tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29985417493915037712024-02-01T23:47:51.049-07:00ONE step at a timethe running adventures of ryan burch and friendsburchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-23189430489610954162014-07-02T17:31:00.000-06:002014-07-02T17:31:34.228-06:00Black Hills 100 Mile: Keep it Real Like Chill<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72x_2vgKx0rpamN3rqetNPZKCjPL3w1AbXEtxQ2O9T3b1Tb3DXHXZkeisrG_JA0SSEwqe_CuKKCS5ecTHrS6lJ0xJiJvM5y2TvUsHlns9tO5SWEBDMTIcyHfCK4oGxFO1Wlz7TbUUmCs9/s1600/start.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72x_2vgKx0rpamN3rqetNPZKCjPL3w1AbXEtxQ2O9T3b1Tb3DXHXZkeisrG_JA0SSEwqe_CuKKCS5ecTHrS6lJ0xJiJvM5y2TvUsHlns9tO5SWEBDMTIcyHfCK4oGxFO1Wlz7TbUUmCs9/s320/start.jpg" /></a><br />
The Start<br />
<br />
This was by far my best 100 mile performance to date. The missing pieces from previous hundreds found their places and made the run through the Black Hills of South Dakota quite enjoyable. Sure, my 2011 Leadville showcases a time 23 minutes faster but it pales in comparison to the composure and execution that played out only a few days ago. I'm understanding this distance in a whole new light and its exciting. Quite honestly I was a slow learner at 100's. It took me ten to write the epiphany laced report you're reading today. And the learning is elementary. Let me break it down for you with Burch's guide to a successful 100:<br />
<br />
1. Keep it Real Like Chill (say this and actually follow through with it, seriously)<br />
2. Run your own race (say this and actually follow through with it, really)<br />
3. Execute your race day nutrition plan (say this and actually follow through with it, for the real) <br />
4. Stay composed<br />
5. Pee on your leg<br />
6. Avoid getting sprayed by skunks<br />
7. Embrace any conditions you may get. It was extremely muddy! Like Fruita 2014 muddy.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZDWLUcM9TFzmKWQ4UWy7lAjir5htWYvljwFk4Lf_fiaBwdR0DeI8hQNkAkx1mrOov9OOuye2oPScUEeB2ksQjgHoWGOCC1mg6xPcEOIIlvETpGctIUQUh3WVo-msGWRua_aoyVa-4dfp/s1600/Mud+trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZDWLUcM9TFzmKWQ4UWy7lAjir5htWYvljwFk4Lf_fiaBwdR0DeI8hQNkAkx1mrOov9OOuye2oPScUEeB2ksQjgHoWGOCC1mg6xPcEOIIlvETpGctIUQUh3WVo-msGWRua_aoyVa-4dfp/s320/Mud+trail.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNsftfwl6mMXVszMjUdRr5mcw2HNn_TwbVwY38eXRAuT2G2lkCgZWWO9CXW-PxFH_2Q0ue6DwqZYOApSfazo9bVy2D4dp0_0ueK7nGTv9W6792BkEFKz5_HjqTV0mchfT98euQ8P57Kn9/s1600/more+mud.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDNsftfwl6mMXVszMjUdRr5mcw2HNn_TwbVwY38eXRAuT2G2lkCgZWWO9CXW-PxFH_2Q0ue6DwqZYOApSfazo9bVy2D4dp0_0ueK7nGTv9W6792BkEFKz5_HjqTV0mchfT98euQ8P57Kn9/s320/more+mud.jpg" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4y7OSpZqWfSXYAojNhry1EvsWASbTOjdyco6hYJ86RxMAry87-mkgTI0Gzz_dw4zi-4JW7EfkaaJZlWOhwM3z14NTSTR_SbeVwDmItI91mrrwLsVe3qQI17QzOY7WoVS70HdUxqCyBlg2/s1600/ur+bike+on+mud.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4y7OSpZqWfSXYAojNhry1EvsWASbTOjdyco6hYJ86RxMAry87-mkgTI0Gzz_dw4zi-4JW7EfkaaJZlWOhwM3z14NTSTR_SbeVwDmItI91mrrwLsVe3qQI17QzOY7WoVS70HdUxqCyBlg2/s320/ur+bike+on+mud.jpg" /></a><br />
Ur bike on mud<br />
<br />
The evening before the race the Fort Collins Contingent was discussing race strategy around the dinner table. My plan, to keep it real like chill. I was going to keep the heart rate super low for the duration of the race. No unnecessary spikes from starting too fast, trying to power through a ridiculous climb, and so on. At the most basic level it is easier to sustain a moderate heart rate over a long distance and it is easier to take in calories during lower intensity. Mentally I told myself I was going out at training run pace. I was hiking some of the first hills within the first two miles of the race. I'm learning you have to be really disciplined to go out slow and it makes up so much time later in the race. At mile 17 I was 7 minutes back of the leaders.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVTMsDGepfUAYSb0CJCHmvvFW_PilXvB30JxqaITbNeAXzR5IRa1XLaaSZvVTH9eIF-yNlzIuFSSEUqjSx8LhdmWiZo0gaZDwlo47-fFOBnA6O-v9AEzXpjR1KQdT9WGQdwMBC7u5JvOS/s1600/meadow+running.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVTMsDGepfUAYSb0CJCHmvvFW_PilXvB30JxqaITbNeAXzR5IRa1XLaaSZvVTH9eIF-yNlzIuFSSEUqjSx8LhdmWiZo0gaZDwlo47-fFOBnA6O-v9AEzXpjR1KQdT9WGQdwMBC7u5JvOS/s320/meadow+running.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Runners talk about running their own race but few actually do it once the gun goes off. I made the decision the night before to do my thing, all day, no matter what was going on around me. I was going to put my theory to the test; if I focused solely on my race I would have a better outcome than getting sucked into the race and letting others dictate pace/effort. Only until the last Aid Station at mile 94 did I ask how much of a lead I had. I purposely went without a pacer (until the final 6) to keep it simple and not let outside thought influence my run (for good or bad). Here's how it played out on paper after I passed Chris R. for the lead around mile 31: Mile 50= +11, Mile 83= +42, Finish= +45. 25 Mile Splits: 1st 25- 4:15, 10:12/mi, 2nd 25- 4:16, 10:14/mi, 3rd 25- 4:43, 11:19/mi, 4th 25- 5:44, 13:45/mi. Definitely room for improvement, I'd like to get my first and second 50 mile splits within an hour or less of one another. Running by headlamp for the last 4 hours and cumulative fatigue were the biggest time sucks during the final 25.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_BGUBobe080DUWV1lFFAo4osUgJW-hTNhqHJqTEgMkZ_N3bPfhIx0Ydyti5lmoNHLTS-msEa4jBQVszFYWZrpLwCR6554KQB1kKJl-nOD4eDISt4LHvK7m3IFoM2mPtJiCI-MAcNZ4LZ/s1600/dalton+lake+as.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_BGUBobe080DUWV1lFFAo4osUgJW-hTNhqHJqTEgMkZ_N3bPfhIx0Ydyti5lmoNHLTS-msEa4jBQVszFYWZrpLwCR6554KQB1kKJl-nOD4eDISt4LHvK7m3IFoM2mPtJiCI-MAcNZ4LZ/s320/dalton+lake+as.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
Nutrtionally I have never been better in a 100. Constant energy all day. No highs, no lows, and I stuck to my plan. <a href="http://vfuel.com/shop-product/16/Fudge+Brownie.html">I put down approximately 40 of these.</a> Here's what I like about VFuel compared to other gels: 1.The consistency is more liquidy and easier to get down. 2.Each packet has a gram of fat so you're getting more than just sugar as fuel. 3.Just the right amount of caffeine for me, 10mg per packet. Kept me alert not shaky. So over the course of my race I got at least 40 grams of fat and a stable 400mg of caffeine. The routine was scheduled. Every 30 minutes I took two large sips of Fudge Brownie from the gel flask (approx. 1 gel every 30 min.)I did this 37 times. Whenever I needed it I took an extra sip or two. I supplemented with cups of Coke and water at Aid Stations. The first half of the race I drank Nuun and then switched to plain water the second half as it seemed to unsettle my belly enough to warrant a change. At mile 71 I tried a bite of sweet potato but couldn't do it. Chewing felt foreign and there was no way I could have swallowed it down so I spit it out. Stay the course! Amazingly I never got tired of Fudge Brownie. For whatever reason I can't do fruit flavored gels anymore so chocolate is my go to!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmBQWAIeB5Hz84FVFOFx5hDEPtpAXgScewoef8w_MqeNTlzpL2XhZ56Dc4GSYAUGuQa_XQPrF16cnTPfmDvVQrRMv5Iv5X26neiVatxKknsj5wT0n6TQSkNP1mhPIVDhY1gqLOEXnsmDr/s1600/ryan+drinking+at+as.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmBQWAIeB5Hz84FVFOFx5hDEPtpAXgScewoef8w_MqeNTlzpL2XhZ56Dc4GSYAUGuQa_XQPrF16cnTPfmDvVQrRMv5Iv5X26neiVatxKknsj5wT0n6TQSkNP1mhPIVDhY1gqLOEXnsmDr/s320/ryan+drinking+at+as.jpg" /></a><br />
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Staying composed is self explanatory. You know you're going to be running for a long time so enjoy it. Keep it simple. Be efficient in and out of Aid Stations. My longest stop was about 5 minutes at 71 when I tried the sweet potato. This was my "low" of the race and it wasn't close to any of the depths I've experienced at other 100's. Race rationally, not emotionally. Pedatella is a great example of a runner who logically puts his plan in place and then executes it despite the "race" going on around him.<br />
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During 100's and other ultras you find ways to save time and keep moving forward. One of these tricks is peeing on the move. During the race I peed 4 times. It's always good to time it and pee when you're going uphill. That is the textbook way to do it. However, around mile 81 I had to go during a downhill segment. Let's just say it is much harder to pee going downhill, especially on tired legs. I hit more of my leg than the ground. 80+ miles in and I'm laughing hysterically by myself somewhere on the Centennial Trail with a wet right leg. The beauty of this story is that around mile 83 you get to cross Elk Creek a total of 5 times and each crossing was at least knee deep. Justification.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WPEAYGSKhJ3B-DZKmssHAVj9yGX5eE9GovhaAFUZ8YQR5WQeMVwxaRxC3KXgipvhzT-T4IPr3PHPd9hKvXDIVexkS-gI1bDVoL3bZbtBFXcwHuO8do6fokn5rymMqVLL-XS0hlJiOXO8/s1600/CT+marker.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WPEAYGSKhJ3B-DZKmssHAVj9yGX5eE9GovhaAFUZ8YQR5WQeMVwxaRxC3KXgipvhzT-T4IPr3PHPd9hKvXDIVexkS-gI1bDVoL3bZbtBFXcwHuO8do6fokn5rymMqVLL-XS0hlJiOXO8/s320/CT+marker.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMm5NEw2fmZA3a_DjpuWX62DAJsIZUAKKyFa7avtIcKdh0VMO6wV7N6aV1VQdt17umCL7khCRJS43Xp8R43fjwRrio3zP48_U056r6bNIqkpfOtJJF8IlUz5ZeY7r-5ml-jHk1fABTR09Y/s1600/ct+marker+with+night+marking.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMm5NEw2fmZA3a_DjpuWX62DAJsIZUAKKyFa7avtIcKdh0VMO6wV7N6aV1VQdt17umCL7khCRJS43Xp8R43fjwRrio3zP48_U056r6bNIqkpfOtJJF8IlUz5ZeY7r-5ml-jHk1fABTR09Y/s320/ct+marker+with+night+marking.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
It must have been that time of the night. The skunks came out shortly after mile 90. I really did not want to tell the story about getting sprayed 10 miles from the finish line. With each encounter the odds were getting stacked against me. The first one grabbed my attention. "That's a skunk!?" Pepe 1 ran down the trail in front of me for 10 seconds, tail lifted to the heavens before taking a sharp right into the brush. "Please don't spray, please don't spray," as I passed. Pepe 2 emerged 20 minutes later with a bigger tail and less timidity. I followed him down the trail for at least 30 seconds before he darted left behind a tree. "Please don't spray, PLEASE DON'T SPRAY!"<br />
<br />
Pepe 3 was just that. 3 times larger than Pepe 2 with a tail flick that could put even the best under hypnosis. I was succumbing to its powers. Feeling sleepy and moving slower down the trail as he mockingly waved that tail in front of me for the next mile. "Don't give in," I told myself. Suddenly, I caught a toe which snapped me out of it. However, I was hurtling toward the massive skunk in front of me. "PLEASE DON'T SPRAY, PLEASE DON'T SPRAY!!!" This erratic movement alarmed Pepe 3 enough and he deliberately jumped off the trail and disappeared. I had survived three skunks. Unscathed and unsprayed.<br />
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I arrived at the last Aid Station. 5.7 miles to go and 1:15 to break 19 hours. 13:09 pace is no big deal unless its the last miles of a 100. I knew it would be close! Thankfully I had K-Rob to pace me home and keep me honest. I couldn't have done it without her. The miles cruised by as we caught up in detail about our day. She had been crewing me all day as well but the depth of our exchange at Aid Stations boiled down to, "New gel flask, Nuun tab, feeling pretty good, see you in a few hours!" Fun to get updates on WS and hear about all the people she met and friends she made at all the Crew Stops. With 1.3 miles to go we hit the bikepath! Time to crush it, like a boss! In my mind I was cruising at 6:30 pace towards the finish line lights surrounding Woodle Field. My momentary daydream was obliterated when she said, "Great job, you're doing 9:30's!" Boom! Reality came back. Soon enough I couldn't have asked for a better reality as I crossed the line in 18:58:23. It's almost 1AM in Sturgis, Sunday morning, walking impaired, completely sober, and I couldn't be happier.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8OGN4m1XvIDTbfMuYTN3xvziBbBS41qyGbMyEljGsByVSgzBh3OXVHC4ERfp-EGCxUCurSrbp_y6Uv-598ka3NmkNxfkEdNepHSPpRtOCAKprp6VSXmsNeuSATb1cogaKiGnRchrb__i/s1600/finish+bent+over.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8OGN4m1XvIDTbfMuYTN3xvziBbBS41qyGbMyEljGsByVSgzBh3OXVHC4ERfp-EGCxUCurSrbp_y6Uv-598ka3NmkNxfkEdNepHSPpRtOCAKprp6VSXmsNeuSATb1cogaKiGnRchrb__i/s320/finish+bent+over.jpg" /></a><br />
Done!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uaoiVoJYtgeY2NocT0GNm6flXbjQsa0xAmtIsqhhBCFyF4OaP_Pp27uWlmNtGgPANbg7reBC6-tBhjsarkrY8njQ7mhuQ_O7Fxhd_FNjc6dCBAAEVWUXid-lzW_QMRcWlunJ3cuIO_7P/s1600/finish+podium.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4uaoiVoJYtgeY2NocT0GNm6flXbjQsa0xAmtIsqhhBCFyF4OaP_Pp27uWlmNtGgPANbg7reBC6-tBhjsarkrY8njQ7mhuQ_O7Fxhd_FNjc6dCBAAEVWUXid-lzW_QMRcWlunJ3cuIO_7P/s320/finish+podium.jpg" /></a><br />
Happily tired.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDSpexvEpY02oy9_AGYE_EW9DKg7utSscKu70rag0HvsVSlJLsPIqmmPzDI9pjPN8c7q_pGstnTCTzokUJwetrDTuhQOkxp9VTz_mLknSZo8-p4vVYoqyk0SJ-k4AhTu8xxalVW2aAhYF/s1600/top+three.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDSpexvEpY02oy9_AGYE_EW9DKg7utSscKu70rag0HvsVSlJLsPIqmmPzDI9pjPN8c7q_pGstnTCTzokUJwetrDTuhQOkxp9VTz_mLknSZo8-p4vVYoqyk0SJ-k4AhTu8xxalVW2aAhYF/s320/top+three.jpg" /></a><br />
1.Burch 2.Rubesch 3.Bradford<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgE5SgrlYT86DfM2-tOI9hB287voi7fZnRW5-fazDffPj3nkTR1dW0OaLg-kEJ3fAKtiFA4MPaekq3LRszOx0kZJjyvgrHNMKZ8Di09nFc4gQGAqvSpUAfvgztVrBswfmEFDX26yorfGk/s1600/skull.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgE5SgrlYT86DfM2-tOI9hB287voi7fZnRW5-fazDffPj3nkTR1dW0OaLg-kEJ3fAKtiFA4MPaekq3LRszOx0kZJjyvgrHNMKZ8Di09nFc4gQGAqvSpUAfvgztVrBswfmEFDX26yorfGk/s320/skull.jpg" /></a><br />
I mounted this on the F-150 today, like Boss Hogg!<br />
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PS- This is a great community based ultra event. It's a medium difficulty 100 (16K climbing, rolling terrain, very little flat, 97% single/doubletrack, 3400-5450 approx. altitude). Excellent crew access, 7.5 miles longest stretch b/t AS. Well organized. The biggest variable for DNF's is the weather. They've had massive thunderstorms, heat, cold nights, and super muddy conditions through the race history. Come prepared for it all, nearly half the field dropped this year primarily due to the mud. A big thanks to Chris, Ryan and all the volunteers! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhat3kf1mtBq8epxVNqLhlBLiS1i6OnkDwRklqQhxwtAW-ydO4O_EsKpJmDkHzK0ml_07Z9QYfIiVvUVP3dR6dpH-0adjP7sLaSgCpFP8vN4gRbQP0QhoNSG9RNgqNSJ5wY3GBRLqNJWP0F/s1600/buckle.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhat3kf1mtBq8epxVNqLhlBLiS1i6OnkDwRklqQhxwtAW-ydO4O_EsKpJmDkHzK0ml_07Z9QYfIiVvUVP3dR6dpH-0adjP7sLaSgCpFP8vN4gRbQP0QhoNSG9RNgqNSJ5wY3GBRLqNJWP0F/s320/buckle.jpg" /></a><br />
