Gorge Waterfalls 50k - Columbia River Gorge - March 30, 2013

"Damn it, I have to pee again" - 30 seconds before the Start

Moments before the start, everyone catching up with each other.
Photo by Glenn Tachiyama.

It's amazing how competitive this race has become. With elites like Yassine Diboun, Hal Koerner, Jeff Browning, Mario Mendoza, Christopher Koller, and others...it's no wonder my body was full of anxiety leading up to the race. Perhaps my anxiety was just a form of excitement, an eagerness to prove to myself that my role models from the past two years were slowly becoming my peers.

Course Profile

3...2...1...Holy shit their sprinting! Gah, wake up legs!

Ambitious Bastards. Photo by well revered Glenn Tachiyama.

This race started at a way faster pace than in 2012, and my legs needed to wake up quick. After the pack squeezed across the narrow pedestrian bridge, the course turned into a rutted overgrown truck path. The runners stayed inside the ruts and formed two single file lines, with the front pack beginning to pull away as we neared Multnomah Falls. I jumped into the thick grass and accelerated to the back of the front runners as we began to make our way to the ascent of Wahkeena Falls. I dumped most my water out before the first climb to save some weight. The trail ascends ~1,600' in about 2 miles.

Many runners charged up the trail ambitiously, and some of them lost gas about halfway up. Mario Mendoza, Zach Violett, and Yassine just blasted up the switchbacks like their asses were on fire. I tracked behind Jeff Browning, one of the most efficient runners I know, and ran a satisfyingly hard pace in ~12th place. Some of us leap frogged our way up, but a group of 4 of us stayed together. A GU found my mouth, and then we crested and began our downhill descent towards Multnomah Falls via the Larch Mountain Trail. On the way, I filled my water bottle in a trustworthy steam. The next mile had some of my favorite technical downhill sections, and it totally rocks (photo). The trail descends ~1,400' in about 2 miles.

On the way down the Larch Mountain and Multnomah Falls trails, the rocks turned into a nicely paved asphalt for the final mile of descent. As I ran, my stomach began to feel tight, my mouth all of a sudden had a funny taste, and I'm sure my face was Edward white (without the chick-magnet sparkles). After having the Flu/Norovirus only 2 weeks prior, my stomach was well familiar with the sensation of yakking. Nausea hit me hard, and for half a mile I fought the urge to throw up in front of all the hikers. All I could think about was Wayne's World, which didn't help. After slowing down and some careful breathing, things began to settle. I have never had nausea like this during a run, and it had me worried that my race would suffer from a weak stomach. The legs soon found their push, I pulled ahead of Jeff and some other guy. Feeling strong, riding the roller coaster of rocks and waterfalls.

Running with the Sharmanian at Horsetail Falls.
Photo by the magnificent Glenn Tachiyama.

Coming into the first aid station, I grabbed some magical ginger ale (to help my stomach) before bounding back up the trail. The course soon passed Oneonta Falls, followed closely by Horsetail Falls. Ian Sharman caught up to me and we ran together for a bit while leap-frogging with Hal Koerner (Hal was nursing some kind of foot injury). The course then turned pretty rocky and weaved everywhere with a slight downhill, and this was easily my favorite part of the course. Rock dancing, grabbing trees to swing around a tight turn, and always on the verge of eating shit...I was having a blast. I even scoped out a great place to take a crap if the need should arrive (foreshadowing). Then the trail turned to road, and my weakness was exposed. Ian Sharman left me in the dust, and I worked to keep a respectable flat road pace. Running on flat roads has never been my strength, except for this one time when I ran SUPER fast to catch up to a girl at the Seattle Marathon and asked her for her bib number. The road section is 2.5 miles long before reaching the 2nd aid station. After the 2nd aid station is a short 1-mile out, 1-mile back before repeating the first half of the course back to the start/finish.

The road section wasn't much fun, but it gave the mind a break from counting rocks. Not before too long the 2nd Aid Station came into view, and Todd and Renee were there as my crew (<3). Todd confiscated my water bottle and I ran the out-n-back empty handed. The turn-around spot was at the foot of the beautiful Elowah Falls, where everyone had to grab a pokerchip to prove that they went all the way to the halfway point. My position was approximately 7th place and 1.5 miles behind the leaders, and the fart I just took had greatly relieved some internal pressure. Everything was feeling great, legs and stomach included. Coming back into the aid station, Todd had my two bottles ready, but I only grabbed one. Back to the road. THANKS TODD AND RENEE!!! <3!

