Back of the pack

Beautiful blue sunny day. Perfect for a lunchtime run.

Did 6 miles on the hills in the biz park, in 56:40, not too fast. Stayed on the grassy strip between road and sidewalk, so almost like running trails. Temps in mid-80s, light breeze. Felt strong and steady throughout.

50 push ups on the concrete before the run. Sidewalk was hot. Had to put my PCT 50 bandanna down for my hands.

Spent much of the run composing my Western States “Crew View” report for this weekend when I write it up.

Will close with a photo of Danny “Study Hawk” Miller, who was both crew and pacer. This shot is near the top of the escarpment, about three miles into the WS100 course. Taken the night before the race when he and I ran up there.

More later!

gary

Danny “Study Hawk” Miller gazes heroically into the sunset the night before Western States and pacing duty for our runner Greg Burger.

Two Gregs -- after his trademark 100-mile race finishing gesture of kissing the ground, Greg Burger (L) gets the Western States finishing medal from Race Director Greg Soderlund.

Whew! Back from helping to crew Greg Burger to his first finish at the storied Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run, Squaw Valley to Auburn, in the High Sierras of California. Hope to get a story written this weekend from the “Crew View” perspective.

There’s a lot to tell and I plan to tell all. Short version — Greg did great and we all had a wild time helping him!

Managed to get a few miles in. Hiked up to near the top of the escarpment at the beginning of the WS100 course, about three miles, with fellow crew members Danny Miller, Erin Manning and Ed Payne, Friday, the night before the race. Ed and Erin turned back at the snow line, but Danny and I continued for another half mile or so.

Then we ran down. Huge fun, and made me want to enter the WS100 lottery for 2011.

Early Sunday Morning, just after midnight, Erin, Ed, me, and Brian and Dawn Pawley hiked about 6 miles round trip to the Rucky Chucky crossing of the American River to meet Greg and Danny, who was pacing Greg. Brian took over pacing there. Beautiful full moon and mild temps — a real treat.

That was just one of the places I forgot to bring my camera. Oy! Did get a few shots though.

Anyway, full report coming, probably this weekend.

In other news, my “Gal Gallop” story got rejected by “Trail Runner” magazine. Very disappointing, but will perhaps find a home for it elsewhere. If you would like to read a draft of that story, just visit the March Archive, and scroll down a couple entries to “Gal Gallop.” Sorry I can’t provide a link directly to the entry.

More later!

gary

Got my first hour on the elliptical at work in a long time yesterday. Very satisfying.

Got 6.67 miles in 60 minutes, level 16, rolling hills. Hit the 6 mile mark at 53:31. Of course, when I’m in condition, I hit it sub-50, but I’m still pleased.

Did 50 push ups and back exercises. Lunar Trek 100k getting closer. Hope I can be ready in time!

Planning a 32-mile night run on levee and Lawrence back roads for Friday, July 2. Hope I can be ready for that!

More later,

gary

Monday Hawks – FRONT, L to R – Kristie “Designer Hawk” Campbell, Allie Brierson, Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler. MIDDLE – Justin “GNT Hawk” Henning, Raven “Raven Hawk” Rajani, Madeline Rajani. BACK – Constantine “Ninja Hawk” Cotsoradis, Jeff “Beatnick Hawk” Triplett

Did 30 minutes on the treadmill at home tonight. Went slow, between 6.2 and 6.4 mph, but cranked the incline up — to 8 for the last mile, and between 4 -8 for the first two. Got about 5k in my thirty minutes. Good workout, even though not so long.

50 push ups.

Met the Hawks for the Monday night run at the river trails. We didn’t run them, though, since Art King of the Lawrence Mountain Bike Club, who is the city’s volunteer trail coordinator, e-mailed that the trails would be too soggy from recent rains for running and biking.

So we went up on the levee. It was HOT, just the way I like it, but probably too warm for the others. Jeff “Beatnick Hawk” Triplett did two miles, Raven “Raven Hawk” Rajani did about 3 and change I think, and the rest, Justin “GNT Hawk” Henning, Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler, Kristie “Designer Hawk” Campbell and Allie Brierson did five.

I continued on for nine after the rest turned back, since I’m trying to get ready for the Lunar Trek, July 23.