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burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-76998843449661955712014-06-06T14:23:00.000-06:002014-06-06T14:23:03.180-06:00Dirty Thirty: Detoured<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Az4vlZgHnP_IZsX8bUkMtAafnQtfToPtq9RcH96tfOuHeVbYiAIsXgbnAcjM5dulCUZM-raqwXPRL5zmfz6puS92zCb4ZMAdHgAVqySBE-ZZpsv3j5jc-8vm5T1qoBQFH0Bbhygfvub6/s1600/start.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Az4vlZgHnP_IZsX8bUkMtAafnQtfToPtq9RcH96tfOuHeVbYiAIsXgbnAcjM5dulCUZM-raqwXPRL5zmfz6puS92zCb4ZMAdHgAVqySBE-ZZpsv3j5jc-8vm5T1qoBQFH0Bbhygfvub6/s320/start.jpg" /></a><br />
Start 1 of 2 for me. Pic: Chris Gerber<br />
<br />
"I don't usually go off course, but when I do it's for at least 11 miles." The Most Interesting Man in the World whispered these fine words into my ear as I prepared to start the Golden Gate Dirty Thirty 50K for a second time last Saturday. How in the heck did I run 11 miles to find myself back at the Start/Finish area approximately 1:45 into the race? Well, let me tell you.<br />
<br />
***DISCLAIMER*** I ran this race in 2012. Which means I should know where the heck to go. However, I did go off course that year as well!<br />
<br />
It must have been the zero dark thirty wakeup. At 3:10AM I got the body vertical. By 3:29AM I departed in the Fifty for the meandering trails of Golden Gate State Park. Driving up the tight twisting Golden Gate Canyon Road I almost hit him. Sasquatch lumbered across the road looking as tired as I felt. He must have slept terribly too. I felt sad for the hermetic beast who has eluded countless hunters and scientists for the past 100 years. As the brakes locked down and tires screeched I made eye contact with the living legend. Deep turquoise pools set beneath a furrowed brow looked inside of me. This was going to be a day to remember.<br />
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As a tribute to my sighting I donned my PI turquoise singlet and boarded the shuttle bus for the final miles to the race start. No one believed my story as I zealously described what I had witnessed 30 minutes earlier. I was frustrated and upset. Why doesn't the world believe in Bigfoot? As I applied the sunscreen and waited in line for the john I mulled over what I must do. Prove it. Race be damned I had a new mission. <br />
<br />
I lined up for the start like I've done dozens of times. Game on. It was the Search for Sasquatch. The race started and we were off. No sign of him yet. I stayed close to the front to make sure I had a perfect vantage point if anything were to happen. As we approached the creek I saw them. Truly remarkable. Twenty four inch footprints perfectly cast into the thick mud. I was on course and hot on his trail. Approaching the first aid station I was in third. As I got closer all I saw was wide eyes and pale faces. The volunteers simply pointed. I knew they had seen him. Chasing down a sasquatch is not an easy task so I made sure to fill my bottle and grab a few extra gels. I continued on and then veered left at the post. 4th and 5th came with me. They must have seen him too and knew this quest was much more important than their finishing place in a race.<br />
<br />
There he was! I could believe it because I saw all the evidence. The prints in the mud. The tuft of hair in the post. If I quickened my pace I would catch him in a few minutes. I was committed. With each step I grew closer. In my excitement I had separated from 4th and 5th and was on my own in this journey. The gap was shrinking. I began to panic. What would I do once I caught up to The Bigfoot!? He could totally crush me. Let's crunch the numbers: 68 inches, 145 pounds vs. 108 inches, 503 pounds. Why didn't I think of that earlier? As with most Sasquatch Searchers I got caught up in the chase. It's a fever that spreads like wildfire in your thinking. Rational thought gets chucked aside and replaced with youthful abandon that lives simply in the present moment.<br />
<br />
I came back to my senses and hit the brakes. Bigfoot stood 10 feet in front of me. I took a deep breath, regained my composure, and soaked in what I saw. The mythical creature leaned against a tree and began to speak,<br />
<br />
"I am you. Find meaning in your journey. Sometimes it will be clear, you should continue. Sometimes it will be unknown, you should continue. Sometimes you will want to quit, you should continue. Sometimes you will make mistakes, sometimes you will be on cloud nine. Sometimes you will fall, sometimes it will be routine. You should continue. I am you. You should continue."burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-76016405158823752542014-05-08T15:18:00.000-06:002014-05-08T15:18:16.191-06:00QR III 50 Mile Men's PreviewThis Saturday will see the third running of the Quad Rock 50 Miler held in beautiful Lory State and Horsetooth Mountain Parks. Here's a sneak peak at the Men's Field:<br />
<br />
<b>Returning Top Ten Finishers from 2013<br />
</b><br />
<b>2nd- Paul Hamilton:</b> He's my pick for the title this year. In February he ran a blistering sub 4 hour finish to place 2nd at Moab's Red Hot. If he falters it will be due to lack of experience in the 50M distance as this will be his second attempt.<br />
<br />
<b>3rd- Ryan Burch:</b> In February he shocked the PNW by racing Orcas Island 50K in a Broncos shirt the day before Superbowl Sunday. His second place showing was a bad omen as the Broncos followed suit the next day. In March he was 6th at Salida, 4 minutes slower than his 2013 finish time. He's put in 6 quality track workouts on Tuesday evenings chasing J-Lid and Ruth around the oval. He's got the home team behind him on this one!<br />
<br />
<b>5th- Jim Rebenack:</b> No results to report in 2014. He finished 2nd at the inaugural QR. He'll be ready to roll.<br />
<br />
<b>6th- Jason Koop:</b> 2014 has seen him 9th at Red Hot, 8th at Salida, and 2nd at the Zion 100. Two weeks after Zion he threw down a sub 2:40 BOSTON! That's what I call recovery. He's another repeat QR finisher taking the bronze in 2012.<br />
<br />
<b>8th- Mike Hinterberg:</b> 25th at Salida this year. He's looking forward to returning to his former backyard trails and improving on last year.<br />
<br />
<b>9th- Bryan Williams:</b> No results to report in 2014. He's put in some training miles on the course this year and will be building up for Western States in June.<br />
<br />
<b>QR Newbies<br />
</b><br />
<b>Jared Hazen:</b> This TEENAGER crushed it at RR100 in February blitzing a sub 14 hour finish and earning a spot at Western States. In 2013 he won the Oil Creek 100. It's safe to say that Dakota has inspired a new wave of ultra-runners younger than himself.<br />
<br />
<b>Zeke Tiernan:</b> A strong 5th place at Red Hot in February. With a new addition to his family he has been busier than ever. Hopefully all the miles chasing the kids will propel the CU All-American to a top finish.<br />
<br />
<b>Jon Anderson:</b> He's registered for QR every year. Hopefully 2014 will see his first start and finish at the race!<br />
<br />
<b>Lewis Price:</b> The FC local ran a solid 4th at Antelope Island 50K in March. He will be looking to avenge a tough go at Collegiate Peaks 50M from last week.<br />
<br />
<b>Corey Hanson:</b> Bellvue's Best will be starting his 2014 campaign this Saturday. He's been training undercover this year with unsubstantiated sightings arriving daily on the Wildlife Camera Roll verified by Park Ranger M. Boyts. He is out there...<br />
<br />
<b>Jason Ostrom:</b> The FC Birmingham local is a dark horse. Don't let his most current 2008 Ultrasignup finish fool you. He's been training on these trails regularly and looks to silence any naysaying from RD Clark.<br />
<br />
<b>Patrick McGlade:</b> 7th at Salida. I outkicked him for 6th. He's on the radar now.<br />
<br />
<b>Honorable Mention<br />
</b><br />
<b>Bryan "BG" Goding:</b> His last finish was QR25 in 2012. He'll be dusting off the shoes for this one and parking the bike on Saturday. I've seen him training at Maxwell and Centennial Dr...on the bike. He knows these trails and might surprise a few.<br />
<br />
burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-4674851810944085382014-01-15T18:28:00.001-07:002014-01-15T18:28:44.591-07:002013 in Review / 2014 Schedule and ThoughtsAnother year in the books! 2013 looked different than most as I was in TX four months completing Firefighter Academy with the Guard. Here's the numerical visual:<br />
<br />
Jan- 368.7 miles, 0 days off, 11.9 daily avg<br />
Feb- 277.5 miles, 3 days off, 9.9 daily avg<br />
Mar- 371.9 miles, 1 day off, 12.0 daily avg<br />
1st Q- 1018.1 miles, 4 days off, 11.3 daily avg<br />
Notes: The year started off great with a PR at Moab (5th time at race) and a solid race at Salida.<br />
<br />
Apr- 253.4 miles, 10 days off, 8.4 daily avg<br />
May- 96.7 miles, 24 days off, 3.1 daily avg<br />
Jun- 78.3 miles, 13 days off, 2.6 daily avg<br />
2nd Q- 428.4 miles, 47 days off, 4.7 daily avg<br />
Notes: Experienced some fatigue and sickness at Lake Sonoma resulting in a sub par performance. Rebounded at Quad Rock despite lingering fatigue. Left for TX on May 22 which kicked off my inspirational running options of the: track, treadmill, or flat pavement on Goodfellow AFB. The miles = my motivation during this time.<br />
<br />
Jul- 90.8 miles, 14 days off, 2.9 daily avg<br />
Aug- 70.1 miles, 17 days off, 2.2 daily avg<br />
Sep- 108.3 miles, 16 days off, 3.6 daily avg<br />
3rd Q- 269.2 miles, 47 days off, 2.9 daily avg<br />
Notes: Returned to CO and civilian life on Sep 18. Ran Towers Sep 19. In one 3.4 mile, 1700 ft.ascent I gained more vert in :36 min than I did during 4 months in TX. The body rebelled returning to regular running. Super tight calves, twingey hamstrings, and other hitches in the giddy up started the comeback on a slower than anticipated return.<br />
<br />
Oct- 234.8 miles, 7 days off, 7.5 daily avg<br />
Nov- 202.2 miles, 11 days off, 6.7 daily avg<br />
Dec- 225.9 miles, 6 days off, 7.3 daily avg<br />
4th Q- 662.9 miles, 24 days off, 7.2 daily avg<br />
Notes: With 2 weeks of running under my belt I ran a decent race at Bluesky given the circumstances. Decided to race my way into shape having a blast in the snow at Silent Trails the weekend after. Enjoyed getting back on the horse at Lory and Horsetooth. Capped off the year running under some cloudless NV skies and enjoying some logging trails next to Lake Tahoe.<br />
<br />
Totals: 2378.6 miles, 369:53 run time, 122 days off, 6.5 daily avg, 46ish miles/wk avg.<br />
<br />
Summits: Horsetooth- 37, Arthur's- 24, Aggie- 21, Towers- 6, Round- 1, Bobcat- 1, Greyrock- 1, Lone Tree- 1, Middle Bald Mtn- 1<br />
<br />
Memorable Moments: Watching the Ultra Community come together and fund a trip for Bill Dooper to spectate at the 2014 Western States 100. This was the first thing that came to mind and I'll leave it at that.<br />
<br />
2014 Schedule<br />
<br />
Feb- Orcas Island 50K<br />
Mar- Salida Marathon<br />
May- Quad Rock 50M<br />
Jun/Jul- TBD- Black Hills 100? Speedgoat?<br />
Aug- Telluride Mtn Run or Pikes Peak Marathon<br />
Sep- Run Rabbit Run 100M<br />
<br />
Thoughts: I'm looking forward to getting in consistent training this year and improving my 100 mile game. A few notable changes for the year: I've been doing two-a-days every day. This surprised Clarkie's ears when I made my intentions known. In the past I have not been a big fan. Life is all about perspective. So here's the goal- Run at least 3000 miles for the year and walk the dog at least 500. Run and walk each day. Yup, walking the dog is now part of my official training plan. My mornings start with a 2 mile tempo at 3 MPH, it's epic! The mitochondrial proliferation during this time is through the roof. During an average week I'll put in 14-15. During high volume I hope to hit 18-20. Bailey Monster is stretching his paws in anticipation as I write this. Game. On. GRRR.<br />
<br />
Diet: Over the past few months I've been transitioning to a high fat, lower carb eating plan and have gone 98% gluten free. After learning more and picking up tips from OOJ, FastEd, and K-Rob it has been a quality process of deconstructing a lot of the food beliefs I had built up in my life. I like the idea of a consistent fuel burn vs. the ups and downs of insulin response with carbs. I like the idea of eating nutrient dense food vs less useful calories that are more abundant in grains. I like the idea of less inflammation in my body. I've noticed more satiation eating a high fat/smaller portion meal vs. eating a low fat/larger portion meal. I've noticed improved joint health which I think is simply having more healthy oils in my diet and a decreased inflammatory response from a number of foods. These are a few of the insights/experiences I had while experimenting with this method. I'm also intrigued to see how it affects my overall racing and training throughout the year especially at the 100 mile distance.<br />
<br />
Breakfast then: A huge bowl of my oatmeal blend. Breakfast now: 4 eggs fried in coconut oil, topped with half an avocado and salsa. Lunch then: A huge PBJ, banana, granola bar, and other fruit. Lunch now: A huge hearty salad with tons of colorful veggies, avo, nuts, and seeds. Apple slices dunked in almond butter. That's the gist. I'll spare the details. Here's to a happy and healthy 2014 with positive change.<br />
<br />
BTW...Look out for J-Rob coming out from under the radar. The <a href="http://sevenhillsrunningshop.com/jon-robinson/">Seven Hills Silent Assassin</a> is on the Warpath...<br />
<br />
<br />
burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-67398569093487328392013-10-08T20:20:00.000-06:002013-10-08T20:20:37.634-06:00Bluesky 2013 - 3:40, 6th<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-bHA66HgrA0f-Ggc_VcaWB9C_R50VdXVh2GXJ4BjaoHhmMHknW2erlD9O28CIAlX2avDb9J2gQAjrCVsNQe9t1O9UCNUTZIc9soo6txsnDre9olutAP52Chsoj7Y98lRRtIUTci5o3DZ/s1600/bluesky.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-bHA66HgrA0f-Ggc_VcaWB9C_R50VdXVh2GXJ4BjaoHhmMHknW2erlD9O28CIAlX2avDb9J2gQAjrCVsNQe9t1O9UCNUTZIc9soo6txsnDre9olutAP52Chsoj7Y98lRRtIUTci5o3DZ/s400/bluesky.jpg" /></a><br />
Pic: Spiderman Lee<br />
<br />
Been a long time since I rock n' roll'd. It was great to get back on the trails and race this past Sunday at the <a href="http://www.blueskymarathon.com">Bluesky Marathon.</a> Coincidentally, it almost did not happen. Returning back to regular running over the past two weeks has been a much more difficult transition than the experience I had a year ago. In 2012 I went to Basic Training, hardly ran, came back, seamlessly returned to training, and won Bluesky. Fairytaleesque. 2013 I completed Firefighter Academy in TX, ran 15-25 miles/week, came back, the body rebelled to training, and I was 19 minutes slower at Bluesky.<br />
<br />
The day before the race I celebrated my B-Day and reflected on the past year. Despite running more in TX I was not into it. Monday through Friday my options were the track or treadmill. On the weekend I could run around base if I found someone to join me. Thankfully there were two guys that enjoyed seeing more than the oval so we would get out for one of the days off. I saw way too much of that track over my four month stint. Lanes 7-8 showcased dead baby scorpions that did not scurry fast enough to make it home to the surrounding rocks. The things you notice when you run in circles day after day.<br />
<br />
