Looking Forward To A Day Of This

With just a little over a week to go, I have to surrender to the fact that my training wasn’t all that I hoped it would be.  We’ve been busy this summer and traveling a lot which definitely played havoc with the training.  I did manage to get in several good long runs, a few back-to-back long runs, a couple of 50 mile races, a few hill repeat sessions, and a few speed sessions, so its not that I didn’t do anything but I had hoped to really go into this race feeling as though I’d done everything I could to prepare.  My weekly mileage has hovered between 40 miles on the low end to 85 miles on the high end with most weeks coming in somewhere around 70 miles - not horrible by any means but also not enough to really build my confidence either.  The one major upside to this reduced training is that I feel completely fresh, wake up without any little aches and pains, and am chomping at the bit to run!

Despite the fact that I haven’t done all the training I’d hoped for, I am very excited for this race.  Rob, Tom, Rina and Lucy are coming to crew/pace.  We will get to hang with some of our favorite CHUGs (Brian, Kelly, Deanna, Ben and Sarah) and get to see some of our other running friends from all over the country.  We will get to spend several days in the gorgeous mountains of Colorado and take in the clean crisp air that it has to offer (albeit a little thinner than what we are used to here at sea level).

I’ve finalized my “crew instructions” and pacing chart, we’ve done our nutrition shopping, and we’ve put together our packing lists, so I’m starting to feel a little more relaxed.  This weekend, I hope to pack up the majority of stuff so that next week is all about relaxing.

I went to Badwater 135 this year anticipating I would like it, I was wrong… I LOVED it!  We flew into Las Vegas on Satruday, July 10, picked up Jim at the airport and then met up with Ed and Terry for a supply stop.  After buying a ton of snacks, beverages and water for the week, we were on our way to Furnace Creek, CA.  We made two stops along the way - the first was at a random little place called the Amargosa Opera House which is located just on the border of Nevada and California.  The claim is that the attached hotel is haunted (insert Scooby-Doo music), but we didn’t see or hear anything out of the ordinary.  Back on the road, we decided to stop at Dante’s View which overlooks the Badwater basin - it was our first glimpse of the valley and it was amazing!  After taking in the view, which included seeing the starting line as well as nearly all of the Death Valley, we headed down the road toward Furnace Creek where Adrian and Simone awaited.  When we got to the resort, the temperature was 119 degrees and while that sounds hot, it actually felt good.  I will admit to being a little bit of a desert rat having always been drawn to hot dry climates but,it seriously didn’t feel all that hot.  We checked into our rooms and they far exceeded my expectations, who would have thought that there would be such glorious accommodations in the middle of DV?!?  Everyone was in a chipper mood and after some catching up, we headed to dinner.  Runners and their crews could now be spotted here and there and my adrenaline was pumping - we were “running” with the big dogs or, in this case, some of the toughest men and women on the planet and it was awesome!  After dinner, Adrian, Paige and I headed to the pool.  Adrian’s philosophy is that Saturday is just a day off and meant for celebration, I’m not gonna lie to you, it got a little crazy before the night was through but we survived jumping from the roof of the sunshade into the pool so all was good.

Ed And I Excited About The Heat

Sunday we shuttled the car to Lone Pine 100+ miles away, which at first seemed like a huge hassle but we quickly realized the benefit of doing this was that we would get to see the entire course in broad daylight - major bonus!  When we got back to the hotel, we signed our crew waivers and sent Adrian off to check in.  That afternoon was the mandatory pre-race meeting and I couldn’t wait.  We filtered into the room and as I looked around I began to recognize a few faces that I had seen on various Badwater movies, I had to pinch myself to make sure it was all real.  There is something very special about this race and it was evident at every turn but sitting in that room with all the runners and their crew, it was palatable.  After the meeting, we mingled for a while and then headed to dinner.  Now, all the runners and their crews were there and we were seeing lots of familiar faces - both people we knew and people we knew of, it was awesome!

Pre-Race Dinner

Furnace Creek may be a small resort in the middle of Death Valley but they really know how to cater to their guests - our meals were delicious.  After dinner, we all dispersed quickly, we were tired and knew this would be our last good night of sleep before the race.

Race morning came all too fast and I was slow to rise.  We headed down to get some breakfast and took advantage of the buffet fully.  Then we finished our prep and headed out to get some pre-race pictures with everyone.  The mood was surprisingly light and we laughed a lot.  The race has a lot of rules and one of them is that only one vehicle per runner can be at the start and that all the occupants of the vehicle must be belted into a seat.  Ed and Terry volunteered to stay at Furnace Creek and let Paige and I go to the start.  What a wonderfully thoughtful gesture it was, we’d never been to the start and they both had, they insisted that we needed to see it - they were right, I had goose bumps and it wasn’t because I was cold.

