This past Saturday I stepped out of my ultra comfort zone and ran a 5K. My friend Mo is the race director, so I come out to support her, then cuss her out after I run. 5K's are painful! I have gotten spoiled by the casual start of an ultra running event. This was the second year of the race, and I still had a faint memory of the pain from last year. I looked at my schedule, hoping that I was teaching a class that morning at the gym, but as fate would have it, I had nothing going on that morning. I reluctantly texted Mo on Friday telling her I would be back for more.
Last year's race was a showdown between my running buddy Lauren and I, prompted by some smack talking by her a few days before the race. I believe the exact phrase was "I am going to beat you old man!" Granted, she was 17 years younger than I, but a challenge is a challenge! I did wind up beating her, damn near killing myself in the process, with a hamstring searing time (for me) of 24:26. I just remember it feeling like one long 24 minute interval with no recovery in between!
So I approached this year's race uncertain about how I was going to run it. Lauren is now pregnant with twins, so she is out of racing for the moment. I thought about running it easy and enjoying the race, but deep down I knew I would be a knucklehead and run it hard.
So there I was, at mile number one, gasping for air at a sub 8 min/mile pace. Javier, one of the people in my running club at the gym, had just passed me. "Let him go!" my legs screamed. But my stubborn little Irish brain had other ideas, so I quickly caught back up to him, then passed him. The rest of the run was just a haze of heavy breathing, snot bubbles and pain. Last year the weather was hot and humid. This year's weather was cool and cloudy with wind. I rumbled to the finish line, just barely ahead of some 10 year old kid. 24:42, 13th overall, third in my age group. (Thank God it is a small race!) I missed a PR by 17 seconds. Not bad for someone who's only speed work has been running downhill!
Mo was there at the finish line, watching me shake my head and mutter at her. "It's a good thing I like you!" I gasped. She smiled knowingly, secure in the knowledge that my dumb ass will be back next year for more!
Sunday morning arrived with the same "Pacific North West" weather. I wanted to get out and run early so I could spend the rest of the day lounging, drinking coffee and watching sports. I somehow found the will to cut, trim and edge the yard after the 5K on Saturday, so I could totally rationalize an afternoon of sloth!
I had just gotten a pair of the new Altra Lone Peak 1.5 Trail shoes and was anxious to test them out on some single track. I also wanted to flush the legs out a bit with an easy run to assess how angry they were at me. The hamstrings were a bit tight!
The New Lone Peak 1.5!
I went out to run the Peninsula Trail at nearby Harris Lake. I would up having a really nice, easy run. The Lone Peaks felt great. The legs felt okay. 5 easy miles done! Here is a quick video of the trail at Harris Lake: Harris Lake Single Track
So, with my annual 5K behind me, now I can focus on my next ultra event, the Black Mountain Monster 24 hour Run! Good Times!
Saucony has done it once again with the debut of the new Saucony Kinvara 4! Low drop and light-weight, (7.7 oz, 4mm offset) this is a durable shoe that is extremely comfortable to run in whether you are running 5K or 50K.
The upgrades on the 4 include a redesigned FlexFilm upper for a nice secure upper fit and triangular lugs that provide some great underfoot cushioning as well.
The fit felt great the minute I put them on, light, flexible and responsive. I did a few short road runs in them initially, as I was recovering from running the Umstead 100 Mile Endurance Run on April 6th. I must point out that I ran the entire 100 miles in a Pair of Saucony Viratta and did not have a mark or blister on my feet afterwards!
The Kinvara 4 have the same great light feel and cushioning and I wound up running a 5 miler less that a week after the 100 with no discomfort whatsoever. I was back to full training the next week, my feet nestled comfortably in the 4's for each run.
Double Duty:
The next test was a 9 mile run on a Sunday morning on bridle trail. the traction and cushioning really came through on the loose rock and rolling hills of the course. (We ran part of the 100 mile course I had just done two weeks earlier.) On That same Sunday I ran in a 3 mile "Run for Boston" in the afternoon in downtown Raleigh, NC. I had originally planned to run the three miles easy, but these shoes make you want to run fast! I wound up running the 3 in a tick over 25 minutes. So much for an easy recovery run. Kickassimus indeed!
Kickingassimus for Boston!