Coming home I was once again refreshed to hit the dirt. My first run was Towers. BUT the 1700 feet of climbing in that run was more vert than my four months in TX combined. My calves hated me. Super tight. Hobblin' around OMB style. Coming back to the dry climate my feet cracked and split. My lower back ached. My body was out of sorts and I was a mess. I managed to put in a 60 mile week during my first full week back. Topped it off with a 12 mile long run. My longest run since Quad Rock 50 in May. Was I really gonna race Bluesky? This is the question I asked myself many times on Saturday night and race morning.<br />
<br />
What would you pick in my situation? I could have stayed up all night, had a Breaking Bad marathon, and then showed up and volunteered at the race. Or I could run a marathon on a rusty set of wheels and get an intimate look at my off the couch fitness. I hoped it wouldn't be a disaster; but I really wanted to get through Season 2! In the end I compromised and stayed up until midnight watching Walter White's web weave itself through the ABQ. When the alarm went off at 5AM I almost ditched the race once again...funny what goes on between the ears.<br />
<br />
The race started and I felt great! Until I started the grind up Towers. Ugh. The short of my race report was my legs ached for 20 miles and were super heavy. I ran steady eddy all day passing 3-4 runners during the return from Devil's Backbone. Definitely glad I chose to race and establish a base to grow on as I move forward with the necessary consistency that's been lacking. <br />
<br />
May- 96 miles, 24 days off.<br />
June- 78 miles, 13 days off.<br />
July- 90 miles, 14 days off.<br />
August- 70 miles, 17 days off.<br />
September- 108 miles, 16 days off.<br />
<br />
Last but not least... Congrats to locals: Nick Davis, Justin Liddle, Sam Malmberg, and Corey Hanson who raced up front all day; each setting PR's at Bluesky in the process, awesome!<br />
<br />
burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-62028549577031215492013-05-19T08:02:00.000-06:002013-05-19T08:02:50.007-06:00Quad Rock 50 Rockin' Report<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvTSpQcu4Kimxu5T1O3Mk7fkwYwFeDAcHhXzHJGO54CoOqGZNPq7pF2P9DeTW-cKjGh0GS_I3Hwlrjxxq7nyAOZ9QqyzrZbGUTomjMJ-XJqYchGekY6q1QaqNsepxwIilOihhsqEqhJWS/s1600/Ryan+-EBP.tiff" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvTSpQcu4Kimxu5T1O3Mk7fkwYwFeDAcHhXzHJGO54CoOqGZNPq7pF2P9DeTW-cKjGh0GS_I3Hwlrjxxq7nyAOZ9QqyzrZbGUTomjMJ-XJqYchGekY6q1QaqNsepxwIilOihhsqEqhJWS/s320/Ryan+-EBP.tiff" /></a><br />
Photo: E. Bibeau<br />
<br />
Needless to say I wasn't brimming with confidence coming into QR. I had been watching shadows of my former self running effortlessly on the walls while I lay horizontal in the fatigue cave. On the couch, feet off the ground, wondering what my deal was. Was QR going to turn into another second half 25 mile death march like Sonoma? These were some of my thoughts leading up to race. Here's what it looked like on paper since Sonoma:<br />
<br />
Week 1- 9.5 miles, 5 days off, "recovery week"<br />
Week 2- 81 miles, 1 day off, started feeling a bit better so I resumed "normal" training<br />
Week 3- 34 miles, 3 days off, felt like I was re-entering the cave, kept it real like chill<br />
5 days before race- 20 miles, 2 days off, felt worked after these super easy runs <br />
<br />
Went to bed early on QR eve. Woke up unsure of how the race would pan out. Drove to the race with the jams going LOUD! Singing along full throttle was a HUGE boost to my energy and spirit. It wasn't Aldean or Church that saved my race...it was Shelton! "Small Town Big Time Night" got me ready to roll! Whew! Disaster averted.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUVVT5SBxiWk17y5-ZNaTsdvo3cZB7t-3f0taGfNJRT-ofp3XfD21j_1Xb1vISLHqScCinu8J_hjjStwXyGjaA0Iu88s1lVNwzCkS15ZNNukpgNe1hpO1uErJyQD7QRQPLW01uw6Ab6cB/s1600/323113_159179084255282_1347419309_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUVVT5SBxiWk17y5-ZNaTsdvo3cZB7t-3f0taGfNJRT-ofp3XfD21j_1Xb1vISLHqScCinu8J_hjjStwXyGjaA0Iu88s1lVNwzCkS15ZNNukpgNe1hpO1uErJyQD7QRQPLW01uw6Ab6cB/s320/323113_159179084255282_1347419309_o.jpg" /></a><br />
Rollin' in the valley. Photo: M. Hodges<br />
<br />
The race started and we rolled out comfortably on the road catching up with those we knew and figuring out who was who from those we didn't. On the first descent down Spring Creek I was enjoying the home trails and moved past Arthur, Briney, and then Aish to take a brief (any my only) lead of the day. Aish and I struck up a bit of conversation about his NZ homeland shortly before we hit the Horsetooth AS. From here out the race was on! As we headed up Southridge I watched Aish, Briney, Arthur, and Hamilton float up the second climb of the day as I took it somewhat conservative as I thought about the remaining 4 we still had to ascend.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZW8EylsG2L_jPd8CA5BzzAjndTVr5q-3rrwAV4AZtLuBo6iWhxLLVy0ht4cBMizNsMpfWr2mx3Qfh5-HTua6-pXC8l8l5N5bjfA1jUJLfE396l52jzSddJ3WJGnU7A7bAEEuyNNxbpY5L/s1600/405685_10152878947135287_307130758_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZW8EylsG2L_jPd8CA5BzzAjndTVr5q-3rrwAV4AZtLuBo6iWhxLLVy0ht4cBMizNsMpfWr2mx3Qfh5-HTua6-pXC8l8l5N5bjfA1jUJLfE396l52jzSddJ3WJGnU7A7bAEEuyNNxbpY5L/s320/405685_10152878947135287_307130758_n.jpg" /></a><br />
Aish and I dropping into Horsetooth AS Photo: N. Peterson<br />
<br />
From Southridge I ran solo all the way to the Timber Trail descent where I went by Briney on the steeper pitches before the bridge. I hit the turn in 3:39 (3:36 in 2012) and soldiered on. The temp was warming and the climbs were feeling tougher. I was mentally preparing for my rematch with the crux climb up Mill Creek. Last year it kicked my butt. This year I took it easy not letting the heart rate skyrocket as much. More intentional hiking on the steeps...maybe I went too easy. I got to the top where I surprisingly saw Aish in a chair at the AS. He apparently took a brief detour off course descending Arthur's Rock Trail. Instead of following the named trail to the AS he went left on Overlook. During this time Arthur unknowingly took the lead and began his Mill Creek ascent. Aish then went beast mode to catch up to Arthur and was stopped short by the accumulation of lactic acid by the time he got to the top.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXW9HlYS9GpeUA1XcGkI2_wGK4ybUVgBWtICUIVSAETV0lOykt4KVd0M6l1nTtQ4jAtlc0ZrwpqfugfwnsuIesJ2D2w9oJPaW5yZ_5TJ7drcZqujCXeGdB1BYYU-jNZ0we8Nhed7kyWIMF/s1600/P1180511.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXW9HlYS9GpeUA1XcGkI2_wGK4ybUVgBWtICUIVSAETV0lOykt4KVd0M6l1nTtQ4jAtlc0ZrwpqfugfwnsuIesJ2D2w9oJPaW5yZ_5TJ7drcZqujCXeGdB1BYYU-jNZ0we8Nhed7kyWIMF/s320/P1180511.JPG" /></a><br />
Photo: N. Testerman<br />
<br />
I got knews that Hamilton was only a few minutes in front of me and was looking rough. I figured keep it steady and I'll catch him within the hour. I passed by the oncoming masses ascending Horsetooth as I made my way down with no sign of Hamilton. Once I got to the Horsetooth AS Erskine gave me the status, "Kiss your course record good bye, Arthur is looking STRONG!" "Hamilton is only two minutes ahead and looking rough, you've got 2nd!" I went up Spring Creek and never got a visual on Hamilton. Same thing at Mill Creek AS. "He's only 2 minutes ahead and looks ROUGH!" <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzGUVMCKJCn5b4yEr68d3RxDGJoKKzUuusJJBw8XKKz6PcsL9shrJK2hbDO7i2bEtJE_q4FqOepH0gIOJlrf15AAVUnexVrRiOsDmeb4FmcmgmTQ9EeTgFuP1jrMQ8BQwA46FaELBjupz/s1600/P1180577.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkzGUVMCKJCn5b4yEr68d3RxDGJoKKzUuusJJBw8XKKz6PcsL9shrJK2hbDO7i2bEtJE_q4FqOepH0gIOJlrf15AAVUnexVrRiOsDmeb4FmcmgmTQ9EeTgFuP1jrMQ8BQwA46FaELBjupz/s320/P1180577.JPG" /></a> <br />
Photo: N. Testerman<br />
<br />
I bombed down Towers and had my first Goding sighting of the year. "There you are" said Goding in a very relaxing yet reassuring way. Goding revealed the truth. "You're not even close to 2nd. Just keep doing what you're doing. Stay in the present moment. Be the trail. You'll run faster when you stop running. All we are is dust in the wind. Grasshopper." (Disclaimer: only the first quote is legit, the others are what I heard after 7 hours of running)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMMVtlObkKVC-XwfnBHlhoM9yVM_Ul_tOTjPczKtW1hQ1inRKzxj9uv2fxklKJyr87fVymcDFJg32wFgLRESrDM_xjRJV3JNARB_9GcrUCz64zm8BooZx0gBVNA1kir08tcrK8n3lqgEP/s1600/575214_10152808075155072_1971046702_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCMMVtlObkKVC-XwfnBHlhoM9yVM_Ul_tOTjPczKtW1hQ1inRKzxj9uv2fxklKJyr87fVymcDFJg32wFgLRESrDM_xjRJV3JNARB_9GcrUCz64zm8BooZx0gBVNA1kir08tcrK8n3lqgEP/s320/575214_10152808075155072_1971046702_n.jpg" /></a><br />
The Finish! Photo: S. Price<br />
<br />
Once I hit the valley I cruised to the finish; mistiming my kick by 22 seconds to finish in 8:00:21. (4:21 second lap, 4:04 in 2012). Another awesome post race and successful event beautifully directed by Pete and Nick and the INCREDIBLE ARMY OF AWESOME VOLUNTEERS!!! Congrats to King Arthur for making it 3 in a row! On his first pass of Arthur's Rock he grabbed the sword and never looked back! <a href="http://morevertmorefun.blogspot.com/">Shelby Berg</a>- awesome job on your first 50! No DFL...keep rockin!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-60715206271041261212013-05-07T17:30:00.000-06:002013-05-07T17:30:32.013-06:00Tick Tock Quad Rock 50 Mile Race PreviewSince last year's inaugural running the Quad Rock course has survived two wildfires. On Saturday the second running will see a longer/different course (fire related), a deeper field, and a prettier purse. Here's a look at who's gunning to be one of the Hot Shots:<br />
<br />
The Favorites-<br />
<br />
Michael Aish- Ran in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games for NZ in the 10K and 5K. 4 Time All-American at Western State with individual titles in '99 and '01. He's 2 for 2 at winning the 50 milers he's entered. Even with limited Ultra experience it's tough to bet against this level of ability.<br />
<br />
Trent Briney- 3 Time Olympic Marathon Trials Participant with a 26.2 PR of 2:12! One of the fastest times ever at JFK 50 with a 5:37. Was 2nd at the Crown King Scramble 50K in AZ this year. Another raw talent who's familiar with racing the top competition this country has to offer.<br />
<br />
Josh Arthur- new to the Ultra scene with a few results under his belt. Was 2nd at Cascade Crest 100 in 2012, his first time at the distance. Has two 50 M finishes, nothing electric. What stands out is his 2013 campaign with wins at Salida and Fruita marathons. Look for him to flip the switch this weekend.<br />
<br />
Karl Meltzer- He's running super smooth this year. 4th at Bandera, 5th at Moab, 1st at Antelope Island 100 with a 14:34! A deceptive 14th at the uber competitive Lake Sonoma last month. I have a feeling things are setting up nicely to challenge Clark's WS/HR record. This may be the perfect tune up he needs.<br />
<br />
The Repeat Offenders-<br />
<br />
Ryan Burch- the defending champ had a solid start to '13 taking 3rd at Moab and 5th at Salida. A sub-par performance at Lake Sonoma increased the fatigue he had been experiencing. It was an interesting last month to say the least. The ball could bounce either way on this one. However, home field advantage rules in his favor. The friendly confines of his backyard trails hope to give him that spark.<br />
<br />
Jim Rebenack- the 2012 silver medalist was 7th at Chuckanut this year. It's amazing how much this guy flies under the radar. Watch him move through the pack in stealth mode once again.<br />
<br />
Jason Koop- took the bronze after racing a ton before Quad Rock last year. This year he only has a 50K under his belt. Will the fresh legs speed his steps this year?<br />
<br />
The Other Contenders-<br />
<br />
Paul Terranova- Having a great '13! 3rd at Bandera, 2nd at Nueces, 1st at Hells Hills, 1st at Squawk Mtn. He knows the course and looks to make an impression this weekend.<br />
<br />
John Anderson- no 2013 stats. Won the North Fork 50k last June. Solid and tough, don't forget about him.<br />
<br />
Troy Howard- 1st at the Destin Beach 50K in February. Tons of experience.<br />
<br />
David Ruttum- he's my sleeper of the bunch. Went sub 7 hours at the Leadville 50 and ran a 7:01 at Collegiate Peaks in the past. Will be interesting to see where he lands on Saturday but he may quietly surprise a few.<br />
<br />
Sam "Man of the Hour on Towers" Malmberg- No one has been faster than this guy on one part of the course. 13th at Moab this year. I really want him to have a break out 50M performance and turn some heads. Will it be this weekend or at Pikes Peak 2014? Why not now.<br />
<br />
Who will be the new Queen? A quick look at the ladies field:<br />
<br />
The Repeat Offenders-<br />
<br />
Jenny Pierce- reigning queen. No 13 results.<br />
<br />
Kris Klotzbach- bronze medalist. No 13 results.<br />
<br />
The Other Contenders-<br />
<br />
Kerrie Bruxvoort- 1st at Zane Grey. I'm picking her for the W.<br />
<br />
Anita Ortiz- has the pedigree. No results in 13.<br />
<br />
Becky Wheeler- no results in 13.<br />
<br />
Kristel Liddle- the hometown girl was 4th last year. Looking to make some noise this year, she's 2 for 2 taking gold in both her races with a CR at Antelope Island 100M.<br />
<br />
Alyssa Wildeboer- 3rd at Terrapin Mtn 50K this year.<br />
<br />
Katherine Metzger- 3rd at Cedro Peak this year.<br />
<br />
Meredith Terranova- 1st at Squawk Mtn this year.<br />
<br />
Francesca Conte- 13th at Lake Sonoma this year.<br />
<br />
<br />
There it is! Who am I missing? ...Be gnarful out there...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-24874422479521671192013-04-29T13:52:00.001-06:002013-04-29T13:52:49.540-06:00Lake Sonoma 50<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pAN0CdrGlBMbpGTjlf-wjJj6VFJheFfp0VWogRFlE4CAcX5BRAN2rvTIUjXA7eI6Bu9_d6LYb2jFP-hdXTtA5IG_nDFUeCL369hDHIPqlC5BRmVxFDozaX_nRDurIv44PSc8T1fN8_WQ/s1600/start.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pAN0CdrGlBMbpGTjlf-wjJj6VFJheFfp0VWogRFlE4CAcX5BRAN2rvTIUjXA7eI6Bu9_d6LYb2jFP-hdXTtA5IG_nDFUeCL369hDHIPqlC5BRmVxFDozaX_nRDurIv44PSc8T1fN8_WQ/s320/start.jpg" /></a><br />
Getting ready to start! Photo: Montrail<br />
<br />
Oy babushka! This one didn't go as planned. Here's the text that I sent to family and friends post race: Tough day! hour off goal time. legs dead from the start. cramp mgmt the last 12 miles. lovin life now- great people, food & drinks. thx 4 all the support!<br />
I'm finding it's much easier to blog about my races that don't go as well. Take Moab and Salida this year. Went to race, had fun, did well, went home. Not very exciting or personable is it? Lake Sonoma was a little different.<br />
<br />
My week leading up to the race was sick! Quite literally. Monday-sick. Tuesday-sick. Wednesday-8 miles. Thursday-9.6 miles. Friday-3.5 miles. Each of these runs I was lethargic and slow. Nonetheless I was optimistic thinking about the race. I was feeling much better than Monday and Tuesday and I had put in some great training after Salida. Or was it a bit too much too close to Sonoma?<br />
<br />
