Thursday, January 26, 2012
Trail Running Videos
Under the header for my blog you will see a links list, here I will have links to other Blogs I manage or ones I find worth providing links to. Right now the only one on the links list is my new trail running videos blog, which will feature my favorite videos about the sport of trail running. There are quite a few videos on the blog with more to come, so check it out and enjoy!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Week Five: snow, snow and more snow
1/16/12: 7 miles
Today was Vern and my weekly ascent on the Mickinnick Trail. Started at 6am and the temperature was between 12 and 15 degrees. Still no snow for about the first 2 miles of trail but the cold temps caused several natural springs to freeze creating big ice patches across the trail making those sections of the trail extremely slow going. The last 1.5 miles to the top there was snow on the trail with about 3-5 inches of powder on top of hard packed snow. The powdery snow made it hard to see obstacles in the trail so you really had to let your feet feel their way over the terrain. We enjoyed some wonderful views of the lake and coming down the mountain was a blast. At one point on the way down I thought it would be a good idea to stray off the trail a little bit so I could go down a very steep boulder patch. I navigated the section really well until right before I rejoined the trail, I caught my toe on a branch that was hiding in the snow which sent me flying superman style into a snowy face-plant 10 yards down the trail. I wasn't hurt (it was actually quite fun) and quickly got up and continued down the trail. The fun continued as we got out of the snow on our descent. On one of the sharp switchbacks instead of planting on my out side foot as I came around the corner I plated with me inside foot on a large rock then swung my outside hip to the inside of the trail causing me to do a quick spin move around the switchback allowing me to never slow down as I navigated the turn. It was a great move if I do say so my self. I think Vern was impressed too as he yelled from behind me if that was "one of those football moves". We did have to slow down a couple times on the way down to navigate some ice patches. It was a great run and I can't wait till next weeks run on Mickinnick.
1/17/12: 6 miles
Ran 3 miles on treadmill then lifted weights for 45mins and then ran another 3 miles. nothing to exciting unless you like staring out the window.
1/18/12: 8 miles
Ascended the Gold Mt. trail, I started at 6:45am from the trail head. It snowed about 4-6 inches the night before so I cut first tracks on the trail. Running in unpacked snow really makes you expend a lot energy but I managed to keep a constant pace to the top of the trail. There were some points on the trail that had closer to a 14" of new powdery snow due to drifting and running these sections really took a lot of effort as I plowed through the drifts. This was my first run with my new Microspikes made by Kahtoola (pictured below) they worked great on both ice and snow. I was so glad I had the spikes other wise I would have had problems all day long with traction going up or down hill, it truly is amazing the difference the Microspikes made. It snowed lightly the whole time I was on the trail but the falling snow just added to the mystic beauty of the woods.
1/20/12: 18 miles
Today was a great learning experience. As a pretense to this run it had snowed nonstop for the last two days and the snow is starting to build up. I started running from my house at 6:20am, I didn't wear the microspikes to start out since the roads had just been plowed and I didn't want to dull then by running on the pavement (I did bring them along in my pack). I ran from my house to Division St then I headed north till I reached Baldy Mt. Rd. From there I headed west to a cut-off road which I took south until I hit Pine St. I continued south on Pine St till I reached the Syringa Trail head (this section was 4 miles long and it took just under 40 min).
At the trail head I donned the microspikes and headed up the trail. There was 10-14" of new snow on the trail and I was the first to cut tracks. I fought the snow for the entire 13 miles I ran on the Syringa trail system. When the snow is that deep even running downhill feels like running uphill as you plow your way through the snow. It felt like the effort it took was much, much more than a normal long run even though I was moving at a snail's pace in the snow. One thing that was annoying was that the snow would melt on my running tights and then freeze in clumps where my tights met my shoes around my ankles. Since the ice build-up didn't really bother me except when a piece of ice would break off and fall into my shoe where it would then melt, I just kept of running despite the annoyance. Besides the snow covering the ground it also weighed down small trees and branches over the trail which I had me continually ducking under snow laden branches and snow falling down the back of my neck if I didn't quite get low enough. During the run I tried to get some type of nutrition and water in me every half and hour wither it was a gel packet or a energy bar. About six miles into the trail section of my run it began to snow and it continued to do so the rest of the run.
