water bottle in a holster. I was pretty happy with how that worked last time. I'll aim to consume 100 calories of gel, honey, or sport beans every 30 minutes and to take electrolyte tablets every 20-30 minutes. I'll start eating some solid foods at 10 hours or so (soup probably).

I'm going to try and stick with Dirt Dawg as he heads for what I am sure will be his first 100 mile success story. I'm also looking forward to meeting Nate and Mae, two of our Lupus Runners from last year, who will also be at the event. It should be a good time!

I confess with some guilt that I haven't really had the time or energy to do a great deal of fundraising. I do want to thank everyone who has donated so far and to ask those who haven't donated to consider making a contribution to this important cause. I think 2009 might be my last harrah in terms of fundraising (at least for a little while) as I've had difficulty pulling together the time and energy that I feel the cause really warrants. It might be better for me to take a bit of a break (at least from fundraising--running keeps me sane so I don't expect to stop that!). So this is the last time I'm going to ask all of you for money, at least for the next year or two. Help me out this one last time and click the donate button on the right!

50k Great Wall Run Video

2009-07-06T11:05:00.005-04:00