Jimmy, Simone, Adrian, Me And Paige

The start is iconic.  I’ve seen hundreds of pictures of the start, I’ve watched movies showing the start and there I was, witnessing it first hand.  We took our pictures by the Badwater sign, walked around, talked with other runners and then watched as things heated up for the start.  The ceremony felt good.  Still, the mood was relaxed, more or less.  After the national anthem, the runners got underway.  The first section is a bit crazy as the runners are all still together, crew are figuring out the routine of taking care of their runner and crew vans are leapfrogging each other every few minutes.  Soon enough, we developed a rhythm, Adrian got into a groove and the runners started to sort themselves out by pace.  I had been very concerned that I would mess something up or break a rule and jeopardize Adrian’s race but I was finally able to relax a little.  The route runs right back past Furnace Creek, so when we got there, Paige and I traded out with Ed and Terry and stayed there to get some lunch and relax a little.  This pattern of swapping out two crew for a break and keeping four with the van seemed to work well and we continued it throughout the race.

On The Course With Adrian

By the time we caught up with them, both Ed and Terry had taken a turn pacing and it was my turn to jump in.  I did my final prep and at the next stop, it was go time.  I had no idea what to expect, Adrian was moving well, it was the hottest part of the day, and I was fresh off of lunch - it could have gone either way but it ended up going just fine.  I was surprised how much I enjoyed running in the heat (with support, of course) and I was amazed at how strongly Adrian was running several hours into this event.  I stayed with him until Stove Pipe Wells where Jimmy took over pacing duties.  Simone and I went to get some dinner while the others headed back out onto the road.  It was fun to spend a little time with Simone and felt awesome to sit for a while and relax.

Paige Getting Cooled Off During Pacing Duties; Even At Night, It Was 100+ Degrees

Soon we caught up with them out on the road, swapped our two crew and kept the cycle going through the night.  Paige finally got her shot at pacing.  The heat does weird things to the body and Adrian had already been through a couple of rough patches but he responded calmly and did what needed to be done to get himself going again.  Panamint Springs, was a little oasis in the night, the restaurant was open as was the gas station.  They also had one cottage rented for runner/crew use to sleep, shower or just relax.  We opened the door to the cottage, inside was runner carnage.  People lay passed out all over the various beds, couches and floor.  One runner lay in a fetal position on the floor with nothing but his running tights on and looked at us with scared eyes as we entered (he later went on to finish very strong).  We took a quick shower and got out of there.  After having a little dinner, we were back out on the road to find our runner.  Adrian was making good time coming into Panamint, so Jimmy and Simone took this opportunity to get a quick break before the sun came up.  When we arrived, Adrian checked in and then promptly took a short nap to recharge a bit before the sun, and the heat that would follow, came up.  We watched runners come and go, it was all business at this point.  Runners were feeling the effects of the 70+ miles combined with the heat.  The crews were feeling the effects too.  The next several miles were uphill and the sun was just coming up which made the temps manageable and the scenery totally gorgeous.

Jimmy Stands Ready To Assist

As the heat of the afternoon wore on, both Adrian and Jimmy kept their eyes on the prize and did their best to keep moving forward.  Adrian had several battles with his stomach and tried all sorts of different sources of calories, none of which seemed to be the answer.  At one point, milk was what he wanted and we had nearly run out so Ed and Terry went in search.  Normally, milk is in abundance but this is not the case in the middle of Death Valley, they had to barter with the general store to get a couple of pints which they transported in an empty coke bottle.  It is amazing how quickly all the rules change during an ultra event - clean is relative, 20 minutes of sleep is heaven, 3 hours of sleep is like a vacation, a shower in a dirty communal shower is sheer decadence, and milk being transported in an empty coke bottle is normal.

The next several hours were slow going with many stops along the highway.  The afternoon sun was hot and at one point, Adrian got chilled despite the 110+ heat.  He knew this wasn’t a good sign and diligently got himself out of the heat until he could get rehydrated and feeling better.  The Owen’s valley offered all its glory on the second night of the race.  Adrian was feeling tired but better.  Some fluids and calories had stayed down and he was moving steadily toward Lone Pine.  With things under control, each of us got a good long break on the second night.  We checked into our hotel, showered and got a solid three hours our sleep in a bed.  Upon waking, we headed out to meet up with the group for the final climb to the finish.

