Otter Falls / Snoqualmie Lake trail run (19 miles?)

Volcanic 50K Race Report: Finding Balance and Redemption on the Trail

I am typically not a fast runner. I do not train enough and I like beer and unhealthy eats way too much. :-) But that is why I do ultras. They help me balance my diet and more importantly, they help me reach out and find the edge of myself, and in the process they help me balance my soul.

At the Volcanic 50K last Saturday, I surprised myself. Even with stopping to support (literally!) a badly cramped runner on a very exposed cliff on Windy Pass (that was sketchy!) and 5 wasp stings on my left leg and ankle (right where the shoe rubs!!!), I ran 2 hours faster than I thought I could. More importantly, I redeemed myself for the only DNF I have ever had in 25 years of racing. (Last year, I took a wrong turn, ran a couple miles extra and then took over 200 pictures and missed the 24 mile cut off by under 2 minutes! I felt dumb for underestimating the smoking dragon called Mount Saint Helens. This was a race I knew I could finish and so this year I was looking for redemption.)

Saturday's race was different in every way. I found another gear. I ran faster than I have in a long time, on one of the toughest courses you can find. The faster than normal run was the product of a number of things. First and foremost, this is an excellent group at Go Beyond Racing putting these races on. The course was marked very well and the aid stations were well stocked and staffed with amazing folks who were responsive and supportive. To top it off, the weather was perfect, overcast and so much better than the smelting sunny heat of last year.

And of course, the Mountain was splendid and perfect!  I most appreciated her duality, hidden at times in dense fog, a worthy adversary, a sly and elusive dragon, full of tricks and challenges; then suddenly rearing up, clear, glorious and genuine; a supportive friend encouraging me on.

This is one of those unique races that tears you down and then builds you back up, over and over again. And somewhere along the way you suddenly become a better person.  The journey defines you and makes you whole.

People often tell me, that I am crazy for doing races like this. I do not usually know what to say to that. But after this race, after running through the pain, finding new reserves and making it all the way round that beautiful volcano, I have to say, I would be crazy not to.

 

I do love my job.

https://sna.etapestry.com/prod/viewEmailAsPage.do?databaseId=NeighborhoodHouse&shareMedium=label.facebook&etapCacheBuster=1356633456419&jobRef=203.0.533744691

How to overcome a bad background and start making a good career...

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/12/headhunter-how-to-get-and-stay-hired-despite-a-sordid-past.html

How long do running shoes last? Should I rotate?

http://thegaitguys.tumblr.com/post/37264543399/the-great-myth-of-rotating-your-shoes-here-are

Shoe Review: Altra Instinct 1.5 (week 1)

I am not sure when I first came to this realization, but this thought has been with me for a while:

“I want a shoe I can forget about. I want to run, not worry about my shoes.”

Over the past 25 years, I have run in shoes from many of the major running shoe companies. The past 3 years, I have also been training in shoes that are considered more minimalist and even done some barefoot running. Yet, after thousands of dollars spent and thousands of miles run—through all the many trials and many miles—I never found a shoe that 100% allowed me to forget that they were there…until today.

After running in the Altra Instinct 1.5, I am happy to report:  I finally found my ideal road shoe!

Keep it simple and natural:  I am a runner. I want a shoe I can forget about. I want to run and not worry about my shoes. Yet, over the years, I have waded through gimmicks and fads and tried everything from overly supportive and cushioned to extremely minimalist.

In the Altra Instincts (and all the Altra running shoes from what I see), I am finding a simple blend of all the things I have enjoyed about past ‘traditional’ shoes and all the elements I have been looking for in newer more ‘minimalist’ shoes. The result is a natural and yet protected running experience that lets me focus on why I leave the house in the first place….the joy of running! J

The Specs: You can get all the specific shoe details at their website.

My Conclusion:  Here are the 3 things that mattered most to me and how it looks so far:

1. Altra is THE ONLY zero drop, foot shaped shoe with cushioning and support. That means my form is more natural (proper midfoot strike and foot splay). Yet, I am still protected from the pavement (Though I do think we are born to run and also that some barefoot running is important, we did not evolve to train 5-10 miles/day on concrete.)
2. Altra's provide a stable flat ride. I have had many ankle and foot injuries in the past, but when I run in these I feel confident with every footfall.
3. There is enough protection for the long haul and yet they are very light (8.9 ounces) and flexible. There is just enough shoe here to help ride out mile after mile on man-made surfaces. But the overall build of the shoe lets my feet do what they want to do. (Caution: since these are minimalist and foot shaped, it is important to ease into them. Your feet, ankles, knees, hips and all the muscles and tendons in between will be stengthened more with this shoes. So give them a chance to get used to actually having to do their jobs...:-)

Give me another 2 weeks and I will post how they hold up on some longer runs and over time. But so far so good. Please feel free to message me with any questions. Happy Running! :-)

We are all runners...

He really brings it together in this presentation...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-iGZPtWXzE