I am 3rd from right, if you look hard you can seen the 4's!
I am very impressed with the Kinvara 4 and would recommend them to folks looking for a light but durable shoe with a comfortable fit that last for miles. Another great job by the folks at Saucony!
While most books on running focus on the physical demands and rewards of running, Vanessa Runs new book "The Summit Seeker" delves into the psychological and spiritual side of trail and ultra running and how it has helped her overcome the many challenges in her life.
From her first 5K to her third 100 mile distance, Vanessa takes your along on her journey. On the way, you will encounter her struggles, adventures and triumphs, and see how running helped transform her life.
Early in the book Vanessa mentions a quote from her writer friend and race director Shelley Viggiano: "When you finish your first ultra, you are transformed from a weak person to a powerful one. There is nothing in life that feels insurmountable any longer, not once you've willingly wrestled with demons that big. When you know what you are capable of, you can take charge of your life. That's what running ultras did for me." This passage rang true for me. After running and completing ultras over the past few years I gained strength and confidence. I left my job, which I had held for many years. It was a good source of income, but I had not fully realized how miserable it was making me. Ultra running had given me the strength to see that I was not "trapped". I could make positive changes and survive. I am in a much better place today because of it.
The Summit Seeker is filled with great advice on life and running, and I found it thoroughly enjoyable to read. There are great stories of epic trail runs and the personal insights that come along with them.
If you are a fellow ultra and trail runner, there will be many moments in the book where you will find yourself smiling and nodding in agreement with the familiarity of the situation Vanessa describes. One of my favorite sections, entitled "On Time and Distance" sums up the ultra distance perfectly: "Running an ultra is like living an entire lifetime in the span of one day. You go through good times, bad times, happy times, sad times. It's truly a journey and every race changes you. It's an accomplishment that nobody can take away."
Folks who do not run ultras or trails will also be inspired by the many life lessons contained in "The Summit Seeker" as well!
So if you are looking for some inspirational running reading this spring or summer, I strongly recommend you pick up a copy of the "The Summit Seeker". Prop your feet up, grab a drink and settle in for a great read. Just make sure you get your run in first!
As I drifted off to sleep the night before Umstead 100, I felt my dog Culliver nudging me as I lay in bed. He wanted to go out. I recall mumbling "not now dude!" before dropping into a hard, dreamless sleep. Upon awakening at 3:30am, I discovered Culliver had left a present for me on the living room rug. I assume he was wishing me luck. Hopefully this was not a sign of things to come!
I had packed everything the night before, so all I had to do was grab some coffee, eat some toast and head out the door at 4:15am. The drive to Umstead would take about a 1/2 hour. The park gates opened at 4:45am, race start was at 6am. I felt relaxed and ready.
After several out of town races, Umstead would feel like a family reunion! I not only knew a lot of people in the race, but pretty much everyone who was responsible for putting on the race as well. The week before I had been in Florida helping my buddy Caleb Wilson with his fine event, the Fort Clinch 100. Getting to hang out with Dave James and the folks with Florida Ultra Runners Club was extremely inspirational! For more info on the Fort Clinch 100, check out www.fortclinch100.com
I got to the park, got my stuff set up at headquarters (AS 1) and chatted with friends. I downed a GenerationUCAN shake and headed outside to the start. Right at 6am my friend Charles West shot off the starting fireworks and we were off!! We would be running in the dark for the first hour or so and I had my Fenix "Mothership" headlamp lighting my way. The plan was to do each 12.5 mile lap (eight in total) in about 3-3.5 hours. I was constantly reminding myself during the days prior to the race to not go out too fast. I ran with my buddy CH for the first two miles or so, until he took off down a hill. I let him go right ahead! As the sun came up I was settling in and felt good. I power walked the hills and ran everything else. It was going to be a great day weather wise and I was looking forward to finally running in some warmer temperatures. I had glanced at my Garmin a few times, but did not pay close attention to it, so I was rather shocked when I finished the first lap in 2 hours, 30 minutes! Way too fast!
I dropped off my headlamp and chugged a UCAN shake. I found my friend Jennifer Frahm, who had also gone out too fast, and we agreed to run together so we could slow each other down!