One thing that is consistent with ultras is no matter how you are feeling in the moment, give it a few miles and it will change … sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse but it will change.  In this case, Adrian was feeling better and moving well.  I jumped in to relieve Jimmy who had done a ton of miles over the past two days and welcomed the break.  The last several miles of this race are straight up.  With about three miles to go, Adrian looks at the guy just ahead of us and says to me, “you want to take him down?” and then promptly picked up the pace.  I laughed to myself and followed his lead.  We got next to the guy and started to pass him when the guy sped up to match Adrian’s stride.  ”Oh, I see, that’s how you want to do it, eh?” (said in his awesome Scarface voice) and then he started running.  Now remember, he has already run 130+ miles, been awake for 2+ days, and the road is straight up but his competitive juices were flowing.  I don’t know what pace we were running but it was a full stride and the guy disappeared quickly behind us.  I absolutely LOVED it!  What a competitor!

Runner And Crew: Jimmy, Paige, Me, Adrian, Simone, Ed And Terry

When we were a half mile from the finish, the whole crew was there to join for the finish.  Adrian was adamant that everyone be there … together … for the finish.  As we turned that final corner and the finish line came into sight, I had to hold back the tears.  It was such an amazing way to finish an incredible journey.  I wish there was a way for me to capture the emotion of the moment, to somehow provide a vicarious experience but suffice it to say that it was far better than anything I had conceived in my mind.  After several minutes of hugs and congratulations, we posed for some pictures and Adrian got his beloved buckle.

With our mission accomplished, we headed back to the hotel for a little rest.  Later in the morning, Paige and I got up and did a little run of our own.  We headed out into the Owen’s valley just in time to see Jack Denness coming into town - Jack is 75 years old and has finished 11 previous Badwaters, what an inspiration.  After our run, we went for some lunch with Ed and Terry at Mt. Whitney Restaurant which, by the way, had absolutely amazing chocolate malts.  With our belly’s full, we headed up to do some hiking on Mt. Whitney.  We didn’t have passes so we were limited as to how far we could go but we still got to witness some gorgeous scenery and do a little trail running too.  When we got back to the parking lot, which was also the finish line area, Jack was just finishing his 12th official Badwater journey.

The post-race party was that night in Lone Pine.  The tradition of this race is one of the many draws to it.  I absolutely love that everyone comes together after the race to share their experience.  During the race, they take a ton of photos and video and then they put together a professional looking recap video set to some kick-butt music and show it at the post-race party.  This year’s video was as inspiring as years’ past but was more meaningful since we were actually there to witness it.

There are two things that could make or break this experience: 1) the runner and 2) the crew, we were extremely fortunate on both fronts.  Adrian was the perfect runner - he knows himself so well and what works for him, that made our job easy.  He never lost his sense of humor (which is bar none) and his focus on the main goal of finishing never faltered even as he was forced to modify his goals for the race.  He kept his cool when things unraveled and then he pulled them back together.  He communicated what he needed from us without being demanding.  And, he did what he could, when he could.  Like I said, he was the perfect runner.  As for the crew, I couldn’t believe how much fun we had despite the heat, lack of sleep, the bugs, and the stink : )  I can only speak for myself but I really felt like we got along great as a group and everyone really pitched in where needed.  We all had the same focus, get Adrian to the finish line in good shape.  It was an honor to be a part of Adrian’s team.  Before having been there, I was intrigued by the race.  Having been there, I’m completely taken with it.  Will I be back?  Yes.

We are off for the northland.  Ten years ago, I ran my first ultra at Voyager Trail 50. At that time, I was living in Iowa City and running several marathons per year but this was a big deal.  This year, I return with a little more experience but just as much excitement.  In four weeks, Paige and I will be toeing the line at Leadville and this race will serve as our “dry” run to dial in our nutrition, shoes, etc. before the big race.  I have very fond memories of this race and the Iowa City crew that made the trip special and have no doubt that this year will be just as special as I will be running with my favorite person not to mention several CHUGs will also be running.  There may be some limited runner updates on race day on the website.

Me Finishing in 2009

Last year on this weekend, I ran my first hundred mile race - Kettle Moraine 100.  This year, Paige and I went up to crew and pace Ed (an awesome guy and fellow CHUG).  We drove up on Friday night and had a delicious dinner with my dad and Andrea.