Todd Crewing. Me trying to find the Poker Chip Box.
Photo by Renee Seker.

My road pace was definitely lacking, and I was soon passed by both Hal Koerner and Jeff Browning. Their strides were solid, and my legs weren't feeling courageous enough to keep up with them. Would I ever see them again? Probably not, but who knows what could happen. Instead of freaking out, I busied myself by high-fiving, smiling, and encouraging my friends and runners who were still headed the opposite direction. By the time I reached the trail, I had to take a crap. There was nice partially hidden (not really) spot off the trail that was tangled with prickly vines and high grass. Only my ankles suffered from the evil prickly things, thank God. My short break didn't cause me to lose position, but Jonathan the Canadian caught up to me just after I pulled my pants up. We ran close together for a while, but eventually I pulled away while charging up the gradual twisty roller coaster. The runners who were headed the opposite direction were super kind and stepped off the trail so I could run by. To those, I say thank you. Vaya con Dios.

Photo by Takao Suzuki. Thanks Takao, and congrats on your finish!

Throughout the last half of the course, runners and non-race hikers were telling me what position I was in. Most of them said 11th place, but I was hoping for a top 10 finish. As I entered the last aid station, the volunteers were telling me that Hal wasn't moving very fast. Interesting. Further down the trail, a hiker said that one of the runners ahead of me was cramping real bad. Very interesting. Soon enough, I found myself catching up to Hal. He was taking his sweet-ass time on the technical scree-covered trail, and I wondered what pains he was dealing with. After passing him, I immediately caught up with another runner who was dealing with severe calf cramping. After dishing him a salt pill, I pressed on. The whole race I dreaded the final climb back up Multnomah Falls, and the trail was getting close. I really hope the last climb doesn't destroy me.

Beginning the climb up the Multnomah Falls switchbacks, the body felt capable, but drained. Alternating between running and hiking switchbacks, I soon looked down the trail and found that Jonathan the Canadian was catching up to me. Shit! Priding myself on my ability to endure a sustained climb, I was disappointed in my decision to hike. Maybe the fear of blowing up kept me from pushing myself, or maybe my comfort in 9th place had made it acceptable for me to let someone catch up to me. Whatever it was, I erred on the side of conservative and alternated the running and hiking. With 1 mile left to climb, I passed another runner. With 3/4 left to climb, Jonathan passed me. My calves were borderline cramping, but the climb was soon over. At the top of the climb, I felt sluggish and unambitious. The beginning of the 2 mile descent was uncomfortable, but my body fell into a groove and pounded a strong downhill while trying not to wipe out on the hairpin switchback turns. Passing Mario Mendoza, he was walking down the mountain with a dejected look on his face after he "ate shit" earlier. No doubt he was contending for 1st place before his crash, and I hope he didn't injure himself. That guy is fast as shit. (He would later go on to win the Peterson Ridge 20 miler 2 weeks later).

Wahkeena Falls, 8th place with ~2 miles to go.
Photo by Glenn Tachiyama.

Photo by Master Glenn Tachiyama.

The last mile of the course is exposed and straight, making it possible to see Jonathan running a 1/2 mile ahead of me. Too far for me to catch. No one was anywhere close to behind me, and all I had to do was keep a strong pace and not cramp. When the finish line came into view, I made a B-line for James Varner for a super hug.

RESULTS: 3:46:19, 8th out of 281 Finishers

PACE: Somewhere between 7:30 and 8:00 min/mile
PR by 10 minutes
Holy Crap, I'll take it!

SUPER HUG! Photo by Renee Seker.

Thank you James Varner and Candice Burt for organizing another awesome event! Your Rainshadow Running races are some of the most beautiful (and difficult) races in the Northwest, and I'm excited to do more of them. I'm particularly eager to running Angel's Staircase and Yakima Skyline Rim...maybe next year! My 2013 schedule is pretty booked as it is. Thanks again for everything!!!