Lap 2 was much better, coming in right at the 3 hour mark. Jennifer and I ran/walked more, and talked about our dogs, other ultras, run coaching and other miscellaneous trail talk and the miles ticked off easily. We set off on lap three, agreeing to stick together. We got through AS #2 (7 miles into the lap) and cruised along. We fell in with a few other people and I started to pull ahead of them while Jen stayed back. I finished lap 3 by myself and saw Jen finishing her lap 3 as I was heading out for lap 4. She was having some Gall bladder issues and told me she was going to do lap 4 and drop at 50 miles. I gave her a hug, told her to stay strong and headed out for lap 4. Jennifer would take a break at HQ, then go out and finish 50 miles. That is one tough girl! Anyone else probably would have gone to the ER.
Lap 4 I would run by myself, with my Sony Walkman W cranking out all my favorite Metal songs. One I kept re-playing over and over was by the late, great Ronnie James Dio entitled "Push". It would also get multiple plays at the end of the race as well!
I was still feeling good at the end of lap 4 and looking forward to picking up my pacer Mika for lap 5. I came into HQ at the fifty mile mark in 11 hours, 30 mins. I knew this pace would not hold up for the next 50 miles.
First 50 done! Photo by M. Percy
I was greeted by my friends Mo, Lauren, Liz and my next pacer Amy. It was like having four moms at once! They were great to me, asking me what I needed and helping me get in and out of HQ promptly.
I changed shirts, grabbed a quick snack and some Gatorade, found Mika and we headed out for lap 5. I could now feel a little fatigue from the first 50 miles creeping in. We walked the first mile or so while I ate. We then ran/walked our way through the course, talking and laughing as we went.
Mika and I have logged many a mile together, and it was great to have her there with me as darkness set in.
Mika and I at HQ!
We finished lap 5 in 3.5 hours. It was 9pm, I had 100K under my belt and although I was feeling a wee bit tired, I was confident I could tame this beast. My dear friend Amy was pacing me for lap 6. I had paced Amy for her lap 6 last year. Her feet were a mess at that point, and her inspiring performance and finish was one of the main reasons I wanted to run the race this year. It also helps that we can make each other laugh. A lot. And hard! Her daughter Kayla tagged along with us for the Airport spur, so I actually had two generations of Surrettes pacing me! Epic!
I was now incorporating more walking into the running and Amy was great at keeping me going. I had a little "Tokyo Drift" working at this point, and seemed to have a fondness for keeping to the extreme right of the trail. It wasn't long before Amy and I were cackling our way through the lap, singing odd 80's songs, telling insipid "knock knock" jokes and quoting from the video "shit ultra runners say".
We rolled back into HQ around 1 am, a four hour lap. 75 miles done. My feet and legs were feeling okay. I had some serious "monkey butt' developing, but I kept marinating my nether region with Desitin and Vaseline. I had been doing great with eating and hydration all day, staying with a UCAN shake each lap, supplementing with a PB&J sandwich now and then to keep the hollowness out of my belly, and consuming a lot of liquids. My friend Liz would be taking over pacing duties for lap 7, then Amy would be back with me for the eighth and final lap.
We headed out for lap 7. I had Liz call my sister Diane in upstate New York to give her an update. My sister and I always joke about our genetically predisposed ability to worry, a gift from our mother. Even though it was 1am, I knew Diane would like an update. Liz spoke to her and advised I was 75 miles into it, and was still moving well. I walked the entire Airport spur on this lap, and started to run on the gentle downhill slop right after mile two. Liz was awesome! Not only did she pace me, she was also the volunteer pacer coordinator for the race as well! Her organizational skills and her vast knowledge of pro and collegiate sports were a huge asset, along with her pack that contained a spare jacket for me, PB&J sandwiches, napkins, ibuprofen and probably a flare gun as well! Liz kept me rolling through a tough lap. She made sure I kept drinking, and by the end of our lap I was updated on the NCAA tournament and all recent trades in the NFL too! I rumbled back up the stairs to HQ, got some dap from Liz, got a little Lentil soup and Amy and I set out for the final lap. 5am. 87.5 miles done. Deep breath cowboy, here we go!