After Salida I put in a 60 mile recovery week. Then I put in a 90 mile week. I topped this with a 106 mile week. 99 of these miles were run in HTMP culminating with a 30 miler that Saturday. My taper week was a more than needed 85 miles but I was simply having too much fun...woops! That Sunday I ran a mellow 7 miler and felt worked. The next week is outlined above. I'd say my result was a combination of recovering from being sick and simply enjoying what I enjoy...which made me a bit tired on race day.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5d8LzkfLSmiVmJWRt90Y2rLJjJqWZyUXwQFr8FBrCqPd8JqZQBBZHtXOOlD-LWuWl_mxXgodYwIcI8WdJUCaPUmuWg-hNyxU2vZ9mF-PUw5k_5lqWYd9CML7q4Fdskk3-cS_DZapcJL2/s1600/Lake+Sonoma.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5d8LzkfLSmiVmJWRt90Y2rLJjJqWZyUXwQFr8FBrCqPd8JqZQBBZHtXOOlD-LWuWl_mxXgodYwIcI8WdJUCaPUmuWg-hNyxU2vZ9mF-PUw5k_5lqWYd9CML7q4Fdskk3-cS_DZapcJL2/s320/Lake+Sonoma.jpg" /></a><br />
Coming into an AS. Photo: Maria S.<br />
<br />
It was awesome to escape the snow a few days and run in shorts and a tee. Great to see a new place and hang with so many runners I rarely get to see outside of races. Friday afternoon a large group of us toured the last few miles of the course to visualize the homestretch. Despite eight hours of shuteye I woke up race morning feeling tired.<br />
<br />
The race started and immediately 40 people shot off in front of me. I knew within those first few miles I was in for a long day. I've experienced this at a number of races- States, Leadville, Pocatello, etc. I knew it was going to be a grind. The first half of the race I was able to fake the fatigue. I cruised to the turn in 3:26 (8:15's)...knowing the return was going to be much more arduous.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jOoCNlV7OzryHuFOOJwW8poEWrEh54_J1mQrSjIt_w3bUskzmqcFC7CYtBSCzzLP9aJ4LNRoCgF3CUQ5cHMVmIfUJjmiZTS6p-9ZR1P7MmVWR6KGO-TSA6lB6AZd8OF56kmfUWLqFBPp/s1600/LS+1st+trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jOoCNlV7OzryHuFOOJwW8poEWrEh54_J1mQrSjIt_w3bUskzmqcFC7CYtBSCzzLP9aJ4LNRoCgF3CUQ5cHMVmIfUJjmiZTS6p-9ZR1P7MmVWR6KGO-TSA6lB6AZd8OF56kmfUWLqFBPp/s320/LS+1st+trail.jpg" /></a><br />
Hitting the trail! Burch, Yassine, Meltzer and more. Photo: Monarch Running<br />
<br />
The second half started along with the shufflin'. Shortly after the AS at 30 miles runners began to pass me. Topher, Victor, and a few others. Aerobically I was fine. The breakdown was purely muscular. No pow, no zip, no nothin. I continued my solo jog until mile 38 where I somehow had caught up to Victor at the AS. He decided to pace along with me for a few miles. Other than 5-6 miles with him I ran solo all day. Cassie cruised by us around mile 44, Victor attempted to pace with her while I knew what was in store for me. The last twelve I could have cramped up at any time. The footwork was tedious. I really had to focus on taking perfect steps to avoid cramping my quad, calf, and hammy. Total lower body convulsion management. That was the game I played. (The second half I averaged an 11 minute per mile shuffle). And I won by making it cramp free to the glorious finish line! Oy babushka!<br />
<br />
And then I cramped up trying to untie my shoes and changing into my jeans. It was so awesome! Foot cramps are the best. After the 30 minute ordeal of changing clothes while cramping I made it back to the post race. Tamales, cold bevs, foldable chairs, and friendly faces all smiled at me in unison. The run was done. Time to talk, laugh, eat, drink, and enjoy the sunshine and 70 degrees.<br />
<br />
Sonoma showcased the great community between runners within the sport. So much positivity surrounded the event. Despite my tough day on the trails I have nothing but fond memories laughing, talking, and hanging out with so many fun friends.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8i0C-AyVhJVZfptAnNq18wqvj85sK5NF6HJTyp5TQJymy_t8sMbQqOlIZq8-bjGMpDqo6qjbKJRzhyphenhyphenPLJ5ISM9CE1rlgk8GSzgZxcZUPJm1kkg06OMdr3YP2RM8CmiHYdrfGnb5bQfNiB/s1600/bus+stop.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8i0C-AyVhJVZfptAnNq18wqvj85sK5NF6HJTyp5TQJymy_t8sMbQqOlIZq8-bjGMpDqo6qjbKJRzhyphenhyphenPLJ5ISM9CE1rlgk8GSzgZxcZUPJm1kkg06OMdr3YP2RM8CmiHYdrfGnb5bQfNiB/s320/bus+stop.jpg" /></a><br />
Yassine, Burch, Clark. Photo: Cassie Scallon<br />
<br />
burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-72619384654001758042013-03-07T19:59:00.000-07:002013-03-07T19:59:18.658-07:00A Run Through Time Preview: The Table is SetSalida beckons! It's that time of year to kick off the Colorado any weather marathon racing season. Here's a look at the boys who hope to have a bit of SPRING (pun intended) in their stride. Alphabetically:<br />
<br />
Josh Arthur- Dooper gave me some insider secrets on this guy. Crushed it at Collegiate Peaks 25 last year. Will he be the King this year?<br />
<br />
R Bur- After missing Salida for the first time ever last year he's hoping to run back in time and reclaim his title from 2008. Coming off a PR at Moab he returns to his childhood training ground looking to light up Tenderfoot "S" Mountain; the first summit of his life over 30 years ago.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.irunmountains.blogspot.com">Nick A. Ragua-</a> Fresh off the Fire and Water win a few weeks ago, he's itching to defend the crown. Will his winners tan shine through on Saturday or will he simply hold up the white flag? Despite the Grand Slam this is undoubtedly his focus race.<br />
<br />
Bill Fanselow- don't know his current fitness level but he always shows up ready to race. Methodical, he will calculate his way to the front. <br />
<br />
Travis Macy- Clark informed me of this contender. One to watch. <br />
<br />
Aaron Marks- probably the first time he's been in the odds. However, he's been experimenting with a number of changes in his training regimen. At 5 AM each morning he's doing some intensive visualization training. No longer going by Slow Aaron, he's rebranding his blog and taking on the new moniker, Moderate Marks. Look for him in a Favre jersey, Oscar the Grouch beanie and pink calf warmers.<br />
<br />
Sean Meissner- not sure if he's back to the US yet. International racing in Nicaragua and Copper Canyon the past few weeks. The cooler temps may be a welcome relief from the heat. How will he handle the snow after all the strolls in the sand?<br />
<br />
Timmy Parr- recent additon to the Parr household. Will 2013 see his 4th W at Salida? Baby wants a win. <br />
<br />
Nick Pedatella- on the list but not sure if he's running. This race is a bit short for his skillset. Will this race be the eventual tie breaker as he goes head to head with Big Nick during the Grand Slam?<br />
<br />
Marco Peinado- I want to see him knock one out of the park. Not sure of his current stats. Batter up.<br />
<br />
Jesse Rickert- a Gunnison legend. Parr should have the lowdown on him. Has he been doing laps on Signal Peak? If yes, look out.<br />
<br />
Jacob Tiernan- Zeke's brother? If so, I will throw him in the mix. We'll call him the darkhorse. Giddy up.<br />
<br />
Brendan Trimboli- after a HUGE PR at Moab he should have a ton of confidence coming into Salida. He's starting to dial it in. Look for another solid performance as he steps up his game.<br />
<br />
This edition should see it all! Mud, snow, slush... looks like manpris weather. Let the games begin. And finally, a new rendition of one of your Top 40 Country favorites: "I was gonna keep it real like chill and only jog a mile or two...but it turned into an Ultra when I started running with you...more hits later...for now enjoy the speculation.<br />
<br />
<br />
burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-52332152485470997152013-02-11T17:08:00.000-07:002013-02-11T17:08:24.959-07:00The First 6 Weeks of 13Jan. 1- 18, Horsetooth 1, Arthurs 1, Double 1<br />
2- 10, Aggie Peak 1<br />
3- 14.3, Arthurs 2<br />
4- 11, Horsetooth 2<br />
5- 10.1<br />
6- 11.2, Horsetooth 3<br />
6 days- 74.6, 12:14<br />
<br />
7- 10.2<br />
8- 11, Track 1<br />
9- 15<br />
10- 10.2, Towers 1<br />
11- 10.3, Aggie Peak 2<br />
12- 21, Horsetooth 4, Arthurs 3, Double 2<br />
13- 4<br />
Week 2- 81.7, 12:36<br />
<br />
14- 7.1<br />
15- 9.2, Aggie Peak 3<br />
16- 9, Track 2<br />
17- 10.5, Horsetooth 5<br />
18- 13.6<br />
19- 23.2, Arthurs 4<br />
20- 12, Horsetooth 6<br />
Week 3- 84.6, 14:06<br />
<br />
21- 16.3, Horsetooth 7, Arthurs 5, Double 3<br />
22- 15, Aggie Peak 4<br />
23- 16, Aggie Peak 5<br />
24- 8.3<br />
25- 10<br />
26- 3, National Guard Timed 2 Mile<br />
27- 17, Horsetooth 8, Arthurs 6, Double 4<br />
Week 4- 85.6, 13:27<br />
<br />
28- 12.1, Aggie Peak 6<br />
29- 12, Arthurs 7<br />
30- 11<br />
31- 7.1<br />
Jan- 368.7, 11.9 avg<br />
Feb 1- 9.2,<br />
2- 26, Horsetooth 9, Arthurs 8, Double 5<br />
3- 20, Arthurs 9<br />
Week 5- 97.4, 15:40<br />
<br />
4- 5<br />
5- 11.2, Horsetooth 10<br />
6- 8.3, Aggie Peak 7<br />
7- 11.1, Towers 2<br />
8- 11.1<br />
9- 18.1, Horsetooth 11, Arthurs 10, Double 6<br />
10- 14, Arthurs 11<br />
Week 6- 78.8, 12:53<br />
<br />
Overall a fun start to 13! It's been more soul running than focused training with specific workouts. I've been running more vert compared to previous years. Keeping a balanced approached to my Arthurs and Horsetooth summits- making sure I get quality dirt time in both parks. The illustrious Aggie Peak is tabulated for mere grins. Having loads of great days in the backyard!<br />
<br />
Looking forward to Moab! It will be a great early season benchmark to assess the fitness. Gonna be a great race with a lot of speed toeing the line. A great way to kick off my race season- see you out there!<br />
<br />
burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-7596007761005959172013-01-12T18:55:00.000-07:002013-01-12T18:55:19.889-07:00A Look Back at the Year that WasThe daily log has been tallied. Here's the overview from 2012.<br />
<br />
January- 310.6 miles, 2 days off, 10.0 daily avg.<br />
February- 252.7 miles, 3 days off, 8.7 daily avg.<br />
March- 328.2 miles, 3 days off, 10.6 daily avg.<br />
1st Q- 891.5 miles, 8 days off, 9.8 daily avg<br />
Races: New Year's Day 5K, Superbowl 5K<br />
<br />
April- 316.4 miles, 3 days off, 10.5 daily avg<br />
May- 260.1 miles, 4 days off, 8.4 daily avg<br />
June- 263.5 miles, 9 days off, 8.8 daily avg<br />
2nd Q- 840 miles, 16 days off, 9.2 daily avg<br />
Races: Cheyenne Mtn 50K, Quad Rock 50M, Dirty Thirty 50K, Western States 100M<br />
<br />
July- Basic Training<br />
August- Basic Training<br />
September- 151.2 miles, 3 days off, 9.4 daily avg. <br />
* Return to regular running 09/15 after Basic Training*<br />
3rd Q- 151.2 miles, 3 days off, 9.4 daily avg.<br />
Races: None<br />
<br />
October- 292.8 miles, 2 days off, 9.4 daily avg.<br />
November- 258.1 miles, 2 days off, 8.6 daily avg.<br />
December- 317.3 miles, 5 days off, 10.2 daily avg.<br />
4th Q- 868.2 miles, 9 days off, 9.4 daily avg.<br />
Races: Bluesky 26.2, Heart Center 13.1, Turkey Trot 5M<br />
<br />
Totals- 2750.9 miles, 436:46 time running, 36 days off (not counting BT), 9 races, 3 wins, 6 podiums, 262.5 race miles, $643. in race entries<br />
<br />
Local Summits- <br />
Horsetooth Rock- 28<br />
Arthur's Rock- 17<br />
Towers Time Trial- 15<br />
Round Mountain- 4<br />
Crosier Mountain- 2<br />
Bobcat Peak aka Mahoney Mountain- 2<br />
Grey Rock- 1<br />
Alexander- 1<br />
<br />
Boulder/Golden Area Summits- <br />
Bear Peak- 2<br />
Green Mountain- 2 <br />
2nd Flatiron- 1<br />
Windy Peak- 1<br />
<br />
Estes Park Area Summits-<br />
McGregor Mountain- 1<br />
Dark Mountain- 1<br />
The Needles- 1<br />
<br />
14er Summits-<br />
Elbert<br />
Belford<br />
Oxford<br />
<br />
Memorable and Meaningful Moments-<br />
<br />
03/22/2012- My first sub 30 on Towers!<br />
<br />
05/12/2012- Quad Rock. Outstanding inaugural race in the backyard. Awesome friends, good food, decent fire.<br />
<br />
06/23/2012- Not my best day...but awesome to finish WS with the incredible support of my fam and Meissner. Definitely a day to remember.<br />
<br />
Basic Training- 5 mile "long" runs on the track. Obstacle courses. Mud. Awesome.<br />
<br />
09/16/2012- My first run returning from Basic Training. Indian Peaks Wilderness. Devils Thumb Loop. 16 miles. Home in CO once again...above treeline! I ran in my clunky Asics from BT sporting mid calf length white cotton socks...amazing tan line.<br />
<br />
09/22/2012- Indian Peaks. St. Vrain Glacier Trail. Continued post BT runners high. Running up to a high alpine lake. Taking a swim. Rewarming and soaking in the sunshine on a huge flat rock. This one spoke to me.<br />
<br />
10/07/2012- My return to racing at the Bluesky Marathon. All smiles on this one. Two days after my B-Day. Hometown trails. Lots to celebrate.<br />
<br />
12/01-02/2012- Two consecutive shirtless running days in DECEMBER!<br />
<br />
In other news...Registration has opened for <a href="http://www.salidarec.com/ccrc/">Salida</a> You can't beat running a great dirt marathon for $50. that includes a shirt and meal.<br />
<br />
Longest run of 2013 today! Out with Hanson and Clark for 21. Ringing the Rocks in the New Year at Lory/HTMP. Cold. Fun. Beardsicles. Earcicles.<br />
<br />
burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-31973587971620401282012-12-26T20:20:00.000-07:002012-12-26T20:20:15.733-07:002013 Race ScheduleIt will be another condensed year of racing for me with my Guard commitments. Nonetheless, I'm feeling that excitement to train hard and explore different areas of fitness in 2013. As usual I will be running. The past few weeks I've begun to flip the switch from hibernation training to higher volume fun training. This has consisted of back to back 3+ hour weekend runs in Lory/HTMP with lots of vert. The recent snow/ice has commenced "Frisky Summit Season" on Arthur's and H-Tooth. I will also be spending more time in particular on Mill Creek in 2013. This is the 5th (out of 6) climb on the Quad Rock course. It's the crux of the race and kicked my butt last year. I'll be running it from valley floor to beyond Towers (start of Secret Trail) to add a layer of tough to it...and then come all the way back down! I'm looking to find a new friend in the familiarity on this stretch of dirt.<br />
<br />
In addition to the running I've been doing my military workouts 3-4 days/week that are: various types of pushups, pullups, tons of core, and other body weight exercises. My goal is to max out my <a href="http://apftcalculator.com/">APFT score.</a> This test measures: the amount of pushups in two minutes, the amount of situps in two minutes, and a timed two mile run. A maximum score of 100 points in each event will give you a total score of 300. Currently I've plateaued in the low 280's. I can max the situps and run but need to crank out at least 15 more pushups. This will prevent me from showing up to fire academy with a bird cage up top. I'll be more balanced in my total fitness for 2013. Weight wise I'll be running 5-7 lbs stronger compared to last year. I'm slower on the climbs but am curious to see what the magic number is that retains strength and running performance with the training load I'm on. It's not even 2013 and I've already planned out half of my weekends through May! And that's only with races and Guard weekends on the docket...<br />
<br />
<br />
February- <a href="http://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=17146">Moab's Red Hot 55K</a><br />
<br />
March- <a href="http://www.salidarec.com/ccrc/index.htm">A Run Through Time Marathon</a><br />
<br />
April- <a href="http://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=17798">Lake Sonoma 50M</a><br />
<br />
May- <a href="http://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=18573">Quad Rock 50M</a><br />
<br />
End of May to Mid September- Firefighter Academy in Texas<br />
<br />