By the time I hit mile 12 on the trail I was completely soaked from the inside out due to sweat and the out side in due to the snow. It was at this point that the 20 degree air temp really started to affect me. My soft-shell jacket started to freeze up. All my zippers froze in place and the jacket was becoming stiff. I could feel my hand getting really cold as well as my feet and legs. Thankfully I was wearing a base layer made of wool from Ibex witch kept me somewhat warm despite being soaked. At this point I pulled a dry pair of wool gloves out of my pack which helped my hands warm right up. I was able to make it back to the trail head just as I thought I might be in serious trouble, but when I started running on the plowed road again I was able to speed up to a 9 minute mile pace which warmed me back up. I felt pretty good for the last mile down Pine Street back to my house. I arrived home at 11:30am, it took 5hrs 10min to complete this run. It just goes to show how slow the going was in the snow especially since it one took less than 50min to run 5 of the 18 mile on the road.
Once I got home I couldn't untie my shoes because the knots were frozen, so I had to just pull them off my feet. My left sock had a piece of ice that had frozen through my sock around my ankle that was about the size of a golf ball. I took the rest my wet clothing off and headed for the shower, it was at this point where my 2 year old son Ty started pointing to the back of my left ankle and started saying "hurt daddy hurt". After his prompting I looked at the back of my ankle. It was bleeding and missing a quarter size patch of skin. I am pretty sure it was due to that piece of ice that was frozen to my sock rubbing against my skin for who knows how long. At the time it didn't hurt probably because it was numb do to being cold, but when the hot water from the shower warmed it up the pain began. Not only does it hurt where I am missing skin but the entire backside of my ankle is extremely tender.
1/21/12: OFF
I was suppose to run 8 miles today but the injury to my ankle has left me barley able to walk. It feels like someone is stabbing it with a hot fire poker. I will probably take a few days of to try to get it better, hopefully it heals soon.
Total miles this week: 39
The week went well until I injured my heel. I was happy with my overall conditioning on my 18 mile run even though it took a long time to complete. Fighting the snow most of the way really made it a great workout and my legs are still feeling pretty good. Another good thing I can take out of my long run is that I know I can spend over five hours on my feet running and still have plenty more in the tank. One thing I will do differently on long self-supported runs during the winter is take along an extra base-layer, so if I soak through the ones I have on I will have a dry set to switch into and stay warm. Another gear choice for running in the snow is a set of gaiters to keep the snow and ice out of the shoes (I already have a set on order) which would have prevent the injury to my ankle.
(The video at the end of the pictures is of running an uphill section of Syringa in the fresh snow)
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| Vern at the top of Mickinnick |
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| Mickinnick trail |
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| View form the top of Mickinnick, the sun through the clouds gave the lake a silvery glow |
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| Gold Mt. trail head at 6:45am |
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| Gold Mt trail |
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| My new Microspikes their Grrrreat! |
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| Overlook on Gold Mt |
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| Sandpoint from Gold Mt |
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| Looking back at my tracks on Gold Mt trail |
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| Syringa Trail following my own tracks |
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| My injured heel |
Saturday, January 14, 2012
WEEK FOUR: Snow Dancing
1-9-12: 7 Miles
Vern and I met up at the Mickinick trail head at 6am and started are ascent in the darkness donning headlamps. Mixed running and hiking due to slippery and steep conditions. Time to the top would have been slow for a summer run but felt just about right due to the conditions of ice and snow. Beautiful morning the city of Sandpoint was covered in a light fog and as we ascended above the fog line the whole valley looked like a lake. The city lights were faintly penetrating the fog to give the valley a watery glow. The descent coming back to the cars was a lot of fun I love bombing down steep grades over rocks, trees (fallen ones) and other obstacles along the way. I often like to use trees/tree stumps, boulders and cut-banks as spring boards to launch myself airborne as I come down hills. It feels like your flying especially if you get some good hang-time.
