Back of the pack

Elliptical at lunch today. Skipped running yesterday. Legs still a little tired from the 30 miler Friday night and Saturday morning, so it was a slow 6 miles in 53:24, level 16, rolling hills today. Felt like saying the hell with it a couple times, but I kept myself going by thinking about Gabe Bevan and Rick Mayo battling to one-day finishes at Western States this past weekend, and Willie Lambert, fighting it out to within 6.5 miles of the finish for all of the pain and none of the glory.

I’m going to write a story about DNFing one of these days — a subject I’m well-acquainted with personally — and that will be the title: “All the pain and none of the glory.”

Don’t know when Gabe, Rick and Willie are going to update their blogs — “No regrets” – Gabe, “Mile 90″ – Rick, and “Running the Range” – Willie — links to each of which are on my “Blogs I like by people I know” page — but when they do put their stories down, it ought to be some hot reading.

Anyway, finished out my 60 minutes on the elliptical going in reverse as usual, and finished with, I kid you not, 6.66 miles — the mileage of the beast!

Along with my beast miles, I also did 60 push ups, and 35 crunches, all hard. And I did my back exercises, butt lifts and leg extensions.

So, 52 days to Leadville. Less than 2 weeks to the 40-miler at Lunar Trek, for which I’m signed up. Great fun race, highly recommended. Click here for photos from last year’s 40 miler.

More later!

gary

Was stunned this evening to learn that Jim “Family Hawk” Beiter blacked out at the wheel of his minivan on the way home from our 11 pm – 5:30 am 30-miler this morning.

He got away with some fractured ribs and mild case of whiplash. Sounds like the vehicle was totaled. When consciousness faded, it went off road, through bushes, and smacked up against a concrete abutment at a bank. Jim was just a few blocks from home — almost made it!

Came to pretty quick and called spouse Sandy, aka “Crafty Hawk.” AAA tow truck came out, police too — they gave him a sobriety test, oy. Sandy got him to the emergency room, where besides the injuries, they found he was severely dehydrated. That, despite consuming 4 liters of water during the run. In hindsight, Jim said he should’ve stayed at the finish with the rest of us for a little while, eating and drinking.

Live and learn — especially live.

We started off about 11:15 pm Friday night, from the zero-mile marker on the levee. Beautiful starry night, low 80s, high humidity. Along with the Hawks, Robert Bauman, a friend of Julie’s from her work, was along on his mountain bike, as a sort of pacer/crew.

Jim led at about a 10-minute pace. We ran 18 minutes, walked two. The pace was stiff for me, for the distance, but the walk breaks kept things in perspective. We broke into groups, now and then, usually Levi and Jim way out in front, but also ran together quite a bit. I kept the 18-and-2 time on my watch pretty close.

The night seemed almost magical with a lot fireflies blinking all around us.

At the levee’s end, we were stopped for several minutes as a train went by, slowly, creaking and groaning in one direction — then it stopped and reversed course and went the other way. We greeted this maneuver with cries of disgust and scorn. But at last the train was gone, and we left the levee for hilly Alexander Road.

Up and down the hills we went, no thought of walking them, still feeling good. Lot of big gravel beat up the feet of those wearing road shoes (not me). We turned left after about two miles, onto 238th Street, still dirt road, and headed for another hilly mile to the turnaround where 238th meets Golden Road.

I’ve long thought this was 7.5 miles from the zero mile marker, but Jim’s Garmin pegged it at 8.

We headed back. The gang continued to keep a stiff pace. I let them go ahead on Alexander Road, while doing a good 5-miles-per-hour, which is what I like for 30-miles on dirt and gravel. It didn’t matter — another train had them stopped at the levee, so I caught them there. We trotted on in the 4.75 miles from the tracks back to where we started, to refill hydration packs and eat, before heading out again.

Going to my truck, I found that the camper shell key I’d carried had somehow managed to escape my pocket. Managed to get in anyway. Went in through the rear sliding window in the cab, and got the shell open from the inside.