Paige Getting Final Instructions From Ed

Saturday, I wasn’t late (like I was for my own race) and we met up with Ed to go over final race prep and strategy.  Ed has his packing and racing down to a science which made our job easy.  Our plan was to meet him at each crew accessible aid station and make sure his needs were taken care of - simple enough.  The day started out comfortable for the spectators which translates to warm for the runners but Ed was moving great!  It was fun to watch runners come through each aid station, their rituals, how they interacted with their crew, and to see how their position changed as the day progressed.  We were able to see him quite frequently and he was an easy runner to crew for - strong, knows what he needs, and smiling the whole time.  Simultaneously, we were following Leslie as she attempted her first hundred mile run.  We traveled from AS to AS with Bill and were able to see Leslie come through just after Ed making our day very enjoyable - both were running strong and having a great time despite Ed tweeking his calf early on.  The sun was warm and while the weather forecast promised rain and dropping temps, we watched on as runners soaked through their clothes under warm sunny skies.  At the 31 mile AS, we met up with Leslie’s dad and brothers, they had come to surprise her and accomplished that goal handedly.  Ed was still chugging along nicely, managing the pain in his calf and making the best of it.  We were having a blast.  As the day wore on, both runners seemed to be enjoying the experience and holding up well.  Soon, Brian, Ben and Sarah joined us.  Brian was pacing another CHUG for the last 38 miles.  Ben was running the “fun run” which started at 8PM and covered the last 38 miles of the course.  And, Sarah was pacing Leslie from mile 62 until the end.  I thoroughly enjoy each of their company and it added to the fun we were having with Bill as we traveled from stop to stop.  Eventually, the rain did come and the temps did drop but they seemed welcomed by the runners as they provided relief from the heat.  Soon the rain had turned to a downpour and then the lightning started.  Paige and I were planning to split the 38 miles of pacing but when Ed came into the Bluff Road AS, he was thinking he may not be able to continue past the 100K mark.  I got dressed and waited for him, just in case.  When he got there, the rain was starting to finally let up but he wasn’t able to carry on any further.  I trust Ed’s instinct as to what he can push through and what needs to be respected.  Congrats on a great effort Ed and the 100K personal best.  With our runner now safely back in his hotel room, our focus turned to Leslie.  The rain and dropping temps had chilled her to the bone.

Leslie And Sarah Heading Out

When she got to the 62 mile AS, she changed into dry clothes and picked up Sarah.  She was tired and muddy but in decent spirits.  As they rolled out, back on to the course, we were all moved by the strength to keep going when so many were opting to stop their race.  We followed the two of them as they made their way over the last section of the course.  Their times slowed as fatigue took hold but the forward motion was maintained.  We napped for a few minutes here and there but mostly, we watched for our runners.  Brian was pacing Mike, we watched for them too.  The wee hours of the morning are interesting, runners have waves of feeling good only to be followed by waves of wanting to end it all.  The weather was cooperating and that seemed to lift spirits some.  We had all been up for nearly a full 24 hours and the world was starting to feel a bit odd - this is when things seem to get interesting.  Runners drop from the race, others unexpectedly surge to the finish, and others walk around in a zombie-like state - it is completely different being a crew person as opposed to a runner… I love both experiences.  Leslie was in the zombie-like state but doing all she could to keep moving forward, Sarah was doing all she could to encourage Leslie to keep moving forward.  Soon, the sun came up and the two of them were moving along nicely.  We ushered them through the Hwy 12 aid station and headed off to get some breakfast.  It wasn’t long before we got “the call” - Leslie had pushed as far as she could.  With a finish rate in the low 3o percentile, neither she nor Ed were alone but they couldn’t help but feel the pang of some unfinished business.  Paige and I turned our focus to Mike and Brian who were still out on the course.  The had come through the last AS in plenty of time to finish under the cut-off and now it was just a waiting game.  After a couple of false alarms, they came around the bend and crossed the finish line with smiles on their faces.  Mike had fought the urge to quit multiple times and was now standing with a finishers kettle.  We said our good-byes and made our way to the truck.  With only cat naps for sleep, we headed toward home.  As the adrenaline wore off and sleep deprivation set in, we had to pull off the highway and sleep for a bit to take the edge off.  Finally home and showered after a wonderful weekend in the Kettle.

