Team Single Step

Thanks for your support at Relay for Life!

2011-04-19T21:03:00.000-04:00

First, I would like to thank everyone for their support and donations leading up to SVSU's Relay for Life on April 8th and 9th. At last count, we raised $3,285 dollars. That's an incredible amount of money and part of a record amount raised at a SVSU Relay for Life event. Thanks to my wife and son, my mother and father, my mother-in-law Denise, the Management Staff of Genetron Engineering, my cousins Eddie, Sandi, Herman, and Simon, my brother Dave, all of my uncles and aunts, my friends Chris, Karen, Beth, Mike, Erin, Brian and Heather, Dave and Terry. You generosity came so quickly and in such volume that I am likely missing some names. I deeply appreciate your outpouring of support.

The event itself was wonderful and I'd like to thank Jon Ward and the rest of the dedicated SVSU students that put the Relay together. At last count the event had raised $51,000, had almost 700 participants, and 53 teams. That is a major undertaking.

It was really unlike any other event that I have participated in. It was more of an all night party than any sort of race. After the opening ceremony, my mom and dad, Holli, Elliott, Denise, and I walked a couple laps together as Team Single Step. Then, as the crowd loosened up and groups headed back to their team sites I started jogging. It was a little crowded so I had to do a little dodging and weaving, but I wasn't in a hurry so that wasn't a problem. I felt a little funny since I was the only one running, but as Holli reminded me early on, that's what I was there to do.

Minutes turned into hours and the laps faded by. I didn't bother counting laps and just enjoyed the spectacle of college students raising money for a good cause. There were pie eating contests, tug of war contests, a cross-dressing date auction, and more entertainment than I typically encounter on a run. Elliott discovered a giant, inflatable obstacle course that was, no doubt, the highlight of his evening. There were even some very memorable laps jogging around with my mother.

Elliott, Holli, and Denise headed home to get some sleep and Team Single Step dwindled to my parents and I. At one point, my dad took over walking and I relaxed at our campsite and chatted with my mom. It really was both entertaining and a great time to just relax and spend time with love ones. As time passed, I began to overhear comments like "Is that guy still running?"

Team Single Step was down to me by 11:00 or so. I was still feeling pretty good since I'd been keeping a slow pace and taking periodic breaks to chat with friends and family. The crowd at the event was going strong and it was around that time that many college students, who exist on a much different clock than the rest of society, began to show up. The energy in the gym made running easy. At one point one of my students sent one of his team mates running after me to sell me a cupcake, which provided much needed sustenance. John and Pat, my son's former swimming teacher, joined me in jogging for several miles as we swapped running stories. At one point several students formed a human tunnel for me to run through. There were also a couple very moving ceremonies during the night that broke up my running.

Around 4:00 AM several teams had packed up and the energy in the room was starting to diminish. Similarly, my energy was starting to diminish. The long run was starting to wear on me. I sat down in a lawn chair and even dosed off for about 10 minutes. I took another lap on sore and stiffening legs, but didn't really have it in me so I put on my sweats and decided to call it a night. I'd been in motion, on and off, since around 6:15 PM the night before.

Pat, who had been running with me earlier, stopped over to check on me and I told him that I was calling it quits. After chatting for a minute, Pat moved on. Much to my surprise he came back a couple minutes later to tell me that he had decided to finish the run for me. At that point there was about an hour and a half left in the event. Team Single Step lived on. Despite having not run for 3 months, the newest member of Team Single Step finished the race in style.

Thanks again to all of you for your support. If you would like to read more about the 2011 SVSU Relay for Life, check here: http://orgs.svsu.edu/clubs/vanguard/stories/3237

SVSU Relay for Life

2011-04-05T19:56:00.002-04:00

Three days until the 2011 SVSU Relay for Life and at $2,100 in donations. Our team has slipped from 3rd place in terms of fundraising and we won't reach the goal I set when we started fundraising. That's okay. I'm fairly certain that our donations per capita are the best of any team. ;) Still, I'm spending the evening taking one last shot at picking up more donations.

As one of the event organizers pointed out to me, EVERYONE is impacted by cancer. EVERYONE knows someone who has been impacted by cancer. In some ways it would seem that this makes asking for donations easier. For me, it just makes it more intimidating. The issue of cancer feels so ubiquitous that I feel we are inundated with messages to donate. Perhaps we even become numb to it at times. I'm sympathetic to that.

But I'm also grateful that my mom's surgery and chemotherapy were, by all indications, successful. I'm grateful that Mike's surgery a couple years ago was successful. I'm happy that my good friend's mother survived her breast cancer. I'm glad that my grandmother's skin cancer many years ago was successfully treated. I'm saddened that my other grandmother's cancer was not. I'm sure that I am missing other friends and family. I wish it had been harder to generate this list.

So, I urge you to go to www.teamsinglestep.com and click on the "I'm a proud supporter of Relay for Life" button on the right. Please donate. I don't really care how much. Heck, donate to someone else's team or at another Relay for Life event. Don't donate because it will cure cancer--it won't hurt, but unfortunately our individual actions rarely carry such power. Donate for the people you know who are impacted by cancer. Even if your donation does not cure cancer, it can demonstrate your gratitude for and appreciation of these people.

Land Between the Lakes 50 Race Report

2011-03-15T21:30:00.000-04:00

Well, I successfully finished the Land Between the Lakes 50 this weekend. I was reminded how ultrarunning often forces us to be honest with ourselves. I was only marginally trained for the run and definitely not ready for the hills or the 60+ degree weather. That being said, I finished in 10 hours and 35 minutes and met my primary goal of qualifying for the next Western States lottery. Perhaps most importantly I still had a great time.

I headed south on Thursday and spent the night at my parents' place in Ohio where they were kind enough to treat me to a delicious Thai dinner. The drive was long, but it was nice to see everything get greener as I went south. It's been many years since I've been to Kentucky and I was reminded how much I like the rolling hills and forests in the area. The race starts and finishes in a very small, tourist-oriented, town between two large lakes. The race would involve four loops on single-track trail between the two lakes (er, hence the name of the region).

Despite memories of the snow that I had driven through on the way from Michigan, I decided to start the race in shorts and a t-shirt with only a handheld bottle. My plan was to do a 15 minute run-5 minute walk combination. The 10-5 combination I did at the Fall 50 in October went so well it seemed like a good plan. Unfortunately, the unexpected number of hills (nothing high or steep, just relatively unrelenting in a way similar to the area around Pinkney, MI) and the congestion of the first loop made this difficult and I quickly settled into a constant run.

By the second loop, I began to notice the hills and the heat. I even flirted with a little nausea, but it never got particularly bad and I think may have been the result of too many electrolyte tablets early on (I felt better after I stopped taking them). By the third loop many of the shorter distance runners were done so I was able to start the 15-5 combination. However, the hills (and my lack of hill conditioning) required more walking than I hoped and I quickly saw my vague goal of running it in 9 hours slip away. I didn't let the slower pace bother me and focused on enjoying the pleasant scenery and beautiful weather. After being informed that I needed to complete a short 1.2 mile out-and-back (um, I thought I was almost done), I made a final turn towards the final 1+ mile stretch to the finish line.

I'd recommend the race. It was very well managed with well-stocked and frequent aid stations. We received good swag, including a running hat, running shirt, and light gear bag (I'm a sucker for stuff.) We even got a very nice buckle at the finish, although I always feel a bit like these should be reserved for 100 milers. Actually, the buckle is nicer than the one I got at Burning River in 2009. The start/finish was conveniently located near some cheap hotels. I do recommend stocking up on supplies before heading to Grand Rivers as the grocery store in the town is only marginal. As a mini-personal vacation to wrap up my spring break, it was perfect. Thanks to all the race volunteers!

Next big run: Relay for Life

Land Between the Lakes 50 miler

2011-03-08T17:32:00.000-05:00

I'm taking off on Thursday and heading to Ohio. I'll spend the night at my parents and then reach Grand Rivers, KY on Friday for the Land Between the Lakes 50. This is the only formal race I'm planning this year (Relay for Life isn't technically a race and the Macomb Orchard 50 is run Fat Ass style.) This means that Saturday will be my last long run before Relay for Life, the finale of my spring break, my qualifying run for the 2012 Western States, and the start and finish of my 2011 racing season.

The primary reason, of course, is that we are expecting another little boy to join our family sometime towards the end of July. I'll probably take a break from running during the second half of the year. I still remember the chaotic and sleepless lifestyle of having a newborn around so it seems unwise to set any meaningful training goals. I also like the idea of giving the running thing a bit of a rest. Maybe I'll focus on strength training. Maybe I'll find something new. Of course, I only anticipate a rest from running. Not accidentally, Saturday's race does keep me qualified to enter the Western States lottery. I've also noticed that the jogging stroller in the garage has been looking a bit lonely. My initial journey into ultrarunning was certainly assisted by an infant who would only easily nap for me in the jogging stroller. I think that Elliott's record was a 20 mile run in the jogging stroller...

P.S. If you haven't yet donated to my Relay for Life run, click on the link to the right!

Miles of trials

2011-02-08T21:05:00.000-05:00

Holli calls Elliott her baby a lot and I confess that I tease her sometimes about it. In truth, I understand why she does this because the memories of Elliott as a small, helpless infant are so burned into my mind and I am still sometimes shocked to see him run, jump, talk and play as the four year-old that he is. At some point since my mom was diagnosed with cancer I realized that this frozen image of baby Elliott is not something that just impacts parents.

Last month, Holli, Elliott, and I were down visiting and my parents gave me a digital picture loaded with a variety of childhood pictures that my dad had recently digitized. Despite the fact that I had not seen many of the pictures in decades, the images still seemed very fresh to me. It was easy for me to remember what my parents looked like when I was a young child and, even as I followed the old pictures through decades and both I and they aged, they still seemed very much the same to me. They are my parents and they will forever look like my parents, just like Elliott will always look to me like the small infant we brought home from the hospital.

That is why it was such an emotional shock when my mom was diagnosed with cancer. The impact was compounded by the medical issues my dad suffered around the same time. Frozen in my head was the image of them as middle-aged parents rather than the retired grandparents they have become. I know that this shock was not one only felt by me and I'm very grateful for the support, especially from Holli, during those difficult early months. I know intellectually that cancer can impact people of all ages and that medical issues come inevitably to everyone over time. Still, there are times when changes comes so fast and so unexpectedly that it is difficult to catch up or to change with them. It wasn't really on my emotional radar that either of my parents was getting older, much less that something like cancer could impact our family.

Thankfully, the fear and uncertainty of those early months is past us and this is a success story. Tomorrow my mom starts her last chemotherapy treatment. Friday she will have the portable pump for her last chemo drugs removed and she will officially be done with chemotherapy. All signs indicate that she is cancer free. Borrowing a phrase from John Parker in "Once a Runner" I think that she has gone through both a "trial of miles" and "miles of trials." While I am grateful not to be able to speak from first-hand experience I suspect the latter is at least as challenging as the former. In Parker's fictional novel about distance runners, the "trial of miles" refers to enduring through the miles of the current training run. On the other hand the "miles of trials" refers to the necessity of getting up each day to do it again and again and again.

My mom's miles of trials are finished this week. She went through chemotherapy again and again and again. Soon she will be done. In honor of this, I'd like to encourage you to make a donation to the American Cancer Society by clicking on the link to the right and then clicking on "Donate to Our Team." If you are planning on joining us at Relay for Life on April 8th, please click on the link to the right and then click on "Join Our Team." It should be fun and I figure I'm good to run/walk at least 60 or so miles over the 12 hour event.

Happy 2011!

2011-01-04T20:43:00.000-05:00

Despite my best efforts putting together a training plan about a month ago, that basically fell apart after less than two weeks. Perhaps it was my fault for starting a training plan during the holiday season. That being said, I did get a solid 20 mile run and several 10 mile runs in over the break so I'm probably still on track to be in condition for Relay for Life in April. I'm also planning on going to Kentucky for the Land Between the Lakes 50 miler on March 12 so that gives me an intermediate goal to keep me motivated.

Speaking of motivation, I haven't really had much lately. This is despite that feeling of obligation to set some goals that I always feel at the beginning of the year. Part of that feeling of obligation certainly stems from the talk of New Year's resolutions that permeates the media for the week following New Year's Day. Also, since my birthday is January 5th (yes, tomorrow) I tend to get a little introspective in terms of what I would like to do before another year passes. So do I have any grandiose plans as a 35 year-old?

Not really. I'd like to do a little more cross training. I'd like to finish the Kentucky run under 10 hours and to raise $5,000 through Relay for Life (there is an organizing meeting in a week or two so I'm going to start pushing for more donations soon). I plan on entering the lottery for Western States again, but that's out of my control so I don't really consider that a goal. Honestly, this all feels a little unspectacular when I consider the last few years of my first 50 miler, my first 100 miler, my 50k solo run on the Great Wall, and so on.

Perhaps 2011 will be my year of non-goals. 35 seems like a pretty good age to coast for a little bit--enjoy time with my family and enjoy running just for the sake of running. The only problem is that I'm not very good at coasting and I keep thinking of other new things that I could be working on or striving for...

Why chemo is not like running

2010-12-08T18:27:00.000-05:00

First, I would like to give a big thanks to my cousin Edward for a very generous donation and pursuit of matching funds from his company. I would also like to thank my Uncle Shiu-fun and Aunt Celia for their donation and to Sandi for putting together the excellent logo pictured above. Once I get through the fun of grading 90 research papers and watching 45 student presentations, I'm going to see what I can do about getting t-shirts made. This weekend I had the pleasure of visiting with my parents and my Aunt Edith this weekend who flew down to Ohio from Canada (the roast pork was delicious!). I know that my mom appreciates all the support she is receiving from all of her family members.

I had plenty of time to do some thinking on the drive back to Michigan and, despite the similarities that inspired the team name, I decided to do a blog post on why chemotherapy is not like running. Why? I think that running is sometimes too often compared to very real difficulties. I run willingly because it brings me joy and I find satisfaction in overcoming the personal challenges involved. I benefit through health and wellness and increased fitness levels. Tying on my running shoes and heading out the door is an escape from my troubles and, typically, leaves me feeling more relaxed and at ease. Going to chemo is decidedly not like that.

Going through chemotherapy is not optional. It is not fun. It does not leave one feeling better afterward. It requires a complete reorganization of ones life to deal with drugs upon drugs and even more drugs to deal with the side effects of the first drugs. It is not an exercise that, upon completion, leaves one feeling better. Much the opposite, it leaves one feeling worse. The whole process, which takes months, is a losing battle against fatigue, a declining immune system, and more. The struggle is to lose slowly enough that the treatment can continue. At the end is not a nice clean finish line, but relief mixed with continued uncertainty about the future.

I hope that didn't sound too negative. In fact, I am a fan of running metaphors and do feel that there are very real similarities that exist. However, I don't want to belittle the physically and psychologically difficult, but very necessary, process of cancer treatment by suggesting that it is the same as running, which when it comes down to it is just recreation.

Off and running (and donating)

2010-11-30T10:03:00.000-05:00

It's actually a bit strange to be blogging again after taking a year off. I am very proud to note that Team Single Step has already collected $510 thanks to generous donations by my mom and dad, Denise, Aunt Edith, Simon and Sally, Sandi and Andre. We are already the team with the most donations collected so far! I've decided to purchase the domain name for teamsinglestep.com and will be redirecting it shortly so that it is easier for people to make donations.

I don't have much to say about running. I did a 25 mile run on Saturday to burn off the excess turkey consumption. I've mostly been putting in a few 5 milers and 10 milers here and there with no clear training plan. I confess that I've been more focused on the Western States 100 lottery that is being held on Saturday since this will largely dictate my running in 2011 (I ran the Fall Classic 50 in October as a qualification run.) For those of you who aren't familiar with the race, it is probably the most famous 100 mile race in the country and, due to its mountain terrain and remoteness, it has a reputation as one of the toughest. They use a lottery system since it is so popular and space is limited. Just over 1600 people have applied, which means I only have around a 20% chance of getting in. Keep your fingers crossed.