Shared some watermelon pieces and Cherry Coke that I’d brought. Soon we were on our way again. Julie, and Robert were already out, Julie walking. My watch had clouded from the humidity, and I couldn’t read it well enough to keep the 18-2 time, so Jim took over that chore. As usual, though, Levi and Jim worked each other into a fast pace, and put a little distance between themselves and Debbie and me.

Eventually, we all caught up to Julie and Robert, and proceeded together for awhile.

By the time we were midway through our second traverse of Alexander Road, everyone but me was complaining of stomach cramps. At 238th Street, with just 22.88 miles behind us, we headed back for the last lap. The gang was definitely slowing down at this point. I still felt pretty good, though, and dashed ahead several time to get some pics.

Jim (L) and Levi, leading the run.

Julie, about 24 miles into the run.

Debbie and Levi, about 24 miles into the run.

By around 4 or so, we felt a little worn, and walked a few of the Alexander Road hills as we headed back. Julie attacked one by herself, running right up it. Soon we were back on the levee for the last leg. We decided to change the walk-run ratio to 8 and 2, with a bout 3 miles left.

We did this last section much as we did the whole run — together for awhile, and in groups, though Levi and Jim led the whole way. With first light showing in the east, we got back to the zero mile marker. Levi and Jim got in around 5:15, and the rest of us about 5 minutes or so after.

We all sat around on the bench, looking at the river, which was high after recent rains. We ate and drank as the day came up. Jim was in a hurry to get home. He wanted to get a shower and some sleep, so he didn’t hang around with us. In hindsight, a mistake. None of us thought anything of it, though, since Jim looked in good shape, and had run strong the whole night.

Done! (L to R) Debbie, Levi, Julie, Robert.

We hung out and drank water, and ate watermelon pieces, and watched the light come up. I swatted a horsefly that was diving bombing us.

It was a good run, though an unfortunate aftermath. I feel a little like I should have insisted Jim stay for a little while, though I know that’s probably not realistic. I think we’ll probably all be more careful about letting people go right away after long runs without eating and drinking first.

55 days to Leadville — they’re running Western States right now — Gabe Bevans, Rick Mayo, and Willie Lambert, who’s taking a shot at the Grand Slam. Last I heard, they were all doing great!

More later,

gary

Storm cruised in on us last night, letting Coleen “Lil Big Hawk” Voeks and Jim “Family Hawk”Beiter and me get a quick 7 in on the Clinton North Shore Trails.

Instead of our usual start at the Corps of Engineers trailhead, we started from the Swim Beach trailhead. It was Coleen’s idea to avoid the muddy mile. After three consecutive days of high 90s heat, the muddy mile was still a shoe-sucking morass.

Runner role call: Coleen "Lil Big Hawk Voeks and Jim "Family Hawk" Beiter smile for the camera as the storm nears.

Trails out Swim Beach way were mostly dry, but beginning to choke on poison ivy and other plant life. We stopped about three times to move big fallen timber off the trail where it looked like it could impale someone.

The three of us headed east, me leading until I made a wrong turn, then Jim led. Doh! Our plan was to go from the Swim Beach trail head at about 9.65 miles to the 5 mile marker on white, and return. It was windy, and the heavy cloud cover made the evening prematurely dark. And the wind, whistling through the dark woods made all sorts of eerie, whistling, creaking, groaning and moaning forest talk.

Despite my vow from last week to bring a headlamp, I forgot. So when we got to Lands End, about 3.5 miles in, we decided to head back as the day was dim and geting dimmer. Within a half mile, it grew noticeably darker, so we were glad we made that decision. Along the way, we blabbed about hundreds, pacing and crewing, since Coleen and I are running Leadville in August, and Jim and I are signed up for Heartland in October.

Jim asked Coleen if she would join Levi “Smilin’ Hawk” Bowles in pacing him at Heartland, and she agreed. I have a pacer set for Leadville — local Twin Laker, ultra-runner and semi-retired cop, Mark Allen. But I’m going to attempt Heartland without a pacer. Never have completed a hundred without a pacer, so it’ll be a first!