1-10-12: 5 miles
Ran 2 miles on treadmill then lifted weights for 45min then ran 3 miles on treadmill. Yea I still lift weights and running on the treadmill was just convenient due to time constraints, some days it hard to fit it all in. Right now when it comes to weight training I try to fit in 4 lifting session a week focusing on upper body strength. I haven't been lifting with the lower body since I started my ultra training mainly because I do not want to over do it and cause over-use injuries.
1-11-12: 7 miles
Ran from the house to the Syringa trail, then ran a 5 mile loop on Syringa then back to the house.
1-13-12: 15 miles
Vern and I met up on Syringa and did some exploring. We ventured on some trails that neither of us had been on before. It seemed that just as we thought we had run about all the trails on Syringa we would find another one leading somewhere else. It was a gorgeous day, sunny and no wind but cold. I think it was about 18 degrees when we started at 10am. Conversations consisted of different races we would like to enter, shoes, and local trails we would like to explore (we did talk about non running things I just can't remember what). We kept a good steady pace throughout the run nothing blazing probably averaged between 5 and 6 miles per hour. Overall it was a great run the time flew by and both of us were happy about where we are at in our training (Vern is running a 50k in march).
1-14-12: 8 miles
At first I didn't want to get out of bed at 5:30am when the alarm clock went off. I was in a pretty deep sleep whether it was from the previous days run or that I didn't get to bed till after midnight, probably a combination of both. Yet I had been itching to run the Gold Hill trail all week, so despite being tired I got up and made it to the trail head at about 6:30am (trails about 20min drive from my house) and "boy" was I glad that I did. I spent the first 40 minutes ascending the trail by the glow of my headlamp. I reached a big open and snow covered ridge that overlooks Sandpoint just as it was getting light. I snapped a few photos in the early morning light and from there I ran up the rest of the trail. The last half mile of the trail had not seen any human visitation since the last snow fall and I cut a fresh path in about 3" of powdery snow. The only tracks that crossed the trail were those of elk, deer and coyote. It was really cool running up that last section of trail, my feet whisked through the fresh powder causing little clouds of snowdust and the only noise was the swish of my feet as they lightly touched the ground, it felt like I was dancing with the snow. The descent was fast, just the way I like it. On the way down I ran into my dad, Ken, and the Kramers(another friend of the family) as they were hiking up for their Saturday morning pilgrimage. I think it's awesome that they are out every Saturday hiking somewhere way to go Guys!!! I did almost ate-it once on the way down when I came around a switchback a little too fast and found a ice patch waiting there for me. I was able to save it and not crash and burn but it was really, really close.
Total Miles: 42
This week my overall mileage decreased slightly from last week, the training program I'm following calls for roughly 3 weeks of building mileage every week followed by a week with a decrease of miles to allow for recovery. I really like how this program does that, it helps you build up slowly and recover from all the running so you can avoid overuse injuries. I felt great running all week and am ready for next week's increase in mileage. I have also decide to run Mickinnick at least once a week for the rest of my training I really need the vert that it offers; I even plan on ascending and descending Mickinnick twice and even three times during the same training run to really cover some elevation. The video clip below is me running down a section of Gold Hill, it's pretty rough footage mainly because I was holding the camera while trying to run but it gives you a little feel for what it's like running in the snow.
Vern and I met up at the Mickinick trail head at 6am and started are ascent in the darkness donning headlamps. Mixed running and hiking due to slippery and steep conditions. Time to the top would have been slow for a summer run but felt just about right due to the conditions of ice and snow. Beautiful morning the city of Sandpoint was covered in a light fog and as we ascended above the fog line the whole valley looked like a lake. The city lights were faintly penetrating the fog to give the valley a watery glow. The descent coming back to the cars was a lot of fun I love bombing down steep grades over rocks, trees (fallen ones) and other obstacles along the way. I often like to use trees/tree stumps, boulders and cut-banks as spring boards to launch myself airborne as I come down hills. It feels like your flying especially if you get some good hang-time.