September- <a href="http://www.ultraroc.com/">UROC 100K</a><br />
<br />
October through December- ?<br />
<br />
Have a Happy New Year! Resolve to be better in at least one way...then do it!burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-46150894901106817172012-11-30T11:00:00.000-07:002012-11-30T11:00:57.929-07:00Quad Rock Registration Opens Tomorrow!!!Ladies and Gents,<br />
<br />
<a href="http://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=18573">Registration </a>for the Quad Rock 25 and 50 mile races opens tomorrow! Don't miss out on securing your spot to run the beautifully challenging trails that connect Lory and Horsetooth. The top three male and female finishers from the 50 will be returning to defend the podium. I'm looking forward to a deep field and some runners who could take the CR under 7 hours...Dakota, Tony, Sage...would be fun to see what you could lay down! And the post-race will be epic as well!burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-15571663319145842322012-11-23T20:36:00.000-07:002012-11-23T20:36:32.217-07:00Turkey Trottin' 2012<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbleWr871R1rCxOABsqzSfDTNEmADf7K5waAd51qv3xJKW80JrTE_dxL6c4WHcXFsULS5OZlbxj9gXnlNiA5WM_QG8LwbonPAlL2nE3ujB05kx4ExoVRbaJa37FUUK1qd7GFFCJuNd4X2/s1600/P1000015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="400" width="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbleWr871R1rCxOABsqzSfDTNEmADf7K5waAd51qv3xJKW80JrTE_dxL6c4WHcXFsULS5OZlbxj9gXnlNiA5WM_QG8LwbonPAlL2nE3ujB05kx4ExoVRbaJa37FUUK1qd7GFFCJuNd4X2/s400/P1000015.JPG" /></a><br />
<br />
This past Wednesday I flew out to Wisconsin to enjoy Thanksgiving with the Burch clan. While waiting for my flight I bumped into <a href="http://www.zeketiernanrunning.blogspot.com/">Zeke.</a> Check out his blog and welcome him to the blogosphere! It's always fun to run into friends unexpectedly and catch up a bit before the birds take to the sky.<br />
<br />
Thanksgiving morning came and I was already properly stuffed from the previous evenings meal and the wondrous cooking of my Aunt Robin. Needless to say I was well fueled for the ensuing 5 miler. Lasagna and brownies stoked my fire... This was my third running at the 5th Annual Eau Claire, WI Turkey Trot. Two Turkey Days ago I finished second (30:32) on a snowy/icy course in cold and windy conditions. For 2012 I was going for the win!<br />
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Unseasonably warm temps brought forth a dry course and a faster field. While packing on Tuesday night I threw in a pair of shorts and a s/s shirt to wear around the house, never anticipating that I might run in them. Maybe I should have taken 20 seconds and checked the weather. But this was late November in Wisconsin. I've experienced near frost-bite winter running here before. My nose, ears, fingers, toes, and other digits can fondly remember the sweet stinging sensation that comes with rewarming.<br />
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7:30 AM. The outside thermometer on one of the local banks reads 55 degrees. Twas a scorcher to say the least. Now I felt overdressed in shorts and a tee. After the singing of our National Anthem I looked at the competition and knew I had my work cut out for me. There were a handful of youngsters that fit the part of having been current or post grads from the UWEC x-country team.<br />
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After 2 miles I had sweated out my shirt and was running in the 10th spot. The jack rabbits cruised along while I worked on picking off the over zealous starters. With a mile to go 4th place was 30 seconds in front. Crossing the finish I cut the margin to 20 seconds. My 28:34 was nearly a two minute PR on this course from two years ago. Finishing 5th I was the final runner to win a frozen turkey. All finishers received a 5" personal pumpkin pie. It was nearly 60 degrees. Thanksgiving was off to an incredible start.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mtecresults.com/runner/show?race=1234&rid=16267">Results</a><br />
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Here's to a happy and healthy start to your Holiday season.<br />
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burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-64783143227241950292012-11-04T17:44:00.000-07:002012-11-04T17:56:11.070-07:00Heart Center Half MarathonOn Halloween a friend asked me if I wanted to run one of the Heart Center of the Rockies races. The treats to choose from were a 5K, 10K, or half marathon. Originally I planned to do the 10K as a prep for the highly anticipated <a href="https://register.gorun.org/FestivalTurkeyTrot-eauclaire/">Eau Claire, WI Turkey Trot 5 miler</a> that has become a Burch Family Classic. During registration a black cat crossed my path and meowed, "Half and Half." It was a sign...<br />
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I think it's been over three years since I've done a road race longer than 5K...not counting AR50 in that category. It was a random scratch to itch and I looked forward to pushing the pace for 13.1 It would be another great gauge on fitness and a chance to wear a roadie costume for the day.<br />
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My goal was to go sub 1:20. Lately I've done some highly specific training for this race; running really mellow up and down Horsetooth with friends and one speed workout on the track. I knew I had it in me! I figured I could also set a PR. The existing benchmark was a 1:20 split at the 2009 CO Marathon.<br />
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Race day came and I felt good. I wore compression socks to fit in with the crowd but knew my inner trail runner was sticking out like a sore thumb when I donned a hat, gloves, and a longsleeve. Compared to the rest of the front row I looked like an overdressed newbie as they stripped down to shorty shorts and singlets. I seemed to have forgotten how much heat I can produce when I run fast. I was out of my element.<br />
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The race started and I found myself in the 6 spot chitchatting on a beautiful morn with the guys next to me. It was fun to run hard for over 3.1 miles. I began thinking how good the half-marathon distance could be for ultra training. It doesn't beat you up like a road marathon. It is a great sustained high intensity cardio workout. And on the simple side you don't have to worry about eating or drinking during the race.<br />
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Through 6 miles I was at 37:xx. Through 10 I was at 1:01:xx. With 5K to go I could tell I was beginning to close the gap on a few of the runners in front of me. Shortly after mile 11 I found myself in the 5th spot looking ahead at Heather Utrata who was about 30 seconds up in 4th with 3rd place 10-15 seconds up on her. I put the remaining pedal down but knew I would run out of real estate for the two in front of me. I crossed the line in 1:19:19 achieving my goals for the day.<br />
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I had a ton of fun out there on Saturday! Running hard and throwing down some hotcakes postrace. Seven weeks removed from Basic and the exuberance for running continues to spill out my cup. An unnamed friend (living on Overhill Dr) enjoyed pointing out the fact that I got "chicked." I thoroughly did as only a true man can admit with pride and a smile. Running is fun.<br />
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<a href="http://resultsarchive.active.com/pages/displayNonGru.jsp?pubID=3&rsID=136878">Results.</a>burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-22167067041631295842012-10-16T23:34:00.000-06:002012-10-16T23:34:23.504-06:00Basic Training: Part 1<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBL_h_H4IOIRacK0XiVYXTSLvVmsRvLfHro_u1HAEBnbOa9dcsKCWmHsIjq37rxCeNkbqTNykVDiP3D93Ux77jizDtKkpG-tfbm0iH4ifTn9MJVQEDCIfauUgYQZQ7UZwJzciSCq2xKNz/s1600/start+line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="225" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBL_h_H4IOIRacK0XiVYXTSLvVmsRvLfHro_u1HAEBnbOa9dcsKCWmHsIjq37rxCeNkbqTNykVDiP3D93Ux77jizDtKkpG-tfbm0iH4ifTn9MJVQEDCIfauUgYQZQ7UZwJzciSCq2xKNz/s400/start+line.jpg" /></a><br />
Getting ready for the 2 mile, #207, right of the yellow stripes<br />
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July 2nd to September 14th. During this time I spent 10 weeks in Fort Benning, Georgia experiencing all that comes with Basic Combat Training (BCT). I did my research and had a pretty good idea of what I was in for. Little did I know of the perspective to be gained upon completion of this adventure. Choosing to join the National Guard was yet another decision in my life that I would have never seen myself doing at earlier junctures in my life. Then it happened. The same can be said for many of my interests throughout life: aggressive inline skating, powerlifting, ultrarunning, and now the military. They each share some type of physical challenge, very unique cultures, and have received looks of befuddlement when I tell people where my life is going. <br />
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I am now part of the 1 percent. But not the 1 percent that wears diamonds on their soles. Our First Sergeant said that 1 in 4 Americans have the ability to graduate Basic Training. Less than 1 percent of Americans choose to serve. I had always thought the military was much larger...the perspective begins to change.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlKjAeLWaHcG9Rw5Jul0A9uLqulzsheKxPhNO_wC-xkdKXGxirleFkg85wLtWoo8yodpludWHPD0QH7M8mb-UIIU2m62tlOb4bnngI-NpCcpQrgPb-szzdGyV-J3Lked-_5VThJv9lHG7/s1600/delta+dawgs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="191" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlKjAeLWaHcG9Rw5Jul0A9uLqulzsheKxPhNO_wC-xkdKXGxirleFkg85wLtWoo8yodpludWHPD0QH7M8mb-UIIU2m62tlOb4bnngI-NpCcpQrgPb-szzdGyV-J3Lked-_5VThJv9lHG7/s400/delta+dawgs.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimFIoaA7Y54FDbOjDz8FZM0sceXgrXEZg161RYHwW_2mY_H35DuL9rc_Pmj5Lk4UcBboElFKGpCHK6v9x3OKHIWjcpkW9ViFKay2GGhx01P6lIZeMHyxL7csLkNN8h2BBB0eLfWj9A1gKZ/s1600/2nd+platoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimFIoaA7Y54FDbOjDz8FZM0sceXgrXEZg161RYHwW_2mY_H35DuL9rc_Pmj5Lk4UcBboElFKGpCHK6v9x3OKHIWjcpkW9ViFKay2GGhx01P6lIZeMHyxL7csLkNN8h2BBB0eLfWj9A1gKZ/s400/2nd+platoon.jpg" /></a><br />
2nd Platoon: "Death Dealers"<br />
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Introduction:<br />
I was assigned to Delta Company 3/47 Infantry Regiment, 2nd Platoon, Roster Number 207. After a restless first week in Reception I was anxious to get the real training going. Reception is all of your inprocessing. You get your shots, haircut, uniforms, fill out paperwork, hurry up and wait, eat, and perform no physical activity.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qleJsMr67b-pvy-906Vht6riVM4v_RESCW7GfZ1hgGmuvujoF4kg_BU0L86qf6ELr65_ly21fyA4UXTfmQQ3H8ZFVw8JDeAt6WekE_LbAN_LuDMgzkoIvh4-Iuj2ZABFoyImjn_s9idS/s1600/Basic-+Face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qleJsMr67b-pvy-906Vht6riVM4v_RESCW7GfZ1hgGmuvujoF4kg_BU0L86qf6ELr65_ly21fyA4UXTfmQQ3H8ZFVw8JDeAt6WekE_LbAN_LuDMgzkoIvh4-Iuj2ZABFoyImjn_s9idS/s400/Basic-+Face.jpg" /></a><br />
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The bus stopped. Just like the movies a Drill Sergeant stepped on board and began yelling at us to get off the bus. Welcome to Basic. Running through the sand with duffel bag on my back, backpack front loaded and laundry bag in my arms. They call it Shark Attack. Lots of yelling, lots of in your face, lots of intimidating to see who will start to breakdown.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpCEdmsSeeqUcE_6aT2ALo-16-f4DJz8P0-RpI8l_4T3-ZG4QOEb3ws6An9BXO2gbMs9ZoPyH0-jfBFZNy7D467O6ccLsj4nHvOn7bVhUjT_VGkLvuwiBRMPZOSMeDh2LqaN6VIjoty1M/s1600/BT-+Low+ready.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqpCEdmsSeeqUcE_6aT2ALo-16-f4DJz8P0-RpI8l_4T3-ZG4QOEb3ws6An9BXO2gbMs9ZoPyH0-jfBFZNy7D467O6ccLsj4nHvOn7bVhUjT_VGkLvuwiBRMPZOSMeDh2LqaN6VIjoty1M/s400/BT-+Low+ready.jpg" /></a><br />
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The first night we were introduced to the Shower Drill. Take 50 dudes and line them up in a row with towels around their waists and shower shoes on their feet. Push them through the bathroom like cattle. Start the stopwatch. One minute to brush the teeth. One minute to shower. In less than 15 minutes our platoon had completed personal hygiene time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwt56nnM4loIb0VkSo_g9cW-sqL3UnbIVGdNnRGKEXEijMoR8p-W9joK8sLFFkemuZ865bbRZVS7pe5JtdGA5vLJIJbQ0ZTcO6oaE1BJFl3HRaa0Mht4BIv85RPV4BtxBaU6pn1Mf00UK/s1600/MRE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="225" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwt56nnM4loIb0VkSo_g9cW-sqL3UnbIVGdNnRGKEXEijMoR8p-W9joK8sLFFkemuZ865bbRZVS7pe5JtdGA5vLJIJbQ0ZTcO6oaE1BJFl3HRaa0Mht4BIv85RPV4BtxBaU6pn1Mf00UK/s400/MRE.jpg" /></a><br />
Loving the applesauce in my MRE<br />
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The Food:<br />
Being a vegetarian I wondered if I would have to give up this lifestyle choice during Basic. I was pleasantly surprised to find out it was not an issue at all. Out of the 20+ Meals Ready to Eat (MRE's) there were four vegetarian dishes. In the chow hall the meat eaters would get meat and potatoes while I would get potatoes and potatoes. I often supplemented protein with chocolate milk, cottage cheese, and the very hip peanut butter packets that had an eerie resemblance to a gel pack. I was beginning to feel at home. Random fact- I had scrambled eggs 70 days in a row. You eat what you're served.<br />
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Meal times were hilarious. Total awkwardness. It would have been awesome to be an outsider looking in on this phenomenon. We had to look down at our food at all times. No talking. No eye contact with others. Our only utensil was a small shovel. If my favorite Drill Sergeant was there we had to keep one hand on a glass at all times. All of this was done for a simple purpose. Eat and eat fast. A simple task of refueling. 10 minutes of no manners whatsoever. Shovel, chew, swallow, repeat. The cool thing is how your body adapts. At first it was hard to get everything down in our alloted time. Three weeks later and 10 minutes felt like a sit down meal. I now understand why a number of ultrarunners who have served are so good at eating challenges...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0MHACq_NSJ262au10JBqz_LP2uPCryqiH0gdQIErJerJz7VGtRck81UzV37c9UQ2x8UwUi0ZA7GBK0K51Caf2tvpchzF69i-mG7HB4fmvFNPKpU5B_jh9mHDGHtOnQpTtU8Dpj4FtyQk/s1600/pt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="225" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY0MHACq_NSJ262au10JBqz_LP2uPCryqiH0gdQIErJerJz7VGtRck81UzV37c9UQ2x8UwUi0ZA7GBK0K51Caf2tvpchzF69i-mG7HB4fmvFNPKpU5B_jh9mHDGHtOnQpTtU8Dpj4FtyQk/s400/pt.jpg" /></a><br />
Gotta love the socks!<br />
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The Running:<br />