We got back to the parking lot as the first drops of the storm fell. Jim clocked us at an hour 15 for the approximately 7 miles. We blabbed a little more in the parking lot, while pulling off ticks, then hopped in the vehicles and headed out. As I drove out of the park, minutes later, lightning was flashing, thunder rumbling, wind shooting along, and rain accelerating. Our timing had been el perfecto.

Got 3.21 miles in 30 minutes on the elliptical at work today. Level 16, rolling hills. Made 3 in 26 minutes, 57 seconds. Felt strong. Did the short workout because of tomorrow night’s 30-miler on the levee and hilly back roads. Got my 60 pushups, and did the good little boy back exercises. Also started crunches again — did 35.

First week without massage therapy. All done, back better, but I miss Marnie. Will try to get back for a rubdown before Leadville. I know it will help.

Speaking of which — 57 days. Hard to believe.

More later!

gary

IMHO, Tuesday is the toughest day of the week — much worse than Monday. Monday — you’re starting out all bright, shiny and rested from the weekend, and full of high hopes about what you’re going to accomplish that week.

But by Tuesday, Monday has beaten the crap out of you — and you still have four days to go. Or four laps to go, in runner terms. So Tuesday is always tough.

It’s not made any better by the fact that I have a difficult, recurring meeting in the middle of the day, smack dab when I usually do my run or elliptical. Pesky job!

So Tuesdays now are an after-work workout day. That means there has to be fueling in the late afternoon to get me through — fueling which I forgot to accomplish today. So went into the exercise room for 6 on the elliptical, only to realize I would soon be running — or ellipticalling– on empty.

Managed to struggle through 3 miles in 28:01, and finish 30 minutes at 3.2. Thank goodness for water and salt, at least. Also got 60 push ups, and my back exercises, like a good boy.

Think I will go back to crunches soon.

Have developed a small red swollen patch of poison-ivy skin on the underside of my left forearm from the small stint of trail maintenance I did Sunday.

Glad Tuesday’s over!

59 days to Leadville.

More later,

gary

I love heat.

I’m not saying I’m good at it. But I love heat and blue sky so much more than the stingy, miserly gray cold which seeks to steal away the little heat I manage to generate.

So when I heard summer coming in today with hot blue skies and temps in the high 90s, I eagerly awaited my lunchtime run. By lunch time, we were mid 90s. Alas, I thought I could do 6 miles on the hills and grass in the East Hills Business Park with just the water in my stomach, and one E-cap.

Wrong.

Sun on skin felt wonderful, but I wasn’t sweating. No, I was leaking! I was pumping, squirting, spraying. It was as if a giant hand of heat had clenched me like a sponge and squeezed. Got through the first 1.5 mile lap ok, but slow — right at 10-minutes-a-mile. By the time I hit 2.5, I could tell I was overheating, so I called it a run at 3 miles — in 31 minutes.

Went up to 60 push ups, btw, and did my back exercises like a good little boy.

Back in the AC, with another E-cap in me, and plenty of water, and a nice cool shower, I felt better. Still I was sad that it was just the first day of the week and already I was three miles behind — with Leadville just 60 days away!

Driving home under the hot blue skies, Monica Nightengale (sp?) our local NPR announcer said it was 97 degrees, heat index 108. I knew immediately I had to get me some of that!

Got home and changed and met the spouse coming in the driveway as I headed out the door. She looked at me like I was crazy when I told her I was going to the levee for a quick 6 while it was still hot. This time I had a 16 oz. water bottle crammed with ice water, and two Karl King S-caps.

Got started a little after 6:30. Sun still blazing. Felt every bit of 97. I loved it. Went out at a relaxed pace, about 10-minutes per, on the gravel levee beside the mighty Kaw. The river was high, dirty brown, and roaring after the recent rains that turned our Clinton Lake North Shore Trails into a swampy morass. No wind.

Hit the water bottle several times on the way to the three-mile marker. By mile 2.5, what had been a nearly frozen bottle of ice water was tepid. As Sarah Stanley says, it was a sweatfest!