Thank you Todd and Renee for driving out to the Gorge to support me, I'm grateful to have you as friends. And thanks Renee for taking my breath away, as usual. Go Team NSPiRE! You're a big reason for turning my 2012 into a smiley face, and for believing in my potential as both a runner and hugging advocate. Love you!

Thanks Trailbutter for the breakfast! You are becoming a constant in both my training and racing nutrition, and I'm okay with that. You'll come in handy at the Zane Grey 50 miler, for sure (though, I better pull a Hafid and store the butta' in my checked luggage. It's totally worth checking your luggage for).

Thank you Float Shoppe for helping relieve my pre-race anxiety! I've never been so worked up about a race before (maybe the elite field had me excited), but floating the night before the race helped calm my nerves and settle my heart rate a bit. As usual, it was Lovey-dovey.

And finally, Thank you Glenn Tachiyama and Takao Suzuki for the photos! It's always great to see you two!

PETERSON RIDGE RUMBLE - APRIL 14, 2013

Congrats Kyle Chaffin on your 20-minute PR at the Peterson Ridge Rumble 20-mile race! It was great to share laughs with you and Nicole afterwards. Kyle and Nicole, I Love you both unconditionally, despite the sass.

Yeah buddy! Photo by Master Glenn Tachiyama.

Hot stuff coming through! Photo by Master Glenn Tachiyama.

FINAL WORDS

BOSTON

Colbert couldn't have said it any better. Boston, you have my thoughts and prayers. The way that Boston, and the rest of the country, responded to the tragedy has truly given me hope. There's hope that despite the evil that exists in this world, people are inherently good and are willing to help one another with complete selflessness, concern, and compassion. If you haven't told your friends/family how much you Love them, now would be a good time. And don't ever stop reminding them.

Boston Marathon 2011

I Love you all!

Cheers,

Jbob

Hagg Lake, Two Races, and a Half Gallon of Beer - Hagg Lake 50K & 25K, February 16th/17th

I won't start the race in the porto this year. I won't start the race in the porto this year. I won't... - Pre-race Mantra

Morning Sun at Hagg Lake.
Photo by Jennifer Love.

THE HAGG LAKE TRAIL

Muddy. Muddy. Muddy. Muddy....except this year! The trail around Hagg Lake is infamously known as a soul-sucking, shoe-stealing, groin-pulling, mud-in-my-mouth-and-face-and-oh-shit-it's-everywhere kind of conditions. However, this year was a prime exception, and the weather leading up to the race was unusually sunny and dry. This meant that the 50K would have one of the fastest courses ever in the race's 12-year history.

THE MINDSET

It's early in the season, and Hagg Lake was to be my fitness test. After 2 weeks of tapering, my body was maxed out on potential energy. Mentally, my mind was prepared to greet pain with a smile and to push hard for a sub-4 hour finish in the 50k race. All that mattered was that I run my race and go as fast as my legs could carry me. If someone else's legs were faster, then good on them. Finishing a race can mean just as much (or even more) than winning a race if you surpass your own expectations, and my expectations were based on feeling more than time. There's a fine line that I've been trying to find between endurance and speed, and neither the clock nor music are going to tell me where it is.

Pre-race shimmy. The Zags are so hot right now.
Photo by Paul Nelson.

HAGG LAKE 50K - SATURDAY

With a jig in my head, a fire in my heart, and after 3 trips to the porto, it was time to line up at the starting line. Friends were everywhere, either racing, spectating, race directing, or photographing. After countless hugs, smiles, and words of encouragement, the race began.

3...2...1...COWBELL

Jacob Puzey in Red, I'm at the right in the green bandana.
Photo by Long Run Picture Company.

Quickly positioning myself with the front of the pack, there were about 5 of us running together as we started the 1.5 mile out-n-back. The first 1.5 miles were a gradually uncomfortable uphill dirt road, the steepest and longest climb of the course. After a half mile, Jacob Puzey and I were the only ones within chatting distance as we pulled ahead of everyone else. Nice guy! After the turnaround, Jacob just took off back down the hill faster than I dared to run (his long stride helped). It would have been nice to run with him, but there was no way I could keep his pace without detrimental consequences. My goal wasn't to get first place, so there were no reservations in letting him go. Just loneliness...*sigh*...