On a side note, does anyone have any ideas for T-shirt designs? I really like the link between the team name and the Confucious quote so perhaps something Chinese. I, unfortunately, lack any reasonable artistic skill, but I would be happy to send a free shirt to anyone who can come up with a good design.

My blog is active again!

2010-11-15T09:40:00.000-05:00

I'm back and this time I'm preparing to run the 12 hour Relay for Life event at Saginaw Valley State University on April 8th to raise money for the American Cancer Society. I'll make more updates to the blog as I gear up fundraising efforts. However, the first step is that I need a team name. Any ideas? Please post them in the comments section!

Thanks for all of your support these last three years!

2010-02-03T18:01:00.002-05:00

As anyone who has come across this blog recently has probably noticed, it hasn't been very active lately. After spending three years building up Lupus Runners and working with other dedicated runners to raise over $12,000 for the Lupus Foundation of America, I have officially redirected the domain name for Lupus Runners (www.lupusrunner.org) over to Cruz Pitre. These past few years I have been pleasantly surprised at how our group has grown and am glad to see that there are so many runners who are willing to contribute their time and energy fundraising even though my time and energy has been limited this past year.

I look forward to continuing to run in 2010 and have my sights on Burning River again. Tim Smith is also putting together a 50k in November or December to help raise more money to fight Lupus. I would love to make it out for that run. I'll also do what I can to continue to help raise money and heighten awareness. Perhaps in a year or so I will sign back on, but I'll probably take a break for 2010. If you are ultrarunner, I'd encourage you to check out Tim's race at http://www.chemsmith.net/50k.html. If you are interested in helping raise money to fight Lupus, I would encourage you to check out Cruz's blog at http://www.lupusrunner.org. Thanks again to everyone who has supported me and the rest of the Lupus Runners over these past three years. Your money has gone to a great cause and your comments and emails have helped inspire our group. See you on the trails.

Fort Worth Marathon'n For Lupus

2009-10-22T08:07:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since I've posted. I'm afraid that life is somewhat interfering with my running and definitely getting in the way of my blogging. As a quick update, I've had my first DNF at the Hallucination 100. I probably shouldn't have tried a second 100 miler less than two months after Burning River. I want to thank Dirt Dawg for dragging me through that last loop and Nate and Mae for being willing to come out and crew in the middle of the night. As always, thanks to my wife for waking up early, staying up late, and driving around to all those aid stations to make sure I was functioning as well as possible. Also, thanks to my parents for being there to support me.

I've actually decided to write this quick post to ask all of you out there to support another Lupus Runner. Cruz Pitre is running his first marathon on November 8th to help raise money. He has been a tireless supporter of the fight against lupus and he deserves our support. All you runners out there know how difficult those last miles can be and your contributions support a worthy cause and a worthy runner. I'm re-posting information about Cruz's run below.

From Cruz Pitre:

On November 8, 2009, I'll run my first Fort Worth Marathon. My wife, Michelle, my cousin Marisol, and friends (or some of their relatives) have Lupus. I would like to use this occasion to raise funds for Lupus research.

TO SPONSOR MY FIGHT AGAINST LUPUS, simply go to Brian's Firstgiving page at http://www.firstgiving.com/lupusrunners. When you make your donation, PLEASE MAKE A COMMENT along the lines of "FOR Cruz AT FORT WORTH" or something that makes it obvious that your donation arose from reading this page.

There are other Lupus Runners also raising money on this page so don't let that confuse you.

(I should note that we've "followed the money" and any donation will go directly to the Lupus Foundation of America. None of it goes to the Lupus Runners. We are only facilitating the fundraising.)

After you donate, you will be able to print out a receipt page, and you'll also get an email receipt.

If you would prefer not to donate online, you may send money to the following address and I'll donate the money in your name.

Cruz Pitre Jr.
600 Parkview Court
Kennedale, TX 76060

Upon request, I'll send you a donation receipt for your taxes.

2009 Burning River 100 Race Report

2009-08-13T20:08:00.006-04:00

Well, it's been nearly two weeks since the race so probably about time that I put together a race report. First of all, this was probably the funnest race that I have ever participated in. It was well-organized and scenic and a pleasure (er, relatively) to run. Holli, as always, was the best crew that I could ask for and deserves my utmost thanks and appreciation. I'd also like to thank my parents for coming out to support me and for my brother Dave and sister-in-law Lauren for coming out to help pace. I'd like to thank Dirty Girl for some much needed cups of soup and espresso beans at the covered bridge station, Kevin for his help as I cruised in and out of aid stations, and Mae and Nate for their enthusiastic support. Finally, I'd like to congratulate Dirt Dawg, who has finally chased down his first 100 miler and thank him for his support and company during those first miles.

In truth, there are many others who also deserve thanks. There are Tom and David who I had not met until the covered bridge station, but who both volunteered to pace me through much of the night. David, good luck finishing the Grand Slam--that is an incredible accomplishment. There are the podiatry students who did their best to keep my feet from falling apart at various aid stations. There are the aid station volunteers and fellow runners who magically showed up with mole skin, duct tape, and a variety of other medical supplies when the podiatry students weren't around. Then, of course, there are all the volunteers who just made the whole event happy.

I've decided not to write much about the details of the race itself. Let me say that the first 50 miles went pretty well (11 hours) and I was even feeling pretty good after 60. Then a couple blisters began to form. Then, I made the mistake of removing some moleskin that I thought was bunching up on me (it was, but it was also providing some critical padding). Then it began to rain. Then I had to run through some pretty significant mud.

I finished in just over 28 hours and 30 minutes, but my final pace was a pretty pathetic hobble and my over-riding memory of the last third of the race was largely one of, let us say, discomfort. It was frustrating as my leg muscles held up well and it was really my feet that caused me such significant problems. As you can see from the photo of Holli and I crossing the finish line, she is quite literally pulling me along. Still, I didn't give up and I am proud of that accomplishment. Furthermore, I think the foot problem is something that can be managed. In fact, two days after the race I realized that my toes were so cramped up that during I was not actually moving most of the muscles in my foot. I'm not sure if this was caused by the change in my gait due to the rather large blisters on my feet or the other way around. In either case, it gives me an excuse to buy some new socks and shoes and, perhaps in the near future, to try out some barefoot running to strengthen my foot muscles.

All that aside, here was my epiphany as I cruised through the ups and downs of the race. What if, rather than thinking of all this running as a series of training cycles and races I just ran when I felt like it. I mean, why does something as fun as running 100 miles need to be a once a year event? In fact, it has taken me a couple 100 mile races to realize that I do, in fact, really like to run. Perhaps for people who are training intensely for particular times or to win competitions, the distinction between training runs and actual races matters, but I have typically run races at nearly the same pace that I train. So what is the point of distinguishing between training and racing? This matters because, despite the foot issues, Burning River was just fun and I would like to do it again.

So, I've decided to go ahead and sign up for the Hallucination 100, which is Michigan's first 100 mile race. You are all welcome to join me as spectators, crew, or pacers. The run is a series of 12.5 mile loops and there is a campground on the loop where everyone can hang out all weekend. What else can you ask for in a good time?

Lupus Foundation of America Needs Your Hel

2009-08-13T20:08:00.002-04:00

Lupus Foundation of America Needs Your Help -- Urge Your Senators to Cosponsor S. 1630, the Affordable Access to Prescription Medications Act

Go to http://capwiz.com/lfa/home/

Click on the link "Urge Your Senators to Cosponsor S. 1630, the Affordable Access to Prescription Medications Act," enter your zip code in the box called “Call Now” and click on the “go” button. You’ll then be presented with the contact information for your senators, as well as get talking points for what to say when you call.

Please ask your family, friends and coworkers to call on your behalf as well.

Webcast of Burning River

2009-07-30T17:38:00.001-04:00

I almost forgot. If you would like to see how I am doing on race day, check out the BR live webcast. I'm bib #68.

http://www.burningriver100.org/webcast.html

Why run 100 miles? Or getting psyched for Burning River

2009-07-30T16:12:00.003-04:00

I am a bit ashamed to admit that I have spent quite a bit of time in the past few days reflecting on why I like running 100 mile ultramarathons. I really have wanted this to be a good post on the eve of Burning River as, after nearly 200 blog posts and raising nearly $12,000, I've decided to take a break from fundraising. While it has been an integral part of my ultrarunning and it is both an important and personal cause, I have only barely had sufficient time to keep the group operating as it warrants. At the same time, I'm still receiving emails and comments from interested runners and getting an average of two-dozen hits per day so I've been hesitant to just let the group disappear and the hard work that we have together put into this fade away. That is why I am happy to announce that Cruz Pitre has agreed to take over management of the Lupus Runners website to keep the movement going and growing. We need to talk about the details still, but some time after Burning River I will redirect the www.lupusrunner.org to a new site. Cruz is adamant runner and been a dedicated member of Lupus Runners this year and I know that he will do a great job as I take a break to focus on other things.

You will, of course, still be able to see what I am up to at my various other websites such as www.brianthesociologist.com and, now that I finally have my hands on a Blackberry, I'm increasingly addicted to Twitter so look for me at www.twitter.com/thomasb7. Also, rest assured, that I will keep running. Which takes me back to the point of this post--why run 100 miles? Since I haven't been able to come up with an eloquent and thoughtful diatribe, I'm resorting to a bulleted list. Here goes.

Why run 100 miles?

It's a great way to get people to donate money to an important cause
The food at aid stations tastes really good after 50 miles
You meet some really great people
Because no matter how hard you train you never know what's going to happen
A central precept of Buddhism is that life is suffering and the key to happiness is letting that go. Running 100 miles involves suffering, then letting that go, the suffering some more, then letting that go, then you finish.
You get to know people really well when you run with them for 12 hours.
You get a cool belt-buckle at the end.
You get to know yourself really well when you run for 24+ hours.
Marathons are way too crowded
It requires more patience that any other sport I've participated in
I was a really bad wrestler in high school
No one ever asks you your time afterward, they just ask "At one time?"
It's a great way to spend time hanging out in the woods
Training with a jogging stroller is a great way to get a toddler to nap
The week before or after a race you don't have to feel guilty about going to a buffet
There is definitely an ego driven cool factor
Did I mention how good certain food tastes after 50 miles?
No one looks at you funny if you walk
It's a great time to listen to audio books (entire novels at a time)
Dawn looks great after 75 miles
Night time is magical when you are in the middle of the woods with nothing but a headlamp
Other things in your life feel more possible, and less stressful, afterward

After my first 50k, I almost cried because I was so glad that I actually did it. After my first 50 miles, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction. After my first, and only so far, 100 miler I was so tired I didn't particularly feel anything other than some mild confusion that I did not need to keep running. In fact, rather oddly, after 50 miles I was glad to be done. After 100 miles I was somewhat disappointed that it was over.

Dayton Daily News Article

2009-07-30T10:39:00.002-04:00

Thanks to all you Lupus Runners out there who have helped get us this far. Also, many thanks to everyone who has made donations--we have collectively raised nearly $12,000 since 2007. I look forward to finally meeting some of you in person at Burning River this weekend. In the meantime, check out this recent article in the Dayton Daily News.

Prepping for Burning River

2009-07-18T14:41:00.002-04:00

Well, ready or not the Burning River 100 is just around the corner. I confess that I am less certain about my preparation this year than last year. Ironically, being in China was not a great problem in terms of my training. However, getting my schedule cleared to go to China and catching up on time with my family and work stuff left me with fewer miles on the road then I would have preferred. Still, I had a few 30+ mile runs, a 40 mile run, my 12 hour Great Wall adventure, and a recent 32/25 back to back run, so I think I still have a good shot at finishing as long as I run smart.

My plan is to start out more slowly than I did at Haliburton and to try and keep a more even pace throughout. Last long run, I used a 10 minute run/5 minute walk pace that allowed me to complete 25 miles in 5 hours, even after doing 32 miles the day before. I ran even splits throughout and felt pretty comfortable at the end so I think this is a better strategy than the 9/1 and 25/5 run/walk ratios that I used at the beginning of Haliburton.

The logistics of Burning River are also slightly more complicated than at Haliburton since it is point to point as opposed to two out-and-backs. However, my parents are going to be joining Holli as part of my crew so we will have additional support. We're also going to try and coordinate crew needs that we didn't really plan well for at Haliburton--namely the need for Holli to sleep and eat at some point during the race. There is supposed to be cell phone service throughout so that should help too. Perhaps I'll twitter the event.

In terms of equipment, I'm planning on using a single water bottle throughout and, depending on the heat and my pace, an additional water bottle in a holster. I was pretty happy with how that worked last time. I'll aim to consume 100 calories of gel, honey, or sport beans every 30 minutes and to take electrolyte tablets every 20-30 minutes. I'll start eating some solid foods at 10 hours or so (soup probably).

I'm going to try and stick with Dirt Dawg as he heads for what I am sure will be his first 100 mile success story. I'm also looking forward to meeting Nate and Mae, two of our Lupus Runners from last year, who will also be at the event. It should be a good time!

I confess with some guilt that I haven't really had the time or energy to do a great deal of fundraising. I do want to thank everyone who has donated so far and to ask those who haven't donated to consider making a contribution to this important cause. I think 2009 might be my last harrah in terms of fundraising (at least for a little while) as I've had difficulty pulling together the time and energy that I feel the cause really warrants. It might be better for me to take a bit of a break (at least from fundraising--running keeps me sane so I don't expect to stop that!). So this is the last time I'm going to ask all of you for money, at least for the next year or two. Help me out this one last time and click the donate button on the right!

50k Great Wall Run Video

2009-07-06T11:05:00.005-04:00

50k ultramarathon on the Great Wall of China

2009-07-06T10:59:00.003-04:00

Total time in motion: 11 hours 50 minutes
Total distance 50k or 31 miles
Average pace: 23 minutes per mile
Distance on or along the Wall: 20 miles
Distance on roads around the Wall: 10 miles

I'm far from an elite runner and not even particularly fast, but I have been around the block. I've completed a 100 miler, a 50 miler, and a few 50k races. I can generally go 50 miles in under 10 hours and 50k in under 6 hours. 22 minutes per miles isn't even a fast walk--at least under normal conditions. These were certainly not normal conditions.

I compared my times with a local guide and it sounds like I was moving on the wall about twice as fast as most people. I tried to run the flats (which were very few) and walk the stairs. While I did stop to take breaks and take photos, I tried to minimize these stops, which I think it part of why I covered the ground so quickly (at least relatively). There were some mildly treacherous areas where running was simply not an option, at least if you are concerned about falling off the wall. Still, I kept moving and, as some past ultrarunner once quoted, I blew past rocks and trees like they were standing still.

Perhaps my times speak for themselves, but I would definitely rate this as a 10/10 in terms of difficulty. I believe most of the marathons that are held on the Great Wall are only actually on the Wall itself for 3 to 6 miles. I will note, with no small amount of pride, that I was on or alongside the wall for about 20 miles. Seriously, it was sort of like being a stairmaster for over 8 hours except the steps were often irregularly shaped rocks.

As I thought might be the case, this was a more mentally challenging race than some of my past races. Holli wasn't there to back be up with encouraging words or to provide me with supplies. No one really had any idea what I was doing so there wasn't even the general ambiance of a race that can be so motivating. Still, there were some people who stepped up when I needed help. There was the fellow long distance hiker who helped me get back on track after I got lost trying to avoid the military base in the way of getting to Gubeikou (I never made it to Gubeikou, but made up for it by going an hour past Simatai). There was the two shop-keepers who generously gave me a pair of headphones after mine were lost in the same overgrown brush disaster that scratched up my legs and arms and led to, perhaps, the lowest part of the race. There was the woman who sold souvenirs on the wall who showed me a shortcut around a particularly bad hill during my final miles on the wall (dude, she said she comes to the wall everyday and then walks for two hours to get home. She told me that I was running fast and I believed her until I saw her move on some mountain trails--she was like a mountain goat! To make myself feel better I am telling myself that I wouldn't have struggled to keep up if my legs were fresh.) Oh yeah, and there was the American couple who gave me some sun screen--a critical supply that I failed to bring.