Got to three in 30 minutes almost exactly, took a salt cap and a big slug of water, and walked a little. Started up running, but the heat was getting to me, and I felt tired all through. Walked again at 2.5 for two minutes, and again for two minutes at each half-mile marker or a little beyond. Finished the water with a mile to go.

Ran most of the last mile, and even pumped it for the last quarter or so. Love the heat, but love being done, too!

Everyone thinks I’m crazy for going running when it’s hell-hot. I do love it, but I have a rational reason for it, too. I got a lot of hell-heat miles on the levee in ’06, in June and July training for Leadville, and got pretty acclimated, eventually. When I got to Leadville, and it was so cool — cold even — and dry, it was like chains were off.

And I finished.

I’ve seen the opposite happen, too. People come here from Colorado — they have the high-altitude advantage — but the heat and humidity here kills them.

I can’t do anything about elevation here. All I can do is train with the weapons I’ve got. And as I look at the forecast for the next week or so, it appears I’ll have plenty to work with.

Good thing too — 60 days to Leadville!

More later,

gary

P.S. Saw the new Lawrence Trail Hawks logo today. As Renee “Super Duper Hawk Babin” would say — it’s super duper!

Got up at the profoundly uncivilized time of 3 a.m., for a 4:15 a.m. start on the Clinton Lake north shore trails this morning. Had to start early so I could get my 20 in before taking Cubby Bear to the vet at 11:30 a.m., for a hot spot.

Trails are still juicy, soupy in places. The muddy mile is particularly bad, and the going was slow in the dark. Did an 8-mile out-and back to meet the Trail Hawks at 6:15. Took the requisite parking lot pic, but somehow it didn’t show up on my card when I checked it just now. Defective camera, I guess — COULDN’T be operator error.

Runner roll call: Nick Lang, Laurie Euler, Jim Beiter, Christy Craig, Levi Bowles.

Nick led at a relaxed 30-mile pace. I stayed with them until Lands End, about 6 and a quarter from the start on the white trail. Then I went back on white for about 12 and change, in addition to the 8 I had done earlier.

Weather was clear at the start, with brilliant stars, a thin crescent moon, and a wisp of Milky Way across the top of the sky. Dawn came in sunny, but the morning clouded up. By they time I finished, it was all gray, and gentle rain came in an hour or two later.

Probably caught the Hawks on the trail. No storm, though.

Saw two deer, a turtle and a wild turkey. Felt strong all through, and could’ve done more miles, but was pressed for time to make the vet appointment.

In other news, got the Lawrence Trail Hawks membership application done. Want to join? Call or e-mail me, and I’ll shoot the form out to you. We are finally a real group — we have paperwork!

Sleeping in tomorrow!

62 days to Leadville.

More later,

gary

The Lawrence Trail Hawks have joined the Road Runners Club of America, and have been designated a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization through our affiliation with the RRCA. Here’s a detail from the letter I got from Eve Mills, director of membership and program serivces:

Verification of our tax exempt status

Eve also sent us a copy of the IRS letter recognizing the RRCA tax exempt status. This is important because it means sponsors can take a deduction on their Federal taxes for anything they donate to us.

In another week or two, Eve tells me, we’ll have our certificate of insurance. But even without it, she says our insurance is a done deal. So if anyone wants to invite people on runs, go ahead!

But let’s not take on any more new, dues paying members until I get the application done. I’ll do that this weekend and send a PDF to all our current dues-payers. Print a few copies out and keep in your car. That way you can sign up new members on the spot!

Coleen has logos and will share them shortly when she gets back from Colorado. Once we have an approved logo, we can move ahead with shirts, flyers, website, you name it! And very soon it will be time to discuss our first official event.

It will likely be something very simple, like a free fun run. We’ll provide free Gator Ade, sell t-shirts, take donations and sign up new members. We’ll have a couple different routes going at the same time, each led by a different Hawk.

I’m thinking autumn for this, or at least when the trails are drier. We’ll need to make sure our routes are clean and clear in advance… well, very exciting. And we’re going to need an official group portrait.