Lovin it!
Photo by Long Run
Picture Company

After passing the Start/Finish area at the 3-mile mark, I picked up my water bottle and began Lap 1 of 2 around Hagg Lake. Puzey was well ahead at this point, but still within sight. The runners behind me were far enough away that I couldn't hear them, but they weren't out-of-mind. The thought of being chased was more motivating at this point in the race, for I was determined to make it 'a bitch' for anyone to keep up with me. So every hill was a tempo sprint to the top, as the trail around the lake was filled with many short climbs in rolling fashion. Hills are my strength, and I often try to use it to gain ground on those runners who are faster than me on the flat sections of the course. At least, that was the strategy.

Photo by Long
Run Picture Company.

At the dam (4 miles into the race), Puzey was already a half mile ahead of me. Hot dam! It made no sense for me to look back and see who was behind me at this point in the race, so my eyes were fixed on the path ahead...and then the GU in my hand...and then the pretty lake view...and then back to the path. Arriving at the dam Aid Station, the garbage can was lacking a plastic trash bag, so I took my empty GU packet and THREW IT ON THE GROUND, thinking that the aid station volunteers were just slow at inserting the plastic trash bag. Nope. There was trash in the trash can, and I threw my garbage on the ground, right in front of an Aid Station volunteer. I felt like a royal ass. I vowed to right the wrong on the second lap, and tried not to let it affect my race.

Running strong, accelerating up the hills, coasting the downhills, floating the flats...things were going smooth. No one in front of me, no one behind me...just me, baby. Arriving at the first timing check point, I took another empty GU packet and THREW IT ON THE GROUND! (with permission from Cole).

16K SPLIT: 1:08:48

PACE: 6:55 min/mile

Photo by Long Run
Picture Company.

My legs were feeling great, and passing the early start runners gave me a little boost. It's not so much the passing of the runners that helped, but more so the interactions with them. There was a lot of kindness on the trail as the early start runners stepped to the side, cracked a little joke, smiled, and said words of encouragement. Thank you for sharing a moment with me during the race, you have my respect for having to endure the race for longer than I did.

The first lap around Hagg Lake ended at the Start/Finish area, and there was lots of cheering. Joe Uhan clocked Puzey at 7 minutes ahead of me. Wow, he must be in a hurry. Running to my drop bag, my shirt fell off as I began chugging a can of C2O Coconut Water (sponsorship, please). After switching water bottles, I took off for the final lap around Hagg Lake.

HALFWAY: 1:56:54

PACE: 7:02 min/mile

"How far ahead?"
Photo by Long Run Picture Company.

Gratuitous partial nudity and C2O Coconut Water.
Photo by Long Run Picture Company.

The beginning lap 2 felt exactly like the beginning of lap 1, which surprised me. The legs were still strong, still able to bound uphill, and I was in no need of a potty break anytime soon. Even with 200 runners on the trail, the ground stayed firm and fast. Arriving at the dam for the second time, the short road section provided a prime opportunity to suck down another GU. After psyching myself up to actually throw my GU wrapper in the trash can this time, I turn my head and see a runner behind me ~100ft. I didn't stare (that's rude), so I had no idea who the hell had the audacity to catch up to me...but it definitely got me running. Zooming by the Aid Station without stopping (except to politely throw my GU packet in the trash), my pace increased. Shit. Shit. Shit. Can I sustain this pace? Did he stop at the aid station? Shit. Ugh, why can't this ever be easy? Oh yeah, because I Love this shit. I guess. Crap, my legs are feeling stressed. Ok, ok. Run your race. Don't let him push you. Just run strong, and if he pulls ahead, push like crazy and catch him in the last 5 miles. But until then, run your own damn race. Let HIM work to catch you, don't make a mistake and blow up too soon. Keep calm and carry on, son! So with that little pep talk, my pace went from 'frantic' back to 'comfortably uncomfortable'. He hadn't caught me yet, so there was no reason for me to panic. For the next several miles, finish line scenarios were running through my head. Could I hold him off?

39K SPLIT: 2:49:00

PACE: 6:59 min/mile

Neil Olsen: 45 seconds back

Half mile left.
Photo by John Spencer.