In 2010, I will return to this section of the Great Wall with my students. I'm working with a travel agent who will arrange for overnight stays on the wall. I had my low points on the run and my high points--I perhaps had more doubts during this race than during any of my previous races. However, the scenery was incredible and getting to the next tower for another view was always a motivator--be sure to check out the video for some scenery and details about my run.

Also, don't forget to click on the "Donate here" button on this site! Help support the fight against lupus!

For updates, go here

2009-06-02T12:09:00.001-04:00

Since the Chinese government blocks Blogger, I've had to seek another location to blog during my trip. Please go to the following site for regular updates.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brian-the-Sociologist/85796972030

Going offline...

2009-06-01T14:21:00.003-04:00

Ah, with 48 hours until departure, I've now learned that blogger, the service hosting all my blogs, is being blocked by that wonderful organization, the government of the People's Republic of China. Stay tuned as I set up an alternate hosting site to use during my trip.

40 mile training run video

2009-05-28T16:42:00.000-04:00

Take off in one week!

2009-05-27T14:46:00.004-04:00

Whew, lots to update you all with, but I will keep it brief. I ran my final long training run before my trip on Sunday. 40 miles in a little under 8 hours. I even took some video that I will post shortly. Between my Camelback and a small fanny pack, I think I am set to carry enough supplies. I stopped by the local running store and bought a case of sports beans and a new bottle of electrolyte tablets. That mix seemed to cover me pretty well along the 40 mile run so I'm hoping it will work on the Great Wall. Interestingly, while the heat on my 40 mile run caused me some grief I think the benefit was that it forced me to slow down enough that I had almost no muscle soreness the next day. I did have a few blisters so I picked up some new socks too. I was tempted to get some new shoes, but I think it is probably too late to experiment with a new shoe even if I had some blister issues with my current pair of Brooks Adrenaline.

If you are interested in the route I will be taking on my Great Wall Run, a FAQ of part of the route can be found at the Great Wall Forum here. Right now my plan is to get a hotel at or near Simatai and run to Jinshanlin and possibly on to Gubeikou (these are gates along the Wall with tourist access). My understanding is that there is a trail along the wall that is often used that I can follow. I'm still messing around with the Google map that I found of the Wall so I don't know exact distances yet. The FAQ states that one can walk from Simatai to Jinshanlin in 3 to 4 hours. I estimate that I can probably run that easily in 2 hours--so that will make a good stop to refill on water. Luckily, I still remember how to ask for bottled water in Chinese :). Apparently, it is possible to walk from Simatai to Gubeikou in one day so I'm guessing that I can probably run from Simatai to Gubeikou and back while using Jinshanlin as a "aid station." I'll use my GPS to track when I reach 25 miles out and just turn around at that point--either before or after Gubeikou, as necessary.

Forum posts indicate that I will have cell phone access the entire way and I have already gotten a hold of an international cell phone with a Chinese phone number. I'll have a camera and a small video camera with me to document the event. I would like to thank all of those who have already donated! Thank you Mom, Dad, Sandra, Andre, Cruz, Jason, Greg, Gail, Scott, Kelly, Karen, Aunt Edith, and Uncle Wilson! If I have time, I think I will borrow Tim's and Deb's idea of writing everyone's names down to carry with me on the run. I have a suspicion that the solitude of this run might make the whole thing especially intense.

On a final note, I placed the order for the t-shirts yesterday and they should be ready and in the mail to everyone before I leave a week from today.

Lupus Runner shirts!

2009-05-11T14:02:00.002-04:00

I'm going to order a new set of lupus runner shirts. If you would like one send me an email (brianjasenthomas@gmail.com) ASAP with your address and the shirt size that you would like. If you're helping us raise money I'll send you one for free--otherwise they are $10 each (this is simply the cost of the shirt and I don't make any money).

Long run and Great Wall prep

2009-05-11T13:21:00.002-04:00

My goal was to get two 50 mile runs and one 45 mile run before running Burning River. That would mean one 40 miler yesterday, a 45 miler just before I leave for China, my much anticipated 50 mile Great Wall run, and a final 50 miler in July before tapering. I set out at 5 AM yesterday with the goal of getting a solid 40 miles in before lunch and also testing the running gear that I am planning on taking to China. Unfortunately, some foot pain around mile 30 caused me to slow down significantly so I decided to call it quits 33 miles in at a time of just over 6 hours. I'm not sure what the foot thing is--it doesn't feel severe, but I don't want to create a more severe problem by pushing myself too hard. I still have some time so I'm not worried. Yet.

The logistics of my China run are interesting for a few reasons. First, I will be traveling pretty light so won't have room for much running gear. Second, since it will be a solo run in relatively unknown terrain I will need to carry more food and water than usual. Third, since I am not checking any of my luggage I can't carry many liquids and, I have heard, even transporting energy Gels is sometimes problematic. So, I went out yesterday with my Camelback Lobo back with 70 ounces of water and 4 packs of Sport beans and 5 packs of Sharkies. Over 33 miles, I drank nearly all the water, ate all the sport beans, and 3 Sharkie packs. I also stopped and ate a breakfast sausage sandwich at a gas station (that's sort of like baozi, right?) The water + solid energy food + sausage sandwich seemed to keep my energy up okay so I feel good about my equipment/nutrient choices.

I should have enough room in my pack for 15 bags of sport beans (I've decided I prefer these to Sharkies) or 1,500 calories. Theoretically, if I consume 200 calories per hour that will carry me about 7 hours. Given Great Wall Marathon finishing times, I will really need to plan for up to 12 hours on the move. Consequently, I will need to plan on getting another 1,000 or so calories along the way. My hope is that a lunch of noodles and a few cokes should be enough to make up the difference. Ideally, I'll also be able to get a hold of some Gatorade, but I will have to wait until I am there to see. I've heard that I won't be able to expect much between tourist stops, but I believe these are about 20 km apart on the section I plan to run so I don't think getting a little something else to eat will be too problematic. There are still some details to work out, but I'm getting there!

Trail Marathon Race Report

2009-04-28T17:59:00.004-04:00

I woke up bright and early at 4:00 AM to head to Pinckney for the Trail Marathon on Sunday. I've actually found that it is not that difficult to roll out of bed and hop right in the car as long as I get everything ready the night before. Races are definitely more motivation to get up early than regular long runs. I was really looking forward to the event as I haven't been on trails much in the recent past and I felt that getting this long run in was important if I was going to be at least close to my training plan.

I opted for the 7 AM early start, which meant that I was not allowed to finish in under 4:30 (not that it was likely that would be a problem). I was hoping to do an extra 9 miles after the marathon so I figured the earlier I started the better it would be. I met up with Dirt Dawg at the start and actually ran with him through the entire race. If you haven't checked out his blog and new podcast, I would definitely recommend that you follow those links. I first met Dirt Dawg when we were both training for our first 50 milers and have, in fact, not run together since we cruised the first part of the North Country Trail Run together in 2007. Dirt Dawg will be running his first 100 miler at Burning River this year also. Anyway, his company for the 26.2 miles was very much appreciated since headphones were not allowed at the race and anyone who knows me well realizes that leaving me alone to my thoughts is a recipe for disaster. Seriously though, the conversation helped the miles go quickly and, as we headed into the second loop, he put on some speed, which took us to a finish in just under 5 hours with negative splits on the second loop.

Anyone who has run out in Pinkney knows that it is possibly the hilliest part of the Lower Peninsula and it definitely took a toll on me. On top of that, the weather was much warmer than expected and I didn't bring any electrolyte tablets. Consequently, I only added 8 miles at the end of the marathon and, to be honest, those were some pretty slow and ugly miles. In the future, I might try and add my additional training miles to the begining of the race instead of the end because it was sort of a drag to head back out on the trail while everyone else was relaxing after the race. Still, I put in just over 34 miles for the day and after a little air conditioning in the car and a trip through the Arby's drive through I was feeling much better. That's on top of a 12 mile run on Friday and I really can't complain about a 46 mile weekend.

On a side note, the more I think about and start making plans for a 50 mile solo run of the Great Wall of China, the more excited I get. I might have to invest in some trail shoes though as the Trail Marathon left my feet a bit beat up from rocks and roots. I'll post more details about my Great Wall plan as they develop.

P.S. The above photo of Dirt Dawg and I currently appears as the first of a set of photos on the front page of www.runmichigan.com so check it out.

Welcome Lupus Runner Cruz!

2009-04-20T08:14:00.003-04:00

I'd like to welcome the latest member of Lupus Runners. We are truly a national group with previous runners from New York, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, and now Texas! I've asked Cruz to write a short bio--he's planning a lot of races this year and getting set for his first marathon.

------
Cruz Pitre Jr.
I'm married to Michelle for 14 years, and have two boys, Andrew and Trei. I live outside of Fort Worth, TX. I'm a senior configuration manager at Sabre Holdings (parent company to Travelocity). I'm a 40 year old Army veteran, that until the end of last year (an over-active thyroid forced me to start running again), had not run since 1992. My running has gone so well that I have started training and competing in races. These are the races that I have competed and their results:

02/28/09 - Fort Worth Cowtown 5k: 26:08 - 08:26 (pace per mile)
03/14/09 - Impossible Possibilities 5k: 24:46 - 07:59
03/28/09 - Dallas Butterfly Booging 5k: 24:40 - 07:57
04/11/09 - Crecent City Connection 10k: 53:01 - 08:33

I'm registered to run in:

04/25/09 - Outlaw Run 10k

I'm planning to run in:

05/09/09 - The Jackrabbit Run 4 Hope 10k
05/16/09 - Run For the Children 10k

My goal is to compete at the marathon distance, or higher. My basic training plan is to run each distance (5k, 10k, half marathon, marathon) at least three times before moving on to the next distance.

Good luck Tim!

2009-04-19T10:07:00.002-04:00

Our second Lupus Runner is running his big race for the year tomorrow. Tim will be running no less than the famous Boston Marathon! We are getting close to $1,000 in donations--let's see if we can take things into the triple digits for Tim! Have a great race and we look forward to report on how things go.

I'm also happy to announce that we have had another runner join Lupus Runners for 2009. Details soon!

First Brian the Sociologist International Ultramarathon

2009-04-11T08:45:00.005-04:00

Training plans are, in my opinion, schedules that tell you what real life has deviated you from. With summer coming close and the ultramarathon looming relatively near, I thought I would check the training plan I devised earlier this year and see how close I am. The bad news is that I am a little behind and that my weekly mileage has been below what I had hoped for. That being said, my long runs have been going well and I should still have time to get the runs that I feel I need for Burning River. Before Haliburton, I peaked with a late night 50 miler. If I can get a couple 50 milers in I should be in good shape.

So why did I titled this post "First Brian the Sociologist International Ultramarathon?" Well, if I follow this training plan I will be attempting one of my long runs, specifically my first 50 mile run, while I am in Beijing doing a preparing for a 2010 study abroad trip. The logistics of this are a little daunting as I won't have my full set of running gear, resupplying with water and food may be problematic (dumpling stops?), and many parts of Beijing are crowded enough so as not to be running friendly. I'm also not quite sure how I will fit it into my already busy itinerary. However, I think it is worth the effort as there are few better ways to see the city, if I can really get my act together I could do the whole thing on the Great Wall or someplace similarly cool, and with my GPS it is really pretty unlikely that I will get lost. Anyway, I posted on the ultrarunning listserve that I will be in China, but didn't hear from any Chinese ultrarunners so if anyone out there reads this post and has suggested routes or just advice, post a comment!

Have a great race, Deb!

2009-04-10T12:31:00.003-04:00

I just wanted to let everyone out there know that our first Lupus Runner is running a half marathon tomorrow. Deb is a lupus sufferer and has done a great job of raising awareness and funds. She deserves our support. I've posted a note below that Deb wrote on Facebook about her race.

From Deb's Facebook site:

I suffer from a disease called lupus. It is a chronic, life threatening illness. I had several years where I couldn't walk for longer than 2 or 3 minutes without having to sit and rest. I have had kidney involvement twice, lung involvement, taken massive doses of steroids, taken chemotherapy - which left me unable to have children, been hospitalized 4 times, had a pseudo tumor.. that was fun.. the doctor told me that I possibly had a brain tumor, based on what he saw in my eyes.. but to try not to worry about it until I saw the neurologist in the ER, had 2 spinal taps, gained lots of weight, have major joint pain, have extreme sun sensativity, have tons of scars, have taken as many as 12 perscription medications at one time, lost a ton of hair, had years of depression, yet somehow managed to keep my sanity. ( no comments )

To see me today, you would not ever know that I was ill. Now is my turn to beat up on lupus. This is my revenge for the suffering and pain it has caused me. I will run the Illinois Half Marathon on Saturday, April 11, 2009. I'm asking for your financial support.

During the race, I will wear a pace tattoo on my arm, marking where I should be along the course at what time. If you offer your financial support, I will write your name on my arm during the race, and you will act as my mental support during that section of the race. I will really need your support, as I am coming off of two weeks of illness, and am just 4 weeks out from the race.

If you are able to support me, please follow this link to the Lupus Runners page. It is a team page, so you will not see my name, but rather a group page. If you leave a donation, please mention my name in the comment section. Thanks for your support. - Debbie

http://www.firstgiving.com/lupusrunners

Does this count as speed work?

2009-04-06T13:10:00.003-04:00

Well, I completed the Martian Marathon with a chip time of 3:53. I'm really happy with that because I averaged 8:55 minute miles when I've been training at 10 minute miles. Also, this is approximately the same time that I had the last time I ran the Martian, which was 6 or 7 years ago (woah.) The race was fun, although it reminded me why I still prefer the culture of ultramarthons. Even though this was a relatively small marathon I still felt a little like I was part of a herd. Still, it was a nice way motivate me to put in a long run and it was fun to see all the people excited about the race (but really, do you need a hydration pack for a half marathon?) As always, Running Fit had everything very well organized, included some insane looking technical t-shirts and had some wonderful greasy pizza waiting at the end.

I was planning on doing the whole thing in around 4:20 and adding on a 4 mile run in the end to make a nice round 30 mile day. However, at the halfway mark I overheard someone say that we were at a 4 hour pace and decided I would rather speed things up and get home early than stretch it out another few miles. I need to write a blog post one of these days about the honey/salt/molasses concoction that I have been using on my long runs. I switched between that and the Gu that they had at aid stations. Interestingly, I felt a tiny bit nausious around mile 15 after a few Gu packets, but felt perfectly normal after going back to the honey mix. Kept pretty even splits throughout so I'm feeling pretty close to on pace for the 100.

Kudos to Deb who has kicked up the fundraising! I need to clear some grant reports off my plate and then hopefully will have the chance to start bringing in some money.

The Martian Marathon and my aerobic capacity

2009-04-02T20:34:00.004-04:00

Heading down for the Martian Marathon this weekend. I did this a few years ago and it was a nice run. I've more or less lost track of my training program; however, I did manage a 25 mile long run a couple weeks ago and a 20 mile long run the week before that so I'm feeling relatively solid. I might add a 4 mile run after the marathon for a nice even 30.

My weekly runs have been really hit and miss. This week for instance I did 12 on Monday and 6 on Wednesday. It is unlikely that I'll have any time to run before the marathon on Sunday. Still, I was comfortable running 10 minute miles during my last 25 mile run so I think I'm making some progress. I'm not sure I could get away with such intermittant training if I hadn't gotten myself in shape for the 100 last year. I hear the endurance you build for ultras has more of lasting effect than for shorter distances--that might be just one of those web rumors though.