In training news, did a sweltering 11 miles (about) last night for the short-to-middy run on the Clinton Lake North Shore Trails — home of the mighty Lawrence Trail Hawks! Krrrraaauuuuggghh!!!

Runner role call:

Front: Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler and Roxie. Back: Christy “Hawk Mama” Craig, Nick “Colo Hawk” Lang, Jim “Family Hawk” Beiter, guest Tim Hibbard, and Levi “Smilin’ Hawk” Bowles.

Got a late start, around 6:45 pm. Trails were past juicy, coming up on soupy, so we went at a fairly relaxed pace as a result. The heat and humidity were downright delicious, and the mud and muck sucking at our shoes and splooshing up our legs felt lovely. The woods glowed with golden light.

The plan was to do Lands End and back, all on the white trail, about 12.5 miles. It looked to me that we’d be pushing darkness at that distance unless we sped up. I didn’t want to speed up, because three late nights in a row, two with broken sleep had me too tired. Speeding up in those slippery conditions would’ve been a face-plant for sure, and likely a re-sprain of the back.

So Levi and I decided to turn around at the 5-mile mark for an even 10. About a half mile after that, we met Christy coming up the trail. She’d been taking her time, throwing up and enjoying the beautiful evening, which I think was still in the 90s, both temp and humidity.

Christy stayed with us for about a mile, then told us to go ahead — she intended to walk. I had misgivings about the amount of light we had — maybe an hour’s worth — but figured she could do 3.5 mph and get back ok — or drop down to the shorter blue trail and get in quicker.

Levi and I continued on at a decent pace, guaranteed to get us in well before dark. But with about 1.5 miles to go, I got too worried and told Levi I wanted to go back for Christy. He said he had a headlamp in his car, and ran ahead to get it. I figured if I found Christy and we walked in, Levi could meet us with the light by the time it got dark.

I ran back about a half mile on the trail, but didn’t find her. Then a welcome sight — Nick, Jim and Tim bustled up the trail. They said they hadn’t seen Christy, so I knew then that she’d been smart and taken blue.

I turned around and followed the boys, but by the time we’d gotten about a mile and a quarter from the end, I had to slow down. The light was failing, and I just couldn’t see well enough to keep up their pace.

It got darker and darker, and I got slower and slower. Levi has done face plants on our last 3 or 4 runs — it seemed like it was getting to be a tradition — so earlier, I ‘d been joking around about it.

“Nick,” I yelled out as we ran those last miles, “if a Levi does a face-plant in the forest, but no one is around to hear it, is there still a sound?”

“Only if there’s a mark!” Nick yelled back.

“On Levi or on the trail?” Jim wanted to know. Yes, such are the profound topics on trail runs.

Anyway, as I traipsed on through the looming gloom, that joking around returned to haunt me. I was in perfect conditions for a face-plant — dark, no lamp, technical trail and slippery mud. And we all know how the fates like their own little jokes!

In the end, though, the distance was too little, and the day just a smidge too long. I broke from the trees into the parking as the last embers of daylight were fading out. Unplanted. Levi too, I learned.

And Christy had made it in plenty of time, too, and was feeling better. But from now on, I’m taking a light for the Wednesday short-to-middy run.

Took it easy today — 3.31 miles in 30 minutes on the elliptical trainer during lunch at work. That gives me just about 27.5 miles for the week so far. Tomorrow’s supposed to be a rest day, but I might do a relaxed pace 3 on the hills and grass, if it’s nice and hot. Heat and blue sky. love it.

64 days to Leadville!

More later.

gary

Just the way I like ‘em — hot, slow and sweaty.

Got 6 miles on the grass and hills at the business park after work. Mid to high 80s. Went slow, finished around 57 or 58 minutes. Not quite sure, because I forgot to look at my watch until I was about a quarter mile out.

Felt good. It was a “sweat fest,” as Sarah Stanley says. Nice to run without a shirt for a change, let alone all the armor of the winter months.