We hit the turn around at the airport spur. They always say "It gets darkest before the dawn", but they never say how f*$%ing cold it gets before the dawn! Amy and I were freezing! I had put on another fleece jacket, had my gloves and beanie on, but couldn't get my hands warm. I also began to feel nauseous. I did not eat or drink anything for a while, hoping it would pass. Slowly the nausea subsided, then the "Tokyo drift" returned. As we trudged up the long hill at the start of Turkey Creek, dawn began to break. I shut off the "mothership" headlamp. It was good to see daylight again. i was still struggling a bit, but Amy did an awesome job of keeping me motivated and moving. We came through AS 2 for the last time. 5.5 miles left. We marched up the steep hills on the back side of Turkey Creek, looking forward to making that left turn onto Graylyn for the last time and rolling down "Power Line" hill. As we approached the downhill, I turned to Amy and said "okay, let's go" and we proceed to bomb down Power Line at a 9 min/mile pace, passing some guys we had been chasing for the last few miles. That run seemed to jump start my system again. I was warmed back up now and shed my other jacket. I apologized to Amy, put my Walkman W back on and cranked up the Dio song and we began to run again on the downhill slopes around mile 11. 1.5 miles to go. To quote my buddy "Jimbo" Plant: "Any fool can run 1.5 miles!" We made that final right turn that would take us back to HQ for the final time. I was extremely focused on not losing my shit at this point, as we passed the sign saying 1/2 mile to go. I walked a little bit here, wanting to save that last bit of energy to run up the stairs at the finish. Next thing I knew I was bounding up the stairs to the cheers of friends and onlookers! I made it. 100 miles in 26 hours, 55 minutes and 14 seconds.
My buddy Lauren was kind enough to capture the moment on video as well!
I t was epic to have so many friends there at the finish to greet me! I cannot thank my pacers Mika, Liz and Amy enough for helping me make it through.
With Super Pacer Amy and My Buckle at the finish!
Enjoying a much needed post race cup of coffee!
Gear used: I am somewhat amazed that I ran the entire race in my Saucony Virrata! They held up great and although I had other shoes with me, I never felt the need to change out of them. Thanks to Balega and ProCompression Socks as well for keeping my feet blister free the whole way!
Ultimate Direction hand held, Brooks Shorts, Garmin 305, GenerationUCAN and Klean Athlete supplements!
Since I have three daughters, dad doesn't really have a closet. I do have a "workout apparel" room though!
Here is where I keep all workout gear and related stuff.
The Hanging stuff!
2 full milk crates of shirts, shorts etc, plus my faithful gym bag.
The timing of the arrival of my new Saucony Virrata could not have been better. I had just recently been asked to participate in a relay run for the Komen Foundation. The relay started in downtown Raleigh, NC and went to Wilmington, NC, a trip of about 132 miles. There were four teams, three people each team. Each team would run six mile increments, rotating through until we arrived in Wilmington, when everyone would run the last mile or so together.
I had done a short 3 mile treadmill "test" run in the Virrata a few days before and they felt great. They were comfortable right out of the box, and at 6.5 ounces, very light! Even with their light, stripped down design, there was a nice cushion to the shoes and they absorbed the pounding on the treadmill well. The real test would be out on the road!
The relay went incredibly well, and we wound up covering the 132 miles in 23 hours and seven minutes, close to four hours ahead of our predicted time. The Virrata performed amazingly! The were comfortable the whole way. No blisters, discomfort or foot/heel pain whatsoever. I wound up running a total of 32 miles in them over the course of the relay. The advanced cushioning really made a difference as the miles piled up. My knees, hips and legs felt great the whole trip!
23 hours and 132 miles later and still smiling!
Another nice feature of the Virrata is the breathable upper mesh, which not only makes the shoe light, but also allows for quick drying. I had brought my Saucony Guide 6 along as a backup, but I never got out of my Virrata until I got back home!
Here is a quick video I made with more details of the shoe:
So if you are looking for a lightweight, zero drop shoe with lots of cushion for everyday training, this is the shoe for you! It even made this trail runner feel great being back on the road again!
Those were the words coursing through my brain at the rainy and 37 degree start of the Black Mountain Marathon. My dear friend Mo had talked me into running this. We were supposed to run it together, but then she signed up for the full Ironman in Louisville. Now her dictator Tri coach had forbidden her to run any of the running races she had signed up for!