On an interesting side note, I stopped by a health fair at SVSU where, among other things, some kinesiology students were testing aerobic capacity. Ironically, I tested in 20th percentile, which basically means that 80% of the rest of the world is in better shape then I am. That doesn't bode well for the marathon. Actually, the test was based on heart rate and, based on my experience with a heart rate monitor, I have a relatively high resting and, in all likelihood, maximum heart rate, which throws things off. One of my students told me that the kinesiology department does have the equipment for me to test my VO2 max, which would give me an accurate measure of my aerobic capacity. I might just be curious enough to track that equipment down...

Registered!

2009-03-21T19:48:00.001-04:00

In order to help encourage me to actually wake up in time for a brisk 6 AM run, I decided to submit my registration for the Burning River 100 mile run. $175, ouch. No refunds so I better get my rear out the door and do some running.

Wakey, wakey

2009-03-21T13:18:00.003-04:00

So the running hasn't been bad, but it hasn't been consistent either. Two weeks ago, I ran a wopping 2 miles during the week. Then, feeling bad and noticing the sunny weather outside I did 17 miles on Friday. This was followed be a 20 miler on Sunday. This week I repeated my pattern of inconsistency and only ran once with a 12 miler on Wednesday. Hmmm... This probably isn't a pattern I should be repeating if I plan on finishing Burning River. So, my goal is to wake up early tomorrow and to get a 20 or 25 mile run in before noon. Perhaps posting it on my blog will help get me out of bed in the morning.

I'd like to welcome Deb Frerick, a new Lupus Runner in 2009 and a lupus sufferer, has committed to run the Illinois Half Marathon on April 11th. Tim Smith has also joined us and will be cruising the Boston Marathon on April 20th. I wish them both the best of luck with their races and fundraising. I realized that 75% of the Lupus Runners from 2008 (everyone except for me) are scheduled to get married this year so I'm glad to see some new folks stepping up to help out.

Let's get this party started!

2009-03-06T21:27:00.002-05:00

Okay, it's been a rocky winter for me in terms of training and that eternally difficult balance of what I need to do and what I want to do with my time. Thanks to an email from Debbie, our newest Lupus Runner, I've decided to kick things off for 2009. That means it is time for all of you to go to www.firstgiving.com/lupusrunners and to renew your commitment towards fighting a terrible disease. We raised $5,000 last year and I'm confident that we can do it again this year.

While the money helps with research and education, one of the most important things that we did in 2008 was raise awareness. Debbie, who is a lupus sufferer herself, decided to join us after she saw Mae wearing a Lupus Runner shirt in a race. So, in addition to running my race (Burning River) and continuing to raise money, I'll provide a free technical t-shirt with the Lupus Runner logo to anyone who commits to running a race as a Lupus Runner and raises at least $200. If you want to be a Lupus Runner, just send me an email at brianjasenthomas@gmail.com. Happy running in 2009!

Life on jury duty

2009-02-26T09:42:00.002-05:00

Seriously, there is a conspiracy against jury pool W. Some of the other groups have served for only half a day out of the nine days that we have been on jury duty so far. On the other hand, old group W has been here five out of the past nine days. Actually, some of group W has been here even longer, having been selected for two juries so far. I've only served on one jury thus far and spent the rest of the time just waiting around to see if I will be selected.

Let me say this about the jury process. I think that everyone should have to do it once in their life. That being said, I am extraordinarily ambivalent about the jury process. I have been impressed by how well everyone gets along and was glad to be on a diverse jury that was still willing to work together so openly. The bureaucracy of the system has, to be honest, highlighted the reasons why we lecture about bureaucracies in introduction to sociology classes. I'm probably more of a populist as a result of all this. Everyone who served on the jury together yesterday clustered together in one of the small meeting rooms to talk and play cards. It's funny how strangers can bond together under circumstances like this. Technically, I've been excused from duty tomorrow, which is our last day. That means my civic duty will be done with soon. Of course, if I get picked again I must serve until that trial is over...

Bye Bruce!

2009-02-14T19:51:00.004-05:00

Our longtime truck, Bruce, is officially retired. Well, he isn't really retired, but we just sold him to make room for the F150 4x4 that is our new truck. Bruce was a great vehicle and took us everywhere we needed to go throughout graduate school and law school. He moved us from Michigan to Oregon and back again, throughout the Northwest, and even down to the Southwest. He saved us from a windstorm in Death Valley when we had to tie our tent to him. I slept in the back of Bruce on my way out to a week of solo backpacking in New York. He went to pick up Casey at the cattle ranch in Oregon. He's hauled us safely around for many, many miles--we'll miss you Bruce!

Hotel treadmills

2009-02-11T19:14:00.003-05:00

I'm at a conference in Grand Rapids for the next few days. I had some extra time so I hopped on a treadmill in the hotel. My plan was to run for a couple hours. I did about 7 miles on Monday so if I got 12-13 miles in today I would be all set for a long run this weekend. I had my mp3 player, some Sharkies for sustenance, and a water bottle. I quit after 7 miles. There is just something about treadmills that I cannot do. I'm not sure why I get bored so quickly, but there is just something about staring at a wall that just wears me out. Anyway, I'll just sneak in another 6 miles or so tomorrow and still be on schedule for my weekly mileage so it's not a big deal.

On the bright side, the short run gave me time to settle into my hotel room, eat some sushi, and finish a short article for Ultrarunning magazine that I've been working on. Yes, I'm taking my first step towards merging my professional life and personal interests with a somewhat sociological article discussing the role of online media in shaping ultrarunning culture. I've already sent an inquiry to the editor and she was interested in the article. It is not (I hope) too heavy on the academic stuff, but hopefully it will represent an interesting read.

I am speed

2009-02-04T19:38:00.003-05:00

Okay, I'm not speed, but Elliott is really convinced that I am. Actually, I think he is convinced that I am able to run as fast as one of the 38 race cars that he has now accumulated from the Disney Cars movie (see above). Only a couple weeks into my training program and already my running has been hit and miss. Last week, I didn't run at all until Friday, when I got 10 miles in. This was followed by 20 miles on Saturday--I managed 10:00 minute miles, which is not great, but reassures me that I haven't fallen too far out of condition (speed is relative after all). Monday, Elliott and I headed out and cruised through 12 miles. "Don't walk, Daddy! I want to keep going!" he said at the end. Sounds like my training is going to consist of a lot of long runs... Seriously, everyone should have a 2 year old committed to a Disney movie about race cars as a trainer.

Plans for 2009

2009-01-23T20:20:00.003-05:00

Okay, so the last month was a "recovery" month, albeit an unintentional one. I've been feeling a bit adrift and unmotivated without a goal for this year so I've decided to go ahead and pick one. So the official plan for 2009 is to run the Burning River 100 miler on August 1. It's held in Northeast Ohio and takes place before classes start so the logistics should be easier to manage than Haliburton last year. The heat factor is a bit of a concern as is the fact that I'm planning on being in China and Tibet for a couple weeks in June, but it would not be fun if it was easy. You can check out my training schedule below as well as a few area races I would like to complete along the way.Much to my shock, I am already ahead of schedule this week. I did 9 miles on Monday, 6 miles on Wednesday, and 10 miles today. I had a great run today since it was the first time that Elliott and I busted out the jogging stroller in months. I recently bought a small portable speaker for my mp3 player so Elliott and I both spent the run listening (at least while he was awake) to the Cars movie soundtrack. I often wonder what the fine residents of Freeland think of us. For those of you who follow my Facebook status updates, my concern that his lack of napping at home will lead to the demise of my ultrarunning career was unfounded. He won't nap at home, but the jogging stroller had him sleeping after 10 minutes. On top of that, when he woke up after mile 8 he insisted that we keep running. I only quit after 10 miles because I hadn't anticipated a very long run and had neither water nor energy gels (I also don't want to risk injury by ramping up too quickly after time off). The little guy was upset that the run was over! I mean he was crying tears disappointed! Now if that isn't motivation to up the mileage I don't know what is.

Snowshoeing!

2009-01-17T12:32:00.004-05:00

Well, it's already 17 days into the new year and I've managed to go out for a wopping one run. The refrain is a familiar one, work and weather have stood in my way. While I don't particularly mind running in weather that is in the twenties or even teens, jogging strollers don't do well in snow and my running schedule until now has hinged critically on multi-tasking (i.e. childcare and running). That and a series of 12 hour work days has left me little extra time.

My one run, however, was quite a lot of fun as I've decided to embrace Michigan weather and my semi-rural residence by buying a pair of snowshoes for my birthday. Above is a picture of Elliott and I trying the snowshoes. I tried out pulling Elliott on a sled, which was fun for a while, but I couldn't get up to speed without kicking snow in his face (he had fun being pulled around our yard though!). Later I went out for a hour long run through some fields with the snowshoes by myself. I highly recommend the workout as it is relatively easy to run in them and it is fun to offroad through farm fields and areas that I wouldn't typically run. It is a bit like running in sand so you can expect slower speeds and a bit more of a workout, but it does have me looking forward to more snow. We are expecting about 8 inches by Sunday so that's a good thing.

On a side note, I did end 2008 on a high note with one final informal marathon to wrap up the year. I also racked up 2,599 miles over 2008. It's probably a bit more then that since I have been pretty irregular about recording my runs since my GPS began flaking out. Anyway, happy new year to all. I hope to have some time to think about my goals and plans, as well as those for the Lupus Runners, in the near future so stay tuned!

Blogging and running

2008-12-08T20:27:00.002-05:00

Well all, I think I've decided to officially take a break from blogging until 2009. After a great week of running over Thanksgiving (almost 40 miles!), an unrelenting work schedule amidst varied and unexpected home repairs has kept me off the roads. There is an end in sight, as I have several key deadlines around the middle of December, but at that point I'd just assume take a break from the computer.

2008 was quite a year for Lupus Runners. I would like to take this moment to thank Yassine, who placed first in his first 100 miler while raising tons of money towards the Lupus Foundation. I would like to congratulate Mae and Nate on their excellent fundraising efforts and other contributions such as helping to put together the official Lupus Runners logo. I'd also like to welcome Lisa Clark, who has recently joined our group and is looking forward to helping us raise money in 2009. I'd also like to thank all of you who contacted me to offer words of support or inquire about our group. I wish you all the best in your struggles around lupus. At this points, together, we raised $5,625 for the Lupus Foundation of America. You should all be very proud of your efforts--this is no trivial amount going towards an important cause. In all honesty, however, I think that the efforts all of you have made to raise awareness around lupus has had an even greater, although more difficult to measure, impact.

Thank you for helping to keep me motivated. Enjoy the holiday and I look forward to renewing our efforts in 2009.

I'm back, sorta

2008-11-14T08:46:00.002-05:00

Well, it's been nearly a month since I've blogged. Work has taken up much of my time and, well, it's involved some projects that I'm really enthused about so I've let my running and blogging slip. Check out this project including establishing some hydroponics systems to provide fresh produce to inner-city residents (http://www.mlive.com/saginawnews/news/index.ssf/2008/10/fresh_vegetables_might_grow_al.html). Still, it's time for some updates.

First of all, I would like to offer a much belated congratulations to Mae, who successfully completed her first half marathon. Mae, who has lupus herself, has been a fund raising powerhouse for Lupus Runners and is an inspiration to all of us. Not only did Mae complete the marathon below her goal time, raise thousands of dollars, but she also recruited a new Lupus Runner. I'd like to welcome Lisa Clark to our group. I promise, I'll get your T-shirt in the mail soon--one more thing that I keep forgetting to do :(.

I've only managed to run a couple times a week this past month, although I have gotten some nice 12 mile runs in. I've also started to work on some strength training, although again I haven't managed to follow much of a schedule. I was happy with my aerobic fitness at Haliburton, but if I want to do this again I think I need a little more muscle strength to handle the constant pounding of a 100 miler. Anyway, I should probably move on to some other things, but I wanted to post a quick update to all you out there in cyberspace while I had a few moments.

Lupus Runners--Round 2

2008-09-19T20:29:00.003-04:00

If you read this blog and STILL haven't donated--now's a good time!

Yassine Diboun, my fellow ultrarunning Lupus Runner, will be making his first attempt at a 100 miler. This guy is fast and has placed in several ultramarathon. There are live updates of the race, the Iroquois Trail 100 mile race--follow Yassine's race here.

Race report

2008-09-12T19:49:00.002-04:00

I woke up early Wednesday morning and thought that I was still on some trail and supposed to be running. Now, the really disturbing thing is that I was a little disappointed that I was not out on some trail running through the night. There's an elegant simplicity to a weekend where all you have to do is run... and run... and run...

After spending the night in London, Ontario and enjoying some nice pasta at an Outback Steakhouse we hit the road early on Friday. As we headed north of Toronto I anxiously noted each of the steep and rolling hills that characterized the drive to Haliburton. I was crazy nervous. I mean I was nervous like when I was hopping on a plane to spend a year in China (well, almost). I was so nervous that I didn't want to go directly to the race start so we stopped at Subway for lunch. It was cool and misty with some rain predicted for that night so we quickly set up our tent and listened to other runners arriving as I read a book to keep my mind off things. Here's one strange lupus connection. The forest also had a wolf sanctuary so Holli and I took some time to visit the wolves before going to the pre-race dinner. Between the fundraising and the new Lupus Runner logo, it gave an almost supernatural feel to the weekend.

The pre-race dinner was initially intimidating, but Holli and I quickly found a couple veterans of the 100 miler who were more than happy to let us drill them for advice on the race (thanks Gavin and Rick!). Go slow in the beginning they emphasized. Everyone was extremely friendly and we all stood up to introduce ourselves at the end of the dinner. I didn't sleep much that night.

The morning came quickly and I found comfort in arranging all my gear. Holli and I had a bagel and coffee at the restaurant and then wandered around outside waiting for the start. A bagpipe player led us to the starting line and before I knew it we were off. The first 50 miles were relatively uneventful. Dark gave way to dawn, I encountered Gavin and Rick again who warned me against getting sucked into going too fast by following the 50 mile and 50k racers that also started with us. I'm glad I took their advice! I had some great conversations with Steve who was also doing his first 100 mile run and whose pace was similar to mine. We lost track of each other for a while, but again found ourselves running and chatting towards the end of the first 50 mile loop. I stuck mostly to gels and Gatorade (lesson 1 = HEED is kind of nasty tasting stuff) and switched shoes once (lesson 2=Brooks Adrenaline ASR give me blisters while Brooks Adrenaline GTS do not). The hills were tough, but not unmanageable and I finished the first loop with soreness, but no real problems. First 50 miles were completed in about 12 hours. I was surprised, dispite my motivation, at how distasteful the idea of heading out for a second loop was. Luckily, after some encouragement from Holli, a 15 minute walking break, a few cups of warm soup, and two ibuprofin, I felt both recovered and motivated. As I the sun began to come down, the 50 milers heading for the finish kept wishing me a good night. What was I in for?

Night was interesting, to say the least. The first it was peaceful. Then it was surreal. Then it was lonely. Then it was discouraging. Then it was over. Holli was a trooper and I confess to a feeling of relief when she decided to stay up for the first part of the night to see me at aid stations. I'm glad that I've had a reasonable amount of experience hiking at night because the rocky and rooty terrain really slowed things down. I believe the temperature dropped into the 40s and, had I been able to run without fear of tripping and falling down, I would have been dressed adequately warmly. At my pace, I was barely dressed adequately (lesson 3=dress for walking). I ran/walked alone until about 4 AM, which only made the experience more surreal. The race was small enough that I rarely saw people during that time and they were all going the other direction--bobbing headlights that would appear suddenly, followed by a grunted greeting or word of encouragement, and then I was alone in my little cone of light. A few times I shut off my headlamp to experience darkness uncommon in urban and suburban America.