Got 55 push ups. Still haven’t gone back to crunches, but started some back exercises I got from the physical therapist. Maybe there’s hope yet!

66 days to Leadville.

More later!

gary

Got six miles on the elliptical in under 50 minutes this evening, after work — 49:51, and had to kick in the granny gears to get it. But I got it. Been looking for it for months. Now to see if I can get it again! Like Leadville — almost anyone can get it once if they try enough times. Twice means it’s real.

Ended up with 7.13 miles for the hour, with the last 10 minutes and 9 seconds in reverse. As per usual, was on level 16, rolling hills. 55 push ups, and my back stretches. Got some back-strengthening exercises from the therapist at the urging of Lil Big Hawk and Hawk Mama, but forgot to bring the paper with me, so didn’t do them. Will start tomorrow, I promise!

Weight was up about 5 pounds from normal, at 156.5.

67 days to Leadville!

More later,

gary

Playing catch up today.

Somehow, I got seriously behind on everything, including blog posts. Managed to keep up with the running, but that’s about it. Life is a rushing river these days, and about all I seem to be able to do is grab a few things off the bank here and there as I get carried by at ever-increasing speeds.

Had a good run Wednesday night with the Hawks at Clinton. Then, Thursday, I did 9 miles on the levee by the Kansas River. Got that dirt and gravel road Lunar Trek in Scandia, Kansas coming up next month, so need some steady running, along with the trail dancing. Same for Leadville — there’s a few road sections there, too.

I met Danny “Study Hawk” Miller, Jim “Family Hawk” Beiter, Levi “Smilin Hawk” Bowles and Brad Bishop (still considering Brad’s Hawk name, suggestions welcome) Friday night at 11 pm for the “Lunar Prep” run, a 26er out to Linwood and back.

It was prep for Lunar Trek because the roads and hills are similar — and so is the dark. Jim set a pretty good pace, and we stayed together for most of the run, though Danny and I relaxed a little in the last five miles, and Brad, Jim and Levi went ahead.

Our turnaround in Linwood was right by a bar called “Fro’s Hangout” or something like that. Tempting to go in for a brewski. The doors were open, the lights on, music blaring, cops visiting… it was a happenin’ scene.

The strangest thing was right after the turnaround. The mouthpiece popped off the hose of my camelback hydration bladder. We must’ve spent 15 minutes looking for it on the road before Jim asked me why I didn’t use the spare mouth piece under the strap on my shoulder.

Boy did I feel like an idiot.

Felt like an idiot for a second time after we all finished, then went our separate ways — I’d brought the camera, but forgot to take a single photo. Doh!

Catch-up today. Updated the website with 8 photos Stu Johnson sent me of Deb’s run at the Kettle Moraine 100-mile last weekend. Made a new web page — guest photos — just for her! Also included some photos I got of the Barkley Marathons from last April. Only a handful of runners have ever finished the 100-mile there, and believe me, some of the best have tried.

If you can make one 20-mile loop at Barkley, you’re a stud.

Also wrote the check and filled out my application for the Heartland 100. In the mail tomorrow — I hear that it’s nearly filled up. I ran it in 2003 and 2004, and have volunteered ever since. This is the race’s 10th anniversary, so I want to get out there with my camera — if I can remember to bring it!

Caught up on my blog reading — Dave Wakefield’s adventures in Colorado, Coleen Voeks out there now, Darin Schniedewind cooling out on vacation in Minnesota, Willie Lambert dealing with the trauma of taper time, Gabe Bevan trying not to panic with a foot injury mere weeks before Western States, Mircea Sauciuc changing his blog’s title to one of the best I’ve ever seen — “Suffer in silence.” Love it!!

Danny Miller is NOT suffering in silence — nice line in his blog about how he hates summer and is expecting to “to encounter a 15′ rattle snake in a field of poison ivy surrounded by ticks while stuck in a giant web at 100% humidity.”

Check ‘em all out on my blog list — Blogs I like by people I know. Endlessly fascinating reading.

68 days to Leadville.

More later,

gary