1-10-12: 5 miles
Ran 2 miles on treadmill then lifted weights for 45min then ran 3 miles on treadmill. Yea I still lift weights and running on the treadmill was just convenient due to time constraints, some days it hard to fit it all in. Right now when it comes to weight training I try to fit in 4 lifting session a week focusing on upper body strength. I haven't been lifting with the lower body since I started my ultra training mainly because I do not want to over do it and cause over-use injuries.
1-11-12: 7 miles
Ran from the house to the Syringa trail, then ran a 5 mile loop on Syringa then back to the house.
1-13-12: 15 miles
Vern and I met up on Syringa and did some exploring. We ventured on some trails that neither of us had been on before. It seemed that just as we thought we had run about all the trails on Syringa we would find another one leading somewhere else. It was a gorgeous day, sunny and no wind but cold. I think it was about 18 degrees when we started at 10am. Conversations consisted of different races we would like to enter, shoes, and local trails we would like to explore (we did talk about non running things I just can't remember what). We kept a good steady pace throughout the run nothing blazing probably averaged between 5 and 6 miles per hour. Overall it was a great run the time flew by and both of us were happy about where we are at in our training (Vern is running a 50k in march).
1-14-12: 8 miles
At first I didn't want to get out of bed at 5:30am when the alarm clock went off. I was in a pretty deep sleep whether it was from the previous days run or that I didn't get to bed till after midnight, probably a combination of both. Yet I had been itching to run the Gold Hill trail all week, so despite being tired I got up and made it to the trail head at about 6:30am (trails about 20min drive from my house) and "boy" was I glad that I did. I spent the first 40 minutes ascending the trail by the glow of my headlamp. I reached a big open and snow covered ridge that overlooks Sandpoint just as it was getting light. I snapped a few photos in the early morning light and from there I ran up the rest of the trail. The last half mile of the trail had not seen any human visitation since the last snow fall and I cut a fresh path in about 3" of powdery snow. The only tracks that crossed the trail were those of elk, deer and coyote. It was really cool running up that last section of trail, my feet whisked through the fresh powder causing little clouds of snowdust and the only noise was the swish of my feet as they lightly touched the ground, it felt like I was dancing with the snow. The descent was fast, just the way I like it. On the way down I ran into my dad, Ken, and the Kramers(another friend of the family) as they were hiking up for their Saturday morning pilgrimage. I think it's awesome that they are out every Saturday hiking somewhere way to go Guys!!! I did almost ate-it once on the way down when I came around a switchback a little too fast and found a ice patch waiting there for me. I was able to save it and not crash and burn but it was really, really close.
Total Miles: 42
This week my overall mileage decreased slightly from last week, the training program I'm following calls for roughly 3 weeks of building mileage every week followed by a week with a decrease of miles to allow for recovery. I really like how this program does that, it helps you build up slowly and recover from all the running so you can avoid overuse injuries. I felt great running all week and am ready for next week's increase in mileage. I have also decide to run Mickinnick at least once a week for the rest of my training I really need the vert that it offers; I even plan on ascending and descending Mickinnick twice and even three times during the same training run to really cover some elevation. The video clip below is me running down a section of Gold Hill, it's pretty rough footage mainly because I was holding the camera while trying to run but it gives you a little feel for what it's like running in the snow.
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| Early morning on Mickinnick |
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| Fog over Sanndpoint |
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| Early morning view of Sandpoint from Gold Hill |
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| Pend Oreille River From Gold Hill |
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
WEEK THREE:
1-2-12: 8 miles
Due to the fact that I had to work early today and that I haven't gotten a headlamp yet (one is on the way) so I can run in the early morning darkness, I was reduced to running on the treadmill.