A couple of weeks ago, we traveled to Florida to witness the union of two dear friends.  Brian and Kelly are now officially Brelly.  The wedding was on Saturday but we decided to extend our stay a bit and soak up some warm sunny weather so we left on Thursday after work and flew to Clearwater Beach.  Brelly greeted us but it was late so after catching up a bit, we agreed to meet up for breakfast.  Friday, we had them to ourselves until late afternoon when the first batch of guests started to arrive.  We got to meet family and friends though they purposefully kept the numbers small.  Saturday was a relaxing day at the beach and then the wedding/reception.  The ceremony was on the beach facing the ocean and it was gorgeous - simple and elegant.  Some weddings are truly inspiring and this was definitely one of them.  They were both so happy, they were nearly busting at the seams.  One of the greatest things about the wedding, and the whole weekend, was that it was exactly what Brian and Kelly wanted and it fit them perfectly.  Fitting with the beach ceremony, instead of a unity candle, they each had a glass of sand and they poured them into a larger common vase.  It represented how they each came to the marriage separately but now their lives were inseparable just as the sand was now one jar of sand - it was very cool.  They had sunset pictures along the water’s edge that were amazingly beautiful.  Sunday was another relaxing day at the beach and then we did a dinner cruise with several family/friends that were still around.  The cruise took us into the bay and then out into the gulf for a stereotypically beautiful sunset and provided me with my first wild dolphin siting.  Monday we had breakfast with the remaining guests before early afternoon flights and then it was just us and Brelly.  We played wiffleball on the beach (where I couldn’t seem to connect with the ball and Paige smacked the thing like no tomorrow), caught some waves (little but fun), and then headed to dinner at Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill, right on the beach.  It was a gorgeous night and our last sunset didn’t disappoint.  When we returned to the hotel, Brelly asked us to help them finish off the wedding cake - considering it was the best wedding cake to ever cross our lips, we were happy to oblige.  They had an early flight in the morning so we said our goodbyes and wished the newlyweds a happy honeymoon.  Tuesday morning, we were the final guests left and spent our last day walking around town and relaxing.  Congratulations Brelly, thank you for letting us share in the ocassion!

Good Luck Kisses From Mia

Last weekend was the Ice Age Trail 50 so I left work a little early to get home and load the truck so that when Paige was off at five o’clock, we could head straight out of town.  Traffic cooperated and we made it to my dad and Andrea’s place by 7:30ish.  We had a delicious dinner and enjoyed my niece Madeline’s cuteness before heading to bed.  I slept great and popped right up when the alarm went off at 4AM.  Despite having prepped most everything the night before and having a short drive to the start, I still managed to get there just as the race was starting and thus lost about ten minutes before I even crossed the start line.  My motto, I’m gonna be out here all day anyway so what is ten minutes, right?!  Kelly and Mia were at the start so got some good luck kisses from Mia, said my goodbyes and headed out.  I felt good and was running well very quickly and soon started catching runners.  The downhills were quick and I was even running most of the uphills - fellow ultrarunners can probably hear the ominous music playing in the background and know exactly what is coming but as far as everyone else is concerned, it is a good day.

I passed Brian and would have missed him had he not grabbed my attention.  After a quick hello, I continued down my path of destruction.  I kept passing runners and was clicking off miles comfortably when I rolled into the start/finish area.  Paige was waiting with bottles ready to go - I had decided not to carry anything with me on the first 8+ mile loop.  I didn’t stick around long before beginning the second portion of the race.  I met Jason and spent the next several miles chatting about everything from running (of course) to group theory (his PHD thesis) - it was good meeting you Jason, the miles really flew by.

Almost Done, Just Seven Miles To Go

Paige was meeting up with me every few miles at the designated crew/aid stations and was typically in the company of several CHUGs.  The day was cool which wasn’t bad for runners but made spectating tough; as always, Paige was a trooper and always had a smile on her face.  I saw her at the Easterly Road Aid Station and was still feeling pretty good but by the time I left the Rice Lake Turn Around, the error of my ways was becoming evident.  I slowed down and immediately began to be passed.  I kept moving forward but it was much less comfortable than before and with the slower pace, I had to fight off the cold.  After Easterly Road on the way back is when the wheels really came off and the next 10 miles would be rough going.  No one likes having a tough day but for some reason, I was actually enjoying it.  My body felt more like I was 80 miles into the run rather than 30.  There is something very rewarding about being that in touch with your body and being so focused on the basic necessities of keeping the body moving.  It simplifies life for a moment.  This is one of the greatest gifts of running long and why I enjoy the hundred mile distance so much - here, I was getting the experience from a fifty mile race and it felt like I was cheating : )

Eventually, I did begin to feel better and the pace improved some.  Right about then, Jack, an old running buddy of mine from Iowa City caught up with me.  I met Jack through a group I ran with on Wednesday nights back when I first started running longer distances.  It didn’t take long hanging out with that group before I decided to train for a marathon and Jack was at the starting line with me for my first Grandma’s Marathon back in 1997.  We spent the next 8-10 miles together, getting caught up on all that’s happened since last we saw each other.  Great to see you Jack!

Ice Age 50 - Finish

After the turnaround at Emma Carlin, I knew I was home free with less than 10 miles to go.  I would experience a short hail storm, get to see Paige one more time, and get some alone time before finishing but soon the day would be over.  Paige, Brelly and several CHUGs were waiting at the finish line when I arrived.  The sun was shining for a brief moment and the post race party had begun.  After a change of clothes, we headed to get some food at the BBQ.  Sarah had won her age division so we hung around for the awards - congrats Sarah!