I pulled into aid station 5 around 4 AM. At this point, I just needed to run home. Rick, who I'd talked with a few times throughout the weekend, was sitting in front of a campfire and told me that he was dropping because his quads were shot. He also reminded me that the section between aid station 5 and 4 was one of the worst sections on the course. With some reluctance, I stood close to the fire to put on a second shirt picked up from my drop bag and sipped some soup and coffee cheerfully provided by dedicated aid station volunteers. It was warm and friendly there and I had distinct memories of the steep and rocky slopes of the next section. It was mostly downhill, but at that point downhill was hurting much worse than uphill. Still, I knew I just had to make it through 4 more aid stations and I was done. So I headed back out, slipping on my headphones hoping a little motivational music would help. Just as I moved into the cold realm away from the campfire, I realized the batteries in my MP3 player were dead. Seriously?!?! If I was going to have to fumble with some batteries, I was at least going to stand by the fire when I was doing so. I headed back to the campfire. Just in time to see Steve, who I spent hours running with on the first loop, head out of the dark.

Steve's company was much appreciated and I did not at all mind delaying my departure while he had something to eat and drink. We chatted and complained our way through the next sections of the run, informally competing to see who would site the next aid station first. We had some low times.

At one point, Steve, who was running behind me, said "Do you see that outhouse up there?"

I said, "I think so. That must mean we're close to the aid station."

Steve said, "No wait, I think it's some sort of machine. Like a wood chipper."

I responded, "No, it looks like an outhouse."

Steve asked, "Which side of the trail are you talking about?"

"The right," I said.

"Oh, I was looking on the left."

Of course, there was nothing on either side of the trail and we were still miles from an aid station. We did a lot of walking and tried to pick up the pace when the sun came up, but we never could accurately calculate how long it should take us to reach the next aid station (lesson 4= learn to convert from km to miles). Holli appeared walking up a trail before aid station 4, which helped me feel that we were finally getting close to the end (lesson 5=tell Holli how awesome she is more frequently).

We were sore. We were tired. We were sick of being on trails. But we were moving forward. Steve and I calculated finishing times hundreds of times. With about 9 miles to go, I started getting mad and I started getting scared. Despite aid station workers assuring me that I had plenty of time, I just got convinced that I might not make it before the cut off. And I got mad at the trail. I was just sick of stumbling on roots and picking my way over rocks. So I told Steve that I need to run and took off. I felt like I was flying. I was sick and tired of being in the woods and I was going to finish the race, regardless of how much it was starting to hurt my legs to take each step. I couldn't run the whole way and walked when necessary, but each step closer brought some new energy. Er, at least until I had about 3 miles to go, when my ankle hurt so bad I couldn't run more than a couple hundred yards. But after some dirt roads, that felt so short earlier but lasted forever, I was at the final aid station. "It's 2k, you're about 12 minutes from the finish," said the volunteer. "Really?" I thought. After counting the day and night in hours, I was baffled by the idea of 12 minutes.

My ankle hurt so I walked until the finish line came in sight so it took me over 20 minutes to cover the distance. There was Holli as I crossed the finish line.

"What do you need?" she asked.

"To sit down," I said.

I've spent the entire week thinking about the weekend. There was a mental element to the whole race that, to me, made it fundamentally different, and more difficult, than the 50 miler last year. However, I'm not quite sure how to put it into words. Physical endurance is necessary, of course, but I feel like there are mental elements that I confronted throughout the night and into the morning. I was never close to stopping (I think), but there were so many ups and downs as I was forced to confront and make decisions about my percieved (actual?) physical limitations. Are my muscles tired or do I just feel tired? Am I hurting or really hurt? How fast can I go without risking a potentially dangerous fall? What do I need to pay attention to (like where the trail goes) and what should I turn over to autopilot (like taking steps)? Why am I doing this anyway?

I'm not sure that I could have finished with the support of Holli and the many people who sent me email and wished me well the days before the race as I thought of them often. I confess though, the experience gets under your skin. In a complicated world, it almost feels purifying to spend a weekend with such a simple goal--keep moving forward.

Midland Daily News

2008-09-12T13:43:00.002-04:00

Here's an article from the Midland Daily News. I think Tony did a good job and hope this helps raise awareness about lupus!

Stretching the limits for lupus
By Tony Lascari

Race results are posted!

2008-09-11T20:49:00.002-04:00

I'm still processing the whole race and planning on writing a longer race report once I am done. The brief update would be that I feel about 80% recovered although it took a couple days for swelling in my left foot to go down (gosh I kicked a lot of rocks and roots that night). I was really sleepy for the first part of the week, but I had to hit work full speed on Tuesday so that certainly didn't help in terms of having a chance to rest. I can walk and traverse stairs just fine although I did a test jog down the driveway and don't anticipate any long runs in the next few days. Still, I don't feel much worse then after the 50 last year so that has me pretty happy. Well, it also has me wondering if I could have run just a little faster at the end of the race. More about that later.

My official times was 28 hours 16 minutes and 19 seconds. Awesome! I placed 17th out of the 27 finishers. 49 people attempted the run so there was a finishing rate of 55%. Props to Derrick Spafford who won the race in 18:42:02. Seriously, that was one hilly, rocky course and I can't even fathom how someone covered the ground that fast. I'm really happy with my time since the next closest person was a full two hours ahead of me--I might have shaved off some time here and there, but there is not way I could have made up two hours. Anyway, you can check out full race results here. I'll post a full race report soon.

Some photos from the race

2008-09-09T10:02:00.004-04:00

The morning of the race

Appropriately garbed

Cruising...

Heading for the finish after 28 hours and 19 minutes

I finally have a buckle! I'm wearing it to school today.

I'll post a more detailed race report later. Gotta get caught up on a whole lotta work stuff first. I do want to thank Holli, my friends and family, the race volunteers, those who have donated, my fellow Lupus Runners and everyone else who has contributed so much to help me make it to the finish line!

Run successful! 28 hours 19

2008-09-07T18:10:00.001-04:00

Run successful! 28 hours 19 minutes!

60 miles and all is

2008-09-06T18:44:00.001-04:00

60 miles and all is well. Brian is looking tired but strong. Very hilly.

Just back from the pre

2008-09-05T20:39:00.001-04:00

Just back from the pre race dinner. Not sure if this is going to the blog. Feeling ok. Pretty place to run.

Nine hours to start.

2008-09-05T20:35:00.001-04:00

Nine hours to start.

Even more news

2008-09-04T11:47:00.004-04:00

Hey, I guess I was already in the Midland Daily News. I haven't gotten a copy of the newspaper, but a colleague of mine says the article was pretty big. Click here to read it. I'm still scheduled for an interview on Tuesday so there should be some follow up too. Another colleague sent me a small clipping from the Bay City Times too. Cool.

I gotta head home and pack up the car so this will probably be my last nervous pre-race post (probably).

More news!

2008-09-03T14:47:00.002-04:00

Well, I think I have the cell phone to blog thing figured out, although it will still depend on 1) having cell phone service at the race and 2) having text messaging service at the race. We'll see how it works.

I just got a call from a reporter at the Midland Daily News who will be interviewing me on Tuesday. Also, a story about my run will be in the Valley Vanguard on Monday (thanks Mary!). Guess that is just more incentive to finish, eh? Make sure you are still asking people to donate at www.firstgiving.com/lupusrunners--we'll take donations after the race too!

Sandi, the race is in Haliburton Forest, which is 3 hours north of Toronto. Not as pretty as Calgary, but not as hilly either. :)

T-shirts are in!

2008-09-03T08:53:00.002-04:00

The official Lupus Runner T-shirts are done! I probably won't have time to send them off to those of you who ordered them before I head to Canada, but I will try and post some photos.

Almost race time

2008-09-02T12:47:00.002-04:00

Well, I'm not sure I'm going to have time to post anything immediately before the run. Grammy is coming tomorrow to pick up little Elliott and Casey so they can have a weekend at her house. Holli and I are leaving, probably late afternoon on Thursday, to head into Canada. We'll stay in a hotel Thursday night before driving the rest of the way to Haliburton Forest where we'll camp Friday and Saturday night.

I'm definitely more nervous than the 50 miler last year. Going from a 35 mile training run to a 50 mile race feels much different than going from a 50 mile training run to a 100 mile race. I read the other day that the first 50 miles are physical and the second 50 miles are mental. We'll see if that is the case (actually, I'm not sure if that makes it better or worse). I've decided to think of the whole thing as simply 10 consecutive 10 mile runs. 10 mile runs have been the bread and butter of my training so that makes it feel much more manageable. How do I plan on running 100 miles? By thinking about the distance as a little as possible.

I've downloaded "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card to listen to during the race. I thought some classic science fiction would be engaging and not as dry as some of the nonfiction that I tend to listen to. During my night training run I listened to some horror short stories from www.pseudopod.org and I confess to having had one minor freaky moment just before 2 AM (Are there people standing in the middle of that sugar beet field? Can't be. It really looks like some people. Why are they standing there?). I'll probably throw on some podcasts and music similar to what I listened to on my last run (check this post and the follow up comments for my playlist.)

I also picked up a new pair of shoes. I went with some Brooks Adrenaline ASR 4. These are the trail version of the shoes that I've been running in. I've put a couple hours on them and they feel essentially the same, but with better traction. It feels a little risky to be sampling new shoes at this point, but since they are so similar and I could feel my last pair starting to break down (I can feel my knees get sore after I get 300 miles on a pair of shoes) so I thought it was a fair risk. This is, consequently, the first time I go into an ultra without some issue of blisters and/or ITB problems. That has me feeling optomisitic.

I'll probably have some extra food and drinks at drop bags and Holli is planning on being at aid stations with supplies and to hand over a flashlight, headlamp, and long sleeve shirt to me before it gets dark. I haven't used drop bags before and, honestly, making sure that everything is in the right place at the right time has taken some strategizing. I'm actually traveling relatively light with just a fanny pack that carries one bottle. I might bring the little video camera again as a video diary of the experience--I'm not sure. If you're curious about what I am bringing, a complete list is here.

Anyway, thanks in advance to all those who have supported me up until this point. Hopefully the T-shirts will be ready in the next couple days, but I still haven't heard from the company. A reporter from out student newspaper is coming to my office in a little bit so hopefully we'll have the chance to drum up some more donations. Holli is going to try and post updates from her cell phone, but it will depend on the reception up there. Wish me luck!

Purdue study on health communication

2008-08-29T18:41:00.002-04:00

I've been contacted by Justin Guild, a graduate research assistant working with Dr. Jeong-Nam Kim (http://www.cla.purdue.edu/communication/people/jnkim.shtml) at Purdue University on a health communication study. Their research explores how information sharing behavior through online communities influences coping strategies among people with chronic conditions including cancer, diabetes, lupus, etc.

They would like to invite readers and other visitors to this blog to participate. The survey is purely academic in nature and takes no longer than 5-7 minutes to complete.

The web survey can be found by clicking on this link:

http://www.createsurvey.com/c/70237-Os3LDl/

In the survey, we use the term “blog” to refer to any online activity where you might read or share information in communities such as personal web logs, internet forums, and discussion boards. The findings of this study could lead to better management capacities of chronic diseases as well as an increase in funding for research related to online communities.

If you have any questions, or would like additional information, please don’t hesitate to contact Justin at jguild@purdue.edu.

In the news

2008-08-28T20:08:00.002-04:00

I sent out a slew of press releases a couple days ago. No responses so far, except for our NBC station, channel 25. You can check out the story here: http://www.nbc25online.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=181481. Someone already commented too!

On a side note, here's a conversation I had with a colleague today.

Colleague: How's the running going?
Me: Good, I'm getting ready to do 100 miles in, let's see, 9 days.
Colleague: Oh, are you training for a marathon.
Me: Uh, well, it's an ultramarathon.
Colleague: Wait, you're going to run 100 miles in one day? I thought you were running like 100 miles over 9 days. Didn't some local guy just die doing a marathon? Isn't that like 24 miles?

Training for ultramarathons has really given me a distorted sense of distance. :)

T-shirts are ordered!

2008-08-25T20:23:00.002-04:00

I stopped by the print shop today and placed the order for our shirts. I ordered a few extra if anyone out there is still interested. I decided to get the logo printed on the back because I'm so fast that I figure more people will see it that way. Just kidding--I figured that since most people wear their race numbers on the front of their shirts it just made sense. I placed the order a bit within their "10 business day window" so they might not be ready before my race (uh, am I really running 100 miles in less than 10 business days?). However, they should be ready in plenty of time for me to ship them out before everyone else's races. Keep up the great work getting donations!

Welcome to Melissa and Nate!

2008-08-25T20:19:00.003-04:00

There are now six of us raising money for the Lupus Foundation of America this year. I would like to welcome Melissa and Nate to our group. Nate is preparing for his first 50 miler this year and will also be running Detroit with Mae. Melissa recently suffered the loss of her mother-in-law to Lupus and will be running the Columbus Marathon in her honor. Melissa, our thoughts go out to you and your family. As of today, here's the official list of Lupus Runners.

Brian Thomas, who is running the Haliburton Forest 100 mile run on September 6th.
(http://www.lupusrunner.org)
Yassine Diboun, who is running the Iroquois Trail 100 mile run on September 20th.
(http://runforyourlife-yassine.blogspot.com/)
Bill Burress, who is running the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 8th.
(http://www.lupusrunners.org)
Mae K. M., who is running the Detroit Free-Press Half Marathon, October 19th.
Nate Luzon, who is running the Detroit Free-Press Half Marathon, October 19th.
(http://www.nateluzod.com/running/)
Melissa Kandel, who is running the Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon, October 19.

T-shirts are coming

2008-08-20T20:51:00.004-04:00

Nate and Mae tracked down some beautiful artwork by Sidney Eileen and she is willing to let us use it as part of our logo! Thank you so much Sidney! It is a picture of a wolf and lupus is Latin for wolf. I like the image because, in addition to just being a cool wolf running, I think it is assertive without being aggressive. I think this is an appropriate testament to the perseverance of people with lupus.

Nate put his graphic design skills to work and, among other changes, made the logo purple since this is the color that the Lupus Foundation of America uses to represent itself. Voala! Excellent work Nate! I'm so jealous of people with artistic skills.

Anyway, t-shirts are on their way. If you want one, let me know your size ASAP. I'll let people have them for what they cost to be printed (should be $9 or $10 each). I want to print them before my race so I'll likely be finalizing the first round of printing with the shop soon. Oh yeah, these will be technical t-shirts appropriate for running in.

Taper, finally

2008-08-18T12:08:00.003-04:00

First of all, I would like to congratulate Alyn and Matthew who got married this weekend! It was a great ceremony and I wish you both the best in the future.

I would also like to congratulate Sandi and Andre, who got married earlier this summer, but held a reception for their North American friends and family over the weekend. I'm sure it was a great time and I wish I could have been there.

Okay, now to the running. I did, in fact, follow through with my commitment to get a final 50 mile run in last week. After chickening out of an all-night run on Tuesday night, I headed out the door at 4:00 PM on Wednesday with a goal of testing my race equipment and completing a confidence building 50 mile training run. Just short of 2:00 AM, I walked through the door of my house with the full training run under my belt.

I decided to simulate the race by doing approximately 10 out and back runs near my house. Since the race has aid stations about every 5 miles, I thought that made sense. I decided to keep my liquid/nutrition regime pretty simple with constant Gatorade and alternating between a package of Sharkies and protein energy bars consumed every hour or so. I polished off the regime with a few Starbucks doubleshots. I also took electrolyte caps every 30 minutes to 1 hour. I had some minor bouts of nausea, but nothing severe and I think I may have been eating a little too much as it went away after I stopped eating so much.