My life lesson of 2012 has been that of letting go. Major changes occurred in my personal life that caused me to reflect and reevaluate who I am. It was time to let go of my wants, needs, and desires for a season. A season of losing myself with the hope of finding myself anew. Since my first ultra in 2006 running has gradually changed from a hobby to a lifestyle for me in 2012. It is a large part of my identity that is outwardly visible but doesn't define who I am. Basic was the time to let go of it for 10 weeks and see what I might learn from voluntarily putting a passion on the shelf.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvKiygKJYFtvqMEysnpSCz0oxrgauUepF0R-t7tQZgLoVHIDUnPyDtQICob9rzorDCqMZ0IFi-YJ89wKyAt0Ax4sKjqbi43kMV0kThdrVYMqUic0Ds3QpSivEG-tfJRtl85Au-IgwuGkp/s1600/rappeling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvKiygKJYFtvqMEysnpSCz0oxrgauUepF0R-t7tQZgLoVHIDUnPyDtQICob9rzorDCqMZ0IFi-YJ89wKyAt0Ax4sKjqbi43kMV0kThdrVYMqUic0Ds3QpSivEG-tfJRtl85Au-IgwuGkp/s400/rappeling.jpg" /></a><br />
Rappelling<br />
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In all I guesstimate that I ran about 80 miles during Basic. The moments I could run were pure joy. They were moments of freedom when I could break away from the structure, supervision, and homogenized bubble that surrounded me at all times. I would sneak in 20 laps around the track when other soldiers had remedial PT. These were my long runs. <br />
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While others trained for Hardrock, Speedgoat, Leadville, and Steamboat I trained for the 1 and 2 mile. It was a successful summer of "racing" for me. 4-O. At 32 I was the oldest and fastest out of the 200 Delta Co soldiers. The Drill Sergeants shook their heads. Who was this old man who didn't eat meat that was leading the pack against teenagers nearly half his age? It didn't make sense. In the 1 mile I ran my first sub 5 minute mile clocking a 4:59. Word spread to the Lieutenant Colonel that an old dude could run. A challenge was presented. I earned the 192nd Brigade Coin of Excellence. However, it would be taken away if anyone beat me during the three remaining PT Tests and presented to the new victor. I whittled away at my two mile time with each test: 10:53, 10:44, and a 10:37. I can now add a coin to my ziploc bag of finishers medals/awards that have their home in the "Running Box." It's easy to run consecutive PR's when you don't have a previous benchmark!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfOnvqNn1fwklBt9-WKRvn_PEdcYPlH_lskeIzW8RcFgx6VbnHWw8oKm-LLDKbxaLQQG0XP-b6uzMWNgREmupaRC8Ivn-f5jyOuFeNcWFkDCE9kD2l_TyXOLJh-y1PFHVFJH55Gg8kIZr/s1600/BT+coaching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="267" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfOnvqNn1fwklBt9-WKRvn_PEdcYPlH_lskeIzW8RcFgx6VbnHWw8oKm-LLDKbxaLQQG0XP-b6uzMWNgREmupaRC8Ivn-f5jyOuFeNcWFkDCE9kD2l_TyXOLJh-y1PFHVFJH55Gg8kIZr/s400/BT+coaching.jpg" /></a><br />
Coaching on the range<br />
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Apparently the military has had to reduce the running volume during Basic Training. More and more soldiers were getting injured. The government did some research and discovered that the Play Station Generation simply had weaker/less dense bones than their older and denser counterparts. They were seeing more stress fractures etc at Basic while Airborne School was seeing a lot more broken bones! Kids need to move more.<br />
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I missed regular running. I knew I missed it when I would get excited to run 40 minutes around a track in all the heat and humidity that comes with Georgia in the summertime. I would finish looking like I had just exited a swimming pool. Never have I sweated like I did in Georgia. Walking away from the track I wore a smile. <br />
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Upcoming: Basic Rifle Marksmanship, the Gas Chamber, Communication, Appreciation and more!<br />
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burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-36035409774815901692012-10-07T23:07:00.001-06:002012-10-07T23:07:42.838-06:00Bluesky Marathon Homecoming!Lots to get caught up on. 1st- I've been back in CO for the past three weeks. Got some great perspective at Basic Training. I have put some good thought into my experience and will be dedicating a post to my 10 week adventure at Fort Benning.<br />
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2nd- I ran the Bluesky Marathon today and won! I can't tell you how great it feels to be back home and running again. It totally has brought tears to my eyes on many occasions hitting the familiar stomping grounds after work. Trail running is woven into my DNA. After letting it go for 10 weeks it has been incredible to rekindle the simple act of running outside on dirt. So damn good. Bluesky was amazing. I so missed the crisp, brisk, and dry CO air. Feeling it chill my skin this morning refreshed my spirit. I simply ran. It didn't feel like a race. It was a homecoming. It turned out I was in better shape than I thought. At Basic I ran about 80 miles in 10 weeks. I had two long runs of 5 miles on the track. 12 miles was the longest distance I covered on foot. I gained 10 lbs of muscle. Returning home I had three weeks to work with. I got out and ran. The first few runs I felt like a tank. The footwork was slow and heavy on the trail. There was no speedwork or structure to my training. I picked a trail and ran. Almost everyday. Guided by two feet, a happy heart, and lungs full of contentment. It's the simple things. They are good. More to come.burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-37320912823873394932012-07-01T09:50:00.000-06:002012-07-01T09:50:20.021-06:00Georgia on my mind...Well it's off to Georgia for Basic Training. I will miss a summer of mountain running but am excited to challenge myself in new ways. See you in September. Ryanburchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-9516244748903876652012-06-27T13:34:00.000-06:002012-06-27T13:34:39.889-06:00Western States: Getting My Money's WorthYou know you're getting your money's worth at Western States when:<br />
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-The last 15 miles takes you 6:44! I had 7 hours to go 15 miles to earn a Silver Buckle...and I knew it was going to be tight!<br />
-Other walkers start passing you going twice as fast! I was getting crushed!<br />
-AD Thornley tells you to leave some food for the other runners at the Michigan Bluff Aid Station. They also need fuel!<br />
-A high step involves lifting your foot 1 inch off the ground while your hip flexor barks at you.<br />
-You start singing along to the AS music. Freebird!!! AS volunteers happily pull out lighters and phones as you do your best Skynyrd Serenade. "And this Burch you cannot change!"<br />
-Your pacer starts hallucinating.<br />
-You start asking AS cooks for one of those "dang k-suh-dill-ahs" in your best Napoleon Dynamite voice.<br />
-You miss your time goal by 6 hours and Tim Olson beats you by 9 hours.<br />
-Your family and friends get worried when you are hours behind schedule. Thinking you are injured, off course, having an allergic reaction...when the reality is you're just moving really really really slow.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimd5E_XVQTDmxSA3_2kQe1I3hWcL1opCU0hSoN5bvmlcZrbpcICuu9OCk3QsUJ8CEB5Dj17pcq4mXWpBOtLUhgum1lNsHX9F_SIK75-Pg0AW5NJUOvao341OxcEcAVroasbo3izxOo4gQu/s1600/DSCF6973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="361" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimd5E_XVQTDmxSA3_2kQe1I3hWcL1opCU0hSoN5bvmlcZrbpcICuu9OCk3QsUJ8CEB5Dj17pcq4mXWpBOtLUhgum1lNsHX9F_SIK75-Pg0AW5NJUOvao341OxcEcAVroasbo3izxOo4gQu/s400/DSCF6973.JPG" /></a><br />
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Overall this was one of my more memorable finishes. From a performance standpoint it was a rough and tumble day. 10 miles into the race I felt the "ultra-ache" in my legs. This feeling first occurred for me at mile 25 during Leadville 2008. When I experience this I know it is going to be a long day. I knew I could fake it for 50 miles. Everyone was telling me, "You look great!" "Smooth and relaxed!" Inwardly I knew the wheels would slowly start to fall off.<br />
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I began to analyze why I might be feeling this. I had only raced three ultras in 2012, accumulating 112 race miles compared to 2011's 210 race miles leading into States. Then it dawned on me. WS was my 4th ultra in 7 weeks. On paper it looked like a piece of cake. Two 50K's and one 50M with a few weeks rest b/t races. I had been running well and winning some races. With this confidence I decided to run Golden Gate Dirty Thirty last minute and go for three wins in a row. The decision made total sense at the time...and it was only a 50K, I'd basically start my taper after the race. Racing is really fun when you're winning. I wanted to squeeze out my fitness gains one last time before States. I squeezed a little too much. In hindsight I lost vision of the big goal- competing well at WS. This decision impacted my day from Squaw Valley to Auburn.<br />
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Shortly after Robinson Flat (mile 30) the ultra-ache began to slow my roll. I had been leapfrogging with Riddle, Bitter, and Diboun for the first third of the race. We'd been running comfortably. Aerobically it felt like a jog but my legs were heavy and aching. Here's a look at the <a href="http://www.ultralive.net/ws100/webcast.php">path of destruction</a> I experienced. <br />
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Juxtaposition. Above the waist I felt like a champ! Below the waist I had been TKO'd with many miles to go. I was two people running. Mentally I felt like the strongest runner on the course. Physically I was Old Man Burch creaking down the trail. What I was most impressed with was my attitude. On a number of 100's I have turned into a hangry, rock kickin', f-bomb droppin', slow movin', monster. During the race I was slap-happy, Mr. Positivity, joke crackin', and enjoying myself despite my physical condition. I was hydrated, well fueled, and electrolyte balanced. If only I had some legs!<br />
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I love the part of the movie Into the Wild when McCandless is in the ocean with the waves. He says something to the effect of, "It's not about being strong, but feeling strong." Our minds are so powerful. I experienced that Saturday in a physical state that was less than stellar. There's something to that experience I'm still digesting, and it is deep. Concurrently I felt a pull to the finish that I've never felt so strong in any other race. At Foresthill I knew I would finish. I knew it would be tough. I knew it would get ugly. I knew I would get it done. I visualized myself going through the course and being led to the finish. I was led by the thousands of finishers who came before me at Western States. I was led by Gordy. I was led by Tim, Ann, and Scott. I was led by the strength of finishing. No matter how fast or how slow it is, you can't take a finish away. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfF50MoaFoktJOU1HC7S_6eLTvnhmYXZr240XGzQ3VzDf6fwsPPafQAJLMC4XG8CzS1KsW0tLVpUhBBA0AN1dx1Ri1P3U05PLkG2HIrNb9QS0FWCpxR6SZHuCvziu2-4_MR2T4-s0caj1j/s1600/DSCF6988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfF50MoaFoktJOU1HC7S_6eLTvnhmYXZr240XGzQ3VzDf6fwsPPafQAJLMC4XG8CzS1KsW0tLVpUhBBA0AN1dx1Ri1P3U05PLkG2HIrNb9QS0FWCpxR6SZHuCvziu2-4_MR2T4-s0caj1j/s400/DSCF6988.JPG" /></a><br />
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Emotion. I'm standing at the crossroads right now. In a few days I head off to Georgia for Basic Training. Western States brought with it a lot of finality. My last race and finish for awhile. My last time to see a lot of friends. A lot of changes and things to think about as my life begins a new chapter.<br />
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My family and I road-tripped it to the race. Mom,dad,sister and me just like growing up. Great to have them share this experience with me. It was fitting to have them finish with me. As I hit the track Sean and I waited for the rest of the team to assemble. First I saw my sister running towards me. Then I saw my mom walking slowly to us. Last it was my dad coming from the other direction with a skip in his step and a smile on his face. As one team the five of us walked hand in hand the last 250 meters to the finish. Pretty special. Even better when Thornley placed the finishers medal around my neck. He had seen firsthand everything I went through the year before when I dropped at mile 70 with airway issues. He could see the significance and meaning of this finish.<br />
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Thanks. To the family. Sean- your pacing was a tremendous boost! Awesome having you share stories and slow miles with me. You deserve a medal!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPb90dCHUhyphenhyphenQWF8UkYaWy5Muu3Ci0-gLECY-nsTTBuv_xFqoi5DZDYin3iO1j80hW8dgQd8CrwJsILfKmGA7mfF4uWywZNlivJa9qibGFAkbAVykCo7Xe24WschnXhqeLQ-sK1Q2hvEdV/s1600/DSCF6990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPb90dCHUhyphenhyphenQWF8UkYaWy5Muu3Ci0-gLECY-nsTTBuv_xFqoi5DZDYin3iO1j80hW8dgQd8CrwJsILfKmGA7mfF4uWywZNlivJa9qibGFAkbAVykCo7Xe24WschnXhqeLQ-sK1Q2hvEdV/s400/DSCF6990.JPG" /></a><br />
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John Tidd- Congrats,heck of a race! Didn't know I was famous...especially in Uruguay...thanks for saying hi. Likewise to Josh Katzman...the world is a small place with the Web...great job!<br />burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-81247382780256012632012-06-10T12:09:00.000-06:002012-06-10T12:09:31.775-06:00A few pics from Memorial Day Weekend<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNUuwh88rVMg_m49cUsi8yuWfHkrfR8h4npv5_CVmS8dHsnDK8mfB5GKBuyy8ei2X4WFZkZwlbg8VFyWeduEJFwRrvgRKkj5BpScEH_mSGuzDnz1GW6Mcy51TrEFLGgLXODGclgLnbgHa/s1600/BOE+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNUuwh88rVMg_m49cUsi8yuWfHkrfR8h4npv5_CVmS8dHsnDK8mfB5GKBuyy8ei2X4WFZkZwlbg8VFyWeduEJFwRrvgRKkj5BpScEH_mSGuzDnz1GW6Mcy51TrEFLGgLXODGclgLnbgHa/s400/BOE+002.jpg" /></a><br />
Freezing on the Roof of Colorado. Mt. Elbert.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGG1w3jVsF-So1-lwSRL8hCkTDDE351xH220QgCqcPDqhekxQDDNn9ZZKxIeKKyWOmsW901PD2KBQTlw5LM0Qu8ClRgtsIwZWPRqxE0z3RVTgSDkXjt-T_C_U2GUBWl2Ib-QfpiQgSXp5/s1600/BOE+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGG1w3jVsF-So1-lwSRL8hCkTDDE351xH220QgCqcPDqhekxQDDNn9ZZKxIeKKyWOmsW901PD2KBQTlw5LM0Qu8ClRgtsIwZWPRqxE0z3RVTgSDkXjt-T_C_U2GUBWl2Ib-QfpiQgSXp5/s400/BOE+004.jpg" /></a><br />
Gisler fired up! Mt. Oxford.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-W75lLFncWggrPEAuYYd9qjqH-kyb4WGYa0Pw-ml0ISLvDHjOdsIvwyIFtsTuxh2sBQ9uDfiymI41aB91_ahwj9OACJoonyF8FIIQuhWPACVB0BmXkwjZF5squQoGEhiDGrNplD-fl1Q/s1600/BOE+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-W75lLFncWggrPEAuYYd9qjqH-kyb4WGYa0Pw-ml0ISLvDHjOdsIvwyIFtsTuxh2sBQ9uDfiymI41aB91_ahwj9OACJoonyF8FIIQuhWPACVB0BmXkwjZF5squQoGEhiDGrNplD-fl1Q/s400/BOE+007.jpg" /></a><br />
Gisler, Lee, Stefanovich. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHM6vyP7Gi5oPYmsxf6SPb7jXki6JWvEP3bWrDZ751bdChW_R_4zN9VJ_k6HInNySq0AUouwcHeM7Dzd1KhRyCyHo4tZDq6w1GN9HH56BMtpjVuinT5VNXCvVe1oVUpXp20PLWkHrW_Q4/s1600/BOE+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHM6vyP7Gi5oPYmsxf6SPb7jXki6JWvEP3bWrDZ751bdChW_R_4zN9VJ_k6HInNySq0AUouwcHeM7Dzd1KhRyCyHo4tZDq6w1GN9HH56BMtpjVuinT5VNXCvVe1oVUpXp20PLWkHrW_Q4/s400/BOE+006.jpg" /></a><br />
CO splendor in May!<br />
