RDL Finale..

As we left Cavitt school, Catra, Andy and I all started off and being as I was feeling pretty fresh and ready to go I was quick to ask where to take my position while running, some runners like you on the sides or in front so I wanted to make sure. As we left the school I was wondering about Big B and how was and most importantly where he was. As we made our way over the dam flat top crossing all seemed to be going well. Catra's stomach was a little upset and Andy seemed to be doing good or at least he would never let on if he was not. This guy ran strong all night long and while I stayed in front of Catra he would open gaps on us, stop, wait and even look back to make sure we were coming. I chatted with them both about HURT and some questions but at times I felt it was hard to be asking about MY (and there's) future 100 when the focus was here at RDL so I kind of help my questions for the most part and stayed focused on them.

As soon as we crossed the dam area we came along a runner laying on the side of the road with his pacer just standing there with him. I had recognizing the runner from during the day and I quickly asked his pacer if he was Okay? They said yes, that he just needed to rest. As I ran by I couldn't imagine the exhaustion, pain, and anything else he was experiencing. At the time of looking down at him he actually looked like he was in a peaceful moment. I would later come across one of my newly blogger-family friends that I then realized was the runner on laying in peace on the ground, Run 100 Miles - Christian.

As we left Folsom Dam Overlook it was soon on to Negro Bar, mile 72 and then to Hazel Bluff at mile 77.33. By this time Catra had slowed down some and was having some stomach issues and not really taking in any food/drink. She was worried that she was not going to make the cutoff times but actually was okay on time and had just miscalculated. As the early morning hours wore on and we passed Hazel Bluff we then moved to the part of the course that was a little more on paved sections than single track trails. You are running more in the city by this section of out and back and it seemed to make things go a little quicker although Catra was still not feeling well. By the time we reached Willow Creek at mile 80.70 she had slowed more and became really cold. Her body was beginning to go into hypothermia and at one point I had looked back behind me b/c I didn't hear closely behind me and she was wondering off the side of the trail because she was so sleepy and cold. This is not a good area to be in and even though I have not experienced the feeling I can only imagine from other things I know that once you become cold the urge to go to sleep is very overwhelming. She did stop to take some caffeine pills but overall it takes time to take effect. As we came into Willow Creek she made her decision that she needed to stop.

I believe there comes a time in runners experience that they just know when things are not right and some things you can push through and wait it out and others you simply just know you need to stop. Catra knew she needed to stop. She was feeling bad, cold, and her leg was starting to hurt. She quickly told Andy to continue on so he could finish. He quickly made his way back on the course and I wouldn't see him again till way later in the afternoon at the hotel. He went on to finish and completed two 100 milers within a month of each other!! Congrats Andy!!

As Catra warmed up under a sleeping bag I worked some on her trapz/neck muscles to help her relax and feel better. Soon Bill Andrews showed up and he offered us a ride back to the school to pick up Catra's car which I would then take her to our hotel where she could shower/clean up, rest and then get back to Andy's finish. At Willow Creek we actually waited around for about 30 mins before leaving and still no Big B!! I would have paced for him had he come through but he hadn't so I was soon back at the hotel. Jimmy had textd me asking what happened with Catra, and I explained. I asked him to check on Baboo and let me know his status. He replied back that he had cleared Hazel and Willow Creek. I asked if he could come and pick me up to take me back on the course and quickly he was at the hotel to give me a ride back out there. I had tried calling Geekgirl but couldn't get a hold of her so Jimmy and I went to the final turn around at Mountain Lion mile 83 where Baboo had already made the turn by about 20 mins!! He was completely on the move and the aid station peeps said this guy is SuperMan!! He was behind the extended cutoff and had made up some serious time!!! Jimmy and I headed back to Willow to see if we could catch him there and nope, just missed him by 10 mins!! Damn!!! so to Hazel we went and would definitely catch him there. By this time I had talked to GeekGirl and they were heading to Hazel and would see them there.

