Back of the pack

Action-packed weekend.

Started with a 20-miler Saturday morning. Met the Hawks at 7:30 am at the Clinton North Shore Trails, only to realize — I’d left my hydration pack at home! So I let the gang go ahead, while I retrieved the pack and did my miles solo.

Not a bad way to do a long run, however. Made 10 miles in just under 2 hours. Slowed considerably on the way back, finishing up in 4:16. Temps were mild. By 15 miles, I’d stripped down to short sleeves. Sun even came out for a little while.

Stopped for a couple bales of straw on the way home. Put it sown in the back yard to keep the dogs from tracking mud in the house. Only partly successful, because the warm temps make the dirt smell wonderful to Lambchop and makes her want to dig in it.

I understand a lot of gardeners around here are wrestling with the same issue about now.

We reported to Nick “Colo Hawk” Lang’s 28th birthday party that night 6-ish — my mission to make gin and tonics in celebration of Nick surviving this long. Went through a fifth of Brokers before the Big K and I retired, about 9-ish. Oldsters.

One of the big draws for the party was a public appearance by the lovely Liz “Spider Hawk” Smith and her brand-new son Felix “Little Hawk” Smith. Of course all the babes were gaga over the handsome little man. Poor guy was handed around to all for holding and picture taken.

Even some of the guys, including yours truly got to hold him. I was petrified, because Felix is so little, but must admit I enjoyed holding him, even though it worried me.

Also making a guest appearance — the son of Justin “GNT Hawk” and Sarah “Scoop Hawk” Henning. Little Nate, “Neo” Nate, I call him, is not yet two, but with big blue eyes and curly blonde hair is another good looking guy, like his handsome parents.

One of the highlights of my evening was a conversation with ultrarunner Lee Crane. Lee said very nice things about this here blog, which I won’t go into… I’ll just say I’ll be living on those comments for the next month, silver-tongued devil!

Lee is heading west for his first hundred-miler, in June — Western States. Once he buckles there, he’ll have to change the name of his great blog — “Rookie Ultrarunner.”

I doubt you can credibly claim rookie status with a Western States belt buckle in your closet, Lee.

Anyway the party was huge fun. I’ll let these pics tell the story.

My spouse "The Big K," gets a turn holding Felix "Little Hawk" Smith.

The lovely Liz “Spider Hawk” Smith, Mom of Felix.

The birthday boy’s two best gals, Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler, who made the party, and Roxie.

Kristi "Black Mamba Hawk" Mayo enters, joining her hub, noted ultrarunner, Rick.

A good attorney (James “Skull Hawk” Barker) can really make you feel secure.

Deb “Kettle Hawk” and Stuart “Ozark Trail Hawk” Johnson. Despite many ultrarunning accomplishments, still the nicest, most down-to earth folks you’ll ever meet.

“Cheers, Mommy!” Neo-Nate toasts Mom Sarah “Scoop Hawk” Henning.

Neo-Nate’s Dad Justin “GNT Hawk” Henning and Karen “Hawk Who Walks” Henry. GNT Hawk gave my GNTs a good review.

Birthday boy Nick and guests.

Darin “Lincoln Hawk” Schneidewind, top ultrarunner, and son Jarret.

Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler and buddy from the college days, Tanya.

Great party!

Surprisngly, Nick made it to our Hawk 50 meeting, to further plan for our May 22 Hawk 50-Mile & Marathon Trail Runs, though he declined the selection of beers I had in favor of soda pop.

Maybe he will live to see 29!

Also there — James “Skull Hawk” Barker, Christy “Hawk Mama” Craig, Coleen “Lil Big Hawk” Voeks, Karen “Hawk Who Walks” Henry, Sarah “Scoop Hawk” Henning, and Karen “Sassy Hawk” Collier. All doing some very nice work to make the Hawk 50 a really fun event.

The Hawks also got a good jumping-on by Lambchop in the backyard. Lambie was very excited to see everyone, and had trouble with the concept of “four on the floor.”

I tried to wear her out with a 4-mile jaunt on the trails this morning, with Keith “Lion Hawk” Dowell, and Spank the boxer, but with limited success. It was a lovely run at a relaxed pace. Temps in the 50s by the time we finished, and sunny. Muddy, in a few spots in the Muddy Mile, but on the way to drying out.

More later!

gary

Missed my workout today. Pesky work! Didn’t do anything when I got home either, except walk dogs.

Last night, the Chop and I did four miles at Clinton Lake. Went out two, then back on white. The trails were juicy! Started a little after 6:15 pm. Didn’t need my light till well after the halfway point.

No one else ran with us — everyone stayed in to watch the KU – K-State game — even Karen, who is definitely not a sports fan.

She watched it over at Dot and Norm’s, since we don’t have TV service. KU won, of course, to wrap up the Big 12.

Beautiful run, if muddy. Will probably go back out again tomorrow, since I’m off work, and since I did zero point zero today.