Here are some highlights:
-My 3 led headlamp was comfortable and provided ample illumination, even in unlit areas. With my hand held flashlight I should be okay on the trails.
-I set the timer on my watch to go off every 10 minutes so that I could walk one minute (I got this idea off of Dirt Dawg at the North Country Trail Run). After mile 30 or so this turned into two minute walks. I liked this strategy as it meant I didn't have to keep track of how long I had been running and it reminded me to eat and drink regularly. I might start with a 10 run/2 walk pace at the start to keep things slow for the race.
-Running at night is tough, but largely mental. Miles 20-30 seemed to fly by even though it was getting dark. Miles 30-40 were pretty discouraging and the idea of covering 100 miles (or even 50) felt a little far fetched. However, somewhere around mile 43 I reminded myself that my body felt pretty good (albeit with some definite aches and pains) and I was just mentally exhausted. Apparently, I was pretty convincing to myself and cruised through the final miles in a relatively good mood.

Well, planning for the school year is kicking off and I still have projects from the summer to close out. Sounds like a good time to taper off the running and ramp up the work life.

One more thing. I was up until 2:00 AM running last week. If I can do that, you can bring in some more donations! So get going all of you!

What? Less than one month!?!?

2008-08-11T14:07:00.002-04:00

Well, I go back and forth between feeling really prepared and feeling totally overwhelmed by the idea of running 100 miles. I was surfing Kevin Sayers' UltRunR Web Site and I think my long runs should have me more prepared than many people on their first 100 attempt (at least those hoping to finish). On the other hand, I noticed that the 2007 completion rate at Haliburton was only 51%. Ug. I dunno. Let's assume a worst case scenario. I run the first 50 miles in 10 hours (not unreasonable since that is a little slower than I ran the North Country Trail Run). If I completely fall apart, I'll really only need to crawl along at 24 minutes/mile for the remaining 50 miles to finish under the 30 hour cut off.

I think that running through the night causes me the greatest anxiety. I won't have time to check out the course before the race so I'll have to cover some unfamiliar territory in the dark. The race is two out-and-back 50 mile runs so I'll have gone through once during the day, but I still expect to slow down significantly at night. This week, I'm going to do a final 50 mile run--this time at night so that I can test my equipment and get a taste of what an all night run is like. We'll see how wasted I am at work the next morning--should be interesting.

Anyway, Holli and I are already starting to plan out the logistics (i.e. when will she see me on the course, when are we leaving for the race, when will we be ready to make the 8 hour drive back home, etc.) After my long run this week, I'll officially call it taper time.

Now we just need more donations! So if you haven't donated yet, get to it!

Welcome to Mae!

2008-08-06T16:10:00.006-04:00

First of all, I would like to welcome Mae K. M., who has joined the ranks of the Lupus Runners and is helping us raise money for the Lupus Foundation of America while training for the Detroit Free-Press Half Marathon, October 19th. Thanks to her efforts, we are now past $2,000! That should be motivation to all of you readers out there who either haven't donated or haven't asked at least one friend or family member to donate. Go now! Seriously. Stop reading. Go donate or ask someone new to donate. I'll wait here.

...

Okay, now that you have fulfilled your duty as a regular reader of my blog, I would like to encourage you to check out Mae's blog at www.maeko.org. This is her first half-marathon and we're all rooting for her!

I've had another hit and miss week. I went from 71 miles during the marathon week to 39 miles. That isn't great, but I'll take it. Since I was too late to register for the Wild West 100k, I'm planning one last 50 mile training run before I start tapering. Little Elliott is going to be at Grandma camp the week of the 11th, so I think I'll do my last long run that week. I've had some anxiety about night running so I think I might make this last run an all-nighter to make sure I'm up to the task. Classes are starting soon (not to mention the fact that the race is coming up soon) so I need to get those final long runs in while I can.

Featured on the Lupus Foundation of America's blog

2008-07-30T20:18:00.002-04:00

I almost forgot to mention that I was featured on the Lupus Foundation of America's blog. You can check out the article here. Don't forget that I'm doing this for a reason. If you haven't donated yet, donate now! If you've already donated, go out there and ask someone else to donate!

Carrollton Marathon Report 2008

2008-07-30T18:56:00.004-04:00

I couldn't be happier with how things went on Sunday. It really did help bolster my confidence that this whole 100 mile thing is possible. While I don't know if it was a good idea, I thought I would test out this sleep deprivation thing by watching TV until midnight before waking up around 4:00 AM to make it to Carrollton for the 5:00 AM early bird start time. Since the race consists of 8 1/2 loops, I positioned a cooler full of iced down Gatorade, energy bars, and a couple coffee/energy drinks next to a tree by the start. I spent the first 10 miles or so running with a couple ultramaratoners and a well-traveled marathoner. As one of them had run Haliburtan Forest in the past, it was great to get a first hand report of the race. On the downside, apparently Haliburtan is a pretty tough course. On the upside, it is apparently a very well managed event.

As the sun rose, it began to warm up and I was glad that I did the early bird start this year. It didn't get as bad as last year and I think the Eunduralyte tablets that I have switched to are superior to the Thermotabs I took last year. Or maybe I'm just in better shape this time around. In either case, the run was pleasantly uneventful. Since I knew I was planning on doing 40 miles, I tried to keep a relatively slow pace. I took electrolyte tablets every hour for the first 25 miles or so and then every half an hour after that. I sipped Gatorade regularly from a hand bottle, at a bite of energy bar every 3-6 miles, and drank a 16 ounce Rockstar Coffee Mocha energy drink at 26.2 miles (no Starbucks Doubleshots at the gas station that morning :( ). My fame preceded me and one person asked me if I was the guy in the marathon poster.

With all that I cruised across the finish line for the marathon around 4:15--much faster than last year. It was great to hear Elliott screaming "Daddy!" from Holli's arms just across the finish line. They hurried over from home to see me finish!

After taking a break for about 20 minutes to snap some photos, have a rest, and spend some time with the family, I asked the race managers if they minded if I stayed on the course for a bit more of a run. In retrospect, I should have been more specific as I'm not sure they realized I was planning on running another 14 miles. I relied on my own stash of Gatorade as it didn't seem fair for me to use more than my fair share of race resources. Several times people asked me if it was my final lap. Sometimes I explained I was going a bit farther and sometimes I just nodded my head.

Final time for 40 miles (excluding my 20 minute break) was 6:30 for an average pace of 9:50. Shockingly, that is actually faster than my average pace on the last two months--even including my short runs. Maybe my training plan is working out.

I moved a little slow the rest of the day and took the elevator at work on Monday. On Tuesday, my quads felt a little tight so I tried a rolling pin (yes, as in baking supplies) on them that night and that worked wonders after about 15 minutes. I spent about an hour and 40 minutes on a stepper this afternoon and feel 100%. The fact that I have recovered so quickly has me feeling really optimistic. Unfortunately, registration for the 100k I was planning to run next weekend is closed. I figure I'll still put in at least one more long run of 50 or 60 miles and then call it time to taper. Less than 40 days to race time!

New shoes!

2008-07-24T09:16:00.004-04:00

I had a meeting in Bay City yesterday, so I stopped on my way home and picked up a new pair of running shoes at the local running store. After going through three pairs of Brooks Adrenaline GTS 7 shoes I decided to go wild and bought a pair of Brooks Adrenaline GTS 8. Crazy, eh? The desire to try something new always flairs up amongst the racks of pretty new running shoes, but I haven't had any knee problems with these shoes so I'm not going to switch now. I do like the new colors though.

On the subject of shoes, I highly recommend the Crocs Scutes for after a run. Nice squishy insole and openness to let tired feet breath. Elliott gave me some for Father's Day and they even say "Dad" in jibbitz. Don't know what a jibbitz is? They are the little decorations on Crocs (I had to look it up too).

Good week, bad week

2008-07-21T13:45:00.002-04:00

My once a week blogging schedule has fallen a bit to the wayside. Unfortunately, my running has similarly been irregular. Two weeks ago was one of my best weeks to date. I put in a total of 70 miles that week with a long run of 35 miles. I couldn't quite stick to my plan of waking up at 4:00 AM for my long run, but I was out the door at 5:00 AM and did enjoy another sunrise on the road. The weather warmed up quickly so I stopped at a gas station for a Starbucks Doubleshot, a small bag of potato chips, and a Gatorade refill. I believe that, over my 6 and a half hour run, I consumed about 100 ounces of Gatorade, 2 Doubleshots, most of a small bag of regular potato chips, and 2 energy bars. The run was pleasantly uneventful with no blisters, pulls, strains, or inflammation and I felt pretty well recovered the next day, although I was mentally a bit burned out on running.

Unfortunately, that mental burnout, a busy schedule, and some interstate travel left me with less than 30 miles on the books last week. I guess I'll just chalk it up to a recovery week. Next weekend is the Carrolton Marathon, which I'm thinking about adding 14 miles onto so that I can get a good 40 mile training run in. No excuses this week!

<60 days to 100 miles

2008-07-09T20:33:00.002-04:00

First of all, I would like to thank everyone who has donated so far! We've just started and, as of this posting, we already have raised $1,170! That's great!

Training has been going pretty well. Feeling inspired by officially starting the fundraising, I pulled myself out of bed at 5:00 AM and ran 30 miles. The weather was pleasantly cool and it was one of the best runs that I have had in a long time. While I don't tend to think of myself as a morning person, it was worth it to watch the sun rise. This topped off a 55 mile week that I feel pretty solid about.

I was on schedule until last weekend when travel prevented me from getting my long run in over the weekend. Still, I had this strange 11 mile run on Thursday that had me doing about 6 miles at 7:00 to 7:30 minute miles (with one breaks in between). That isn't bad for someone who tends to average 9-10 minute miles. It was just one of those runs when it felt good to go fast. I should note that I wasn't pushing the ole' jogging stroller so that may have made a difference too. In the end, I only put in 30 miles last week. I'll just chalk it up to a recovery week and look forward to shooting for a 35 mile long run this weekend. I might try and drag myself out of bed at 4:00 Am to help prepare for the sleep deprivation of the race.

On a side note, be sure to check out the blog of Yassine Diboun, my fellow fundraising ultrarunner. He's also running a 100 miler this year and has done some great fundraising for the Lupus Foundation. By the way he cruised through a recent 50 miler, he is more than ready for his race. I'll be happy to just finish mine. :)

Finally, an update!

2008-06-26T20:57:00.002-04:00

Well, my training has been going well even if I have been remiss in my blogging. I've had 45 to 55 mile weeks for the last month including three 20 mile long runs and one 25 mile long run. I'm scheduled for a 30 mile long run this week so I'm pretty much right on schedule. The heat is getting a little intense, but I'm generally happy with the schedule I've set out. It's still a little hit and miss. Yesterday, Elliott was particularly sleepy so my 10 mile run turned into a 14 mile run. Today, the little guy didn't feel like napping and decided he wanted to go home after only two miles (it was really hot out so I didn't fight it). Still, its evening out for the most part. Importantly, my knee is doing fine and, other than being slowed down by the heat, I'm feeling pretty solid.

Okay, I'd like to officially announce that we are taking donations. If you have been paying attention to this blog, you've noticed the "Donate here!" box to the right. It's time to ante up. Most of you know that I, along with a very dedicated group of family and friends, raised $5,000 for the Lupus Foundation of America as part of my 50 mile run last year. Well, they didn't cure lupus so we gotta do it again. I'm willing to up the ante and run 100 miles this time around. It's time for you all to step up too and donate. We going to raise $10,000 this time. Really. We raised $5,000 last year and I know that we can do it again. We're going to do it slightly differently too. I've been contacted by several people who either know someone with lupus or have lupus themselves and are runners. We've decided to join together to raise money as part of a group we are calling the Lupus Runners.

Do you want to help? Enter your email address in the box to the top right. That makes you a Lupus Runner too. Sign up for a race, a walk, a stroll, or anything. Call your friends, family, co-workers, hell suck it up and call people you don't like, and ask them to donate to here: http://www.firstgiving.com/lupusrunners. All the money goes to fight a disease that afflicts around 2 million Americans. 90% of people with lupus are women and it disproportionately impacts Asian and African-American populations. This is a problem that too few people know about. I do take it personally as my mother-in-law has lupus and that puts both my wife and son at increased risk to develop it in the future.

Yassine Diboun has stepped up and is a Lupus Runner from New York who will be running a 100 mile run in 2008. Bill Buress is a Lupus Runner running his first marathon in 2008. We're all raising money here http://www.firstgiving.com/lupusrunners to further the cause. We need your help to reach our goal.

P.S. We already have 31 people who have joined our group of Lupus Runners on Facebook. Spread the word to everyone that you know!

Carrollton Marathon

2008-06-12T19:35:00.004-04:00

So, I was looking up the races I was planning on doing this summer to make sure they fit into everything else going on in life and decided to do the Carrollton Marathon again. It is a small, but very friendly, race only a few miles from SVSU. I remembered it was in July so I looked up their website to put the exact date into my calendar. As I'm checking out the date and time of the race, I notice that the guy pictured wore the same kind of knee brace I used last year. Gosh, and he carried a water bottle too. Really, it took me about 5 minutes to realize that I'm the one in pictured there. I don't really look like I'm at the top of my game in the photo. That grimace is likely from the iliotibial band inflammation that bothered me so much in 2007 and led to a less than spectacular finishing time at Carrollton last year. No problems yet this year so keep your fingers crossed!

Long Run New Orleans

2008-06-11T20:09:00.006-04:00

Thanks to the advice of some fellow runners in New Orleans I found a scenic, but safe, route for my long run on Saturday. I was initially nervous running down the "neutral lane" which is the route for the trolley cars and, well, I didn't know if it was okay to cruise along between their rails. It just looks like I'm going to get hit. However, they move relatively slowly, stop frequently, and after I saw several people running the same route I realized I was neither risking being run down nor impeding the flow of New Orlean's mass transit system.

Most of my run took me through the Garden District, which had many old oak trees lining the streets and some beautiful old homes. I did a loop through Audubon Park and circled back to my hotel along a route that took me along the river and through a hip looking area on Magazine Street. It was a great way to see the city and I feel like I got to see a good cross section of a very interesting place.

I did complete my goal of 40 miles in New Orleans with a 20 mile run on Saturday and a 6 mile run on Friday. Saturday was HOT. I mean HOT. I nearly emptied my 70 ounce hydration pack, before stopping at a Walgreen's for 20 additional ounces of Gatorade and a Starbucks espresso doubleshot (I love those things). I also confirmed that Thermotabs (salt tablets) really can stop heat related nausea and, by mile 17 or so, was strongly regretting skipping the ice cone stand at the Audubon Park. While I felt a little flaky at the end of the run, the heat didn't really bother me as much as I thought it would (I didn't really discover salt tablets until the end of last summer) so I'm looking forward to a good summer of training.

Also, lest I forget to mention food. The fine folks who organized the Agriculture, Food, and Human Values Conference came through with a very tasty "Seafood Extravaganza" held at the Mardi Gras Museum, which helped me to recover nicely from my long run.

New Orleans, round two

2008-06-05T21:49:00.006-04:00

First, thanks to Bruce and don q for the suggested routes. That has to be one of the fastest responses I've ever had on my blog! I'll definitely head down St. Charles tomorrow. I'm going to post some pictures from my run today, but before that I wanted to post this video from the New Orlean Ladder blog.

Much of my academic life has involved studying the relationship among poverty, space, and food. The damaging economic stratification of society and the myth of the American Dream is readily apparent in cities like New Orleans. The same patterns are evident in Detroit, where low-income populations are trapped in houses filled with lead pipes. Unfortunately, New Orleans stands out as a particularly poignant example because the devastation of poverty typically creeps while Katrina highlighted social inequity with rapid destruction (although the government's response to either manifestation of poverty appears much the same). It's been strange to jog by college students getting drunk at bars and then to, so clearly, cross a line into neighborhoods where the devastation of Katrina has not been repaired because, well, only poor people live there. Okay, that's my rant.

As you can see, around the French Quarter there is some significant redevelopment going on and some high end condos just down the road from abandon buildings. But how much quality housing is available that people can afford?