As we got to Hazel her and RunBitchRun arrived and I spent a few minutes chatting with them on there 50k and how the crewing went during the night learning that Baboo, The Big B, had some serious problems and low's during the night but now that the Sun was coming back up was feeling like a new man and as the aid station guy put it.. Superman!! I was ready to run when the Big B came Thundering in to AC/DC. This guy was rockn' out and didn't look like he had been running 89 miles!! We quickly slapped a High 5 and he yelled out, "Let Go To Work!!" .... (right before this as he was getting fuel and nutrition Baboo asked for the AMP. I said what's that? GeekGirl goes some energy drink I game him. By this time Baboo had opened and was downing, no wait, guzzling this stuff like it was made of Gold, like it was better than the best of anything on the planet. Burp... Crush the can on his forehead and throws it down!.. Now., the High 5)..!!

As we took off from Hazel we had a nice downhill grade that was pretty steep. I remember coming up this thing at night so it was good to see it during the morning light. It's about 6am or so and once at the bottom of this there is a short asphalt flat for about 1/2 mile than you make a turn and go back on to the single track trail. There were other morning runners out by now and cheering on the Big B as we ran. I noticed that Baboo was singing Low Rider and enjoyed his chanting of Low, Ride'rrrr.. Get's a lil lower.. Once we made the turn back on to the single track trails Baboo was ahead of me and I was just following along then I noticed that he started to pick up the pace and was attacking some of the short rollers we were climbing. I thought it was just the boost of the music and such and he would slow down but instead he got FASTER!!! I am working and breathing hard to keep up with him and as we approach some other climbs, Big B lets out some Attack Yells/Shouts!! He's in the Zone and powering up these things. The gap between is slowly starting to open up and I noticed he has not once turned around to check on me. The music is rockn in his ears and grunt/attack after attack the gap continues to grow. I check my Garmin and notice that we are running low 9 min/miles!! at mile 90!! WTF!!! and even one time I looked at my Garmin it said 8:17/pace!! OMG! no wonder I am about to puke a Lung! There is no way I can keep this pace and think to myself just hang on till Nego Bar at mile 94 but being as we still have 2 miles to go I know I cannot hold a 9 min pace so I slowed up and let him go.. Ohh wait.. I stopped and walked!! hahaha.. I pulled out my cell and called GeekGirl..

ring ring.. GeekGirl: Hello

JT: What the Hell did you give him?

GG: What?..

JT: This guy is on Fire!! He's running low 9 min/miles.. We are 2.5 miles away and He Freakn' DROPPED ME!!!! I can't keep up!

GG: (laughing on other end)... I gave him AMP, energy drink. Ohh yea, I forgot to tell you, he does that to all his pacers, don't feel bad, he has done that to me a few times. Just keep running and you'll probably catch up to him, he'll slow down in a while.

JT: Okay.. will do. See ya soon.

I kept running and on some sections I could see the Big B laying the dust trail down and still on Fire! I saw another runner up ahead and worked to catch up to him. Finally I came upon Roger. He is a great guy who has done this course like 8 time before. He asks me if I am running the race and looks at me up and down, most likely looking for my race number. I said No, you saw that guy in the white shirt that passed like 5-10 mins ago, he was my runner and I am the pacer, LOL.. but he dropped me after Hazel. Roger said, yeah that guy was behind me 55 mins at the turn around at Mountain Lion, which means 110 mins overall to catch him and now he's in front of me!! WTH!! I said, yeah tell me about it. I paced last night for 13 miles and got dropped in 2.!! haha.

I ran with Roger till the finish and learned and chatted a lot with Roger. Great Guy and wonder to run with. As we crossed near Folsom Prison I could hear the sound of the inmates cranking out there morning exercise routine with jumping jacks, 1,2,3, 5, 1,2,3, 6, 1,2,3, 7 etc.. It was an amazing site at such an hour in the morning. I mean we ran by the prison at night but couldn't even tell but morning time it was a whole new look.