Lessons I relearned: 1) drink early and often, 2) don’t fall behind on your nutrition, 3) don’t fall behind on your electrolytes, 4) don’t start out too fast, 5) don’t run the uphills too early in the race, 6) don’t run the downhills too hard, 7) respect the distance - lots of good reminders of things I already learned at some point before.

Thanks for all the support out there Paige, it was motivating to know that I’d get to see you at the next aid station… if I could just get there.

Finishing A Run At Kettle

Leading into the weekend, Paige and I felt like we were a bit run down and tired from a week of not getting enough sleep but that didn’t slow us down much.  Friday after work, we packed up our stuff and headed for Brelly’s house.  We hung out for a while and got to bed late (after 11PM).  Morning would come soon with the alarm going off at 4:30AM for a 5:15AM departure for Kettle Moraine.  Brian and I are running the Ice Age Trail 50 in a month and had made plans to join some CHUGs and an unofficial training group to run part of the course.  We rolled into the parking lot of the Nordic area around 7:10AM and went about getting ready to run.  It was sunny but quite cool and we were still very sleepy.  I looked up and saw Paige standing there looking defeated and when I asked her what was wrong, she replied “I am so NOT into this.”  She was tired and cold… and about as cute as girl could be.  After a little hug and some encouragement, she got dressed to run.

We headed out on the first 9+ mile loop with Ben and Sarah and warmed up nicely.  The trails in Kettle are awesome and the morning was perfect for running.  I was feeling okay but not great and had a hard time finding a groove.  Just as we were finishing up our loop, we heard someone approaching from behind, it was Ed.   We greeted him and our group grew by one (though we had lost Ben and Sarah by this point).  The end of the loop brought us back to our cars where we refilled our water bottles and made some slight clothing adjustments before heading out for the second portion of our run.  Paige turned back after another mile or so and then it was just Brian, Ed and me; we were all planning to do 25 miles or so.  We chatted as we ran and time passed quickly at first but soon, I was starting to feel less than stellar again.  Nothing was really wrong, but I felt tired and generally fatigued.   We took turns leading the way along the winding single-track, through pine tree laden woods with the aroma of the forest coming to life under the warm sun.  I absolutely love that area and those trails.  Eventually we hit Hwy 12, our turn around point, where we filled our water bottles and took a short break before heading back.  The return trip was tough mentally and physically but we still had a nice time.  When we got back to the car, Paige was waiting and was in a much better mood with the sun warming things up, a nice run in her legs and a nap taken.

We said our goodbyes to Ed and headed toward home.  We stopped at McDonald’s for some post run grub - always delicious.  By the time we got home, we had just enough time for a quick shower and power nap before heading to meet up with some CHUGs for dinner at RAM Brewery.  After dinner, we continued the evening at GameWorks.  I was completely beat but somehow managed to play 400 games of Skeeball, okay that is a slight exaggeration but it was a lot.  Paige was on fire with Skeeball and the tickets were rolling out of the machine as fast as she could tear them off.  At the end of the night, she cashed them in for candy to help ease the sweet tooth she had developed at some point during the day.  Ben and Sarah used their tickets to get a cool little parachute wearing alien which they immediately tested out by having Ben drop from the second floor overlook (it worked like a charm and brought smiles to everyone’s face).  Once we had all had our fill, we parted ways for the night.

We got back to Brelly’s and four minutes later, we were all sound asleep.  We slept in and woke up to Brian and Kelly fixing breakfast.  We could smell coffee first and then bacon - yum!   After breakfast, we played with the dogs for a while and lounged around before facing the reality that it was time to head home.  Thanks for another fun weekend Brelly!

Paige, Me, Rina and Rob

Paige and I are freshly back from our trip west (or at least we were when I started this blog entry), where we had five fun filled days/nights in the mountains of Utah.  Rob and Rina picked us up from the airport with Lucy in tow.  We promptly met up with Ben at a Mazza for some delicious Middle Eastern cuisine.  The temps were mild and it felt good to walk around town.  Friday, we picked up some skiing gear and headed to Alta.  The weather was warm in the valley but snowy and cold in the mountains.  Rob was staying on top of the conditions and by the time we got there late morning, they had nine inches of fresh snow and it was still falling at a rate of a little over an inch an hour.  Rob secured us a couple of free ski passes - yay, FREE!  We had a quick bite to eat and then headed up the mountain.