1-3-12: 5 miles
Syringa trail. Quick five mile run sunny morning great winter conditions.
1-3-12: 8 miles
First time up the Mickinnick trail this winter. First mile and a half no snow and wet conditions with a few streams crossing the trail. The next two miles snow got increasingly deeper about two feet of snow at the top but the trail was fairly hard-packed. I mixed running with speed hiking when the snow got deep and the trail steep. I finally got the headlamp I ordered so I started in the dark at 6:45am. The headlamp worked awesome couldn't be happier (its a Petzl Tikka XP2). I took some great pictures of the sunrise, it was a beautiful clear morning with no wind couldn't have asked for better weather for January in north Idaho. The way back down was a blast as I cruised down the trail through the snow. I did fall once on the way down on a patch of ice landing with a good "thud" but I was fine and quickly got back up and finished the descent. Once back at the trail head I ran a additional mile on the road to get my 8 miles for the day since Mickinnick is only 7 miles to the top and back.
1-5-12: 16 miles
Started from the house in the dark at 6am took a 4 mile road rout to the Syringa trail then ran 10.3 miles on the trail. I finished up by running to Travers park doing a loop around the park then back home (1.8 miles). I kept a really steady pace for the entire run even taking it easy on the descents. I felt really strong on the ascents and really enjoyed the run and felt like I could have done it again when I finished.
1-6-12: 6 miles
It was 11pm before I got an opportunity to run so I went down to the gym and busted out 6 miles on the treadmill.
Total miles: 43
Had a good week running I really enjoyed running at Mickinnick a trail which I ran a lot over the summer. It ascends 2100' over 3.5 miles. It has some really steep parts which almost force you to hike, though during the summer I was to proud and stubborn to hike while running it, but with the addition of snow I'm being humbled which is great because I need to work on hiking for all the elevation I will face at Pocatello. The Mickinnick trail offers some of the best views of Sanpoint and lake Pend Oreille as it winds up the side of the mountain. The trail is just 2.75 miles from my house so it is a perfect way to get some vertical feet in. My long run went very well and I am pleased with my conditioning so far though I'm not blazing fast, slow and steady is what I need for a 50 miler.
Due to the fact that I had to work early today and that I haven't gotten a headlamp yet (one is on the way) so I can run in the early morning darkness, I was reduced to running on the treadmill.
1-3-12: 5 miles
Syringa trail. Quick five mile run sunny morning great winter conditions.
1-3-12: 8 miles
First time up the Mickinnick trail this winter. First mile and a half no snow and wet conditions with a few streams crossing the trail. The next two miles snow got increasingly deeper about two feet of snow at the top but the trail was fairly hard-packed. I mixed running with speed hiking when the snow got deep and the trail steep. I finally got the headlamp I ordered so I started in the dark at 6:45am. The headlamp worked awesome couldn't be happier (its a Petzl Tikka XP2). I took some great pictures of the sunrise, it was a beautiful clear morning with no wind couldn't have asked for better weather for January in north Idaho. The way back down was a blast as I cruised down the trail through the snow. I did fall once on the way down on a patch of ice landing with a good "thud" but I was fine and quickly got back up and finished the descent. Once back at the trail head I ran a additional mile on the road to get my 8 miles for the day since Mickinnick is only 7 miles to the top and back.
1-5-12: 16 miles
Started from the house in the dark at 6am took a 4 mile road rout to the Syringa trail then ran 10.3 miles on the trail. I finished up by running to Travers park doing a loop around the park then back home (1.8 miles). I kept a really steady pace for the entire run even taking it easy on the descents. I felt really strong on the ascents and really enjoyed the run and felt like I could have done it again when I finished.
1-6-12: 6 miles
It was 11pm before I got an opportunity to run so I went down to the gym and busted out 6 miles on the treadmill.