Throughout the race, my nutrition was mainly GU energy gels and Hammer Endurolytes (salt pills). The stomach stayed solid, and everything generally felt good. But after passing the 39K mark, things started to fade a little bit. My peripheral vision got fuzzy, and the fuzziness creeped closer and closer to my center of vision. After quickly downing a GU, I then grabbed a couple salt pills and ingested one after the other. My pace slowed a little as my body recovered, and thankfully my vision went back to normal. Come on baby, hold to together.


Coming into the last aid station (4.5 miles from the finish), I made only my second stop of the race to have my bottle filled with a combination of water and electrolytes (GU brew). Neil Olsen entered the aid station as I was leaving, and thus began the final push to the finish. If I had anything left, this was the time to leave it all out there. My hamstrings were tight as hell and slightly quivering on the uphills, and I popped my last salt pill to hopefully keep them from totally cramping. There were plenty of opportunities to look behind me and gauge Neil's hunting skills, but I kept my head forward until one of the final landmarks of the course. Arriving at the Parking lot C (half a mile from the finish), good guy John Spencer was course marshaling and shouting some words of encouragement.

John: Yeah Buddy! One hell of a PR!
Me: Is Anyone behind me?
John: Not that I can see!
Me: Thank God.

A quarter-mile from the finish, I look behind me one last time and saw nobody. WHOO-OO! The finish line came into view, and people started cheering. It was impossible to tell, but they were telling me to HURRY UP! After crossing the finish line, I figured out why. The 3rd fastest course time in Hagg Lake history was 3:41:53 set by Andy Martin in 2010, and I happened to break it.

RESULTS: 3:40:53, 2nd out of 190 Finishers

PACE: 7:06 min/mile

PR by 38 minutes

3rd Fastest Course Time in Race History

"What was my time?!"
Above Photos by Long Run Picture Company.

As soon as I crossed the finish line, my hamstrings painfully seized, and I went down easy. As I lay there, people told me all the fun facts about the race. The funnest fact being that the only Jacob Puzey (3:24:22, 2013) and Max King (3:26:54, 2010) have ran a faster course times. Okay, I'm happy with that. Neil Olsen crossed the finish line a few minutes later, but I was still lying on the ground soaking everything in. There are few moments in our lives where we can say that we did everything we could with the time we had, and this was one of them. I didn't ever want to forget this feeling.

Congrats to Jacob Puzey (3:24:22) and Andrea Jarzombek-Holt (4:07:10) for setting the new men's and women's course records! Incredible times!

Now, time to recover for the 25k the next day.

Hagg Lake ice bath.
Photo by Long Run Picture Company.

RECOVERY AT THE FLOAT SHOPPE

After the 50k, my legs were quite sore and my hamstrings felt like guitar strings that were strung too tight and played way too hard. That evening, I went to the Float Shoppe for a 90-minute float to help recover. The whole float experience involves floating in a tub of water with 1,000 lbs of dissolved Epsom salts, providing sensory deprivation and total body calmness. While floating, the body absorbs the magnesium from the Epsom salts, which helps flush the lactic acid from tired muscles. And floating not only helps relax the body, but it also gives the mind a chance to take a break from everything. They say one 90-minute float is like the equivalent of getting 7 hours of sleep, and the effects can be felt immediately afterwards. More information lives here.

Tranquility

Having floated several times before, my experience has been extremely positive. But I had never tried floating this soon after a hard run to help increase my 24-hour recovery period. Would my hamstrings loosen up? Would the soreness go away? After my 90-minute float, my body was still considerably sore...however, my body also felt as if it just had a full night's rest, and my mind was way above the clouds. It's hard to really explain the experience without trying it yourself, but all I can say is that there's a lot of good that comes from floating, both physically and mentally.

For me, floating most often becomes a time for self reflection and allows me to cut out the distractions of everyday life to focus on what matters most. Whether I'm recovering from a high mileage week or preparing for the next race, the Float Shoppe has played a significant role in relieving the physical and mental stresses of life to allow me to maximize my training efforts.

HAGG LAKE 25K - SUNDAY

Deja vu.

Sunbeams at the race start. Photo by myPhone.

Caption Contest.
Photo by Long Run
Picture Company.