More later,

g

Took this shot 4 times, but still couldn’t get the top of Justin’s head in the pic. Too dark to see through the view finder. Should’ve shot it vertically. Sorry Justin! Front: Nick “Colo Hawk” Lang, Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler. (Back) Justin “GNT Hawk” Henning, Jim “Family Hawk” Beiter.

It really wasn’t that muddy. More wet. In some places the trail seemed to be doing a good imitation of the Wakarusa River. I guess it’s still well-frozen beneath the dirt, which is keeping all the melt water on the trails from soaking in, in the places where the trails can’t drain.

So we did lots of splashing on the Sandrats Trails by the Kansas River last night. Ran about five miles. Temps in the high 30s, not too bad for most, but extremely frigid in degrees G. Had a great time anyway, in my Gore-Tex shoes and cotton socks.

Today at lunch struggled through an hour on the elliptical. Legs felt tired and I wanted to quit early, but didn’t. Made 6 miles in 52:13, the remaining 7:47 in reverse. Level 16, rolling hills, hands free. Finished out the hour with 6.77 miles.

Also 55 push ups, 35 crunches, and my back exercises. Rockin’ K 50-Miler just a month away!

More later,

gary

Front (L to R) Debbie “Wheat Hawk” Webster, Nick “Colo Hawk” Lang, Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler, Coleen “Lil Big Hawk” Voeks, Margaret Hill. Middle row (L to R) Brad “Pastor Hawk” Bishop, Deb “Kettle Hawk” Johnson, Mary Ann “Squeaky Hawk” McIntyre, James “Skull Hawk” Barker, Sarah “Scoop Hawk” Henning. Back row (L to R) Levi “”Smilin’ Hawk” Bowles, Dave “Speed Hawk” Wakefield, Kristi “”Black Mamba Hawk” Mayo, Julie “Sunday Hawk” Toft, Stuart “Ozark Trail Hawk” Johnson.

Good turnout, 16 strong plus yours truly for the Hawks Saturday long run at 7:30 a.m. One other runner, John Knowles, from Topeka, also started with us but missed the group shot. When we went to retake, for some reason, the camera couldn’t focus. So I got this individual shot of John.

John Knowles, guest runner from Topeka, friend of Dave “Speed Hawk” Wakefield.

Cold start, low 20s, but sunny and pristine. Temps in the 40s yesterday melted some of the snow, and made for mud in places, but it all refroze overnight.

I took my camera with me and got a few shots, so will let the pics tell the story of our run. We did the “Sanders 15″ 15-mile course, though a few of us (not me) cut the last out-and-back mile to Sanders Mound.

That’s Kettle Hawk in the foreground, the only other Hawk I know of besides me to have an Ultimate Directions “Diablo” hydration pack. We call ourselves “The Diablos.”

Lil Big Hawk shows off some homemade vegan ultra trail food Scoop Hawk made. Humorous but disparaging remarks were made about the looks of the “nuggets,” but they are evidently tasty and nutritious.

So that was our run. I’ll just finish with a few shots of Lambchop I got yesterday afternoon while we were checking out the trail for this morning’s run. She’s about 9 months now. We got off the trail right at sunset.

More later,

gary

Took a little vacation from blogging. Almost 10 days. Easy to get out of the habit.

A lot of stuff has happened, too. Not like nothing going on.

A week ago Wednesday, the Nordic Track arrived. Started assembly Thursday after wrangling the massive thing downstairs into the basement where it now lives. Finished assembly Friday. You’re supposed to have two people, but the Big K was out of town, so I did it myself, using cusswords to make up for the missing assistant.

Karen has been doing regular walking workouts on the treadmill, and I did my first hour on it this past Tuesday. Got 7.97 miles on it in 60 minutes, with inclines increasing up to level 5.

Got in a nice 15er with Pixie Hawk and Pastor Hawk last Saturday on the Clinton Lake North Shore Trails. We were ready for serious mud, but the trails were pretty runnable.

Hit all my workouts this past week, elliptical Monday, home treadmill Tuesday, trails with Lambchop Wednesday, elliptical Thursday, and day off today. 15er with the Hawks tomorrow morning.

Yesterday was my first full hour on the elliptical since November. Been taking it easy since finishing Ozark Trail first weekend in November. Have to get back in shape now, though, with Rockin’ K approaching.

Served on a jury, Tuesday, which was interesting. Misdemeanor battery. The defendant was clearly guilty, and no one on the jury had a second thought about the verdict.

E-mailed the Hawks about our annual members meeting. Sent the e-mail twice, on Sunday and again on Monday, but haven’t gotten any replies, so I have to guess everyone’s ok with the March 28 date. Also no replies or comments about my plans to step down from president of the Hawks, which I put in the e-mail also. So hopefully everyone’s ok with that, and someone has plans to step up to replace me!

More later!

gary

Another elliptical workout. At lunch. Got 5.33 miles in 45 minutes. Hit target of 4.5 miles in 37:57. Level 16, rolling hills program, hands free. Last 7:03 minutes in reverse.

52 push ups, 35 crunches. Don’t like the way the crunches make my lower back feel.

Got word today that out Nordic track Treadmill, the A2750, will arrive sometime tomorrow. Now I can still get a workout in even when the mercury dips below 60 degrees.