Making our way through the last aid stations we were starting, or more like Roger was starting to catch and pass runners. Finally in the last 3 miles once passing Folsom Dam we came around a corner and there was Baboo, walking!!! Yes, the AMP had wore off 8 miles later! haha.. Geekgirl was with him and we were closing fast. I yelled to him.. Yo Big B!!! He turned around and saw us coming. He than started walking a little faster and than started jogging. Roger was on the same pace/jog that he had been on since I started running with him and asking him about it he easily said that is what he does, His thing, works for me all day long. Its not fast, its not too slow and it just works. As we approached Big B, I said.. Baboo.. we're gonna Pass You!! Ohhh the agganzing misery of the pacer that got dropped !!! lol... (actually, I secretly knew this would like a spark for Big B and carry him to the finish. I just knew there would be NO WAY he would let Roger pass him) Roger had picked up his pace when we got close to Baboo in slight attempted to real Baboo in but when I saw Baboo pick up his pace I told Roger, hey Big B is not gonna just let you pass him so if you want to beat him in let's work it and I'll help you try. Roger says very quickly... No I am okay with finishing behind him. (Actually Roger continued to run a little faster but by this time Big B had the 99th wind and was pushing to finish up.

The last mile was just an amazing feeling to see Baboo sprinting it in and running with Roger made it feel good. It almost that same feeling like finishing an Ironman! You're so glad to be done so happy to have made it. My only part I was missing was that it was not for me and I was short about 77 miles!! ha!. As I made it back to the school I went inside and Baboo was sitting there on a school desk chair and smiling! I gave him the high 5 we had started with and happy he was done. We soon grabbed this picture:

An awesome job well done by Big B and his crew. So happy for you all. After this we quickly made our way back to the hotel to rest, shower and eat! Later, I went to dinner with Baboo and GeekGirl enjoying my time with some great friends! They dropped me back off at the hotel as they made there way out to the airport and I would see them again at Javelina 1o0 next month. I spent the rest of the afternoon rest and then the following day it was a long morning flight back to Vegas.

After all the emotional stuff from the week prior it was good to see my friends all taking on RDL100. I enjoy all my time and all I could to help out along the way. Please check out Baboo's blog recap on his race and even GeekGirls and RBR's!! and my new bloggy friend Run100.

I still am in a little shock in what I got myself into in 116 days!!

rockon'

RDL 100 recap...part 1

After all the emotional feeling of things I felt bitter sweet to go to RDL. I mean things are still fresh and just leaving Dez was something I was not really feeling but I knew going to RDL would also charge me. As I arrived Friday morning in Sacramento I waited on Sweet Baboo and GeekGirl to arrive as I was hopping a ride with them to the hotel and go out on the course for GPS wave point stuff, which makes great easy navigation for the crew.

Once they arrived we quickly headed over to the rental car and walked out to find the wheels. Next thing I know Baboo goes here it is and I am like.. Whaaaa!!! No way!!! Pimp! I mean the N.M. Outlaws know how to roll, 2011 Ford Flex AWD, Leather, Navigation, and might as well have had a kitchen sink, bathroom, and whirlpool!!

After rolling out of the parking lot we headed to hotel to check in and luckily was able to get in our rooms. It was in and out as we then headed to Cavitt school which would be registration but also the main area for Start/Finish. Once there we proceeded to head out the course aid stations and mark the course for the GPS unit/navigation. This is totally the way to do it if you have many stations to crew from and will be driving in an unknown city or area. Once we hit the Auburn Dam station we took a break and headed over to Auburn Running Company which is the Ultra run store of Ultra running on the West Coast. The guys here were really nice and offered many tips on the RDL course and even had some Johnny BigFoot shoes for me to try out.