Man oh man, only 25K to go before I get rewarded with a growler of beer for doing both the 50K (Saturday) and 25K (Sunday)! The only thing that worried me were my hamstrings, which were still super tight. The key to this run was pure survival, especially since all my legs could muster was a warm up shuffle to and from the Portos. There were several other running buddies out there who were also doing the Hagg Lake double, and we all shared each others pain. Misery Loves company. And growlers.


3...2...1...EVERYDAY I'M SHUFFLIN'

Running with
Hugh Davis.
Photo by Long Run
Picture Company.

As soon as the race started, I had to slow down and let most of the runners pass-on by. My hamstrings were still too tight for me to keep up with the main group, and I was shuffling for a good half mile. Eventually, my hamstrings started to loosen up and allow me to run a bit faster. For the first part of the race, I found myself running with Hugh Davis and Megan Bruce. Reaching the dam, my stride opened up a little bit and I started to accelerate...straight to the Porto. Ahhh. After taking care of business, I opened the Porto door and *WHAM*, totally nailed a woman with the door as she was running by. After asking if she was alright and rightfully apologizing for almost knocking her unconscious with a Porto door, I ran ahead and caught up with Jerry Mark for a bit.

Not before too long, the lap around the lake was nearly over. Being able to run with people was a nice change from Saturday, and the time flew by. My legs had loosened up nicely since the start of the race, and it was surprising how well I felt by the end of it. You know you're an ultrarunner when you become less sore after running 15 miles.

RESULTS: 2:19:10, 51st out of 288 Finishers

PACE: 8:57 min/mile

Sporting the Limited Edition Todd Janssen T-shirt (still in stock!).
Photo by Long Run Picture Company.

Let the celebrating begin.

Many (but not all) of the Hagg Lake Doublers.

THANK YOU

Thank you Race Directors and Volunteers. This race was well organized, well stocked, and full of amazing support. The grilled cheese sandwiches after the race were amazing, and the post-race environment was incredibly comfortable and social. Job well done, I can't wait for next year! (And the roses in the Portos were a nice touch).

And thank you to Michael Lebowitz and the photographers taking excellent race photos for the Long Run Picture Company. Without your photos, this blog would be lifeless.


SHOUT OUTS

NSPiRE

Before too long, they'll turn ultrarunning into a true spectator sport. 

The crazy NSPiRE setup.
Photo by Long Run Picture Company.

No chip-timing system can compare to the system that NSPiRE introduced at this race. Throughout the race, live updates were broadcasted online, updated on my Facebook/Twitter accounts, and available on the NSPiRE mobile App. As runners crossed the finish line, the results were instantly displayed on large TV screens like it was something out of NASCAR. I can't wait to see what else the come up with.

Thank you Team NSPiRE for your all your support and encouragement over the past year. I'm proud to make you proud.

Thanks Eric & Kelly Barten, Todd Jannsen, Chad Brown, Doyle Boyd, and Renee Seker!
Photo by Long Run Picture Company.

TRAILBUTTER

This stuff is so good, one bite and you'll be speaking a romance language. Mmm...Holy crap this is f*ing delicious! (Pardon my French).

Baby, I'm gonna trailbutter your bread.
Photo by Long Run Picture Company.

Spreading it on DKB while riding
to Idaho to pace Randy at the
IMTUF 100.

I've been using Trailbutter (and Dave's Killer Bread) as my pre-run breakfast since last Fall, and it's consistently helped me run with a satisfied stomach and a body full of energy. The key Trailbutter ingredients are almonds, peanuts, and hazelnuts mixed with a blend of dried fruits, seeds, nectar, honey, and precious oils. The result is a slow-burning, healthy fuel that can be easily spread on bread, dipped with pretzels, or eaten straight with a spoon (done it).

Here's a list of the ingredients from one of my favorite flavors, Expedition Espresso): Dry-Roasted Almonds, Hazelnuts, Peanuts, Bitter-sweet Chocolate Chunks, Coconut Oil, Clover Honey, Ground Coffee Beans, Soy Lecithin, Golden Flax Seeds, Ground Vanilla Beans, Sea Salt.