This was Paige’s first time on skis in a while and she was a little intimidated by it all but her excitement and easy-going attitude ruled the day.  We got off the Collins lift at 10,500 ft in the middle of a whiteout.  Paige was nervous but she was also a trouper and turned her tips downhill.  It was going to be slow going due to the low visibility and getting our skiing legs beneath us but Rob and Rina patiently led us down the hill.  Soon we were approaching the bottom and Paige, while not completely over her fear, was loving the Utah powder.  We spent the day skiing both sides of the mountain and ended up on the Albion Base side.  While Rob went to get the truck from the Wildcat area, we went into the Albion Grill to get some refreshments (aka PBR on tap) - a perfect ending to an awesome day.

That night, was the Alta clinic’s annual party.  Rob had got us cleared to attend, so we had a little time to kill before festivities got rolling.  We made ourselves comfy and chatted about the day.  As the party heated up, we met several of the folks who work at the clinic and their families - an awesome group who made us feel right at home.  After the party, we picked up Lucy and headed up to Park City to stay at Rob and Rina’s new/newly remodeled condo.  We had stayed here last September but they had gutted the place since we were there and we were eager to see the finishes… the place looked amazing!  Everything just worked - homey but functional, outdoorsy but modern - we loved it.

Here We Are Working On Our Sunburn

Saturday morning, we slept in a bit, had a quick breakfast and hit the slopes.  Their place is “ski in/ski out”, so all we had to do was walk a couple of houses down and put our skis on - very cool.  We spent the day navigating the Park City Mountain Resort in warm temperatures and under blue skies which was quite a contrast to the previous day.  Paige and I failed to apply sunblock and by lunch time, it was evident that we were going to be burnt though to what extent, I didn’t realize at the time.  We got a lot more skiing in before the mountain closed and for our last run, we made our way over to the Quittin’ Time run and skied right to R&R’s driveway - did I mention how cool this is?  I think Paige was glad to have her skis off after a day of being unpleasantly surprised by the steepness of the runs we found ourselves on but she, as always, remained a good sport and eventually made her way down the hill.  After skiing, we met up with the Lewis crew and friends at The Oasis Cafe where the food was good but the ambiance is what really sold the place.

Ben and Me

Ben was the tour guide for Sunday and he had snowshoeing on tap.  After a leisurely coffee at the Coffee Garden, we packed up our stuff and Ben picked us up, his friend Terry was with him.  We headed up Big Cottonwood Canyon toward a popular hike called Donut Falls which, to my disappointment, did not actually produce any donuts.  It was a gorgeous day and the hike was amazing!  Terry was having some trouble with his snowshoe staying on which gave us several opportunities to stop, look around and take in the scenery.  This was Paige’s first time on snowshoes and she was taking to it like a pro.  I think it scared her a little when we got our crash course in avalanche safety but after we got going, she seemed to relax.  About 45 minutes into the hike, the trail started to get steep and we soon came upon the falls themselves.  You couldn’t really see much of the falls due to the snow and ice but that was beautiful in its own way.  We lingered for a moment and then headed up the most technical section of the trail we would face.  It was slow going and nearly straight up.  The snow was deep and loose in this section because it was well shaded and we were finding it difficult to make much progress.  Eventually we did make it to the top of the ravine and it leveled off into a much more manageable trail.  Soon we came to an avalanche field which must have slid several days (possibly weeks) before because it had fresh snow on top of icy chunks underneath.  We looked up the side of the mountain, noting the slide path and the natural features that guided the slide - nature is a cool thing.  We hiked a little further, had some lunch and then turned back.

Bethany and Laura were waiting at the Lewis’ household for us and after a brief stopover, we headed to Park City for dinner.  With the troops ravenous, it didn’t take us long to decide on a spot for dinner, Flanagan’s it was and with PBR on tap, I was happy.  We had a delicious dinner and then walked around Main Street for a while before stopping at the candy shop for dessert.  I always love going to Park City, its got a great blend of outdoorsy mountain town combined with upscale comfort.

Grandeur Peak Jumper

Monday was another low key morning followed by a hike up in Mill Creek.  Lucy led the way most of the hike up Grandeur Peak.  We started in snow and then ended in snow.  The trail was fairly slick at the bottom and required some focus to keep your feet underneath your body but it soon cleared and the hiking was awesome.  As we approached the saddle, we could see the snow up ahead.  We were just short of the actual peak but considering the amount of snow we would have to traverse and the light hikers without gaiters we were wearing, we decided this was as good of a place as any to turn around.  So, we had some snacks and took some pictures - jumpers, of course - and headed back down the trail.  About a third of the way down, Rob spotted something on the hill, could it be… a bear?  In reality, it was probably just a bush or boulder that was uniquely colored but for this story, I’m sticking with the bear story.