As you can see I had a few boxes of shoes to try out and the dog next to me is the store dog and obviously got board waiting on me to buy shoes. After several road shoes and a couple of trail shoes, I left with these:

Brooks Cascadia 3. Size 15. The good is that I was able to try them on and they felt good, the bad is that Cascadia is now on model 5 soon to be 6 so we'll see how it goes. (So far I have only ran 5 miles in them and was great)

Once getting all our goodies from the store we went to have lunch and then finished the aid GPS stuff and headed back to registration. It was great and fun to see everyone getting signed in and all the energy. Then there was a race meeting where DesertSky Adventures talked about the course and markings, etc. Unfortunately some assfaces who have nothing better to do had been taking down the course markings and would later take down the glow sticks at night that mark the course. I guess they think this is fun for runners or something. Once the meeting was over it was back to the hotel to stretch Catra aka DirtDiva and Andy and then get to bed.

Early morning came and off I went to the start of the race with George V. my roommate and overall great guy/ultra runner. We arrived and the buzz was working through all the athletes getting ready to start there day. 50k'ers and 100 milers all ready to go at 6am! BANG!! off they went and off I returned back to the hotel for another hour or so of sleep and morning buffet at the hotel, then back to sleep till about noon. After getting ready I headed out about 12pm to the race course stopping at Cool Fire Station which is mile 29 and 36.9. As I waited around it was was pretty damn Hot and nothing like Cool suggested! It was about 1-2pm and next thing I know I see Baboo coming down the road which would be his mile 36.9. I was standing around talking to some other crews and as I yelled out "Babooooo!!! Come on man!!! yahooo!!!" They all looked at me like I was crazy on crack and ask.. "what's baboo's real name, cuz we can't tell baboo to him?" LOL.. I said Brian, so the guy started calling him BIG B!! we all cheered him in and I quickly went to see if he needed anything. Luckily I had some sunblock in my car, sprayed him down and off he went. He was doing good and it was pretty freakn' hot out, most likely mid-90's!! After about another hour Catra/Andy rolled through and all was good there too and soon they headed off.

After leaving Cool Fire I headed over to the Auburn Dam station and had plenty of time to relax and wait on Baboo. Later the other crew showed up and we were all waiting on our runners. The guy asked how Big B was feeling and that his wife had came in just after Big B left Cool so they should be close together coming to Auburn. Soon his wife showed up and no Baboo, but wait!!! close behind was Big B as the guy yelled out! Soon Baboo was now known as Big B for the rest of the race. After helping Big B, aka Baboo, get his drop bag, change out his shoes, fill his bottles and pack and chatting with him he was on his way. He seemed like he was doing well and this was mile 44.29. Soon GeekGirl and RBR would be on hands to crew as I would be switching gears to pick up George from the 50k he ran, get him back to the hotel, changed, showered, dinner and ready to pace around 11pm.

As I was back at the Cavitt school, mile 67, it was time for Big B to arrive and the time kept ticking away and no Baboo nor his crew as I figured they would arrive before him. The originator of "Big B" (I didn't get his name the whole day) but his wife had arrived and left and still no B. The guy even asked how he was doing and if he was okay. Being as I had not been on the course for a while I had no idea but I thought he should have been in already. Soon the guy and his crew had to move out and he said to tell Big B to keep moving! Baboo came in about an hour after they left but not before Catra and Andy had passed Big B somewhere along the line. It was now time to head out the door with Catra and Andy, the time was about 12am.

to be continued..

rockon'

a curve ball...

It's been about two weeks I wrote this but just wasn't ready to post it..

Last week was a emotional hit in the stomach and it was hard to focus on things, still is if I really let my mind go and lose focus. My girlfriend and I have been together for just over a year and while she is without a doubt the kindest loving person I have met of which I have been blessed to be with her. She is a strong women and goes out of her way for many things, is not a drama person and just goes with the flow, I love her dearly! So after finding out she has breast cancer (Ductal carcinoma) last Tuesday really pulled the rug out from things. I mean what is someone to think, right? At first its like it's not real or unrealistic but then it sinks in. She goes back to the doctor later this month for info on treatment and things. Ductal C is diagnosed in about 60,000 women per year or 1 out of 5 new breast cancer cases. So as anyone can imagine its been a shocker.