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After running the past two days in 90+ degree temps higher terrain is a refreshing sight! I've been taking advantage of the high temps to heat acclimatize for States. Friday was a good vert session at HTMP. Saturday I entered the Republic with Doug for a great run/climb loop starting at NCAR. Up the 2nd, Green Mtn. summit, and a descent in which I found my 100 mile stride. Here's to the taper! <br />
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<br />burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-44137843126513669982012-06-03T14:31:00.000-06:002012-06-03T14:31:02.028-06:00Dirty Thirty: Bringing Balance to the Force<a href="http://www.goldengatedirtythirty.org/reports/2012/category50-M-O.html">Results<br />
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After driving home from the <a href="http://www.goldengatedirtythirty.org/">race</a> yesterday two titles came to mind for my run. The other being, "The Beauty of Karma and One Wrong Turn." The second one foreshadows my race better while the stated title brings everything full circle. As a Libra balance is an important aspect of my life. Yesterdays race brought the scales to a closer equilibrium.<br />
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Our story begins at the 2008 Run Through Time Marathon in Salida. It was an especially snowy year that left sections of the "trail" buried by 18 inches of snow. Jedi's <a href="http://only1timmy.blogspot.com/">Parr</a>, <a href="http://strategicendurance.com/">Callahan</a>, and <a href="http://www.viendurance.com/t/Athlete-NickPedatella">TGNMP</a> led the charge through 17 miles. The trio missed a critical turn while young Skywalker made the turn and broke trail through the crusty snow. I left a blood path from my lower limbs that guided the following runners to a safe finish with no added mileage. It was a unique set of events that led to my first career win.<br />
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Our story fast forwards to 2010 Antelope Island Buffalo Run 50M. <a href="http://teamfasteddy-fasted.blogspot.com/">Mexifast</a> and I leapfrogged each other all day long throughout the course. We were within 1 minute of each other at all times. Then a shift occurred. Imperceptible to those unaccustomed with the Force. Vader's mind powers temporarily clouded Obi Wan's vision leading him past the finish turn and into the parking lot. Young Skywalker yelled frantically as he watched in horror as the Jedi Master's Runner was being pulled farther from the finish by the Dark Side. Skywalker had a decision to make. Looking back he's unsure if it was the right one. Young he was and took the victory he did while Obi Wan cleared his mind and made it safely back home a minute later. The plot begins to thicken as the scales begin to tip.<br />
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Lightspeed ahead to yesterday, 2012. Young Skywalker starts the race and notices the huge pace difference between a 50K and a 50M. The first few miles he sits in the 7th spot as the leaders have thoughts of a Benjamin dance through their heads. By the time he hit the first AS at mile 5 he had worked into the 2nd spot with <a href="http://justinricks.blogspot.com/">Ricks</a> a $100 dollars happier 20 seconds ahead. Skywalker closed the gap and assumed the lead around mile 7. From here he began to build his lead ascending the rock strewn trail and descending at a good clip. Then another shift occurred.<br />
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Skywalker came to an unmarked trail junction. He knew the 3rd AS had to be close. The Garmin Light Saber read 16.5 miles. Aid was at 16.8. The next chain of events speak a lot about how to live life. Sometimes we misinterpret their meanings when the answer is in front of us. Skywalker studied his options. The Emperor whispered through the trees, "Go the Right way, do the Right thing." Skywalker accepted the first voice he heard instead of truly listening to the Force. Right he went. Downhill. Out onto a paved road. Next to a bridge. "This ain't it," he so elegantly remarked. Two hikers were coming up the road. "Maybe these two hikers who have no idea that a trail race is going on will know how to direct me back on course." He desperately asked the question he already knew the answer to. The hikers responded, "Not sure where the race goes but the Visitors Center is a mile behind us."<br />
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Skywalker thanked them and retraced his steps uphill to the trail junction as Ricks sped by. His 5 minute lead was vaporized just like that. As he got back on course Obi Wan appeared and reiminded him to contemplate the following: Take the High Road. When in Doubt Go Higher. The Hardest Thing and the Right Thing are the Same. Skywalker centered on knowing the correct definition of Right. Lesson well learned. He kicked himself for taking the Easy Way Out and going down the Path of Least Resistance. The answer was in front of him all along.<br />
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Now back on course he had to let go of the deflating thoughts that tried to imprison his race. On the other side of the equation he knew Ricks had been given a huge boost to regain the lead by simply Staying the Course. Skywalker fought hard and kept his head in the game as the duel intensified. Ricks had opened up a 30-40 second lead by mile 20. Coming into AS 4 at mile 23 Skywalker had slimmed it to 10 seconds. Game on! Towards the base of the final climb up Windy Peak Skywalker had bridged the gap. Unexpectedly Ricks pulled off the trail, motioning and telling Skywalker, "Go ahead, I hate this last climb." Skywalker knew what he had to do. Put in a strong climb, tag Windy and bomb down to the finish. <br />
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The heat increased. Skywalker was sweating. His legs were feeling the drain of already ascending 7000 feet in the last 4 hours. The final grind to the top was steady, not spectacular. After the summit Skywalker started downhill with a 20 second lead. The pins were a bit crampy. Ricks looked like he was done. Skywalker kept the cramps at bay through the techy initial descent off the peak and found himself cruising down the buffed out singletrack shortly thereafter.<br />
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Footsteps. The long drawn out foot falls of someone on a mission began to reverberate in Skywalker's ears. "Crap!" Skywalker glamourously muttered. He began to recall the events of the day. How hard he had worked to get back in the race. And now it was slipping through his hands. Ricks was getting closer and closer. Skywalker accelerated. Ricks was breathing down his neck. Skywalker accelerated. Then a shift occurred.<br />
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Ricks hit Lightspeed and blew by Skywalker like he was the Millenium Falcon down for repairs at mile 28. The final AS came and went. Less than 3 miles to go! Despite Skywalker's downhill strength the crevasse widened. Soon it was swallowing buses. Then houses. And finally Skywalker's hope of making it three in a row. Dust in the Wind. <br />
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Yoda, Obi Wan, and the other Jedi runners who have lost a race while going off course accompanied Skywalker those last few miles. "It's part of trailrunning," they instructed. Skywalker sat with this simple yet profound statement. "Yes it is," he agreed, "The trail presents us with many turns. Our attitude towards the trail defines our journey along it. And running the trail is just more fun!" Yesterday, 2012 balance was brought back to the Force. Full balance shall resume during Skywalker's 2014 race season. It is an even year. <br />
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Extras: This was one of my favorite 50K's. Beautiful course, a variety of terrain, lots of inspiring CO singletrack. The post race was awesome! I made sure to plan ahead for this one and brought the camp chair and my huge bowl and spork. Why? 'Cause they were sauteeing Noodles on sight and I mos def had to get my grub on! RD Megan Finnesy and her troop of volunteers did an incredible job of orchestrating a great race and a stellar post race which is the icing on the cake for an event. Thanks to all who volunteered and made the race a great experience. And to the disgruntled hiker who was removing markings near AS 3...I shake my fist at you!<br />
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Congrats to Justin Ricks! A hard fought battle he won. It was really impressive watching him close out the race. His 2:22 marathon PR was evident in the leg speed he exhibited those last few miles. In three miles he put a minute on me. I was crawling at 5:55 pace compared to his 5:35s. Awesome.<br />
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20 days until Western States.<br />
<br />burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-46388593630245980292012-05-20T19:31:00.000-06:002012-05-20T19:50:07.417-06:00The Pain CaveThis weekend at National Guard training I took a journey into the pain cave. Pain is part of the human experience. We will all deal with it during our journeys. Sometimes it is physical, sometimes it is emotional. Pain can result from forces beyond our control and most often it is a direct result from the choices we make on a daily basis. In our culture of comfort and convenience pain is often overlooked and something to avoid at all costs. Why is it we learn more from our pain/failures/defeats than our successes? I think the answer is found when we choose to rise above and overcome our situation. It is empowering to face the antagonist face to face and pass the test with additional wisdom and strength.<br />
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I am interested in what I can learn from my pain. How can I embrace the suffering? What lessons are learned from adversity? When will I get through it? These questions assist me in understanding what I am experiencing. Often these same questions are asked during an ultra. The reward comes when I finish and gain perspective on the battle I endured.<br />
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So after the existential intro and philosophical wax, let me get real. Pain can really suck and yesterday I drank from the fire hose. My opponent: <a href="http://oleoresin-capsicum.com/">Oleoresin Capsicum </a>AKA OC Spray. Here's a similar <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmJuMStuhC4&feature=">video</a> of what I went through (the meltdown increases intensity at 3:30). <br />
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As an even keel gent I don't get too high or too low from my experiences. I wasn't nervous or anxious watching my fellow comrades get sprayed and seeing their response to the stressor. Knowing my physiology I knew I'd be in for a treat. If you've ever seen me eat Mexican food you can confirm the steady flow of sweat beads that run down my brow with even the most moderate amount of spice. Now take a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scoville_scale#List_of_Scoville_ratings ">look</a> at where OC stands on the Scoville Scale. The odds were stacked against me...heavily. So I channeled my inner Rocky and called out the Heat.<br />
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I toed the line and got sprayed. It's not a confidence booster when the first thing you hear from the crowd is, "Ohh, he got a lot, direct hit!" It was obvious to see when others hit the wall. The OC would enter the eyes and BOOM! the fireworks would start. Mine began almost immediately when I opened my eyes. Some likened the feeling to pouring the hottest hot sauce in your eyes. Others to the pleasant feeling of hot lava gently boiling on your eyeballs.<br />
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My task was to get sprayed and then work through the 5 challenge stations with a full on OC exposure within 90 seconds. The OC hits the skin and eyes with an inflammatory response. Redness, swelling, pain, heat, and loss of function are the cardinal signs. I was blinded from the beginning. Sprayees are instructed to speedily strobe their eyes open and shut to activate the tear ducts and clear the OC. All I wanted to do was clamp my eyes shut as tight as I could. When I would attempt to open them it hurt worse. My eyes became super sensitive to the sunlight and as they swelled inside the sockets it was excruciating to flutter the eyelids even for a millisecond. Sprayees are instructed to avoid touching the face with the hands. All I wanted to do was rake my face. This would lead to cross contamination and additional soothing side effects.<br />
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Further discussion described the sensation as burning sand grinding in your eyes or the calming thought of placing poisoned tip needles in your pin cushion like eyes. I staggered to the first station where I started unleashing knee drives to the opponents padded midsection. Then I was handed a baton and instructed to protect my head in a defensive posture as I lurched along to the second station. Here I alternated baton jabs to attackers in front and behind me. Stumbling to station 3 I used the baton to block pugil stick swings. Inconsistently swaying into station 4 I had to drop my padded Sargeant with an arm bar takedown. The final 5th test was to identify a Sharpie's color by its colored cap.<br />
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The marathon was complete and the ultra was just beginning. Now began the decontamination period. Wash the face with soapy water. Rinse. Flush with clean water. Repeat. Repeat. Rpeat. Stand in front of fan to dry out the eyes and remaining OC. Try to regain full onobstructed vision...the next 12 hours. I forgot to mention that when I was sprayed gravity did its inevitable job. The OC trickled down my cheeks and entered my mouth. Now my lips burned and I started coughing fire. A few times I almost puked. Other decon tips included taking an "L shaped shower" so any residual OC would not go down on your unmentionables (insert colorful stories involving both genders here). During my shower I reactivated the residual OC on my face. Now my face and ears burned. Hurts so good! Spray protocol advises the user to saturate target from ear to ear across the browline. Checkmate!<br />
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So I overcame adversity. I ventured deep into the pain cave. And what was my grandiose epiphany? Goggles are GRRRREEAT! With that said I earned my OC Certification and never have to repeat that again in my military career. I wish I had video/pictures of my experience; they're out there somewhere. Give me a shout if you find them. Stellar. <br />
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<br />burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-82734298871692741412012-05-16T22:46:00.000-06:002012-05-16T22:46:02.053-06:00The Quads Rocked!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIjr_x89_UAr2KaIOTtohdfHKqzPoM-qtijPSkAz6KfIP1Oj39aaDvBmZ6C3lyYR0EFBS05WFdPHAF76viMU26431GMFVvmJsJiZuwEKJ6RDSVpZCj54K2jIRnkuEYFuxxvcjMZknyRHg/s1600/erin+bibeau.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="300" width="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJIjr_x89_UAr2KaIOTtohdfHKqzPoM-qtijPSkAz6KfIP1Oj39aaDvBmZ6C3lyYR0EFBS05WFdPHAF76viMU26431GMFVvmJsJiZuwEKJ6RDSVpZCj54K2jIRnkuEYFuxxvcjMZknyRHg/s400/erin+bibeau.jpg" /></a></div>Photo: Erin Bibeau<br />