Jeff Boggess, co-founder and life enthusiast, will be sampling Trailbutter at many local trail races. If you're signed up for the Portland Trail Series, NW Mountain Trail Series, most of the Oregon Trail Series, or Trailfactor races, chances are Jeff will be there. Be sure to try some! You can also order Trailbutter from their website or at select retail locations.

Great guy, Jeff Boggess.
Photo by Long Run Picture Company.

FINAL WORDS

Knowing the YMCA could save your life someday.



Much Love,

Jbob

Hagg Lake Hybrid Marathon/Relay - Hagg Lake, OR - October 13, 2012

"Hey Jeff, have you heard Taylor Swift's new single? It's life changing!"

Perfect running weather on a fast, yet tiresome, course.
Photo taken by Long Run Picture Company.

THE "HYBRID"

What makes this marathon a hybrid? 12 miles on road, 14 miles on trail. It's not a very common concept to combine both pavement and trail into a distance race, but that's what makes it so unique. For this particular race, Hagg Lake conveniently has both a paved road and a dirt trail that circumnavigate the lake. Lap 1 would be run on pavement, and the Lap 2 would be done on the trail. There is also a Marathon Relay option for teams of two, with one runner completing Lap 1 before switching to the second runner to complete Lap 2.

WAKE UP

*Alarm*....Ugh....should I go to this race?....Yeah, I'd better.... Driving to Hagg Lake that morning, I had no ambition to run fast or do particularly well at all. The previous weekend I had spent pacing the legendary Randy Benthin for 60 miles of the IMTUF 100 mile race, and the body wasn't feeling any real competitive voracity. But of course, the reason why I showed up at the start of the race was because I'm addicted to running and hopelessly in Love with the running community.

Smack talking Hafid before the race.
Photo taken by Long Run Picture Company.

Todd's pre-race speech, with his usual sense of humor.

Photos taken by Long Run Picture Company.

As everyone began toe-ing the starting line (shyly), Todd began his pre-race announcement. There would be a man on a bike (Brian) escorting the race leader along the road portion of the course, and Todd jokingly said that if anybody touched Brian they would get $100. Little did he know, one runner wearing a Warrior Dash shirt would accept this challenge. Seconds before the start, Jeff Hoppert and I were chatting heartily about life, liberty, and our pursuits of happiness before we started the race together.

The Starting Line
Photo taken by Long Run Picture Company.

3...2...1...Ka-CHOW!

The man in the Warrior Dash shirt went sprinting up the hill after Brian, surprising everyone. Whoa, that's a world record pace!! Wait...did he take Todd seriously?...yup...there he goes.

Warrior Dash guy sprinting after Brian.
Photo taken by Long Run Picture Company.

Jeff and I knew each other fairly well, as we have enjoyed a'many group runs together organized through Trailfactor. We found ourselves running side by side, after deciding that we enjoyed having someone to race with. Side by side and bullshitting most of the time, the road miles flew by. We caught the Warrior Dash guy (who looked rather winded) and continued our pursuit of...the woman. Alas, we were getting chicked badly, and there was nothing we could do about it. Maybe she's doing the relay? Hey, yeah! Definitely maybe...But does it matter?....shit. There is no real shame to getting chicked, but boys will be boys. At least for Jeff and I, we had each other.

Jeff and I getting smoked by the female.
Photo by Long Run Picture Company.

After accepting out fate, we kept calm and carried on in 1st/2nd place (of the masculine contenders) for the entire Lap 1 around Hagg Lake. It was very pleasant, as nobody posed a challenge to either of us. Our lead was all but set in stone...but the problem was, which one of us would steal 1st place? We'd become such good friends after the first lap, but would our friendship survive the second? Together we arrived back at the start and switched from road shoes to our trail shoes. We waited for each other before setting off for Lap 2. We ran single file, and I jumped on front to take control of the pace. Maybe I can push the pace a little bit and try to lose him? Jeff matched my pace stride for stride until we reached the dam, and that's when he started to pull away from me.

Photo taken by
Long Run
Picture Company.