The first week was just trying to understand what was happening and comfort Dez with love and support. She is doing well overall but has her moments. It actually took me a while to really hit me I think and after about 5 days it sunk in. Heading into this past week I was on a Recover week so I took some time on my runs to really think about all this. It has been hard to kind of grasp but overall it's here and it's time to understand it and face it head on, just like running these ultras.

thanks for letting me share..

rockon'

feeln like a slug...

After a great 19 miles, only 18 were planned, Bonus mile! on Saturday morning, I rested up and although I was feeling somewhat of a pull adductor muscle I felt pretty good, or so I thought.

The run started off at 4am and I would run to the a park about 4 miles away but would actually make a couple of extra turns to make for 6 miles before I got there to run with Team in Training Vegas group. All was good and I arrived a few minutes early, actually, was the 1st one there. The group was running 8 miles and 5 miles so as we started out all was good. I walked for a while chatting with one of the gals doing 5 miles and actually she is a walker who takes run breaks! Her walking speed is super fast, I clocked us at 14:20 min/pace! My legs could barley keep up and I was glad when she ran. After her turn around I pushed forward to catch up with the main group doing the full 8 miles and it was a nice turn around downhill grade back to the start. The group started running sub 9's and I had to quickly pull back from them as I still had 4 miles after there 8 to run back home and we still had 3 miles back to the start. By the time we were getting back to the start/finish my legs were feeling tired, I was now at 14 miles and saw I ran a 2 hr. 40 min half marathon.. kinda demoralizing as I thought I was overall faster but what the hell.

As I rest and chatted for a few minutes I noticed my right adductor was a little tight but soon it was time to get moving again and off I went. As I worked my way back and got closer to home I could feel my leg a little more and by the time I was done it was very noticeable. I did somewhat of an ice bath, didn't have enough ice to really make it could and traumeel afterwards and some light stretching. As the day progressed my legs were more stiff than sore except for my adductor. By late afternoon I felt pretty good recovery wise just the adductor thing.

Next morning was a planned 12 mile easy walk/hike/run anything to get the mileage but when I woke up the adductor was just not happy and knew that I would only aggravate it if I went to run so I switched my Monday day off for Sunday and rested up the day, stretching, and working on the adductor throughout the day. Mostly just sore and tender but no real pain, which is a good thing. I also knew that I need to get this under control as this weekend is pacing for Rio Del Lago and I have to be in tip-top ready to go shape.

Monday morning came and I woke up to a stuffy, clogged head with sinus pressure! I quickly took some Clarion-D but as anyone knows who has allergies you certainly don't feel like doing much and I was no exception. I slogged around for a couple hours and finally the damn D kicked in and I felt a little better but by this time I had clearly talked myself out of a run, especially 12 miles worth! In reviewing my schedule for this week it is stated a Recovery Week but I also only have scheduled 20 miles to pace at Rio Del Lago and will actually be pacing 33 if all goes well, so being a recover week and dealing with the adductor/allergies I figured I better listen to what's happening and not get so freaked out on my training numbers.

The rest of the week I will get to the gym and some upper body/core stuff, some easy legs and a couple of shorter runs of 6 on Weds/Thurs. Then I head out on Friday for RDL to hopefully meet up with Baboo and GeekGirl and RBR!!

rockon'

August recap..

September!! Already? What happened here? I just got in to HURT and the month is already gone! WTF!!!

Here's my low down this month:

14 runs = 94.50 miles at 22 hours 43 mins! HEY, that's almost a 100!! in 30 days. Oh wait, I will be doing that in about 34 hours all at one time, shit!

5 Strength sessions throughout the month, which is clearly not enough but consistent of at least 1x per week.

Overall, not bad but not the greatest. September looks to bring some good training numbers and if all goes well this week and next week I will have almost 90! so watch out!

rockon'

AC100 recap, shoes, tires, gas!