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The day started early. 3:30 AM to be exact. Stefanovic rolled in shortly before 4 and minutes later we were headed to the start serenaded by The Bear. I slept great and was wide awake despite the o'dark thirty morning. After pinning the bib I did my typical wavering on race wear. Since Mother's Day was soon to be I thought of my mom and added gloves and arm warmers. Thanks mom!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDrOhHse4vvEKtJAFKvgo639yUEM4UhNk9BereVkLiHeg91Xjv7ggzPpLlexwYE5xpgbNRoJ1YZ14I34IhXP_hvWnJy_7W0BA5OHYE2e94z0jEem7Ov0e1t5bJOXU3Of9SX3hq5Qo2G4n/s1600/hanson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="149" width="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGDrOhHse4vvEKtJAFKvgo639yUEM4UhNk9BereVkLiHeg91Xjv7ggzPpLlexwYE5xpgbNRoJ1YZ14I34IhXP_hvWnJy_7W0BA5OHYE2e94z0jEem7Ov0e1t5bJOXU3Of9SX3hq5Qo2G4n/s400/hanson.jpg" /></a></div>Hanson feeling right at home! Photo: Eric Lee<br />
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Toeing the line is always a good time. You get a few minutes to say hi to the existing friends and meet a few new ones. I was really glad that <a href="http://riddleruns.blogspot.com/">Riddle</a> and <a href="http://jacobrydman.blogspot.com/">Rydman</a> and any runner new to these trails could make the trip. I love running in <a href="http://www.parks.state.co.us/Parks/Lory/Pages/LoryStatePark.aspx">Lory</a> and <a href="http://www.co.larimer.co.us/parks/htmp.htm">Horsetooth</a> and sharing these trails with others who are experiencing them for the first time. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpH-cxm_T9R08y8cmFagQ-Q0s9IP6gqXM4eCchdneUnptlg2lWdqJTRJ3MN9DDr0bvA7Q0nSTV6e3pIwUrhkUC_3TfPE80INLPTMiZF8xFRvmkd4-9XZr_LSCzTOeLrZY5MRWBLMll7c06/s1600/rydman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="149" width="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpH-cxm_T9R08y8cmFagQ-Q0s9IP6gqXM4eCchdneUnptlg2lWdqJTRJ3MN9DDr0bvA7Q0nSTV6e3pIwUrhkUC_3TfPE80INLPTMiZF8xFRvmkd4-9XZr_LSCzTOeLrZY5MRWBLMll7c06/s400/rydman.jpg" /></a></div>Rydman. Photo: Eric Lee<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvut8_hl_wuTelzV2p_fRbl011IVeMwKx95FysibuJIaoceqccE4X2_zTaQQ9z6Oxz5xQ9Z2lQvBqnAttOYG51mqRccLvG0AjaP5NTA3AyW2BhV-nA8z2EdgJLGrSR8IChFYuTDzi4srx/s1600/riddle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="149" width="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvut8_hl_wuTelzV2p_fRbl011IVeMwKx95FysibuJIaoceqccE4X2_zTaQQ9z6Oxz5xQ9Z2lQvBqnAttOYG51mqRccLvG0AjaP5NTA3AyW2BhV-nA8z2EdgJLGrSR8IChFYuTDzi4srx/s400/riddle.jpg" /></a></div>Riddle. Photo: Eric Lee<br />
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The race started and we were off. I soon settled in with <a href="http://www.summitrunnercoach.com/">Crandall</a>, B. Goding, and Malmberg. Half way up the first climb as we gained the Stout Trail, D. Goding and Riddle joined the party. No one would have guessed but Dan Goding has been battling injury and had only run once in the past two weeks leading up to the race. He won the 25 miler! Anyhow, up Towers we climbed and down Spring Creek we descended.<br />
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Arriving at the Horsetooth AS <a href="http://dylanbowman.com/">DBO</a> provided live Transvulcania updates. How cool is that! I'm running through the AS, filling my bottle, and learning that <a href="http://thatdakotajones.blogspot.com/">DJ Money </a>just shocked the world! I wonder if <a href="http://www.irunfar.com/">B. Powell </a>was giving him and Kilian QR50 updates? Most likely I'm sure!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugnnQ00dp4eALDvo2v-YBKPY6YX-81Wvq5MHann1rG7kqk6Px1H_WIVAm5EXTnAT0nLhbynWaruI92GAIumYQjspVGgIppBU53UNqQs6AF0yunJVj6PfYQ-1my0b0KvtDW8jtFTybKxGo/s1600/koop+red+bull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugnnQ00dp4eALDvo2v-YBKPY6YX-81Wvq5MHann1rG7kqk6Px1H_WIVAm5EXTnAT0nLhbynWaruI92GAIumYQjspVGgIppBU53UNqQs6AF0yunJVj6PfYQ-1my0b0KvtDW8jtFTybKxGo/s400/koop+red+bull.jpg" /></a></div>Koop. Photo: Eric Lee<br />
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Then it was up Horsetooth and across Westridge. I caught up to a younger guy who was running the fastest I've ever seen anybody run in Five Fingers on technical trail. Soon it was down Mill Creek and I caught up to the <a href="http://teamfasteddy-fasted.blogspot.com/">Wise Sage and Fan Favorite.</a> Fast forward a bit and I finished my first lap in 3:36. <a href="http://www.slowaaron.blogspot.com/">Marks</a> and Funk resupplied me and it was time for Round 2!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLlaZUvqbX2y5AYJaKSImO_CGIHXN1dWD46uWUv11rMUcJ7A0OUpRwDqz22Y2i_-_hQDISDoIopKuR6IO4j6OIQ5ZuoyVXvSNIq2A9y-73PvHagdl1OELS0Uo62810lvB-JVrGk8zhoUm/s1600/jaime+malmberg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="112" width="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLlaZUvqbX2y5AYJaKSImO_CGIHXN1dWD46uWUv11rMUcJ7A0OUpRwDqz22Y2i_-_hQDISDoIopKuR6IO4j6OIQ5ZuoyVXvSNIq2A9y-73PvHagdl1OELS0Uo62810lvB-JVrGk8zhoUm/s400/jaime+malmberg.jpg" /></a></div>Jaime, Malmberg following. Photo: Eric Lee<br />
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Back up Timber I was running well. I had a 10 minute lead starting the second lap. It was great seeing so many familiar encouraging faces as I ran against the traffic. Descending Howard was its usual fun and soon I was at Arthurs Aid with a sense of dread beginning to set in. I had already begun to think about the climb up Mill Creek. This was one of the game changing points on the course and I knew I was in for a grunt.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyZiHwYFsrpwUle0FIfYbqI384ygS7-27LccQwDwq2cJkYAjYXLXOlabhugjLDH9g9j4FoGUYdQMxfS5L5y-EPWAsP8H0rWvQvTcDwN3cXMgwo4qh_On9qI4iKQQ156ysXyI2EzL3wlb1/s1600/eric+lee+arthurs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="149" width="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyZiHwYFsrpwUle0FIfYbqI384ygS7-27LccQwDwq2cJkYAjYXLXOlabhugjLDH9g9j4FoGUYdQMxfS5L5y-EPWAsP8H0rWvQvTcDwN3cXMgwo4qh_On9qI4iKQQ156ysXyI2EzL3wlb1/s400/eric+lee+arthurs.jpg" /></a></div>Coming into Arthurs Aid. Photo: Eric Lee<br />
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The Mill climb started out o.k. Then I began to encounter the low point of my race. First I began steadily slowing down as I ran. Then I shuffled. Followed by power hiking. Trumped by hiking. And finishing with a peppy walk. My legs were powerless. I was dizzy and thought I might faint at times. Such an awesome place to be when you're half way up the climb! I kept moving at my scorching clip and eventually made it to the Towers Aid. I must have looked terrible because no one said a word as I stumbled in. This climb alone cut my lead in half. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvY4wUiR4dauD2wyNspJ8zaFdzLTxiARoy7w7abVshWAJEBZx_icwkIYsg3g8V45YQd3pZAVBs3TroVJ2PeshoHObhG2sQS0LPdwxTAnqevE9KS4K1FA9vtKeAnL2PBlCNZx1AprsXau9/s1600/stewart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="149" width="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvY4wUiR4dauD2wyNspJ8zaFdzLTxiARoy7w7abVshWAJEBZx_icwkIYsg3g8V45YQd3pZAVBs3TroVJ2PeshoHObhG2sQS0LPdwxTAnqevE9KS4K1FA9vtKeAnL2PBlCNZx1AprsXau9/s400/stewart.jpg" /></a></div>Stewart. Photo: Eric Lee<br />
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Two cokes later I began the Westridge traverse. The legs were getting a bit crampy on the climbs. After muscling through the roundabout traverse I was pointed downhill on the HTR Trail. Once I hit Southridge I was cranking. Miles later and a quick stop at the Horsetooth Aid, DBo informed me I had a 7 minute lead. It was time to keep truckin and finish it out. As I descended the single track to the base of Spring Creek I could see Rebenack charging down Southridge. The lead had to be only 5 minutes.<br />
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Spring Creek was my redemption climb. I rebounded after my Mill Creek melee and ran 90% of this one. Soon enough I was at the top downing two cokes before the downhill bomb on Towers Road. This was by far the fastest I have ever descended Towers. The moisture gave the road added tack for extra control and traction. Gone was the usual dust and loose top layer. The Stout traverse came and went followed by the technical Sawmill drop. Now I was in the valley. No more trees to hide in and fully exposed to the hungry hawk eyes of Rebenack and Co. My goal at this point was to crest the ridge at Arthurs Aid without being seen.<br />
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Once I made the crest BG gave me the thumbs up and verbal confirmation, "No one is in sight, don't worry about a thing." From here it was 2 miles and change to the Finish. I put it in cruise control and enjoyed my valley tour home.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbwGunuGZLn3GHeu-r_t4bR7zNMb270JcJUnVHTbOzSvRNryn9tghedtte09xgzHi7bJp8sMPVQ9C-cb-tfWlnWcNPyW6Y1x_UCHGhPi183qCgMWTCZ2-JKDSoa9gTTGw3rPsU726j2Cj/s1600/finish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="400" width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbwGunuGZLn3GHeu-r_t4bR7zNMb270JcJUnVHTbOzSvRNryn9tghedtte09xgzHi7bJp8sMPVQ9C-cb-tfWlnWcNPyW6Y1x_UCHGhPi183qCgMWTCZ2-JKDSoa9gTTGw3rPsU726j2Cj/s400/finish.jpg" /></a></div>Rebenack finish. On my tail all day! Photo: Eric Lee<br />
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Looking at the fog all day made me think about Gorillas in the Mist. Jane Goodall enjoyed her first ultra. I was supremely relieved that I won. Anything less than 1st would have seen <a href="http://www.irunmountains.blogspot.com">TNCRD</a> lose his house. Dana and the kids would have been pissed. Felt like I made the world a better place with this run.<br />
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Joking aside it was a flawlessly organized race. Awesome job by <a href="http://www.k9runner.com">Pete</a> and Nick. They directed an inaugural race that was planned out like it had been going on for years. A huge thanks to their army of volunteers and everyone at <a href="http://www.fortcollinstrailrunners.com/">FCTR</a> for their cheers, support, and all around positivity.<br />
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Streaks! Still alive is my undefeated record in ultras in the backyard! Still alive is winning ultras in the <a href="http://www.montrail.com/Men%27s-Bajada%E2%84%A2/GM2138,default,pd.html">Bajadas! </a> And 2012 marks the 5th consecutive year with a 50 mile win! It's always fun to include the most random streaks/FKT's you can think of to inspire and propel your training to the next level. What are your current streaks?burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-33620598656573044432012-05-13T20:44:00.000-06:002012-05-13T20:44:23.695-06:00Quad Rock ResultsA fun day on the hometown trails! <a href="http://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=15155">Results here.</a><br />
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More to come in the next few days!burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998541749391503771.post-60934617306762673642012-05-06T16:38:00.000-06:002012-05-06T16:38:10.255-06:00Welcome to the Quad Rock...In your best Sean Connery impression say out loud to yourself, "Welcome to the Quad Rock." Makes you smile doesn't it? Make sure you emphasize your pronunciation of ROCK. The chatter and the temps have been heating up in preparation for next weekends inaugural running. This will be the second ultra to call Fort Collins home alongside the one and only year of the Bluesky 50K. With that said I am looking forward to putting my "undefeated record in ultra races occurring in my hometown" on the line. It is equally impressive as my: Walk to Avo's, eat two tempeh burgers, talk smack with the boys, walk back home, FKT of 2:32:45. And there will be the X-Factor to contend with at QR. More on that later.<br />
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Here's a look at the boys in the 50 miler:<br />
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MIA- Mike Foote, Jason Schlarb<br />
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1. David Riddle- 2011 JFK 50 champ and CR of 5:40! Hands down the speedster and naturally gifted runner of the group. His strength is his speed. Most of his results are 50K's with a few 50M and 100K finishes. He wins nearly everything he has raced. The unknowns: his performance at "altitude" and racing a tough 50M with lots of up and downs.<br />
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2. Jacob Rydman- He's having a great 2012 with 2 bronze medals at the Cali Spring Classics of WTC and AR. QR will be the toughest 50 he's raced. Running on all cylinders he'll be one to watch.<br />
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3. Paul Terranova- he races a lot of 50K's with a few 50 mile/100K finishes. At Bandera he was right behind Clark this year. He could surprise a lot of runners.<br />
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4. Jason Koop- More long haul experience (races 50M and above)than the top three runners combined. He's running strong this year- 2nd at RTTM, 2nd at CM50K, and QR will be his 3rd ultra in 4 weeks. Jason and I battled it out last weekend, won't surprise me a a bit if we're side by side with only a few miles to go.<br />
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5. Corey Hanson- Bellvue's Best. He knows these trails better than anyone. His house is a 1/2 mile from the start/ finish. He's got the freshest legs of the bunch with QR being his first race of 2012. Reports from BG indicate that he's running strong. His high muscle glycogen stores are a result of years of GHB fueling.<br />
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6. Ryan Burch- (let's see if I can pull off this writing in the 3rd person awkwardness). He's put in consistent training this year with weekly track workouts, solid long runs, a 5K PR, and consecutive sub 30 minute PR's on The Hill. He's only raced one ultra in 2012 with a solid run at CM50K. Next to Corey he has the blueprint memorized for these trails. His best distance is 50 miles. The unknowns: is he fully recovered from CM50K to put forth an A effort? How will he handle the hometown pressure to put a W on the board?<br />
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7. The X-Factor. This contender can take out anyone racing next weekend in the blink of an eye. Going unnoticed in nearly every race this deadly force can strike at a moments notice. Look out for the Quad Rock Rattler! My Friday and Saturday runs saw my left foot come within 10 inches of two different rattlesnakes. Friday I was off the race course on the Foothills trail when I ran by a disguised rattler next to a yucca plant who started his battle rattle as I passed him. Way too close! Saturdays encounter was even more alarming. I was ascending the summit rock of Arthur's. 10 feet from the summit coiled up in a small depression on the rock I passed a small two footer who was eerily quiet in the shade. I "woke it up" to distance the snake from the most popular hiking destination in Lory and alerted the ascending groups of hikers on my way down. Needless to say...good luck and watch your step next weekend!<br />
<br />burchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16365365915635187563noreply@blogger.com7