Total miles: 43
Had a good week running I really enjoyed running at Mickinnick a trail which I ran a lot over the summer. It ascends 2100' over 3.5 miles. It has some really steep parts which almost force you to hike, though during the summer I was to proud and stubborn to hike while running it, but with the addition of snow I'm being humbled which is great because I need to work on hiking for all the elevation I will face at Pocatello. The Mickinnick trail offers some of the best views of Sanpoint and lake Pend Oreille as it winds up the side of the mountain. The trail is just 2.75 miles from my house so it is a perfect way to get some vertical feet in. My long run went very well and I am pleased with my conditioning so far though I'm not blazing fast, slow and steady is what I need for a 50 miler.
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| Lookout a little over a mile up the Mickinnick trail |
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| Sunrise coming up over Lake Pend Oreille |
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| Mickinnick Trail about 2.5 miles up |
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| Mickinnick Trail 3 miles up |
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| Me at the top of the Mickinnick Trail |
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| Looking down at Sandpoint and Lake Pend Oreille from top of Mickinnick Trail |
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| More from the top of Mickinnick |
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
WEEK TWO: some snow and the rain
12/26/11: 7 miles
Syringa trail, about two inches on fresh snow but traction on trail good.
12/27/11: 5 miles
Raining this morning and 28 degrees still don't have the gear for those conditions forced to run on the treadmill.
12/28/11: 7 miles
Syringa trial. The snow is all gone do to the rain and the trail is a little icy on certain sections but not to bad.
12/30/11: 14 miles
Rain again with cold temps put me back on the treadmill, two hrs on the treadmill was way boring but made through it listing to audio books.
12/31/1: 6 miles
Syringa Trail. Ran into Friend and local ultra runner Vern Eastley on the trail. We ran together for about 4 miles which was a lot of fun as we talked about running and life.
Total miles: 39 miles
The snow was fun to run in and it offers beautiful scenery epically in the early morning. The rain is getting on my nerves I really need to get a waterproof and windproof running jacket. Ultra training is mostly a solo endeavor since it is hard to find anyone crazy enough to want to run these types of distance. If you do its hard to juggle schedules to go on runs together, but I must say I do enjoy running with others you really get to know someone as you spend a couple of hrs running and talking together.
Syringa trail, about two inches on fresh snow but traction on trail good.
12/27/11: 5 miles
Raining this morning and 28 degrees still don't have the gear for those conditions forced to run on the treadmill.
12/28/11: 7 miles
Syringa trial. The snow is all gone do to the rain and the trail is a little icy on certain sections but not to bad.
12/30/11: 14 miles
Rain again with cold temps put me back on the treadmill, two hrs on the treadmill was way boring but made through it listing to audio books.
12/31/1: 6 miles
Syringa Trail. Ran into Friend and local ultra runner Vern Eastley on the trail. We ran together for about 4 miles which was a lot of fun as we talked about running and life.
Total miles: 39 miles
The snow was fun to run in and it offers beautiful scenery epically in the early morning. The rain is getting on my nerves I really need to get a waterproof and windproof running jacket. Ultra training is mostly a solo endeavor since it is hard to find anyone crazy enough to want to run these types of distance. If you do its hard to juggle schedules to go on runs together, but I must say I do enjoy running with others you really get to know someone as you spend a couple of hrs running and talking together.
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| View of the Pend Oreille River from the Syringa Trail |
WEEK ONE: The dreaded treadmill
12/19/11: 7 miles
Rain and 30 degree temperatures kept me indoors running on the treadmill
12/20/11: 5 miles
Another exciting day on the treadmill due to weather
12/21/11: 7 miles
Finally the weather broke and able to run the Syringa trail which is just a mile from my house. ran to trail and did a 5 mile loop and then ran back to house.
12/23/11: 12miles
Rain and cold temps are back 12 miles on the treadmill thank goodness for the ipod and music.
12/24/11: 5 miles
Ran five miles on the road then went on a 4 mile hike on the Syringa Trail with my dad and his best friend Ken. We packed in a stove and cooking utensils and had a wonderful breakfast of eggs and bacon on a spot of trail that over look the Pend Orillie river. It snowed lightly during the whole duration of the hike which add to the splendor of the woods. It was a great outing one enjoyed very much!