First challenge will be lugging the heavy base downstairs, then assembling the thing. Might not get it done tomorrow, since it’s trail running night with Hawks and Lambie.

More later.

gary

Too cold for Gar to run outside in the Beginners Run tonight, though I think Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler made it. Stud.

Didn’t escape the chilly night altogether, though. Had to walk Lambchop after dinner. Wasn’t that cold, but wind made it unpleasant. I prefer pleasant.

Dinner was good. Karen made homemade pizza with black olives and artichokes and other delicious toppings.

Since I didn’t do the Beginners Run, I did 45 minutes on the elliptical trainer after work. Got 5.15 miles. Made my target 4.5 miles in 38:42, and did the rest in reverse. Rolling hills, level 16, and hands free.

Also got push ups. Moved up to 52, and 35 crunches. Remembered to drink my protein drink when I got home.

More later!

gary

Front (L to R) Nick "Colo Hawk" Lang, Deb "Kettle Hawk" Johnson, Sarah "Scoop Hawk" Henning. Back (L to R) Coleen "Lil Big Hawk" Voeks, Levi "Smilin’; Hawk" Bowles, Stuart "Ozark Trail Hawk" Johnson.

Great Saturday long run with the Hawks this morning. Did a 15-mile course Nick “Colo Hawk” Lang thought of, and which may become a race one ‘o these days — the Sanders 15. So named because it ends with a visit to Saunders Mound, a hill overlooking Clinton Lake.

Met 7:30 am at the Corps of Engineers trail head for the North Shore trails at Clinton Lake. Chilly, dreary, about 30 degrees, overcast. Went out at a relaxed pace on white, blabbing and laughing, and the weather didn’t matter.

Trail was well-frozen at first, but as the temps crept up — 36 degrees by the time we finished — the mud got stickier. Had a great time though. This crew, Nick, Coleen, Deb, Stuart, Levi and Sarah are definitely in it for the laughs as well as the miles.

The Sanders 15 was my longest run since the Ozark Trail 100 last November. Vacation over. Time now to ramp up for the Rockin’ K 50-mile trail run April 2.

I just checked the Rockin’ K webpage and found that race entry has closed, but not to worry if you didn’t get in. The Hawk 50 Mile & Marathon Trail Runs has just opened. May 22 on the Lawrence Trail Hawks’ beloved Clinton Lake North Shore trails.

Register online or by snail mail!

More later,

gary

Lambchop and I headed for the Clinton Lake North Shore Trails last night for the Trail hawks regular Wednesday nighter — only to find that all the regulars were still recovering from Rocky Raccoon 100 or 50 milers in Texas, or the White Rock 50K in Arkansas. So the Chop and I flew solo.

Started with the last shreds of daylight fading out. Gorgeous starry night settled in before we’d gone half a mile. Trail was in good shape — the mud was frozen, and what snow there was, was packed hard. Temps in the 20s, but no wind, so I warmed up quick and never did chill.

Lambie followed close behind, but got impatient with my slow pace and jumped out in front. But I think she might have got a little worried about the dark woods stretching out before her, because she stopped, then fell back in behind me. She’s only about eight months, and not entirely fearless yet!

Lambchop ponders the darkness. Maybe better to follow her "Dad" after all?

We went out on white about two and a quarter miles, then came back. We stayed so nice and clean on the frozen white trail, I didn’t want to take a chance on the mud pits of the blue trail, even though they were probably well-frozen, too.

It was a wonderful run, and I was sorry to finish.

This evening, after work, I caught 45 minutes on the elliptical trainer in the company exercise room. Hit my target 4.5 miles in 39:04. Did the remaining 5:56 in reverse and finished up with 5.11 miles total. Rolling hills program, Level 16.

Also, 50 push ups, 35 crunches, and my protein drink when I got home.

Did I mention that we now have online sign up for the Hawk 50 Mile & Marathon Trail Runs? I want to add a photo or two to the Hawk 50 web page before posting the link there. Will do this weekend. Along with about a thousand other things!

More later!

Gary

Been taking it easy and slacking off somewhat since finishing Ozark Trail 100 first weekend in November, but now it’s time to get back on track.

Starting again. Thirty minutes on the elliptical at lunch. Reached 3 miles in 26:18. Finished out the last 3:42 in reverse. Level 16, rolling hills. Felt pretty good, mostly. First workout in about 10 days, thanks to having to work World of Concrete in Vegas last week, and frigid weather last night.

Also did 50 push ups and 35 crunches.

Drank my protein drink when I got home. Long way to go to get into 50-mile shape for Rockin K, April 3rd.

Treadmill, NordicTrack a2550 Pro, we discovered is going to be late being shipped. When Karen called to ask about it, they told her it was because they are almost out of the things. So she agreed to a free upgrade to the a2750 Pro, which is similar, but more features (and higher price), and an be here middle of next week.

That should help with workouts during the horrible cold, which I hate. I don’t mind treadmill work, like many. I’ll just put on a movie. It also has a nice Ipod station for music.

More later!

gary