Kristie suffered through the invasive, personal questions that no one had any right to ask, and the awkward, tense silences, as part of the ordeal of getting her Hawk name — Kristie Campbell is “Designer Hawk” for now and ever more. So let it be said; so shall it be done! Imperius Rex!

We came close to naming Elizabeth Hodges, too, even though she wasn’t there. She almost became “Weasel Hawk.” Deaf old man that I am, I thought Justin and Laurie were saying “Weevil Hawk,” which, of course they weren’t. When I commented that the Hawk name could be a little more positive, “Wonderful Weasel Hawk” was suggested, then “Wonder Weasel” for short.

I guess the moral is, if you’re a dues-paying Hawk, but haven’t got your Hawk name yet, you should come out for a run, or risk being named “Weevil Hawk,” or “Wonder Weasel,” or something equally strange.

The Hawk 50 got a prominent mention in a Lawrence Journal World story about faith and sports, by Sarah “Scoop Hawk” Henning. Good story, with a great photo of Muffie Keonin, our 2nd place gal in the 50-mile, crossing Mud Creek. Wish that creek had a better name, like TRAIL HAWK CREEK!

Will close with another Monday nighter photo from last month — think it was right before or after the Hawk, when I didn’t get around to posting. Can’t let a good photo go to waste, though.

More later,

gary

Some May Monday Nighter — Front L to R Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler, Lambchop, Lambchop’s latest boyfriend Andy “Novel Hawk” Norris. Back, L to R – Justin “GNT Hawk” Henning, Constantine “Ninja Hawk” Cotsoradis, Nick “Colo Hawk” Lang

Got a nice 16er Saturday. First long run (I think) since before the Hawk.

Constantine “Ninja Hawk” Cotsoradis came out for the first few miles, but after that I was solo.

Started 7:30 a.m. at the zero mile-marker on the levee, and ran to the river trails. Along the way, met another runner visiting here from Chicago, but forgot what his name was. He was a sixty year old marathoner and had a pretty god pace, as far as I could tell. We blabbed about this and that, and saw two foxes in the first mile. Not pretty women runners — real foxes.

Day was warm and muggy. Constantine and I kept a relaxed pace on those first miles, but I picked up a little after we separated. Haven’t been running a whole lot lately, so was rested, and felt good to stretch out a little.

Found some lady’s sunglasses on the trail, which I thought might’ve been lost at the gal gallop last Thursday, but have had no response to my e-mail query.

Took the trails out to about the four-mile mark, where I popped back out onto the levee. Did the Alexander Road hills, and 238th Street to Golden Road, then headed back. Turnaround is about 8 miles. Still felt strong. Day was hot and blue, just how I like it.

On the way back, rescued a box turtle from the road. Did the outbound route, in reverse.

Coming off of Alexander Road, I met Kevin Frederickson, who just did his first 100-miler at Heartland last October, and is planning on going back. He parked his SUV at the junction of the levee and Alexander Road so as to be centrally located for his own back-roads run. Said he was out to do 20.

Blabbed for about 5 minutes, then continued back down the levee, and into the woods and trails. Clouds gathered, and I was glad I was close to done. PM storms were forecast, accurately, as it turned out. I was getting tired, too.

About a mile from the finish, I met Steve “Silver Hawk” Lang, out on biz from Nevada, Carson City, I think, and catching a few miles. He’s training for his first 50-miler, the Tahoe Rim Trail in a few months. Steve was also out for 20.

Finished strong. While I caught my breath, a young lady runner trotted in. I told her she should run with the Trail Hawks, and she replied that she has — turned out to be Erica Gray, who took 3rd female in the Hawk Marathon (or “the mudfest” as she put it) last month.

So nice run, sweet even. Must make it last since I’ll be in California next Saturday, crewing for Greg Burger in his attempt at Western States. When I get back, I’ll have about two good weekends left to train before the Lunar Trek 100K. Will have to do.

More later,

gary

Coleen “Lil Big Hawk” Voeks, our Fat/Sweaty Ass RD has set Aug. 13 for the Sweaty Ass 10-hour trail run. Will be at Prairie Center in Olathe, 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., or thereabouts. No entry fee, t-shirt, or anything else — just as many 3-mile laps on the trail as you can do in 10 hours.

Coleen “Lil Big Hawk” Voeks

Each time you come through the start/finish, you mark your name on a poster board. Everyone brings snacks, so there’s kind of a pot-luck aid station. We’ll have further details posted at www.Lawrencetrailhawks.com, though other than start time and directions to Prairie Center, I’m not sure how many further details there needs to be.