Just beyond the dam, I kept Jeff in my sights. All of a sudden, my side started cramping so bad, I had to walk. It seriously felt like I got stabbed just beneath my right rib cage, likely from the recent consumption of a sugary electrolyte beverage at the last aid station. BLAST! After a bout of intense suffering, I stopped, bent over, took deep breaths, and applied pressure directly at the source of the pain. Slowly the pain subsided, and the frustrations of having to stop made me want to run even faster. Literally, my heart was on fire, and my legs felt unleashed like a rabid squirrel-hungry chihuahua. Fatigue disappeared, my pace increased, and the chase was on. I've never felt this way before in my life.

Beginning of Lap 2
Photo taken by
 Long Run Picture Company.

Arriving at the mile 19.1 Aid Station, Jeff was just leaving. Without stopping for aid (running with water bottles has its advantages), I continued after him. At this point, it became very apparent that we were finally racing each other. Running behind Jeff, I couldn't help but analyze and compare our strengths. He would pull away on the flats, but I would catch up to him on the hills. With this, I courteously took the lead and pushed every hill with bursts of speed, trying to both pull away and wear him down at the same time.

After the last aid station, it felt like I was pulling away. For a time, I was alone...until I heard Jeff spit behind me, and then I realized how close he actually was. Looking over my shoulder is a pet peeve, because it shouldn't matter how far the person behind me is. If someone can outrun me when I'm balls to the wall, then they deserve to beat me.

With a couple miles left to go, the hammer was thrown. The last two miles were spent enthusiastically bombing the downhills before quickly switching gears to bust my ass on the uphills. It was all I could do. Coming to an open clearing, I looked behind me (I know, pet peeve, whatever) and saw nobody. The finish line shortly came into view, and my legs coasted into the homestretch. The adrenaline quickly wore off and my calves began to quiver from cramping a mere 50' from the finish line. I'm glad that didn't happen a mile earlier!

RESULTS: 3:07:20, 1st out of 29 Finishers

PACE: 7:09 min/mile

Photo taken by Long Run Picture Company.

Me and Jeff after the race
Photo taken by
Long Run Picture Company.

Jeff finished soon afterwards, after falling victim to cramping issues of his own. We pushed each other to the edge, and for that I am grateful. The limits of true potential, for me, are often found in moments of absolute determination to outrun something more powerful than fatigue. For me, I outran my own doubts. This was another proud moment in my life, because I totally didn't expect this at all...especially given my unconventional tapering.

Thanks Jeff for pushing me to my limit, I'll buy you a beer any day (even if it takes me 10 months to do so).

Of course, thank you Kelly Barten, Eric Barten, and Todd Janssen for putting on a such a stellar and unique race. I'll be back next year, if I can!

Michael Lebowitz, it's always a pleasure seeing you at these races! As always, thank you for the photos and the deep conversations. You indeed are a great man.

Jeremy Hurl and the elusive female (Marathon Relay winners)
Photo taken by Long Run Picture Company.

CONFIDENCE

The past 3 months had been some of the best months of my life. Ever since my bedrest ended in July, Running has reestablished itself as the reason why. Sometimes our lives fall into purpose, other times we define it for ourselves. But either way, there's a journey that we must take, and that's nothing to be taken as insignificant. For me, running is a journey without end. One finish line leads to another, and another, because there is no end but the end we make for ourselves. As Howard Thurman once said,

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

Mum sent me that quotation a long time ago, and it has since become one of my favorite sayings to live by. She may not entirely understand why I dedicate my free time to such exhausting behavior, but she sees how it makes me whole.

That said, there are times when I won't be able to run due to injury or some other blessing in disguise. And in those times, I'll be volunteering at races. There's few instances in life where so many people can look and feel their worst and yet emotionally feel their absolute best. If you want to be surrounded by genuine, emotionally honest, and self gratified people, spend some time at the finish line of a marathon or ultramarathon. This is why I enjoy spending all day at every finish line I cross, because I Love surrounding myself with people who truly are alive. At times when we can't be happy for ourselves, we can at least share in the happiness of others...let's not forget that.

I Love you guys!!! Nicole Chaffin, Kyle Chaffin, and Bryan Mears
Photo taken by Long Run Picture Company.

TEAM NSPIRE

You complete me. Thank you for all the support this past year, your encouragement has helped me discover the kind of runner/person I am. I Love you guys!

Team Nspire, with the last and first place marathon finishers
Photo taken by Long Run Picture Company.

Much Love,
Jbob