Total miles: 40 miles (with added hiking)
Week one, the weather didn't cooperate for most of the week and running on the treadmill gets boring fast. It is really hard to get motivated to spend an hour or more on a treadmill but I didn't want to venture out in the freezing rain without the proper gear and run the risk of getting sick. I need to get some gear that will allow me to run in cold rainy conditions. I love running the Syringa Trail the first 1.25 miles are slightly up hill then the trail crests a hill and the "back side" is a series of different trails that loop into one another making hundreds of possibilities for different routs, and distance.
Rain and 30 degree temperatures kept me indoors running on the treadmill
12/20/11: 5 miles
Another exciting day on the treadmill due to weather
12/21/11: 7 miles
Finally the weather broke and able to run the Syringa trail which is just a mile from my house. ran to trail and did a 5 mile loop and then ran back to house.
12/23/11: 12miles
Rain and cold temps are back 12 miles on the treadmill thank goodness for the ipod and music.
12/24/11: 5 miles
Ran five miles on the road then went on a 4 mile hike on the Syringa Trail with my dad and his best friend Ken. We packed in a stove and cooking utensils and had a wonderful breakfast of eggs and bacon on a spot of trail that over look the Pend Orillie river. It snowed lightly during the whole duration of the hike which add to the splendor of the woods. It was a great outing one enjoyed very much!
Total miles: 40 miles (with added hiking)
Week one, the weather didn't cooperate for most of the week and running on the treadmill gets boring fast. It is really hard to get motivated to spend an hour or more on a treadmill but I didn't want to venture out in the freezing rain without the proper gear and run the risk of getting sick. I need to get some gear that will allow me to run in cold rainy conditions. I love running the Syringa Trail the first 1.25 miles are slightly up hill then the trail crests a hill and the "back side" is a series of different trails that loop into one another making hundreds of possibilities for different routs, and distance.
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| Cooking breakfast on the trail (Ken and Dad, left to right) |
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| Section of trail at Syringa |
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
Growing up I never enjoyed running unless it was with a football in hand, a one mile jog seemed like cruel and unusual punishment so needless to say I didn't do much long distance running. After high school I spent some time playing college football, served a two year mission for my church, and married the beautiful Katie Zehnter. Kids followed, three to be exact (and there is one on the way) and I didn't spend as much time in physical activities. My time was filled with family, working, and finishing up school. I ate a lot of junk food during this time and packed on some serious weight then one day in February of 2011 I finally realized how much I had let my health go by the way side so I started running in hopes of loosing some weight. My running started out slowly with just 10 minutes then 15 then 20 and as winter came to a close I could run for an hour with out stopping. As spring hit and I found the wonderful world of trail running. I simply loved running through the trees and racing down rugged mountain trails and challenging myself to see how fast I could run to the top of nearby mountains in other words I was hooked. Once I discovered trail running I started reading on how to become a better runner and I stumbled across trail ultra-marathons where people would race for 31 to 100+ miles on trails, logging roads and cross country. I was amazed that anyone could run that far but just reading about Ultras planted a seed somewhere in me that an Ultra might be something I would like to try. A couple of weeks later at the goodwill I found a book called Ultra-marathon Man for 50 cents and couldn't pass it up. I read the book in a week and was sold that an Ultra was something I really wanted to do. So I started looking for a race to run. I decided to run a 50 miler, 31 miles was just to close to a regular marathon and a 100k or miler didn't seem to be a wise choice for my first Ultra. After looking at many different races I settled on the Pocatello 50 on June 2nd 2012 which is said to be a very challenging course with lots of elevation but I wouldn't have it any other way. On December 19th 2011 I started my training using a 24 week training plan out of a book by Bryon Powell called Relentless Forward Progress. In hopes of documenting this adventure, I stared this blog to record my progress, adventures, thoughts and anything else that relates to the journey of my first Ultra-Marathon.
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