First let's talk quickly about the new shoes I just bought, the Montrail Mountain Masochists.. here is my take:

Now for me the shoe rubbed my right foot, big toe and 5th toe within 7 miles so I know this is not going to work. Even when I first tried these shoes on I was a little skeptical on the fit but it being my 1st trail shoe I thought I would see how it goes running in them. Once I was done with the 7 miles, all on trail, and my little toe skin was rubbed off and hot spot on big toe I knew they were done! Overall all I do like how they feel in the heel, the foot and the lowness to the ground and response, even the rock plate protect is great, I totally stepped on some nice meaty rocks to see how it would feel and I barely noticed! So unfortunately for me, Size 15 JT, this shoe is out. I will now be looking to try the Asics Trail Sensor4:

As always Johnny BigFoot had to order them so they should, hopefully, be here this Friday. Stay tuned!!

Now, this weekend was the running of Angels Crest 100 out near Los Angeles, or really closer to Pasadena, Ca. and with that Jimmy, co-race director of DesertSky Adventures, and I headed down to pace Catra Corbitt, aka Dirt Diva. We left Saturday afternoon in timing to get to mile 52 or 59 and pick Catra up to pace. We hit mile 52 and had just missed her by about 20 mins so we headed to mile 59 aid station. Jimmy rested up as he would be up first to pace till mile 75 and then I would take over to the finish.

Catra came in about 10pm and off they went. She was doing good and was glad to see us. I was so excited to see her.. let me explain. Catra is super awesome! I have been a fan since entering the ultra scene and Jimmy has talked about her and her runs which only adds to my ultra-star struck stocker fanism!! LOL.. and when I found out that she was looking for pacer's at AC100 I quickly jumped at the chance. So when she showed up to mile 59 aid station I quickly ran over with my arms in the air clapping and yelling for her and she looked at me like I was a complete NUT but then realized I was JT and her later pacer and happy to see me greeted with a big hug. A few words were exchanged and I said I would go get Jimmy sleeping in the car. The departed and I would see them in about 5 hours.

My drive from mile 59 to aid 75 was quite Adventurous!! If anyone has ever driven the Angels Crest Highway, Hwy 2 up and around Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Rd, its like a Snake road from Hell!! and it was pitch black, not knowing where I am really going, construction, closed roads, a detour and coming back into town not knowing where the hell I came out in Pasadena area it was quite the road trip. Once figuring out where I was I made it to the area to get to mile 75 aid, but being as it was still hours before I was needed I found a Denny's and fueled up for pacing duties. I mean hey gotta eat right?!

After I finished eating I stopped by the store, got a couple of things I thought I might need and headed up to the check point only to get to the gate and another car was parked there and I noticed the gate was closed and locked. The guy came over and said that he had called the RD and they were sending someone to come unlock the gate. This was a little weird because this was the only way in and out of the park with a huge event going on but I did notice around the little area of Santa Anita/Sierra Madre the police had nothing better to do I guess and had 3 different people pulled over as I was driving around to and from Denny's. Anyway, soon enough the Ponch and Jon showed up to unlock the gate and displayed there enthusiasm for having interrupting there oh so busy night for a bunch of ultra/crew runners. I was quickly at the aid station and got my things ready for later.

A cool thing about this aid station was they had this Huge screen that displayed all the info of all the runners, times, check points, etc. It was totally awesome. But Wait.. There's MORE!! They also had 2 flat screen TV's on top of this suv with a video camera and microphone, then when Catra got to 67.9 aid station they had screens/video there and we could quickly talk and see each other!!! I asked how she was and if she would need anything. This part was really awesome!! and I give it up to the RD's for supplying that feed.