Whoops, I got so caught up ranting about the state of society I forgot to give you a mileage update. I did 8.5 miles today and found the very nice Riverwalk (more pictures later). I stopped and picked up some crawfish etouffee on the way home. If I move somewhere just for the food, this place is high on my list.

40 miles in New Orleans

2008-06-04T21:22:00.002-04:00

Okay, I haven't run 40 miles yet, but I plan on getting 40 miles in before I head back home early Sunday morning. I just got back from my first 6 miles a few minute ago. I'm staying a hotel right next to the French Quarter so I decided to circle in and around that historic area for my first run. Of course, I forgot my GPS and got a tiny bit lost, but I like to think of it as an opportunity to spontaneously follow the flow of the city.

I took off around 7 and was back a little after 8. Here are my impressions:

1) Running in New Orleans (at least the French Quarter) is difficult. The streets are narrow and relatively crowded.
2) People here don't run. People here do drink. A lot. There are plenty of bars, package liquor stores, and people strolling around with open containers. They look at you funny when you run by wearing a hydration pack.
3) The French Quarter is cool. Among the restaurants, bars, live music, art galleries, people out strolling, people hanging out in balconies, and general liveliness of the area I am reminded of why the Saginaw area feels a little stale at times. Before my run I had jambalaya at a place called Mother's. Very yummy. I look forward to trying the crawfish etouffee.
4) The remnants of Katrina are still very visible. You don't have to get far from the French Quarter to see houses that were damaged (I assume) by the storm. I also saw several of the markings that were spray painted on houses when they were evacuated.

My rough plan is to do a couple of 7 miles runs in the next two days and then get a 20 mile long run in on Saturday. It will be a tight squeeze since the conference I am at will keep me busy most of the day, but I'm feeling determined. I'm also going to look up some potential running routes on the internet to see if I can find a route that involves fewer crowds. I'll keep ya'll posted.

Time for a plan

2008-05-30T12:25:00.005-04:00

Okay, enough lamenting the amount of work I have to do and the lack of running that I've been doing. Time is running short. If I'm going to even make an attempt at a 100 miler this year, I need to make a plan and to stick with it. As before, my goal is to avoid getting injured and to train to finish. I'm putting in more miles/week then I was at this time when preparing for the 50 so I don't think it is too late to start getting serious. The problem is that I just haven't been putting in a regular pattern of long runs. So here it is:

I know, it kind of violates the old 10% rule, but I think if I avoid hills and update my shoes regularly, I think it will be okay. My plan is to max out my long runs with the Wild West 100k race in Lowell, MI. After a week of recovery, I'll try another 50 mile run on my own. I might do this as a regular 50 mile run, or a set of back to back 25 milers with one at night. I want to work a couple night runs in so that I can get acclimated to running while sleepy as I hear this is one of the differences in moving from a 50 to a 100. So there it is. Hopefully, having my training schedule out there will help me stick to it.

On a fundraising note, I'm still planning on posting a link for donations. I just haven't had time to get everything arranged and, I'm afraid, the way my summer is going I'm going to scale back my fundraising goals significantly. More later.

Run commute report

2008-05-13T15:45:00.003-04:00

Well, my run to work went through without a hitch. I was out the door at 7:30 with a small backpack full of extra clothes. The rain that was previously predicted held off and the morning weather was pleasantly cool the entire way. I did pack everything into zip-lock bags so I wasn't worried about the possibility of rain, but all things being equal I prefer to be dry.

I arrived about an hour and twenty minutes later and covered 8.5 miles as planned. A quick change and I was ready for my first meeting of the morning. The run itself was interesting since it provided me with a different perspective of a route a drive on such a regular basis. It is interesting how much stuff you miss while driving a car--such as the amount of trash and roadkill there is on a given country road. Traffic was a little heavier then I prefer; however, commuters were relatively accommodating and moved as far out of my way as was safely possible. I had to do a bit of running on the uneven part of the shoulder so it was sometimes hard to get a good rhythm going at times, but perhaps that is good training for trail running. It does cut into the work day as I had to leave earlier than I usually would in order to make it home at a reasonable time. If I keep this up on a regular basis, which I think I will, I'm going to look into renting a locker over at our sports center so I don't have to carry so much stuff with me.

I did opt not to run in today as previously planned. I had an unanticipated meeting out at the greenhouses this morning and, while I like to run, adding an extra 4 miles in the middle of a 17 mile day felt a bit excessive. It does give you an new appreciation for distance and I figure I must have saved around $3 in gas at current prices. I spent my savings on a piece of pizza for lunch.

Anyway, if any of you out there live close enough to work to give it a try, I recommend the experience. Even if it isn't something that you do on a regular basis, I think it gives you a good perspective on the meaning of distance in a fast moving automotive society. Rather coincidentally, I found out yesterday afternoon that my commute timed with Bike-to-Work Week.

Run commute, take two

2008-05-11T15:20:00.002-04:00

I turned in my grades last week and have the summer to focus on research and running. It seems to me that it is time to give the old run-commute another shot. Two weeks ago I had a solid 50 mile week and, while I only put in about 30 miles last week, I think I'm ready to try something a little more ambitious. So here's the plan. It's 8.5 miles from my house to my office. Tomorrow, I have a meeting at 10 so my plan is to leave here around 7 or 7:30. That should put me at work and cleaned up well before 10. Then, back home by 5 for a 17 mile day. The only down side is that it is supposed to rain tomorrow morning. I've run in the rain plenty of times and my laptop is currently at school so I think it should be okay.

If that goes well, I might try the same process again on Tuesday (Denise is in town so I'm working on Tuesday also). I haven't had time for a decent long run in the past couple weeks, but back to back 17 milers should be a good way of kicking off the summer!

Speedwork, me?

2008-05-05T07:59:00.005-04:00

I
On Saturday, Holli, Elliott, and I packed a picnic and headed to SVSU to enjoy some sun and for me to run a 5k put on by the TKE fraternity. The last time I ran a 5k was right after Elliott was born and it was put on by the Hispanic Student Organization on campus. I'm hoping that eventually there will be enough support that there will be an annual 5k on campus since it is a nice chance to get together with other runners. While they still have some details to work out (e.g. better signs to the start/finish would have saved us from walking all over campus and arriving minutes before the start), the course was well marked and everything was run pretty smoothly. I think there were only around 40 people running.

Now, as regular readers know, I rarely run short distances and I forgot my GPS so I started out with the first wave of runners with some trepidation that I was going too fast. After about 5 minutes I looked around and there was only one person in front of me. I have clearly started out too fast, I thought. After about 13 minutes, someone finally did pass me, but the three of us were at least a minute ahead of the next runner. So I finished 3rd overall and 1st in my age group (over 25) with a final time of 21:13. Now, I realize that all the cross country and track runners were noticeably absent, but that's my first overall placement that didn't involve 15 people ahead of me getting lost on the track (seriously, that happened last 5k at SVSU). I was awarded the fine trophy, pictured above, which has a pleasant 70s-ish look that really compliments our mantle.

Almost summer vacation!

2008-04-27T16:31:00.004-04:00

Well, I was on a streak of 3 solid weeks of 35-45 miles each, including two 20-22 mile runs and a few 15+ mile runs. It was a good, and even somewhat adventurous three weeks too! I helped a father and daughter who had car trouble outside of Freeland. I saw a turkey vulture nest from about 50 feet away. Then, a rash of end of the semester meetings, family changes, organizing an Earth Day event for nearly 200 people, a garage sale, and other events conspired to keep me indoors all this week. I like to think of it as an unplanned rest week. That isn't unreasonable either as next week is finals week and then I am out for the summer.

Okay, I have three different research projects going, but I can, more or less, set my own hours, which means getting out on the road will be much easier. Also, since I won't be teaching, I think a running commute is possible with fewer logistic complications (e.g. if I run too slow, I won't have 30 students sitting around wondering where I am). So, I'm really looking forward to classes being over and continuing the streak I was on earlier.

I haven't mentioned this before, but I'm also well on my way to earning a little (and I do mean little) cash for all this running. Our university is sponsoring a program, which rewards employees for healthy activities, including exercising. We get 5 points for every 30 minutes of exercise. If you get 1,000 points by the end of the year you get a $150 gift certificate. Moreover, whoever has the most points at the end of the year, wins $1,000! I'm already at 700 and haven't really put in any heavy training miles yet!

Of course, if you quit smoking you get 500 points just for that... We shall see how the rest of the year goes. Anyway, hopefully I'll have time to blog more once the semester is done.

I would like to congratulate Dave, Lauren, and Yassine who all pulled down some excellent times at Boston. Lauren even appeared in a Columbus newspaper!

Also, congratulations to Toni who completed the London Marathon while raising money for aid dogs. I'm glad to hear that you accomplished your goals running and fundraising!

The ultrarunning culture

2008-04-09T10:17:00.005-04:00

I will be glad when this semester is over. Only about one more month.

First of all, good luck to Dave and Lauren, who will be running in Boston. That's a great accomplishment.

Also, good luck to Toni who will be running the London Marathon soon. She's done a great job raising money for assistance dogs. You can check out her blog and donate money to this excellent cause here.

So, I use "running culture" as an example in classes sometimes and it makes me wonder about running identities. I read the other day in Ultrarunning magazine that just over 1,800 people completed 100 mile runs last year. That is approximately 0.000006 of the US population. I find this fascinating because the sense I have is that the ultrarunning community really likes to exist as a fringe activity (i.e. something that not many people do). This isn't to say that running 100 miles requires more or less dedication or training then fast marathoners or even those preparing for their first marathon. In fact, someone on the ultrarunning listserve noted that many 100 mile runners don't run much more than 40 miles per week so I'm not sure it is fair to say that the training is more rigorous or difficult (note that people who run 40 miles/week aren't the ones who win ultramarathons--just complete). So, while some argue that people are driven to the "challenge," I think this overlooks the very subjective nature of challenges.

I certainly enjoy the exotic nature of the sub-sport and like the fringe identity. Importantly, I think this fringe character and small number of participants has created a different culture. There is an emphasis on challenging oneself, rather than challenging other people--you see this in race reports that emphasize completion rates, rather than first, second, and third places. Everyone who finishes the race (or in some cases finishes under 24 hours) gets a medal (or belt buckle). There are fascinating variations, such as the Plain 100, whose rules are simple: You receive nothing from anyone. Water comes from streams or lakes. Despite my fascination with gadgets, there is an elegant simplicity to that which I appreciate. Consider also that everyone who runs an ultramarathon has their name appear in the same magazine. Sure, winners are noted and such athletes are and should be admired. Still, everyone is in there.

The number of people who completed 100 mile run increased in 2007 and I expect will increase in 2008. While I look forward to helping those numbers increase, I do wonder as to how this will change the character of the sport.

Scott Sigler

2008-04-01T15:15:00.002-04:00

Hey, on a side note, Scott Sigler, the author who helped publicize my run last year released his first hardback novel, Infected, today. Mine arrived in the mail and it is pretty slick. I listened to the novel when he first podcast it and will probably bring it to read on the way to Cuba. You can get it on Amazon.com or pick it up in Barnes and Nobles stores around the country. For more information go to www.scottsigler.com or www.infectednovel.com.

Read the book to find out why the shirt I wore last year referenced chicken scissors. You might not want to know the answer.

Just an update

2008-04-01T15:09:00.004-04:00

Well, my blogging has definitely taken second chair to other aspects of my life lately. I can't complain though. I just got back from a weekend with family and friends celebrating Elliott's birthday. We were at Pokagon State Park in northern Indiana and I kept telling myself that I would sneak away for part of the weekend to hit some trails. However, we discovered that Elliott really likes to swim and I couldn't pass on splashing around the pool with him. It was a great time and thanks to everyone who was there.

My running has been hit and miss too. I've had a couple 40+ weeks interchanged with 30+ weeks. I'd really like a solid string of 50 milers to make me feel like I haven't lost too much endurance over the winter, but really haven't had the time. I did get through a solid 13.5 mile run today in the middle of a wind advisory (I love Elliott's jogging stroller, but aerodynamic it isn't) so I think I'm still in reasonable running condition.

Fundraising efforts have actually not fallen to the wayside. I've been in contact with a few other runners who are interested in raising money to support lupus research this year. I don't want to give any details yet, but we are cooking up something interesting. I'll keep ya'll updated.

Run commute postponed

2008-03-19T20:56:00.002-04:00

Well, the bad news is that I had to postpone my first run commute to SVSU. I forgot that I had to present awards to students at our annual sociology conference. The conference ran until 8 and I knew I wouldn't feel like getting home any later then that. Congratulations to Nick, who was in the first class I taught at SVSU and won the Graduating Sociology Student of the Year. He is off to the Peace Corp and, I am sure, great things after that.

On a side note, I've secured funding for a research trip to Cuba in May! Yup, I get to spend 10 days studying their agricultural system and cool things like worm composting. I love my job and, yes, since it is my job it is even legal.

Run commute

2008-03-15T19:47:00.004-04:00

The weather has been above freezing. Work hasn't been too demanding. Consequently, I finally had a decent running week more reminiscent of last summer than the relatively lax schedule of the past couple of months. It was even well into the 40s on Friday--spring really is around the corner, which has given me some new motivation. I noticed several new faces out running around our neighborhood this weekend. Where were all of you this winter? :)

So, here's my resolution. I'm running to and from work this Wednesday. It's a little over 8 miles each way, I don't have any particularly early or late meetings, and there is even a shower at the recreation center that I can use. It seems that all the pieces are in place. I actually did this a few times back when I was living in East Lansing. I alternated between running one way and biking the other way. If you have time and the opportunity it is a nice way to get your running in and to decompress from a day at work. If things go well, perhaps this will become a regular occurrence. Right now, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and most Fridays are good running days thanks to an evening teach schedule and a 2 year old (almost) who prefers 2 hour naps in his jogging stroller to sleeping in his crib. Mondays and Wednesdays my schedule is hindered by this thing called work. If I could slip in a 16 mile run on one of those days, I would be a really solid base to start training for the 100 miler once summer comes.

If you are interested in running to work, here's some information on it.

On a complete side note, Sandi I got your wedding invitation and Holli and I agreed that it was one of the coolest invitations that we have ever seen.

No running content

2008-03-05T20:31:00.003-05:00

This doesn't have to do with running or lupus, but it is cool. I'm currently blogging from my latest gadget. It's an Asus eee 4G. I've had it for a little over 24 hours and it is the coolest thing that I've picked up in a while. I bought it to replace my aging PDA and to help me manage all the various work related projects I have going on. It works way better than I expected. It is about as fast as my 2 year old laptop, with the exception that this little guy boots in about 30 seconds. The screen quality is very good and it has excellent WiFi reception. I've been keeping more and more of my life online from teaching documents to the Google calendar I share with Holli so it is nice to have an easy way to access everything. Weighing in at around 2 pounds, I can take it to meetings and take notes without having to haul out a slow-booting and, at times, socially awkward 15 inch laptop. It has me convinced of what I have long suspected--that Linux is far superior to Windows. The only real downside I've found so far is that the small keyboard takes getting used to.

Anyway, it is too small to serve as a desktop replacement and there are programs I use for research which will keep me inevitably tied to a Windows machine. However, it should allow me to leave my laptop at work most of the time. And, notably, since it only weighs 2 pounds and utilizes solid state memory (i.e. very durable) I'm seriously considering how it would be to start running to the university this summer when I'm only doing research and not teaching.

Note, I have no financial interest in Asus, but I am a gadget geek. :) If I only can figure out how to hook up my Forerunner...

That's it, I'm picking a race

2008-03-04T16:24:00.003-05:00

Okay, enough putting things off. I'm going to try and run the Haliburton Forest 100 mile race on September 6th of this year. I said that I would decide in March--so there it is, I've decided. The timing of the race is nearly spot on, it's relatively nearby, and, well, it doesn't have many hills.