So I found myself standing in the mist in the middle of Cherry Street in downtown Black Mountain at 7am. The horn sounded, the race started, and so did the rain. Again. The first several miles were run on the road, and took us into Montreat College, where we would pick up the trail. Montreat College is known as a "Christ Centered" College, which was a good thing, because I would be invoking Christ's name often on this day.
The climb started once we were on the campus, and at roughly the three mile mark we entered the trail from the Rainbow Trailhead. We ran a nice stretch of single track here, but already there were some rather muddy spots to navigate. I was running with a group of about ten people at a comfortable pace. We were power walking the hills and running the rest at this point.
The further I went, the muddier it got. We were now out on a wider jeep road, heading to the first aid station at Sourwood Gap, around mile six. I ran into the aid station and refilled my hand held and headed back out. I was starting to slow down and had lost the group I was running with earlier. Between the mud, rocks and water that was now running across the trail in spots, I was basically power walking up the trail at this point. And I was laboring! It was becoming a struggle. I had a gel bottle filled with GenerationUCAN that I chugged, hoping it would provide some energy. I then swallowed about 30 EnergyBits not soon after, and kept trudging along. It was increasingly difficult for me to sustain any kind of rhythm as the trails was now quite churned up by my speedier trail brethren. I schlepped into the aid station at Pot Cove, around 9.75 miles or so, got a refill, ate some chips and headed up the trail. This aid station was manned by the Black Mountain Fire/Rescue Crews. I guess I still looked okay at this point, since they did not redirect me to an ambulance!
My main focus now was to get my ass to the marathon turnaround and hopefully get a nice mental boost in the process. I was starting to feel a little better, then around mile 12 or so, there was a nice stretch of snow/ice/slush.
I was seeing a lot of folks coming back now, and they all said it was only a 1/4 mile 'till the turn around. It was perhaps the longest *%$#!! 1/4 mile I have ever ran! Finally i reached the turnaround. I poured a GenerationUCAN packet into my water bottle, filled it with Gatorade, changed my hat and gloves and started back down the mountain.
It was almost like a switch had been flipped. I started running down the same muddy, rocky, treacherous trail that I had battled the past three hours to get up. My spirits were high and I could feel my legs come back under me. I came through Pot Cove AS, got a refill on the hand held, and kept on going. To my surprise, I was still seeing people on there way up. I was glad to know I was not alone in my struggle to ascend!
I kept a nice steady pace going, being careful not to get too excited and trying to avoid breaking my ass. Before I knew it, I was back at Sourwood Gap. Same thing here, hand held refill, some chips and off I went. Momentum was on my side, and I had even managed to pass some folks on my way down. We then came off the trail back onto the road. There was a brutal quad shearing descent coming back into the college that just about used up all the leg I had left! We hit the final aid station at Montreat. 3 miles to go. My assumption was we would be pretty much on road at this point, but before I knew it we were back on a small trail with a few rolling hills. After surviving all the mud and rocks, it was here where I almost completely ate it on a set of wooden stairs. Thank God for the hand rail. Recovering from that, we wound our way along a greenway, back to the road. We kept turning, and I kept cursing. "Where is the God Damned finish!" was the phrase I believe I kept muttering as I staggered along the streets of Black Mountain. Several people had passed me now, and I did not care.
Finally! Voices and music! The finish! I could hear someone coming up behind me, and I started my kick. I tore into the Tomahawk Lake parking lot, looking for the finish chute. It was there a very cheerful volunteer directed me to the left. I had forgotten we had to run around the lake to the freakin' finish! I was dead. The dude who was behind me glided past me. I tried to run, but had to walk a bit to regroup. I pulled myself together (once again) and finally crossed the line in 6 hours. 10 minutes and some change.
Since the start and the finish of the race were in two different locations, I enjoyed a nice cool down walk through the streets of Black Mountain back to my car. I then drove my Mud splattered ass back to the Super8 Motel where I took perhaps one of the greatest showers of my life! When I was finished, the shower looked like I had been panning for gold in it. I then ate an entire Vegan Pizza from the awesome Fresh Pizzeria in town, and promptly passed out after that.
Since I had so much fun this year, I will be coming back to run next year. I may even try to get into the 40 mile race.