It would be about 2.5 hours till she got there so I settled in, set my alarm for 3am and went to sleep, or tried to. It's about 1:3oam and shortly after the aid crew started a Hula Hoop contest. It was actually quite funny and entertain and it was helping them keep warm in the 51* night temps. After watch for a few minutes I finally fell asleep and next thing I know my alarm went off at 3am. I didn't expect Jimmy and Catra there till 3:30am but wanted to make sure I was awake and ready. A little after 4am I see them pull into the station and I get my gear ready. I get Jimmy's attention from afar and he gives me the cut-throat sign. Ohh man, I thought to myself that something has happened to her and she is done. I take my gear off and head over to them and she quickly says that she is done because she pulled her hamstring and it's really hurting, she actually pulled it at mile 30 and three more times since then!! Can you imagine, running 45 miles with a pulled hamstring!! So tough and Amazing! Now, a person like Catra knows her body and knows when they can push through and when it's time to stop and she has clearly made her decision to stop. As a doc, a new friend and runner I have no disappointment in her decision only in the fact that she is hurt. She is talking about her leg and apologizes for stopping. I quickly tell her No Worries, things happen. I felt bad for her because as an athlete you try to do everything you can to keep going and after 12 Advil's she had. The aid station people even told her she had another 1 hour 20 mins before cut-off and should wait but she responded very positive in her decision, cut the bracelet id off. It was cut and Catra's race was done. I then worked on her shoulder area to help relieve some nagging muscles and we gathered her stuff up to head to the finish line to see her boyfriend Andy, who was on his way to a PR.

Once at the finish area we rested up and then Catra headed to get cleaned up, by then I was getting tired and we decided we would head back to Vegas as Andy wasn't due to finish for about 3 more hours. After breakfast I noticed one of my tires was low and we stopped to put air in it but soon realized it was going flat and put the spare on. It was before 7am so nothing was open and just drove back on the somewhat of a spare tire. Then one time we stopped to put gas and as I was putting the gas cap back on it has the little plastic wire that holds the cap so you don't lose it anywhere, well, I twisted it as usual but this time it BROKE off!! WTF!! I could only stop and laugh. After getting back to town, showering up and eating again I spent the rest of the day on my bed watching TV and napping.

It was great to go down and help, no matter what happened and I am glad Catra is feeling better and not seriously injured. Being around the race is just so exciting! and Scary!! I mean at mile 59 I saw 5 people drop out for various reasons which only made me think and realize that my HURT100 is coming after me and dropping is not an option!! nor is missing the cutoffs!!! Next up will be pacing for Catra/Andy at Rio Del Lago 100 in a couple of weeks and helping with the race during the day. I am looking forward to running with her and Andy as they are veterans of the HURT and will be a good time to get intel on the race.

rockon'

Getting it Together

As the clock continues to count down I continually think in the back of my mind that I should be training or working out or something! Over the past 3 weeks things have been good and I can't complain but it just seems like I should be doing more but that may be asking for trouble.

My leg has had no problems and my body feels good with the running. I only have to complain about the Heat that Vegas is still getting and even getting out early still finds temps in the low-mid 80's and by the time I'm done running its like 90* or 103* for example like it was Saturday. (sorry Formualic for not waking up due to not charing my cell phone/alarm clock)

Anyway, as I continue to work each day on the running plan I am thinking that I need to really build up some leg strength. I need this strength for the massive amounts of power hiking I am going to have to do at HURT. My problem is I have not seen a good place to insert "leg day" so I have been procrastinating but I know that is only hurting myself.

On another note, I just recently bought these:

Montrail Mountain Masochists. I have not run in them yet but am excited to try them out and see what's up. They definitely feel different than road shoes!

And I want to send out a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Sweet Baboo for finishing Leadville in 27 hours 35 mins!! You are AWESOME!!

Slow n Low

With 152 days and count the weekly training went okay. I was able to complete some good early workouts but then took 2 days off because my ankles were still sore from the Mt. Charleston hiking last week, as well as, my quads were still feeling a deep soreness. As I took the extra 2 days of recovery I felt great going into Saturday's run.

I was a little disappointed that I got a late start on Saturday and I could already feel the morning heat. I started about 7:30 and as I returned to my old training trail at Red Rock I was eager to get going. As I started up the center trail I started to practice some of my uphill pacing and while I would switch off between running and fast uphill walking I noticed that I was more winded than usual. I couldn't determine if it was because I was just out of shape, I was carrying about 110 oz of water, the heat or all the above. It was some serious work getting to the 4.3 mile mark that crosses the road.