It’s basically a Fat Ass, but in the summer.

Got 30 minutes on the elliptical at work today. Hit 3 miles in 26:51, I think it was, on Level 16, rolling hills program. Finished the 30 at 3.4 something. 55 push ups, my back exercises, but no crunches.

More later!

gary

Massive thunder storm precluded the Wednesday night run, so I did the treadmill at home, with the ipod cranked up. The treadmill, a Nordic Track, has an ipod player.

Went an hour. Hit 6 miles in 50:01, with inclines steadily rising from 1 to 4. Slowed down at 6 miles, gradually down to walking speed and an incline of .5, finishing at 6.9 miles and change. Felt really good. Most of my friends claim to dislike treadmills, but I enjoyed this workout.

More later!

gary

Correction from yesterday’s blog entry. I wrote that Nick “Colo Hawk” Lang would be 18 months out from running after his back surgery coming up Friday. Actually, he’s supposed to be 18 months out from running his next hundred-miler.

Nick tells me he should be back to low mileage in about six weeks, a much better prognosis!

Speaking of low mileage, I got three miles on the elliptical trainer during lunch at work today, in 25:51, and 3.44 miles in 30 minutes. Did level 16, the highest, rolling hills program. Also got 55 pushups, 35 crunches and my leg-extension back exercises. Not sure if I’ll continue crunches. Don’t like the way they make my lower back feel.

Not a big workout, but second one in a row, so that’s progress.

More later.

gary

more later

Monday night Hawks (Front, L to R, wrangling Lambchop) Nicole “Tiger Hawk” Green, Laurie “Pixie Hawk” Euler, and Renee’s sister Danielle Beckham. (Back, L to R) Jeff “Beatnick Hawk” Triplett, Constantine “Ninja Hawk” Cotsoradis; Alisha “Daughter of Ninja Hawk” Cotsoradis, Renee “Renanimal Hawk” Babin, and Run Leader Justin “GNT Hawk” Henning.”]

Been out of the blogging biz for about a month now. Putting on the Hawk 50-Mile & Marathon Trail Runs kind of blew everything out of the water! then shortly after, went to Virginia for about eight days to go camping with my roommate from college, Nick Pollok, then visit with Nick and his spouse Vivian in Richmond; then to attend the wedding of my niece Jill to Mike Semmens, a highly decorated Army captain and veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Yours truly with Vivian and Nick on their front porch in Oregon Hill, Richmond, Virginia, the day after our camping trip. What a fun visit!

My niece, Jill Kaitlin Henry Semmens rocks out with gal pals at her wedding, Saturday. That was fun, too!

So, busy, but back to training now, with my first run in a long time this evening. Lambchop and I joined the Hawks for a relaxed-pace fiver on the river trails, led by Justin “GNT Hawk” Henning. Justin is filling in for Nick “Colo Hawk” Lang, who’s due for back surgery Friday, but will hopefully be back to running in about 18 months, so they say.

Hopefully sooner!

Weather was muggy and warm, but I loved it. Lambie and I brought up the rear. Justin kept everyone together with a nice steady pace till about mile 5, when Jeff “Beatnick Hawk” Triplett slowed down to walk, having exceeded his longest distance to date by at least a mile.

Lambie and I slowed down to walk with him, while the rest of the kettle cruised in. We walked most of the last mile, but returned to running at the end. We had two guest runners — Renee “Renanimal Hawk” Babin’s sister Danielle Beckham, and Constantine “Ninja Hawk” Cotsoradis’ 13-year-old daughter Aleisha.

I know teenagers often look askance at their parents, but I’m positive Aleisha thought her Dad was pretty cool running with the Hawks and having a Hawk name.

Also joining us after I took the photo was Allie Brierson, who has run with us several times on the river trails, and once out at Clinton in serious mud. And arriving for their own run after we finished were Tammy “Nightengale Hawk” Lupton and Kristin “Aqua Hawk” Tirabassi.

So… five done, little sweat. I’m planning on the 100K at Lunar Trek July 23, so will start ramping up, hopefully tomorrow.

No more putting on races, going camping or attending weddings to use as excuses not to train. Just a trip to Western States to crew for Greg Burger weekend after next.

More later!

gary