OLD PUEBLO 50 MILE ENDURANCE RUN

TOMORROW!! Game on. Stay tuned...

http://www.oldpueblo50.com/

2010 Pemberton Trail 50 KM Trail Race

Sitting back at home watching the Vancouver Winter Olympics it's hard to think we ran a 50k this morning. Last night we camped out in the McDowell Mountains Park trying out the new tent. It had a ripped bag and one of the pole had a snapped shock cord. Nice. Anyway, we got it set-up and slept well until 5 a.m. when running people started arriving.

I ran the first 15 mile loop verry fast, averaging about 8 min/miles. I actually ran a few miles in 7 minutes and some in the high 6 minute miles. The second loop (same trail) was about 6 minutes slower due to sore quads and a bit of cramping.

I placed 11th overall, about 40 minutes behind the winners. A good effort and a personal record!

Preview of Pemberton Trail 50 km Run

These are pictures of last years event. Stay tuned for this weekends pics. I'm using this event as a long training run for the Old Pueblo 50 Mile Endurance Run on March 6. It's perfectly positioned as such and along with the 29 mile Tanque Verde Run with my running group in Tucson (Tucson Trail Runners), it provides a perfect run-up for the 50 miler. Long runs such as these prepares the body's endocrine system for this type of stress. There is no other way to do this than spend a long time out in the outdoors, moving. How bad of a deal is that? No so bad in my opinion.

The Pemberton Trail 50K is a wonderful race in the McDowell Mountains just a bit east of Scottsdale. It follows semi-flat trail for two loops around the park. Aid stations are right where you need them and the people staffing them are fantastic.

I finished this race in 5:30 something last year and this will be my second running of it since its beginning 10 years ago. Thanks Brian, for a fun race.

Tucson Marathon: Boston Qualified!

Feeling good after qualifying for Boston. The run was super. Thanks to Laurie for the good photos.

After 17 weeks of specific, desciplined (as far as you know) training, the goal has been reached.

In 2008, circa 3 months after finishing the Pacific Crest Trail, I ran my second marathon, this time in Tucson instead of Appleton, WI. Still being in good shape after the 2,700 trail, I ran a 3:19:ish marathon. The issue was 4 minutes. You see, the qualifying time for a 35-39 year old male is 3:15:00. Again, 4 minutes.

This time was to be different, and it was. I trained using Hal Higdon's Advanced II Marathon Plan. 17 weeks of solid, specific marathon training. It was fun, challenging and rewarding.

The group I found myself paired with was, by virtue of our desired finishing time, filled with strong runners and triathletes, at least two of which were previous Ironmen.

The crowd that started at about 10 runners finished with three at mile 25. At mile 26 I took off and left them behind to finish the race at 3:14:12. Goal acclomplished.

The next running events I plan on attending are Pemberton 50K, Old Pueblo 50 Mile, and triathlons are on the horizon.

Tucson Marathon and Half Marathon

Kirsten and I are finally running an event this weekend....The Tucson Marathon and Half Marathon. The Tucson event is one of the fastest marathons in the country with a total elevation drop of circa 2,200 feet. Although it is mostly downhill, there are some very hilly roller-coaster portions near mile 2 and again at 7.

I've just completed an 18 week training program and will try to qualify for Boston with a 3:14 finish. I'm not nervous, i never get nervous before races, because there is really nothing at stake. I've already won. How? I'm in great shape, lost 12 lbs, and feel great. However, it would be nice to visit Boston next year :) Oh yeah, did I mention I'm back down to my weight at the finish of the Pacific Crest Trail? How many thru-hikers can match that? 159 lbs.

This year the course has been slightly modified. They removed the out and back section on the Biosphere Road and added an out and back section in the town of Oracle, AZ. I drove up there last weekend for my final long run to check out the change hoping it would be flatter than the old Bioshpere Rd. Nope. From mile 5 it's a steep drop to mile 6.5 and then you have to climb steeply back out of the hole you just ran down. The steep downhill will help trash your quads more than last year and the steep climb out will be a mental challenge to those who are not ready for it. I generally run 7:30 minute miles for marathon pace, but on the climb out I was running 8:45 miles to keep from burning too much engery.

Here's my strategy. I think it's sound and worth reading if you are running this event:

Run the first 5 miles at or just slower than your race pace. It is roller coaster so you should be able to make up on the downhills what you loose on the ups. At mile 5, let gravity pull you down into the hole, but try and not go too fast because it's steep and you will trash your quads for later in the race. Make up some time if you can but be careful cuz you don't feel the pain yet but your quads will be screaming later when you need them most. You bottom out at around mile 6.5 and on the 2 mile climb out and back to the main road, plan on a slow grind to save energy. I'm planning on loosing around 2 minutes of time on this climb to conserve energy. Once back on the main road and mile 9, it's a long downhill cruise to mile 24. I plan on making up the 120 seconds 8 seconds per mile over that 15 mile downhill. Then cruise at goal race pace to the finish.

If you run this event, I wish you luck. Check back after Sunday for an update.

Adrian

Sedona, Mountain Man Tri and a little green guy

In an effort to catch up on our summer adventures, I have combined a trip to Sedona, a triathlon in Flagstaff and a visitor to our casita.

Adrian tore is ACL back in May in the last 10 minutes of soccer practice. That pretty much ended his soccer league career for the season.

He was unable to keep off his knee for long and within a few weeks had started excising again. He focused on swimming and biking and figured why not sign up for the Mountain Man Triathlon, which I had planned on participating in months before.

We headed up to Flagstaff for the weekend and stayed with our good friends Meghan and Craig -- also known as the Craigen.

The Olympic distance course started in the Lake Mary reservoir and the bike and run was along Lake Mary Road. The bike was hillier than expected, but I managed to shave about 15 minutes off my Wildflower bike time back in May.

Adrian kicked ass - especially on the run - and finished about 30 minutes before me. Adrian finished the 1,500-km swim, 25-mile bike, and 6-mile run in 2 hours 42 minutes. I finished in 3 hours 19 minutes.

After the tri, we left for Sedona. Here are some photos of Sedona and later when we returned home, this toad snuck his way into the house.

Hello, Old Friend

Damn. It's been awhile.

Life, as it always does, kept right on with its gifts and sneaky tricks. I just managed to avoid to jot it down these past few months.

Which brings me to today and the sudden inspiration to share.

I'm not going to try and catch you all up in one long-winded Faulkneresque blog post. But you can all look forward to some photos and snippets in the coming days.

In short, Adrian and I are still in Tucson. We haven't completely eradicated the travel and adventure bug from our hearts or minds. And that can make life in the "real world" semi-complicated and quite honestly, boring.

But we're survivors. To cope with the horrible conditions of having jobs, we've turned our attention to mini-adventures, namely races, hikes, climbing and a few jaunts out West.

There is still a little bit of vagabond in us - possibly to the chagrin of the parentals. We've settled in nicely to our 500-square-foot casita situated amongst the horse stalls and within view of the house I grew up in.

It sounds more primitive than it is. Unless you consider the parade of ants that have plagued us this summer or the gopher that somehow managed to chew through the ceiling at 3 a.m. last month. Ahhh. The wonders of duct tape.