By the time I got there I had been sweating like crazy and I had consumed 24 oz of water on a 17oz/hour schedule. Yikes! As I continued up to the turn of our trail that's called White Rock Loop I had stopped to take a quick break, check in on my hydration/salt. I had consumed 44 oz. so I was basically ahead of my planned drinking. That is good but not so good if there are no places to refill, which there are not. I made the decision to return back to my car, where I had more water to refill. By the time I got back, the Sun was out and blaring down Hard! It was about 93* and no wonder I was overheating. It was all I could do to get back to the car and cool down.

After I made it back, my mileage was short of the planned 15 but being as I had taken the beating of the Sun and had a good training day I called it. Overall, I was a little disappointed, mostly I guess due to not achieving the planned mileage but under the conditions and for future runs I have to be flexible.

After getting back home and cleaned up and eating I soon noticed I had a crazy headache! I laid down for a while but it didn't seem to help much. Finally, after lots and lots of water and a couple of ibuprofen it was gone. Damn! I had gotten too much Sun and paid for it, so it was a good thing I didn't continue on.

I am looking forward to the training week this week and some good workouts!

rockon'

And it has began

That's right! Since the great awesome oh shit day of getting selected to run in the HURT 100 I have started my training. I actually started just a couple of weeks before in case I was selected and even if I wasn't it was time to get back in gear.

First let's talk about HURT!!! It's so exciting and crazy all at the same time. I mean this race venue is listed at the #2 toughest 100's in the U.S. HardRock 100 takes the top spot and you need to have completed a qualifying 100 to enter even enter HardRock. My thought patter going into the lottery selection for HURT was simple. Apply and see if you get picked, if not, than no loss and you try again next year, just like NY Marathon, Hawaii Ironman, etc... you just go for it and then you put the program in place. I applied as soon as it opened and it closed 5 days later. I had not seen how many people had entered until Saturday afternoon when it was time to view the live selection process via Ultra Signup.

The HURT 100 selects 125 runners. 36 hours to complete 100 miles in 5 loops, 24,035 feet of climbing, very few sections where you can run with a consistent stride for more than a few hundred at a time, 20 stream crossings, lots of roots, rocks, slippery, and trail that does not lend itself to be run in under 19 hours! and this is all the good things!! We haven't even mentioned the Humidity, bugs, rain, mud, did I mention Humidity!! and Heat. Just because its January that doesn't mean it's cooler. With all that I was so excited to watch as the first runner was selected, then after the 3rd person the server was overloaded and there was a delay!! AGGGHHHHH!!

Then the names started to roll through and the list was growing. I was nervous at first but then after about 20 people I settled down. It's a lottery and just see how it goes. Soon there was 40, 50, 65, 80 people selected. By this time I was started to get a little bummed, Honestly, somewhere deep inside I wanted to be selected. Then 88 runners and than 93, 96 and then the list paused or something! What!! Then I refreshed it and 4 others popped up...

John Vigil...

OMG, I started yelling with my fists pumping in the air!! Yelling!! OMG!! I got picked! Dez yelling too!! OMG, is all I kept saying!! I couldnt believe it. I stared at my name for about 2 mins!! I didn't refresh the screen, I just shouted out and stared at my name!! I quickly counted and from the last refresh when my name popped up I was the 100th runner selected.... I refreshed and there was 112 selected. Than a couple of minutes later 125 total selected.

It took a while to come down off the excitement and actually I'm still excited. I mean this is my first 100 attempt and to be able to GO FOR IT in Hawaii!! Amazing! No matter how far, how hard it is I will do my best and will only be pulled out for medical reasons.

With a great training plan, proper care of my body over the next 155 days. It will be here soon than I know it. It feels like my first Ironman but only this one HURTS!!!!!!!

rockon'

And a Winner is.. !!!

2011 HURT 100 Lottery
John, Congratulations! you have been selected to participate in the 2011 running of the HURT 100 trail race. We are excited to to have you run our event and look forward to seeing you in January. Have a look at the entire entrant's list here: http://ultrasignup.com/lottery/lottery_draw_list.aspx?did=7436 Aloha, HURT 100 Directors