It was our last night in Salt Lake and the Lewis’ decided to host us for a most delicious dinner at their house.  Ben has many talents but throwing together a delicious and nutritious (that’s for you Hoops) dinner is at the top.  On the fly, he made a lentil soup that is still making my mouth water just thinking about it.  I don’t know how he does it but he comes up with the most amazing meals without a recipe.  It was great sitting around chatting and having so many people I love in the same room.  We said our goodbyes to the Lewis’ - always hard to do - and headed back to Rob and Rina’s place.

Tuesday we got a leisurely start at home with Rob & Rina fixing us breakfast and then did a little shopping at Patagonia Outlet and Kirkham’s.  Eventually, we had to face reality and pack our things for the airport and our trip home.  We said our goodbyes to Rob, Rina, and Lucy and got on a plane back to Chicago.  It was a fun time that went too fast, as usual.  A BIG thank you to the Salt Lake Crew for having and entertaining us!  And, a big thank you to Paige for being so flexible and fun to vacation with, you’re the best!

It all started with this post on Adrian’s Facebook status:

“Congratulations! You have been accepted to compete in the 2010 Badwater Ultramarathon”…

Later that day, my phone rang and it was Jimmy O.  He had been in touch with Adrian to begin the preliminary planning for his second trip to Death Valley.  When the topic of crew came up, Jim had our back and suggested that Paige and I join them.  Adrian was on board.  Jim was calling to plant the seed and get us thinking about our availability to join Team Adrian on an adventure to the hottest place in North America.  What he didn’t realize was that he hadn’t planted a seed but rather a 5 year old sapling which already had leaves on it.  Paige and I quickly agreed that this was something we very much wanted to do and that we needed to make it happen.  Just the week before, we had sat down and planned out all our vacation time for the year, now we were going to have to do some rearranging - it was worth it.  The next step was getting the vacation approved at work - check.  So, come July 12, we will be in Death Valley with the world’s most elite ultramarathoners and we couldn’t be more excited about it!

I remember talking to a friend years ago and telling him that I really wanted to try running a marathon.  He responded that if I wanted to run a marathon, I should start hanging out with people who ran marathons.  It was good advice.  Before long, I was running marathons.  Now, I hang out with people who do Badwater, hmmm….

Ed And I

Fellow CHUGs Tony and Brian put together the first annual Palos Hills 50K and they did a great job!  Brian put together the website and coordinated with Tony who worked on the course and with the park officials to get proper clearance - together they pulled off an awesome event.  It had been wet leading up to the race and when Saturday morning rolled around, it was raining yet again.  The trail is a mixture of surfaces but primarily crushed limestone.  We gathered in the shelter just before 8:30 AM and then, as a group, we rolled out into the rain for the start.  As we headed down the first section of the trail, it was evident that the feet would be wet for the entire race.  I found Ed and settled in for the first two loops with him.

It Was A Wet Day

The trail ranged from very forgiving but firm crushed limestone, to very soggy crushed limestone, from firm mud, to shoe sucking mud, from water covered trail, to “where the heck did the trail go” water covered trail.  At one point on the first loop, there was a section that was about 5 feet wide and several inches deep; some of the runners in front of us had stopped and were attempting to get across without submersing their shoes in the water.  Ed and I splashed through knowing full well that just ahead was a 50 foot section that was much deeper and completely unavoidable.  By the end of the second loop, Ed decided to respect the signals his body was sending and packed it in.  I headed out on my third loop alone but at least I had a dry shirt on.  I was feeling good and pushed the pace for a while.  Eventually, this, combined with the miles, caught up with me and I had to ease back on the pace.  Even though I was starting to feel the miles, my legs were feeling good considering the minimal amount of training I’ve done since Rocky Raccoon 100 in February.  It continues to amaze me what the body can do if you just ask nicely.

Co-RD, Tony, Showing Us How Its Done

The second half of the third loop was tough and as I started out on the fourth loop, I was pretty stiff.  It wasn’t long before I loosened up some and was running smoothly again.  I thoroughly enjoyed the last hour of the run and felt better at the end than I did for most of the race.  Paige was a trooper and used the time to get a little hill workout in before standing in the damp cold air for the rest of the day greeting runners as they returned to the shelter - of course she was smiling the whole time.

After the run, Paige and I went for burritos with our new friends James and Cindy.  They were up from Bradley and happily accepted our offer for Chipotle.  The inaugural event was a success despite the less than idea conditions.  It was good to see some CHUGs and meet some new friends.  Thanks to Tony and Brian!