Honestly, I'm a little nervous about having time to commit to both running and fundraising. It's likely I will be out of the country at least once this year and traveling to conferences at other times. I also don't want to ask too much of all those who were so generous last year. However, I keep getting emails from people who have lupus so I feel that I have some momentum in terms of support. Besides, and perhaps most importantly, my son Elliott will only take naps for me if I am pushing him in something with wheels. And his jogging stroller is way more comfortable than a shopping cart. :)

Now if only we would stop having all these snow and ice storms...

Taking a break

2008-02-12T21:58:00.003-05:00

Well, here we are amidst another snowstorm. Not much news to share since the snow and low temperatures (can you say -25 degree windchill?) have kept me on my little stepper machine more than outside. I did devise a way to watch TV, instant message, surf, and use the stepper at the same time today. That really seems like an unhealthy amount of multitasking. Hey, Elliott was taking a nap so you do what you can with those moments.

I've decided to take the month of February off from blogging. There is some interesting stuff going on at work that is keeping me busy and I'm starting to get burned out on winter so I haven't been all that motivated. So why push it? Here's my plan. First, any running I do during February will be fun and not associated with any training plan. Second, I won't keep close track of any of it. Third, by the end of the month I will have picked a 100 mile race for this year. See ya'll in March.

Oh, one more thing. There was an update to the Paint Creek 50k results. I got bumped to 4th, but that's cool. Congrats to everyone who ran!

              1. Tim Collins = 5h 11m
              2. Mike Dobies = 5h 21m
              3. Craig Mulhinch = 5h 28m
              4. Brian Thomas = 6h 01m

Paint Creek 25k/50k Results

2008-02-01T08:05:00.000-05:00

Hey, maybe a few inches of snow works to my advantage.  I placed third in the 50k!  Check out the results below:

             15 Ran the 25K
             13 Ran the 50K

    *25K: 1. Jack Hund = 2h 35m
              2. Lisa Taylor = 2h 42m
              3. Ron Dober = 2h 42m
              4. Harold Curley = 2h 43m
              5. Jim Zittel = 2h 44m
              6. Tony Mattar = 2h 48m
              7. Gabriel Kohn = 2h 55m
              8. Frank Jobe = 3h 07m
              9. Emiko Tawarada = 3h 20m
            10. Bruce Geffen = 3h 20m
            11. Tim Looney = 3h 20m
            12. Michael Swaney = 3h 20m
            13. Wayne Hanlon = Finished
            14. Walt Storrs = Finished
            15. Al Durham = Finished
                                (No Time Sent In)

    *50K:
              1. Traildog = 5h 21m
              2. Craig Mulhinch = 5h 28m
              3. Brian Thomas = 6h 01m
              4. Ultratrailman = 6h 08m
              5. Angie Failla = 6h 12m
              6. David Ostafinski = 6h 25m
              7. Marit Janse = 6h 35m
              8. Bill Fuchs = 6h 35m
              9. Tony Mazur = 6h 48m
            10. Bruce Purdy = 7h 08m
            11. Jim Chiado = 7h 08m
            12. Dick West = 7h 19m
            13. Dan Dewey = 7h 39m

Paint Creek 50k

2008-01-27T09:15:00.000-05:00

It was a great run yesterday. The weather was cold, but there wasn't any wind so it was rather pleasant. In fact, the gentle snow made it rather picturesque. The race was very laid back. Starting time depended on, well, when you wanted to start and you were responsible for tracking your own time. Finisher awards were passed out ahead of time from a cardboard box on a nearby park bench. They were tins of cookies--can't complain about that! The only aid station consisted of a card table halfway through the out and back. No one crewed it, but it was well stocked and the potato chips really hit the spot during the second loop.

The route involved a couple of significant hills appropriate for walking. The majority of the run was either along a rail trail or through some tree-lined, country-ish suburban roads. We saw several multi-million dollar homes including, according to someone I was running with, one owned by a high up Flagstar bank executive. Funny, they own my house too. The other people on the run were very friendly and had the pleasure of running and chatting with Eric, Trixie, Brian, and Mauro much of the time. Trixie made the lottery for the Western States 100 mile this year--cool. In true competitive fashion, we all stopped whenever anyone needed to tie their shoelace or slipped on the ice.

My one adventure involved saving a very cold short-haired terrier who almost got hit by a couple cars. Deftly avoiding being urinated on by the anxious canine, I picked him up and took him to the nearest house. He had a collar, but no tags. The women who answered the door was a little nervous about bringing a stray dog into a house with some small children, but was sympathetic to my explanation that I was in the middle of a race and might have trouble carrying the little guy for the next four miles. So finally she took him inside with the plan to call animal control. He was shivering pretty badly at that point so I'm glad he found a warm place for the time being.

Many runners, including the group I was with, decided to call it quits after one loop (25k) so I turned on the old mp3 player and got caught up on the latest Scott Sigler novel. The rail trail sections were partially packed down, but you still had to trudge through some pretty deep snow so it was slow going. Still, I felt pretty solid the entire run. With a steady supply of Gatoraide, energy bars, and the occasional Starbucks Espresso double-shot (a new favorite of mine), I never "hit the wall." I did feel a little nauseous about 2/3 of the way through, but that was quickly fixed with a salt tablet and a few handfuls of potato chips. My final time was 6:01:48.

Thanks again to Dan and everyone else who put the run on. I look forward to running it next year.

All ready for tomorrow...

2008-01-25T21:46:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm all set for the Paint Creek 50k tomorrow. I haven't done much running in the past week--more due to the frigid temperatures than anything else. Elliott stays pretty warm when he's all bundled up, but I'm not really comfortable taking him out in weather in the low 20s or upper teens.

Last weekend I picked up this mini stepper thing at Meijer for $50. It's sort of like this, but a different brand. It actually works pretty darn well for its price. I've put about 3 hours on it and other than adding a little WD40 to cut down on some squeaks, it has been quiet and solid. Now, while I do work up a sweat it doesn't provide the same workout as a treadmill or a real stairmaster. Still, I'm cheap and the price fits my budget. It's quiet so I can crank out an hour or two at night after the little guy has fallen asleep. Finally, it's small so I can keep it in the living room and I don't have to make my way all the way to the basement to workout (ironically, I am that lazy). Anyway, it certainly doesn't replace running, but its a nice way to conveniently get time on my feet when that old Michigan winter isn't toddler friendly.

Anyway, wish me luck tomorrow and I'll post a report soon.

Another race to consider

2008-01-20T13:26:00.000-05:00

I didn't look closely at the Canadian races (sorry ya'll up north!). Here's one close to Algonquin Provincial Park that's about 8 hours from home. I can't add it to the poll since people have already voted so I'm just posting a new poll. Sorry to those of you who have already voted. Thanks for the comments so far!

Haliburton Forest, September 6-7.

I need to pick a race

2008-01-16T12:24:00.000-05:00

I had a pretty good running week last week, but the winter weather and lack of a specific goal have been feeling a bit ambivalent about running. I need to pick a 100 mile race for 2008 and sign up for it. The problem is that I am having trouble deciding. My criteria are influenced by 1) the limited number of races, 2) the need for it to be either just before or soon after school starts at the end of August, and 3) potentially limited time and funds for travel. Also, I want one that isn't at such a high elevation or involving so many hills that my likelihood of finishing is ridiculously low. Here are my possibilities, in no particular order:

Superior Sawtooth, Gooseberry Falls State Park, MN (September 7-8)

Burning River, Cleveland, OH (August 2-3)

Lean Horse, Hot Springs, SD (August 23-24)

Iroquois Trail, Buttermilk Falls State Park, NY (September 20-21)

After reviewing www.run100s.com those seem like the best possibilities while avoiding flying to California, being ready in two weeks, cooking in mid-summer the heat and humidity, and buying a stairmaster. I'm going to post a poll on the right. Let me know what you think!

Next on the racing agenda

2008-01-12T18:10:00.000-05:00

I switched shoes and my knee is doing much better even after a couple 10 mile runs this week. I'm running in a pair of North Face Amp trail shoes, which have been my backup/alternate shoes for the past year. They are a bit firmer than the Brooks Adrenaline that I usually run in. That works well on trails, but I prefer the Brooks for road running so I'll probably pick up a new pair of those soon. The Brooks also have better cushioning. I really just picked up the North Face shoes because they were super cheap at the North Face outlet and I really wanted to try that cool looking wire ratcheting system that they have instead of laces. I do like the ratcheting system, but I don't like the overall feel of the shoes.

So, next on the racing agenda is another little informal race in SW Michigan. It's the Paint Creek 50k held at Rochester Park in Rochester. I heard about it from Tim Looney's email group. It's two 25k loops including both road and trail. I gather its a pretty informal event as it has no fees, no website, and registration consists of emailing the RD to let him know that you want to run. There is also a limit of 30 people. Just my style. The race is January 26th so look for a race report soon afterwards.

The year in review

2008-01-07T22:57:00.001-05:00

I didn't think about doing this until I was checking out Dirt Dawg's blog. Here's 2007 in review:

Total distance run: 1,152.22 miles
Total time spent running: 196 hours 17 minutes
Calories burned: 124,795

Continuing to use McDonalds Big Mac value meals as a metric, I burned the equivalent calories of 107 value meals. Theoretically, that means I could have eaten a value meal approximately every 3.4 days and burned it off running (not a good idea for a variety of reasons).

Now that's pretty cool. That's also an underestimate since I only started logging miles at the beginning of March. It also only includes runs that involved my GPS, since I'm a computer geek and too lazy to log miles manually. I highly recommend the logging software that I use, which is Sport Tracks. It has some functions that the Garmin software doesn't, such as satellite views, and best of all, it's free! I also find the interface more intuitive.

A cold day in Hell

2008-01-03T19:37:00.001-05:00

Okay, I stole that post title from Tim Looney's blog. It was witty so what the heck. Anyway, I hope that you are all had a good finish to 2007 and a good start to 2008. My little personal race on Sunday was a good time, although it represents my first DNF for an ultramarathon. Well, at least it would be a DNF if it were actually a race. I started my run at 7:30 leaving from the Silver Lake parking lot at Pinckney. The first loop of 18 miles went really smoothly, although it did give me a new appreciation for the spikes that my mother-in-law gave me a few days earlier. There was some very picturesque winter scenery; however, there was also a sheet of ice covering much of the trail. There were a few people out hiking and a couple of mountain bikers, but the trail was pretty peaceful and the snow added a pleasant softness to everything. I do miss running on trails. Unfortunately, my tendency to underestimates those Irish Hills continued and I began to feel the strain of the ups and downs by the second loop. On top of that, my ITB began to tighten up a little after 30 miles and as my walking increased and the idea of being well into the third loop after dark I decided to call it quits. Total miles covered: 36.

All in all, however, I'm not disappointed in my performance. I had no problems resupplying every 18 miles and stayed warm despite the winter weather. Injinji socks are awesome and well worth the praise that they have received in other reviews. Even with the irregular terrain, I didn't even have any hot spots. My little $10 headlamp I picked up at Dunhams worked great for the little that I used it in the morning and it has me looking forward to trying out some night running in 2008. If it weren't for the tension in my IT band, I think that I could have finished the run even if my time wouldn't have been great. Still, I think I made a good decision to stop since I had some trouble going up and down stairs for the next 24 hours. Two Advil and 48 hours later, however, I was nearly back to normal, which means my recovery time is where I would like it to be. I'm optimistic for a good 2008.

Hopefully I'll be there for the 2008 Hell Fat Ass. You can check out the results from the actual race here.

Fat Ass Cancelled, Long Live the Fat Ass

2007-12-29T10:20:00.000-05:00

Well, it looks like we got around 4 inches last night and the NOAA was recommending that people not travel so we decided not to drive down to Adrian until this morning. We might have been able to make it to Pinckney for the Fat Ass, but I'm not sure secondary dirt roads would be plowed early this morning and our little compact car is hardly a four-wheel drive monster. So, I swallowed my disappointment, gazed longingly at my neatly organized supplies, and opted not to participate in the run today. Good luck to everyone who made it down there as I'm sure the snow made it quite an adventure!

As a consolation, Holli suggested that I just run my own race tomorrow instead. So, early tomorrow morning I think I'm going to pack up and head to Silver Lake (the location of the run today) and just do the same thing as a solo event. We now have the biannual Brian Thomas marathon so why not the Brian Thomas Fat Ass 50 miler. I think I'll start a little earlier than the run today, perhaps around 8 AM, so if anyone out there wants to join me, drop me a post!

Non-running topic

2007-12-27T11:11:00.000-05:00

Want to know what's really going on in Pakistan? Jim Johnson, a colleague of mine, is currently in transit to Pakistan and has set up a blog to chronicle his journey. I encourage you all to check it out for a first hand account of what's taking place there.

www.warrevolutionandconflict.com

Happy Holidays!

2007-12-27T10:50:00.000-05:00

It's nice to finally have a break. Elliott's second Christmas was a ton of fun as he was much more aware of what was going on this year. He was clearly aware that there were a lot of new toys suddenly available to him! He kept tapping his feet doing the "happy feet dance" and waving his hands in the air with each new toy.

I got some cool running stuff including several pairs of socks (you know you are a running geek when you get excited about socks), some spikes for running on ice, gloves, and a hat with headphones. I'm really looking forward to trying the Injinji socks I received. They have toes and have been reviewed pretty well.

I'm pretty set for the Hell Fat Ass 50 mile run on Saturday. Pinkney has some hills that I'm probably not overly prepared for so I'm anticipating a much slower finish time than in September. It occurred to me yesterday that this will probably mean I will be finishing in the dark (the run starts at 9:00 AM). It's 2 and a 2/3 loops of the Potawatami trail in Pinckney Recreation Area, which tends to have pretty well groomed trails, so I'm not worried about getting lost. It'll be good practice for night running in the future. I'm going out this afternoon to pick up a headlamp. I'm looking forward to the run to have some time in the woods to myself to reflect on the year.

Brian Thomas Holiday Marathon #2

2007-12-17T08:18:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the semester winding down and a weekend visit from Grammy, I had a great 40 mile running week. Average pace was only 10:20/mile, but that was largely because I ran another personal marathon on Saturday. I ran the route unsupported and without stopping at home (except after mile 3 to drop off the dog) through weather that stayed in the mid-20s. I figured it would be good preparation for the Fat Ass at the end of the month. I tested out the Nathan HPL 020 2.0L Race Vest, which Dave and Lauren got me for graduation. I must say that it was way more comfortable than my other hydration packs (a Camelback and a Jansport) and the front pockets were a big plus. I filled the hydration pack with Gatorade and cut a couple Cliff bars into bite size chunks, which I kept in the front pockets. I had to keep the valve to the hydration pack inside my vest otherwise it kept freezing shut, but this wasn't a problem. Other then that the cold wasn't a significant problem; I think I much prefer it to the heat and humidity. I made the wise decision to put on a second pair of socks when I dropped off the dog and I still need to get a warmer pair of gloves, but everything went very smoothly. Total run time was 4:31. That's not my fastest time, but it had me confident I'm still holding on to enough conditioning for the Fat Ass 50 mile. If that goes well (and we'll see as the hills at Pinkney always cause me trouble), I'll feel set to pick out a 100 miler for 2008.

I just wish that Scott Sigler would put out chapters of his new novel more quickly as I keep running out of things to listen to on my runs!

Too cold, too busy

2007-12-06T12:30:00.000-05:00

I thought I'd update the blog, but I don't really have anything to say. It's been too cold and I've been too busy. Finals week is next week so things will let up soon.

On an exciting note, I will submit my dissertation to the graduate school tomorrow afternoon and will graduate tomorrow night! Holli, Denise, and Mike were kind enough to buy me my own set of academic robes for graduation and I look forward to having the opportunity to wear them. Thanks! The hat is my favorite.